JPH10104532A - Endoscope device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a device capable of obtaining information other than the image of an object during observation and specifying a noticing point by at least one observer. SOLUTION: A first observing part 10b, a second observing part 90b are provided with liquid crystal display panels 14, 95 and line of sight detecting means, respectively. Display light beams emitted from the liquid crystal display panels 14, 95 are synthesized with a light beam from the object on half mirrors 16, 97 through projection lenses 15, 96 and made incident on an eyepiece lens 13. The line of sight detecting means is provided with infrared light emitting diodes 61a, 61b, 101a, 101b, infrared reflection mirrors 62, 104, image forming lenses 63, 103 and image sensors 64, 102.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an endoscope apparatus including a fiberscope type endoscope for guiding an image of an object to an observation section using an image guide fiber, and having at least two observation sections.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a fiberscope type endoscope, an image of an object is formed by an objective lens provided at a distal end of an insertion portion, and the image is conveyed through an image guide fiber and is also transmitted through an eyepiece lens. To observe. BACKGROUND ART A fiberscope type endoscope is used for observing a deeply curved portion in a body cavity such as a gastrointestinal tract for medical use by utilizing flexibility.

[0003] Further, in order to observe the image conveyed by the image guide fiber at the two observation sections, an attachment is added to the main observation system to split the light, and the split light is further subdivided via the image guide fiber. An observer scope (also referred to as a viewing mirror or a lecture scope) that leads to an observation system has been conventionally used.

[0004]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional fiberscope type endoscope, the image information obtained in the observation visual field during the observation of both the main observation system and the sub observation system is only the image of the object. For this reason, for example, when it is desired to check patient data, it is necessary to temporarily stop observation and check a medical record or the like, and there is a problem that the efficiency of the test is low.
Further, in the conventional endoscope, observers observing in the main and sub observation systems cannot judge which position of the image of the target object is being watched by the other observer. .

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and a first object of the present invention is to provide a fiberscope type endoscope capable of obtaining information other than an image of an object during observation. A second object is to provide a mirror device, and to provide a device capable of specifying a point of interest of at least one observer.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an endoscope apparatus for imaging an object formed by an objective lens provided at a distal end thereof in order to achieve the first object. An image is conveyed by an image guide fiber, a light beam emitted from the image fiber is split into two, one of the split light beams is guided to a first observation optical system, and the other light beam is transmitted to a second observation optical system. The first observation optical system includes an eyepiece lens for observing an image of the object with the naked eye, and a predetermined observation field within an observation field including the image of the object observed via the eyepiece lens. And a display control means for controlling the display means.

In order to achieve the second object, an endoscope apparatus according to a seventh aspect of the present invention provides an image guide of an object formed by an objective lens provided at a distal end portion. An endoscope that conveys by a fiber and divides a light beam emitted from an image fiber into two, guides one of the divided light beams to a first observation optical system, and guides the other light beam to a second observation optical system. In the mirror device, the first
The observation optical system, provided with an eyepiece lens for observing the image of the object with the naked eye, and a line of sight detecting means for detecting the direction in which the observer observing through the eyepiece lens is gazing. I do.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of an endoscope according to the present invention will be described below. FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing an endoscope apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The endoscope apparatus includes an endoscope 10, an illumination / control device 20, and an observer scope 90 connected to the endoscope 10. The endoscope 10 includes a flexible insertion unit 10a inserted into a small space such as a body cavity, and a first observation unit that is a first observation optical system (main observation system) connected to the insertion unit 10a. 10b. Endoscope 10 and lighting / control device 2
0 is connected by a connection cable 10c containing a cable for electric signals, a light guide fiber, and the like.

