JP2680053B2 - Radiation detection endoscope - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an emission ray detecting endoscope capable of detecting radiation.

[Prior art] In recent years, by inserting an elongated insertion portion into a body cavity,
2. Description of the Related Art Endoscopes capable of observing organs in a body cavity and the like and performing various treatments using a treatment tool inserted into a treatment tool channel as necessary are widely used.

Also, various electronic endoscopes using a solid-state imaging device such as a charge-coupled device (CCD) as an imaging unit have been proposed.

By the way, as a means for detecting and diagnosing cancer, a substance that specifically aggregates in cancer cells is marked with a radioactive substance, and radiation emitted from the cancer cells is detected to discover the presence, invasion range, or metastasis of cancer. Is being done.

Further, for example, Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 47-5168 discloses an endoscope in which a radiation detecting element is provided at the tip. The endoscope shown in this prior art example uses a light guide body made of a flexible thin wire, that is, a fiber bundle as an observation means. Providing a detection element is also conceivable. Also,
As shown in the specification of Japanese Patent Application No. 63-126588 filed by the applicant of the present application, the solid-state imaging device for observation itself may be used as the radiation detecting means. In this case, when radiation such as γ-rays is incident on the solid-state image sensor, it is displayed as a (light spot) bright spot on the monitor screen.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, when radiation is detected by a solid-state image sensor for observation, the radiation is also detected during normal observation, and bright spots appear on the monitor screen, making it difficult to see. There is a defect.

[Object of the Invention] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides a radiation detection endoscope capable of performing observation and radiation detection at the same time without adversely affecting an observed image. Has an aim.

[Means for Solving the Problems] A radiation detection endoscope of the present invention is an endoscope using a solid-state imaging device having a plurality of pixels as imaging means,
An image pixel and a radiation detection pixel are provided in all pixels of the solid-state image sensor, and a radiation attenuation unit is provided in the image pixel.

[Operation] In the present invention, the observation image is obtained by the image pixels of the solid-state image sensor, and the radiation is detected by the radiation detection pixels. Since the radiation attenuation means does not allow the radiation to reach the image pixels, bright spots due to the radiation do not appear in the observed image.

Embodiment An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

1 to 5 relate to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing the arrangement of pixels of a solid-state image sensor, and FIG. 2 shows a filter member provided on the front surface of the solid-state image sensor. Sectional drawing to show, FIG. 3 is explanatory drawing which shows the structure of an endoscope apparatus, 4th
(A) to (c) are explanatory views showing examples of display on a monitor, respectively, and FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing a configuration of a processing device in a modified example of the present embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 3, the endoscope 1 includes an elongated and flexible insertion portion 2, and a large-diameter operation portion 3 is connected to a rear end of the insertion portion 2. A flexible universal cord 4 is laterally extended from the operation portion 3, and a connector 6 detachably connected to the processing device 5 is provided at an end portion of the universal cord 4.

An observation window, an illumination window, and a treatment tool channel opening are provided at the distal end portion 10 of the insertion portion 2. A cylindrical collimator 11 made of a radiopaque material such as lead is mounted inside the observation window, and an objective lens system 12 is mounted in the collimator 11. In addition, a solid-state image sensor, for example, a CCD 15 is arranged at the image forming position of the objective lens system 12 at the back of the collimator 11. A filter member 20 is provided on the front surface of the CCD 15.

In this embodiment, a simultaneous system is used as a color imaging system, and the CDD 15 corresponds to R (red), G (green), B (blue) arranged in a mosaic pattern as shown in FIG. Each of the image pixels 16R, 16G, 16B (represented by reference numeral 16) and the radiation detection pixels 17 arranged in a predetermined array are provided between the image pixels 16. The CCD 15 is compatible with the interline transfer system, and a transfer unit 18 is provided in a stripe pattern between pixels in the horizontal direction.

The filter member 20 is constructed as shown in FIG. That is, the color filter 21 is provided at a position corresponding to the image pixel 16 of the CCD 15. In the color filter 21, the front surface of the video pixel 16R is an R transmission filter, the front surface of the video pixel 16G is a G transmission filter, and the front surface of the video pixel 16B is a B transmission filter. Also,
On the front surface of the color filter 21, as a radiation attenuation means,
A radiation blocking filter 22 having translucency is provided,
As a result, visible light reaches the image pixels 16 but radiation does not reach them. Further, on the front surface of the radiation detection pixel 17, there is provided a light blocking filter 23 which transmits radiation but does not transmit visible light.
Further, a blocking unit 24 for blocking light and radiation is provided on the front surface of the transfer unit 18.

