JPH07123345A - Hard copy device for ultrasonic endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a hard copies of endoscope images and ultrasonic images by one hard copy device. CONSTITUTION:Endoscope video images are displayed on the monitor 22a of this hard copy device 22 at normal time and when a switch 5 is operated, the shutter of a photographing means 22b is opened and the hard copy of the endoscope images is prepared. When the switch 6 is operated, the signals are transmitted to a display switching device 50, the supply of synchronizing signals transmitted from an endoscope video image preparation circuit through a synchronizing signal line 33 to a synchronizing signal recognition circuit 40 is stopped by a relay circuit 53 only for a period of time set in a timer circuit 52 and ultrasonic video images are projected on the monitor 22a based on the signals from an ultrasonic video image preparation circuit by a video signal switching circuit 41. The shutter of the photographing means 22b is opened while delayed for the time set in a delay circuit 51 and the hard copy of the ultrasonic images is prepared from the ultrasonic video images displayed on the monitor 22a.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ultrasonic endoscopic hard copy apparatus for photographing and recording an ultrasonic image together with an endoscopic image in a body cavity at the time of examination by an ultrasonic endoscope. Is.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An ultrasonic endoscope is provided with an endoscope observing mechanism including an illuminating means and an observing means and an ultrasonic observing mechanism including an ultrasonic transducer at an insertion portion into a body cavity. In addition to simply observing the internal image of the body cavity, it is also possible to obtain information about the internal tissue tomography at the lesion site, etc., which is extremely convenient for examination and diagnosis in the body cavity. As an observation means that constitutes an endoscope observation mechanism, in recent years, a solid-state imaging device such as a CCD has been used, and an image inside a body cavity is converted into an electric signal and taken out and reproduced on a screen such as a CRT.
So-called electronic endoscopes have been widely used. On the other hand, as an ultrasonic observation mechanism, an ultrasonic pulse is incident from the ultrasonic transducer toward the inner wall of the body cavity, the reflected echo is received, and the received signal is extracted as an electric signal and the required signal processing is performed. After that, it is also displayed on a display means such as a CRT.

Both the endoscopic image obtained by the endoscopic observation mechanism and the ultrasonic image obtained by the ultrasonic observation mechanism can be recorded on a video tape, but the recorded image is displayed on the screen. Moreover, since it cannot be played back in the state of a moving image, it is extremely troublesome work to observe and inspect it, and precise observation cannot be performed. For this reason, as a material for recording / storing, it is necessary to take a photograph from a video for each required shot to obtain a hard copy and record it in a filing system. Then, for example, it is convenient to record a hard copy and file the file when comparing with a past state.

From the above requirements, the hard copy device is used. As is well known, the hard copy device is composed of a display means such as a CRT for displaying an endoscopic image or an ultrasonic image, and a camera for taking a picture of the image displayed on the monitor. Here, the same image as the CRT displaying an endoscopic image or the CRT displaying an ultrasonic image is displayed on the display means. Therefore, while watching the CRT,
When the required video is displayed, the image can be photographed by activating the hardcopy device.

[0005]

By the way, since the endoscopic image and the ultrasonic image are processed by different signal processing systems, conventionally, they are displayed on separate CRTs and separate hardcopy devices. Will be filmed and recorded and stored in separate filing systems. Therefore, two hard copy devices are required, and there is a drawback that a large installation space is required. In addition, since the ultrasonic image is a tomographic image in the body cavity, and it is not always clear by itself which image and which state the tomographic image is in, it was obtained separately and filed. It is necessary to collate the hard copy of the endoscopic image with the hard copy of the ultrasonic image and then arrange and re-file again, which requires a high degree of knowledge and experience. There is also the inconvenience that it is not good and that mistakes may occur.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object thereof is to enable acquisition of both an endoscopic image and an ultrasonic image with a single hard copy device. It is in.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention relates to an endoscopic image in a body cavity obtained from an endoscope and an intra-body tomographic image acquired by an ultrasonic examination apparatus. An image display means capable of selectively displaying a sound wave image, a photographing means for photographing an image displayed on the image display device, an endoscopic image photographing switch and an ultrasonic image photographing switch, and the image display means. When the ultrasonic image capturing switch is operated, the image display means is switched to a state in which the ultrasonic image is displayed for a predetermined period of time, and after this switching, a constant value is displayed. The present invention is characterized in that it is configured to include a control unit that controls the image capturing unit to capture an image when time has elapsed.

