JP5544120B2 - Endoscope device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an endoscope apparatus that can display an image captured in the past on a display screen.

  The endoscope apparatus includes an endoscope scope that is inserted into a subject's body and an endoscope processor that is provided outside the subject's body and performs image processing. An imaging element such as a CCD is provided at the distal end of the endoscope scope. The imaging device transmits an observation image obtained by imaging an observation object in the body to the endoscope processor. The endoscope processor displays the observation image on the display device after image processing.

  A configuration is known in which an observation image is stored in a memory provided in an endoscope processor and a part of the stored observation image is enlarged and displayed in order to enlarge and display a region of interest to the operator (Patent Document 1). .

JP 05-115432 A

  However, with the conventional configuration, it is not possible to store in memory a specific image that the surgeon pays attention to. In addition, since the storage capacity of the memory is limited, it is not possible to refer to an image that is not stored in the memory. For this reason, the surgeon cannot display a specific image stored in the memory on the display device for reference while observing the inside of the body.

  The present invention has been made in view of these problems, and an object of the present invention is to obtain an endoscope apparatus that can quickly display an image captured in the past on a display unit.

  An endoscope apparatus according to the present invention includes an imaging unit that images an observation target and transmits an observation image, an image selection unit that selects a specific image from the observation image, and a specific image selected by the image selection unit. A first storage unit capable of storing the number of images, a second storage unit capable of storing a specific image selected by the image selection unit by a number greater than the first number, and an observation image currently being captured. A display unit having a current display area to be displayed, a display unit having a specific display area for displaying a specific image, and an observation image are received from the imaging unit and displayed in the current display region, and the specific image is read from the first storage unit and is displayed. An image processing unit that displays the image, and the image processing unit reads the image from the first storage unit faster than the image reading unit from the second storage unit. When the image is selected, the first storage unit When there is no storage capacity, the most recently stored image is deleted from the images stored in the first storage unit, the currently selected specific image is stored, and the previously selected specific image is specified and displayed. When the image is displayed in the area, the specific image selected by the image selection unit more recently than the displayed specific image is stored in the first storage unit in the order of the second number that is equal to or less than the first number, and the displayed specific image is displayed. The specific image selected by the image selection unit in the past than the image is stored in the first storage unit in the newest order by the third number obtained by subtracting the second number and 1 from the first number. .

  When the specific image to be stored in the first storage unit is not stored in the first storage unit when the specific image selected in the past is displayed in the specific display area, the first storage unit It is preferable that the specific image to be stored in is read from the second storage unit and stored in the first storage unit.

  When the number of specific images selected by the image selection unit in the past than the displayed specific image is less than the third number, the image processing unit selects the specific image selected by the image selection unit more recently than the displayed specific image. It is preferable to store the first storage unit by the number obtained by adding the number less than the third number and the second number.

  When the number of specific images selected by the image selection unit in the past than the displayed specific image is less than the second number, the image processing unit selects the specific image selected by the image selection unit in the past than the displayed specific image. Preferably, the first storage unit stores only the number less than the second number and the third number.

  When the first number is n, the second number is preferably n / 2-1, and the third number is preferably n / 2.

  The image processing unit preferably displays the selected image in the specific display area when the image selection unit selects the specific image.

  The endoscope apparatus is a columnar input device provided in the operation unit of the endoscope, and further includes a roller input unit in which a part of the side surface of the column is exposed to the outside from the operation unit. When the roller input unit is rotated in the first direction, a specific image captured more recently than the specific image displayed in the specific display area is read from the first storage unit and displayed in the specific display area. When the roller input unit is rotated in a second direction that is opposite to the direction of the first image, the image processing unit displays the first specific image captured in the past than the specific image displayed in the specific display area. It is preferable to read from the storage unit and display in the specific display area.

