JP6615550B2 - Image recording system for electronic endoscope - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic endoscope apparatus capable of recording an endoscopic image by an operator's operation during endoscopic image observation.

  In the electronic endoscope apparatus, not only the endoscopic image being observed is displayed on the monitor, but also the doctor name, patient ID, name, age, sex, and the like are displayed together with the endoscopic image. Among devices capable of recording an observation image, there are known devices that record these information and setting values of the operating environment such as brightness as additional information. (Patent Document 1).

JP 2000-185014 A

  However, when additional information to be recorded can be selected, the operator cannot confirm which additional information is to be recorded during endoscopic image observation. For this reason, there is a problem that intended information is not recorded or unnecessary information is recorded. You can check the type of additional information to be recorded by operating the menu and displaying the additional information setting screen, but the top menu is directly used for observation and operation of endoscopic images such as brightness, color balance, and pump level. Related items are displayed, and the additional information setting screen is located several layers below the top menu, so it is extremely complicated to move to the additional information setting screen during endoscope operation. Significantly delays the original work.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an electronic endoscope image recording system that allows a user to easily check which information is recorded as additional information during image recording.

  An image recording system for an electronic endoscope according to the present invention includes an image processing unit that generates an image including a subject image and additional information, an image recording unit that records the subject image, and records at least a part of the additional information. And additional information recording means for recording in accordance with the recording information specifying means for clearly indicating which information is to be recorded by the additional information recording means among the additional information.

  The recording information specifying means may be executed for a fixed time, for example, when recording a recorded image, but may be executed constantly while the additional information is displayed on the monitor. The record information specifying means highlights information to be recorded, for example.

  The electronic endoscope image recording system includes a mode for simultaneously displaying a plurality of images related to the subject image, and the recording information specifying means specifies the image to be recorded among the plurality of images. For example, the recorded information specifying means displays the recorded image with a frame.

  When a predetermined operation is performed when the image is recorded by the image recording unit, the configuration may be such that wrinkle information is added to the recorded image. The electronic endoscope image recording system further includes recording setting means for setting which additional information is to be recorded.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the image recording system for electronic endoscopes which a user can confirm easily which information is recorded as additional information at the time of image recording can be provided.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the electronic endoscope system which is one Embodiment of this invention. It is an example of the endoscope recording image in which various additional information was embedded. It is a figure explaining the display method of the additional information in the capture process of this embodiment. It is an example of the menu for setting which item of additional information is recorded. It is a flowchart explaining the flow of the screen display process in the capture process of this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the method of specifying a recorded image in a twin mode image display. It is a figure explaining the saddle function added to the capture process of this embodiment.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an electronic endoscope system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  An electronic endoscope system 10 according to this embodiment includes a scope (electronic endoscope) 11, a processor device 12 to which the scope 11 is detachably connected, and a main monitor 13 that displays an image output from the processor device 12. And mainly consists of

  The scope 11 is connected to the processor device 12 via the connector unit 11A, and transmits a drive signal to the image sensor 14 provided at the distal end of the insertion unit, for example, and processes the image signal from the image sensor 14 to the connector unit 11A. And a signal processing circuit 15 for converting the digital signal. The digital image signal output from the signal processing circuit 15 is subjected to image processing according to the setting in the image processing circuit 16 of the processor device 12, output to the main monitor 13, and displayed as an endoscopic image. Further, the image data processed by the image processing circuit 16 is sent to the memory 17 as needed, temporarily stored, and stored in the external storage device 21 as will be described later.

  The inside of the body by the scope 11 is photographed by illumination light emitted from the tip of the scope 11 through a light guide (not shown) laid on the scope 11, and the light guide is provided in the processor device 12 to the light guide. Light is supplied from 18. The light source unit 18 includes a lamp 18A using a halogen lamp, a xenon lamp, an LED, and the like, and a diaphragm mechanism 18B that adjusts the amount of light supplied from the lamp 18A to the light guide. The lamp 18A and the diaphragm mechanism 18B are controlled by the main CPU 19 of the processor device 12.

  The main CPU 19 is a CPU that controls the entire processor device 12. For example, image processing in the image processing circuit 16 is processed according to settings in the main CPU 19. Further, the scope 11 of the present embodiment includes a plurality of scope buttons 11B in the operation unit 11M of the scope 11 held by the practitioner, and each button of the scope button 11B is electrically connected to the main CPU 19 through the connector unit 11A. Connected. The main CPU 19 changes the drive of the image sensor 14 to obtain a still image according to the button operation of the scope button 11B, causes the image processing circuit 16 to output image data to the memory 17, and stores the still image in the memory 17. be able to.