At the tip of the insertion portion 10a of the endoscope 10, an objective lens 11 for forming an image of an object is provided.
The formed image of the object is conveyed to the observation unit 10b side by the image guide fiber 12 arranged so that the incident end face 12a is located at the focal position of the objective lens 11. The observer can visually observe the image of the object formed on the exit end face 12b of the image guide fiber 12 through the eyepiece lens 13 arranged in the observation section 10b. On the other hand, the illumination / control device 20 is provided with a light source unit including a lamp 21 and a condensing / reflecting mirror 22. Illumination light emitted from the light source unit is guided to a distal end portion of the endoscope by a light guide fiber 17. Hey, illumination lens 18
To illuminate the object via.

In the endoscope apparatus of the embodiment, a liquid crystal display device 14 is provided as display means for displaying predetermined information in an observation field including an image of an object observed through an eyepiece lens 13. Inside the observation unit 10b,
It is disposed outside the optical path between the exit end face 12b of the image guide fiber 12 and the eyepiece lens 13. The display light emitted from the liquid crystal display device 14
5, the exit end face 1 of the image guide fiber 12
The light enters a half mirror 16 arranged in the optical path between the eyepiece lens 2b and the eyepiece lens 13. The half mirror 16
The luminous flux emitted from the image guide fiber 12 and the luminous flux from the liquid crystal display device 14 are combined to function as a luminous flux combining element to be incident on the eyepiece lens 13.

The display surface of the liquid crystal display device 14 is located at an optically conjugate position with the exit end surface 12b of the image guide fiber 12 via the projection lens 15. The liquid crystal display device 14 electrically displays a character or graphic pattern so as to display information in an area outside the range of the image conveyed to the image guide fiber 12 and observed through the eyepiece lens 13.

The liquid crystal display device 14 includes a backlight 14b
And a liquid crystal display panel 14a. The liquid crystal display panel 14a includes a first polarizing plate, a TN (Twisted Nematic) type liquid crystal cell, and a first
And a second polarizing plate arranged so that the transmission axis is orthogonal to the vibration direction of the electric field vector of the linearly polarized light transmitted through the polarizing plate.

The liquid crystal cell is constituted by filling a liquid crystal between transparent electrodes having a plurality of segments inside. In this example, at least a portion for displaying information has a matrix-like segment or a portion for displaying numerical values. The transparent electrode is formed by arranging the required segments by the required number of digits. When displaying information over the entire area of the liquid crystal display panel including the portion overlapping the image of the object, transparent electrodes in a matrix may be formed over the entire area of the liquid crystal display panel. On the other hand, in order to display information only on the outer portion that does not overlap with the region where the image of the object is observed, it is necessary to form a transparent electrode having segments only in a ring-shaped region that does not overlap with the exit end face of the image guide fiber. Good.

According to the above configuration, the segments to which no voltage is applied between the electrodes rotate the incident linearly polarized light by 90 degrees, so that the light transmitted through this portion is transmitted through the polarizing plate and the voltage is applied. Since the segment has no optical rotation, light transmitted through this portion is blocked by the polarizing plate. Therefore, the portion to which the voltage is not applied becomes brighter by the backlight 14b, and only the segment to which the voltage is applied is displayed dark. The contrast between the background and the character information may be such that the background is dark and the character information is bright, contrary to the embodiment.

Further, the endoscope apparatus of the embodiment is provided with a line-of-sight detecting means for detecting the direction in which the observer looking at the eyepiece lens 13 is gazing. The line-of-sight detection means is provided as a pair of infrared light emitting diodes 61a and 61b for irradiating infrared light from outside the observation optical path to the eyes of the observer looking through the eyepiece lens as input means, and is disposed on the eye side of the eyepiece lens 13 to allow the eyepiece lens 13 An infrared reflection mirror 62 for separating reflected infrared light from an observation optical path, an imaging lens 63 and an image sensor 64 disposed in the reflection optical path are provided.

