WO2016052175A1

WO2016052175A1 - Endoscope system

Info

Publication number: WO2016052175A1
Application number: PCT/JP2015/076153
Authority: WO
Inventors: 伸介谷
Original assignee: オリンパス株式会社
Priority date: 2014-10-03
Filing date: 2015-09-15
Publication date: 2016-04-07
Also published as: JPWO2016052175A1

Abstract

An image processing unit (33) in a processor comprises: a movement degree information acquisition unit (52) which, with an insertion part in a wireless endoscope which wirelessly sends a captured image to the processor inserted in a subject's body cavity, detects a movement degree of the insertion part in the subject's body cavity; a procedure scene determination unit (53) which determines a classification of a procedure scene on the basis of the movement degree which is acquired in the movement degree information acquisition unit (52); a compression ratio computation unit (54) which computes a compression ratio which is applied to an image compression process on the wireless endoscope side on the basis of the determination result of the determination unit (53); and a sending unit which wirelessly sends the compression ratio information to the wireless endoscope side.

Description

Endoscope system

Embodiments of the present invention relate to an endoscope system, and more particularly, to an endoscope system having a portable electronic endoscope equipped with a battery.

Conventionally, with the advancement of semiconductor technology, portable telephones or multi-function communication terminals as communication means have been reduced in size and reduced in power consumption, and have been configured to be easily portable. This type of portable device is often configured to be continuously usable while being carried by mounting a secondary battery and charging the battery.

On the other hand, in the medical field, downsizing of the apparatus has been promoted. For example, a battery-driven portable endoscope equipped with a rechargeable battery has been proposed even for an endoscope with relatively large power consumption. (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2006-280542).

Endoscopic devices are used in various fields, for example, in the medical field and industrial field, and among these, endoscope devices in the medical field include observation of organs in body cavities, therapeutic treatment using treatment tools, Used for surgery and the like under endoscopic observation.

In addition, this type of endoscope apparatus includes a processor that performs image processing on a captured image obtained by an electronic endoscope, and a medical image is displayed on a monitor and recorded on a recording medium. It is like that.

Furthermore, the battery-driven portable electronic endoscope described above is configured to include a wireless communication unit that transmits an endoscopic image obtained by the image sensor to the processor, a light source device for illuminating the subject, and the like. Thus, the portable electronic endoscope and the processor can be made wireless, which makes them excellent in portability and workability.

On the other hand, in recent years, it has been pointed out that in an endoscope equipped with a normal scope cable, the scope cable is entangled with an energy cable, or stress is applied to a medical worker due to disconnection of the scope cable.

The above-described battery-powered portable electronic endoscope contributes to the above-described problems, and a wireless endoscope is desired from this viewpoint.

However, the wireless battery-powered portable electronic endoscope has a limitation in the weight of the battery to be mounted in consideration of portability, and the battery capacity is also limited. Therefore, further reduction in power consumption of each circuit is required in order to realize battery operation capable of completing a procedure for a long time using only the battery mounted on the electronic endoscope.

On the other hand, one of the techniques for realizing low power consumption in this type of battery-driven portable electronic endoscope is to reduce the amount of data transmitted in wireless transmission. In particular, since the amount of image data is enormous, if the image data is compressed and transmitted, the reduction effect is great.

Thus, in wireless transmission, low power consumption can be realized by reducing the amount of data transmitted by image compression technology. However, when the image is compressed, the image quality is also deteriorated along with the compression. For example, in a procedure scene in which the affected part is closely examined and observed, a high-quality image is desired, so that compressed image transmission is not desirable.

On the other hand, there are several procedure scenes as procedures, and there are cases where high quality images are not always required depending on the scene.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an endoscope system that can achieve low power consumption in wireless transmission by reducing the total amount of data transmission in the procedure and complete the procedure for a long time. The purpose is to provide.

An endoscope system according to an aspect of the present invention includes an insertion unit that is inserted into a body cavity of a subject, an imaging unit that is disposed at a distal end of the insertion unit, and an image that is captured by the imaging unit. An image compression unit that performs a predetermined compression process on the signal and outputs the signal as a compressed image signal; a first wireless transmission unit that wirelessly transmits the compressed image signal output from the image compression unit; An endoscope with
A second wireless transmission unit that receives the compressed image signal transmitted from the first wireless transmission unit, and an image that performs predetermined image processing on the compressed image signal received by the second wireless transmission unit A processing unit; a determination unit that determines a type of a procedure scene using the endoscope; and a compression rate calculation unit that calculates a compression rate to be applied to compression processing in the image compression unit based on a determination result of the determination unit And a processor comprising:
It comprises.

1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of an endoscope system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is the block diagram which showed the structure of the wireless endoscope and processor in the endoscope system of 1st Embodiment. It is the block diagram which showed the structure of the image processing part by the side of the processor in the endoscope system of 1st Embodiment. It is the flowchart which showed the operation | movement by the side of the wireless endoscope in the endoscope system of 1st Embodiment. It is the flowchart which showed operation | movement of the processor in the endoscope system of 1st Embodiment. It is the block diagram which showed the structure of the image processing part by the side of the processor in the endoscope system of the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is the flowchart which showed operation | movement of the processor in the endoscope system of 2nd Embodiment. It is the block diagram which showed the structure of the image processing part by the side of the wireless endoscope in the endoscope system of the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is the flowchart which showed the operation | movement by the side of the wireless endoscope in the endoscope system of 3rd Embodiment. It is the block diagram which showed the structure of the image processing part by the side of the wireless endoscope in the endoscope system of the 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is the flowchart which showed the operation | movement by the side of the wireless endoscope in the endoscope system of 4th Embodiment.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of an endoscope system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, an endoscope system 1 includes a wireless endoscope 2 that is a battery-driven portable endoscope, a processor 3 that is wirelessly connected to the wireless endoscope 2 and performs predetermined image processing, The main part is constituted by a monitor 7 connected to the processor 3 and displaying an endoscopic image or the like.

