JP2716917B2 - Electronic endoscope device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic endoscope apparatus for reducing emission of unnecessary radiation noise from an electronic endoscope and mixing of unnecessary radiation noise into the electronic endoscope.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an endoscope capable of observing an affected part or the like in a body cavity by inserting a slender insertion portion into the body cavity, or inserting a treatment tool into a forceps channel as necessary to perform a medical treatment. Is widely used. As the endoscope, for example, a solid-state imaging device such as a CCD is built in at the distal end of the insertion section, a signal photoelectrically converted by the solid-state imaging device is transmitted through a cable, and the monitor device is connected via a signal processing unit. An electronic endoscope apparatus for displaying a color image is used.

When the electronic endoscope is for medical use, it is connected to a circuit section (patient circuit) inserted into the body of a patient and peripheral devices such as a monitor, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1-223928. Isolation means for ensuring safety with the circuit section (secondary circuit) is provided and insulated.

[0004] If the patient circuit and the secondary circuit are not insulated by the isolation means, the endoscope is inserted because the insulation with the GND is reduced or becomes defective due to a failure or the like. It is anticipated that a current may flow through the human body to GND, resulting in a very dangerous situation.

[0005] Therefore, by providing the isolation means to insulate the patient circuit and the secondary circuit, when the insulation degradation or insulation failure occurs as described above, the current is applied to GND only on one circuit side. The safety has improved because it is possible to flow.

However, since the GND of the patient circuit and the secondary circuit is not shared by the isolation means, the electric signal used in the electronic endoscope apparatus is not connected to the outside of the apparatus via a floating capacity or the like. In addition to the possibility that the noise radiated to the electronic device and cause malfunction may occur, and the noise radiated from other external electronic devices may enter the device through the floating capacity and reduce the image quality of the endoscope image, There is a possibility that a control signal may malfunction.

For this reason, Japanese Patent Application No. 2-315106 discloses a device in which unnecessary radiation noise reduction components such as a ferrite core are provided in a noise generation source to prevent radiation and mixing of unnecessary radiation noise. .

[0008]

However, in order to configure an electronic endoscope apparatus as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 2-315106, it is necessary to provide unnecessary radiation noise reduction components for each line where noise is generated. As a result, a significant increase in cost is caused, and a space for mounting components is required, resulting in an increase in dead space. Therefore, the number of unnecessary radiation noise reduction components has to be limited.

In addition, since the electronic endoscope apparatus handles various signals having different levels from ordinary ones, unnecessary radiation noise radiated from the electronic endoscope is suppressed as much as possible, and radiation noise is mixed into the electronic endoscope. In other words, it is desired to take sufficient measures against EMC (that is, EMI, which is a problem that causes electromagnetic interference, and EMS, which is a problem that receives electromagnetic interference) for electric equipment.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to provide an electronic endoscope apparatus that reduces the emission and mixing of unnecessary radiation noise.

[0011]

An electronic endoscope apparatus according to the present invention comprises: an endoscope insertion portion inserted into a subject;
An imaging means provided at a distal end of an endoscope insertion portion;
Connected to the stages, each having its own shielded wire
A plurality of signal transmission lines and the plurality of signal transmission lines are inserted
Universal cord, the endoscope insertion section and the
Provided in layers around the entire circumference inside the universal cord
And surrounding the plurality of signal transmission lines.
As shown in FIG.
An edge layer, provided at the end of the universal cord,
Endoscope signal connector electrically connected to the electromagnetic shield layer
And the signal transmission provided on the endoscope signal connector.
A signal transmission pin to which a transmission line is connected;
A signal processor having a connector electrically connected to the connector
And the connector unit to a reference ground potential
Means, provided in the signal processing device, wherein the ground potential
Is an isolated signal transmitted through the signal transmission pin.
And a patient circuit for processing.

[0012]

In this configuration, unnecessary radiation noise is emitted from the universal cord forming the electronic endoscope and unnecessary radiation noise is mixed into the electronic endoscope and the universal cord.
Is prevented .

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIGS. 1 to 4 relate to an embodiment of the present invention.
Is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of an electronic endoscope apparatus, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a signal processing system of a camera control unit, FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of an electronic endoscope, and FIG. A of the universal cable of the electronic endoscope in FIG.
It is -A sectional drawing.

As shown in FIG. 1, an electronic endoscope device 1 includes an electronic endoscope 2 having a built-in image pickup device, a light source device 3 for supplying illumination light to the distal end of the electronic endoscope 2, and an electronic endoscope device. Endoscope 2
Video processor or camera control unit 4 (hereinafter referred to as CCU) having signal processing means for the image sensor of
4), a TV monitor 5 for displaying a video signal processed by the CCU 4, a keyboard 6 connected to the CCU 6 for inputting information, comments, etc. relating to an endoscope image of the TV monitor 5. ing.

The electronic endoscope 2 has a built-in CCD 8 as a solid-state image pickup device at the distal end side of a flexible elongated insertion section 7 and an operation section at the rear end (base end) of the insertion section 7. 9 are formed. A universal cable 11 extends from the side of the operation unit 9, and the universal cable 11
A light source connector 12 that can be detachably attached to the light source device 3 is attached to an end of the light source device 3.

