JPH0542102A - Electronic endoscope device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To secure the freedom of setting and arrangement with regard to various apparatuses integrated into the electronic endoscope system, and also, to completely eliminate the generation of a leakage current. CONSTITUTION:The device is provided with a transmitting signal converting part 13 for converting a digital video signal processed by a first processor 12 to a signal for optical transmission, a light emitting part 14 for converting an output of this transmitting signal converting part 13 to an optical signal, a light receiving part 15 which is provided separately from this light emitting part 14 and converts the optical signal to an electric signal, and a receiving signal converting part 16 for converting the receiving signal obtained by this light receiving part 15 to its original signal, and by executing optical transmission of the signal, a medical treatment device and a public welfare apparatus are separated electrically. In this case, the light emitting part 14 and the light receiving part 15 can be connected to a processor by an extension cord so as to become movable to an arbitrary position. Also, it is can be constituted so that the light emitting part 14 and the light receiving part 15 are attached to a cart, and also, it is allowed to attach only the light emitting part 14 to an operating part 10.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic endoscope apparatus, and more particularly to a signal transmission structure of the electronic endoscope apparatus used as a medical device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An electronic endoscope apparatus has a CCD (Charge Coupled Device), which is a solid-state image pickup device, built into an electronic endoscope as a scope, and the electronic endoscope is used in a body cavity or a cavity to be observed. The image inside the object to be observed is displayed on the monitor by inserting into the monitor. In Figure 7,
The configuration of an electronic endoscope system using the electronic endoscope device is shown, and the electronic endoscope 2 applied to a patient 1 is shown.
Is connected to a processor 3 for image processing, and a TV monitor 4 and a VTR (video tape recorder) 5 are connected to the processor 3.

By the way, in the case of a medical machine, from the viewpoint of safety, it is required to suppress the patient leakage current to 0.1 mA or less. Also in the above, the electronic endoscope 2 and the processor 3 are also required.
Since is a medical machine, electrical safety measures are adopted. However, since the peripheral devices such as the TV monitor 4 and the VTR 5 are consumer devices, the above safety measures are considered only at the consumer level. Therefore, commercial power source → TV monitor 4 and V
There is a problem that a leakage current is generated due to a loop of TR5 → processor 3 → electronic endoscope 2 → patient 1 → ground (GND). Therefore, conventionally, the TV monitor 4 and V
The TR5 is connected to a commercial power supply through a transformer 6 as shown in the figure, and the consumer equipment is also designed to cut off the leakage current from the commercial power supply.

[0004]

However, in the conventional electronic endoscope system as described above, since consumer peripheral devices such as the TV monitor 4 and the VTR 5 must be connected to the transformer 6, the connection is made. There was a problem that was complicated. That is, when the electronic endoscope apparatus is actually used, the peripheral devices are rarely collected in one place, and are arranged at appropriate positions in consideration of the arrangement relationship of the patient 1 and the TV monitor 4. In addition, it becomes necessary to change the arrangement state of each device according to the progress of surgery. Therefore, if all the consumer devices are connected to one transformer 6 as shown in FIG. 6, setting of the arrangement position of each device becomes complicated, and it becomes difficult to perform various inspections and operations using the electronic endoscope.

In consumer equipment, a transformer 6 as shown in FIG. 7 can be used to eliminate the leakage current from the commercial power source, but the TV monitor 4 itself uses relatively high voltage power, so that the TV monitor It is considered that leakage current may occur from No. 4, and it is not a complete countermeasure against leakage current.
This also applies to VTR5.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to ensure the freedom of setting and arrangement of various devices incorporated in an electronic endoscope system and to completely prevent generation of leakage current. Another object of the present invention is to provide an electronic endoscope apparatus that can be eliminated.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to the first aspect of the present invention is an electronic device for processing a video signal obtained by an electronic endoscope by a processor and displaying an image on a monitor. In the endoscope device, a transmission signal conversion unit that converts a digital signal that has been subjected to predetermined processing by the processor into a signal for optical transmission, and an electric signal from the transmission signal conversion unit that is converted into an optical signal and output Light emitting section, a light receiving section which is provided separately from the light emitting section and receives an optical signal from the light emitting section and converts the optical signal into an electric signal, and a reception signal obtained by the light receiving section for image display. And a reception signal conversion unit for converting into The invention according to a second aspect is characterized in that at least one of the light emitting portion and the light receiving portion is connected to a video signal processing device by an extension cord so as to be movable to an arbitrary position. The invention according to a third aspect is characterized in that at least one of the light emitting portion and the light receiving portion is attached to a cart. This cart is used as a concept including wagons and carts. The invention according to a fourth aspect is characterized in that the light emitting section is attached to an operation section of an electronic endoscope.