In the operating room, the endoscope system according to the present embodiment has various medical devices such as the processor 3 on the cart 6 such as an electric scalpel device, a pneumoperitoneum device, a video recorder, and the like, and carbon dioxide. A gas cylinder filled with is placed.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing configurations of a wireless endoscope and a processor in the endoscope system of the first embodiment, and FIG. 3 is a processor side in the endoscope system of the first embodiment. It is the block diagram which showed the structure of the image processing part.

As shown in FIG. 2, the wireless endoscope 2 according to the present embodiment is a battery-driven portable endoscope that adopts a wireless configuration and is wirelessly connected to the processor 3. 2, an endoscope-side control unit 21 that controls each circuit unit in the image processing unit 2, an imaging unit 22 that acquires an image of a subject, and an endoscope-side image processing unit that performs predetermined processing on an imaging signal from the imaging unit 22. 23, an endoscope-side wireless transmission unit 24 for wirelessly transmitting a predetermined signal between the processor 3 and the processor 3, a battery 25 for supplying power to each part of the wireless endoscope 2, and irradiation in the body cavity The light source unit 26 and the antenna 27 for wireless transmission / reception with the processor 3 constitute a main part.

The wireless endoscope 2 has an insertion portion 41 on the distal end side and an operation portion 42 on the proximal end side. The light source unit 26 is disposed in the operation unit 42 and generates illumination light that is controlled by the endoscope side control unit 21 to illuminate the inside of the body cavity. This illumination light is guided to the distal end of the insertion portion 41 by a light guide (not shown) and is irradiated to the subject through the lens.

The image pickup unit 22 includes an image pickup element that is disposed at the distal end portion of the insertion portion 41 and includes a CCD or a CMOS sensor. Then, the return light from the subject by the illumination light from the light source unit 26 forms an image on the imaging surface of the imaging unit 22, and the imaging unit 22 obtains a captured image based on the subject optical image by photoelectric conversion. Thereafter, the imaging unit 22 supplies the captured image to the endoscope side image processing unit 23.

The battery 25 can be attached to the operation unit 42. In addition, the battery 25 is mounted on the wireless endoscope 2 and then, as a power supply unit, in addition to the endoscope side control unit 21, the imaging unit 22, the endoscope side image processing unit 23, the light source unit 26, and the endoscope Power can be supplied to the side wireless transmission unit 24.

The endoscope-side control unit 21 controls each circuit in the wireless endoscope 2 and controls the battery 25 that is a power supply unit to supply power to each unit.

In addition, the endoscope side control unit 21 acquires information related to the image compression rate transmitted from the processor 3 side via the endoscope side wireless transmission unit 24, and based on the compression rate, the endoscope side image is acquired. The processing unit 23 is controlled.

The endoscope-side image processing unit 23 is controlled by the endoscope-side control unit 21 to perform predetermined image processing on the captured image from the imaging unit 22 according to the compression rate, and then the endoscope-side image processing unit 23 To the side wireless transmission unit 24.

The endoscope-side wireless transmission unit 24 is controlled by the endoscope-side control unit 21 and transmits / receives image data and predetermined communication data to / from the processor 3 wirelessly via the antenna 27. In the present embodiment, the endoscope-side wireless transmission unit 24 can perform wireless communication using, for example, a 60 GHz band and wireless communication using a 5 GHz band.

Here, in the wireless communication between the wireless endoscope 2 and the processor 3 in the present embodiment, for example, wireless communication using the 60 GHz band is performed for the image signal from the image processing unit 23, and the information such as the compression rate is related. For communication, wireless communication using the 5 GHz band is performed.

Thereby, the endoscope-side wireless transmission unit 24 is controlled by the control unit 21 to wirelessly transmit the image signal obtained by the imaging through the antenna 27 sequentially according to the compression rate, and the compression rate from the processor 3. Is received via the antenna 27 at predetermined time intervals.

On the other hand, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the processor 3 wirelessly transmits information to and from the processor-side controller 31 that controls each circuit unit in the processor 3 and the wireless endoscope 2. A receiver 32, a processor-side image processing unit 33 that performs a predetermined process on an imaging signal from the imaging unit 22 acquired via the wireless receiver 32, and a captured image output from the processor-side image processing unit 33. The video output unit 35 that converts the data into a format that can be displayed on the monitor 7 and outputs it, and the user IF unit 36 that is an interface for receiving a predetermined user operation constitute a main part.

The wireless receiver 32 includes a processor-side wireless transmission unit 34 for wirelessly transmitting a predetermined signal to and from the wireless endoscope 2 and an antenna 37 for wireless transmission / reception with the wireless endoscope 2. The main part is composed.

In the present embodiment, the wireless receiver 32 is configured separately from the processor body, and is connected to the processor 3 body by a connector (not shown). FIG. 1 shows a state in which a wireless receiver 32 configured separately from the main body of the processor 3 is placed on the processor 6 on the cart 6.

In addition, the processor-side wireless transmission unit 34 in the wireless receiver 32 is controlled by the processor-side control unit 31 to transmit and receive image data and predetermined communication data wirelessly via the antenna 37 with the wireless endoscope 2. Is supposed to do. Further, in the present embodiment, the processor-side wireless transmission unit 34 can perform, for example, wireless communication in the 60 GHz band and wireless communication in the 5 GHz band in the same manner as the endoscope-side wireless transmission unit 24.