[0008]

Operation During the examination and diagnosis using the ultrasonic endoscope, the endoscopic image is displayed on the image display device. Therefore, if there is a required shot, the image can be acquired as a hard copy by operating the endoscopic image capturing switch. When the ultrasonic transducer is operated, an ultrasonic image is displayed on the CRT in the ultrasonic observation device. And to make a hard copy of this ultrasound image,
Operate the ultrasonic image capture switch. As a result, the state in which the endoscopic image is displayed on the image display means is switched to the state in which the ultrasonic image is displayed. Then, after the lapse of a certain period of time, when the image becomes stable, the image displayed on the image display means, that is, the ultrasonic image is hard copied. Further, after the hard copy of the ultrasonic image is created, the state is switched to a state in which the endoscopic image is displayed.

Therefore, when the endoscope is inserted into the body cavity, an endoscopic image is always obtained. Therefore, in the hard copy device, a hard copy of the endoscopic image is always obtained. It is held in a state where it can be acquired, and only when it is necessary to make a hard copy of an ultrasonic image, the display state of the endoscopic image is switched to the display state of the ultrasonic image. This makes it possible to obtain both a hard copy of an endoscopic image and a hard copy of an ultrasonic image with a single hard copy device, and therefore, these are mixed and filed, so that the mutual relationship is clear. Becomes
It is extremely convenient to use, such as easy comparison and examination.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. First, FIG. 1 shows the overall configuration of an ultrasonic endoscope system. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes an ultrasonic endoscope, and the ultrasonic endoscope 1 includes an insertion portion 2 into a body cavity and a main body operation portion 3 in which a proximal end portion of the insertion portion 2 is connected. , Body operation part 3
And a universal cord 4 extending from. As shown in FIG. 2, the distal end portion of the insertion portion 2 is provided with a means for performing endoscopic observation and a means for performing ultrasonic observation. As a means for endoscopic observation, an illumination window 10 for illuminating the inside of a body cavity and an observation window 11 equipped with an objective lens are provided, and a CCD or the like is provided at an image forming position of the objective lens in the observation window 11. A solid-state image sensor 12 is provided. on the other hand,
As means for performing ultrasonic observation, an ultrasonic transducer 14 rotatably incorporated in a tip cap 13 protruding from the tip of the insertion portion 2 is provided. It should be noted that the means for performing endoscopic observation and the means for performing ultrasonic observation do not necessarily have to be integrated together, and for example, as means for performing ultrasonic observation, an ultrasonic transducer and its remote control means are provided. Without this thin ultrasonic probe, this ultrasonic probe,
It can also be configured as a type incorporated so as to be inserted into a treatment instrument insertion channel such as forceps in a normal endoscope. Further, although the ultrasonic transducer 14 is configured to perform radial scanning, various types of scanning methods can be used regardless of mechanical type or electrical type.

As is well known, the exit end of a light guide faces the illumination window 10, and the light guide extends through the insertion portion 2 and the main body operating portion 3 into the universal cord 4. Further, the cable connected to the solid-state imaging device 12 and the cable connected to the ultrasonic transducer 14 are also inserted into the universal cord 4 from the insertion section 2 through the main body operation section 3 as in the light guide. The tip of the universal cord 4 is branched into three, one of which serves as the light source connector 4a and is connected to the light source device of the endoscope. The other one is an imaging electrical connector 4b, and the imaging electrical connector 4b is connected to a processor that processes a signal from the solid-state imaging device 12. Here, although the light source device and the processor may be configured as separate members, in the present embodiment, the endoscope observation device 20 in which the light source device and the processor are integrated.
It is connected to the. Further, the third one is an ultrasonic electric connector 4c, and this ultrasonic electric connector 4c is connected to the ultrasonic observation device 21.

The endoscope observing device 20 includes an apparatus main body 20a including a light source section having a light source lamp and the like, a processor section having a signal processing circuit and the like, and a body cavity based on a signal processed by the processor section. And a CRT 20b as an image receiving device for displaying the image. Generally, in an endoscope, the solid-state imaging device 12 is driven by a frame sequential method in order to reduce the diameter of the insertion portion 2 and improve the resolution of an image. That is, from the light source unit of the apparatus main body 20a, the light of the three primary colors of RGB is sequentially and repeatedly applied to the subject, and the solid-state image sensor 12 is exposed to acquire the image signals of these respective colors. The signal and the synchronization signal are sent from the device body 20a side to the CRT2.
0b, the CRT 22 converts it into a video signal of NTSC or the like, and displays a color image of the subject.

