JPH06169888A - Electronic endoscope system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide an electronic endoscope system free from a noise to and from equipment vulnerable to a noise such as an ultrasonic diagnostic device concurrently used, with an image element including CCD. CONSTITUTION:This electronic endoscope system has an image pickup element 5 attached to the end of an endoscope 1, a means 13 for driving the element 5, an ultrasonic diagnostic member 8 capable of being used concurrently with the element 5, a means 22 for driving the member 8 and an image display means 3 for monitoring on the basis of signals from the element 5 and the member 8. In this device, a drive signal for one of the means 13 and 22 can stop the drive of the other, and an image for the stopped side can be displayed in the state immediately prior to the stop of the drive. According to this construction, an image pickup element such as CCD and an ultrasonic diagnostic device does not undergo a noise influence from each other, and the image for the stopped side can also be continuously displayed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic endoscope system,
More specifically, the present invention relates to an apparatus that can be used together with other devices such as ultrasonic diagnosis when performing diagnosis using an image pickup device such as a CCD.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional electronic endoscope apparatus provided with an image pickup device such as a CCD, a CCD driver disposed in a scope or a processor drives a CCD disposed at a distal end of the scope through a long cable. To do. The driving pulse of the CCD is a digital signal, and the frequency is as high as 7 MHz or more, so noise is generated to the outside. Also CC
Since the video signal from D is analog and has a small amplitude and a wide band, it is susceptible to noise from the outside. In the conventional electronic endoscope, since the drive signal of the CCD is constantly output, when the device such as the ultrasonic diagnostic device is used together, it gives noise to the ultrasonic diagnostic device and receives noise from the pulsar of the ultrasonic device. .

[0003]

Since the conventional electronic endoscope apparatus cannot stop the driving of the CCD, it is a noise source when a device such as an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus used in combination is susceptible to noise. . In particular, since the CCD is provided at the tip of the scope, if the probe of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is inserted, the cable of the CCD and the cable of the transducer of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus will pass close over a long distance. . As a result, there is a drawback that not only noise is generated to the other party, but also noise from the other party is easily received.

In order to prevent generation of noise, the CCD power supply and the ultrasonic diagnostic device must be turned off one by one, and the operation is complicated, and at the same time, the image on the side where the power is turned off is displayed. It had the drawback of disappearing.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and its object is to provide a device susceptible to noise such as an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus used in combination with an image pickup device such as a CCD. Another object of the present invention is to provide an electronic endoscope apparatus that does not give noise to each other. Another object of the present invention is to provide an electronic endoscope apparatus that displays an image immediately before stopping without stopping the image on the stopped side even when one driving is stopped so as not to give noise.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, the electronic endoscope apparatus of the present invention has the following configuration. That is, an imaging device provided at the tip of the scope, a means for driving the imaging device, a device to be used together with the imaging device, and a device for driving the device,
In an electronic endoscope apparatus having these image pickup devices and image display means for monitoring by a signal from a device,
It is characterized in that the driving of the image pickup device can be stopped in accordance with a signal from a means for driving a device to be used together with the image pickup device.

In this electronic endoscope apparatus, the image display means can display both the image from the image pickup device and the image from the device to be used together with the image pickup device, and when the driving of the image pickup device is stopped, It is characterized in that the image immediately before the driving is stopped is displayed without erasing the image from the image sensor.

Further, an image pickup device provided at the distal end of the scope, a means for driving the image pickup device, an ultrasonic diagnostic member that can be used together with the image pickup device, a device for driving the ultrasonic diagnostic member, and an image pickup device for these. In an electronic endoscope apparatus having an element and an image display means for monitoring by a signal from an ultrasonic diagnostic member, driving of the other means is stopped by driving signal of one of the driving means, and driving is stopped. The image on the right side is characterized by displaying the image just before the driving is stopped.

Further, in this electronic endoscope apparatus, the on / off control of the drive of the image pickup device and the ultrasonic diagnostic member is controlled by a short blanking period between image display periods of each field or frame of the image display signal. It is characterized in that it is provided and is performed during this blanking period.