That is, the processor-side wireless transmission unit 34 sequentially receives the image signal from the image processing unit 23 transmitted from the wireless endoscope 2 through the antenna 37 by wireless communication using the 60 GHz band. The communication related to the information such as the determined compression rate is transmitted to the wireless endoscope 2 via the antenna 37 at predetermined time intervals by wireless communication using the 5 GHz band.

The user IF unit 36 is an interface that accepts user operations, and includes, for example, a front panel and various buttons of a control system, and outputs operation signals based on user operations to the processor-side control unit 31.

The user IF unit 36 can accept various user operations such as designation of the observation mode of the wireless endoscope 2 and settings related to image display. The processor-side control unit 31 can receive the user IF unit. Various instructions can be given to the endoscope-side control unit 21 of the wireless endoscope 2 via the processor-side wireless transmission unit 34 based on the operation signal from 36.

Next, the processor side image processing unit 33 in the processor 3 will be described in detail.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the processor-side image processing unit (processor-side image processing unit 33) in the endoscope system of the first embodiment.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the processor-side image processing unit 33 includes an image acquisition unit 51 that acquires an image signal wirelessly transmitted from the wireless endoscope 2 via the processor-side wireless transmission unit 34, and this image acquisition. A motion amount information acquisition unit 52 that acquires information on the amount of motion in the body cavity of the insertion unit 41 in the wireless endoscope 2 based on the image signal acquired by the unit 51, and a motion amount acquired by the motion amount information acquisition unit 52 The procedure scene determination unit 53 that determines the procedure scene in the procedure using the wireless endoscope 2 from the information of the procedure, the procedure scene determined by the procedure scene determination unit 53, or acquired by the motion amount information acquisition unit 52 A compression rate calculation unit that calculates the compression rate of an image used in the endoscope side image processing unit 23 in the wireless endoscope 2 from the information on the amount of movement. 4, in the main portion is formed.

Further, the compression rate information calculated by the compression rate calculation unit 54 is output to the processor-side wireless transmission unit 34 under the control of the processor-side control unit 31. The compression rate information is wirelessly transmitted from the processor-side radio transmission unit 34 to the wireless endoscope 2 under the control of the processor-side control unit 31.

<Classification of procedure scenes>
Here, the “procedure scene” described above will be described.

When performing a procedure (diagnosis) using an endoscope such as the present invention, there are a plurality of procedure scenes (observation scenes). For example, a procedure scene classified as follows can be considered.

(A) First, after inserting the endoscope insertion portion into the body cavity of the subject and before reaching the target site such as the digestive tract, the scene of moving the insertion portion at a relatively high speed (movement) scene).

(B) A scene (screening scene) in which screening observation is performed after the insertion portion reaches the target site.

In this screening observation, the presence or absence of an abnormal part (for example, a lesion, bleeding, inflammation, etc.) is searched throughout the body cavity while moving the insertion part in the body cavity.

(C) A scene in which an abnormal part is discovered in this screening observation and then the distal end of the insertion part is brought close to the abnormal part and magnified observation (scrutinization observation) or a predetermined treatment is appropriately performed (scrutiny / treatment scene).

In this magnified observation (examination observation), the field of view of the endoscope is fixed to the subject as much as possible and the observation magnification is increased, and the abnormal part is examined and diagnosed (for example, judgment of disease name, judgment of benign / malignant, Or judgment of necessity of treatment, etc.).

In this way, a procedure (diagnosis) using an endoscope has a plurality of procedure scenes (observation scenes), but the applicant of the present application pays attention to the fact that the image quality required for each procedure scene is different. The amount of image data of the captured image transmitted wirelessly from the endoscope 2 to the processor 3 is variable.

That is, among the above-mentioned procedure scenes, it is considered that a certain degree of image quality deterioration is allowed for (a) moving scenes or (b) screening scenes, and thus these scenes were captured by the wireless endoscope 2. It is assumed that the image signal of the captured image is subjected to compression processing at a relatively high compression rate to reduce the data amount.

On the other hand, among the above-mentioned procedure scenes, (c) a close examination / treatment scene is considered to require a high-quality image. Therefore, compression processing is not performed, or relatively low compression processing is performed even when compression processing is performed. I will give it.

As described above, in the endoscope system having the portable electronic endoscope equipped with the battery according to the present embodiment, the compression ratio of the endoscope image to be transmitted wirelessly is changed according to the procedure scene, thereby It is assumed that low power consumption in wireless transmission is realized by reducing the total data transmission amount.

In the first embodiment, the procedure scene is determined based on the information on the “movement amount” of the insertion unit 41 in the wireless endoscope 2. In the present embodiment, since the “motion amount” is calculated from the displacement of the acquired image (details will be described later), the motion of the insertion unit 41 can be acquired as the motion of the image.

That is, it is possible to determine the procedure scene and calculate the compression rate according to the “motion amount”. In other words, since the “motion amount” of the insertion unit 41 differs depending on the procedure scene, the procedure scene can be specified by the amount of motion, and the compression rate can be calculated according to the procedure scene.

For example, if the amount of motion is large, or the amount of motion is a specific pattern (such as moving through the digestive tract), it is considered that it is the above-mentioned (a) moving scene or (b) screening scene. In the endoscope side image processing unit 23 in the endoscope 2, image processing may be performed with a relatively high compression rate.

On the other hand, if the amount of motion is small or the amount of motion is a specific pattern (facing the subject directly, etc.), it is considered to be the above-mentioned (c) scrutiny / treatment scene. In the endoscope side image processing unit 23, the compression process may not be performed, or the compression process may be performed at a relatively low compression rate even when the compression process is performed.

<Description of movement amount>
Here, the “movement amount” is the “movement amount” of the insertion unit 41 in the wireless endoscope 2. In the present embodiment, the “movement amount” is calculated from the displacement of the acquired image. Therefore, the movement of the insertion unit 41 can be acquired as the movement of the image (subject).

