JP6407044B2 - Endoscope device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an endoscope apparatus.

  An endoscope apparatus used for medical diagnosis or the like is a solid mounted on an electronic endoscope in which an electronic endoscope for observing the inside of a body cavity of a subject and an electronic endoscope are detachably connected. A processor device that receives an imaging signal output from the imaging device, performs image processing, and outputs an observation image to a monitor, and generates light that illuminates a body cavity that is a dark place through a light guide in the electronic endoscope A light source device. When observing a subject in a body cavity using this endoscope apparatus, for example, in order to avoid missing a lesion on the lining of the large intestine, enlarged observation of the observation region may be required. Patent Document 1 discloses an objective optical system that has a wide viewing angle during normal observation and that can be easily focused during magnification observation, as an endoscope objective lens or the like capable of magnification observation.

International Publication No. 2014/132494 Japanese Patent No. 3661487

  An electronic endoscope constituting an endoscope apparatus has an insertion portion that is inserted into a body cavity of a subject. The insertion portion is a tip hard portion, a bending portion, and a soft portion in order from the tip. As shown in FIG. 8, an observation window 101, two illumination windows 102 a and 102 b, an air / water supply nozzle 103, and a forceps outlet 104 are provided on the distal end surface 100 of the distal rigid portion. In addition, on the inner surface of the hard tip portion, an imaging unit is attached at a position corresponding to the observation window 101, and light guides configured by bundling a plurality of optical fibers at positions corresponding to the illumination windows 102a and 102b are respectively provided. It is attached. The imaging unit is provided with a lens moving unit that enables variable magnification shooting by moving the movable lens in the optical axis direction and changing the focal length of the shooting lens.

  As shown in FIG. 8, two illumination windows 102 a and 102 b are provided on both sides of the observation window 101 so that the illuminance distribution on the observation image is not biased. FIG. 9 shows a light distribution when imaging is performed at a normal observation magnification using the electronic endoscope having the distal end surface 100 shown in FIG. In FIG. 9, the distribution of the illumination light emitted from each illumination window to the observation surface in the body cavity of the subject is indicated by a dotted line, and the orientation distribution of the illumination light emitted from each illumination window is indicated by a one-dot chain line. The illuminance distribution on the observation surface by the light distribution obtained by combining the two illumination lights is indicated by a two-dot chain line. In the example shown in FIG. 9, the tip surface 100 of the electronic endoscope is sufficiently separated from the observation surface, and there is no large bias in the illuminance distribution in the subject imaging region indicated by hatching.

  When magnifying and observing a specific part of the observation area, the distal end surface 100 of the electronic endoscope is brought close to the specific part, and the lens moving unit is driven so that the focal length of the photographing lens is increased. The lens is moved. However, if the observation window 101 and the illumination windows 102a and 102b are separated from each other on the distal end surface 100 of the electronic endoscope capable of such magnified observation, the angle of view is narrow during the magnified observation, and the observation surface and the distal end. Since the distance to the surface 100 is also short, as shown in FIG. 10, the illuminance at the center of the subject imaging region indicated by hatching is reduced, resulting in a large bias in the illuminance distribution. On the other hand, when performing magnified observation using an electronic endoscope having a structure in which the observation window 101 and the illumination windows 102a and 102b are close to each other, as shown in FIG. 11, in the center of the subject imaging region indicated by hatching. Although the illuminance is sufficient, the illuminance distribution is biased because a bright spot is included in the subject imaging region.

  In order to reduce the bias of the illuminance distribution in the subject imaging region described above, in the apparatus described in Patent Document 2, the peripheral portion has an illuminance at the center of the observation region when observing at the closest observation distance. Illumination means is provided at a position where the illuminance is twice or less. However, if the normal observation shown in FIG. 8 is performed using an endoscope having a structure in which illumination means is provided at this position, there is a possibility that sufficient illuminance cannot be obtained in the subject imaging region.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and provides an endoscope apparatus capable of suppressing bias in the illuminance distribution in an endoscope capable of magnifying imaging, with sufficiently high illuminance in the display area of the subject. The purpose is to do.