The observer scope 90 includes a flexible image transport unit 90a and a second observation unit as a second observation optical system (sub-observation system) for observing an image transported by the transport unit with the naked eye. 90b. Image transport unit 90a
Is the image guide fiber 1 in the first observation unit 10b.
A beam splitter 91 that is disposed between the second exit end face 12b and the display half mirror 16 and splits a light beam emitted from the image guide fiber 12 into two;
An imaging lens 92 for re-imaging the split light flux is provided, and an image guide fiber 93 for guiding the re-imaged image to the second observation unit 90b.

The image conveyed by the image guide fiber 93 of the observer scope 90 can be observed with the naked eye via an eyepiece lens 94. Also, the liquid crystal display device 95, the imaging lens 96, the half mirror 97, and the like are provided in the second observation unit 90b in the same manner as in the first observation unit 10b.
Display means comprising: an infrared light emitting diode 10
1a, 101b, infrared reflection mirror 104, imaging lens 1
03 and an input unit of a visual line detection device composed of the image sensor 102. Liquid crystal display 95
Is composed of a backlight 95b and a liquid crystal display panel 95a.

The illumination / control device 20 includes, in addition to the light source unit described above, a display control circuit 23 for controlling the display of the liquid crystal display devices 14 and 95, and image sensors 64 and 1 serving as eye-gaze detecting means.
A line-of-sight detection circuit 25 that receives the output signal of No. 02 and determines the direction of the line of sight is provided. The display control circuit 23 includes:
A computer for inputting patient data and the like is connected as input means 24, and a switching circuit 29 for switching contents to be displayed on the liquid crystal display devices 14 and 95 of the first and second observation units 10b and 90b is connected. ing. The computer receives data input from a keyboard (not shown),
The data read from the barcode attached to the medical chart or the data retrieved from the database registered in the storage device is output to the display control circuit 23.

The principle of line-of-sight detection in the line-of-sight detection circuit 25 can use the well-known principle disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-5. For example, the direction of the line of sight is determined by calculating the rotation angle of the eyeball based on the relative positional relationship between the Purkinje image and the center of the pupil.

FIG. 2 shows the image guide fiber 12,
Image forming light beam emitted from the liquid crystal display device 1;
The display light emitted from the fourth mirror 95 and the half mirror 16
7 shows an example of a visual field when the state synthesized by No. 7 is observed through an eyepiece lens. An image area R1 where an image of the object conveyed by the image guide fiber 12 is formed is located at the center of the visual field range R0.
A plurality of pieces of information are observed around the area by display light from the liquid crystal display device 14.

In this example, the patient's initial “TY” and the second
The patient's gender / age "F, 34" is displayed as the information I2 of the patient, and the point of attention of the observer observing through the first observation system 10b is displayed as the third information by the arrow AM. However, by switching the switching means 29, it is possible to display the point that the observer who is observing the second observation system 90b is gazing at, and the first observation unit 10b
The gazing point of the observer observing is displayed on the second observing section 90b, and the gazing point of the observer observing the second observing section 90b can be displayed on the first observing section 10b. .

Therefore, according to the configuration of FIG.
Informing two observers observing via the second observing unit of the same information regarding the patient data, and informing the other observer which point is being watched by one observer according to the setting. For example, when two observers observe while talking, even if there are a plurality of lesions in the observation field of view, the lesion that he / she is expressing is referred to as the “lesion currently being watched” Can be easily confirmed by the other party.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view similar to FIG. 1 showing a second embodiment of the present invention. In this example, the first observation unit 1
A line-of-sight detection device is provided at 0b, and an observer scope 110 having a video camera is attached. The configurations of the insertion section 10a, the illumination / control device 20, the line-of-sight detection means, and the like are the same as those of the first embodiment shown in FIG. The observer scope 110 is a half mirror 9 for splitting a light beam emitted from the image guide fiber 12.
1. An imaging lens 92 for re-imaging the separated light flux, an image sensor 111 for reading the formed image, and an output of the image sensor 111 and a display control circuit provided in the illumination / control device 20. There is provided an image processing circuit 112 to which the output of the circuit 23 is input.