Similarly, in this electronic endoscope apparatus, the on / off control of the drive of the image pickup element and the ultrasonic diagnostic member is controlled by a short blanking period between image display periods for each line scan of the image display signal. Is provided and is performed during this blanking period.

[0011]

In the electronic endoscope apparatus according to the present invention having such a structure, when the device is used in combination with a device which is susceptible to noise, the driving of the image pickup device such as CCD is stopped when the device is in a driving state. No noise can be given. Even in that case, the image immediately before the driving is stopped can be continuously displayed without erasing the image display from the image pickup device such as the CCD.

Further, when an apparatus such as an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that is susceptible to noise is used together with an image pickup device such as a CCD, when one of them becomes a driving state, the other stops driving, so that noise is given to each other. There's nothing to meet. Even in that case, the image immediately before the driving is stopped can be continuously displayed without erasing the image display on the driving stop side.

Further, since the on / off control of these drives is performed during the blanking period, it is possible to suppress the generation of noise due to the switching of the drives.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. First, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 shows an overall view of the apparatus of this embodiment, FIG. 1 (a) is a perspective view thereof, and FIG. 1 (b) is FIG. 1 (a).
It is an enlarged view of the circle A part of. FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of the circuit of this device.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 indicates a scope,
The scope 1 is connected to a processor 2, and an image is displayed on a CRT 3 which is an image display means for a monitor by a signal from the processor 2. Diagnosis and treatment are performed while viewing this image. The tip 4 of the scope 1 is, for example, CC
An image pickup device 5 (hereinafter simply referred to as a CCD) 5 such as D is provided, and is connected to the processor 2 via a cable in the scope 1. A forceps port 6 is provided on the distal end portion 4 of the scope so that the treatment tool can be passed therethrough. Depending on the diagnosis, an image for ultrasonic diagnosis may be required in addition to the normal image from the CCD 5. At that time, the ultrasonic probe 7 is passed through the forceps opening 6 and applied to the target site. The probe 7 is provided with an ultrasonic oscillator 8, and a signal from the ultrasonic oscillator 8 is transmitted to the scope 1.
It is connected to an ultrasonic wave processing circuit 10 through a cable inside and via a repeater 9. The signal from the ultrasonic transducer 8 is displayed as an image on the CRT 3 which is an image display means via the processing circuit 10. Since the CCD 5 is arranged at the distal end portion 4 of the scope, when the ultrasonic probe 7 is inserted into the forceps port 6, the cable of the CCD 5 and the cable of the ultrasonic transducer 8 pass close over a long distance. And
Not only does each cause noise to the other party, but it also becomes easier to receive noise from the other party. Therefore, the foot switch 11 can switch between the CCD image and the ultrasonic image so that they do not operate simultaneously. That is, when one is operating, the other is not driven. At this time, the image on the side where the driving is stopped is displayed as a still image just before stopping. These control circuits will be described with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 2, an image is drawn on the CCD 5 by the lens 12. The CCD timing generator 15 creates horizontal and vertical transfer clocks for reading the CCD 5, and the CCD driver 13 drives the CCD 5 via a cable. The video signal read out from the CCD 5 passes through the buffer amplifier 14 and the CCD having the built-in A / D converter.
The image signal processing circuit 16 converts the signal into a TV signal.
This signal is temporarily stored in the CCD image memory 17. These CCD driver 13, buffer amplifier 14,
A CCD system block 20 is formed by the CCD timing generator 15 and the CCD image signal processing circuit 16.

On the other hand, for an ultrasonic wave (denoted as US in the figure), the pulsar 22 and the scanning motor 27 are operated by the ultrasonic timing generator 24, and the ultrasonic wave is output from the ultrasonic vibrator 8. The ultrasonic reflected wave from the inside of the body is received by the ultrasonic transducer 8, amplified by the receiver 23, and detected. An ultrasonic image processing circuit 25 having a built-in A / D converter converts the signal into a TV signal. This signal is temporarily stored in the ultrasonic image memory 26. The pulser 22, the receiver 23, the ultrasonic timing generator 24, the ultrasonic image processing circuit 25, and the scan motor 27 form an ultrasonic system block 21.