A signal line 26 is connected to the CCD 15 and the signal line 26
Is inserted into the insertion portion 2, the operation portion 3 and the universal cord 4 and connected to the connector 6.

In addition, a light distribution lens is provided inside the illumination window of the distal end portion 10.
31 is arranged, and a light guide 32 is connected to the rear end side of the light distribution lens 31. The light guide 32 is inserted into the insertion portion 2, the operation portion 3 and the universal cord 4, and the incident end portion is connected to the connector 6.

In addition, a treatment instrument channel 35 is formed in the insertion portion 2, the distal end side of the treatment instrument channel 35 is opened by the treatment instrument channel opening of the distal end portion 10, and the proximal end side of the operation portion 3 is formed. An insertion opening 36 is formed so as to open laterally.

On the other hand, the processing device 5 includes a lamp 41 that emits illumination light.
The illumination light emitted from the lamp 41 is incident on the incident end of the light guide 32. Further, the processing device 5 includes a driver 42 connected to the CCD 15 via the signal line 26 and a connector 6, and a separation circuit 4
And three. And the CCD15 is the driver
The pixel signal driven by 42 and read from the CCD 15 is input to the separation circuit 43. This pixel signal is sent to the image pixel 16 by the separation circuit 43.
From the pixel 17 for radiation detection and the signal from the pixel 17 for radiation detection.
Further, the signals from the radiation detection pixels 17 are input to the radiation signal processing circuit 45, respectively. The video signal processing circuit 44 processes the signals from the video pixels 16 and outputs them as video signals. Further, the radiation signal processing circuit 45 processes the signals from the radiation detection pixels 17 to generate radiation information such as radiation intensity. Each output signal of the image signal processing circuit 44 and the radiation signal processing circuit 45 is
The superimpose circuit 46 is inputted and synthesized, and the output signal of the superpoint circuit 46 is inputted to the monitor 50. Then, on the monitor 50, the subject image captured by the video pixel 16 and the radiation detection pixel 17
The information of the radiation detected in is displayed. As a display method on the monitor 50, for example, as shown in FIG. 4 (a), the radiation intensity 51 or the like may be displayed on the side of the subject image, or as shown in FIG. 4 (b). As described above, the subject image may be displayed on the main screen 52 and the bright spots due to the radiation may be displayed on the small screen 53. Further, as shown in FIG. 4 (c), if necessary, the bright spots due to the radiation can be displayed so as to be superimposed on the subject image, and in the case of normal observation, the bright spots are erased and displayed. You may do it.

 Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described.

When an examination of cancer or the like is performed using the endoscope 1 of the present embodiment, a cancer antibody marked with a radioisotope, deoxyglucose and the like that easily collect in the cancer are intravenously injected at a predetermined time before the examination. To inject into the body. In a cancer, these reagents gather and the cancer emits radiation, for example, gamma rays.

When the insertion portion 2 of the endoscope 1 is inserted into the body cavity and the lamp 41 in the processing device 5 is caused to emit light, the illumination light emitted from the lamp 41 is incident on the light guide 32 of the endoscope 1. Incident on. This light is transmitted to the tip 10 by the light guide 32.
, And irradiate the subject through the light distribution lens 31.

The optical image of this subject is captured by the objective lens system 21 by CC
Imaged on D15. At that time, visible light is filtered by the filter member 2
The light passes through the 0 radiation blocking filter 22, is color-separated by the color filter 21, and reaches the image pixel 16. Further, this visible light is blocked by the light blocking film 23 and the blocking unit 24 and does not reach the radiation detection pixel 17 and the transfer unit 18.

Further, when the distal end portion 10 of the endoscope 1 is located at a position facing the cancer, γ-rays emitted from the cancer enter the collimator 11 through the opening of the collimator 11. This γ-ray, by the radiation blocking filter 22, the blocking unit 24,
The light-shielding filter 23 does not reach the image pixel 16 and the transfer unit 18.
And reaches only the radiation detection pixel 17. Then, the γ-ray hits the PN junction of the radiation detection pixel 17 to generate a signal, and the γ-ray is detected.