Further, the light source device 3 is
The illumination light emitted from the lamp 14 in the light source device, passed through the aperture device 15 and the lens 16 and condensed is applied to the end face of the light guide 13 by attaching the light source connector 12 to the light guide device 13.

The illumination light applied to the end face of the light guide 13 is transmitted through the light guide 13 provided in the universal cable and the insertion section of the electronic endoscope 2 to illuminate the observation section. An object image of the observation unit illuminated by light is formed on an imaging surface of a CCD 8 disposed on a focal plane of the observation unit by an objective lens 18 provided at a distal end portion 17. The CCD 8 is provided with the CCD 8.
Signal transmission line 21a for driving the CCD and a CCD output signal transmission line 21b for transmitting a video signal photoelectrically converted by the CCD 8.
Are connected to each other and extend through the insertion portion of the electronic endoscope and the universal cable to extend to a signal connector receiver 22 provided on a side portion of the light source connector 12.

The signal connector receiver 22 has a signal cable connector 2 provided at one end of a signal cable 23.
4 can be detachably connected, and the CCU connector 25 provided at the other end of the signal cable 23 can be detachably attached to the CCU connector receiver 26 provided on the CCU 4. It has become. The signal connector receiver 22 provided on the light source connector 12 and the signal cable connector 24 are connected, and the CCU connector receiver 26 is connected to the CCU connector 25.
The video signal is input into the CCU 4 via the cable 23 by attaching the.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the drive signal transmission line 21a of the electronic endoscope 2 and the CCD output signal transmission line 2
1b, the insertion portion 7 of the electronic endoscope 2, the drive signal transmission line 21a of the electronic endoscope 2, and the CCD output signal transmission line 21
A metal wire is formed in a net-like shape on the inner peripheral portion of the universal cable 11 through which the control signal transmission line 47 is inserted .
Conductive magnetic shield layer 56 is provided substantially over the entire circumference.
One end of the electromagnetic shield layer 56 is connected to the connector receiver 22 by conduction. A connector 24 provided at one end of a signal cable 23 is connected to a connector receiver 22 provided at the light source connector 12 of the electronic endoscope 2, and a connector 25 provided at the other end of the signal cable 23 is connected to a CCU connector receiver 26. The electromagnetic shield layer 56, the connector receiver 22, the signal cable 23, the connector 25, and the CCU connector receiver 26 which are attached to cover the electronic endoscope 2 are electrically equipotential, and the CCU connector receiver 26 is disposed.
While the CU 4 is grounded to form a conductive layer, an insulating layer 58 is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the electromagnetic shield layer 56 to maintain insulation between the patient circuit system and the electromagnetic shield layer 56.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the drive signal transmission line 21a, the CCD output signal transmission line 21b and the control signal transmission line 47 passing through the inside of the universal cable and the electronic endoscope are provided with an electromagnetic shield layer 56 and an insulating layer. While passing through the outer tube 50 provided with the layer 58, each of the insulated and coated signal lines (both single and coaxial) is individually shielded by the shielded wires 21a-1, 21b-1, 21b-1 and 21b-1. It is formed by shielding at 47-1.

The transmission lines 21a, 21b, 47 passing through the universal cable 11 of the electronic endoscope 2 are provided.
Are connected to pins (not shown) of a connector receiver 22 attached to the side of the light source connector 12, and the light source connector 12 is connected to the signal connector receiver 22 of the light source device 3 as shown in FIG. Connector section 53 is provided. By connecting the connector portion 53 and the connector receiver 22 by the light source control signal transmission line 54, the connector portion 53 and the automatic light control circuit 55 in the light source device 3 are connected as shown in FIG. ing. The electronic endoscope 2 is provided with a channel 65 through which a treatment tool such as a forceps or an electric scalpel 59 can pass, so that the treatment tool can be inserted from an insertion port 66 near the operation unit 9. ing. Further, in FIG.
Reference numeral 1 denotes a suction tube, which is connected to a suction unit (not shown) in the light source device 3 by connecting the light source connector 12 to the light source device 3.

On the other hand, when the signal cable 23 is connected, as shown in FIG. 2, a CCD driving signal from a CCD driver 31 constituting a patient circuit 30 in the CCU is transmitted to the CCD 8.
, The signal charges stored in the CCD 8 are read out. The read CCD output signal is CC
After being amplified by the preamplifier 32 in the U4, it is input to the preprocessing circuit 33 to be separated into a luminance signal and a chrominance signal, or subjected to preprocessing such as γ correction or white balance, and then is isolated as an isolation means. The signal is input to a one-pixel clamp circuit 36 constituting a secondary circuit 35 via a transformer 34. Since a signal from which a DC component has been removed is input to the one-pixel clamp circuit 36 by the insulating transformer 34, a DC component is generated by the one-pixel clamp circuit 36, and the A / D converter 37 passes through a low-pass filter (not shown). Is converted into a digital signal and stored in the memory 38. The digital signal stored in the memory 38 is read out at a predetermined timing under the control of the system controller 39, converted into an analog signal by the D / A converter 41, and output to the TV monitor 5.

