JP4566705B2 - Endoscope system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a touch panel provided on a front panel of an image processor in an endoscope system.

Conventionally, an endoscope system includes a scope, a processor, and a TV monitor. Image data acquired by a scope inserted into a patient's body is subjected to predetermined image processing by a processor. The image data subjected to the image processing is stored in a predetermined recording medium and sent to a TV monitor. As a result, the observed object image is displayed on the display of the TV monitor. The practitioner operates the scope while visually recognizing the state of the body displayed on the TV monitor. Various operation buttons, display lamps, and the like are provided on the front panel of the housing of the image processor, and the display mode on the TV monitor is appropriately adjusted by operating these operation buttons.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-70878

  In normal treatment, a doctor operates a scope while visually recognizing a TV monitor, and a nurse operates a front panel based on an instruction from the doctor. The nurse may change the position of the patient according to the status of the treatment, or may assist the doctor in inserting a scope, and is not necessarily in the vicinity of the image processor. Therefore, the nurse frequently goes back and forth between the patient and the image processor, and there is a problem that the burden on the nurse in the operation is large. In addition, when the front panel is operated, the nurse may block the TV monitor, and there is a problem that the doctor confirms the TV monitor image.

  The present invention solves the above-described problems and aims to improve the operability of the front panel of an image processor.

  An electronic endoscope system according to the present invention is generated by processing an electronic scope, an image processing apparatus connected to the electronic scope, performing predetermined image processing on an image signal acquired by the electronic scope, and the image processing apparatus. Display means for displaying image data, a touch panel that is detachably provided at a predetermined position on the outer peripheral surface of the housing of the image processing apparatus and displays icons for performing various operations, and an image processing apparatus. Transmission means capable of transmitting information between the touch panel control means and the touch panel in both the state where the touch panel is mounted on the outer peripheral surface and the state where the touch panel is removed is provided. .

  Preferably, the transmission means is a cable having a predetermined length. More preferably, the cables can be replaced with different lengths.

  As described above, according to the present invention, the touch panel provided in the housing of the image processing apparatus of the electronic endoscope system is configured to be detachable. Therefore, the touch panel can be appropriately positioned according to the indoor situation where the electronic endoscope system is used, and the operability of the touch panel is improved.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing a system configuration of an electronic endoscope system to which an embodiment according to the present invention is applied. The electronic scope 10 is connected to an operation unit 11 that performs various operations while being held by a practitioner, an insertion unit 12 that is a flexible tube inserted into a patient's body, and an image processing processor (image processing apparatus) 20. And a connecting portion 13 to be connected. The connection unit 13 is connected to the front unit 20F of the image processor 20. The image processor 20 performs predetermined image processing on the image signal acquired by the electronic scope 10. A touch panel 21 is disposed on the front portion 20F of the image processor 20. The touch panel 21 is configured to be detachable from the front portion 20F. The image processor 20 is connected to a main monitor 30 that displays an image based on a predetermined video signal standard.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the touch panel 21 is detached from the front portion 20F. The touch panel 21 is connected to the image processor 20 through the cable 40. Transmission of various data between the touch panel 21 and the image processor 20 is performed via the cable 40. In the state where the touch panel 21 shown in FIG. 1 is attached to the front part 20F, various data are similarly transmitted between the touch panel 21 and the image processor 20 via the cable 40.

  As the cable 40, a cable having a length corresponding to the size of a hospital room where the endoscope system is used is used. In other words, cables 40 having different lengths are appropriately replaced. Therefore, the touch panel 21 can be positioned at an arbitrary position according to the length of the cable 40.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an electronic endoscope system to which the first embodiment according to the present invention is applied. A light guide 14 composed of a large number of optical fibers is inserted into the electronic scope 10, and the light guide 14 extends to the distal end of the insertion portion 12 of the electronic scope 10.

  The first CPU 22 of the image processor 20 is, for example, a microprocessor that controls the entire electronic endoscope system. The light source unit 23 includes a light source such as a xenon lamp that emits white light, and a light source driving circuit for driving the light source to turn on. The diaphragm mechanism 24 includes a diaphragm for adjusting the amount of light emitted from the light source unit 23 and a diaphragm driving circuit that drives the diaphragm. The stop is disposed on the optical path of the emitted light from the light source of the light source unit 23.