These are the main timing generator 2
Synchronized by 8. To apply external synchronization,
When the main oscillator 30 is gain-locked by the external synchronization signal, the main timing generator 28 is synchronized with the outside.

When the operator operates the foot switch 11, the controller 29 recognizes this information and controls the timing generator 28 and each unit.

The main timing generator 28 is a TV
The timings of the signals are extracted, whereby the images from the respective image memories 17 and 26 are read out and switched by the selector 18, and the D / A converter 19
The analog video signal is displayed on the image display means 3.

FIG. 3 shows an example of display when a video signal is displayed on the image display means 3. FIG. 3A shows the case where the CCD image is selected, and the image from the CCD 5 is displayed as a moving image on the main screen 31. At the same time, the ultrasonic image immediately before the driving is stopped is displayed as a still image on the child screen 32. If it is not necessary, the child screen can be turned off by operating a switch as shown in FIG. On the contrary, when an ultrasonic image is selected by the foot switch 11, the result is as shown in FIG. In this case, the image from the ultrasonic transducer 8 is displayed as a moving image on the main screen 31, and the CCD image immediately before the driving is stopped is displayed on the child screen 32 as a still image.

The operation of this embodiment will be described mainly with reference to FIG. When the CCD image is selected by the foot switch 11, at least the pulser 22 of the ultrasonic system block 21 is instructed by the controller which recognizes the CCD image.
Stop the operation of. This stops the generation of ultrasonic waves,
Noise from the ultrasonic system to the CCD system also stops. in this case,
Although an ultrasonic image cannot be newly obtained, the ultrasonic image obtained before the operation is stopped remains in the ultrasonic image memory 26, so that a still image can be obtained. The CCD system is driven by the CCD driver 13 and operates normally. Of the timing of the TV signal by the main timing generator 28, the time of the main screen 31 is switched to the CCD system by the selector 18 and the image from the CCD image memory 17 is displayed. The CCD image memory 17 is sequentially updated by the image obtained from the CCD 5 and a moving image is displayed.

At the TV signal timing, the selector 18 of the child screen 32 switches to the ultrasonic image memory 26. At this time, the ultrasonic system is stopped, so that it becomes a still image.

In the ultrasonic system, only the pulsar 22 may be stopped, but other parts may be stopped if the rising speed is sufficiently fast. In that case, it is also advantageous from the viewpoint of noise in the system. Moreover, power consumption can be reduced by turning off the power supply when stopping, and heat generation at the distal end of the scope can be reduced.

On the contrary, when the ultrasonic image is selected by the foot switch 11, the process is as follows. When the controller 29 recognizes the switch operation, the CCD system block 20
The driving of at least the CCD driver 13 is stopped. As a result, the transfer clock generated by the CCD timing generator 15 is not sent to the CCD 5 and noise is not emitted from the cable. At this time, a new CCD image cannot be obtained, but since the image obtained before the driving is stopped remains in the CCD image memory 17, it can be displayed as a still image. On the other hand, since the ultrasonic system is operating, the ultrasonic image memory 26 is sequentially updated by the image from the ultrasonic transducer 8 and a moving image can be obtained. In this case, the selector 18 uses the main timing generator 28.
The main screen 31 and the sub-screen 32 created by are switched at the timing, and an ultrasonic moving image is displayed on the main screen 31 and a CCD still image is displayed on the sub-screen 32.

In the CCD system, only the CCD driver 13 may be stopped, but other units or all the CCD systems may be stopped if the rising speed is sufficiently fast. This also benefits the system noise and reduces power consumption.
Further, the CCD generates a considerable amount of heat when operating. Therefore, the scope tip 4 generates heat, but at least the CCD
By stopping the driving of the driver 13 and stopping the transfer clock, the heat generation amount is drastically reduced. Further, by stopping the power supply of the CCD and the DC bias, the heat generation of the CDD can be completely eliminated and the temperature rise of the tip portion 4 can be suppressed. Suppressing the heat generation of the tip portion 4 also contributes to reducing the noise generated by the CCD system.

In the first embodiment described above, the unselected image is a still image, but in the following embodiments both can display a moving image.

