JP5127596B2 - Processor device for electronic endoscope - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a processor device for an electronic endoscope, and more particularly to a processor device for an electronic endoscope that can output a freeze image to an external device.

  In the medical field, medical diagnosis using an electronic endoscope apparatus is actively performed. An electronic endoscope apparatus includes an electronic endoscope (scope) having an insertion portion that is inserted into a body cavity, and a solid-state imaging device built in the electronic endoscope, in which the electronic endoscope is detachably connected. And a processor device that receives an imaging signal to generate an image and displays the generated image on a monitor. The processor device displays the moving image on the monitor in real time.

A freeze button is provided on the operation unit of the electronic endoscope. In response to the operation of the freeze button, the processor device freezes the moving image to obtain a freeze image. The operation unit of the electronic endoscope has a capture button for outputting a freeze image to an external device such as a printer or a recorder connected to the processor device (a print button, depending on the type of the target external device, Called a copy button). In the conventional processor device, if the capture button is operated after the freeze image is frozen by the freeze button, the freeze image is output to the external device, and the output freeze image is captured by the external device, and then the monitor display is frozen. It is configured to return from an image to a moving image (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2001-79959 A

  However, since the conventional processor device is configured to return from the freeze image to the moving image after the freeze image is captured by the external device, until the freeze image capture by the external device is completed. The display of the freeze image is continued on the monitor, and the user must wait until the freeze image returns to the moving image. The external device connected to this processor device has different freeze image capture times depending on the type of the external device. Therefore, after operating the capture button, the user may wait for an unexpectedly long time depending on the type of external device and feel stressed. It was.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a processor device for an electronic endoscope that can reduce a user's stress due to a waiting time in a frozen state.

  In order to achieve the above object, a processor device for an electronic endoscope according to the present invention is generated by a signal processing unit that sequentially generates an image based on an imaging signal input from the electronic endoscope, and the signal processing unit. And a monitor image output means for displaying a freeze image with the moving image in a stationary state on the monitor in accordance with the first instruction, and a second image in accordance with the second instruction. An external device image output means for outputting the freeze image to an external device, and the monitor by the monitor image output means after a predetermined time has elapsed since the external device image output means started outputting the freeze image. Control means for returning the image display to the moving image from the freeze image.

  In addition, it is preferable that the said control means changes the setting of the said fixed time according to the operation signal from an operation means.

  Further, it is preferable that the control means displays a message on the monitor indicating that the external device is in the process of capturing the freeze image.

  The processor device for an electronic endoscope of the present invention returns the image display on the monitor from the freeze image to the moving image after a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of the output of the freeze image to the external device. The user's stress due to waiting time can be reduced.

  In FIG. 1, the electronic endoscope apparatus 2 includes an electronic endoscope 10, a processor apparatus 11, a light source apparatus 12, and the like. The electronic endoscope 10 is connected to a flexible insertion portion 13 that is inserted into a body cavity, a hand operating portion 14 that is connected to a proximal end portion of the insertion portion 13, a processor device 11, and a light source device 12. Universal cord 15.

  A distal end portion 16 having a built-in CCD type solid-state imaging device 40 (hereinafter simply referred to as CCD 40) (see FIG. 3) is connected to the distal end of the insertion portion 13. Behind the distal end portion 16 is provided a bending portion 17 in which a plurality of bending pieces are connected. The bending portion 17 is bent in the vertical and horizontal directions when the angle knob 18 provided in the hand operation portion 14 is operated and the wire inserted in the insertion portion 13 is pushed and pulled. Thereby, the front-end | tip part 16 is orient | assigned to the desired direction in a body cavity.

  The base end of the universal cord 15 is connected to the connector 19. The connector 19 is of a composite type. The connector 19 is connected to the light source device 12 in addition to the processor device 11.

  The processor device 11 receives the imaging signal output from the CCD 40, and performs various signal processing on the received imaging signal to generate an image. An image generated by the processor device 11 is displayed on a monitor 20 connected to the processor device 11 by a cable. Further, an external device can be connected to the processor device 11, and in this embodiment, the printer 21 is connected by cable as the external device. Furthermore, the processor device 11 is electrically connected to the light source device 12 and comprehensively controls the operation of the electronic endoscope device 2.

