JP5987826B2 - Probe system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention is a probe that is inserted into an endoscope channel, irradiates a measurement target region of biological tissue with irradiation light, and receives radiation emitted from the measurement target region due to the irradiation light. The present invention relates to a probe system of a probe including an optical system and a method for using the probe system.

Today, as an upper esophageal endoscope, an oral type is widespread, and a nasal type is also becoming widespread.
Recently, in addition to so-called endoscopic videoscopes, special diagnostic devices utilizing various optical principles such as ultrasonic diagnostic devices and fluorescent diagnostic devices have been proposed, and some have been put into practical use.
In particular, in a fluorescence diagnostic apparatus that applies fluorescence, invisible information that cannot be obtained with an endoscopic videoscope is obtained, which is useful for diagnosis such as leading to early detection of a malignant tumor, and thus is highly expected.
There are diagnostic probes for making such diagnoses, that is, probes that reach the body through the forceps channel of the endoscope, or that are integrated with the endoscope.
Here, the forceps channel is a tunnel-like path formed inside the endoscope from the proximal end to the distal end of the endoscope through which a treatment instrument such as a forceps or a capture net is passed. It is also called a work channel, an insertion channel, etc. (a channel may be described as a channel). Hereinafter, a tunnel-like path formed in the endoscope from the proximal end to the distal end of the endoscope is referred to as an endoscope channel.

Oral type endoscopes have an outer diameter of about 10 mm, and are often provided with an endoscope channel of less than 3 mm.
When inserting a probe through such an endoscope channel, a conventional endoscope can be used and a relatively gentle curve is drawn to reach the body lumen. Although flexibility like a mirror is not required, it is necessary to have a very small outer diameter that passes through the endoscope channel, so that depending on the configuration mounted on the probe, the structure tends to be very precise.
The lower gastrointestinal endoscope is inserted through the anus and diagnoses the rectum, the large intestine, etc., and is similarly equipped with an endoscope channel. It is the same as an oral type endoscope in that the probe can be inserted and used.

  Recently, there is a demand for superimposing a result detected through a probe on an image of an esophageal inner wall or a stomach wall imaged by an endoscope body to be useful for diagnosis. By superimposing the result detected through the probe such as fluorescence intensity with the normal image captured by the endoscope body, it is possible to make the doctor, patient, etc. recognize the lesion that cannot be visually recognized along with the position on the normal image. It is.

  Patent Documents 1-4 describe an endoscope apparatus that observes such a fluorescent image. In particular, Patent Documents 1, 3, and 4 describe an endoscope apparatus in which at least a probe that irradiates excitation light is inserted into an endoscope channel. If the probe is inserted into the endoscope channel, fluorescence measurement can be performed using a general-purpose endoscope, so that the configuration of both the endoscope and the probe can be prevented from becoming complicated. There is a merit.

JP 2010-88929 A JP 2006-198106 A JP 2007-14633 A JP 2010-104391 A

However, the above-described conventional technology has the following problems.
Illumination is indispensable for image acquisition by the endoscope body.
On the other hand, when the probe inserted into the endoscope channel is a probe using an optical principle, there is a problem that illumination provided in the endoscope main body is disturbed and suitable measurement (diagnosis) cannot be performed.
Therefore, at the time of measurement via the probe, it is necessary to take measures such as turning off the illumination of the endoscope body or shielding the measurement target part of the probe. Further, after that, in order to perform image acquisition by the endoscope main body, it is necessary to turn off the illumination that has been turned off or to cancel the light shielding. For this reason, the operation of the endoscope main body and the special diagnostic apparatus may be complicated, and as a result, the examination time may be lengthened and the burden on the patient's body may be increased. Therefore, it is not preferable that the operator manually switches on / off the endoscope main body illumination as in Patent Document 4.
In addition, xenon lamps and halogen lamps are mainly used as the illumination light source provided in the endoscope, and there is a problem that the lifetime is shortened when the lamp is repeatedly turned on and off in a short time.
Furthermore, the lighting provided in the endoscope is not intended to be turned off during the examination when the endoscope is inserted into the body, or repeatedly turned on and off. Even if a xenon lamp or halogen lamp is turned off, it takes a relatively long time from turning on (thus turning on the lighting) to turning on enough light for shooting. For this reason, even if the light is turned off in a state where the light is sufficiently bright, it takes a relatively long time until the light is completely turned off from the turn-off operation (thus turning off the illumination power). For this reason, it is not practical to perform an endoscopic inspection while repeatedly turning on / off the illumination provided for the endoscope for measurement by a probe.
In addition, since the endoscopic video is blacked out during extinguishing, there is a high concern that if the extinguishing time is extended, the endoscope may be interfered with by an erroneous operation of the endoscope.