FIG. 4 shows the operating principle of the second embodiment. CCD system and ultrasonic waves (represented as US in the figure) for each frame of the timing of the TV signal which is the image display means
Switch the system. The CCD driver is driven and the CCD clock 40 is output in the frames 1, 3, 5 ...
In the ultrasonic system, the operation of the pulser is stopped. On the other hand, in frames 2, 4, 6, ..., The CCD driver stops driving, so that the CCD clock is not output. In these frames, the pulsar of the ultrasonic system operates to output the ultrasonic pulse 41 and drive the ultrasonic transducer. By this, CC at the same time
The D system CCD driver and the ultrasonic system pulsar do not operate.

CC of CCD system in frames 1, 3, 5, ...
CCD image is obtained when the D driver is operating. As shown at 42 in the CCD image memory, writing is performed in these frames. At this time, the ultrasonic image memory is read out as indicated by 43. The ultrasonic image read here is obtained one frame before. On the contrary, in the frames 2, 4, 6, ..., The ultrasonic image memory is written and the CCD image memory is read. Here, the image read out from the CCD image memory is taken in one frame before.

The operation of the CCD driver of the CCD system, the operation of the ultrasonic pulser, and the operation of the CCD image memory and the ultrasonic image memory are switched as shown in the time chart 44. The operation is performed during a short blanking period provided during the display period to suppress the writing of false data and the generation of noise due to the switching. Therefore, the data of the output images from the respective image memories are as shown by 45 and 46, and the data of one frame before is displayed in the non-operating frame. In this case, since one frame is about 1/30 second, both the CCD image and the ultrasonic image appear to be displayed as a moving image.

On the other hand, there is a display method such as the main screen and the sub screen described in the first embodiment for displaying images, but by using a horizontally long screen as shown in FIG. 5, the images are displayed at the same time without hiding each other's images. You can also If two or more systems of D / A converters and monitor image display means can be provided, a plurality of image display means can be used for simultaneous display.

FIG. 6 shows the operating principle of the third embodiment. Second
In the embodiment, the switching between the CCD system and the ultrasonic system is performed for each frame, but it may be performed for each scanning line of TV signals. It is difficult to stop the operation of the ultrasonic system from the time when the pulse is emitted from the pulsar until the echo returns. However, in an ultrasonic image using a forceps mouth, information at such a deep depth is not necessary, and the time until the echo returns is calculated to be about 53 μsec. Therefore, the time of one scanning line of TV is 63.5 or 64 μse.
It fits within c.

As shown in FIG. 6, in this embodiment, n, n
In the scanning lines +2, n + 4, ..., The CCD driver of the CCD system is driven and the clock is supplied to the CCD, and the pulser of the ultrasonic wave (denoted as US in the figure) system is stopped. On the other hand, in the scanning lines n + 1, n + 3, ..., On the contrary, the ultrasonic pulser operates and the CCD CCD driver is stopped. Also in this embodiment, a short blanking period is provided during the image display period for each line scan, and the CCD image and the ultrasonic image are obtained almost simultaneously because the blanking period is performed during this blanking period. Therefore, the obtained image is not delayed even in the case of a fast moving object.

The operating principle of the fourth embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8. In the second and third embodiments, the CCD driver of the CCD system and the pulser of the ultrasonic wave (denoted as US in the figure) system are alternately on / off controlled. However, it is rare that the CCD image and the ultrasonic image are treated as the same, and for example, the operation is performed while looking at the CCD image and sometimes the ultrasonic image is used. When they are alternately turned on / off, the refresh time interval of either image becomes half that of a single image, which may be unnatural when the operation is fast.

In the fourth embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the ratio of fields or frames used for driving the CCD driver of the CCD system and operating the pulser of the ultrasonic system is changed. When the CCD pixel is the center of observation, the field or frame occupied by the CCD system is set to 2, and the field or frame occupied by the ultrasonic system is set to 1, as shown in FIG. On the contrary, when the ultrasonic image is the center of observation,
As shown in, the ratio of the field or frame occupied by the ultrasonic system is increased to increase the refresh frequency of the ultrasonic image. Although the ratio is shown as 1: 2 in FIGS. 7 and 8, the ratio is not fixed to this ratio and can be changed depending on how much refresh frequency is required, and can be changed during operation. You can

When switching is performed for each field, when the CCD image occupies two consecutive fields as shown in FIG. 7, the ODD and EVEN fields which form one frame are adjacent to each other, which is the same as a normal CCD image. A frame image can be obtained.