That is, this “movement amount” is calculated, for example, as the speed or direction of the movement of the subject on the captured image. Alternatively, the speed or direction may be acquired as a motion vector, and if only the speed of motion needs to be known, only the magnitude of the motion vector may be acquired as a motion amount.

Alternatively, the “motion amount” may be a motion amount or a pattern thereof at a plurality of positions of the captured image. That is, since the amount of motion is not always uniform in the captured image, by combining the amounts of motion at a plurality of positions, it is possible to express different amounts of motion or patterns depending on the positions.

Returning to FIG. 3, the image acquisition unit 51 acquires the image signal captured by the imaging unit 22 of the wireless endoscope 2 received by the processor-side wireless transmission unit 34 via the wireless transmission mechanism described above, While performing predetermined image processing (for example, OB processing, gain processing, gamma processing, etc.), the processed image signal is output to an image storage unit (not shown) and output to the motion amount information acquisition unit 52.

The image storage unit stores the processed image signal for a plurality of frames (a plurality of temporally continuous frames).

The motion amount information acquisition unit 52 calculates the amount of motion of the subject in the captured image based on the images of a plurality of frames stored in the image storage unit.

That is, for example, a matching process is performed between an image of a reference frame and an image of the next frame in a plurality of frames stored in the image storage unit, and a motion vector between the two frame images is calculated. To do. Then, motion vectors are sequentially calculated over a plurality of frames while shifting the reference image frame by frame, and an average value of the plurality of motion vectors is calculated as a motion amount.

Alternatively, as the amount of motion, the amount of motion at a plurality of positions, such as the amount of motion at the center of the captured image and the amount of motion at the periphery (for example, near the four corners) may be acquired. When the endoscope insertion part is moved or during screening observation (screening scene), the endoscope insertion part is generally inserted along the digestive tract. Shows the pipe wall. For this reason, the amount of motion at the peripheral portion of the image is larger than the amount of motion at the central portion of the image.

On the other hand, in the magnified observation (scrutiny / treatment scene), the amount of movement is reduced in the entire image because the distal end of the endoscope insertion part is directly opposed to the subject. The scene may be determined by detecting such a movement amount pattern.

Next, the operation of the endoscope system of the first embodiment configured as described above will be described with reference to FIG. 4 and FIG.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation on the wireless endoscope side in the endoscope system of the first embodiment, and FIG. 5 shows the operation of the processor in the endoscope system of the first embodiment. It is a flowchart.

As shown in FIG. 4, the endoscope-side control unit 21 in the wireless endoscope 2 establishes a wireless communication connection with the processor 3 (step S11), and then performs image processing from the processor 3 side. Information on the compression ratio is obtained (step S12). Note that immediately after the wireless endoscope 2 is operated, the compression rate is an initial value.

Thereafter, the endoscope-side control unit 21 controls the imaging unit 22 to start imaging using the power from the battery 25 as a power source (step S13), and also controls the endoscope-side image processing unit 23 to perform a predetermined process. Image processing is performed (step S14).

Here, the endoscope side control unit 21 controls the endoscope side image processing unit 23 and appropriately compresses the image signal captured by the imaging unit 22 based on the compression rate information transmitted from the processor 3 side. Processing is performed (step S15), and the compressed image data is wirelessly transmitted from the endoscope side wireless transmission unit 24 to the processor 3 (step S16).

Next, as shown in FIG. 5, the processor-side control unit 31 in the processor 3 establishes a wireless communication connection with the wireless endoscope 2 (step S <b> 21), and then the processor-side wireless transmission unit 34 performs the wireless endoscope. The image data from the mirror 2 is received (step S22).

Then, under the control of the processor-side control unit 31, the processor-side image processing unit 33 appropriately performs image processing on the image signal transmitted from the wireless endoscope 2 (step S23), and sends the image signal to the video output unit 35. Output. On the other hand, the processor side image processing unit 33 outputs the image signal processed by the image acquisition unit 51 to an image storage unit (not shown) and also outputs it to the motion amount information acquisition unit 52.

Next, the motion amount information acquisition unit 52 in the processor-side image processing unit 33 calculates the motion amount of the subject in the captured image based on the images of a plurality of frames stored in the image storage unit (step S24).

Specifically, a matching process is performed between the image of the reference frame and the image of the next frame in the images of the plurality of frames stored in the image storage unit, and a motion vector between the two frame images is obtained. The motion vector is sequentially calculated over a plurality of frames while shifting the reference image frame by frame, and an average value of the plurality of motion vectors is calculated as a motion amount (step S24).

Alternatively, as described above, the motion amount information acquisition unit 52 may acquire the motion amount at a plurality of positions such as the motion amount in the center portion and the motion amount in the peripheral portion of the captured image as the motion amount.

Next, the procedure scene determination unit 53 in the processor-side image processing unit 33 determines the procedure scene classified as described above according to the “motion amount” acquired by the motion amount information acquisition unit 52 (step S25).

For example, when the amount of movement is large or the amount of movement is a specific pattern (such as traveling in the digestive tract), it is determined that the movement scene or (b) the screening scene is described above. If the amount is small or the amount of motion is a specific pattern (facing the subject directly, etc.), it is determined that it is the above-described (c) scrutiny / treatment scene.

Then, the compression rate calculation unit 54 in the processor-side image processing unit 33 uses the wireless endoscope 2 based on the procedure scene determined by the procedure scene determination unit 53 or the motion amount information acquired by the motion amount information acquisition unit 52. The compression rate of the image used in the endoscope side image processing unit 23 is calculated (step S26).

