Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G02—OPTICS
  • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
  • G02B23/00—Telescopes, e.g. binoculars; Periscopes; Instruments for viewing the inside of hollow bodies; Viewfinders; Optical aiming or sighting devices
  • G02B23/24—Instruments or systems for viewing the inside of hollow bodies, e.g. fibrescopes
  • G02B23/2476—Non-optical details, e.g. housings, mountings, supports
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
  • A61B1/00—Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopes; Illuminating arrangements therefor
  • A61B1/00064—Constructional details of the endoscope body
  • A61B1/00071—Insertion part of the endoscope body
  • A61B1/0008—Insertion part of the endoscope body characterised by distal tip features
  • A61B1/00097—Sensors
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
  • A61B1/00—Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopes; Illuminating arrangements therefor
  • A61B1/04—Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopes; Illuminating arrangements therefor combined with photographic or television appliances
  • A61B1/041—Capsule endoscopes for imaging
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
  • A61B1/00—Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopes; Illuminating arrangements therefor
  • A61B1/04—Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopes; Illuminating arrangements therefor combined with photographic or television appliances
  • A61B1/05—Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopes; Illuminating arrangements therefor combined with photographic or television appliances characterised by the image sensor, e.g. camera, being in the distal end portion
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
  • A61B5/00—Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons
  • A61B5/06—Devices, other than using radiation, for detecting or locating foreign bodies ; Determining position of diagnostic devices within or on the body of the patient
  • A61B5/065—Determining position of the probe employing exclusively positioning means located on or in the probe, e.g. using position sensors arranged on the probe

Definitions

• the present invention relates to an endoscope system, and more particularly to an endoscope system capable of displaying images of a plurality of subjects on one display unit.
• An endoscope system configured with an endoscope or the like has been widely used in the medical field, the industrial field, and the like.
• an endoscope system is used when observing a body cavity part and tissue of a living body which is an affected part.
• an imaging apparatus that conforms to the above-described endoscope system, for example, there is one proposed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11 089793!
• a side-view type imaging apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11 089793 discloses an imaging system that forms and captures an image of a subject incident from a light transmitting window on a side surface of a distal end, and an optical axis of the imaging system.
• the handpiece includes a rotatable head unit, and a signal processing device that processes an imaging signal output from the imaging system and outputs the processed signal to an image display device.
• the side-view type imaging device disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11 089793 has the above-described configuration, thereby obtaining an image of a desired subject existing in the radial direction with respect to the optical axis of the imaging system. The image can be output to the image display device.
• the side-view type imaging device disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-089793 can be observed at a time because there is only one image of the subject image displayed on the screen of the image display device.
• the problem is that this range depends on the viewing angle of the transmission window as the objective optical system.
• the present invention has been made in view of the above-described points, and an object of the present invention is to provide an endoscope system capable of widening the range that can be observed at one time as compared with the conventional art. Disclosure of the invention
• the endoscope system of the present invention includes an elongated insertion portion and a longitudinal axis direction of the insertion portion.
• An imaging unit that includes an objective optical system having an oblique optical axis, captures an image of a subject existing in the field of view of the objective optical system, and is rotatable about a longitudinal axis of the insertion unit; and
• a rotation angle detection unit that detects a rotation angle of the imaging unit, and an image of a plurality of subjects during one rotation of the imaging unit by controlling the imaging unit based on the rotation angle detected by the rotation angle detection unit.
• An image pickup control unit capable of picking up an image of the object, and a signal processing unit that performs signal processing for displaying each of the images of the plurality of objects on one display unit.
• FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a configuration of a main part of an endoscope system according to the present embodiment.
• FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a configuration of a distal end portion included in a insertion portion of the endoscope system of FIG.
• FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a display state of an image corresponding to an image of a subject captured along with the rotation of the insertion portion in FIG.
• FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a display state when one image is selected from the images displayed in FIG.
• FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a display state of a composite image, which is an image obtained by combining the images displayed in FIG.
• FIG. 6 is a view showing an example different from FIG. 2 of the distal end portion of the insertion portion of the endoscope system of FIG.
• FIG. 7 is a view showing an example different from FIGS. 2 and 6 of the distal end portion of the insertion portion of the endoscope system of FIG.
• FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a configuration of each connector portion in FIG.
• FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a configuration when one connector portion of the connector portions in FIG. 8 is viewed from the arrow S direction.
• FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a state when each connector portion of FIG. 8 is connected.
• FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a main part of the endoscope system according to the present embodiment.
• Figure 2 shows the endoscope system of Figure 1. It is a figure which shows an example of a structure of the front-end
• FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display state of an image corresponding to an image of a subject captured along with the rotation of the insertion portion in FIG.
• FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a display state when one image is selected from the images displayed in FIG. FIG.
• FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display state of a composite image, which is an image obtained by combining the images displayed in FIG. 6 is a view showing an example different from FIG. 2 of the distal end portion of the insertion portion of the endoscope system of FIG.
• FIG. 7 is a view showing an example different from FIGS. 2 and 6 of the distal end portion of the insertion portion of the endoscope system of FIG.
• FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of each connector unit in FIG.
• FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a configuration when one connector portion of the connector portions of FIG. 8 is viewed from the arrow S direction.
• FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a state in which each connector part of FIG. 8 is connected.
• the endoscope system 1 is configured such that it can be inserted into a body cavity, for example, an elongated and flexible insertion part 2 and an insertion part 2 are detachably connected.
• the rotating device 3 that rotates the inserted insertion portion 2 in a predetermined direction around the longitudinal axis
• the protective tube 4 that is rotatably held by insertion of the insertion portion 2
• the signal cable 3a A video processor 5 connected to the rotating device 3 via a display unit, and a display unit connected to the video processor 5 via a cable 6a and displaying an image of a subject corresponding to the video signal output from the video processor 5 And the monitor 6 as a main part.
• the endoscope 10 in the endoscope system 1 of the present embodiment is configured to include the insertion portion 2 and the rotation device 3.
• the insertion portion 2 has a connector portion 2a configured to be detachable with respect to the insertion portion holding portion 3f provided in the rotating device 3, on the proximal end side.
• the insertion portion 2 has a distal end portion 7 on the distal end side that rotates as the insertion portion 2 rotates as shown in FIG.
• the distal end portion 7 is provided at an approximate center of the distal end surface 7a and the distal end surface 7a formed so as to be inclined with respect to the insertion axis direction of the insertion portion 2, and a subject existing in the field of view.
• the objective optical system 7b that forms an image of the image and the LED 7c that is provided so as to sandwich the objective optical system 7b and emits illumination light to the subject in the field of view of the objective optical system 7b are provided. ing.
• the objective optical system 7b as a part of the imaging unit has a predetermined viewing angle of, for example, about 100 degrees to 140 degrees. It is composed of a lens having a field angle and the like, and is arranged so as to have an optical axis that is oblique with respect to the insertion axis (longitudinal axis) direction of the insertion portion 2.
• a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) 8 is disposed inside the distal end portion 7 and at a position corresponding to the imaging position of the objective optical system 7b. Further, by detecting a magnetic field such as geomagnetism emitted outside the insertion portion 2 inside the tip portion 7, the position of the tip portion 7 and the inclination from the horizontal state are detected, and the detected position and A triaxial sensor 9 is disposed as a part of the rotation angle detection unit for outputting the information on the tilt as a position information signal via the signal line 9a.
• the CCD 8 as a part of the imaging unit captures an image of the subject imaged by the objective optical system 7b, converts the subject image into an imaging signal, and outputs it.
• the imaging signal output by the CCD 8 is input to the video processor 5 via the signal line 8a and the signal cable 3a provided so as to pass through the insertion portion 2.
• the imaging unit in the endoscope system 1 is configured to include the objective optical system 7b and the CCD 8 described above.
• the position information signal described above indicates the position of the tip 7 and the inclination from the horizontal state, and also indicates the position of the imaging unit and the inclination from the horizontal state.
• the video processor 5 performs control for driving the CCD 8, performs a signal processing on the CCD drive unit 5a as an imaging control unit, and an imaging signal output from the CCD 8, and outputs the image signal to the monitor 6
• a signal processing unit 5b and an LED driving unit 5c that performs control for driving the LED 7c to emit light are internally provided. With such a configuration, the image of the subject imaged by the CCD 8 is output as an imaging signal, converted into a video signal by the signal processing unit 5b, and then displayed on the monitor 6.
• the rotating device 3 is composed of, for example, a dial or a plurality of switches, and the rotational speed of the insertion portion 2 (or the distal end portion 7 that rotates with the insertion portion 2) is set to a value desired by the user.
