JP2001309884A - Endoscopic equipment and video camera for endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide compact, light-weighted endoscopic equipment and a video camera for endoscopes which enables to ensure the status of adjustment or a setup for an imaging means of an endoscope by displaying on a monitor. SOLUTION: Endoscopic equipment is provided with an endoscope with an imaging means which can change the images produced by an objective optical system into signals to produce electronic images, an operating switch which adjusts the imaging means, and a generator which outputs signals for displaying status to display the adjusted status for the imaging means which would be changed by the operating switch on a monitor.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an endoscope apparatus and an endoscope video camera capable of displaying an image on a television monitor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Since insertion of a tracheal tube at the bedside or emergency medical treatment requires easy operation, a light source and its power supply are provided in an operation unit.
A cordless portable endoscope that does not require connection with a light source device is used. An endoscope apparatus has been proposed in which a video camera is connected to an eyepiece of the cordless endoscope, and an endoscope image captured by the video camera is displayed on a television monitor, so that the endoscope apparatus can be used for diagnosis. . For example, in such an endoscope apparatus, the adjustment operation of the brightness, the enhanced level, and the like of the video camera is operated and confirmed by an operation switch and a display unit provided on the camera body. It becomes larger and heavier. In addition, since the surgeon usually views the endoscope image on the television monitor, it is very troublesome to check the image on the display unit of the camera body.

[0003]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a small and lightweight endoscope apparatus and an endoscope apparatus capable of displaying and confirming the adjustment (setting) state of the imaging means of the endoscope on a television monitor. It is intended to provide a video camera.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An endoscope apparatus according to the present invention includes an endoscope having an image pickup means for converting an image formed by an objective optical system into an electronic image signal, an operation switch for adjusting the image pickup means, and this operation switch. And a generator for outputting a state display signal for displaying on the television monitor the adjustment state of the imaging means changed by the operation.

If the endoscope apparatus further comprises transmitting means for wirelessly transmitting the status display signal and the electronic image signal on one channel, and receiving means for receiving the wireless signal and providing it to the television monitor. Thus, it is possible to obtain an endoscope device with good operability without a cord for connecting the endoscope and the television monitor. In addition, a character signal can be used as the status display signal.
It is also possible to change the color and display.

In this endoscope apparatus, the endoscope is a fiberscope or a rigid scope having an eyepiece in an operation unit, and the imaging means is actually a video camera connectable to the eyepiece. It is a target. In this case, the operation switch is preferably provided at or near the operation unit of the endoscope, and the transmitting unit is preferably provided at or near the imaging unit or the operation unit of the endoscope. . Further, in the endoscope apparatus, the imaging means is incorporated in an operation unit of the endoscope, and an image fiber for transmitting an image formed by the objective optical system to the endoscope is provided. The obtained image can be imaged by the imaging means. Further, in the endoscope apparatus, an electronic endoscope incorporating the imaging means can be used as the endoscope. It is preferable that the operation switch and the transmission unit are provided in an operation unit of the endoscope.

The video camera for an endoscope according to the present invention is detachable from the endoscope, and has an image pickup means for converting an image formed by the endoscope into an electronic image signal, and an operation for adjusting the image pickup means. A switch and a generator for outputting a state display signal for displaying on a television monitor an adjustment state of the imaging means changed by the operation switch.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below based on the illustrated embodiments. FIG. 2 shows the endoscope apparatus 10 including an endoscope 20 connected to a video camera 30, a television monitor 15, and a receiver 16.

The endoscope 20 is a cordless handy type fiberscope having an operation unit 24 and a flexible tube 25. A light source unit 22 having a light source 22a and a light source battery 22b can be attached to and detached from the operation unit 24. Illumination light for illuminating the subject is projected from the light source 22a through the light guide 28 from the tip of the flexible tube 25. You. The illuminated image of the subject is formed on the end face of the image fiber 27 by the objective optical system 26 provided at the tip of the flexible tube 25, and can be observed from the eyepiece 21 via the image fiber 27.

A video camera 30 is connected to the eyepiece 21 of the endoscope 20 so that an image of a subject formed by the objective optical system 26 can be taken. The video camera 30 can be used cordlessly, and includes an operation switch group 31 and a transmission antenna 32. Operation switch group 3
1 is provided with operation switches 31a, 31b, 31c for adjusting the imaging state of the video camera 30 (details will be described later).