For example, when the procedure scene determination unit 53 determines that the scene is (a) a moving scene or (b) a screening scene, the compression ratio related to image processing in the wireless endoscope 2 is set as a relatively high compression ratio.

On the other hand, when the procedure scene determination unit 53 determines that the scene is (c) a scrutiny / treatment scene, the compression ratio relating to image processing in the wireless endoscope 2 is set as a relatively low compression ratio, or the compression is performed. Set to not process.

Thereafter, the processor-side image processing unit 33 outputs the compression rate information calculated by the compression rate calculation unit 54 to the processor-side wireless transmission unit 34 under the control of the processor-side control unit 31. The compression rate information is wirelessly transmitted from the processor-side wireless transmission unit 34 to the wireless endoscope 2 under the control of the processor-side control unit 31 (step S27).

As described above, according to the endoscope system of the first embodiment, in an endoscope system having a portable electronic endoscope equipped with a battery, an endoscope image transmitted wirelessly in accordance with a procedure scene. Thus, it is possible to reduce the total data transmission amount in the procedure, thereby realizing low power consumption in wireless transmission.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

The endoscope system according to the first embodiment described above calculates the “motion amount” of the endoscope insertion unit (or subject) from the captured image acquired by the processor-side image processing unit 33, and calculates the “motion amount”. The procedure scene is determined by the procedure scene determination unit 53 based on the information. In the second embodiment, the “distance from the distal end of the endoscope insertion unit to the subject from the captured image acquired by the processor-side image processing unit 33” ”Is calculated, and the procedure scene is determined based on the information of“ distance ”.

That is, the basic configuration of the endoscope system of the second embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment, but a part of the processor-side image processing unit is compared to the first embodiment. The configuration is different.

Therefore, here, only the parts different from the first embodiment will be described, and the description of the same parts as the first embodiment will be omitted.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the processor-side image processing unit (processor-side image processing unit 33) in the endoscope system according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, the processor-side image processing unit 133 in the second embodiment acquires an image signal that is wirelessly transmitted from the wireless endoscope 2 via the processor-side wireless transmission unit 34. 51, a distance information acquisition unit 55 that acquires “distance information” in the body cavity of the insertion unit 41 in the wireless endoscope 2 based on the image signal acquired by the image acquisition unit 51, and the distance information acquisition unit 55 The procedure scene determination unit 53 that determines a procedure scene in the procedure using the wireless endoscope 2 from the “distance information” acquired in step S3, the procedure scene determined by the procedure scene determination unit 53, or the distance information acquisition unit From the “distance information” acquired in 55, the compression rate of the image used in the endoscope side image processing unit 23 in the wireless endoscope 2 is determined. A compression ratio calculating unit 54 to output, as its major portion is constituted.

In addition, the compression rate information calculated by the compression rate calculation unit 54 is output to the processor-side wireless transmission unit 34 under the control of the processor-side control unit 31 as in the first embodiment. ing. The compression rate information is wirelessly transmitted from the processor-side radio transmission unit 34 to the wireless endoscope 2 under the control of the processor-side control unit 31.

Also in the second embodiment, the procedure scene is assumed to be classified in the same manner as in the first embodiment, and the compression rate of the endoscopic image to be transmitted wirelessly is changed according to the procedure scene. As in the first embodiment, it is possible to reduce power consumption in wireless transmission by reducing the amount of data transmission.

In the second embodiment, the procedure scene is determined based on information related to the distance between the distal end of the insertion portion 41 in the wireless endoscope 2 and a subject such as an affected portion.

That is, it is possible to determine a technique scene and calculate a compression rate according to the “distance information”. In other words, since the distance between the distal end of the insertion portion 41 and the subject differs depending on the procedure scene, the procedure scene can be specified by the “distance information”, and the compression rate is calculated according to the procedure scene. Can do.

For example, when the distance between the distal end of the insertion unit 41 and the subject is large, it is considered that the above-mentioned (a) moving scene or (b) screening scene is described. Therefore, in the endoscope side image processing unit 23 in the wireless endoscope 2. The image processing may be performed with a relatively high compression rate.

On the other hand, when the distance between the distal end of the insertion unit 41 and the subject is short, it is considered that the above-described (c) scrutiny / treatment scene is present, so the endoscope side image processing unit 23 in the wireless endoscope 2 performs compression processing. Even if compression is not performed or compression processing is performed, the compression processing may be performed at a relatively low compression rate.

<Explanation of distance information>
Here, the “distance information” is information related to the distance between the distal end of the insertion portion 41 and the subject in the wireless endoscope 2, and each position in the captured image and the distance to the subject at each position. Is associated with the information (for example, a distance map).

Note that the “distance information” is not limited to the distance from the distal end of the insertion section to the subject itself, and various information acquired based on the distance from the distal end of the insertion section to the subject can be used.

Returning to FIG. 6, as in the first embodiment, the image acquisition unit 51 is received by the processor-side wireless transmission unit 34 through the wireless transmission mechanism described above, and is captured by the imaging unit 22 in the wireless endoscope 2. The captured image signal is acquired and subjected to predetermined image processing (for example, OB processing, gain processing, gamma processing, etc.), while the processed image signal is output to an image storage unit (not shown) and the distance information acquisition unit 55. Output to.

The distance information acquisition unit 55 calculates the distance between the distal end of the insertion unit 41 and the subject in the captured image based on the images of a plurality of frames stored in the image storage unit.

Next, the operation of the endoscope system of the second embodiment configured as described above will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the processor in the endoscope system of the second embodiment.

Since the operation on the wireless endoscope side is the same as that of the endoscope system of the first embodiment, the description thereof is omitted here.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, the processor-side control unit 31 in the processor 3 establishes a wireless communication connection with the wireless endoscope 2 (step S <b> 21), similarly to the first embodiment, and then the processor-side wireless The transmission unit 34 receives the image data from the wireless endoscope 2 (step S22).

