JPH0232288A - Radiation detecting endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To perform observation and radiation detection at the same time by providing video picture elements and picture elements for radiation detection among all picture elements of a solid-state image pickup element which as plural picture elements and providing a radiation attenuating means for the video picture elements. CONSTITUTION:A CCD 15 is provided with the video picture elements 16R, 16G, and 16B which are arrayed in a mosaic shape and correspond to red, green, and the blue and the picture elements 17 for radiation detection in specific array among them. Striped transfer parts 18 are provided among horizontal picture elements. Color filters 21 are provided opposite the picture elements 16 and color transmission filters are used as them. A radiation cutoff filter 22 with light transmissivity is provided in front of each color filter 21 and visible light reaches the picture elements 16, but radiation does not reach them. A shield filter 23 which transmits radiation, but does not transmit visible light is provided in front of the picture elements 17. A shield part 24 which cuts off light and radiation is provided in front of the transfer part 18. Consequently, an easy-to-see observation image can be obtained.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a radiation detection endoscope capable of detecting radiation.

[Prior art 1] In recent years, by inserting an insertion section with a length of l1Il into a body cavity, it is possible to observe internal organs, etc., and perform various therapeutic procedures as necessary using a treatment instrument inserted into a treatment instrument channel. Endoscopes are widely used.

Furthermore, various electronic endoscopes using solid-state imaging devices such as charge-coupled devices (CODs) as imaging means have been proposed.

By the way, as a means of cancer discovery 2 diagnosis, substances that specifically gather on cancer cells are marked with radioactive substances, and radiation emitted from cancer cells is detected to discover the presence of cancer, the extent of invasion, or metastasis. things are being done.

Further, for example, Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 47-5168 discloses an endoscope in which a radiation detection element is provided at the distal end.

The endoscope shown in this prior art example has, as an observation means,
Although this method uses a transducer made of flexible thin wire, that is, a fiber bundle, it is also conceivable to provide a radiation detection element in an electronic endoscope that uses a solid-state image sensor. Furthermore, as shown in Japanese Patent Application No. 126588/1988 previously filed by the present applicant, it is also conceivable to use a solid-state imaging device for observation itself as a radiation detection means. In this case, when radiation such as gamma rays is incident on the solid-state image sensor, it is displayed as (light spot) r4 points on the monitor screen.

[Problem to be solved by the invention] However, when radiation is detected using a solid-state imaging device for observation, radiation is usually detected even during the 11th observation, and bright spots appear on the monitor screen, making it difficult to see. There is a problem.

[Object of the Invention] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a radiation detection endoscope that can perform observation and radiation detection at the same time without adversely affecting observation images. The purpose is

[Means for Solving the Problems] The radiation detection endoscope of the present invention is an endoscope that uses a solid-state image sensor having a plurality of pixels as an imaging means. and a radiation detection pixel are provided, and the image pixel is provided with a radiation attenuation means.

[Operation] In the present invention, an observation image is obtained by the image pixels of the solid-state image sensor, and radiation is detected by the radiation detection pixels. Because the radiation attenuation means prevents radiation from reaching the Moeki image pixels, no bright spots due to radiation appear in the observed image.

[Example] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIGS. 1 to 5 relate to the first embodiment of the present invention.
2 is an explanatory diagram showing the arrangement of pixels of a solid-state image sensor, FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a filter member provided on the front surface of the solid-state image sensor, and FIG. 4(a) to 4(C) are explanatory views showing examples of monitor displays, respectively, and FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing the configuration of a processing device in a modification of this embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 3, the endoscope 1 includes an elongated, for example, flexible insertion section 2, and a large-diameter operating section 3 is connected to the rear end of the insertion section 2. As shown in FIG. A flexible universal cord 4 extends laterally from the operation section 3, and a connector 6 that is detachably connected to the processing device 5 is provided at the end of the universal cord 4.

The distal end portion 10 of the insertion section 2 is provided with an observation window, an illumination window, and a treatment instrument channel opening.

A cylindrical collimator 11 made of a radiopaque material such as lead is installed inside the observation window.
1, an objective lens system 12 is installed. Also,
The objective lens system 12 is located deep inside the collimator 11.
A solid-state imaging device, for example, a CCD 15, is disposed at the imaging position. A filter member 20 is provided on the front surface of this CCD 15.

In this embodiment, a simultaneous color imaging method is used, and the CDD 15 corresponds to R (red), G (green), and B (blue) arranged in a mosaic, as shown in FIG. It has video pixels 16R, 16G, and 16B (represented by reference numeral 16), and radiation detection pixels 17 provided in a predetermined arrangement between the video pixels 16.
The CGD 15 is compatible with an interline transfer method, and transfer sections 18 are provided in a stripe pattern between each pixel in the horizontal direction.