A solid-state light emitting element such as an LED can be considered as an illumination light source with good responsiveness, but flickering occurs in an endoscopic image when the light emission of the solid state light emitting element is controlled by a PWM (pulse width modulation) method for brightness adjustment. There is a risk.
Further, the inventors of the present application consider mounting an illumination for endoscopic photography on a probe and performing measurement by the probe and control of the illumination in the probe system in order to eliminate complicated operations and facilitate the inspection. However, depending on the characteristics of the electronic camera of the endoscope to be combined, it is considered that the light emission control of the illumination provided on the probe side is not appropriate.

  The present invention has been made in view of the problems in the prior art described above, and is complicated in operation when performing measurement with a probe as well as in-vivo imaging with an endoscope by applying a probe inserted into an endoscope channel. It is an object of the present invention to shorten the illumination turn-off time for measurement by the probe while eliminating the property, and to realize good light emission for photographing with the endoscope regardless of the type of the endoscope when the illumination is turned on.

The invention according to claim 1 for solving the above-described problem includes a probe system including a probe inserted into an endoscope channel formed in an endoscope, and a base unit to which a proximal end of the probe is connected. Because
The probe system is provided with illumination means for photographing with the endoscope,
The base unit includes illumination control means for controlling light emission of the illumination means,
An input interface for inputting a video signal of an image captured by the endoscope ;
Measurement control means for controlling measurement by the probe , and
A solid light emitting element is applied as a light source of the illumination means,
The illumination control means controls light emission of the solid state light emitting element based on a video signal input via the input interface ,
The measurement control means is a probe system characterized in that the illumination means is turned off at the start of the measurement, and the illumination means is turned on at the end of the measurement .

Invention of Claim 2 is equipped with the optical fiber for light projection, and the optical fiber for light reception in the said probe,
The base unit includes a measurement light source and a measurement photodetector,
Light emitted from the measurement light source and guided by the light projecting optical fiber is irradiated onto a measurement target site of a living tissue, and radiated light emitted from the measurement target site due to the irradiated light is received. The probe system according to claim 1, wherein the probe system is guided to the proximal end side of the probe by the optical fiber for light reception and introduced into the measurement photodetector.

In the invention according to claim 3, at least an illumination light guiding optical fiber is provided in the probe as the illumination means,
3. The probe system according to claim 1, wherein light from the solid-state light emitting element installed in the base unit is guided to a tip portion of the probe by the illumination light guiding optical fiber. 4. .

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, at least the solid-state light emitting element is provided on the probe as the illumination unit,
The probe system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein an electrical wiring for connecting to the solid state light emitting device is provided in the probe.

  A fifth aspect of the present invention is the probe system according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the illumination control unit controls the solid state light emitting element by a pulse width modulation method. .

  A sixth aspect of the present invention is the probe system according to the fifth aspect, wherein the illumination control means generates a driving pulse wave of the solid state light emitting device synchronized with a vertical synchronizing signal of the video signal. .

A seventh aspect of the present invention is the probe system according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, wherein the solid state light emitting device is a light emitting diode.