  When the connection unit 13 of the electronic scope 10 is connected to the image processor 20, the light guide 14 is optically connected to the light source of the light source unit 23 via the diaphragm mechanism 24. When the light source lighting operation is performed by the user, a driving signal is output from the light source driving circuit of the light source unit 23 to the light source based on a control signal from the first CPU 22, and white light is emitted from the light source. Further, based on a control signal from the first CPU 22, a drive signal is output from the aperture drive circuit of the aperture mechanism 24 to the aperture. As a result, the amount of white light emitted from the light source unit 23 is adjusted by the diaphragm mechanism 24 and enters the incident end of the light guide 14. The incident white light is guided to the distal end of the insertion portion 12 of the electronic scope 10 by the light guide 14, and irradiated to the object to be observed as illumination light through the light distribution optical system 17.

  Reflected light from the object to be observed enters the CCD 16 via the objective optical system 15, and an optical image of the object to be observed is formed on the light receiving surface of the CCD 16. When the connection unit 13 is connected to the image processor 20, the CCD drive circuit 18 of the connection unit 13 is connected to the first CPU 22. When a CCD drive signal is output from the CCD drive circuit 18 based on the control signal from the first CPU 22, the CCD 16 photoelectrically converts the optical image of the object to be observed and outputs an analog image signal.

  The analog image signal output from the CCD 16 is subjected to image signal processing in the previous stage such as A / D conversion in the signal processing circuit 19 of the connection unit 13 and is input to the signal processing unit 25 of the image processing processor 20. The signal processing unit 25 performs predetermined image signal processing such as amplification processing, gamma correction, and contour enhancement on the digital image signal, and stores it as image data in an image memory (not shown) provided in the signal processing unit 25. . The image data in the image memory is read out in a timely manner, subjected to video signal processing conforming to the specifications of a predetermined video signal, and output to the main monitor 30. As a result, the observed object image is displayed on the main monitor 30.

  The touch panel 21 shown in a state where it is detached from the front portion 20F (FIG. 2) is used in combination with an LED 28 as a backlight. When emitted light from the LED 28 is irradiated, an image displayed on the touch panel 21 can be visually recognized. As described above, the touch panel 21 is connected to the image processor 20 via the cable 40. Various data is transmitted between the second CPU 26 of the image processor 20 and the touch panel 21 via the cable 40. The touch panel 21 and the LED 28 are controlled by a control signal sent from the second CPU 26. Further, the second CPU 26 exchanges various information with the first CPU 22.

  The auxiliary storage device (for example, hard disk device) 27 stores image data of various icons that are displayed on the touch panel 21 and facilitate input by the operator, various programs for controlling the touch panel 21, and the like. It is connected to the CPU 26. The second CPU 26 is connected to the image memory of the signal processing unit 25. The image data in the image memory is read based on the control of the second CPU 26 and output to the touch panel 21. Therefore, it is possible to display the observed object image on the touch panel 21 as well.

  As described above, the touch panel 21 can display image data of the observed object stored in the image memory of the signal processing unit 25 and image data such as an icon stored in the auxiliary storage device 27. The display mode of these image data on the touch panel 21 is controlled by the second CPU 26.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the touch panel 21 is detachable from the front portion 20F of the image processing processor 20, and various data are exchanged via the cable 40. Therefore, the touch panel 21 can be positioned at a position where an operator such as a nurse can operate most easily. For example, the touch panel 21 can be operated while waiting in the vicinity of the patient to change the patient's posture.

  In addition, the touch panel 21 can be positioned in consideration of the relative positional relationship with the installation location of the main monitor 30 and the standing position of the doctor. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the operator of the touch panel 21 from blocking the main monitor 30 and obstructing the doctor's work during the treatment.

It is a figure showing roughly the system configuration of the electronic endoscope system to which the embodiment concerning the present invention is applied, and is the figure showing the state where the touch panel was attached to the front part of the image processor. It is a figure which shows the state which removed the touch panel from the front part. It is a block diagram of an electronic endoscope system.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Electronic scope 11 Operation part 20 Image processor 20F Front part 21 Touch panel 22 1st CPU
26 Second CPU
30 Main monitor

Claims (2)

An electronic scope,
An image processing apparatus to which the electronic scope is connected, and which performs predetermined image processing on an image signal acquired by the electronic scope;
Display means for displaying image data processed and generated by the image processing device;
A touch panel that is detachably provided at a predetermined position on the outer peripheral surface of the casing of the image processing apparatus and displays icons for performing various operations;
Transmission means capable of transmitting information between the touch panel control means provided in the image processing apparatus and the touch panel both in a state where the touch panel is mounted on the outer peripheral surface and in a state where the touch panel is removed. equipped with a,
The transmission means is a cable having a predetermined length;
An electronic endoscope system characterized in that the cable can be replaced . The cable is not exposed from the casing when the touch panel is attached to the outer peripheral surface of the casing, and the cable is exposed from the casing when the touch panel is detached from the outer peripheral surface of the casing. the electronic endoscope system according to claim 1, characterized in that is.

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