[0008]

According to the above construction, the video signal and the control signal are converted into an optical signal and output from the light emitting section before being supplied to the TV monitor, the VTR or the like, and the optical signal is received by the light receiving section. Therefore, video signals and control signals are transmitted using light as a medium. Therefore, the consumer electronic device is completely electrically separated from the electronic endoscope, and there is no need to connect to the transformer as in the conventional case. The light emitting unit can be attached to the processor unit of the electronic endoscope apparatus, but can also be connected to the operation unit of the electronic endoscope.

According to the structure of the second aspect, the light emitting portion or the light receiving portion is used like an antenna,
Both can be arranged in a positional relationship in which optical signal transmission is favorably performed.

Further, according to the structure of the third aspect, for example, the light emitting part and the light receiving part can be separately provided in the cart of each device constituting the electronic endoscope system. In this case, the light emitting part and the light receiving part are provided. It becomes easy to uniquely determine the layout relationship of the parts.

[0011]

1 shows a system configuration to which an electronic endoscope apparatus according to a first embodiment is applied, and FIG. 2 shows an arrangement state of the apparatus of the first embodiment. In FIG. 1, the electronic endoscope 2 has an operating section 10, and the operating section 10 bends the tip of the endoscope and drives a CCD disposed at the tip to drive the CCD to be observed. A video signal is obtained. The electronic endoscope 10 is connected to a first processor 12 via a signal line 11, and the first processor 12 performs a predetermined process on a video signal obtained by the electronic endoscope 10. Thus, for example, the video signal is pre-amplified and then subjected to gamma correction processing, clamp processing, and the like.

The first processor 12 includes a light emitting unit 1 including a transmission signal converting unit 13 and a light emitting diode.
4 are connected in sequence, and the transmission signal conversion unit 13 converts the video signal output from the first processor 12 from analog to digital (A / D) and then converts it into a time-series signal capable of optical transmission. For example, it is converted into a video signal composed of 8-bit data or a serial signal in which control signals output from the first processor 12 are rearranged in series bit by bit. Then, the light emitting unit 14 converts the serial signal into an optical signal of infrared light,
This infrared light is diffused and output from the light emitting unit 14 to the outside. In the embodiment, the transmission signal conversion unit 13 and the light emitting unit 14 are
Is incorporated in the main processor unit, which will be described later, together with the first processor 12.

On the other hand, a light receiving portion 15 including a photodiode and a phototransistor is provided separately from the processor device to which the light emitting portion 14 is attached.
The light receiving unit 15 converts the optical signal output from the light emitting unit 14 into an electric signal. A reception signal conversion unit 16 and a second processor 17 are connected to the light receiving unit 15, and the reception signal conversion unit 16 restores the serial signal to the original 8-bit signal. Further, the second processor 17 performs processing for outputting the video signal to a monitor or the like, and the digital video signal is temporarily stored in the memory,
It is read at a predetermined speed and converted into an analog signal.
The TV monitor 4 and the VTR 5 are connected to the second processor 17.

In FIG. 2, the first processor 1 is described.
2, the transmission signal conversion unit 13, and the light emitting unit 14 are incorporated in the main processor unit 20, and the light emitting unit 14 is arranged on the front surface of the main processor unit 20. It is preferable that the surface of the light emitting unit 14 is formed in a lens shape so that the output light is diffused. Further, the light receiving unit 15, the reception signal converting unit 16, and the second processor 17 are incorporated in the auxiliary processor device 21, and the light receiving unit 15 is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, the auxiliary processor device 21 is provided in a wide area on the front surface so that the optical signal output from the light emitting unit 14 can be easily received.