According to the present invention, it is possible to take an image with the imaging means of the endoscope while illuminating the measurement target portion with the illumination means provided in the probe system , the solid light emitting element is applied as the light source of the illumination means, and the illumination control means is the probe. Since the illumination can be controlled to be turned off in conjunction with the measurement operation by the probe provided in the system, the illumination turn-off time for measurement by the probe can be shortened while eliminating the complexity of the operation. In addition, since the illumination control unit controls the light emission based on the video signal from the endoscope, it is possible to realize a good light emission for photographing with the endoscope regardless of the type of the endoscope when the illumination is turned on.

It is the figure which combined and showed the circuit block of the base unit of the probe system which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention with the endoscope. It is a figure which shows a mode that the probe which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention was combined with the endoscope. It is a figure which shows a mode that the probe which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention was combined with the endoscope. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional schematic diagram of the probe which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram of the configuration of the illumination control unit according to the first embodiment of the present invention. It is an external view of the lighting operation panel which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 4 is a schematic waveform diagram showing a PWM signal and a measurement turn-off command signal according to the first embodiment of the present invention. It is a typical waveform diagram which shows the video signal and PWM signal which concern on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a typical waveform diagram which shows the video signal and PWM signal which concern on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the measurement using the probe which concerns on a comparative example. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the measurement using the probe which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a screen figure which shows the measuring point of the brightness of the image | video which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a structure block diagram of the illumination control unit which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional schematic diagram of the probe which concerns on 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram of a base unit according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

  An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The following is one embodiment of the present invention and does not limit the present invention.

[First Embodiment]
First, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
The probe system of this embodiment includes a base unit 1 having the configuration shown in FIG. 1 and a probe 30 connected to the base unit 1. FIG. 1 also shows an endoscope 100 into which the probe 30 is inserted and removed.

As shown in FIG. 1, the base unit 1 includes an input device 10, a display device 11, a measurement control unit (measurement control means) 12, a measurement light source 13, a measurement photodetector 14, and a probe connector 15. A video input interface 16, a lighting operation panel 17, a lighting control unit (lighting control means) 18, and a light emitting diode for lighting (hereinafter “lighting LED”) 19.
For example, the input device 10 includes a keyboard, a mouse, a touch panel, a card reader, and other information input devices, the display device 11 includes an image display device such as a liquid crystal display device, and the measurement control unit 12 includes a computer.
The illumination control unit 18 controls the illumination LED 19 by a pulse width modulation method.

As shown in FIG. 3, a light projecting optical fiber 31, a light receiving optical fiber 32, and an illumination light guiding optical fiber 34 are built in the probe 30 so as to extend in the longitudinal direction. The leading end of the light projecting optical fiber 31 and the leading end of the light receiving optical fiber 32 face an optical member 33 such as a lens. The tip of the illumination light guiding optical fiber 34 faces an optical member 35 such as a diffusion member. The base end portions of the light projecting optical fiber 31, the light receiving optical fiber 32 and the illumination light guiding optical fiber 34 are held by a connector portion 36.
As shown in FIG. 2A, the probe 30 is used by being inserted into a channel provided in the flexible main body of the endoscope 100. At the distal end of the endoscope 100, an electronic camera 100a and an illumination 100b are arranged. As shown in the figure, an endoscope channel 100c is formed in the endoscope 100 main body. The endoscope channel 100c is formed so as to communicate from an insertion port 100d provided by branching from the main trunk of the endoscope 100 main body to a distal end opening 100e opened at the distal end surface of the endoscope 100 main body. As shown in FIG. 2B, the tip of the probe 30 is configured to protrude from the opening 100e at the tip of the endoscope 100, and illuminates light from the illumination unit 30a at the tip of the probe 30. Further, excitation light is irradiated from the measurement unit 30b at the probe tip, and radiation light from the measurement target site is received by the measurement unit 30b. Note that imaging data generated from the electronic camera 100a of the endoscope 100 is input to the video input interface 16 of the base unit 1 as a video signal via the endoscope processor 200 (see FIG. 1).

