JPH1142211A - Endoscope imaging apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily add an extension function and to improve the function of a system by making it possible to mount an extension unit having an external extension function to an apparatus main body and to dismount the unit from it. SOLUTION: In an endoscope imaging apparatus 1, a photographic 1 subject photographed by a scope 3 by means of a camera head 2 is signal-processed by a CCU 5 and is displayed as an endoscopic image on a TV monitor 6 and the photographic subject is stored as a digital image data in a memory 20 in the CCU 5 and is read out as an image data of a static image and is recorded in a PC card mounted in a PC card slot 23. The PC card slot 23 is provided on a front panel of the CCU main body and a lid member, etc., functioning as a liq. invasion protecting means and a shielding means are arranged on the opening part of this slot.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an endoscope image pickup apparatus for picking up an observation image obtained by an endoscope.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, endoscopes capable of observing a target site by inserting an elongated insertion portion into a body cavity or the like, and performing various examinations, treatments, and the like have been widely used. When using an optical endoscope such as a rigid endoscope or a fiberscope, attach the camera head of the endoscope imaging device to the eyepiece of the endoscope, take an endoscope image, and observe it on a monitor. It is common practice to record images for later diagnosis. In addition, various types of endoscope imaging apparatuses using an electronic endoscope having an imaging element such as a CCD have been used.

In an endoscope imaging apparatus, when recording an endoscope image taken for use in a medical chart or a paper,
Conventionally, it was shot on film and recorded as a photo, VT
Recording of a moving image on a video tape using R, or recording of digital image data on an information recording device such as a hard disk has been generally performed. Recently, attention has been paid to a PC card with a built-in memory as a card-like small portable recording medium.

[0004]

In a conventional endoscope imaging apparatus, an extension unit having an external extension function such as a detachable small portable recording medium such as a PC card is provided in a processor body such as a camera control unit. A configuration that can be attached and detached has not been considered. As described above, P
When recording image data on a C card or the like, it is very convenient and easy to expand the function of the system if the medium can be directly mounted on the processor body. However, in the conventional device, an expansion slot for mounting an expansion unit is provided. Is separately provided, which may lead to a complicated device configuration, complicated operation, and an increase in cost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances. An expansion unit having an external expansion function can be attached to and detached from an apparatus main body, and the function of the system can be improved by easily adding the expansion function. It is an object to provide an endoscope imaging device.

[0006]

An endoscope imaging apparatus according to the present invention is an endoscope imaging apparatus having signal processing means for processing a video signal of a subject image picked up by the imaging means, wherein the signal processing means is provided. An expansion slot for detachably connecting an expansion unit having an external expansion function to the processor body.

[0007]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 and 2 relate to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of an endoscope imaging apparatus, and FIG. 2 is a front view showing a configuration of a front panel of a camera control unit.

As shown in FIG. 1, an endoscope imaging apparatus 1 of the present embodiment has a camera head 2 having built-in imaging means, a scope 3 connected to the camera head 2, and an illumination light , A camera control unit (hereinafter abbreviated as CCU) 5 as a processor main body for performing signal processing on imaging means provided in the camera head 2, and a standard signal processed by the CCU 5. Monitor 6 that displays a typical video signal
And is configured. The scope 3 is, for example, a rigid endoscope such as a laparoscope used at the time of surgery in the field of surgery.

When the endoscope imaging apparatus 1 is used, a light guide 8 of a scope 3 is attached to the light source device 4 as shown in FIG. The light is condensed by the lens and is incident on the end face of the opposing light guide 8. This illumination light is transmitted to the scope 3 by the light guide 8, and the
The light is emitted forward from the distal end of the scope 3 through the inside, and illuminates a subject such as a body cavity of a patient. The reflected light of the illuminated subject is formed by the scope 3, and the subject image is taken by the imaging means in the camera head 2 through the scope 3.

In the camera head 2, a CCD 7 as an image pickup means is arranged on a focal plane of an image pickup lens.
A subject image is formed on the imaging surface of D7 and photoelectrically converted. The CCD 7 is connected to the CCU 5 via a camera cable 9 in which a CCD drive signal transmission line and a CCD output signal transmission line are inserted.
It is sent to U5 to perform various signal processing. The video signal output from the CCU 5 is sent to the TV monitor 6, and an observation image of the subject is displayed on the TV monitor 6.

