JP5322458B2 - Endoscope - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an endoscope that obtains an image by inserting an insertion portion provided with an image sensor into a subject.

  An endoscope, for example, an electronic endoscope provided with an image sensor at the distal end of an insertion portion to a subject is connected to a processor device, and driving power and drive pulses are supplied from the processor device to drive the image sensor. . If the connection connector is removed from the processor device during use of the electronic endoscope, a drive pulse may be transmitted without power being supplied to the image sensor, causing the image sensor to fail.

Therefore, as a solution to this problem, it has been proposed that one of the connector pins provided on the connection connector as in the endoscope apparatus described in Patent Document 1 is shorter than the others. In Patent Document 1, when the connector connector is removed by shortening the connector pin of the drive pulse transmission line to the electronic endoscope, the transmission of the drive pulse is stopped before the supply of the drive power is stopped. I have to.
Japanese Patent No. 3600735

  However, in the configuration described in Patent Document 1, since the connection connector has a special shape, a general-purpose product cannot be used, and parts must be specially ordered. When a connection connector is newly manufactured, an enormous cost is required, which causes an increase in the cost of the endoscope.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and provides an endoscope that can prevent a failure of an image sensor with a low-cost and simple configuration when a connection connector is removed from a processor device. With the goal.

In order to achieve the above object, an electronic endoscope according to the present invention is charged with driving power supplied from a processor device and an imaging element driven by a driving pulse, and charged with the driving power, and the supply of the driving power is interrupted. In an electronic endoscope comprising an imaging unit having a first emergency power supply that supplies emergency power to the imaging device when struck, storage means that is driven by the driving power and in which unique data is written, A second emergency power supply for supplying emergency power to the storage means when charged by drive power and the supply of the drive power is cut off, and the specific data while the emergency power is being supplied. And a storage control unit that executes a closing process of writing . The first emergency power supply is preferably an electric double layer capacitor.

Contact name the second emergency power supply is preferably an electric double layer capacitor. Moreover, it is preferable that the specific data includes a usage time from the start of supply of the drive power to the end of supply.

According to the electronic endoscope of the present invention, the first emergency power supply that is charged by the driving power supplied from the processor device and supplies emergency power to the image sensor when the driving power supply is cut off is provided. Since the imaging unit is provided, when the connection connector is removed from the processor device, power is supplied to the imaging device by the first emergency power supply, and power supply is not stopped before the drive pulse supply is stopped. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a failure of the image sensor with a low cost and simple configuration.

  In FIG. 1, the electronic endoscope system 2 includes an electronic endoscope 10, a processor device 11, and a light source device 12. The electronic endoscope 10 includes a flexible insertion portion 13 that is inserted into a body cavity, an operation portion 14 that is connected to a proximal end portion of the insertion portion 13, and a communication connector 15 that is connected to the processor device 11. And a light source connector 16 connected to the light source device 12 and a universal cord 17 connecting the operation unit 14 and the connectors 15 and 16. The processor device 11 is electrically connected to the electronic endoscope 10 and the light source device 12, and comprehensively controls the operation of the entire electronic endoscope system 2.

  At the distal end of the insertion portion 13, a distal end portion 13 a in which a CCD 18 (see FIG. 2) for in-vivo imaging is incorporated is continuously provided. A bending portion 13b connecting a plurality of bending pieces is provided behind the tip portion 13a. The bending portion 13b is bent in the vertical and horizontal directions when the angle knob 19 provided in the operation portion 14 is operated and the wire inserted in the insertion portion 13 is pushed and pulled. Thereby, the front-end | tip part 13a is orient | assigned to the desired direction in a body cavity.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the processor device 11 includes a timing / driver circuit 20, a signal processing unit 21, an imaging unit power supply circuit 22, a storage unit power supply circuit 23, a main power supply circuit 24, a CPU 25 that controls these, a memory 26 and an operation unit 27 are provided. When the communication connector 15 of the electronic endoscope 10 is connected to the socket 28 of the processor device 11, the CCD 18 is connected to the timing / driver circuit 20 via the signal line 29, and the signal processing unit 21 via the signal line 30. Connected to. The timing / driver circuit 20 controls the readout timing of the accumulated charge of the CCD 18, the shutter speed of the electronic shutter of the CCD 18, and the like based on a timing signal (clock pulse) generated by a command from the CPU 25. The imaging signal output from the CCD 18 is subjected to various image processing such as amplification and A / D conversion in the signal processing unit 21 to be converted into a video signal, and a monitor 31 connected to the processor device 11 by cable (see FIG. 1). Displayed as an endoscopic image.

