JP3289967B2 - Endoscope imaging 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 endoscope image pickup apparatus which can easily and safely change an optical low-pass filter according to the type of endoscope used.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, by inserting an elongated insertion portion into a body cavity from an oral cavity or the like, it is possible to observe or diagnose an affected part or the like in the body cavity without incision, or to perform a medical treatment using a treatment tool. Endoscopes are widely used. Also,
In the industrial field, industrial endoscopes are used for inspection of the presence or absence of a damaged portion of an inner wall by insertion into a lumen of a plant or the like, or for inspection of deposits on the inner wall surface.

[0003] As this type of endoscope, an endoscope (hereinafter referred to as a "fiberscope") for transmitting an endoscope image incident on the distal end of the endoscope to a hand side via a fiber image guide, and a fiber image An endoscope that transmits an endoscope image to the proximal side without using a guide (hereinafter referred to as “rigid endoscope”)
However, in any of the endoscopes, an endoscope image can be observed by an endoscope eyepiece provided on a hand side.

As means for observing the endoscope image, in addition to the case of directly observing with the naked eye from the endoscope eyepiece,
There is a case where an imaging device for an endoscope is attached to the endoscope eyepiece and observed on a monitor.

The endoscope image pickup apparatus includes a camera head section having a built-in image pickup device for converting an endoscope image from the endoscope eyepiece section into an electric signal, and an electric section extending from the camera head section. Connected to the cable via an electrical connector,
A camera controller for processing the electric signal obtained by the camera head and outputting the image as a video signal to a monitor.

In the above-mentioned fiberscope, the arrangement of the fibers constituting the image guide interferes with the image pickup device, the color separation filter or the TV horizontal scanning line on the camera head side, so that moire fringes appear on the endoscope image on the monitor. May occur.

In order to reduce the moire fringes, an optical low-pass filter is built in the camera head, and an endoscope image emitted from the endoscope eyepiece is passed through the optical low-pass filter. An image is formed on the image sensor.

The configuration of the optical low-pass filter that is optimized for removing moiré fringes differs depending on the type of endoscope used, and the optical low-pass filter that is optimized for the rigid endoscope is the fiber The configuration is different from the optical low-pass filter used for the scope.

As described above, when using an endoscope, it is always necessary to select an optimal optical low-pass filter. However, conventionally, this optical low-pass filter is used in accordance with the type of endoscope used. As means for selecting, for example, a method of taking out only an optical low-pass filter from an imaging device and replacing it as disclosed in US Pat. No. 4,687,312, or an endoscope as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-289810 An optical low-pass filter which is optimally attached to the eyepiece,
As disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 92127, several types of optical low-pass filters are built in the camera head in advance, and these optical low-pass filters can be selectively used according to the type of endoscope to be used. And so on.

Further, there is a type in which several types of camera head units having optical low-pass filters having different characteristics are prepared, and the entire camera head unit is sequentially replaced according to the type of endoscope used.

[0011]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION U.S. Pat. No. 4,687,873.
According to the technique disclosed in No. 12, when the optical low-pass filter is replaced, dust or the like easily enters the inside of the imaging device and easily adheres to the imaging element or the internal optical system. In order to prevent this, when replacing the optical low-pass filter, a special technique for preventing dust or the like or a place is required, the handling becomes complicated, and new equipment investment is required.

Further, in the technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-289810, the image quality when the endoscope observation is performed by the naked eye directly from the endoscope eyepiece is reduced by the optical low-pass filter. There's a problem.

Further, the technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 3-92127 requires a mechanism for switching optical low-pass filters because several kinds of optical low-pass filters are built in the camera head in advance. However, there is a problem that the structure becomes complicated, and the size and weight of the camera head become large.

Also, always preparing several types of camera heads incorporating optical low-pass filters having different characteristics according to the endoscope increases the cost as a whole, and furthermore, this camera head includes a camera controller. Since the cable for connecting the cable is extended, the cable becomes bulky during storage, and it is necessary to secure a storage space in advance.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and when exchanging an optical low-pass filter, dust and the like do not enter the optical system without using any special technique or place. It can be stored compactly,
It is an object of the present invention to provide an endoscope imaging apparatus that is relatively inexpensive and easy to handle.