A CCD driver circuit 10 is provided in the CCU 5, and a CCD drive signal is supplied from the CCD driver circuit 10 to the CCD 7 via a CCD drive signal transmission line in the camera cable 9, and a signal stored in the CCD 7 is provided. The charge is read. In the CCU 5, a preamplifier circuit 11 and a preprocessing circuit 12 are provided.
The CCD output signal read from the CD 7 is transmitted to the CCU 5 via the CCD output signal transmission line in the camera cable 9, and the preamplifier circuit 11 in the CCU 5 amplifies the loss in the cable transmission, and then performs preprocessing. Input to the circuit 12.

An A / D conversion circuit 13 and a Y / C separation circuit 14 are provided at a stage subsequent to the preprocessing circuit 12, and the CCD output signal input to the preprocessing circuit 12 is a CD output signal.
After performing preprocessing such as S (correlated double sampling) and S / H (sample hold), it is input to the A / D conversion circuit 13 and converted into a digital signal. Is entered.

An RGB matrix circuit 15 and a white balance / black balance adjustment circuit 16 are provided at a stage subsequent to the Y / C separation circuit 14.
The digital signal input to is converted to a line-sequential
After being separated into three digital signals of CB, input to an RGB matrix circuit 15 and converted into RGB digital signals, a white balance / black balance adjustment circuit 16 performs predetermined white balance and black balance adjustment.

A digital image processing circuit 17 and a D / A are provided at a stage subsequent to the white balance / black balance adjusting circuit 16.
A conversion circuit 18 and a post-processing circuit 19 are provided. After the RGB digital signals subjected to the balance adjustment are subjected to digital processing such as enhancement processing, γ correction, and character superimposition in the digital video processing circuit 17, The signal is converted into an analog signal by the D / A conversion circuit 18 and input to the post-processing circuit 19. Then, the analog signal input to the post-processing circuit 19 is converted into a standard video signal and output to the TV monitor 6.

A memory 20, a JPEG compression circuit 21, and a PC card driver 22 are provided at the subsequent stage of the digital video processing circuit 17.
The C card slot 23 is connected, and digital signals subjected to various signal processing are stored in the memory 20. P
A PC card 24 having a built-in memory is mounted in the C card slot 23, and a digital image signal read from the memory 20 is transmitted to a JPEG compression circuit 21.
Is compressed on the PC card 24 via the PC card driver 22.

Further, a PC card 24 is stored in the CCU 5.
A CPU 25 for performing various controls such as image recording on a PC card, and a font generator 26 for outputting a display of medium information such as the number of image data recorded on the PC card 24 are provided. Release switch 2 for giving operation instructions (release instructions)
9 and an LED 27 for displaying the medium information.

As shown in FIG. 2, a front panel 28 of the CCU 5 has a power switch 30, a connector receiver 31 to which the camera head 2 is connected, the above-mentioned PC card slot 23, the LED 27, and the release switch 29.
And an operation switch 32 including Also, P
The C card 24 is configured such that a small memory card 33 such as a smart media is detachably attached.

The endoscope imaging apparatus 1 configured as described above.
In, an image signal captured by the camera head 2 through the scope 3 and subjected to signal processing is output to the TV monitor 6 to be displayed as an image and stored in the memory 20.

When a release switch 29 is pressed to record an endoscope image, a release signal is sent from the CPU 25 to the memory 20, and image data of a still image is read from the memory 20. The read image data is JP
After the data is compressed in the EG compression circuit 21, the data is sent to a PC card 24 inserted in a PC card slot 23 via a PC card driver 22 and recorded.

At the time of image recording, media information such as the number of releases of image data of a still image, that is, the number of image data recorded on the PC card 24, is sent from the CPU 20 to the font generator 26, and the font generator 26 outputs character information as character information. It is output and displayed on the medium information display LED 27 on the front panel. This LED
The number of releases indicated by a numeral in 27 is counted up by one each time the release is performed.

By recording an endoscope image using a PC card in this way, it is possible to easily record and store a still image with little deterioration in image quality at low cost. Further, at the time of image recording, by displaying medium information such as the number of image data recorded on the PC card on the LED on the front panel of the CCU, the user can easily confirm the number of remaining recordable images and the like.

Further, by providing a PC card slot on the front panel of the CCU so that a PC card can be directly attached and detached, it is possible to easily and easily expand the functions and improve the functions of the system. It is possible.

FIG. 3 shows a modified example of the endoscope imaging apparatus whose functions can be extended. In the CCU 5 of this modified example, a PC card 35 to which a remote control unit 34 can be connected is detachably attached to the PC card slot 23 on the front panel. The remote control unit 34 is a CCU5
In addition to the internal CPU, a CPU for controlling the functions of the remote controller in a lump is built in.
To control the operation of the CCU 5 and the like.