  The main power supply circuit 24 supplies a power supply voltage to the imaging unit power supply circuit 22 and the storage unit power supply circuit 23 via the main power supply line 32. The power supply circuit 22 for the imaging unit transforms the power supply voltage from the main power supply circuit 24 and images the timing / driver circuit 20 and the imaging unit 33 of the electronic endoscope 10 to be described later via the imaging unit power supply line 34. Supply power supply voltage for parts. The storage unit power supply circuit 23 transforms the power supply voltage from the main power supply circuit 24 and supplies the storage unit power supply voltage to the storage unit 35 of the electronic endoscope, which will be described later, via the storage unit power supply line 36. In the present embodiment, the power-on instruction of the processor device 11 performed through the operation unit 27 also serves as an instruction to start an inspection. When the power-on instruction of the processor device 11 is instructed through the operation unit 27, the CPU 25 A power supply start signal is output to the power supply circuit 22. In response to the input of the power supply start signal, the imaging unit power supply circuit 22 starts to supply power to the imaging unit 33 and the timing / driver circuit 20. As a result, the processor device 11 is ready for inspection. Further, when performing maintenance processing to be described later, when an instruction to start maintenance is given through the operation unit 27, the CPU 25 outputs a power supply start signal to the storage unit power supply circuit 23. In response to the input of the power supply start signal, the storage unit power supply circuit 23 starts supplying power to the storage unit 35.

  The memory 26 stores unique data of the processor device 11. At the time of a maintenance process described later, the CPU 25 reads the unique data from the memory 26 and transmits it to the electronic endoscope 10.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the electrical configuration of the electronic endoscope 10 includes an imaging unit 33 and a storage unit 35. The imaging unit 33 includes a CCD 18 and a first emergency power source 37. The CCD 18 is, for example, an interline transfer type CCD. Note that the imaging element is not limited to the CCD 18 and may be a CMOS.

  An electric double layer capacitor is used for the first emergency power source 37. An electric double layer capacitor has characteristics intermediate between those of a battery and a capacitor and has a small charge capacity per one time, but is excellent in instantaneous charge / discharge characteristics, and hardly deteriorates even when repeated charge / discharge is performed. The CCD 18, the first emergency power supply 37, and the imaging unit power supply circuit 22 are connected to each other in parallel by the imaging unit power supply line 34. The first emergency power source 37 has a charge capacity lower than the voltage supplied by the imaging unit power circuit 22. As a result, when drive power is supplied from the imaging unit power supply circuit 22, power is supplied to the CCD 18 and the first emergency power supply 37, and when power supply from the imaging unit power supply circuit 22 is cut off, Emergency power is supplied from the one emergency power source 37 to the CCD 18.

  The storage unit 35 includes a CPU 38, an EEPROM 39, a power supply monitoring unit 40, and a second emergency power supply 41. The EEPROM 39 is written with unique data set on the processor device 11 side, for example, color correction information. In the electronic endoscope system 2, one of a plurality of types of electronic endoscopes 10 suitable for the inspection application is connected to the processor device 11 and used. Alternatively, one of a plurality of types of processor devices 11 may be selected. Therefore, when performing the maintenance process, the CPU 38 of the electronic endoscope 10 can correspond to the specifications of the processor device 11 by changing the setting of the CCD 18 based on the unique data acquired from the processor device 11. In addition, as a memory | storage means which comprises the memory | storage part 35, it is not restricted to EEPROM39, For example, you may use semiconductor memories other than EEPROM.