On the other hand, the ultrasonic observation device 21 has a signal processing section 21a and a CRT 21b. The signal processing section 21a has an output signal from the ultrasonic transducer 14 and a rotation angle of the ultrasonic transducer 14. And a position signal for detecting the C signal are input and converted into a video signal by the scan converter in the signal processing unit 21a.
The radial ultrasonic image is displayed on the CRT 21b after being input to the RT 21b.

Further, in the figure, reference numeral 22 denotes a hard copy device, which is connected to the main body 20a of the endoscope observation device 20 and the signal processing section 21a of the ultrasonic observation device 21. As is well known, a monitor 22a serving as an image display means is for making a hard copy of a desired shot of the images displayed on the endoscope observation device 20 or the ultrasonic observation device 21. And a photographing means 22b for photographing the image displayed on the monitor 22a. here,
The monitor 22a is similar to an ordinary television receiver in that the RG
It has a B input terminal and a video input terminal. And
The main body operation unit 3 is provided with two switches 5 and 6. The switch 5 is a switch for capturing an endoscopic image, and when the switch 5 is pressed, the shutter of the imaging unit 22b is opened to make a hard copy of the endoscopic image, and the switch 6 is used for capturing an ultrasonic image. When the switch 6 is pushed in, the shutter of the image pickup means 22b is opened, and a hard copy of the ultrasonic image is obtained.

Therefore, based on FIGS. 3 and 4, a device configuration for making a hard copy of an endoscopic image and a hard copy of an ultrasonic image by operating the switches 5 and 6 will be described. explain.

Reference numeral 30 in the drawing denotes an endoscopic image forming circuit in the main body 20a of the endoscope observing device 20, and 31 denotes an ultrasonic image forming circuit in the signal processing section 21a of the ultrasonic observing device 21. As described above, the endoscope image creation circuit 30 creates RGB color image signals and outputs the color image signals (RGB signals) of the three primary colors and the synchronization signal. In addition, the ultrasonic image creation circuit 3
From 1, the video signal is output.
Therefore, in the hard copy device 22, the RGB signal line 32, the synchronization signal line 33, the video signal line 34,
Shutter signal lines 35 and 36 from the shutters 5 and 6
Is equipped with a connector. As long as the respective video signals are output from the endoscopic image creation circuit 30 and the ultrasonic image creation circuit 31, those signals are the RGB signal line 32, the synchronization signal line 33, and the video signal line 3.
4 transmits a signal to the hard copy device 22.

Here, the hard copy device 22 is provided with a synchronization signal recognition circuit 40 and a video signal switching circuit 41, and the synchronization signal from the synchronization signal line 33 is input to the synchronization signal recognition circuit 40. Then, the signal is input to the RGB signal synthesizing circuit 42 that synthesizes the RGB signals transmitted from the RGB signal line 32, and an endoscopic video signal is produced from the RGB signals and this synchronizing signal. Along with this, the synchronizing signal is the video signal switching circuit 41.
The endoscopic image signal input to the monitor 22a is also input to the monitor 22a and the endoscopic image is displayed on the monitor 22a. On the other hand, when the sync signal is not input to the sync signal recognition circuit 40 from the sync signal line 33, the ultrasonic image from the video signal line 34 is displayed. That is, the video signal switching circuit 41 is RG
The function of switching between the endoscopic image display mode capable of displaying the endoscopic image based on the B signal and the ultrasonic image display mode capable of displaying the ultrasonic image from the video signal line 34 is exhibited.

By the way, the video signal switching circuit 41 is prioritized as long as the signal from the endoscopic image forming circuit 30 is output, and the video signal switching circuit 41 enters the endoscopic image display mode, and is displayed on the monitor 22a. Do not display the endoscopic image,
Only when the synchronizing signal is not output from the endoscopic image creating circuit 30, the ultrasonic image display mode is set, the video signal output from the ultrasonic image creating circuit 31 is captured by the monitor 22a, and the ultrasonic image is displayed. Will be. Therefore, with only the control mechanism on the hard copy device 22 side,
When signals are output from both the endoscopic image forming circuit 30 and the ultrasonic image forming circuit 31, even if the switch 6 is operated, a hard copy of the ultrasonic image cannot be obtained.