The operating principle of the fifth embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10. Even when switching is performed for each scanning line, the ratio of the two can be changed as in the fourth embodiment. In the example shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the ratio is 2: 1.
However, the ratio is not limited to this, as in the case of the fourth embodiment. In this case, the resolution of the image changes instead of the refresh interval. We will allocate more scan lines to those who need more resolution.

The switching for each scanning line is exactly the same as that for a single image in terms of movement, but the resolution is lower than that for a single image. On the contrary, when switching is made for each film or frame, the resolution is the same as that of a single image, but the refresh speed is lowered and the movement becomes unnatural. Since each has its own characteristics as described above, it is desirable to switch as necessary. This switching may be carried out manually, or may be carried out automatically, for example, by detecting image blurring and judging from the amount of movement of the image. There is also a method of manually switching the respective ratios, but for example, when changing the sizes of the main screen and the child screen, they may be automatically changed according to their areas.

[0039]

As described above, according to the electronic endoscope apparatus of the present invention, even when an image pickup device such as a CCD and a device such as an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus are used together, when one is driven, the other driving is stopped. Since it does so, it is not affected by noise from the other party when operating. Further, in this case, since the image on the side where the driving is stopped can continue to display the image immediately before the driving is stopped, the image is apparently uninterrupted, which is useful in the case of diagnosis / treatment.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of a device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a circuit according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a display example when a video signal is displayed on an image display means.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the operating principle of the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a display example when a video signal is displayed on an image display means.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the operating principle of the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the operating principle of the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing another operation principle of the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the operating principle of the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing another operation principle of the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Scope 2 Processor 3 Image Display Means (CRT) 4 Scope Tip 5 CCD 6 Forceps Port 7 Ultrasonic Probe 8 Ultrasonic Transducer 9 Repeater 10 Ultrasonic Processing Circuit 11 Foot Switch 12 Lens 13 CCD Driver 14 Buffer Amplifier 15 CCD timing generator 16 CCD image signal processing circuit 17 CCD image memory 18 Selector 19 D / A converter 20 CCD system block 21 Ultrasonic system block 22 Pulsar 23 Receiver 24 Ultrasonic timing generator 25 Ultrasonic image processing circuit 26 Ultrasonic Image memory 27 Scan motor 28 Main timing generator 29 Controller 30 Main oscillator 31 Main screen 32 Sub screen

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An image pickup device provided at a tip of a scope,
An electronic endoscope having means for driving the image pickup device, a device to be used together with the image pickup device, means for driving the device, and image display means for monitoring the image pickup device and a signal from the device. In the mirror device, the driving of the image pickup device can be stopped in response to a signal from a means for driving a device to be used together with the image pickup device. 2. The image display means according to claim 1, wherein both an image from the image pickup device and an image from a device to be used together with the image pickup device are displayed, and the image pickup device is stopped when the driving of the image pickup device is stopped. An electronic endoscope apparatus characterized in that an image immediately before the driving is stopped is displayed without erasing the image from the. 3. An imaging element provided at the tip of a scope, a means for driving the imaging element, an ultrasonic diagnostic member that can be used in combination with the imaging element, and a means for driving the ultrasonic diagnostic member. In an electronic endoscope apparatus having an image pickup device and an image display means for monitoring with a signal from an ultrasonic diagnostic member, driving of one of the driving means is stopped to drive the other, and driving is stopped. The electronic endoscope device is characterized in that an image immediately before the driving is stopped is displayed as the image on the other side. 4. A short blanking period is provided between image display periods for each field or frame of an image display signal for controlling on / off of driving of an image pickup device and an ultrasonic diagnostic member, and the blanking period is set in this blanking period. An electronic endoscope apparatus characterized by performing. 5. A short blanking period is provided between image display periods for each line scan of an image display signal, and ON / OFF control of driving of an image pickup device and an ultrasonic diagnostic member is performed during this blanking period. An electronic endoscope device characterized by the above.