  The display unit has a horizontal / vertical ratio of 16: 9, and the current display area and the specific display area have a horizontal / vertical ratio of 4: 3, and are arranged in the horizontal direction and simultaneously displayed on the display unit. It is preferable.

  The image processing unit is preferably connected to the second storage unit via a network.

  According to the present invention, an endoscope apparatus capable of quickly displaying images captured in the past on a display unit is obtained.

It is the block diagram which showed the 1st endoscope apparatus by 1st Embodiment. It is the figure which showed the display part when referring the image memorize | stored in the past. It is the figure which showed the display part when observing an observation site | part. It is the figure which showed the operation part provided with a roller input part. It is sectional drawing of the roller input part in the VV line | wire of FIG. It is sectional drawing of the roller input part in the VI-VI line of FIG. It is the figure which showed notionally the image memorize | stored in a 1st memory | storage part. It is the figure which showed notionally the image memorize | stored in a 1st memory | storage part. It is the flowchart which showed the temporary memory process. It is the block diagram which showed the 2nd endoscope apparatus by 2nd Embodiment.

  Hereinafter, an endoscope apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  A configuration of the first endoscope apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.

  The first endoscope apparatus 100 includes an endoscope scope 200 that is inserted into the subject's body, a first endoscope processor 300 that is provided outside the subject's body and performs image processing, and a first endoscope. It mainly includes a display unit 400 connected to the mirror processor 300.

  The endoscope scope 200 includes a flexible part 210 inserted into the body of a subject, an operation part 220 held by an operator, and a connector 230 that connects the endoscope scope 200 and the first endoscope processor 300. And mainly.

  The distal end portion 211 of the flexible portion 210 is inserted into the body of the subject, and the proximal end portion 212 is connected to the operation portion 220. The operation unit 220 is connected to the connector 230 by a flexible cable 203.

  A distal end portion 211 of the flexible portion 210 is provided with a light distribution lens 213 that distributes illumination light to the subject, a CCD 214 that forms an imaging portion, and an imaging lens 216 that forms a subject image on the CCD 214. The CCD 214 images a subject via the imaging lens 216 and transmits an observation image obtained thereby as an observation image signal.

  The distal end of the light guide fiber 217 is exposed inside the distal end portion 211 of the flexible portion 210 and on the optical axis of the light distribution lens 213. The light guide fiber 217 is provided over the entire length of the endoscope scope 200 and conveys illumination light generated by the first endoscope processor 300 described later to the distal end portion 211 of the flexible portion 210. Illumination light is irradiated from the distal end of the light guide fiber 217 toward the light distribution lens 213.

  The operation unit 220 includes a roller input unit 221, a capture switch 222, and an operation member 223. When the surgeon operates the roller input unit 221, the first endoscope apparatus 100 executes a temporary storage process described later. When the capture switch 222 is operated, one frame of the observation image signal is stored in the image memory 302 as a still image, as will be described later. Then, the operator can move the distal end portion 211 of the flexible portion 210 in a desired direction by operating the operation member 223 with the thumb, index finger, or middle finger.

  Inside the connector 230, a driver circuit 231 and a scope controller 232 are provided.

  The driver circuit 231 transmits a signal for driving the CCD 214 and receives an observation image signal transmitted by the CCD 214. Then, after performing predetermined signal processing, the observation image signal is transmitted to the first endoscope processor 300.

  The scope controller 232 receives the command signal from the roller input unit 221 and transmits the command signal to the first endoscope processor 300.

  The first endoscope processor 300 includes a system controller 301 that is an image processing unit that controls the operation of the first endoscope apparatus 100, and an image memory 302 that forms a first storage unit that stores captured images. The first mass storage device 305 forming the second storage unit, the light source 303 for irradiating the light guide fiber 217 with illumination light, and the image display switch 304 are mainly provided.

  The system controller 301 is electrically connected to the driver circuit 231 and the scope controller 232 by wiring, receives an observation image signal from the driver circuit 231, and receives an observation image signal from the scope controller 232.