An endoscope apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention is positioned on a distal end surface of an endoscope, and is irradiated with at least two illumination windows that emit illumination light that irradiates an observation region of a subject and the illumination light. An imaging unit that images an observation region of the subject, an observation magnification changing unit that changes an observation magnification of the subject imaged by the imaging unit, and the subject among images captured by the imaging unit A mask processing unit that applies an electronic mask to a partial region of the subject imaging region in which the image is captured, and each of the illumination windows is not subjected to change in observation magnification by the observation magnification change unit, when the optical axis of the illumination light emitted from the illumination window appears in the subject imaging region, enlarged photographing is performed is changed observation magnification Ri by the above observation magnification changing unit, it is emitted from the illumination window the optical axis of the illumination light, the subject imaging region Serial located electronic mask the partial region which has been subjected, are arranged to be hidden by the electronic mask.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an endoscope apparatus that is capable of suppressing enlargement of illuminance distribution in an endoscope capable of magnified imaging, with sufficiently high illuminance in the display area of the subject.

It is a perspective view which shows the structure of an electronic endoscope apparatus. It is a front view which shows the front end surface of the endoscope of 1st Embodiment which comprises an electronic endoscope apparatus. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the control system of an electronic endoscope apparatus. (A) is a figure which shows an example of the relationship between the observation image at the time of normal imaging | photography mode in 1st Embodiment, and an optical axis, (b) is the observation image at the time of expansion imaging | photography mode in 1st Embodiment, and an optical axis. It is a figure which shows an example of the relationship. FIG. 4B is a diagram showing an illuminance distribution in the minimum field angle direction of the post-mask subject display area indicated by a dashed line in FIG. It is a front view which shows the front end surface of the endoscope of 2nd Embodiment which comprises an electronic endoscope apparatus. (A) is a figure which shows an example of the relationship between the observation image at the time of normal imaging | photography mode in 2nd Embodiment, and an optical axis, (b) is the observation image at the time of expansion imaging | photography mode in 2nd Embodiment, and an optical axis. It is a figure which shows an example of the relationship. It is a front view which shows the front end surface of the conventional electronic endoscope. It is a figure which shows light distribution at the time of imaging with normal observation magnification. It is a figure which shows the light distribution at the time of expansion observation using the electronic endoscope of the structure where the observation window and the illumination window left | separated. It is a figure which shows the light distribution at the time of expansion observation using the electronic endoscope of the structure where the observation window and the illumination window adjoined.

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

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the electronic endoscope apparatus. FIG. 2 is a front view showing a distal end surface of the endoscope according to the first embodiment constituting the electronic endoscope apparatus. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a control system of the electronic endoscope apparatus.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the electronic endoscope device 59 includes an electronic endoscope (hereinafter simply referred to as “endoscope”) 60, a light source device 61, a processor device 62, and a monitor 63. Hereinafter, each component with which the electronic endoscope apparatus 59 is provided is demonstrated.

<Endoscope>
As shown in FIG. 1, the endoscope 60 includes, for example, a flexible insertion portion 66 that is inserted into a body cavity of a subject, a hand operation portion 67 that is connected to the proximal end portion of the insertion portion 66, It has a connector 69a connected to the processor device 62 and the light source device 61, and a universal cord 69 that connects the hand operating section 67 and the connector 69a.

  The insertion portion 66 includes a distal end hard portion 66a, a bending portion 66b, and a soft portion 66c in order from the distal end. As shown in FIG. 1, the imaging unit 10 is attached in the distal end hard portion 66a. The curved portion 66b has a unit in which each node ring is pin-coupled, and the whole is curved. The bending portion 66b is bent at an arbitrary angle in the vertical and horizontal directions by the rotation operation of the angle knob 75 of the hand operation portion 67. Thereby, the to-be-observed area | region in a body cavity can be imaged with the front-end | tip hard part 66a facing the desired direction in a body cavity. The soft portion 66c is a portion that connects the hand operating portion 67 and the bending portion 66b in a narrow shape with a long diameter, and has flexibility.