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a circuit 100 for imaging and transmission provided in the video camera 30. Circuit 100
Is composed of an imaging unit 40, a modulation / transmission unit 50, a microcomputer 60, and an operation switch group 31. The imaging unit 40
It has a timing generator (TG) 41, an image sensor 42, a sample and hold circuit (S / H) 45, an A / D converter 46, a video processor 47, and a D / A converter 48. The timing generator 41 outputs a signal based on the clock signal output from the first oscillator 62.
A drive signal (scanning readout signal) for driving the image sensor 42, a synchronization signal, and the like are sequentially output. The image sensor 42 includes an image area 43 and horizontal and vertical shift registers 44H and 44V, photoelectrically converts subject light in the image area 43, accumulates signal charges, and scans the accumulated charges with the shift registers 44H and 44V. , Which is a well-known MOS type that outputs an image signal in pixel units. The image signal output from the image sensor 42 is held by a sample and hold circuit 45, A / D converted by an A / D converter 46, is subjected to predetermined image signal processing by a video processor 47, and is D / A converted by a D / A converter 48. The signal is converted and output to the modulation / transmission unit 50 via the adder 61.

The operation switch group 31 includes a brightness switch 31a for adjusting the brightness of the captured image, a color (R) switch 31b for adjusting the color tone of the captured image, and a color (B) switch 31c. These switches 3
When 1a to 31c are pressed, an operation signal corresponding to the pressed switch is input to the microcomputer 60. Microcomputer 60
Performs a predetermined process according to the operation signal to generate an adjustment signal, and outputs the adjustment signal and the operation signal to the imaging unit 40 and the character generator (CG) 64. The imaging unit 40 performs image adjustment according to the input adjustment signal. On the other hand, the character generator 64 generates a character signal according to the input operation signal and outputs the character signal to the adder 61. The character signal input to the adder 61 is added to the image signal output from the D / A converter 48, and is added to the image signal output from the D / A converter 48.
1 is input.

The modulator / transmitter 50 includes a modulator (MOD) 5
1, a multiplier 52, a transmitter 53, a transmission antenna 32, and a second oscillator 63 for outputting a carrier signal. The signal input to the modulator 51 is modulated by a predetermined method and output. The multiplier 52 is configured to output the modulated signal and the second oscillator 6
, And multiplies the signals by a carrier signal.
Is transmitted from the transmission antenna 32 via the.

As described above, the character signal and the electronic image signal are wirelessly transmitted on one channel. Video camera 30
The signal transmitted from the (transmitting antenna 32) is received by the receiver 16 provided with the receiving antenna 17, and is input to the television monitor 15. As described above, since the character signal indicating the operation state of the video camera 30 is added to the image signal of the observation image, the character signal is displayed on the television monitor 15 together with the endoscope image as described above. In this embodiment, FIG.
Although all items that can be adjusted are displayed as shown in (1), only the item being adjusted can be displayed.

The above-described endoscope apparatus 10 is operated by the operator while observing the portion to be inspected on the television monitor 15. If the operator presses the operation switch 31 at any time during the observation, the image can be adjusted. Since the operation state of this adjustment operation is displayed on the television monitor 15, it is easy to confirm the operation. Further, since the operation switch group 31 is provided in the vicinity of the operation unit 24 of the endoscope 20 and in the video camera 30, it is possible to easily perform the adjustment operation even while performing the bending operation of the endoscope 20. In this embodiment, three switches are provided as the operation switch group 31. In addition, for example, a shutter speed adjustment switch may be provided, an enter switch for turning on an adjustment operation or input determination, and an increase / decrease of an adjustment parameter. It is also possible to make various adjustments with three switches, up and down, for changing the item.