That is, instead of the PC card for recording image data described in the above embodiment, it is possible to connect a remote controller to the PC card slot 23 and exchange control signals and the like via the digital input / output interface in the slot. It is possible.

According to this configuration, the remote control function desired by the user can be controlled without the intervention of the CPU in the CCU, and it is not necessary to provide an interface dedicated to the remote control in the CCU. Cost can be reduced.

It should be noted that the remote controller can be connected not only to the PC card but also to another extension unit detachable from the CCU, or the extension unit itself has a built-in CPU or the like to have a remote control function. May be.

As in the present embodiment, the extension unit is attached to the processor body of the endoscope imaging apparatus so that an extension unit for external extension such as a detachable small portable recording medium such as a PC card can be detached. If an expansion slot is provided, if liquid is spilled into the processor body by carelessness of the user during inspection or surgery, liquid will enter the expansion slot and cause short-circuiting or corrosion of electrical contacts inside the device. Therefore, a structure for preventing such intrusion of the liquid is required.

Since the conventional device does not have a liquid impervious structure around the expansion slot, as shown in FIG.
When a liquid 38 such as water is spilled into the main body 7, there is a possibility that the liquid may enter the inside of the expansion slot 39 in which the expansion unit 40 is mounted, thereby causing a short circuit or corrosion of the electrical contacts inside the device.

Therefore, in order to improve the safety of a medical device such as a CCU provided with an expansion slot, a configuration example in which a liquid intrusion prevention means is provided in an expansion slot portion will be described in the following embodiment.

FIGS. 5A and 5B show the configuration of an expansion slot according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG.
(B) is a sectional view.

An eaves-like projection 42 is provided above the opening of the expansion slot 41 provided on the front or side surface of the CCU 5 main body in a range wider than the width of the opening. By providing such projections 42, the liquid that has spilled from the upper part of the apparatus due to the carelessness of the user or the like can be removed by the arrow 4 in the drawing.
As shown in FIG. 3, the expansion slot 4
It does not penetrate directly into the interior of the device.

Therefore, according to the configuration of the second embodiment, it is possible to prevent the liquid from entering the expansion slot with a simple configuration, and to prevent the possibility of short-circuiting or corrosion of the electric contacts inside the device.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing a configuration of an expansion slot section according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

In the third embodiment, a slope portion 44 is formed at a lower portion inside the vicinity of the opening of the expansion slot 41. The slope 44 prevents the liquid from entering the inside of the expansion slot as shown by the arrow 43 in the figure. Further, as shown in the modification of FIG. 7, the same operation and effect can be obtained even if the entire expansion slot 41 is formed by the slope 45.

According to the configuration of the third embodiment, it is not necessary to provide another member such as an eave-shaped projection, and the second embodiment has a simple configuration.
As in the embodiment, it is possible to prevent the liquid from entering the expansion slot.

8 to 12 relate to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the expansion slot, and FIG. 9 shows the configuration near the outside of the expansion slot with the expansion unit mounted. FIG. 10 is an assembled perspective view of the components of the expansion slot, FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the expansion unit, and FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a modification of the expansion unit.

The fourth embodiment shows a configuration example in which a liquid infiltration preventing means is provided in the expansion slot portion, and a shielding means for shielding unnecessary radiated electromagnetic waves is provided for EMC measures.

The casing 51 of the CCU is made of a conductive material and has a shield structure against unnecessary radiated electromagnetic waves from inside the apparatus. In this housing 51, a unit mounting portion 54 for fitting the expansion unit 52 therein when the expansion unit is mounted is provided in a housing opening 53 provided for attaching and detaching the expansion unit 52 as shown in FIG. It is attached from inside the body. A contact connector 55 that is electrically connected to the extension unit 52 when the extension unit is mounted and that transmits an electric signal and the like to and from the extension unit 52 is provided at a deep portion of the unit mounting portion 54.

A contact member 56 is provided between the housing 51 and the unit mounting portion 54 in the housing opening 53 so as to be electrically connected to the housing 51. The contact portions 56a project from portions corresponding to the upper side and both sides of the housing opening 53. On the other hand, a hinge member 57 made of a conductive member such as metal or conductive rubber is provided on a lower side portion of the housing opening 53.
One of the fixing members 7 is fixed as a fixing portion 57a so as to be electrically connected to the housing 51. The other side of the hinge member 57 is openable and closable as a lid 58, and a direction in which the spring member 59 provided on the hinge member 57 constantly contacts the contact portion 56 a on the upper side of the housing opening 53 (arrow in FIG. 8). A direction).