  The image memory 302 is a flash memory having a storage capacity smaller than that of the first mass storage device 305, and has a faster writing speed and reading speed than the first mass storage device 305. N still images to be described later can be stored. The first mass storage device 305 is, for example, a hard disk. In the present embodiment, n is the first number.

  At the time of imaging, the system controller 301 controls the light emission interval and the light emission amount of the light source 303. Thereby, the light quantity and timing of the illumination light irradiated to the observation object are adjusted.

  When the observation image signal is received from the CCD 214, the system controller 301 performs image processing on the observation image signal to obtain an observation image. Then, the observation image is transmitted to the display unit 400.

  When the capture switch 222 is operated, the scope controller 232 transmits a switch operation signal to the system controller 301. Receiving the switch operation signal, the system controller 301 stores one frame of the currently received observation image signal as a still image in the image memory 302 and the first mass storage device 305, and displays the still image on the display unit 400. Let This processing is called capture processing.

  When the image display switch 304 is operated, the system controller 301 causes the display unit 400 to display a still image stored in the image memory 302.

  The display unit 400 has a display screen with an aspect ratio of 16: 9. The display screen can receive the observation image from the system controller 301 and display the observation image and the character information at the same time, or can display the observation image and the still image at the same time. The display screen is divided into a plurality of areas such as a current display area 401, a specific display area 402, a character information display area 403, and the like, and images and characters can be displayed in each divided area. The observation image is displayed in the current display area 401, the still image is displayed in the specific display area 402, and the character information is displayed in the character information display area 403. The current display area and the specific display area 402 have an aspect ratio of 4: 3. When the current display area 401 and the specific display area 402 are simultaneously displayed on the display unit 400, they are displayed side by side in the horizontal direction, with the current display area 401 on the left side and the specific display area 402 on the right side (FIG. 2). reference). When the current display area 401 and the character information display area 403 are simultaneously displayed on the display unit 400, they are displayed side by side in the horizontal direction, with the current display area 401 on the left and the character information display area 403 on the right ( (See FIG. 3).

  Next, the roller input unit 221 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  The roller input unit 221 is mainly composed of a cylindrical rotating unit 224 and a support shaft 225 that rotatably supports the rotating unit 224. A part of the side surface of the rotating unit 224 protrudes from the outer surface of the operation unit 220. The position at which the rotating unit 224 protrudes in the operation unit 220 is a position where the surgeon's ring finger or little finger is placed when the operator holds the operation unit 220, and the operator rotates the rotation unit 224 with the ring finger or little finger. Let A first electrode 226, a second electrode 227, and a third electrode 228 are provided on the inner surface of the rotating unit 224. The first electrode 226, the second electrode 227, and the third electrode 228 extend over the entire length of the rotating unit 224 along the axis of the rotating unit 224. And they are electrically insulated from each other. The support shaft 225 is provided inside the operation unit 220 and is not exposed to the outside of the operation unit 220. Both ends of the support shaft 225 are supported by bearings 229, and the support shaft 225 does not rotate with respect to the bearings. A fourth electrode 229 is provided on the side surface of the support shaft 225. The fourth electrode 229 extends along the axis of the support shaft 225 over the entire length of the support shaft 225. In FIG. 4, the distance between the rotating unit 224 and the support shaft 225 is shown large for explanation. A voltage is applied to the first electrode 226, the second electrode 227, and the third electrode 228, and a voltage is applied to the fourth electrode 229 when in contact with the fourth electrode 229. The scope controller 232 detects the rotation direction of the rotating unit 224 by detecting this voltage.

  A means for detecting the rotation direction of the rotating unit 224 will be described.