The image processing device 112 includes the image sensor 1
2 is displayed on the video monitor 120 as a moving image, and information on the patient based on the signal from the display control circuit 23 and the gazing point of the observer observing through the first observing unit 10b are shown in FIG. Are displayed on the monitor display 120 as in the example shown in FIG. In the configuration of FIG. 2, in addition to the operator who actually observes and operates the endoscope with the naked eye, a plurality of observers can simultaneously observe the image of the target object, and It is possible to know from the display on the video monitor 120 whether the user is paying attention.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of an observation section showing a third embodiment of the present invention. In this example, a monocular endoscope A including an image guide fiber 12 and an eyepiece lens 130 is connected to a viewing mirror B that can be observed by a plurality of persons. In the example of FIG. 4, disc-shaped liquid crystal display panels 30 and 32 are used as display elements in each observation unit. The configuration of the line-of-sight detection device and the parts not shown are the same as the configuration shown in FIG. The luminous flux containing the image information of the object emitted from the image guide fiber 12 passes through the eyepiece lens 130 and the imaging lens 140 of the monocular endoscope A and is separated into two linearly polarized light components by the polarization beam splitter 131. . The P-polarized light component transmitted through the polarizing beam splitter 131 passes through the imaging lens 140 and is disposed on a plane substantially conjugate with the exit end face of the image guide fiber 12.
Incident at 0. On the other hand, the S-polarized light component reflected by the polarization beam splitter 131 is
The light enters the image guide fiber 93 whose entrance end face is located at a position conjugate with the exit end face of No. 2 and is transported. The liquid crystal display panel 32 is disposed in close contact with the emission end face such that the display surface is disposed substantially in the same plane as the emission end face of the image guide fiber 93. Liquid crystal display panel 3
Ring-shaped backlights 31 and 33 are arranged in areas outside of 0 and 32, respectively, in close contact with the back surface when viewed from the eyepiece lenses 13 and 94 side.

The liquid crystal display panel 30 is arranged so that the transmission axis is orthogonal to the TN type liquid crystal cell and the direction of oscillation of the electric field vector of the linearly polarized light transmitted through the polarization beam splitter 131 from the polarization beam splitter 131 side. It is configured in combination with a polarizing plate. The liquid crystal display panel 32 includes a TN type liquid crystal cell and a polarizing plate arranged such that the transmission axis is orthogonal to the vibration direction of the electric field vector of the linearly polarized light reflected by the polarizing beam splitter 131 from the polarizing beam splitter 131 side. And a combination thereof. The display principle of the liquid crystal display panel is the same as that of the first embodiment.
The image of the object can be observed when a voltage is not applied in a portion overlapping with the exit end face of the backlight 93, and a portion where no voltage is applied is a backlight 3 in a non-overlapping peripheral portion.
Thus, only the segment to which the voltage is applied is displayed darker. The visual field observed through the eyepiece lenses 13 and 94 is, for example, the same as that in FIG. 2. An image of the object is observed in the center, and a plurality of character information is surrounded by a backlight as a dark pattern in a bright background. To be observed.