Therefore, in conjunction with the operation of the switch 6,
A display switching device 50 for switching the image displayed on the monitor 22a is provided by prohibiting the input of the synchronization signal from the synchronization signal line 33 to the hard copy device 22 for a predetermined time. The display switching device 50 includes a delay circuit 51, a timer circuit 52, and a relay circuit 53. The sync signal line 33 and the shutter signal line 36 from the switch 6 for making a hard copy of the ultrasonic image are connected to the hard copy device 22 via the display switching device 50.

When a signal is input from the switch 6, this signal is input to the timer circuit 52, the timer circuit 52 is activated, and the relay circuit 53 is connected to the timer circuit 5.
The relay current is supplied only for the time set in 2. The synchronization signal line 33 is connected to the relay circuit 53, and while the relay current is flowing through the relay circuit 53, the synchronization signal line 33 is connected to the synchronization signal recognition circuit 4 through the synchronization signal line 33.
The sync signal to 0 is no longer input. As a result, the video signal switching circuit 41 switches from the endoscopic video display mode to the ultrasonic video display mode. The switch 6 is connected to the photographing means 22b via the delay circuit 51,
The shutter of the photographing means 22b is actuated after a delay set by the delay circuit 51, and the image displayed on the monitor 22a is photographed.

Therefore, the delay circuit 51 switches to the ultrasonic image display mode and delays the monitor 22a by the time until the ultrasonic image is displayed in a stable state. The set time is set so as to operate only for the time required for image capturing by the image capturing means 22b after switching from the ultrasonic image display mode. As a result, the ultrasonic image is displayed on the monitor 22a only while the hard copy of the ultrasonic image is being made, and when the time set by the timer circuit 52 elapses,
The supply of the relay current to the relay circuit 53 is stopped, the synchronization signal is input from the synchronization signal line 33 to the synchronization signal recognition circuit 40 in the hard copy device 22, and the endoscope image display mode is restored. The endoscopic image will be displayed on the screen.

With the above configuration, the monitor 22 in the hard copy device 22 is normally operated.
An endoscopic image is displayed in a, and the operator operates the ultrasonic endoscope 1 while observing the CRT 20b of the endoscopic observation device 20, and an image that needs to be recorded as a hard copy is displayed. When displayed, push the switch 5 in. As a result, the shutter release signal is input from the shutter signal line 35 to the image pickup means 22b in the hard copy device 22, and the image displayed on the monitor 22a is shot.

On the other hand, when the ultrasonic transducer 14 is operated,
A reflected echo from the tissue slice in the body cavity obtained by the ultrasonic transducer 14 is acquired, transmitted to the signal processing unit 21a of the ultrasonic observation apparatus 21, and an ultrasonic image is displayed on the CRT 21b. Thereby, the condition of internal tissues can also be inspected. Thus, it is necessary to create and record a hard copy of the ultrasonic image displayed on the CRT 21b. Then, the switch 6 provided by the operator on the main body operation unit 3
When is pressed, the signal from the switch 6 is input to the timer circuit 52 and the delay circuit 51 of the display switching device 50. In the timer circuit 52, a timer operates by using the signal from the switch 6 as a trigger signal, and while the timer is operating, the synchronization signal from the synchronization signal line 33 is prohibited from being transmitted to the synchronization signal recognition circuit 40. The resulting video signal switching circuit 41 is switched to the ultrasonic image display mode, the ultrasonic image from the ultrasonic image creating circuit 31 is captured by the monitor 22a, and the ultrasonic image is displayed on the monitor 22a. On the other hand, due to the action of the delay circuit 51,
That is, a signal is sent to the photographing means 22b with a delay until the ultrasonic image is displayed in a stable state, the shutter of the photographing means 22b is opened, and a hard copy of the ultrasonic image is created. . Then, after a lapse of the time to complete the creation of the hard copy of the ultrasonic image, the relay current in the relay circuit 53 is cut off, so that the hard copy device 22 resumes the acquisition of the synchronization signal and the monitor 22a. Then, the endoscopic image will be displayed.

As a result, one hard copy device 2
Since a hard copy of an endoscopic image and an ultrasonic image can be created in step 2, the number of devices constituting the ultrasonic endoscopic system can be reduced, and the entire system can be miniaturized and made compact. Moreover, the hard copy of the ultrasonic image can be mixed and recorded and stored in the same filing system as the hard copy of the endoscopic image, so that the endoscopic image and the ultrasonic image can be compared. Observation,
Inspection becomes easy. In particular, it is not clear by itself what part of the ultrasound image is the image itself, so if a hard copy of the endoscopic image can be made so as to be associated with this ultrasound image, it is important to keep records. It is also preferable for observing this record.