  When the scope controller 232 comes into contact with the third electrode 228 after the first electrode 226, the second electrode 227 after the third electrode 228, and the first electrode 226 after the second electrode 227 In FIG. 4, it is determined that the rotating unit 224 has rotated clockwise. That is, in FIG. 4, when the fourth electrode 229 contacts the second electrode 227 in order after the third electrode 228, the scope controller 232 determines that the rotating unit 224 has been rotated clockwise. On the other hand, when the first electrode 226 is in contact with the second electrode 227, the second electrode 227 is next in contact with the third electrode 228, and the third electrode 228 is in contact with the first electrode 226, the scope is In FIG. 4, the controller 232 determines that the rotating unit 224 has rotated counterclockwise.

  Next, means for storing still images will be described with reference to FIGS.

  An image that is stored by the capture switch 222 or selected by the image display switch 304 and displayed on the display unit 400 is a still image X. A still image is assigned a capture number from 1 in the order of capture, and the capture number of the still image X is x.

  When the still image X displayed on the display unit 400 is the latest captured still image among the still images stored in the first mass storage device 305, the system controller 301 displays the still image X. In addition, only n−1 still images captured in the past are read from the first mass storage device 305 and stored in the image memory 302.

  When a new still image is captured by the operation of the capture switch 222, the system controller 301 deletes the most recently captured still image from among the still images stored in the image memory 302, and creates a new one. The captured still image is stored in the image memory 302. That is, a still image is stored by a so-called first-in, first-out (FIFO) method.

  When the number of still images captured in the past from the still image X and stored in the first mass storage device 305 is less than n-1, the storage area of the image memory 302 is freed up. Will remain.

  When the still image X displayed on the display unit 400 is not the latest among the still images stored in the first mass storage device 305, the system controller 301 is captured in the past than the still image X. Only x- (n / 2) -1 still images and x- (n / 2) still images captured more recently than the still image X are read from the first mass storage device 305, and the image memory 302 is read out. Remember me. That is, x- (n / 2) is the second number and x- (n / 2) -1 is the third number.

  When the still image selected by the operation of the image display switch 304 is changed, that is, when the still image displayed on the display unit 400 is changed, the system controller 301 similarly controls the past from the still image X. The image memory 302 newly stores x- (n / 2) -1 still images captured in the time interval and x- (n / 2) still images captured more recently than the still image X. At this time, the system controller 301 deletes still images not included in the still image to be newly stored from the image memory 302, and only the still images not stored in the image memory 302 are stored in the first mass storage device 305. Read from.

  Next, the temporary storage process will be described with reference to FIG. The temporary storage process is executed when the capture switch 222 or the image display switch 304 is operated.

  In step S901, it is determined whether either the capture switch 222 or the image display switch 304 has been operated. When the capture switch 222 is operated, the process proceeds to step S902, and when the image display switch 304 is operated, the process proceeds to step S912.

  In step S902, the still image X is stored in the image memory 302 and the first mass storage device 305.

  In step S903, the still image X is displayed on the display unit 400.

  In step S904, it is determined whether or not the first mass storage device 305 stores the still image with the capture number x−1 stored immediately before the still image X. If the first mass storage device 305 stores the information, the process proceeds to step S905. If not stored, the process returns to the start.

  In step S 905, the still image with the capture number x−1 is read from the first mass storage device 305 and stored in the image memory 302.

  In step S906, the capture number x is decremented by one.

  In step S907, it is determined whether the storage capacity of the image memory 302 still remains. If it remains, the process returns to step S904, and the processes from step S904 to step S906 are repeated. As a result, only n−1 still images captured in the past from the still image X are read from the first large-capacity storage device 305 and stored in the image memory 302 until there is no free space in the image memory 302. Is done. If the storage capacity of the image memory 302 does not remain, the process returns to the start.

  In step S912, the still image selected by the image display switch 304 is displayed on the display unit 400.

  In step S913, it is determined whether or not the first mass storage device 305 stores the still image with the capture number x + 1 stored immediately after the still image X. If the first mass storage device 305 stores the information, the process proceeds to step S914. If not, the process proceeds to step S904.