The system controller 39 (hereinafter abbreviated as the controller 39) is connected to the keyboard 6 via an interface 43, and operates the keyboard 6 to convert control operations or to display control information on the TV monitor 5. Information about an endoscope image, a comment, and the like can be input and displayed on a monitor screen.

The controller 39 is connected to the CCD driver 31 via an insulating transformer 45, and receives a CCD signal according to a timing signal from the controller 39.
Since the driver 31 outputs a drive signal for reading to the CCD 8, the driver 31 is provided in the operation unit 9 of the electronic endoscope 2 via an isolation circuit 46 using a photocoupler and a control signal line 47, for example. When the freeze switch is operated by forming the operation switch 48 with a freeze switch for instructing display of a still image, a freeze instruction signal is transmitted to the controller 39, and the controller 39 When the freeze instruction signal is detected, a write inhibit signal is output to the memory 38 to inhibit the data in the memory 38 from being updated. Therefore, the signal stored in the memory 38 before the write inhibit signal is repeatedly read, and a still image is displayed on the TV monitor 5. Also,
The controller 39 controls the generation and control of various timing pulses, that is, the clamp operation of the one-pixel clamp circuit 36, the A / D conversion clock of the A / D converter 37, the read / write of the memory 38, and the D / A of the D / A converter 41.
/ A conversion clock is controlled. For example, the luminance signal generated by the pre-processing circuit 33 shown in FIG. 2 is input to the automatic dimming circuit 55 via the signal line 60 and the light source control signal transmission line 54, and the luminance signal in one frame period Aperture 1 with error signal comparing average value to set level
The automatic light control is performed by controlling the aperture amount of No. 5.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the insertion portion 7, the universal cable 11, the signal cable 23, and the like of the electronic endoscope 2 formed by the universal cord are covered with the electromagnetic shield layer 56 at the ground potential. It is possible to effectively prevent unnecessary radiation noise from being emitted from the electronic endoscope 2 which generates the most unnecessary radiation noise by effectively utilizing the space without increasing the cost.
Since unnecessary radiation noise can be prevented from being mixed into the electronic endoscope, it is possible to reduce disturbance in a monitor image, a setting level of automatic light control, and the like.

On the inner peripheral surface of the signal cable 23, an electromagnetic shield layer 56 and an insulating layer 58 similar to those of the electronic endoscope 2 are provided.
Is provided, the voltage between the patient circuit system inside the insulating layer and the electromagnetic shield layer 56 can be maintained.

In this embodiment, the electronic endoscope 2 and the signal cable 23 are grounded to the CCU 4.
It goes without saying that the same effect can be obtained even if the ground is grounded.
In addition, the electromagnetic shield layer 56 is formed of a knitted metal wire, but may be formed of a conductive resin material or bellows, or may be formed of a metal deposited on the inner surface of the exterior portion or the insulating layer 58.
May be metal-deposited on the outer surface. In addition, not only metal vapor deposition but also metal spraying, sputtering, plating, etc. may be used. Further, the present embodiment has been described using the electronic endoscope apparatus 1 having the patient circuit system 30, but may be applied to an electronic endoscope having no patient circuit isolated from the secondary circuit 35. Needless to say, a similar effect can be obtained.

[0028]

[0029]

[0030]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an electronic endoscope apparatus which reduces the emission and mixing of unnecessary radiation noise.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIGS. 1 to 4 relate to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing a schematic configuration of an electronic endoscope apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a signal processing system of a camera control unit.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of an electronic endoscope.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the universal cable of the electronic endoscope shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

2: Electronic endoscope 8: Image sensor 11: Universal code 56: Electromagnetic shield layer

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Yudai Nakagawa 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Inside the Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Akihiro Miyashita 2-34-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo (72) Inventor Katsuyuki Saito 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo O-limpus Optical Industry Co., Ltd. (56) References JP-A-59-90544 (JP, A) JP-A-4-183432 (JP, A) JP-A-2-136121 (JP, A) JP-A-60-83640 (JP, A)

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. An endoscope insertion portion to be inserted into a subject , imaging means provided at a distal end of the endoscope insertion portion, connected to the imaging means, and individually shielded.
A plurality of signal transmission lines having wires, and a universal cord through which the plurality of signal transmission lines are inserted
And the inside of the endoscope insertion portion and the universal cord
An electromagnetic shield layer provided in a layer shape over substantially the entire circumference, and the electromagnetic shield layer surrounding the plurality of signal transmission lines.
An insulating layer provided on the inside of the universal cord, and an electromagnetic layer provided at an end of the universal cord;
An endoscope signal connector electrically connected to the shield layer, and the endoscope signal connector, wherein the signal transmission line
And a connector electrically connected to the endoscope signal connector.
A signal processing device having a data processing unit; a means for connecting the connector unit to a reference ground potential; and a signal processing device provided in the signal processing device and insulated from the ground potential.
To process the signal transmitted through the signal transmission pin.
An electronic endoscope apparatus comprising: a patient circuit ;