  The hand operating unit 14 of the electronic endoscope 10 has an air supply / water supply device (incorporated in the light source device 12), in addition to a forceps port 22 through which various treatment tools having an injection needle, a high-frequency knife, and the like are inserted. An air / water supply button 23 for performing air / water supply using air or wash water supplied from a not-shown), a freeze button 24 for stopping a moving image displayed on the monitor 20 and displaying a freeze image, A capture button 25 and the like for outputting the freeze image to the printer 21 connected to the processor device 11 are provided.

  In addition to the monitor 20, a keyboard 26 for inputting information such as patient information (patient ID, patient name, sex, date of birth) and various setting inputs is connected to the processor device 11 with a cable.

  In FIG. 2, an observation window 30, an illumination window 31, a forceps outlet 32, and an air / water supply nozzle 33 are provided on the end surface 16 a of the distal end portion 16. The observation window 30 is disposed at the center on one side of the end face 16a. Two illumination windows 31 are arranged at symmetrical positions with respect to the observation window 30, and irradiate illumination light guided from the light source device 12 through the light guide 65 (see FIG. 3) to the site to be observed in the body cavity. The forceps outlet 32 is connected to a forceps channel (not shown) disposed in the insertion portion 13 and communicates with the forceps port 22. Various treatment tools having an injection needle, a high-frequency knife or the like disposed at the tip are inserted into the forceps port 22, and the tips of the various treatment tools are exposed from the forceps outlet 32. The air / water supply nozzle 33 injects cleaning water and air supplied from the air / water supply device toward the observation window 30 in accordance with the operation of the air / water supply button 23.

  In FIG. 3, a CCD 40 is built in the distal end portion 16 of the electronic endoscope 10, and the CCD 40 is disposed at an imaging position of an objective lens 41 provided to face the observation window 30. The CCD 40 employs a single-plate simultaneous method as a color imaging method, and a color filter composed of a plurality of color segments (for example, a primary color filter with a Bayer arrangement) is disposed on the light receiving surface.

  The TG 42 generates a driving pulse (vertical / horizontal scanning pulse, reset pulse, etc.) for the CCD 40 and a synchronizing pulse for the analog signal processing circuit (AFE) 44 based on the control of the CPU 43. The CCD 40 is driven by a drive pulse input from the TG 42, photoelectrically converts an optical image formed through the objective lens 41, and outputs it as an imaging signal.

  The AFE 44 includes a correlated double sampling (CDS) circuit, a programmable gain amplifier (PGA), and an A / D converter. The CDS circuit performs correlated double sampling processing on the imaging signal output from the CCD 40 and removes reset noise and amplifier noise generated in the CCD 40. The PGA amplifies the image signal from which noise has been removed by the CDS circuit at a predetermined amplification factor designated by the CPU 43. The A / D converter converts the imaging signal amplified by the PGA into a digital signal having a predetermined number of bits. The imaging signal in digital format output from the AFE 44 is input into the processor device 11 via the connector 19 described above.

  The CPU 43 communicates with the CPU 50 in the processor device 11 and controls each part in the electronic endoscope 10. The freeze button 24 and the capture button 25 described above are connected to the CPU 43. When the freeze button 24 is operated, the CPU 43 generates a freeze signal FR and inputs it to the CPU 50 in the processor device 11. Further, when the capture button 25 is operated, the CPU 43 generates a capture signal CP and inputs it to the CPU 50 in the processor device 11.

  The processor device 11 includes a CPU 50, a digital signal processing circuit (DSP) 51, a monitor image output circuit 52, an external device image output circuit 53, a first memory 54, and a second memory 55. The CPU 50 controls each unit in the processor device 11 and controls the entire electronic endoscope device 2 in an integrated manner. The DSP 51 performs color interpolation, color separation, color balance adjustment, gamma correction, image enhancement processing, and the like on the imaging signal input from the AFE 44 of the electronic endoscope 10 based on the control of the CPU 50, and generates image data. . The image data output from the DSP 51 is input to the monitor image output circuit 52 and the external device image output circuit 53 at a constant frame rate under the control of the CPU 50.

  The monitor image output circuit 52 converts the input image data into a signal format corresponding to the monitor 20 and outputs it to the monitor 20. A freeze signal FR is input from the CPU 50 to the monitor image output circuit 52 when the freeze button 24 is operated. Before the freeze signal FR is input, the monitor image output circuit 52 sequentially converts the image data input from the DSP 51 and outputs it to the monitor 20, thereby displaying a moving image on the monitor 20. When the freeze signal FR is input, the monitor image output circuit 52 converts the image data for one frame input from the DSP 51 at that time into the first memory 54 and stores it in the first memory 54. The image data (hereinafter referred to as a freeze image) stored in is continuously output to the monitor 20 until the end instruction signal TM is input from the CPU 50. When the end instruction signal TM is input from the CPU 50, the monitor image output circuit 52 erases the freeze image stored in the first memory 54.