Then, under the control of the processor side control unit 31, the processor side image processing unit 133 appropriately performs image processing on the image signal transmitted from the wireless endoscope 2 (step S23), and the image signal is sent to the video output unit 35. Output. On the other hand, the processor side image processing unit 133 outputs the image signal processed in the image acquisition unit 51 to an image storage unit (not shown) and also outputs it to the distance information acquisition unit 55.

Next, the distance information acquisition unit 55 in the processor-side image processing unit 133 calculates the “distance information” in the captured image based on the images of a plurality of frames stored in the image storage unit (step S34).

Next, the procedure scene determination unit 53 in the processor-side image processing unit 133 selects the procedure scenes classified as described above according to the “distance information” acquired by the distance information acquisition unit 55, as in the first embodiment. Determination is made (step S25).

For example, when the distance between the distal end of the insertion unit 41 and the subject is large, it is determined that the above-described (a) moving scene or (b) screening scene is described above. (C) It is determined that it is a scrutiny / treatment scene.

The compression rate calculation unit 54 in the processor-side image processing unit 133 then uses the procedure scene determined by the procedure scene determination unit 53 or the information on the distance between the distal end of the insertion unit 41 and the subject acquired by the distance information acquisition unit 55. Then, the compression rate of the image used in the endoscope side image processing unit 23 in the wireless endoscope 2 is calculated (step S26).

Thereafter, as in the first embodiment, the processor-side image processing unit 133 uses the processor-side wireless transmission unit 34 to transmit the compression rate information calculated by the compression rate calculation unit 54 under the control of the processor-side control unit 31. Output for. The compression rate information is wirelessly transmitted from the processor-side wireless transmission unit 34 to the wireless endoscope 2 under the control of the processor-side control unit 31 (step S27).

As described above, according to the endoscope system of the second embodiment, as in the first embodiment, in the endoscope system having a portable electronic endoscope equipped with a battery, depending on the procedure scene. Thus, it is possible to change the compression rate of the endoscopic image transmitted wirelessly, thereby reducing the total amount of data transmission in the procedure, and thus realizing low power consumption in wireless transmission.

(Third embodiment)
Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described.

The endoscope system according to the first embodiment described above calculates the “motion amount” of the endoscope insertion unit (or subject) from the captured image acquired by the processor-side image processing unit 33, and calculates the “motion amount”. Although the procedure scene is determined by the procedure scene determination unit 53 based on the information, in the third embodiment, the endoscope is inserted from the captured image captured by the endoscope-side image processing unit on the wireless endoscope 2 side. After calculating the “motion amount” of the part (or subject) and determining the procedure scene based on the information of this “motion amount”, the endoscope side image processing unit calculates the compression rate.

That is, the basic configuration of the endoscope system according to the third embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment, but an endoscope-side image processing unit and a processor are compared with the first embodiment. A part of the configuration of the side image processing unit is different.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the image processing unit on the wireless endoscope side in the endoscope system according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 8, in the third embodiment, the endoscope side image processing unit 123 acquires an image signal captured by the imaging unit 22 and acquired by the image acquisition unit 151. Based on the image signal, the movement amount information acquisition unit 152 that acquires information on the amount of movement in the body cavity of the insertion unit 41 in the wireless endoscope 2, and the wireless amount from the information on the amount of movement acquired by the movement amount information acquisition unit 152. From a procedure scene determination unit 153 that determines a procedure scene in a procedure using the endoscope 2, the procedure scene determined by the procedure scene determination unit 153, or the motion amount information acquired by the motion amount information acquisition unit 152 The compression rate calculation unit 154 that calculates the compression rate of the image used in the endoscope side image processing unit 123 is a main part. That.

As described above, also in the endoscope system having the portable electronic endoscope equipped with the battery of the third embodiment, the compression ratio of the endoscopic image is changed according to the procedure scene, and thereby, the overall procedure in the procedure is changed. By reducing the typical data transmission amount, it is possible to realize low power consumption in wireless transmission.

Also in the third embodiment, the procedure scene is determined based on the information on the “movement amount” of the insertion unit 41 in the wireless endoscope 2 as in the first embodiment.

Returning to FIG. 8, the image acquisition unit 151 acquires the image signal captured by the imaging unit 22 and performs predetermined image processing (for example, OB processing, gain processing, gamma processing, etc.), while processing the processed image. The signal is output to an image storage unit (not shown) and output to the motion amount information acquisition unit 152.

Note that the image storage unit stores the processed image signal for a plurality of frames (a plurality of temporally continuous frames). The motion amount information acquisition unit 152 calculates the motion amount of the subject in the captured image based on the images of a plurality of frames stored in the image storage unit.

That is, also in the third embodiment, for example, a matching process is performed between the image of the reference frame and the image of the next frame in the images of the plurality of frames stored in the image storage unit, and the two frames A motion vector between images is calculated. Then, motion vectors are sequentially calculated over a plurality of frames while shifting the reference image frame by frame, and an average value of the plurality of motion vectors is calculated as a motion amount.

Next, the operation of the endoscope system of the third embodiment configured as described above will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the operation on the wireless endoscope side in the endoscope system of the third embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 9, the endoscope-side control unit 21 in the wireless endoscope 2 establishes a wireless communication connection with the processor 3 (step S41), and then the endoscope-side control unit 21 Then, the imaging unit 22 is controlled to start imaging using the power from the battery 25 as a power source (step S42), and the endoscope-side image processing unit 123 is controlled to perform predetermined image processing.

Here, the endoscope side control unit 21 controls the endoscope side image processing unit 123 to appropriately perform image processing on the image signal picked up by the image pickup unit 22 (step S43), and in the image acquisition unit 151. The processed image signal is output to an image storage unit (not shown) and output to the motion amount information acquisition unit 152.