Further, the lower part of the inner side surface of the unit mounting portion 54 corresponding to the inside of the housing of the hinge member 57 is
1. An inclined surface portion 60 that opens toward the outside is formed.

As shown in FIGS. 11 (a) and 11 (b), the expansion unit 52 has a conductive surface whose entire peripheral surface near the end located on the rear side in the insertion direction of the expansion slot is covered with a conductive member. 61. This extension unit 52
9, the contact portions 56a on the upper side and both side portions of the contact member 56 contact the upper surface and the conductive surfaces 61 on both side surfaces of the extension unit 52, as shown in FIG.
The end of the lid 58 of the hinge member 57 contacts the conductive surface 61 on the lower surface of the extension unit 52 so as to be conductive.

FIG. 12 shows a modification of the extension unit 52. The expansion unit 62 of this modified example has a card slot 63 on the side, and a memory card 6 such as a PC card.
4 can be attached. As in the configuration of FIG. 11, a conductive surface 61 is provided near the rear end in the insertion direction.

In the expansion slot having such a configuration, when the expansion unit 52 is not mounted, the lid 58 of the hinge member 57 is urged by the spring member 59 in the direction of arrow A in FIG. Is in contact with the contact portion 56a of the contact member 56 to conduct, and the housing opening 53
It is located so as to block. Since the lid 58 of the hinge member 57 serves as a lid in the housing opening 53 in this manner, for example, liquid flowing from the upper portion of the housing 51
The flow flows along arrow B in FIG.
It does not penetrate directly into the interior. Also, the hinge member 57
The liquid penetrating into the inside of the housing 51 from the gap of the above can also be prevented from entering the inside of the unit mounting portion 54 by the slope portion 60 of the unit mounting portion 54.

When the extension unit 52 is mounted, the conductive surface 61 of the extension unit 52 and the contact member 5 are attached as shown in FIG.
6 and the end of the lid 58 of the hinge member 57 are brought into contact with each other to conduct electricity.
Shielding for countermeasures becomes possible, and emission of unnecessary radiation noise can be prevented. Also at this time, since the housing opening 53 is closed by the extension unit 52, it is possible to prevent the liquid from entering the inside of the unit mounting portion 54 as in the case of non-mounting.

FIG. 13 shows a first modification of the extension unit of the fourth embodiment. The first modification is an extension unit 5
2 has a configuration in which a slope 65 is provided at the rear end in the insertion direction.
By providing the inclined portion 65 in this manner, even when the extension unit 52 is mounted, the liquid or the like flowing from above the housing 51 flows along the arrow C in FIG. 13 and is more reliable than the configuration in FIG. The liquid can be prevented from penetrating into the inside of the unit mounting portion.

FIG. 14 shows a second modification of the extension unit according to the fourth embodiment. The second modified example has a configuration in which bent portions 66 are provided at both end portions of the lid portion 58 of the hinge member 57. By providing the bent portion 66 in this manner, it is possible to more reliably secure contact with the contact member 56 at both left and right sides of the housing opening 53, and it is possible to improve the liquid infiltration prevention effect and the shielding effect.

FIG. 15 shows a third modification of the extension unit according to the fourth embodiment. In the third modification, instead of the hinge member 57, a cover member 67 made of a resin member that can be folded and opened at an intermediate portion is provided, and a metal thin film 68 is attached and covered on the surface of the cover member 67. It is. By using such a lid member 67, a mechanical gap is not generated in the hinge portion 69, so that the liquid immersion preventing effect can be more effectively obtained.

As described above, according to the configuration of the fourth embodiment, a structure for preventing liquid from penetrating into the expansion slot and a shield structure for EMC measures can be realized in the expansion slot. It is possible to improve the safety of the provided medical device such as the CCU.

The endoscope imaging apparatus according to the present embodiment is not limited to a surgical endoscope system in which a camera head is mounted on a rigid endoscope as described in the above-described embodiment, but may be a soft endoscope. The present invention can be similarly applied to an endoscope system for internal medicine, such as an endoscope equipped with a camera head or an endoscope connected to an electronic endoscope having a built-in image sensor.

The PC card is not limited to a card having a built-in memory, but may be a card having a small memory card such as a smart media which can be inserted or removed, a card having a small hard disk, or the like. Alternatively, even in a case where another expansion unit is attached to the expansion slot and used, the same can be applied to the above embodiments.

[Supplementary Notes] (1) In an endoscope imaging apparatus having a signal processing means for processing a video signal of a subject image picked up by an imaging means, a processor body having the signal processing means has an external extension function. An endoscope image pickup device provided with an expansion slot for detachably connecting an expansion unit.