According to the first embodiment, the image of the object to be observed is displayed while applying the tip of the electronic endoscope 2 to a predetermined region of the patient 1. First, the inside of the electronic endoscope 2 is to be displayed. CC
The video signal output from D and subjected to predetermined processor processing by the first processor 12 at the next stage is converted into a digital signal by the transmission signal conversion unit 13 and then converted into a serial signal. Then, the serial signal is converted into an infrared light signal by the light emitting unit 14, and the main processor unit 2
It is diffused from the front of 0 to the outside. On the other hand, in the light receiving portion 15 of the auxiliary processor device 21, the optical signal from the light emitting portion 14 is received and is converted into an electric signal at the same time. Converted to a bit signal. After that, the second processor 17 temporarily stores the digital video signal in the memory and then reads it out at a predetermined speed. The video signal is converted into an analog signal and output to the TV monitor 4. , The image of the observed object is displayed on the TV monitor 4. The digital video signal is also supplied to the VTR 5, and the video signal is recorded on a recording medium such as a magnetic tape.

FIG. 4 shows the configuration of the second embodiment in which the light receiving portion is independent, and as shown in the drawing, the light receiving antenna having the leg portions 22 so as to be placed on the upper portion of the TV monitor 4. 23 is provided. The light receiving antenna 23 is composed of a disk-shaped box body having a built-in light receiving element such as a photodiode, and as shown in the figure, forms a light receiving surface 24 over a 180 degree region on the outer circumference of the box body, and serves as an antenna. Do only the role. Therefore, the light receiving antenna 23 is used as the TV monitor 4
It is connected to the auxiliary processor device 25 arranged at the lower part of the device via the extension cord 26, and the signal received by the light receiving antenna 23 is supplied to the auxiliary processor device 25. According to the second embodiment, the installation position of the light receiving antenna 23 can be arbitrarily selected by the extension cord 26, and the optical signal from the light emitting section 14 can be easily and surely captured. In addition to the light receiving unit as described above, the light emitting unit can be independently used as a light emitting antenna.

Next, a third embodiment in which a light emitting portion and a light receiving portion are arranged in a cart will be described with reference to FIG. Figure 5
As shown in (b), a hand cart 27
A main processor device 28 is mounted on the main processor device 28.
The light emitting portion 30 is formed in a state of being connected to the No. The light emitting section 30 is preferably provided with a lens-like light emitting surface that diffuses like the light emitting section 14. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5 (a), the TV cart 4 and the VTR 5 are mounted on the other hand cart 31 and the auxiliary processor device 32 and the auxiliary processor device 32 are mounted on the top of the cart 31. A light receiving unit 33 connected to the processor device 32 is provided.

According to this third embodiment, one cart 27
When an optical signal such as a video signal or a control signal is output from the light emitting unit 30 of the above, the light receiving unit 33 of the other cart 31 can receive the optical signal, and the image of the observed object is transmitted by the air transmission of the optical signal. It becomes possible to display. In this case, the light emitting unit 30
Since the light receiving unit 33 and the light receiving unit 33 are attached to the carts 27 and 31 having the same configuration, it is easy to position the light emitting unit 30 and the light receiving unit 33 for transmitting and receiving an optical signal. The light emitting unit 30
The light receiving unit 33 and the light receiving unit 33 may be provided in other places such as the middle stage and the lower stage of the carts 27 and 31, or the light emitting unit 30 or the light receiving unit 33.
It is also possible to provide either one of them on the carts 27 and 31, and to configure the other member not attached to the carts 27 and 31 in the same manner as in FIG.

FIG. 6 shows the configuration of the fourth embodiment of the present invention. In this fourth embodiment, a light emitting portion is arranged in the operating portion of the electronic endoscope. That is, as shown in FIG. 6, the light emitting unit 3 is provided at the top of the operation unit 10 of the electronic endoscope 2.
5, the light emitting portion 35 has a curved light emitting surface formed over an area of 120 degrees. On the other hand, the VTR 5 is provided with an auxiliary processor device 37 having a light receiving portion 36. The electronic endoscope 2 is connected to the main processor unit 28.