Next, the motion amount information acquisition unit 152 calculates the amount of motion of the subject in the captured image based on the images of a plurality of frames stored in the image storage unit (step S44). Specifically, a matching process is performed between the image of the reference frame and the image of the next frame in the images of the plurality of frames stored in the image storage unit, and a motion vector between the two frame images is obtained. The motion vector is sequentially calculated over a plurality of frames while shifting the reference image frame by frame, and an average value of the plurality of motion vectors is calculated as a motion amount (step S44).

Alternatively, as described above, the motion amount information acquisition unit 152 may acquire motion amounts at a plurality of positions such as a central portion and a peripheral portion of the captured image.

Next, the procedure scene determination unit 153 determines the procedure scene classified as described above according to the “motion amount” acquired by the motion amount information acquisition unit 152 (step S45).

The compression rate calculation unit 154 then uses the procedure scene determined by the procedure scene determination unit 153 or the motion amount information acquired by the motion amount information acquisition unit 152 to use the image used in the endoscope side image processing unit 123. Is calculated (step S46).

For example, if the technique scene determination unit 153 determines that the scene is (a) a moving scene or (b) a screening scene, the compression ratio related to image processing in the wireless endoscope 2 is set as a relatively high compression ratio.

On the other hand, if the procedure scene determination unit 153 determines that the scene is (c) a scrutiny / treatment scene, the compression ratio related to image processing in the wireless endoscope 2 is set as a relatively low compression ratio, or compression is performed. Set to not process.

Next, the endoscope side image processing unit 123 performs an appropriate compression process based on the compression rate calculated by the compression rate calculation unit 154 (step S47), and the image data subjected to the compression process is wirelessly transmitted by the endoscope side. The data is transmitted wirelessly from the unit 24 to the processor 3 (step S48).

As described above, also in the endoscope system of the third embodiment, in the endoscope system having the portable electronic endoscope equipped with the battery, the compression rate of the endoscope image is set according to the procedure scene. Thus, the total amount of data transmission in the procedure can be reduced, and as a result, low power consumption in wireless transmission can be realized.

(Fourth embodiment)
Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described.

The endoscope system according to the second embodiment described above calculates the “distance” from the distal end of the endoscope insertion unit to the subject from the captured image acquired by the processor-side image processing unit 33, and uses this “distance” information as information. Although the procedure scene is determined based on this, in the fourth embodiment, the “distance from the distal end of the endoscope insertion unit to the subject from the captured image captured by the endoscope image processing unit on the wireless endoscope 2 side” , And after determining the technique scene based on the information of the “distance”, the endoscope side image processing unit calculates the compression rate.

That is, the basic configuration of the endoscope system of the fourth embodiment is the same as that of the second embodiment, but an endoscope-side image processing unit and processor as compared with the second embodiment. A part of the configuration of the side image processing unit is different.

Therefore, only the parts different from the second embodiment will be described here, and the description of the same parts as those of the second embodiment will be omitted.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the image processing unit on the wireless endoscope side in the endoscope system according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 10, in the fourth embodiment, the endoscope-side image processing unit 223 acquires an image signal acquired by the imaging unit 22 and an image acquisition unit 151 that acquires the image signal. A distance information acquisition unit 155 that acquires distance information in the body cavity of the insertion unit 41 in the wireless endoscope 2 based on the image signal, and the wireless endoscope 2 is used from the distance information acquired in the distance information acquisition unit 155. A procedure scene determination unit 153 that determines a procedure scene in the procedure performed, and the endoscope-side image processing unit from the procedure scene determined by the procedure scene determination unit 153 or the distance information acquired by the distance information acquisition unit 155 A compression rate calculation unit 154 that calculates the compression rate of an image used in 223 constitutes a main part.

As described above, also in the endoscope system having the portable electronic endoscope equipped with the battery according to the fourth embodiment, the compression ratio of the endoscope image is changed according to the procedure scene, and thereby, the overall procedure in the procedure is changed. By reducing the typical data transmission amount, it is possible to realize low power consumption in wireless transmission.

Also in the fourth embodiment, the determination of the procedure scene is based on the “distance” information from the distal end of the insertion portion 41 to the subject in the wireless endoscope 2, as in the second embodiment. judge.

Returning to FIG. 10, the image acquisition unit 151 acquires the image signal captured by the imaging unit 22 and performs predetermined image processing (for example, OB processing, gain processing, gamma processing, etc.), while processing the processed image. The signal is output to an image storage unit (not shown) and output to the distance information acquisition unit 155.

The distance information acquisition unit 155 calculates the distance from the tip of the insertion unit 41 to the subject in the captured image based on the images of a plurality of frames stored in the image storage unit.

Next, the operation of the endoscope system of the fourth embodiment configured as described above will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the operation on the wireless endoscope side in the endoscope system of the fourth embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 11, the endoscope-side control unit 21 in the wireless endoscope 2 establishes a wireless communication connection with the processor 3 (step S41), and then the endoscope-side control unit 21 Then, the imaging unit 22 is controlled to start imaging using the power from the battery 25 as a power source (step S42), and the endoscope-side image processing unit 223 is controlled to perform predetermined image processing.

Here, the endoscope side control unit 21 controls the endoscope side image processing unit 223 to appropriately perform image processing on the image signal picked up by the image pickup unit 22 (step S43), and in the image acquisition unit 151. The processed image signal is output to an image storage unit (not shown) and output to the distance information acquisition unit 155.

Next, the distance information acquisition unit 155 calculates the distance from the distal end of the insertion unit to the subject in the captured image based on the images of a plurality of frames stored in the image storage unit (step S54).