  The sub CPU 20 is connected to the main CPU 19, receives data such as image data from the memory 17 in response to a command from the main CPU 19, and outputs the data to a nonvolatile external storage device 21 such as a CF card or a USB flash memory for storage. To do. At this time, the sub CPU 20 also performs processing such as data file formation and association. Further, the sub CPU 20 is connected to the touch panel 22 and receives a signal from the touch panel 22 and performs menu display and various function settings of the touch panel. Note that an auxiliary storage device 23 is connected to the sub CPU 20.

  In the recording process (capture process) of the endoscopic observation image to the external storage device 21 by the operation of the scope button 11B, along with the endoscopic observation image (for example, a still image), the doctor name, patient ID, name, age, Information such as gender, operating environment setting values such as brightness, and the like can be embedded and recorded in the image as additional information. FIG. 2 shows an example of a recorded image in which various additional information is embedded together with the endoscope observation image. As shown in FIG. 2, in the recorded image IM, together with the endoscopic observation image 25, date / time information 26 on which the image was recorded, user information 27 such as a doctor name, patient name, patient ID, age, gender And image processing information 29 including presence / absence / level of enhancement processing, presence / absence / level of noise reduction, contrast level, brightness level, red and blue signal level (white balance) information, and the like. It can be recorded as appropriate.

  Next, a method for displaying additional information in the capture processing according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3A is an example of an image displayed on the main monitor 13 during normal endoscope observation. As shown in FIG. 3 (a), an endoscopic image (moving image) 25 is displayed in the approximate center of the screen, and patient information 28, date / time information 26, and user information 27 are displayed at the periphery of the endoscopic image. The image processing information 29 is displayed.

  The additional information recorded (embedded) together with the capture image is designated (set) by the user in advance as will be described later, and only the additional information of the record-set item is recorded in the external storage device 21 together with the capture image. . In the present embodiment, when the capture process is executed, the items to be recorded and the items not to be recorded are displayed by different methods to clearly indicate to the user which items are set to be recorded.

  For example, FIG. 3B shows a case where the patient information 28 and the user information 27 are recorded and set, and only these items are highlighted for a predetermined time at the time of executing the capture process, such as thickening characters, The display is different from the normal display for the date / time information 26 and the image processing information 29, such as reverse display, display in different colors, blinking display, and display with a frame. Thereby, the user can grasp from the display screen which item of additional information is recorded together with the captured image.

  FIG. 4 is an example of a menu for setting (selecting) which item of additional information is recorded. The menu is displayed, for example, by operating various setting keys displayed on the main menu of the touch panel 22 and selecting a still image additional information setting menu from a plurality of items displayed on the next screen. The Prior to the use of the electronic endoscope system 10, the user sets the presence / absence of recording (On / Off) for each item of date / time, patient information, image processing information, and user information. These record setting information (On / Off setting) and each item data (date information 26, user information 27, patient information 28, image processing information 29) are stored as additional information setting values in, for example, the auxiliary storage device 23. Has been.

  Next, the flow of the screen display process in the capture process of the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 5 and FIG.

  When a predetermined button of the scope button 11B is operated, a capture process is executed in parallel with this process, and a still image (capture image) is stored in the memory 17 (step S100). On the screen of the main monitor 13, the observation image to be captured is displayed in a freeze (displayed as a still image) (step S102). Further, the additional information setting value is referred to from the auxiliary storage device 23 (step S104), and the item for which the recording setting is set to “On” as shown in FIG. The captured image is highlighted (step S106). When the highlighting is performed for a predetermined time, the character highlighting process of the item to be recorded is canceled and the normal display is restored (step S108). In addition, the freeze of the observation image on the screen is released, and the screen is switched to the endoscope live view image (step S110). As a result, this process ends.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 6, the capture process of this embodiment when a twin mode image display is performed will be described.

  In endoscopic observation, for example, an image display in a twin mode in which a normal image and an image subjected to a specific image enhancement process are displayed side by side may be performed. In the image display mode, as shown in FIG. 6A, for example, a normal endoscopic observation image 25N is displayed on the left side of the screen, and an emphasized image 25E of the endoscopic observation image is displayed on the right side. Similarly to FIG. 3, patient information 28, date / time information 26, user information 27, image processing information 29, and the like are displayed on the periphery of the screen.