  As shown in FIG. 2, on the distal end surface 60a of the distal end portion of the endoscope 60 of the present embodiment, an observation window 11 and an illumination window group including two illumination windows 12a and 12b that are first illumination windows, A forceps outlet 13 and an air / water supply nozzle 14 are provided. The optical system of the imaging unit 10 is disposed at a position corresponding to the observation window 11 inside the distal end hard portion 66a. Further, in the inside of the distal end hard portion 66a, light guides 64a and 64b configured by bundling a plurality of optical fibers are connected to the illumination windows 12a and 12b, and an air supply tube (not configured) is connected to the air / water supply nozzle 14. (Not shown) and a water supply tube (not shown) are connected.

  The observation window 11 is a lens that optically opposes the imaging surface of the imaging element 10 a included in the imaging unit 10. The imaging element 10a outputs image data obtained by photoelectrically converting an optical image formed on the imaging surface as an imaging signal Si. The imaging unit 10 includes a movable lens 10b that is provided between the observation window 11 and the imaging device 10a of the imaging unit 10 and that can move in the optical axis direction. The illumination windows 12a and 12b are cover glasses that irradiate the observation region in the body cavity of the subject with light supplied from the light source device 61 via the light guides 64a and 64b. The forceps outlet 13 is an outlet of an insertion hole of a treatment tool such as an electric knife. The air / water supply nozzle 14 is a nozzle that selectively injects air or water into the observation window 11. Air or water jetted from the air / water nozzle 14 traverses the observation window 11.

  The hand operation unit 67 includes various operation members such as an angle knob 75, an air / water supply button 76, a suction button 77, a release button 78, and a seesaw switch 79 for zoom operation. The angle knob 75 bends the distal end hard portion 66a of the insertion portion 66 in the vertical and horizontal directions by a rotation operation. The air / water supply button 76 ejects air or water from the air / water supply nozzle 14 by a pressing operation. The suction button 77 sucks a sucked object such as a liquid or tissue in the body from the forceps outlet 13 by a pressing operation. The release button 78 records the observation image captured by the imaging unit 10 as a still image by a pressing operation. The seesaw switch 79, which is an observation magnification changing unit, rotates the motor 15 forward or backward by a selective pressing operation, and transmits this rotation to the cam shaft of the imaging unit 10 via the wire 16. The observation magnification is changed by moving the lens 10b in the optical axis direction, and the imaging mode of the endoscope 60 is switched to the standard imaging mode or the enlarged imaging mode.

<Light source device>
The light source device 61 supplies the endoscope 60 with illumination light that irradiates the observation region in the body cavity of the subject through the illumination windows 12 a and 12 b provided on the distal end surface 60 a of the endoscope 60. The illumination light supplied from the light source device 61 is provided on the distal end surface 60a of the endoscope 60 via the universal cord 69 of the endoscope 60 and the light guides 64a and 64b inserted into the insertion portion 66. It is transmitted to the windows 12a and 12b.

<Processor device>
The processor device 62 is electrically connected to the light source device 61 and comprehensively controls the operation of the electronic endoscope device 59. The processor device 62 supplies power to the endoscope 60 via the universal cord 69 and the transmission cable 44 inserted into the insertion portion 66, and controls the driving of the imaging portion 10 in the distal end hard portion 66a. Further, the processor device 62 performs image processing on the imaging signal Si sent from the imaging element 10a of the imaging unit 10 via the transmission cable 44, and generates image data in a desired form. Furthermore, a signal Sw indicating the operation content of the seesaw switch 79 provided in the hand operation unit 67 of the endoscope 60 is sent to the processor device 62. This signal Sw indicates whether the photographing mode of the endoscope 60 has been switched to the standard photographing mode or the enlarged photographing mode.

<Monitor>
The monitor 63 is connected to the processor device 62. The monitor 63 displays an image based on the image data generated by the processor device 62 as an observation image.

<Internal configuration of processor unit>
As shown in FIG. 3, the processor device 62 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 81, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 82, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 83, and an image processing unit (DSP: Digital Signal Processor) 84. And a mask processing unit 85 and a display control unit 86. Hereinafter, each component which the processor apparatus 62 has is demonstrated.