FIG. 4 shows details of the configuration of the illumination control unit 18.
As shown in FIG. 4, the illumination control unit 18 includes a video signal brightness measurement unit 20, a dimming control unit 21, a PWM modulation unit 22, an LED driver unit 23, a video synchronization separation circuit 24, and a phase adjustment unit. 25.

FIG. 5 shows an external view of the lighting operation panel 17.
As shown in FIG. 5, the illumination operation panel 17 is provided with an illumination ON / OFF switch 17a, a dimming mode switch 17b, a brightness setting value display unit 17c, and a brightness setting button 17d.

This probe system is used together with an endoscope. The connector portion 36 at the base end of the probe 30 is connected to the probe connection portion 15 of the base unit 1, and the video signal cable 120 of the video imaged by the endoscope electronic camera 100 a is connected to the video input interface 16 of the base unit 1. Then, the probe 30 is used by being inserted into an endoscope channel formed in the endoscope.
The probe system is provided with illumination means for photographing with an endoscope. In this embodiment, a light emitting diode (illumination LED) 19 as a light source, an illumination light guiding optical fiber 34 that guides light from the light source, and an optical member 35 such as a diffusing member constitute illumination means. As a light source, you may use other solid light emitting elements, such as organic EL, for example.
Illumination light using the illumination LED 19 provided in the base unit 1 as a light source is guided to the illumination light guiding optical fiber 34 via the probe connection unit 15. Further, the illumination light is guided to the distal end portion of the probe 30 by the illumination light guiding optical fiber 34 and irradiated to the living tissue 2 through the optical member 35 such as a diffusion member.
The illuminated range includes an imaging range by the endoscope electronic camera 100 a, and the imaging range by the endoscope electronic camera 100 a includes a region to be measured by the probe 30.
When performing imaging by the endoscope electronic camera 100a while performing the measurement by the probe using the probe system is in a state without using an illumination device provided in the endoscope extinguished this, the probe system Photographing with an endoscope electronic camera is performed by illumination by the illumination means provided.

Here, the measurement by the probe 30 will be described.
The light emitted from the measurement light source 13 and guided by the light projecting optical fiber 31 is irradiated to the measurement target portion of the living tissue 2, and the radiation emitted from the measurement target portion due to the irradiated light is received. Then, the light is guided to the proximal end side of the probe 30 by the light receiving optical fiber 32 and introduced into the measuring photodetector 14.
The measurement control unit 12 performs ON / OFF control of the measurement light source 13, filter switching control, shutter control, and the like. The measurement control unit 12 monitors the temperature of the measurement light source 13 in response to an input from a temperature sensor whose detection target is the measurement light source 13.
The measurement photodetector 14 detects the light intensity, spectral characteristics, polarization characteristics, and the like of the light input through the light receiving optical fiber 32 and outputs the detection results to the measurement control unit 12. The measurement control unit 12 analyzes this to identify information useful for diagnosing the lesion state of the living tissue 2.

When the measurement by the probe 30 is to measure the fluorescence emitted from the living tissue, the measurement light source 13 generates excitation light.
According to the lesion state, fluorescence is generated by the excitation light at the measurement target site irradiated with the excitation light. When the fluorescence is generated, the emitted light from the measurement target part including the fluorescence and the reflected light is incident on the light receiving optical fiber 32 and input to the measurement photodetector 14.
Fluorescence is broadly defined as an object irradiated with X-rays, ultraviolet rays, or visible light absorbs its energy, excites electrons, and releases excess energy as electromagnetic waves when it returns to the ground state. To do. Here, since the return light includes fluorescence having a wavelength different from the wavelength due to the excitation light, the measurement light detector 14 divides the return light, and the measurement control unit 12 analyzes the spectrum distribution to fluoresce. The amount of the lesion is specified to detect the lesion state to be detected.