  As the first emergency power supply 37, the second emergency power supply 41 uses an electric double layer capacitor. When the power supply from the storage unit power supply circuit 23 is cut off as in the first emergency power supply 37, the CPU 38 The emergency power is supplied to the EEPROM 39 and the power supply monitoring unit 40. The second emergency power supply 41 has a capacity capable of charging emergency power that can be supplied for a sufficient time for a data write closing process to be described later. The power supply monitoring unit 40 monitors the voltage of the storage unit power supply line 36. For example, the voltage when the drive power is supplied from the storage unit power supply circuit 23 and the emergency from the second emergency power supply 41 are used. A threshold is set between the power supply voltage and the voltage when the voltage level falls below the threshold, and the CPU 38 is notified that the power supply from the storage unit power supply circuit 23 has been cut off. The CPU 38 is connected to the CPU 25 on the processor device 11 side via the signal line 42. When performing the maintenance process, the CPU 38 transmits a notification requesting unique data to the processor device 11, and when the unique data is transmitted from the processor device 11, writes the unique data to the EEPROM 39. Further, when the CPU 38 receives a notification from the power supply monitoring unit 40 that the power supply has been cut off, the CPU 38 closes the writing of unique data to the EEPROM 39. The data writing close process performed by the CPU 38 is to end all data writing or one-line data writing even during the data writing, and the next time the electronic endoscope 10 is turned on. At this time, the data writing / reading state is completed. In addition, when a close process for terminating the writing of a single piece of data is performed in response to a notification from the power supply monitoring unit 40 in the middle of data writing, when the next power is turned on, the data in the middle of writing May be erased, or the remaining data writing may be resumed.

  The effect | action of the said structure is demonstrated using the flowchart of FIG. When the electronic endoscope system 2 is used, when the communication connector 15 of the electronic endoscope 10 and the socket 28 of the processor device 11 are connected, the power supply circuit 22 for the imaging unit and the power supply circuit for the storage unit are connected from the main power supply circuit 24. Power supply to 23 is started. When the surgeon operates the operation unit 27 to instruct to turn on the processor device 11 that also serves as an instruction to start an examination, the CPU 38 inputs a power supply start signal to the power supply circuit 22 for the imaging unit. At this time, the surgeon connects the light source connector 16 to the light source device 12 to turn on the light source device 12, and inserts the insertion portion 13 into the subject.

  The imaging unit power supply circuit 22 starts feeding power to the timing / driver circuit 20 and the imaging unit 33 of the electronic endoscope 10 in response to the input of the power feeding start signal from the CPU 25. When power supply to the timing / driver circuit 20 and the imaging unit 33 is started, driving power and driving pulses are supplied to the CCD 18 and imaging is started. Further, the subject is illuminated with the illumination light from the light source device 12, and the examination is performed while viewing the image inside the subject captured by the CCD 18 on the monitor 31.

  When the CCD 18 is driven, the first emergency power source 37 is charged by the power supply from the imaging unit power circuit 22. When the inspection is completed without the communication connector 15 being removed from the processor device 11, the CPU 25 operates the timing / driver circuit 20 in response to the inspection end instruction as shown in the flowchart of FIG. After stopping the transmission of the drive pulse to the CCD 18, a power supply stop signal is input to the imaging unit power supply circuit 22. The imaging unit power supply circuit 22 to which the power supply stop signal is input stops supplying power to the imaging unit 33 and the timing / driver circuit 20. Further, the main power circuit 24 stops operating and the power is turned off.

  Returning to FIG. 3, when the communication connector 15 is pulled out of the processor device 11 due to something such as the cord and the connector being caught or pulled during inspection, the processor device 11 moves to the electronic endoscope 10. The supply of the drive pulse and the drive power is stopped. At this time, because of the characteristics of the electric double layer capacitor described above, the first emergency power supply 37 can be discharged in a short time, so that when the power supply from the processor device 11 is cut off, the first emergency power supply 37 is immediately Emergency power is supplied from the power source 37 to the CCD 18. When the power supply from the processor unit 11 is cut off, the CCD 18 completes the exposure while receiving the power supply from the first emergency power supply 37 and performs an end process such as sweeping out unnecessary charges accumulated in the transfer path. After that, stop the operation. In this way, it is possible to eliminate the state in which the drive pulse is supplied to the CCD 18 without power supply, and to stop the operation of the CCD 18 with a correct termination process. And malfunction can be surely prevented. Further, unlike the conventional electronic endoscope, it is not necessary to use a custom-made connector with the connector pin length changed, and an electric double layer capacitor which is a general-purpose part can be used. Since it is only necessary to connect the imaging unit power supply circuit 22 in parallel, it is possible to realize failure prevention of the CCD 18 at low cost and with little effort.

  When performing maintenance processing of the electronic endoscope system 2 having the above-described configuration, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 5, first, when the electronic endoscope 10 and the processor device 11 are connected, the main power supply circuit 24 connects the imaging unit. Power supply to the power supply circuit 22 and the storage unit power supply circuit 23 is started. When the operator operates the operation unit 27 to instruct maintenance start, the CPU 25 inputs a power supply start signal to the storage unit power supply circuit 23.