  The CPU 81 controls each component in the processor device 62. Further, the CPU 81 is based on the signal Sw sent from the seesaw switch 79 provided in the hand operation unit 67 of the endoscope 60, and the photographing mode of the endoscope 60 is the standard photographing mode or the enlarged photographing mode. Determine whether. The ROM 82 stores various programs and control data for controlling the operation of the processor device 62. The RAM 83 temporarily stores programs executed by the CPU 81 and data.

  Based on the control of the CPU 81, the image processing unit 84 performs color interpolation, color separation, color balance adjustment, gamma correction, image enhancement processing, and the like on the imaging signal Si obtained from the imaging device 10a of the endoscope 60. Generate image data of an image. The image data generated by the image processing unit 84 is sent to the mask processing unit 85. When the imaging mode of the endoscope 60 is the magnification imaging mode, the mask processing unit 85 is one of the subject imaging regions in which the subject is imaged in the image based on the image data sent from the image processing unit 84. A mask process for applying an electronic mask to the partial area is performed. The display control unit 86 performs control to convert the image data into a signal format corresponding to the monitor 63 and display the observation image on the monitor 63 regardless of whether or not the mask processing by the mask processing unit 85 is performed.

<Relationship between observed image and optical axis>
The relationship between the observation image displayed on the monitor 63 and each optical axis of the illumination light emitted from the illumination windows 12a and 12b will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (b). FIG. 4A is a diagram illustrating an example of the relationship between the observation image and the optical axis in the normal shooting mode in the first embodiment, and FIG. 4B is a diagram in the enlarged shooting mode in the first embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the relationship between an observation image and an optical axis. The subject imaging region 21 in which the subject of the image captured by the imaging element 10a is captured is displayed on the monitor 63 that displays the observation image, as indicated by the dotted lines in FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (b). It is displayed in a circle at the approximate center. In the subject imaging region 21, an optical image formed on the imaging surface of the imaging element 10a is displayed through the observation window 11 provided on the distal end surface 60a of the endoscope 60.

  Since the observation magnification is low and the angle of view is wide in the normal imaging mode, as shown in FIG. 4A, the optical axes 20a and 20b of the illumination light emitted from the two illumination windows 12a and 12b are captured by the subject. Even if it is included in the region 21, as in the example shown in FIG. 8, the illuminance distribution in the subject imaging region 21 is not largely biased. However, when the imaging mode is switched to the magnification imaging mode, the angle of view is narrowed, and the distal end surface 60a of the endoscope 60 is brought closer to a specific portion of the subject imaging region 21. At this time, a bright spot is included in the subject imaging region 21, but the mask processing unit 85 of the processor device 62 performs two illumination windows 12a, 12a of the subject imaging region 21 as shown in FIG. An electronic mask is applied to regions 23a and 23b including partial regions 22a and 22b including optical axes 20a and 20b of illumination light emitted from 12b. The partial areas 22a and 22b are areas surrounded by a thick solid line shown in FIG. Further, the regions 23a and 23b to which the electronic mask is applied are regions hatched with diagonal lines shown in FIG.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the illuminance distribution in the minimum field angle direction of the post-mask object display area 24 indicated by the alternate long and short dash line in FIG. As shown in FIG. 5, the post-mask object display area 24, which is an area where an electronic mask is applied and the object is displayed on the monitor 63, does not include a bright spot. In the present embodiment, the two illumination windows 12a and 12b arranged on the distal end surface 60a of the endoscope 60 are configured such that the optical axes 20a and 20b of the illumination lights emitted from the illumination windows 12a and 12b are in the enlarged photographing mode. Are not positioned in the subject display area 24 after masking, and are positioned so as to be positioned in the partial areas 22a and 22b of the subject imaging area 21 on which the electronic mask is applied by the mask processing unit 85. In addition, the two illumination windows 12a and 12b have a masked object display area in which the optical axes 20a and 20b of the illumination light emitted from the illumination windows 12a and 12b are indicated by a one-dot chain line in FIG. It arrange | positions so that it may be located on the minimum field angle direction of 24.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, on the distal end surface 60a of the endoscope 60, the illumination windows 12a and 12b are configured so that the optical axes 20a and 20b of the illumination lights emitted from the illumination windows 12a and 12b are in the enlarged photographing mode. Since it is arranged away from the observation window 11 so as not to be positioned in the object display area 24 after masking at the time, the observation image displayed on the monitor 63 in the enlarged photographing mode does not include a bright spot. For this reason, the bias of the illuminance distribution in the post-mask object display area 24 is suppressed. Further, the illumination windows 12a and 12b are partial areas of the subject imaging region 21 where the optical axes 20a and 20b of the illumination lights emitted from the illumination windows 12a and 12b are subjected to an electronic mask by the mask processing unit 85. It arrange | positions close to the observation window 11 so that it may be located in 22a, 22b. For this reason, it is possible to obtain a sufficiently high illuminance at the central portion of the observation image displayed on the monitor 63 in the enlarged photographing mode.