Next, lighting control will be described.
(Automatic ON / OFF function)
The illumination control unit 18 performs ON / OFF control of the illumination LED 19 in accordance with a control command from the measurement control unit 12.
FIG. 6 shows, as an example, a PWM signal A for the illumination control unit 18 to control the LED 19 for illumination by a pulse width modulation (PWM) method, and a turn-off command signal B during measurement by the measurement control unit 12.
The measurement control unit 12 outputs a measurement turn-off command signal B to the illumination control unit 18, turns off the illumination LED 19 at the start of measurement by the probe, turns off the illumination of the probe 30, and illuminates at the end of measurement by the probe. Control for turning on the LED 19 and turning on the illumination of the probe 30 is performed.
A period T1 shown in FIG. 6 corresponds to the measurement period by the probe, and the measurement control unit 12 generates a measurement turn-off command signal B in conjunction with the measurement control and outputs it to the illumination control unit 18.
The illumination control unit 18 turns off the illumination LED 19 by controlling the pulse width in the PWM signal to zero in the measurement period T1 in accordance with the measurement turn-off command signal B.

(Manual ON / OFF function)
The lighting LED 19 is turned ON / OFF according to an ON / OFF operation signal input from the lighting operation panel 17 to the lighting control unit 18 in accordance with the operation of the lighting ON / OFF switch 17a of the lighting operation panel 17. 18 is also performed by controlling the PWM signal.

(Manual illumination dimming function)
The illumination control unit 18 adjusts the light emission amount of the illumination LED 19 according to the operation of the illumination operation panel 17.
In the state where the dimming mode is switched to manual by the operation of the dimming mode switching switch 17b of the lighting operation panel 17, a value indicating the light emission amount of the illumination LED 19 is displayed on the brightness setting value display portion 17c. This is a value corresponding to the brightness of the illumination provided in the probe 30. This index value can be increased or decreased by operating the brightness setting button 17d.
The illumination control unit 18 increases or decreases the pulse width of the PWM signal according to such an operation to control the light emission amount of the illumination LED 19, that is, the brightness of the illumination provided in the probe 30 is made constant according to the index value. Control.

(Automatic video dimming function)
In the above-mentioned “manual illumination dimming function”, the brightness of the illumination provided to the probe 30 is controlled to be constant according to the index value, so that an image of a close subject or an image of a wide space such as the stomach is captured. For example, the brightness of the video shot varies depending on the shooting target. The function of variably controlling the amount of illumination light in order to keep the brightness of the captured image constant is the “automatic video dimming function” described here. This function is enabled in a state where the dimming mode is switched to “automatic” by the operation of the dimming mode switching switch 17b of the lighting operation panel 17. At this time, the brightness setting value display unit 17c displays a value indicating the control target value of the brightness of the captured video. This target value can be increased or decreased by operating the brightness setting button 17d.

In order to realize this function, the illumination control unit 18 controls the light emission of the illumination LED 19 based on a video signal input via the video input interface 16.
When the video signal is input to the illumination control unit 18, the video signal brightness measurement unit 20 shown in FIG. 4 processes the video signal to calculate the brightness of the captured video.
When the brightness of the captured image calculated here is the average value of the entire screen, the video signal brightness measurement unit 20 is smoothed in a time corresponding to one image frame by using the video signal brightness measurement unit 20 as an analog smoothing circuit. The brightness level of the video signal is output.

The dimming control unit 21 compares the brightness measurement value output from the video signal brightness measurement unit 20 with the default control value of the brightness of the captured image updated by the operation of the lighting operation panel 17. Then, the control value is calculated so that the measurement value approaches the control target value and converges, and is output to the PWM modulation unit 22. The PWM modulation unit 22 controls the pulse width of the PWM signal based on the control value given from the dimming control unit 21. The LED driver unit 23 generates a drive current according to the PWM signal modulated by the PWM modulation unit 22 and supplies it to the illumination LED 19.
By controlling the light emission of the LED for illumination based on the video signal generated by the electronic camera of the endoscope and input to the input interface, shooting with the endoscope is performed regardless of the characteristics of the electronic camera of the endoscope when the illumination is turned on. Therefore, good light emission can be realized. Therefore, by combining the probe system of this embodiment with a general-purpose endoscope, it becomes possible to perform observation and measurement satisfactorily.