The CCD 15 is controlled by the driver 42 in the control device 5.
Driven, pixel signal of image pixel 16 and radiation detection pixel
17 pixel signals and are read. The two pixel signals are separated by the separation circuit 43, the signal from the video pixel 16 is processed by the video signal processing circuit 44, and the signal from the radiation detection pixel 17 is processed by the radiation signal processing circuit 45. To be done. The output signals of the signal processing circuits 44 and 45 are combined by the superimposing circuit 46 and input to the monitor 50. And
On this monitor 50, a subject image captured by the video pixel 16 and
Information on the radiation detected by the radiation detection pixel 17 is displayed.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the CCD 15 is provided with the image pixel 16 and the radiation detection pixel 17, and the radiation blocking filter 22 is provided on the front surface of the image pixel 16. Therefore, the endoscope 1
No bright spots due to radiation appear in the observed image, and an easy-to-see image is obtained. Moreover, observation and radiation detection can be performed simultaneously.

The observation image of the endoscope and the radiation information are not displayed on the same monitor, but the output signal of the video signal processing circuit 44 is input to the monitor 50 as shown in FIG. The output signal of the signal processing circuit 45 for input is input to the display device 55,
Radiation information may be displayed by the display device 55.

6 and 7 relate to a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a CCD and a collimator, and FIG. 7 is an explanatory view showing a control device and a monitor.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, for example, rectangular radiation detection pixels 62 are provided at the four corners of the light receiving surface of the CCD 60, and the other portions are used as image pixels 61. Further, on the front side of the radiation detecting section 62, a cylindrical collimator 63 having a rectangular cross section is used. Although not shown, a translucent radiation blocking filter is provided on the front surface of the image pixel 61, and a light blocking filter that transmits radiation is provided on the front surface of the radiation detection pixel 62.

In this embodiment, the collimator 11 in the first embodiment is used.
Is unnecessary.

Further, as the control device 5, one shown in FIG.
It may be similar to that shown in the figure, or may have a configuration as shown in FIG. In the control device 5 shown in FIG.
The signal from 61 and the signal from the emission line detection pixel 62 are both subjected to video signal processing by the signal processing circuit 65 and output to the monitor 50. And, in this monitor 50, in the central part of the screen,
The observation image 66 masked in an octagon or circle is displayed,
Radiation information 67 is displayed at four corners outside the observed image 66 as brightness according to intensity, for example.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, when the observation image of the endoscope is masked and displayed in an octagonal shape or a circular shape, the radiation information is obtained without affecting the observation image, and the radiation information is acquired. Can be displayed.

The display on the monitor 50 may be as shown in FIGS. 4 (a) to 4 (c).

Other configurations, operations and effects are the same as those of the first embodiment.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and for example,
As a color imaging system, a frame sequential system in which illumination light is sequentially switched to R, G, B, etc. may be used, and in this case, a color filter is not required in front of the image pixel 16.

Moreover, the solid-state image pickup device is not limited to the CCD, but may be a MOS, a BBD.
Etc., as long as radiation can be detected.

Further, the radiation is not limited to γ rays, but may be α rays or β rays.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, an image pixel and a radiation detection pixel are provided in all pixels of a solid-state image sensor,
Since the radiation attenuation means is provided in the image pixels, there is an effect that the observation and the radiation detection can be performed at the same time without adversely affecting the observed image.

[Brief description of the drawings]

1 to 5 relate to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing the arrangement of pixels of the solid-state image sensor, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a filter member provided on the front surface of the solid-state image sensor, and FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing the configuration of the endoscope apparatus. 4 (a) to 4 (c) are explanatory views each showing an example of display on a monitor, FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing a configuration of a processing apparatus in a modified example of the present embodiment, and FIGS. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a CCD and a collimator according to the second embodiment of the invention, and FIG. 7 is an explanatory view showing a control device and a monitor. 1 ... Endoscope, 2 ... Insertion part 10 ... Tip part, 11 ... Collimator 12 ... Objective lens system, 15 ... CCD 16 ... Image pixel 17 ... Radiation detection pixel 20 ... Filter Material 22 …… Radiation blocking filter 23 …… Shading filter

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Shuichi Takayama 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. (72) Mutsumi Yoshikawa 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Makoto Inaba 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. (72) Eiichi Fuse 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. (56) Reference JP-A-64-74489 (JP, A)

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. An endoscope using a solid-state imaging device having a plurality of pixels as an imaging means, wherein an image pixel and a radiation detection pixel are provided in all the pixels of the solid-state imaging device,
A radiation detecting endoscope, wherein the image pixels are provided with radiation attenuating means.