According to the configuration shown in FIG. 4, by separating the light beam using the polarizing beam splitter 131, the separated light beam becomes linearly polarized light, and is generally one of the polarizing plates disposed on both sides of the liquid crystal cell. It is not necessary to provide a polarizing plate on the incident side. Therefore, as compared with the case where a light beam splitting element having no polarization splitting characteristic, such as a half mirror, is used, by reducing the loss of the light amount, the incident light amount can be used efficiently.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of an observation section showing a fourth embodiment of the present invention. This example is similar to the example above,
The viewing mirror B is connected to the monocular endoscope A.
The example of FIG. 5 differs from the example of FIG. 4 in that the display device is shared by the first observation unit 10b and the observer scope 90. That is, in the example of FIG. 5, a color liquid crystal display panel 34 as a display device and a ring-shaped liquid crystal display panel 34 are provided on the exit end face 12b of the image guide fiber 12 in the insertion section 10a of the monocular endoscope A, which is a common optical path of the two observation sections. Backlight 3
5 are attached. The luminous flux transmitted through the liquid crystal display panel 34 is transmitted to the eyepiece lens 130 of the monocular endoscope A.
The light fluxes enter the beam splitter 132 via the light splitter 132, and are separated. The separated light fluxes respectively enter the two observation units. The light beam transmitted through the beam splitter 132 is transmitted through the half mirror 62 and enters the eyes of the first observer.
On the other hand, the light beam reflected by the beam splitter 132 is
Image guide fiber 9 via imaging lens 141
3, and is conveyed, passes through the eyepiece lens 94 and the half mirror 104, and enters the eyes of the second observer.

Each of the observation sections is provided with a line-of-sight detection device as in the example of FIG. A display control circuit (not shown) processes signals related to the direction of the observer's line of sight output from the light receiving elements 64 and 102 of the line of sight detecting devices of the respective observation units, and the two liquid crystal display panels 34 are gazed at. Are displayed by arrows of different colors, or only the gaze direction of one observer is displayed by arrows. When two arrows overlap on the display screen, one of the arrows is switched to non-display in order to prevent the image of the object from becoming difficult to see. Information other than the gaze direction can be displayed in the peripheral area of the visual field, as in the example shown in FIG.

According to the configuration shown in FIG.
To provide the same information to human observers,
The device is simplified and the cost is reduced as compared with the configuration of FIG. 4 including a plurality of display devices. In addition, if a configuration is adopted in which directions observed by each observer are displayed in different colors, the gaze directions can be clearly distinguished even when the display device is unified.

[0031]

As described above, according to the present invention, a fiberscope type endoscope is used,
In an apparatus having two observation sections, predetermined information can be displayed in a field of view observed through an eyepiece lens, for example, by displaying data of a patient under observation, and keeping an eye on an endoscope. Necessary information can be obtained. Therefore, it is not necessary to temporarily stop the observation and check the medical record or the like as in the related art, and it is possible to improve the efficiency of observation and photographing. Further, when the gaze direction of the observer observing by any of the observation units is configured to be detected and the other observer can confirm, one observer gazes at any point of the target object. Can be notified to the other observer, and, for example, which of the plurality of lesions is currently being observed can be confirmed by the gazing point, so that communication during the observation can be performed more smoothly.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an observation field of view of the endoscope apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an endoscope apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged explanatory view showing an observation unit of an endoscope apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an enlarged observation section of an endoscope apparatus according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Endoscope 10a Insertion part 10b Observation part 11 Objective lens 12 Image guide fiber 13 Eyepiece lens 14 Liquid crystal display panel 23 Display control circuit 25 Eye gaze detection circuit 26 Motor control circuits 61a and 61b Light emitting diode 62 Infrared reflection mirror 63 Imaging lens 64 image sensor 90 observer scope

Claims (13)