  In step S <b> 914, the still image with the capture number x + 1 is read from the first mass storage device 305 and stored in the image memory 302.

  In step S915, it is determined whether more than half of the storage capacity of the image memory 302 remains. If more than half remains, the process increments the capture number x by 1 in step S916, returns to step S913, and repeats the processes in steps S913 and S914. As a result, only n / 2 still images captured newer than the still image X, that is, half of the free space of the image memory 302 are read from the first mass storage device 305 and stored in the image memory 302. Is done. If more than half of the storage capacity of the image memory 302 remains, the process proceeds to step S917.

  In step S917, it is determined whether or not the first mass storage device 305 stores the still image with the capture number x−1 stored immediately before the still image X. If the first mass storage device 305 stores the information, the process proceeds to step S918.

  In step S918, the still image with the capture number x-1 is read from the first mass storage device 305 and stored in the image memory 302.

  In step S919, the capture number x is decremented by one.

  In step S920, it is determined whether the storage capacity of the image memory 302 still remains. If it remains, the process returns to step S917, and the processes from step S917 to step S920 are repeated. As a result, only n−1 still images captured in the past from the still image X are read from the first large-capacity storage device 305 and stored in the image memory 302 until there is no free space in the image memory 302. (See FIG. 8). If the storage capacity of the image memory 302 does not remain, the process returns to the start.

  In step S917, when the first mass storage device 305 does not store the still image with the capture number x−1 stored immediately before the still image X, the process proceeds to step S916. Then, the still image captured before the still image X is stored in the image memory 302 by performing the processing of step S916 and steps S913 to S915. On the other hand, when the process proceeds from step S916 to step S904 via step S913, the process returns to the start. This is because the first large-capacity storage device 305 does not store the still image with the capture number x−1 stored immediately before the still image X.

  According to the present embodiment, a still image captured in the past can be temporarily stored in the image memory 302 having a high writing and reading speed, so that the still image can be quickly displayed on the display unit 400.

  Next, a second endoscope apparatus 700 according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. About the structure similar to 1st Embodiment, description is abbreviate | omitted using the same code | symbol.

  The second endoscope apparatus 700 includes an endoscope scope 200, a second endoscope processor 710, a display unit 400, and a server 720 connected to the second endoscope processor 710 via a network. And mainly.

  The second endoscope processor 710 includes a system controller 301 that controls the operation of the second endoscope apparatus 700, a client network unit 711 that communicates with the server 720, a light source 303, and an image display switch 304. Prepare mainly.

  The server 720 mainly includes a server network unit 721 that communicates with the server 720 and a second mass storage device 722 that forms a second storage unit.

  The image memory 302 is a flash memory having a smaller storage capacity than that of the second mass storage device 722, and the data writing speed and the data reading speed via the network are faster than those of the second mass storage device 722. . N still images to be described later can be stored. The second mass storage device 722 is, for example, a hard disk.

  When the capture switch 222 is operated, the scope controller 232 transmits a switch operation signal to the system controller 301. The system controller 301 that has received the switch operation signal stores one frame of the currently received observation image signal as a still image in the image memory 302 and transmits it to the client network unit 711.

  The client network unit 711 transmits a still image to the server 720 via the network.

  The server network unit 721 receives a still image and transmits it to the second mass storage device 722. The second mass storage device 722 stores a still image.

  The second endoscope apparatus 700 is different from the first endoscope apparatus 100 in that a network is interposed when a still image is stored and read out in the second mass storage device 722.