According to the fourth embodiment, the video signal processed by the main processor unit 28 is returned to the electronic endoscope 2 through the signal line 11, is converted into an optical signal by the light emitting unit 35, and is output. To be done. That is, when the recording of the VTR 5 is started, the video signal supplied from the light emitting unit 35 to the light receiving unit 36 is recorded by the VTR 5. In this case, the VTR
It is also possible to output a control signal for controlling 5 from the light emitting section 35 of the electronic endoscope 2 and receive the control signal to start recording.

According to each of the above embodiments, the TV monitor 4 or VTR 5 and the electronic endoscope 2 (or the processor device) can be completely separated, and it is not necessary to connect them by a signal line. Further, there is an advantage that the degree of freedom in arranging each device constituting the electronic endoscope system is increased, and the arrangement and positioning of each device are facilitated. Further, it is not necessary to connect the peripheral device to the commercial power source through the transformer as in the conventional case.

[0022]

As described above, according to the present invention,
A transmission signal conversion unit that converts a digital signal that has been subjected to predetermined processing by a processor into a signal for optical transmission, a light emitting unit that converts an electric signal into an optical signal and outputs the signal, and the light emitting unit is provided separately from the light emitting unit. Since the light receiving unit that receives the optical signal and converts it into an electric signal and the reception signal converting unit that converts the reception signal obtained by the light receiving unit into a signal for image display are provided, The electronic endoscope, which is a device, and peripheral equipment, which is a consumer device, are electrically separated completely. Moreover, unlike the conventional case, it is not necessary to connect the peripheral device to the commercial power source through the transformer, and it becomes possible to easily arrange and position each device constituting the electronic endoscope system.

Further, the leakage current from the consumer equipment itself can be prevented satisfactorily, and the safety can be improved.

According to the second aspect of the invention, since at least one of the light emitting portion and the light receiving portion is connected to the video signal processing device by an extension cord, the light emitting portion and the light receiving portion are connected regardless of the arrangement of the processing device. It can be arranged, and it becomes possible to ensure the transmission of an optical signal by providing a function as an antenna.

According to the third aspect of the invention, since at least one of the light emitting portion and the light receiving portion is mounted on the cart, the positional relationship between the light emitting portion and the light receiving portion is uniquely determined, and the peripheral device The placement and positioning can be facilitated.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an electronic endoscope apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a system configuration using the electronic endoscope apparatus of the first embodiment.

3 is a front perspective view of the auxiliary processor device of FIG. 2. FIG.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a second embodiment.

5A and 5B are explanatory views showing a system configuration of a third embodiment, FIG. 5A is a perspective view of a cart for mounting peripheral devices, and FIG. 5B is a perspective view of a cart for mounting a main processor device.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a system configuration of a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a conventional electronic endoscope system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 ... Electronic endoscope, 4 ... TV monitor, 5 ... VTR, 12 ... 1st processor, 13 ... Transmission signal conversion part, 14, 30, 35 ... Light emitting part, 15, 33, 36 ... Light receiving part, 16 ... Received signal converter, 17 ... Second processor, 20, 28 ... Main processor device, 21, 25, 32, 37 ... Auxiliary processor device, 23 ... Light receiving antenna, 26 ... Extension cord, 27, 31 ... Cart.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An electronic endoscope apparatus in which a video signal obtained by an electronic endoscope is processed by a processor and an image is displayed on a monitor. In the electronic endoscope apparatus, a digital signal optically processed by the processor is optically transmitted. Optical signal from the light emitting unit, which is provided separately from the light emitting unit and a light emitting unit which converts the electric signal from the transmission signal converting unit into an optical signal and outputs the optical signal. An electronic endoscope comprising: a light-receiving unit that receives light and converts the received signal into an electric signal; and a received-signal conversion unit that converts the received signal obtained by the light-receiving unit into a signal for image display. apparatus. 2. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit is connected to a video signal processing device by an extension cord so that the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit can be moved to arbitrary positions. Endoscopic device. 3. The electronic endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the light emitting portion and the light receiving portion is attached to a cart. 4. The electronic endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light emitting portion is attached to an operation portion of the electronic endoscope.