[0016]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, there is provided an imaging system for an endoscope.
The imaging device is detachably connected to the eyepiece of the endoscope, and
Capturing the endoscope image formed in the image forming unit of the eyepiece of the endoscope
An image forming unit of the endoscope
The first moiré fringes occur when combined with
A first imaging unit having a first imaging element comprising, before
The first imaging unit is provided integrally with the first imaging unit.
First optical low-pass filter capable of optically removing moiré fringes
Filter and the image forming unit of the endoscope
Second imaging in which a different second moiré fringe is generated
A second imaging unit having an element, the second imaging Yu
The second moiré fringe is provided integrally with the knit and optically
To the second optical low-pass filter removable, the
The image is captured by the first image sensor or the second image sensor.
A transmission cable capable of transmitting an imaging signal, and the first imaging
Provided in the unit and detachably connected to the transmission cable.
A first connector connectable to the second imaging unit;
A second cable that is detachably connected to the transmission cable.
2 connectors .

[0017]

[Operation] In the above configuration, the most suitable for the endoscope used
A first imaging unit having a first optical low-pass filter
The first connector connects the transmission cable for the imaging signal to the first connector.
Optically removes the first moiré fringes
When using a different endoscope,
Second imaging with optimal second optical low pass filter
The image unit is transmitted by the second connector for imaging signals.
Optically removes second Moire fringes by detachably connecting to cable
To be removed .

As a result, it is possible to monitor and monitor an endoscope image without moire fringes even with the changed endoscope.

[0019]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

1 to 4 show a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a divided state of a camera head unit, FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a camera head unit, FIG. 3 is a sectional view of an imaging unit, and FIG. 4 is an overall configuration diagram of an imaging device for an endoscope.

Reference numeral 1 in the figure denotes an endoscope image pickup device, which comprises a camera head unit 2 and a camera controller unit 3. A TV monitor 4 is connected to the camera controller unit 3 via a video signal cable 5. It is connected.

The camera head 2 is composed of an imaging unit 6 and a cable unit 7. A cable 8 extends from the rear end of the cable unit 7, and the camera controller is connected to the end of the cable 8. An electrical connector 9 is detachably connected to 3.
On the other hand, a rear end of an optical adapter 11 having a built-in optical system 10 is detachably attached to a front end of the imaging unit 6 of the camera head unit 2. Also, this optical adapter 11
Is detachably attached to an endoscope eyepiece 12a of an endoscope 12 such as a fiberscope or a rigid endoscope by a mount member 11a.

A rear end 6a of the imaging unit 6 of the camera head 2 and a front end 7a of the cable unit 7 are freely fitted to each other.
The plug 13a and the receptacle 13b of the electrical connector 13 that can be connected to each other are fixedly mounted on the connectors a and 7a.

Further, an optical low-pass filter 14 having a characteristic adapted to the endoscope 12 and capable of removing moiré fringes is built in at the distal end side of the imaging unit 6, and an image sensor is provided behind the optical low-pass filter 14. The imaging device 15 and a peripheral circuit board 16 provided behind the imaging device 15 are connected to a plug 13 a of the electrical connector 13 via a signal cable 17. The cable 8 is connected to the receptacle 13b of the cable unit 7.

On the other hand, FIG. 3 shows another imaging unit 21 which can be fitted to the cable unit 7.

The imaging unit 21 can remove moiré fringes in conformity with an endoscope having a different configuration from the optical low-pass filter 14 built in the imaging unit 6, that is, a different type of endoscope from the endoscope 12. An optical low-pass filter 14a having characteristics is built in, and the other configuration is the same as that of the above-described imaging unit 6, and therefore the description is omitted.

Next, the operation of the embodiment having the above configuration will be described.

When observing the endoscope image, the endoscope image transmitted from the endoscope 12 is transmitted from the optical system 10 built in the optical adapter 11 to the optical low-pass filter built in the imaging unit 6 of the camera head unit 2. After being incident on the optical low-pass filter 14 and removing moiré fringes, an image is formed on an image sensor 15 disposed behind the optical low-pass filter 14.

In the image pickup device 15, the formed endoscope image is converted into an electric signal and transmitted to the camera controller 3 via the cable 8 extending from the cable unit 7 via the electric connector 13.