Therefore, when making a hard copy of an ultrasonic image, for example, the operation shown in FIG. 5 may be performed. That is, first, by pressing the switch 6, the timer circuit 52 of the display switching device 50 is operated, the display mode is switched to the ultrasonic image display mode for the time set by the timer circuit 52, and the ultrasonic image is displayed on the monitor 22a. Is displayed. Further, the delay circuit 51 delays the operation of the switch 6 by a certain time, the shutter of the photographing means 22b is opened, and the ultrasonic image displayed on the monitor 22a is photographed. Then, after the time set by the timer circuit 52 has passed and the mode is switched to the endoscopic image display mode, the switch 5 is pushed in,
The endoscopic image displayed on the monitor 22a of the hard copy device 22 is photographed by the photographing means 22b. As a result, after the hard copy of the ultrasonic image is acquired, the hard copy of the endoscopic image of the part is acquired.

When a hard copy of an ultrasonic image is acquired, a hard copy of an endoscopic image of the site is automatically created together with the hard copy, as shown by a phantom line in FIG. And a second delay circuit 54 is provided on the output side of the delay circuit 51 in the shutter signal line 36,
The signal from the delay circuit 51 is directly used as the photographing means 22b.
Then, the imaging means 22b is operated to make a hard copy of the ultrasonic image, and after that, by passing through the second delay circuit 54, the display of the monitor 22a is switched to the endoscopic image. After that, the second signal may be input to the image capturing unit 22b, the shutter of the image capturing unit 22b may be opened again, and a hard copy of the endoscopic image may be set.

[0027]

As described above, the present invention selectively selects an endoscopic image in a body cavity obtained from an endoscope and an ultrasonic image relating to a tomographic image in the body obtained by an ultrasonic examination apparatus. Since the image display means capable of displaying and the photographing means for photographing the image displayed on the image display device are provided, a single hard copy device can be used for super hard copying of endoscopic images. It will also be possible to obtain a hard copy of the sound wave image, and it will be possible to reduce the number of devices that make up the entire ultrasound endoscope system including the hard copy device, etc. Two switches, a mirror image photographing switch and an ultrasonic image photographing switch, are provided so that the endoscopic image is always displayed on the image display means, and the ultrasonic image photographing switch is operated. In this case, the image display means is switched to a state in which the ultrasonic image is displayed for a predetermined time, and after a certain time has elapsed, control is performed so that the image is captured by the image capturing means. It is possible to obtain a hard copy of the above in a state of being mixed with a hard copy of an endoscopic image and record / store it in a single filing system, so that an ultrasonic image and an endoscopic image can be easily compared and observed. There are various effects such as.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of an ultrasonic endoscope system.

FIG. 2 is an external view of a distal end portion of an insertion portion in an ultrasonic endoscope.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an overall configuration of a hard copy device.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of a control mechanism of the hard copy device.

FIG. 5 is a timing chart showing the operation control of the hard copy device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Ultrasonic endoscope 2 Insertion part 5,6 switch 12 Solid-state imaging device 14 Ultrasonic transducer 20 Endoscopic observation device 20a Device main body 20b CTR 21 Ultrasonic observation device 21a Signal processing part 21b CRT 22 Hard copy device 22a Monitor 22b Imaging means 30 Endoscopic image creating circuit 31 Ultrasonic image creating circuit 40 Synchronous signal recognition circuit 41 Video signal switching circuit 42 RGB signal synthesizing circuit 50 Display switching device 51 Delay circuit 52 Timer circuit 53 Relay circuit

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An image display unit capable of selectively displaying an endoscopic image of a body cavity obtained from an endoscope and an ultrasonic image of a tomographic image in the body acquired by an ultrasonic examination apparatus,
A photographing means for photographing the image displayed on the image display device, an endoscopic image photographing switch and an ultrasonic image photographing switch, and an endoscopic image is always displayed on the image display means. When the sound wave image capturing switch is operated, the image display means is switched to a state in which the ultrasonic image is displayed for a predetermined time, and the image is captured by the image capturing means when a certain time has elapsed after the switching. A hard copy device for an ultrasonic endoscope, comprising: