JPH0814658B2 - Endoscope device - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an endoscope apparatus.

[Prior art]

In the conventional endoscope system, various controls are performed by the light source unit. In recent years, abundant control forms for endoscopic diagnosis have been demanded. To cope with this, it is necessary to replace the light source unit for each control mode. However, the light source unit is expensive and large, so do not replace the light source unit one by one.
It is desired that the function of the light source unit can be freely changed / expanded.

〔Purpose〕

The present invention has been made to address the above-described circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide an endoscope apparatus whose function can be changed / expanded with a simple and inexpensive structure.

〔Overview〕

The purpose is to store program data for controlling at least one of a light source unit that generates illumination light to the endoscope main body and a plurality of types of peripheral devices of the endoscope main body including the light source unit, and store the program data at a predetermined address. Can be connected to a function expansion unit having a storage means allocated to the light source unit and the program data at a predetermined address allocated to the storage means provided in the light source unit. If it can be output, it is realized by an endoscopic device including a peripheral device control means for controlling the peripheral device based on the read program data.

〔Example〕

An embodiment of an endoscope apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. As a first embodiment, an automatic light control system for the amount of illumination light will be described. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of this system. This system comprises an endoscope body 10, a light source unit 12, a function expansion unit 14, a camera control unit (CCU) 16, and a monitor device 18. Endoscope body 10
Has an image guide 20 and a light guide 22, and the image transmitted to the eyepiece by the image guide 20 is captured by a television (TV) camera 24. The output signal of the TV camera is supplied to the monitor device 18 via the CCU 16 and displayed. The output image signal of the CCU 16 is also supplied to the function expansion unit 14. The light guide 22 is connected to the light source unit 12 and emits the illumination light emitted from the light source lamp 26 to the endoscope body 10.
To the tip of the. The light source unit 12 has a light amount setting switch (manual switch) 28 for setting the light amount of the light source lamp 26, and the output signal of the light amount setting switch 28 is input to the I / O port 30. The I / O port 30 is connected to the CPU 32, ROM 34, RAM 36 via the bus line 38. The output signal of the I / O port 30 is supplied to the driver 40 to control the light amount of the light source lamp 26.

On the other hand, the output image signal of the CCU 16 input to the function expansion unit 14 is I through the luminance signal averaging circuit 42 and the A / D converter 44.
Input to / O port 46. The luminance signal averaging circuit 42 averages the luminance signals for each frame. The I / O port 46 is connected to the ROM 48 via the bus line 50. The light source unit 12 and the function expansion unit 14 can be detachably connected by a connector (not shown), and when they are connected, they are connected to the bus line 38 and the bus line 50 as shown in FIG.

FIG. 2 shows the vicinity of the connection point between the light source unit 12 and the function expansion unit 14. In order to detect the connection of the function expansion unit 14 by the CPU 32, the end of the bus line 38 from the connector is pulled up to the power supply + Vcc via the resistor 52, and the buffer 54 is connected to the inside. Different addresses are assigned to ROM34 and ROM48. Here, ROM3
0000H to 3FFFH is allocated to 4, and 4000H to BFFFH is allocated to ROM48. Therefore, when the function expansion unit 14 is not connected, even if the CPU 32 tries to read the data of the ROM 48, the bus line 38 is pulled up, so all the data becomes FFH. That is, the CPU 32 checks the data at the address of 4000H to BFFFH, and if all the data is FFH, determines that the function expansion unit 14 is not connected, and in other cases, it is determined that the function expansion unit 14 is connected. to decide.

Next, the operation of the first embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. When the power is turned on (step 30
0), as shown in step 305, the CPU 32 examines the data at the addresses 4000H to BFFFH to determine whether or not the function expansion unit 14 is connected. If the function expansion unit 14 is connected, the flag is set as shown in step 310, and then step 315 is executed. If the function expansion unit 14 is not connected, step 315 is executed immediately.
Is executed. In step 315, it is detected whether the flag is set.

If the flag is not set, that is, if the function expansion unit 14 is not connected, the setting value of the light amount setting switch 28 is read in step 320, and the light amount of the light source lamp 26 is adjusted in accordance with this setting value in step 325. To be done. Then, as shown in step 330, other functions of the light source unit are performed.