  The external device image output circuit 53 converts the input image data into a signal format corresponding to the printer 21 and outputs the signal format. The external device image output circuit 53 receives a freeze signal FR from the CPU 50 when the freeze button 24 is operated, and receives a capture signal CP from the CPU 50 when the capture button 25 is operated. When the freeze signal FR is input, the external device image output circuit 53 converts the image data for one frame input from the DSP 51 at that time and stores it in the second memory 55 as a freeze image. When the capture signal CP is input, the external device image output circuit 53 outputs the freeze image stored in the second memory 55 to the printer 21.

  The printer 21 inputs a busy signal BY indicating that the capturing operation is being performed to the CPU 50 when capturing the freeze image. The CPU 50 monitors the busy signal BY input from the printer 21. When the printer 21 completes capturing the freeze image, the busy signal BY is not input to the CPU 50. In this case, the CPU 50 stops the output of the freeze image by the external device image output circuit 53 and deletes the freeze image stored in the second memory 55.

  After the capture signal CP is input to the external device image output circuit 53 to the monitor image output circuit 52, the CPU 50 terminates the above-described processing after a predetermined time t (see FIG. 5) has elapsed (for example, after 1 second). The instruction signal TM is input, the output of the freeze image to the monitor 20 is stopped, and the moving image is output to the monitor 20.

  In addition, the CPU 50 controls the monitor image output circuit 52 during the freeze image capture period so that the user can recognize the progress of the freeze image capture operation by the printer 21, and the monitor 20 uses characters and icons. Display a message. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the CPU 50 displays an icon 70 on the screen 20 a of the monitor 20 so as to correspond to a freeze image capturing period by the printer 21. The user can recognize that the printer 21 has completed the capture of the freeze image when the icon 70 is deleted.

  The light source device 12 includes a CPU 60, a light source 61, a light source driver 62, a diaphragm mechanism 63, and a condenser lens 64. The CPU 60 communicates with the CPU 50 of the processor device 11 and controls the light source driver 62 and the diaphragm mechanism 63. The light source 61 is a xenon lamp, a halogen lamp, or the like, and is driven and controlled by a light source driver 62. The diaphragm mechanism 63 is disposed on the light exit side of the light source 61 and increases or decreases the amount of light incident on the condenser lens 64. The condenser lens 64 condenses the light that has passed through the aperture mechanism 63 and guides it to the incident end of the light guide 65 of the electronic endoscope 10 connected to the light source device 12. The light guide 65 is inserted from the proximal end to the distal end portion 16 of the electronic endoscope 10, and the emission end is connected to each illumination window 31 described above.

  Next, the operation of the electronic endoscope apparatus 2 configured as described above will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 5. When observing the inside of a body cavity using the electronic endoscope device 2, the electronic endoscope 10, the processor device 11, the light source device 12, and the monitor 20 are turned on, and the electronic endoscope 10 is inserted. The section 13 is inserted into the body cavity, and the observation image in the body cavity imaged by the CCD 40 is observed on the monitor 20 while illuminating the body cavity with the illumination light from the light source device 12.

  At this time, in the processor device 11, image data input from the electronic endoscope 10 and subjected to image processing by the DSP 51 are sequentially input to the monitor image output circuit 52 and the external device image output circuit 53. The monitor image output circuit 52 sequentially converts the input image data into a signal format corresponding to the monitor 20 and displays it on the monitor 20 as a moving image.

  When the freeze button 24 is operated, a freeze signal FR is input from the electronic endoscope 10 to the CPU 50. The monitor image output circuit 52 and the external device image output circuit 53 generate freeze images at the time when the freeze signal FR is input, and store them in the first memory 54 and the second memory 55. As shown in FIG. 5, the monitor image output circuit 52 outputs the freeze image stored in the first memory 54 instead of the moving image from the time when the freeze signal FR is input, and displays it on the monitor 20.