(Flicker prevention function)
When photographing is performed by controlling the LED for illumination in the PWM method, flicker noise may occur in the photographed image. Here, control for preventing this will be described.
The flicker occurs because the exposure period of the endoscope electronic camera and the light emission period of the illumination are not synchronized, and the illumination is bright or dark when the camera captures light.
The exposure period of the endoscope electronic camera can be specified by analyzing the video signal. The light emission period corresponds to the pulse of the PWM signal. Therefore, the illumination control unit 18 performs the following control to prevent flicker.
First, the video sync separation circuit 24 shown in FIG. 4 separates the sync signal from the video signal, detects the phase of the vertical sync signal Vsync, and outputs it to the phase adjustment unit 25.
As shown in FIG. 7, the video signal includes a vertical synchronization signal Vsync and a horizontal synchronization signal Hsync. The period from the vertical synchronization signal Vsync to the next vertical synchronization signal Vsync corresponds to one period in which a video signal for one image frame is transmitted.
As shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, by adjusting the pulse phase of the PWM signal based on the phase of the vertical synchronization signal Vsync, the exposure period of the endoscope electronic camera and the light emission period of the illumination are synchronized with each other. Can be prevented.
Therefore, the phase adjustment unit 25 outputs to the PWM modulation unit 22 a phase shifted by the shift amount d with reference to the phase of the vertical synchronization signal Vsync output from the video synchronization separation circuit 24.
The PWM modulation unit 22 modulates the PWM signal so that there is a pulse in the phase input from the phase adjustment unit 25. The shift amount d can be increased or decreased by an operation input via the input device 10. Since the shift amount d for preventing flicker differs depending on the endoscope electronic camera to be combined, it is adjusted during use. Although it is conceivable to shorten the cycle of the PWM signal in order to prevent flicker, it is assumed that the rise time of the power LED driver cannot be made sufficiently fast. Therefore, the phase shift is performed as in this embodiment. Preferably it is done.

Next, in order to understand the effectiveness of the “automatic ON / OFF function” described above, a measurement procedure using a probe will be described with reference to FIGS.
If the probe is not illuminated, the flow shown in FIG. 8 is assumed.
First, the user operates the endoscope processor to turn on the endoscope illumination (step H0). Then, the user inserts the probe into the human body via the endoscope channel (step H1).
Next, the user moves the endoscope and brings the probe to the measurement target site (step H2).
Next, the user operates the endoscope processor to turn off the illumination provided in the endoscope (step H3).
Next, the user confirms whether or not the illumination provided in the endoscope is completely turned off (step H4). This is because if it is not completely extinguished, a disturbance occurs during measurement by the probe.
Next, the user presses a measurement start button set in the input device of the probe system (step H5).
In response, the probe system performs measurement with the probe (step H6).
Next, the user operates the endoscope processor to turn on the illumination provided in the endoscope (step H7).
Next, the user confirms complete lighting of the illumination provided in the endoscope (step H8). This is for returning to step H2 to ensure a field of view for safely moving the endoscope.
Steps H2 to H8 constitute one measurement routine. This measurement routine is repeated until the measurement of a necessary portion is completed. When all the measurement routines are completed, the process proceeds to step H9, and the user takes out the probe from the human body.

In the above flow, steps H3, H4, H7, and H8 are related to the user's operation and confirmation, which is cumbersome for the user, and the time of one measurement routine is increased by these steps.
In the above-described probe system of the present embodiment, a solid-state light emitting element having better response than a xenon lamp or the like is applied as an illumination light source, and an “automatic ON / OFF function” of this illumination is provided. Therefore, the time of one measurement routine can be greatly shortened as in the flow shown in FIG. In addition, the time during which the endoscope video is blacked out by turning off the illumination is shortened, and accidents due to erroneous operation of the endoscope can be easily avoided. Furthermore, since it is illumination on the probe system side that is repeatedly turned on and off, it is possible to avoid a reduction in the life of the illumination provided in the endoscope.