  The illumination windows 12a and 12b are arranged away from the observation window 11 in the minimum field angle direction of the post-mask object display area 24, and the electronic mask is arranged on partial areas 22a and 22b in the minimum field angle direction. Therefore, a sufficiently high illuminance can be obtained in the maximum field angle direction.

  It should be noted that the shape of the subject imaging region 21 displayed at the approximate center of the monitor 63 is not limited to a circle but may be a polygon such as an octagon as shown in FIG. The shapes of the regions 23a and 23b to which the electronic mask is applied are not limited as long as the optical axes 20a and 20b are masked in the magnification shooting mode.

(Second Embodiment)
FIG. 6 is a front view showing the distal end surface of the endoscope according to the second embodiment constituting the electronic endoscope apparatus. The distal end surface 60b of the distal end portion of the endoscope 60 of the second embodiment is provided with an observation window 11, two illumination windows 12a and 12b, a forceps outlet 13, and an air / water feeding nozzle 14 as in the first embodiment. Further, an illumination window 12c, which is a second illumination window different from the illumination windows 12a and 12b, is provided. Except for the point that the illumination window 12c is provided, the second embodiment is the same as the first embodiment, and in FIG.

  The illumination window 12c is a cover glass that irradiates the observation region in the body cavity of the subject with the light supplied from the light source device 61 through the light guide. The illumination light emitted from the illumination window 12c is auxiliary to the illumination light emitted from the illumination windows 12a and 12b. The amount of illumination light emitted from the illumination window 12c is larger than the amount of illumination light emitted from the illumination windows 12a and 12b.

<Relationship between observed image and optical axis>
The relationship between the observation image displayed on the monitor 63 and each optical axis of the illumination light emitted from the illumination windows 12a, 12b, and 12c will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 (a) and 7 (b). FIG. 7A is a diagram illustrating an example of the relationship between the observation image and the optical axis in the normal photographing mode in the second embodiment, and FIG. 7B is a diagram in the enlarged photographing mode in the second embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the relationship between an observation image and an optical axis. As shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, in the second embodiment, the illumination window 12c is configured to transmit illumination light emitted from the illumination window 12c regardless of whether the illumination window 12c is in the normal photography mode or the enlarged photography mode. The optical axis 20c is arranged so as not to be located in the subject imaging region 21. The relationship between the observation image and the optical axes 20a and 20b is the same as that in the first embodiment.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the illumination window 12c on the distal end surface 60b of the endoscope 60 is separated from the observation window 11 so that the optical axis 20c of the illumination light emitted from the illumination window 12c is not located in the subject imaging region 21. Since the amount of illumination light emitted from the illumination window 12c is larger than the amount of illumination light emitted from each of the illumination windows 12a and 12b, the subject in the observation image displayed on the monitor 63 is separated. The entire displayed area can be brightened. In particular, the angle of view in the normal imaging mode is wide, and the illuminance of the observation surface in the body cavity, which is a dark place, decreases as a whole. However, the illumination light emitted from the illumination window 12c causes the entire subject imaging region 21 to illuminate. A sufficiently high illuminance can be obtained. On the other hand, in the enlarged imaging mode, the illumination window 12c is arranged so that the optical axis 20c is not located in the subject imaging region 21, and thus the bias of the illuminance distribution in the post-mask subject display region 24 can be suppressed.