(2) In the processor body, a PC card is connected as the extension unit to the extension slot, and digital still image data relating to the video signal is recorded on the PC card. Endoscope imaging device.

(3) The endoscope imaging apparatus according to attachment 1, wherein the expansion slot portion of the processor main body has a liquid intrusion prevention structure.

(4) The endoscope image pickup apparatus according to appendix 1, wherein the expansion slot portion of the processor main body has a shield structure so as to be closed by a shield means.

(5) The expansion slot portion of the processor main body has a liquid intrusion prevention structure and a shield structure so as to be closed by a shield means.
An endoscope imaging apparatus according to claim 1.

(6) The projection according to claim 3 or 5, wherein a protrusion having a width larger than the width of the expansion slot is provided above the expansion slot opening as the liquid intrusion prevention structure. Endoscope imaging device.

(7) The endoscope imaging apparatus according to appendix 3 or 5, wherein a lid-like member formed to be openable and closable at an opening of the expansion slot is provided as the liquid intrusion prevention structure.

(8) As the liquid intrusion prevention structure, the lower surface inside the slot in the vicinity of the opening of the expansion slot is formed to have a slope having a lower slope on the opening side of the expansion slot. The endoscope imaging device according to claim 1.

(9) As the liquid intrusion prevention structure and the shield structure, a lid-like member made of a conductive material is provided at the opening of the expansion slot so as to be openable and closable, and around the opening of the expansion slot. The contact member according to claim 5, further comprising: a contact member electrically connected to an exterior shield portion of the processor main body; and an urging means for closing the lid member and contacting the contact member when the extension unit is not mounted. Endoscope imaging device.

(10) A conductive member is provided at the rear end of the extension unit in the insertion direction to cover the entire rear end thereof to form a conductive surface. When the extension unit is mounted, the conductive surface and the contact member are in contact with each other. The endoscope imaging apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the rear end of the expansion unit closes the expansion slot opening.

[0061]

As described above, according to the present invention, an extension unit having an external extension function can be attached to and detached from the apparatus main body, and the extension function can be easily added to improve the function of the system. There is an effect that a mirror imaging device can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a front view showing a configuration of a front panel of the camera control unit according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a modified example of an endoscope imaging apparatus whose functions can be extended.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view illustrating a problem that a liquid such as water enters the expansion slot when a liquid such as water is spilled into the CCU body in the conventional device.

FIGS. 5A and 5B show a configuration of an expansion slot portion according to a second embodiment, wherein FIG. 5A is a front view and FIG.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing the configuration of an expansion slot according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a modification of the expansion slot section of the third embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing the configuration of an expansion slot according to a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration near the outside of an expansion slot in a state where an expansion unit according to a fourth embodiment is mounted.

FIG. 10 is an assembled perspective view of components of an expansion slot according to a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing the configuration of an extension unit.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a modification of the extension unit.

FIG. 13 is a sectional view showing a first modification of the extension unit of the fourth embodiment;

FIG. 14 is a sectional view showing a second modification of the extension unit according to the fourth embodiment;

FIG. 15 is a sectional view showing a third modification of the extension unit of the fourth embodiment;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Endoscope imaging device 2 ... Camera head 3 ... Scope 5 ... Camera control unit (CCU) 6 ... TV monitor 7 ... CCD 20 ... Memory 22 ... PC card driver 23 ... PC card slot 24 ... PC card 25 ... CPU 27 ... LED 51 ... Case 52 ... Expansion unit 53 ... Case opening 54 ... Unit mounting part 56 ... Contact member 57 ... Hinge member 58 ... Cover part 59 ... Spring member 61 ... Conductive surface

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Kuniaki Kami, Inventor 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Inside Olympus Optical Industrial Co., Ltd. (72) Makoto Tsunakawa 2-43-2, Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. (72) Kanichi Matsumoto, Inventor 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Olympus Optical Industries Co., Ltd. (72) Shinji Yamashita 2-43-2, Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo No. Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. (72) Wataru Ohno 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. (72) Kotaro Ogasawara 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo No. Olympus Optical Industry Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Noboru Kusamura 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Olympus Within Gaku Kogyo Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Hideki Tashiro 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Inside Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Kazutaka Nakachi 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Ori Inside of Opus Optical Co., Ltd.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An endoscope image pickup apparatus having a signal processing means for processing a video signal of a subject image picked up by an image pickup means, wherein an extension unit having an external expansion function is attached to and detached from a processor body having the signal processing means. An endoscope imaging apparatus provided with an expansion slot for freely connecting.