In the above embodiment, since the general-purpose handy endoscope 20 is used, the operation switch group 31 is provided in the video camera 30. However, the present invention is not limited to this.
Is provided at or near the operation unit 24 of the endoscope, a simple operation is possible. Further, in the present embodiment, the endoscope apparatus 10 is constituted by the fiber endoscope 20, but the present invention can of course be applied to an electronic endoscope. In that case, the operation switch group 31 and the modulation / transmission unit 50
The transmission means such as the microcomputer 60 may be provided integrally with the operation unit 24, or the transmission means such as the operation switch group 31, the modulation / transmission unit 50, and the microcomputer 60 may be unitized and mounted. Further, the present invention is not limited to an endoscope provided with a flexible tube, but can be applied to a rigid endoscope. Further, the display of the adjustment state is not limited to the character, and a pattern, a graph, or the like may be used, or the color may be changed. This adjustment state display may be displayed so as to be superimposed on the endoscope image, or only the adjustment state may be displayed without displaying the endoscope image.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to the embodiments, the present invention can be modified without departing from the scope of the present invention, and it is needless to say that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments.

[0018]

According to the present invention, since the adjustment operation state of the video camera (image pickup means) is displayed on the television monitor, the operation can be performed while confirming the operation. Furthermore, by providing a means for wirelessly transmitting a state display signal indicating the adjustment state and an image signal, there is no connection cord extending from the endoscope, and a small and lightweight endoscope apparatus with good operability of the endoscope is realized. it can.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an outline of a circuit configuration for performing imaging and transmission of an endoscope apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of an endoscope apparatus according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Endoscope apparatus 15 Television monitor 16 Receiver 17 Receiving antenna 20 Endoscope 21 Eyepiece 22 Light source unit 22a Light source 22b Light source battery 24 Operation unit 25 Flexible tube 26 Objective optical system 27 Image fiber 28 Light guide 30 Video Camera 31 Operation switch group 32 Transmission antenna 40 Imaging unit 41 Timing generator (TG) 42 Image sensor 43 Image area 44H Horizontal shift register 44V Vertical shift register 45 Sample hold circuit (S / H) 46 A / D converter 47 Video processor 48 D / A converter 50 Modulation / transmission unit 51 Modulator (MOD) 52 Multiplier 53 Transmitter 60 Microcomputer 61 Adder 62 First oscillator 63 Second oscillator 64 Character generator (CG)

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. An endoscope having an image pickup means for converting an image formed by an objective optical system into an electronic image signal, an operation switch for adjusting the image pickup means, and an adjustment state of the image pickup means changed by the operation switch And a generator for outputting a status display signal for causing the television monitor to display the information. 2. The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: transmitting means for wirelessly transmitting the status display signal and the electronic image signal on one channel, and receiving the wireless signal and transmitting the electronic signal to the television monitor. Endoscope apparatus comprising: 3. The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the state display signal includes a character signal indicating a state in characters. 4. The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the endoscope is a fiberscope or a rigid scope having an eyepiece in an operation unit, and the imaging means is An endoscope apparatus which is a video camera connectable to the eyepiece. 5. The endoscope apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the operation switch is provided at or near an operation unit of the endoscope, and the transmission unit is provided near the imaging unit or near the imaging unit. Alternatively, an endoscope apparatus provided at or near the operation unit of the endoscope. 6. The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the imaging unit is built in the endoscope operation unit, and the endoscope is formed by the objective optical system. An endoscope device comprising an image fiber for transmitting an image, wherein the image transmitted by the image fiber is imaged by the imaging means. 7. The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the endoscope is an electronic endoscope having the image pickup means built in a distal end portion. 8. The endoscope apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the operation switch and the transmission unit are provided on an operation unit of the endoscope or in the vicinity of the operation unit. 9. An image pickup unit detachable from the endoscope, for converting an image formed by the endoscope into an electronic image signal, an operation switch for adjusting the image pickup unit, and changed by operating the operation switch. A video camera for an endoscope, comprising: a generator for outputting a status display signal for causing a television monitor to display the adjusted state of the imaging means. 10. The video camera for an endoscope according to claim 9, further comprising transmitting means for wirelessly transmitting the status display signal and the electronic image signal on one channel.
An endoscope video camera for displaying, on a television monitor, an adjustment state of the imaging means together with the electronic image. 11. The video camera for an endoscope according to claim 9, wherein the status display signal includes a character signal for displaying a status in characters. 12. The endoscope video camera according to claim 10, wherein the operation switch and the transmission unit are provided at or near an operation unit of the endoscope. camera.