In the case of this probe system, the flow shown in FIG. 9 is executed.
First, the user operates the endoscope processor to turn on the endoscope illumination (step S0). Then, the user inserts the probe 30 into the human body via the endoscope channel (step S1).
Next, the user operates the illumination operation panel 17 of the base unit 1 to turn on the illumination provided on the probe 30 (step S2).
Next, the user operates the endoscope processor to turn off the illumination provided in the endoscope (step S3).
Next, the user moves the endoscope and brings the probe 30 to the measurement target site (step S4).
Next, the user presses a measurement start button set in the input device 10 of the probe system (step S5).
In response to this, the probe system automatically executes turning off the illumination provided on the probe 30, measurement by the probe, and turning on the illumination (steps S6 to S8).
Steps S4 to S8 constitute one measurement routine. This measurement routine is repeated until the measurement of the necessary part is completed. When all the measurement routines are completed, the process proceeds to step S9.
That is, the user operates the endoscope processor to turn on the illumination provided in the endoscope (step S9).
Next, the user operates the illumination operation panel 17 of the base unit 1 to turn off the illumination provided on the probe 30 (step S10).
Next, the user takes out the probe 30 from the human body (step S11).

  According to the flow using the probe system of the present embodiment described with reference to FIG. 9 described above, there are no steps related to user operation and confirmation corresponding to steps H3, H4, H7, and H8 of FIG. Therefore, the user only has to move the probe (step S4) and press the measurement start button (step S5) as many times as necessary, and does not operate the illumination during the measurement routine. As a result, the time required for one measurement routine can be shortened and the measurement can be performed efficiently.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
In the first embodiment, as an example of the configuration of the video signal brightness measurement unit 20, the case where the brightness of the captured video is calculated as the average value of the entire screen is described. However, the brightness of a specific portion in the screen is calculated. An example of the configuration will be described as a second embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 10, the case where the brightness of the local area centering on each of five points R1 to R5 on the screen is taken as an example will be taken up.
The configuration of the illumination control unit 18A in this case is shown in FIG.
In the illumination control unit 18A of the present embodiment, the video signal brightness measurement unit 40 is configured as shown in FIG. Other configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment. In addition, although illustration of the phase adjustment part 25 is abbreviate | omitted in FIG. 11, it is comprised similarly to 1st Embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 11, the video signal brightness measurement unit 40 includes a smoothing circuit (however, the time constant is set lower) 41, a sample hold unit 42, a timer 43, and a count value memory area 44. .
The smoothing circuit 41 performs a smoothing process with a time constant that is short enough to reflect the brightness of a local area such as a region centered on each of the points R1 to R5. The brightness level output from the smoothing circuit 41 is held by the sample hold unit 42 and output to the dimming control unit 21.
On the other hand, the timer 43 counts the time from the phase of the vertical synchronization signal Vsync output from the video synchronization separation circuit 24 as a starting point.
In the count value memory area 44, count values corresponding to the points R1 to R5 are set. The timer 43 updates the sample hold unit 42 when the count value corresponding to each point is counted up.
It is not necessary to measure the brightness of the points R1 to R5 during one image frame, and a measurement operation that sequentially executes one point at a time in one image frame is sufficient.
The dimming control unit 21 performs preset dimming on the brightness of the points R1 to R5 and executes dimming control of the illumination light.

  When calculating the brightness of the captured image as the average value of the entire screen, if the brightness on the screen is not uniform and the brightness is uneven, there is a risk that the dimming of the portion that the observer wants to see will not be good. According to the present embodiment, by preferentially weighting a portion that the observer wants to see, such as the center of the screen, the brightness of the portion of interest of the observer can be dimmed favorably. In this way, by controlling the illumination so as to be suitable for observation, even in a configuration in which illumination is performed using illumination different from that provided in the endoscope itself as in this embodiment, it is sufficiently satisfactory. Observations can be made.