  Next, when the capture button 25 is operated and a capture signal CP is input from the electronic endoscope 10 to the CPU 50, the CPU 50 controls the external device image output circuit 53 to display the freeze image stored in the second memory 55. Output to the printer 21. The CPU 50 receives the capture signal CP and starts outputting the freeze image from the external device image output circuit 53. Then, the CPU 50 measures the time with a built-in timer or the like, and generates the end instruction signal TM after a predetermined time t. To the monitor image output circuit 52. The monitor image output circuit 52 deletes the freeze image stored in the first memory 54, and when the end instruction signal TM is input, the monitor image output circuit 52 stops outputting the freeze image to the monitor 20 and is input from the DSP 51. A moving image is displayed on the monitor 20 based on the image data.

  After outputting the freeze image to the printer 21, the busy signal BY indicating that the freeze image is being captured is input from the printer 21 to the CPU 50. The CPU 50 monitors the busy signal BY. When the input of the busy signal BY is finished, the CPU 50 stops the output of the freeze image by the external device image output circuit 53 and deletes the freeze image stored in the second memory 55. . Further, the CPU 50 displays a message indicating that the printer 21 is in the process of taking a freeze image on the monitor 20 that is displaying a moving image while the busy signal BY is being input.

  If the capture button 25 is not operated after the freeze button 24 is operated and a predetermined time (for example, 10 seconds) elapses, the output of the freeze image to the monitor 20 is stopped and the output of the moving image is performed. Is resumed. In addition, when the capture button 25 is operated in the moving image display state without operating the freeze button 24, the above-described freeze operation is performed along with the operation of the capture button 25, and the output of the freeze image to the monitor 20 is performed. The output of the freeze image to the printer 21 is started at the same time. Also in this case, the image display on the monitor 20 is restored from the freeze image to the moving image after the elapse of the predetermined time t.

  As described above, the processor device 11 of the present invention starts outputting the freeze image to the printer 21 and then displays the image on the monitor 20 after a certain time t, regardless of the freeze image capture time by the printer 21. Since the freeze image is restored to the moving image, the user's stress due to the waiting time in the freeze state can be reduced.

  The fixed time t is preferably shorter than the freeze image capturing time by the printer 21, and further, the shortest time (0.2 to 0.3 seconds) required to restore the freeze image to the moving image. Degree).

  Further, the predetermined time t may be set by an input operation from the keyboard 26. In this case, the CPU 50 changes the setting for a predetermined time t based on the operation signal input from the keyboard 26. Further, the setting of the fixed time t may be changed by other operation means such as an operation button (not shown) provided on the front panel of the processor device 11 without being limited to the keyboard 26.

  In the above embodiment, the printer 21 is connected to the processor device 11 as an external device, but a recorder (image filing device), a memory card, or the like may be connected instead of the printer 21. Furthermore, a plurality of external devices may be connected to the processor device 11. In this case, obtain the approximate capture time from multiple external devices, match the external device with the shortest freeze image capture time among the multiple external devices, and respond to completion of freeze image capture by the external device Thus, the display on the monitor 20 may be restored from the freeze image to the moving image.

It is an external view which shows an electronic endoscope apparatus. It is a figure which shows the end surface of the front-end | tip part of an electronic endoscope. It is a figure which shows the structure of an electronic endoscope apparatus. It is a figure which shows the screen of a monitor while the printer is performing freeze image taking-in operation. It is a timing chart explaining an operation of a processor device.

Explanation of symbols

2 Electronic Endoscope 10 Electronic Endoscope 11 Processor Device 12 Light Source Device 20 Monitor 21 Printer 24 Freeze Button 25 Capture Button 26 Keyboard (Operating Means)
40 CCD type solid-state imaging device 50 CPU (control means)
51 Digital signal processing circuit (signal processing means)
52 Monitor image output circuit (monitor image output means)
53 Image output circuit for external device (image output means for external device)
54 1st memory 55 2nd memory 70 Icon

Claims (3)

Signal processing means for sequentially generating images based on imaging signals input from an electronic endoscope;
An image output means for monitoring that causes the image generated by the signal processing means to be sequentially displayed on a monitor as a moving image, and to display a freeze image with the moving image in a stationary state on the monitor according to a first instruction; ,
An external device image output means for outputting the freeze image to an external device in response to a second instruction;
Control means for returning the image display on the monitor by the monitor image output means from the freeze image to the moving image after a lapse of a certain time after the external device image output means starts outputting the freeze image; ,
A processor device for an electronic endoscope, comprising:   The processor device for an electronic endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the control unit changes the setting for the predetermined time in accordance with an operation signal from the operation unit.   3. The processor device for an electronic endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the control unit causes the monitor to display a message indicating that the external device is capturing the freeze image. 4.

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