[Claims] 1. An image of an object formed by an objective lens provided at a distal end portion is conveyed by an image guide fiber, and a light beam emitted from the image fiber is transmitted by an image guide fiber.
An endoscope device that divides one light beam into a first observation optical system and guides the other light beam into a second observation optical system, wherein the first observation optical system An eyepiece lens for observing an image of an object with the naked eye, display means for displaying predetermined information in an observation field including an image of the object observed via the eyepiece lens, and the display means. An endoscope apparatus comprising: display control means for controlling. 2. An eyepiece lens for observing an image of an object with the naked eye, and an observer observing the eyepiece lens via the eyepiece lens of the second observation optical system. Gaze detection means for detecting the direction in which
2. The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit displays information on a display unit of the first observation optical system based on a detection result by the line-of-sight detection unit. 3. 3. The second observation optical system includes display means for displaying predetermined information in an observation field including an image of the object observed through the eyepiece lens, and The endoscope apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the means causes the same information to be displayed on display means of the first and second observation optical systems. 4. The first observation optical system is provided with line-of-sight detection means for detecting a direction in which an observer observing through the eyepiece lens is gazing, and the second observation optical system includes: An eyepiece lens for observing an image of the object with the naked eye, and display means for displaying predetermined information in an observation field including an image of the object observed via the eyepiece lens, 2. The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit displays information on a display unit of the second observation optical system based on a detection result by the line-of-sight detection unit. 3. 5. The endoscope apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the control means causes the same information to be displayed on display means of the first and second observation optical systems. 6. The second observation optical system is provided with a visual line detection means for detecting a direction in which an observer observing through an eyepiece lens of the second observation optical system is gazing,
The control unit displays information on a display unit of the second observation optical system based on a detection result by the line-of-sight detection unit of the first observation optical system, and displays the information by a line-of-sight detection unit of the second observation optical system. The endoscope apparatus according to claim 4, wherein information is displayed on display means of the first observation optical system based on a detection result. 7. An image of an object formed by an objective lens provided at a distal end portion is conveyed by an image guide fiber, and a light beam emitted from the image fiber is transmitted by an image guide fiber.
An endoscope device that divides one light beam into a first observation optical system and guides the other light beam into a second observation optical system, wherein the first observation optical system An endoscope apparatus comprising: an eyepiece lens for observing an image of an object with the naked eye; and a line-of-sight detecting means for detecting a direction in which an observer observing through the eyepiece lens gazes. 8. The second observation optical system includes a video camera that captures an image of the object, and has image processing means for displaying an image captured by the video camera on a monitor. The endoscope apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the processing unit displays information on the monitor based on a detection result by the line-of-sight detection unit. 9. The second observation optical system includes an eyepiece lens for observing an image of the object with the naked eye, and a predetermined observation field within an observation field including the image of the object observed via the eyepiece lens. Display means for displaying said information, and control means for displaying information on a display means of said second observation optical system based on a detection result by said line-of-sight detection means. An endoscope apparatus according to claim 1. 10. The second observation optical system includes an eyepiece lens for observing an image of an object with the naked eye, and the second observation optical system is provided at a position before splitting a light beam emitted from the image fiber into two. The display device according to claim 1, further comprising a display unit configured to display predetermined information in an observation field including an image of the object observed through the eyepiece lenses of the first and second observation optical systems. Endoscope device. 11. A viewing mirror connected to an endoscope for conveying and observing an image of an object formed by an objective lens provided at a distal end portion by using an image guide fiber, wherein the image is emitted from the image fiber. A splitting element for splitting the light beam to be split into two and guiding one of the light beams to the first observation optical system, and the other to guide the other light beam to the second observation optical system.
The observation optical system has an eyepiece lens for observing an image of the object with the naked eye, and a display for displaying predetermined information in an observation field including the image of the object observed via the eyepiece lens. And a display control means for controlling the display means. 12. The eyepiece lens for observing an image of an object with the naked eye, wherein the second observation optical system includes:
Line of sight detecting means for detecting a direction in which an observer watching through an eyepiece lens of the observation optical system is gazing, wherein the control means performs the first observation based on a detection result by the line of sight detecting means. The viewing mirror according to claim 11, wherein information is displayed on a display means of the optical system. 13. A viewing mirror which is connected to an endoscope for conveying and observing an image of an object formed by an objective lens provided at a distal end portion by using an image guide fiber, and emitting the image from the image fiber. A splitting element for splitting the light beam to be split into two and guiding one of the light beams to the first observation optical system, and the other to guide the other light beam to the second observation optical system.
The observation optical system includes an eyepiece lens for observing an image of the object with the naked eye, and a gaze detection unit for detecting a direction in which an observer observing through the eyepiece lens is gazing. A special viewing mirror.