• a rotation speed setting unit 3b that can be set to a rotation speed control unit 3c that is configured by, for example, a motor and controls the rotation speed of the insertion unit 2 to a value set in the rotation speed setting unit 3b, for example, a signal amplification unit and
• the position information signal is configured by a decoder and the like and is output from the three-axis sensor 9 via the signal line 9a, and based on the position information signal.
• the rotation device 3 includes a rotation speed display unit 3e for displaying the rotation speed value set in the rotation speed setting unit 3b, and a insertion portion storage configured to be detachable from the connector portion 2a of the insertion portion 2.
• a holding portion 3f is provided on the exterior surface.
• the rotation speed setting unit 3b transmits the value of the rotation speed of the insertion unit 2 set by the user to each unit of the video processor 5 via the signal cable 3a, not only to the rotation speed control unit 3c. Is also output. Thereby, each part of the video processor 5 performs an operation according to the value of the rotational speed of the insertion part 2 set by the user.
• the CCD driving unit 5a can drive the CCD 8 according to the rotational speed value of the insertion unit 2 S.
• the signal processing unit 5b can perform signal processing on the imaging signal in accordance with the rotation speed value of the insertion unit 2, and can output a video signal to the motor 6 in accordance with the rotation speed value of the insertion unit 2.
• the LED driving unit 5c uses the force S to move the LED 7c in the light-emitting horse section based on the driving timing of the CCD 8 set by the CCD driving unit 5a according to the rotation speed value of the insertion unit 2.
• the rotation state detection unit 3d as a part of the rotation angle detection unit detects the rotation angle of the tip 7 based on the position information signal output from the triaxial sensor 9 through the signal line 9a.
• angle information which is information relating to the rotation angle, is output to the CCD drive unit 5a of the video port processor 5 via the signal cable 3a.
• the CCD drive unit 5a drives the CCD 8 according to the value of the rotation speed set in the rotation speed setting unit 3b, and based on the angle information output from the rotation state detection unit 3d, Each time the rotation angle of 7 reaches a predetermined plurality of angles, an image of the subject can be appropriately captured.
• the rotation angle detection unit in the endoscope system 1 includes the rotation state detection unit 3d and the three-axis sensor 9 described above.
• the outer peripheral surface between the distal end portion 7 and the connector portion 2a has a spiral-shaped portion 2c that generates a propulsive force by the rotational operation of the rotational speed control portion 3c, and is sufficiently Long! /, Propulsion tube or guide tube) 2b is formed! /
• the operation of the endoscope system 1 will be described. [0026] First, after the user turns on the power of each part of the endoscope system 1, the user connects the connector part 2a to the insertion part holding part 3f. Then, after setting the desired rotation speed value in the rotation speed setting section 3b, the user inserts the insertion section 2 controlled to the desired rotation speed by the rotation speed control section 3c into the body cavity. .
• the triaxial sensor 9 detects and detects the position of the tip 7 rotating with the insertion part 2 and the inclination from the horizontal state based on a magnetic field such as geomagnetism emitted outside the insertion part 2.
• the position and tilt information is output as a position information signal via the signal line 9a.
• the rotation state detection unit 3d amplifies the position information signal output from the three-axis sensor 9, detects the rotation angle of the tip 7 based on the position information signal, and an angle that is information about the rotation angle. Information is output to the CCD drive unit 5a of the video processor 5 via the signal cable 3a.
• the CCD driving unit 5a drives the CCD 8 according to the rotation speed value set in the rotation speed setting unit 3b, thereby capturing an image of the subject for how many frames while the insertion unit 2 rotates once. Decide what you want to do. Specifically, the CCD drive unit 5a, for example, in the rotation speed setting unit 3b, the rotation speed of the insertion unit 2 is set to 10 rotations per second, and 4 frames worth of rotation is performed while the insertion unit 2 rotates. When trying to capture a subject image, the CCD 8 is driven so that one frame of the subject image can be captured every 25 ms.
• the CCD driving unit 5a is configured such that the rotation speed setting unit 3b sets the rotation speed of the insertion unit 2 to N rotations per second and the subject for M frames while the insertion unit 2 makes one rotation.
• the CCD8 is driven so that an image of the subject for one frame can be captured every (1000 / (MXN)) ms.
• the CCD drive unit 5a for example, based on the angle information output from the rotation state detection unit 3d, the rotation angle of the tip 7 is 90 degrees, 180 degrees, 270 degrees from the horizontal state, for example.