  According to this embodiment, when a still image is transmitted / received via a network, the time required for displaying the still image on the display unit 400 can be shortened. Furthermore, when there are a plurality of second endoscope processors 710, it is not necessary to provide a large-capacity storage device for each second endoscope processor 710, and by centrally managing still images in the server 720, Management of still images becomes easy.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 1st endoscope apparatus 200 Endoscope scope 203 Cable 210 Flexible part 211 Distal end part 212 Proximal end part 213 Light distribution lens 214 CCD
216 Imaging lens 217 Light guide fiber 220 Operation unit 221 Roller input unit 222 Capture switch 223 Operation member 224 Rotating unit 225 Support shaft 226 First electrode 227 Second electrode 228 Third electrode 229 Fourth electrode 230 Connector 231 Driver Circuit 232 Scope controller 300 First endoscope processor 301 System controller 302 Image memory 303 Light source 304 Image display switch 305 First mass storage device 400 Display unit 401 Current display area 402 Specific display area 403 Character information display area 700 First 2 endoscope apparatuses 710 second endoscope processor 711 client network unit 720 server 721 server network unit 722 second mass storage device

Claims (9)

An imaging unit for imaging an observation object and transmitting an observation image;
An image selection unit for selecting a specific image from the observation image;
A first storage unit capable of storing a first number of specific images selected by the image selection unit;
A second storage unit capable of storing a specific image selected by the image selection unit by a number greater than the first number;
A display unit that has a current display area for displaying an observation image that is currently being imaged and a specific display area for displaying a specific image, and that displays the current display area and the specific display area simultaneously;
An image processing unit that receives the observation image from the imaging unit and displays the observation image in the current display area, reads the specific image from the first storage unit, and displays the specific image in the specific display area;
The speed at which the image processing unit reads an image from the first storage unit is faster than the speed at which an image is read from the second storage unit,
The image processing unit
When there is no remaining storage capacity of the first storage unit when the image selection unit selects a specific image, the image stored in the past among the images stored in the first storage unit is deleted. Remember the currently selected specific image,
When the specific images selected in the past are displayed in the specific display area, the specific images selected by the image selection unit more recently than the displayed specific images are sorted in order of the second number that is equal to or less than the first number. A third number obtained by subtracting the second number and 1 from the first number for the specific image that the image selection unit has selected in the past than the displayed specific image stored in the first storage unit. Endoscope devices that are stored in the first storage unit in ascending order only.   When the first storage unit does not store the specific image to be stored in the first storage unit when the specific image selected in the past is displayed in the specific display area, The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a specific image to be stored in the first storage unit is read from the second storage unit and stored in the first storage unit.   The image processing unit selects the image selection unit more recently than the displayed specific image when the number of specific images selected by the image selection unit in the past is less than the third number than the displayed specific image. The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the number of the specific images thus stored is stored in the first storage unit by a number obtained by adding the number less than the third number and the second number. The image processing unit selects the image selection unit in the past than the displayed specific image when the number of the specific images selected by the image selection unit in the past is less than the second number than the displayed specific image. The endoscope apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the specific image is stored in the first storage unit by a number obtained by adding the number less than the second number and the third number. . The endoscope according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein when the first number is n, the second number is n / 2-1, and the third number is n / 2. apparatus. The endoscope apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein when the image selection unit selects a specific image, the image processing unit displays the selected image in the specific display area. The endoscope apparatus is a columnar input device provided in an operation unit of an endoscope, and further includes a roller input unit in which a part of a side surface of the column is exposed to the outside from the operation unit,
When the roller input unit is rotated in the first direction, the image processing unit reads a specific image captured more recently than the specific image displayed in the specific display area from the first storage unit. Display in the specific display area,
When the roller input unit is rotated in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction, the image processing unit is captured in the past than the specific image displayed in the specific display area. the endoscope apparatus according to any one of 6 claims 1 to be displayed on the specific display area by reading the specific image from the first storage unit. The display unit has a horizontal / vertical ratio of 16: 9, and the current display area and the specific display area have a horizontal / vertical ratio of 4: 3, and are arranged in the horizontal direction on the display unit. the endoscope apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7 to be displayed simultaneously.   The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image processing unit is connected to the second storage unit via a network.

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