  In response to the input of the power supply start signal from the CPU 25, the storage unit power supply circuit 23 starts power supply to the storage unit 35 of the electronic endoscope 10. When power supply to the CPU 38, the EEPROM 39, the power monitoring unit 40, and the second emergency power supply 41 is started, the CPU 38 requests the processor device 11 to acquire unique data. The CPU 25 of the processor device 11 that has received the request for acquiring the unique data reads the unique data such as the color correction information set by the processor device 11 from the memory 26 and transmits the unique data to the storage unit 35. The CPU 38 of the electronic endoscope 10 that has acquired the unique data writes the unique data of the processor device 11 to the EEPROM 39. When the communication connector 15 is not removed from the processor device 11 and maintenance processing including transmission and writing of unique data is completed, the CPU 25 performs maintenance by the operation unit 27 as shown in the flowchart of FIG. In response to the end instruction, a power supply stop signal is input to the storage unit power supply circuit 23. The storage unit power supply circuit 23 to which the power supply stop signal is input stops supplying power to the storage unit 35. Note that the maintenance end instruction is invalid during transmission and writing of the unique data.

  During the maintenance, when the unique data is written to the EEPROM 39, when the communication connector 15 is removed from the processor device 11, the unique data is transmitted from the processor device 11 to the electronic endoscope 10, and the driving power is supplied. Is cut off. At this time, when the power supply from the processor device 11 is cut off, the emergency power is immediately supplied from the second emergency power supply 41 to the EEPROM 39, the CPU 38, and the power supply monitoring unit 40. When the power supply from the processor unit 11 is cut off, the power supply monitoring unit 40 notifies the CPU 38 of that fact, and the CPU 38 that has received the notification ends the writing process to the EEPROM 39 and stops its operation. As described above, even when the communication connector 15 is removed during the writing of the unique data and the power supply from the processor unit 11 is cut off, the writing to the EEPROM 39 is terminated by receiving the power supply from the second emergency power supply 41. Therefore, it is possible to prevent failure of the EEPROM 39, the CPU 38, and the power supply monitoring unit 40, and damage of specific data written to the EEPROM 39.

  Note that the information to be written to the EEPROM 39 of the electronic endoscope 10 is not limited to the unique data of the processor device 11 described above. For example, the clock is built in the CPU 38 and the supply ends when the supply of drive power is started. The usage time up to this time may be written in the EEPROM 39. When this usage time is written in the EEPROM 39, if the usage time is not written correctly, the expiration date management of the endoscope cannot be performed accurately. However, if the EEPROM is protected by an emergency power supply as in the present invention, the above-mentioned fear is eliminated.

  In the above embodiment, an electronic endoscope is illustrated, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention can also be applied to an ultrasonic endoscope in which an ultrasonic transducer is integrated with the distal end portion 13a. Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the electrical double layer capacitor | condenser is used as the 1st and 2nd emergency power supplies 37 and 41, this invention is not restricted to this, You may use another battery. In this case, it is only necessary to provide a switch or the like for switching from the power supply line on the processor device 11 side to the power supply line on the emergency power source side when the communication connector is removed.

It is a schematic block diagram which shows an electronic endoscope system. It is a block diagram which shows the electric constitution of an electronic endoscope and a processor apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a subject test | inspection. It is a flowchart which shows the flow when a test object is complete | finished by the regular process. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a maintenance process. It is a flowchart which shows the flow when a maintenance process is complete | finished by the regular process.

Explanation of symbols

2 Endoscope 10 Endoscope 11 Processor 13 Insertion Unit 14 Operation Unit 15 Communication Connector 16 Light Source Connector 17 Universal Code 18 CCD
37 First emergency power supply 39 EEPROM (memory means)
41 Second emergency power supply

Claims (4)

An image sensor driven by drive power and a drive pulse supplied from a processor device, and a first battery that is charged by the drive power and supplies emergency power to the image sensor when the drive power supply is cut off In an endoscope including an imaging unit having an emergency power supply ,
Storage means driven by the drive power and into which unique data is written;
A second emergency power supply that is charged by the drive power and supplies emergency power to the storage means when the drive power supply is cut off;
An endoscope comprising: a storage unit having storage control means for executing a closing process for writing the unique data while the emergency power is supplied .   The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the first emergency power source is an electric double layer capacitor. The second emergency power source, an endoscope according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the is an electric double layer capacitor. The endoscope according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the unique data includes a use time from a supply start to a supply end of the drive power.

Images