Further, the filter member 20 is constructed as shown in FIG. That is, a color filter 21 is provided at a position corresponding to the video pixel 16 of the CCD 15. The color filter 21 has an R transmission filter on the front side of the video pixel 16R, a G transmission filter on the front side of the video pixel 16G, and a B transmission filter on the front side of the video pixel 16B. Further, on the front surface of the color filter 21, a translucent radiation blocking filter 2 is provided as a radiation attenuating means.
2 is provided, thereby allowing visible light to reach the image pixel 16, but preventing radiation from reaching the image pixel 16. Further, in front of the radiation detection pixel 17, a light-shielding filter 23 is provided that transmits radiation but does not transmit visible light. Furthermore, a blocking section 24 is provided on the front surface of the transfer section 18 to block light and radiation.

A signal line 26 is connected to the CCD 15, and this signal line 26 is connected to the insertion section 2. It is inserted into the operating section 3 and the universal cord 4 and connected to the connector 6.

Further, a light distribution lens 31 is disposed inside the illumination window of the tip portion 10, and a light guide 32 is connected to the rear end side of the light distribution lens 31.

This light guide 32 is connected to the insertion portion 2. It is inserted into the operating section 3 and the universal cord 4, and its input end is connected to the connector 6.

Further, a treatment instrument channel 35 is formed in the insertion section 2, the distal end side of the treatment instrument channel 35 opens at the treatment instrument channel frontage of the distal end section 10, and the proximal end side is
An insertion 036 is formed by opening on the side of the operating section 3 .

On the other hand, the processing device 5 includes a lamp 41 that emits illumination light.
The illumination light emitted from the lamp 41 is made to enter the incident end of the light guide 32. Further, the processing device 5 includes a driver 42 connected to the CCD 15 via the signal line 26 and the connector 6.
and a separation circuit 43. And the CCD
15 is driven by the driver 42, and this CC
The pixel signal read out from D15 is sent to the separation circuit 43.
It is now entered into This pixel signal is separated by the separation circuit 43 into a signal from the video pixel 16 and a signal from the radiation detection pixel 17.
The signal from the radiation detection pixel 17 is input to the video signal processing circuit 44, and the signal from the radiation detection pixel 17 is input to the radiation signal processing circuit 45. The video signal processing circuit 44 processes the signal from the video pixel 16 and outputs it as a video signal. Further, the radiation signal processing circuit 45 processes signals from the radiation detection pixels 17 to generate radiation information such as radiation intensity. The respective output signals of the video signal processing circuit 44 and the radiation signal processing circuit 45 are input to a superimpose circuit 46 and synthesized,
The output signal of this superimpose circuit 46 is input to a monitor 50. Then, on this monitor 50, a subject image formed by m images by the video pixels 16 and information about the radiation detected by the radiation detection pixels 17 are displayed. For example, as shown in FIG. 4(a), the radiation intensity 51 may be displayed on the side of the subject image, etc.
As shown in FIG. 4(b), a subject image may be displayed on the main screen 52, and a bright spot due to radiation may be displayed on the small screen 53.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 4(C), if necessary, bright spots caused by radiation can be displayed superimposed on the subject image, and in the case of normal observation, the bright spots are erased and displayed. You can do it like this.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained.

When performing an examination for cancer, etc. using the endoscope 1 of this embodiment, at a predetermined time before the examination, cancer antibodies marked with radioisotopes, deoxyglucose, etc. that tend to collect in cancers, etc., are administered by intravenous injection, etc. injected into the body by These reagents converge on the cancer, which emits radiation, such as gamma rays.

The insertion section 2 of the endoscope vL1 is inserted into the body cavity, and the processing device i! When the lamp 41 in 5 is made to emit light, this lamp 41
The illumination light emitted from the light guide 32 of the endoscope 1
is incident on the incident end of This light is guided to the tip 10 by the light guide 32, passes through the light distribution lens 31, and is irradiated onto the subject.

This optical image of the subject is captured by the objective lens system 12.
The image is formed on CD15. At this time, the visible light passes through the radiation blocking filter 22 of the filter member 20, is color-separated by the color filter 21, and reaches the video pixel 16. Further, this visible light is transmitted through a light-shielding filter 23. The radiation detection pixel 17 is blocked by the blocking section 24 . It does not reach the transfer unit 18.

Further, when the distal end portion 10 of the endoscope 1 is in a position facing the cancer, γ rays emitted from the cancer enter the collimator 11 through the opening of the collimator 11. This γ-ray is transmitted through the radiation blocking filter 22. Shutdown 8112
4, the image pixels 16 and the transfer unit 18 are not reached.
The light passes through the light blocking filter 23 and reaches only the radiation detection pixels 17. This γ-ray is transmitted to the radiation detection pixel 1.
A signal is generated at the PN junction of 7, and gamma rays are detected.