Next, the procedure scene determination unit 153 determines the procedure scene classified as described above according to the “distance information” acquired by the distance information acquisition unit 155 (step S45).

Then, the compression rate calculation unit 154 calculates the endoscope-side image processing unit based on the procedure scene determined by the procedure scene determination unit 153 or the distance information from the distal end of the insertion unit acquired by the distance information acquisition unit 155 to the subject. The compression rate of the image used in 223 is calculated (step S46).

Next, the endoscope side image processing unit 223 appropriately performs compression processing based on the compression rate calculated by the compression rate calculation unit 154 (step S47), and the image data subjected to the compression processing is wirelessly transmitted by the endoscope side. The data is transmitted wirelessly from the unit 24 to the processor 3 (step S48).

As described above, also in the endoscope system according to the fourth embodiment, in the endoscope system having the portable electronic endoscope equipped with the battery, the compression rate of the endoscope image is set according to the procedure scene. Thus, the total amount of data transmission in the procedure can be reduced, and as a result, low power consumption in wireless transmission can be realized.

In the first and third embodiments described above, the “motion amount” related to the insertion unit 41 is calculated based on the image signal captured by the imaging unit 22. The acquisition of information is not limited to this. For example, the “movement amount” of the insertion unit may be directly detected by an acceleration sensor or the like provided in the insertion unit 41 or the like.

In the second and fourth embodiments described above, the “distance information” between the distal end of the insertion unit 41 and the subject is calculated based on the image signal captured by the imaging unit 22. The acquisition of “information” is not limited to this. For example, the “distance” between the distal end of the insertion unit 41 and the subject may be directly detected by a distance measurement unit provided in the insertion unit 41 or the like.

In the above-described embodiment, the compression rate is set in two stages, ie, (a) a moving scene, (b) a screening scene, and (c) a scrutiny / treatment scene. For example, you may set in three steps according to each scene of (a) a moving scene, (b) a screening scene, or (c) a detailed examination / treatment scene.

Furthermore, the compression rate may be set so as to vary in a plurality of steps or continuously in accordance with the “motion amount” or “distance information” for each of the above-described procedure scenes.

Each “unit” in this specification is a conceptual one corresponding to each function of the embodiment, and does not necessarily correspond to a specific hardware or software routine on a one-to-one basis. Therefore, in the present specification, the embodiment has been described assuming a virtual circuit block (unit) having each function of the embodiment.

Further, each step of each procedure in the present embodiment may be executed in a different order for each execution by changing the execution order and performing a plurality of steps at the same time as long as it does not violate its nature. Furthermore, all or part of each step of each procedure in the present embodiment may be realized by hardware.

Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are illustrated by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

These embodiments and modifications thereof are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalents thereof.

This application is filed on the basis of the priority claim of Japanese Patent Application No. 2014-205137 filed in Japan on October 3, 2014, and the above disclosure is disclosed in the present specification and claims. It shall be cited in the drawing.

Claims

An insertion part to be inserted into the body cavity of the subject;
An imaging unit disposed at a distal end of the insertion unit;
An image compression unit that performs a predetermined compression process on an image signal related to the subject imaged in the imaging unit and outputs the image signal as a compressed image signal;
A first wireless transmission unit for wirelessly transmitting the compressed image signal output from the image compression unit;
An endoscope with
A second wireless transmission unit that receives the compressed image signal transmitted from the first wireless transmission unit;
An image processing unit that performs predetermined image processing on the compressed image signal received by the second wireless transmission unit;
A determination unit for determining a type of a procedure scene using the endoscope;
A compression rate calculation unit that calculates a compression rate to be applied to compression processing in the image compression unit based on a determination result of the determination unit;
A processor with
An endoscope system comprising:
In a state where the insertion unit in the endoscope is inserted into the body cavity of the subject, the endoscope further includes a physical quantity detection unit that detects a predetermined physical quantity related to the insertion unit,
The endoscope system according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit determines the type of a procedure scene using the endoscope based on the physical quantity detected by the physical quantity detection unit.
The endoscope system according to claim 2, wherein the physical quantity detection unit detects, as the physical quantity, information related to a movement amount of the insertion unit in a body cavity of the subject.
The physical quantity detection unit detects, as the physical quantity, information related to the amount of movement of the insertion unit in the body cavity of the subject based on the image signal captured by the imaging unit of the endoscope. The endoscope system according to claim 3.
An acceleration detection unit provided in the insertion unit of the endoscope;
The endoscopy according to claim 3, wherein the physical quantity detection unit detects, as the physical quantity, information related to a motion amount of the insertion unit detected in the acceleration detection unit in a body cavity of the subject. Mirror system.
The endoscope system according to claim 2, wherein the physical quantity detection unit detects, as the physical quantity, information related to a distance between a distal end portion of the insertion unit and a predetermined subject in a body cavity of the subject. .
The physical quantity detection unit obtains information on the distance between the distal end of the insertion unit and a predetermined subject in the body cavity of the subject based on the image signal captured by the imaging unit of the endoscope. The endoscope system according to claim 6, wherein the endoscope system is detected as:
A distance measuring unit provided in the insertion unit of the endoscope;
The physical quantity detection unit detects, as the physical quantity, information related to a distance between a distal end portion of the insertion unit and a predetermined subject in a body cavity of the subject, which is detected by the distance measurement unit. 6. The endoscope system according to 6.
The procedure scene using the endoscope is a scene in which the insertion unit is moved between the insertion of the insertion unit into the body cavity of the subject and the arrival of the target site of the procedure. 2. The scene according to claim 1, wherein the scene is one in which screening observation is performed after reaching the part, or the scene in which the target part is closely observed or predetermined treatment is performed after the screening observation. Endoscopic system.