  As described above, the endoscope apparatus disclosed in the present specification is located at the distal end portion of the endoscope, and includes an illumination including at least two illumination windows that emit illumination light that irradiates an observation region of the subject. An imaging unit that images the observation region of the subject irradiated with the illumination light, an observation magnification changing unit that changes the observation magnification of the subject imaged by the imaging unit, and the imaging unit A mask processing unit that applies an electronic mask to a partial region of the subject imaging region in which the subject is captured of the image captured by the illumination window, and the illumination window included in the illumination window group includes the observation window When zooming is performed by changing the observation magnification by the magnification changing unit, the optical axis of the illumination light emitted from all the illumination windows included in the illumination window group is subjected to the electronic mask by the mask processing unit. The above subject will be displayed. The optical mask of the illumination light emitted from at least two first illumination windows included in the illumination window group is not positioned in the post-mask object display area, which is an area, and the mask processing unit performs electronic masking. It is an arrangement located in the above-mentioned partial region where is given.

  Further, in the at least two first illumination windows, the optical axis of the illumination light emitted from the first illumination window when the magnified image is being taken is the minimum field angle direction in the post-mask object display area It is located on the top.

  In addition, the illumination window group includes a second illumination window that emits a larger amount of illumination light than illumination light emitted from the at least two first illumination windows, and the second illumination window includes the enlargement. When imaging is performed, the arrangement is such that the optical axis of the illumination light emitted from the second illumination window is not located in the subject imaging region.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Image pick-up part 10a Image pick-up element 10b Movable lens 11 Observation window 12a, 12b, 12c Illumination window 13 Forceps exit 14 Air supply / water supply nozzle 15 Motor 16 Wire 44 Transmission cable 59 Electronic endoscope apparatus 60 Electronic endoscope 60a Tip surface 61 Light source Device 62 Processor device 63 Monitors 64a and 64b Light guide 66 Insertion portion 66a Tip hard portion 66b Bending portion 66c Soft portion 67 Hand operation portion 69a Connector 69 Universal cord 75 Angle knob 76 Air / water supply button 77 Suction button 78 Release button 79 Seesaw switch 81 CPU
82 ROM
83 RAM
84 Image processing unit 85 Mask processing unit 86 Display control unit

Claims (3)

At least two illumination windows that are located on the distal end surface of the endoscope and emit illumination light that irradiates the observation region of the subject;
An imaging unit that images the observation region of the subject irradiated with the illumination light;
An observation magnification changing unit for changing the observation magnification of the subject imaged by the imaging unit;
A mask processing unit that applies an electronic mask to a partial region of the subject imaging region in which the subject is imaged in the image captured by the imaging unit;
In each of the illumination windows , when the observation magnification is not changed by the observation magnification changing unit, the optical axis of the illumination light emitted from the illumination window appears in the subject imaging region, and the observation magnification changing unit If the I Ri observation magnification is made changed to enlarge shooting, the optical axis of the illumination light emitted from the illumination window, positioned in the partial region in which the electronic mask has been applied in the subject imaging region An endoscope apparatus arranged so as to be hidden by the electronic mask . The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1,
At least two of the illumination windows display the subject imaging area excluding the partial area as the optical axis of the illumination light emitted from the two illumination windows when the enlarged photographing is performed. An endoscope apparatus that is arranged so as to be positioned in a minimum field angle direction in a display area . The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:
A second illumination window that emits a larger amount of illumination light than the illumination light emitted from the illumination window on the tip surface ;
The second illumination window, the optical axis of the illumination light emitted from the second illumination window, even when performing the enlargement photographing, even when not performing, at a position deviating from the subject imaging region Endoscopic device being placed .

Images