  FIG. 6B shows an example of screen display when capture processing is performed in twin mode image display. In the twin mode, it can be set in advance which of the normal image 25N and the emphasized image 25E is recorded. FIG. 6B shows a case where the emphasized image 25E is selected as a recorded image (captured image). Regarding the additional information, the patient information 28 and the user information 27 are the same as in FIG. 3B. The case where recording is set is shown. At this time, in order to clearly indicate to the user which of the normal image 25N and the emphasized image 25E is recorded, a frame F is displayed around the emphasized image 25E set as a recording target. The display method of the additional information is the same as that in FIG. The frame F is performed at the same timing as the cancellation of the highlighting of the additional information in FIG. 5 (step S108). For example, the frame F is deleted almost simultaneously with the release of the freeze. Thereby, even in the twin mode, the user can accurately grasp which image is the recording target.

  Next, a saddle function added to the capture processing of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In the capture processing of the present embodiment, for example, when the capture scope button 11B is operated again while a freeze image is displayed on the screen (or within a predetermined time from the capture operation), the wrinkle information is added to the recorded image. Append. In the example of FIG. 7, an image is recorded by adding a heel frame BF around the endoscope observation image 25 as heel information (in the twin mode, an image is recorded with the frame F attached). Accordingly, the user can quickly find an important image from a large number of recorded images at a later date by adding the wrinkle information to the image considered important at the time of capture. Note that the wrinkle information may be a specific mark inserted on the image, or may be tag information associated with the image data.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, when an endoscope image is recorded, the user records which information is recorded as additional information, and when a plurality of images are displayed, which image is to be recorded. Can be checked without menu operation. This prevents the recording of such information with unintended settings.

  Note that the additional information may be recorded as readable data in the header of the image file or a related file instead of being embedded in the image. Further, as the additional information, various types of information such as hospital information can be considered in addition to the exemplified items.

  In the present embodiment, the twin mode has been described as an example. However, the present embodiment can also be applied to a case where three or more images are displayed simultaneously. In the present embodiment, one of the two images is a recorded image. However, a plurality of images or all images may be recorded. In this case, all the images to be recorded are, for example, frames. Surrounded by In the present embodiment, the normal image and the emphasized image are described as examples. However, different types of images related to the endoscope image to be captured may be used. For example, a plurality of images that have been subjected to different image processing are displayed. It may be a target.

  In this embodiment, a frame is used to indicate the recording target image. However, the method for indicating the recording target image only needs to know which image is the recording target, and may be another explicit method. Further, in the present embodiment, when the capture process is executed, a process for clearly indicating the additional information set for recording and the image to be recorded is performed. In this process, the endoscopic observation image is displayed on the monitor. May be displayed at all times. In the present embodiment, a still image has been described as an example of a capture image. However, the present embodiment can also be applied to recording a moving image over a predetermined time by operating a scope button, for example.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Electronic endoscope system 11 Scope 11B Scope button 11M Operation part 12 Processor apparatus 13 Main monitor 14 Image sensor 16 Image processing circuit 17 Memory 18 Light source part 19 Main CPU
20 Sub CPU
21 External Storage Device 22 Touch Panel 23 Auxiliary Storage Device 25 Endoscopic Image 25E Enhanced Image 25N Normal Image 26 Date / Time Information 27 User Information 28 Patient Information 29 Image Processing Information BF 栞 Frame F Frame

Claims (8)

Image processing means for generating an image including a subject image and additional information;
Image recording means for recording the subject image;
Additional information recording means for recording at least a part of the additional information in accordance with the recording of the subject image;
Recording information specifying means for clearly indicating which information is to be recorded by the additional information recording means among the additional information ,
The image recording system for an electronic endoscope, wherein the recording information specifying means is always executed while the additional information is displayed on a monitor . Image processing means for generating an image including a subject image and additional information;
Image recording means for recording the subject image;
Additional information recording means for recording at least a part of the additional information in accordance with the recording of the subject image;
Recording information specifying means for clearly indicating which of the additional information is information to be recorded by the additional information recording means,
Which of the additional information is to be recorded is set in advance,
The record information specifying means clearly indicates which information is to be recorded by displaying only the information to be recorded among the additional information by a method different from the normal display.
An electronic endoscope system characterized by that. 3. The image recording system for an electronic endoscope according to claim 2 , wherein the recording information specifying means is executed for a predetermined time when recording a recorded image.   The image recording system for an electronic endoscope according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the recording information specifying means highlights the information to be recorded.   5. The display device according to claim 1, further comprising a mode for simultaneously displaying a plurality of images related to the subject image, wherein the recording information specifying unit specifies an image to be recorded among the plurality of images. The image recording system for an electronic endoscope according to any one of the above.   6. The electronic endoscope image recording system according to claim 5, wherein the recording information specifying means displays the recorded image with a frame.   The electronic endoscope image recording according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein when a predetermined operation is performed when the image is recorded by the image recording means, wrinkle information is added to the recorded image. system. The image recording system for an electronic endoscope according to any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising recording setting means for setting which of the additional information is to be recorded.

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