• the CCD 8 captures the image of the subject in a state in which the rotation angle from the horizontal state reaches 90 °, 180 °, 270 °, and 360 ° during one rotation of the tip 7.
• the horizontal state in the present embodiment is set as a state where the tip 7 is positioned in the state shown in FIG.
• the insertion part 2 is assumed to rotate counterclockwise with respect to the insertion axis direction, for example, as a predetermined direction around the longitudinal axis.
• the insertion part 2 of this embodiment is not limited to rotating counterclockwise, but may be rotating clockwise.
• the signal processing unit 5b performs signal processing for displaying an image of the subject for four frames captured during one rotation of the tip 7 on the screen of the monitor 6 as a still image.
• the imaging signal after the signal processing is output to the monitor 6 as a video signal.
• the images of the subject arranged according to the rotation angle of the distal end portion 7 from the horizontal state and the rotation direction of the insertion portion 2 are displayed as still images.
• the image of the subject when the tip 7 rotates 90 degrees counterclockwise with respect to the insertion axis direction of the insertion part 2 is displayed on the screen of the monitor 6. Is displayed as an observation image 101a, which is a still image arranged on the left side.
• the leading end 7 is arranged on the lower side in the screen of the image power monitor 6 of the subject when it rotates 180 degrees counterclockwise with respect to the insertion axis direction of the insertion portion 2. It is displayed as a 10 lb observation image. Further, as shown in FIG.
• the image strength of the subject when the tip 7 is rotated 270 degrees counterclockwise with respect to the insertion axis direction of the insertion portion 2 is placed on the right side in the monitor 6 screen.
• the image is displayed as an observation image 101c.
• the image of the subject when the tip 7 is rotated 360 degrees counterclockwise with respect to the insertion axis direction of the insertion part 2 is arranged on the upper side in the screen of the monitor 6.
• It is displayed as an observed image 101c, which is a still image.
• the observation images 101a, 101b, 101c, and 101d shown in FIG. 3 are arranged at positions that do not overlap each other on the screen of the monitor 6, for example, by signal processing in the signal processing unit 5b.
• each of the observation images 101a, 101b, 101c, and 101d is not limited to being arranged at a position where they do not overlap each other in the screen of the monitor 6 (as shown in FIG. 3). Or they may be placed in positions where they all overlap each other! /.
• each observation image in the screen of the monitor 6 is not limited to the display state displayed in the display state as shown in FIG. 3, for example, a display that can switch the display state of each observation image.
• Other display states different from those shown in Fig. 3 by the mode switch It may be displayed while being switched! /.
• each observation image is subjected to signal processing based on the operation of the display mode switching switch in the signal processing unit 5b, so that, for example, the observation images 101a, 101b, 101c, and 101d are
• the display mode shown in FIG. 3 and the display mode shown in FIG. 4 in which only one of the observation images 101a, 10 lb, 101c and 101d is enlarged and displayed, and the observation image 101a A display mode as shown in FIG. 5 in which the composite image 101e is displayed, which is an image in which 101b, 101c, and 101d are combined and, for example, a no-V llama image). It may be displayed on the screen of the monitor 6 while being switched to.
• FIG. 4 shows an example of the display state when the observed image 101a is selected and enlarged from among the observed images.
• the endoscope system 1 of the present embodiment is configured to display, on the monitor 6, images of a subject existing in the vertical and horizontal directions with respect to the insertion axis direction of the insertion unit 2 at a time. It has a structure that can be observed. As a result, the endoscope system 1 of the present embodiment can widen the range that can be observed at one time as compared with the conventional system.
• the distal end portion 7A is configured to have a transparent member 201 formed of a transparent resin or the like that can transmit light. Then, inside the transparent member 201, an image of the subject is captured, the image of the subject is converted into an imaging signal, and the imaging device 301 capable of transmitting the imaging signal wirelessly and the imaging device 301 are floated.
• the liquid 302 such as water and the imaging device 301 are connected to the imaging device 301 so that the visual field direction always maintains a predetermined oblique direction with respect to the insertion axis direction, and a member larger than the specific gravity of the liquid 302 Formed by A weight 303 is provided.
• the exterior of the imaging device 301 has a substantially hemispherical shape in which a U-shaped cross-section of the exterior member 311 and an open end on the distal end side of the exterior member 311 are watertightly attached with an adhesive.