The CCD 15 is driven by a driver 42 in the control device 5, and the pixel signals of the video pixels 16 and the pixel signals of the J-line detection pixels 17 are read out. These two pixel signals are separated by a separation circuit 43, the signal from the video pixel 16 is processed by a video signal processing circuit 44, and the signal from the radiation detection pixel 17 is processed by a radiation signal processing circuit 45. be done. The output signals of each of the signal processing circuits 44 and 45 are combined by a superimpose circuit 46 and input to a monitor 50. Then, on this monitor 50, a subject image carried by the video pixels 16 and information on radiation detected by the radiation detection pixels 17 are displayed.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the CCD 15 is provided with the image pixels 16 and the radiation detection pixels 17, and the radiation blocking filter 22 is provided in front of the image pixels 16, so that the endoscope 1 In the observed image, bright spots due to radiation do not appear, and an image that is easy to see is obtained. Furthermore, observation and radiation detection can be performed simultaneously.

Note that the observation image of the endoscope and the 1) line information are not displayed on the same monitor; for example, the output signal of the video signal processing circuit 44 is displayed on the monitor 50 as shown in FIG. Input,
The output signal of the radiation signal processing circuit 45 is displayed on the display device 55.
The radiation information may be displayed on the display device 55 by inputting the radiation information into the radiation information.

6 and 7 relate to a second embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the COD and collimator, and FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing the control device and monitor.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, for example, rectangular radiation detection pixels 62 are provided at the four corners of the light-receiving surface of the CCD 60, and the other portions are used as image pixels 61. Furthermore, a cylindrical collimator 63 with a rectangular cross section is provided on the front side of the radiation 1)jm detection section 62. Although not shown, a light-transmitting radiation-blocking filter is provided in front of the image pixel 61, and a light-blocking filter that transmits e-gA rays is provided in front of the radiation detection pixel 62.

In this embodiment, the remeter 11 in the first embodiment is
is not necessary.

Further, the control device 5 may be similar to that shown in FIG. 3 or FIG. 5, or may have a configuration as shown in FIG. 7. In the control device 5 shown in FIG. 7, the signal from the video pixel 61 and the signal from the radiation detection pixel 62 are as follows.
Both are subjected to video signal processing by the signal processing circuit 65 and sent to the monitor 5.
Output to 0.

Then, on this monitor 50, an observation image 66 masked in a hexagonal shape, a circle, etc. is displayed in the center of the screen, and this l
Radiation information 67 is displayed at the four outer corners of the detected image 66, with brightness depending on the intensity, for example.

As described above, according to this embodiment, when displaying an endoscope observation image by masking it in a hexagonal or circular shape, radiation information can be obtained and displayed without affecting the observation image at all. can be displayed.

The display method on the monitor 50 is as shown in Fig. 4 (
Those shown in a) or C) may also be used.

Other functions and effects of the configuration 1 are the same as those of the first embodiment.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and for example, as a color imaging method, the illumination light may be R or G.

A surface sequential method in which the screen is sequentially switched to B etc. may also be used; in this case,
No color filter is required in front of the video pixel 16.

In addition, as a solid-state image sensor, not only COD but also MOS
, BBD, etc., which can also detect radiation.

Furthermore, the radiation is not limited to γ rays, but may also be α rays or β rays.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention, video pixels and radiation detection pixels are provided in all pixels of the solid-state image sensor, and the video pixels are provided with radiation attenuation means. This has the advantage that observation and radiation detection can be performed simultaneously without adversely affecting the observed image.

[Brief Description of the Drawings] Figures 1 to 5 relate to the first embodiment of the present invention.
2 is an explanatory diagram showing the arrangement of pixels of a solid-state image sensor, FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a filter member provided on the front surface of the solid-state image sensor, and FIG. 4(a) to 4(C) are explanatory diagrams showing examples of monitor display, FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of a processing device in a modification of this embodiment, and FIGS. 6 and 7 are explanatory diagrams showing examples of monitor display. Second aspect of the present invention
Regarding the embodiment, FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a COD and a collimator, and FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a control device and a monitor. 1... Endoscope 2... Insertion section 10...
Tip part 11... Collimator 12... Objective lens system 15... C0D16... Image pixel 17... Radiation detection pixel 20... Filter member 22... Radiation blocking filter 23... Light blocking filter Figure 4 (a) Figure 4 (b) Figure 5 Figure 4 (c)

Claims (1)

[Claims] In an endoscope that uses a solid-state image sensor having a plurality of pixels as an imaging means, among all the pixels of the solid-state image sensor,
A radiation detection endoscope, comprising: a video pixel and a radiation detection pixel; the video pixel is provided with radiation attenuation means.