[Third Embodiment]
Next, a third embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
In the first embodiment, the illumination means is configured by providing the illumination light guiding optical fiber 34 in the probe 30. However, in the present embodiment, the illumination LED is disposed at the probe distal end. Configure the means.
As shown in FIG. 12, in the probe 50 in the present embodiment, the illumination light guiding optical fiber 34 in the first embodiment is eliminated, and the electrical wiring 51 and the illumination LED 52 are disposed. An illumination LED 52 is disposed at the tip of the probe 50, and one end of an electrical wiring 51 that supplies a PWM drive current to the illumination LED 52 is connected. The other end of the electrical wiring 51 is connected to the illumination control unit 18 shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 13, the illumination unit is not arranged on the base unit 1 </ b> A in the present embodiment, and the illumination control unit 18 is connected to the tip of the probe 50 via the probe connection portion 15, the connector portion 53, and the electric wiring 51. It is connected to the LED 52 for illumination arranged in the section.
Although not shown, of course, an optical member for improving the illumination range such as a lens and a diffusing member may be arranged in the light emitting portion of the illumination LED 52.
Others are implemented in the same configuration as the first embodiment and the second embodiment.

Also according to this embodiment, illumination means can be provided in the probe system , and its dimming control and ON / OFF control can be performed in the same manner as in the first embodiment, and the same effect can be obtained.
[Other Embodiments]
In the embodiment described above, the endoscope illumination is turned off after the probe illumination is turned on. However, if there is no problem in measurement, the intensity of the endoscope illumination may be lowered so as not to be completely turned off. In the above-described embodiment, an example in which fluorescence emitted from a measurement object is received has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and scattered light or Raman scattered light generated due to irradiation light is received. It may be.

  The probe system and the method of using the probe system according to the present invention can be used in the medical field in which inspection is performed by an endoscope.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Base unit 2 Biological tissue 30 Probe 31 Optical fiber for light emission 32 Optical fiber for light reception 34 Optical fiber for illumination light guide 36 Connector part 51 Electrical wiring 53 Connector part A PWM signal B Measurement-off command signal T1 Measurement period Vsync Vertical synchronization signal

Claims (7)

A probe system comprising a probe inserted into an endoscope channel formed in an endoscope, and a base unit to which a proximal end of the probe is connected,
The probe system is provided with illumination means for photographing with the endoscope,
The base unit includes illumination control means for controlling light emission of the illumination means,
An input interface for inputting a video signal of an image captured by the endoscope;
Measurement control means for controlling measurement by the probe, and
A solid light emitting element is applied as a light source of the illumination means,
The illumination control means controls light emission of the solid state light emitting element based on a video signal input via the input interface,
The measurement control means performs control to turn off the illumination means at the start of the measurement and turn on the illumination means at the end of the measurement. The probe comprises a light projecting optical fiber and a light receiving optical fiber,
The base unit includes a measurement light source and a measurement photodetector,
Light emitted from the measurement light source and guided by the light projecting optical fiber is irradiated onto a measurement target site of a living tissue, and radiated light emitted from the measurement target site due to the irradiated light is received. The probe system according to claim 1, wherein the probe system is guided to the proximal end side of the probe by the optical fiber for light reception and introduced into the measurement photodetector. As the illuminating means, at least an illuminating light guiding optical fiber is provided on the probe,
3. The probe system according to claim 1, wherein light from the solid-state light emitting element installed in the base unit is guided to a tip portion of the probe by the illumination light guiding optical fiber. At least the solid-state light emitting element is provided on the probe as the illumination means,
The probe system according to claim 1, wherein an electrical wiring for connecting to the solid state light emitting device is provided in the probe. The probe system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the illumination control unit controls the solid-state light emitting element by a pulse width modulation method. The probe system according to claim 5, wherein the illumination control unit generates a driving pulse wave of the solid state light emitting device synchronized with a vertical synchronization signal of the video signal. The probe system according to claim 1, wherein the solid state light emitting device is a light emitting diode.

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