The camera controller 3 processes the electric signal transmitted from the image pickup device 15 and outputs it as a video signal to the TV monitor 4 via the video signal cable 5, and displays an endoscope image on the TV monitor 4. Project.

On the other hand, when changing the endoscope to be used, it is necessary to select an optical low-pass filter suitable for the changed endoscope. For example, the imaging unit 21 shown in FIG.
When the optical low-pass filter 14a built in the camera head has a configuration adapted to the endoscope after the change, the imaging unit 6 of the camera head unit 2 is detached from the cable unit 7, and the imaging unit 21 is connected to the cable. Connect to unit 7.

When selecting an optical low-pass filter suitable for the endoscope after the change, the optical low-pass filter 14
(Or 14a) with the imaging unit 6 (or 21)
Since there is no need to directly take out the dust from the optical low-pass filter 14 (or 14a) and the image pickup device 15, dust and the like do not enter the space 18 and the handleability is improved and the safety is improved.

Further, since only the image pickup unit 6 (or 21) needs to be replaced, the cable unit 7 can be used in common. Therefore, the cost can be reduced at least by the amount shared by the cable unit 7. it can. Further, since there is no need to prepare a plurality of cable units 7, storage and management become easy.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a main part of an imaging device for an endoscope according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

The imaging unit 31 shown in this embodiment includes:
The optical adapter 11 is assembled integrally.

According to the imaging unit 31, even if the optical system 10 needs to be changed, for example, to change the magnification, the entire imaging unit 31 can be replaced. It is safe without dust and the like invading.

In each of the above embodiments, the plug 13a of the electrical connector 13 is provided on the imaging unit side, and the receptacle 13b is provided on the cable unit side. However, the receptacle 13b is connected to the imaging unit side, and the plug 13a is connected to the cable unit side. May be provided.

[0038]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Since the configuration of the optical low-pass filter can be changed simply by replacing the imaging unit, dust and the like do not enter the optical system of the imaging device at the time of replacement, thus preventing dust and the like from entering. Not only special equipment or space is not required, and equipment cost can be reduced, but also replacement can be performed safely and easily.

Further, since the optical low-pass filter is provided on the imaging unit side, the image quality when the endoscope observation is performed by the naked eye directly from the endoscope eyepiece may be deteriorated by the optical low-pass filter. And good image quality can always be obtained.

Further, since the configuration of the optical low-pass filter is changed by exchanging the image pickup unit itself, the structure of the camera head is simplified, and the overall size and weight of the camera head can be reduced. Can be.

Further, since the cable unit side is shared, the cost can be reduced, storage and management can be simplified, and storage can be made compact, as compared with a conventional camera head in which the entire camera head is replaced. And easy handling.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a divided state of a camera head unit according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the camera head.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the imaging unit.

FIG. 4 is an overall configuration diagram of the imaging device for the endoscope.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of an imaging device for an endoscope according to a second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Endoscope imaging device 2: Camera head part 6, 21 ... Imaging unit 7 ... Cable unit 8 ... Cable 12a ... Endoscope eyepiece part 14, 14a ... Optical low-pass filter 15 ... Image sensor

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G02B 23/24 A61B 1/04 370 H04N 7/18

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. An endoscope which is detachably connected to an eyepiece of an endoscope,
An endoscope image formed in an image forming unit of an eyepiece of the endoscope;
In an imaging device for an endoscope for imaging, when combined with an image forming unit of the endoscope, a first mower is formed.
A first image pickup device having a first image sensor which has a relationship in which
And the first imaging unit are provided integrally with the first imaging unit.
Optical low-pass capable of optically removing moiré fringes
A second filter which is different when combined with an image forming unit of the endoscope.
Having a second image sensor which is related to generate moire fringes
A second imaging unit, which is provided integrally with the second imaging unit,
Optical low-pass capable of optically removing moiré fringes
A filter and an image captured by the first image sensor or the second image sensor.
A transmission cable capable of transmitting a captured image signal, and the transmission cable provided in the first imaging unit.
A first connector detachably connectable to the first imaging unit and the transmission cable provided in the second imaging unit;
Endoscopic imaging apparatus being characterized in that anda second connector connectable detachably to.