• a cover member 31 la is provided.
• the cover member 31 la is formed of a transparent resin or the like that can transmit light.
• the imaging device 301 is hollow at least partially inside. Due to such a configuration of the imaging device 301 and the weight 303, the imaging device 301 always maintains a predetermined oblique field of view with respect to the insertion axis direction while always floating with respect to the liquid 302. be able to.
• An objective optical system 312 that forms an image of the subject is placed in a state where it is housed in the frame 313.
• a CCD 314 is disposed at the image forming position of the objective optical system 312.
• Objective optical system
• LEDs 315 for emitting and emitting illumination light are arranged on the same plane!
• the CCD 314 is driven and controlled to generate a photoelectrically converted imaging signal and to control the lighting / extinguishing state of the LED 315.
• a communication processing unit 317 that enables the imaging signal output from the imaging device control unit 316 to be transmitted wirelessly, and a transmission unit 318 that wirelessly transmits the imaging signal output from the communication processing unit 317 to the outside.
• a battery 319 that supplies power used to drive the imaging device control unit 316 and the communication processing unit 317 is disposed.
• the CCD 314, the LED 315, the imaging device control unit 316, the communication processing unit 317, and the transmission unit 318 are each arranged on a substrate (not shown).
• Each substrate provided with the CCD 314, the LED 315, the imaging device control unit 316, the communication processing unit 317, and the transmission unit 318 is connected by a flexible substrate (not shown).
• the imaging device 301 of the distal end portion 7A always stays in a predetermined oblique field of view while floating in the liquid 302 even when the insertion portion 2 is rotating.
• the above-described imaging device 301 is not limited to a device that can transmit a signal wirelessly, and has a configuration that can achieve substantially the same effect as described above.
• a wired connection via a signal line (7) that is configured as the imaging device 301A shown in FIG. 7 that transmits a signal.
• the imaging apparatus 301A includes a communication processing unit 317, a transmission unit from the imaging apparatus 301.
• the imaging signal output from the imaging device control unit 316 is output to the signal line 401b via the connector unit 402a and the connector unit 402b provided at the end of the signal line 401a.
• the connector 402a has an end portion extending on the outer surface of the connector portion 402a and having a waterproof structure against the liquid 302, and an end portion of the connector 403a. And a rubber packing 404a attached to the housing.
• the state when the connector part 402a shown in FIG. 8 is viewed from the direction of the arrow S is as shown in FIG.
• the connector part 402b is disposed at a predetermined position at the end of the signal line 401b and outside the transparent member 201 and at the insertion part 2). It has a connector 403b having a waterproof structure.
• the connector section 402a and the connector section 402b shown in FIG. 8 are connected as shown in FIG. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 10, the connector part 402a and the connector part 402b are electrically connected to the signal lines 401a and 401b when the connector 403b abuts against the connector 403a, and the rubber packing. A part of the abutting part 404b of the connector part 402b is in contact with 404a in a state of abutting. That is, the connector part 402a and the connector part 402b are connected in a state where each is not fixed. Therefore, the imaging device 301A is Even when the entrance 2 is rotating, it is possible to capture an image of a subject that is always in the field of view in a predetermined oblique direction while floating in the liquid 302.

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• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Surgery (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Medical Informatics (AREA)
• Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
• Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
• Optics & Photonics (AREA)
• Public Health (AREA)
• Biomedical Technology (AREA)
• Heart & Thoracic Surgery (AREA)
• Biophysics (AREA)
• Molecular Biology (AREA)
• Pathology (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Nuclear Medicine, Radiotherapy & Molecular Imaging (AREA)
• Radiology & Medical Imaging (AREA)
• Astronomy & Astrophysics (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Human Computer Interaction (AREA)
• Endoscopes (AREA)
• Instruments For Viewing The Inside Of Hollow Bodies (AREA)
• Closed-Circuit Television Systems (AREA)

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Citations (5)

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• 2006
  • 2006-09-21 JP JP2006256296A patent/JP4914685B2/ja not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2007
  • 2007-09-13 CN CNA2007800349595A patent/CN101516252A/zh active Pending
  • 2007-09-13 EP EP07807222A patent/EP2064986A1/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 2007-09-13 WO PCT/JP2007/067815 patent/WO2008035608A1/ja not_active Ceased
• 2009
  • 2009-03-12 US US12/402,898 patent/US20090177034A1/en not_active Abandoned

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