If the function expansion unit 14 is connected and the flag is set, as shown in step 335, the A / D converter 44,
Via I / O port 46, bus line 50, bus line 38,
The average value of the luminance signals of the output image signal of the CCU 16 output from the luminance signal averaging circuit 42 is read. Then, in step 340, it is determined whether or not the average value of the brightness signals is larger than a predetermined value. When the average value is larger, it means that it is too bright, the light amount of the light source lamp 26 is reduced in step 345, and step 330 is executed. If the average value is smaller, it means that it is too dark.
Then, the light amount of the light source lamp 26 is increased, and step 330 is executed. After step 330, step 315 is executed again.

As described above, according to this embodiment, when the function expansion unit 14 is not connected, the light amount of the light source unit 12 is manually set by the operator while watching the image brightness of the monitor device 18 by the light amount setting switch 28. It is adjusted based on the value set in. On the other hand, when the function expansion unit 14 is connected, the light source unit 12 automatically adjusts the light amount of the light source lamp 26 according to the output brightness signal of the CCU 16. Therefore, the function of the light source unit can be easily changed / expanded without impairing the existing function. Here, the function expansion unit 14 does not have a CPU as a control unit, and the light source unit 12
Since the control is performed only by the internal CPU, the function expansion unit 14 does not become expensive.

Another embodiment of the present invention will be described below. In the following embodiments, the same parts as those in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed description will be omitted. The second embodiment is a system for controlling air supply and suction pressure for cleaning (water supply) / drying of the objective lens. The block diagram is shown in FIG. Endoscope body
A still camera 60 is connected to the eyepiece 10 to take a picture of the image. The still camera 60 has an LED 62 and a control circuit 64 for displaying data other than an image. The data to be imprinted is transmitted from the light source unit 12. At the tip of the endoscope body 10, air / water feed pipes 66 and suction pipes 68 are provided with tip openings. The endoscope body 10 is usually the light source unit 12 as it is.
However, when the function expansion unit 14 is connected, it is connected to the light source unit 12 via the connection auxiliary unit 70. The connection auxiliary unit 70 is directly connected to the light guide 22, and is connected to the air / water supply pipe 66 and the suction pipe 68 via adapters having a pressure sensor (S1) 72 and a pressure sensor (S2) 74 on the way. . Pressure sensor 72,
74 outputs are supplied to the function expansion unit 14,
Input to the pressure measuring circuits 76 and 78. Pressure measuring circuit 76, 78
Of the output signal is input to the I / O port 46 via the A / D converters 44-1 and 44-2, respectively.

The air supply passage of the air supply pump (P1) 80 and the suction passage of the suction pump (P2) 82 in the light source unit 12 are connected to the air supply / water supply pipe 66 and the suction pipe 68 via the adapter in the connection auxiliary unit 70, respectively. To be done. Output signals of the light quantity setting switch 28 for setting the light quantity of the light source lamp 26, the air supply switch 84 that also switches the mode of air supply / suction and the pressure setting in each mode, and the suction switch 86 are supplied to the I / O port 30. It Further, the display panel 88 for displaying these set values or the surface of the light source unit 12 is provided. The air supply pump 80, the suction pump 82, and the display panel 88 are controlled by the I / O port 30 via drivers 90, 92, and 94, respectively. The control circuit 64 in the still camera 60 is connected to the I / O port 30 via a connection cord provided in the endoscope body 10.

Next, the operation of the second embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. After the power is turned on (step 500), it is determined whether or not the function expansion unit 14 is connected (step 505), a flag is set according to the determination result (step 510), and it is determined whether or not the flag is set. Up to (step 515) the same as the first embodiment. If the function expansion unit 14 is connected and the flag is set in step 515, it is determined whether or not the air supply switch 84 is on, as shown in step 520.

When the air supply switch 84 is on, the pressure sensor (S1) 72 is connected via the pressure measuring circuit 76, the A / D converter 44-1, the I / O port 46, the bus line 50, and the bus line 38 in step 525. The output pressure value is read. In step 530, it is determined whether this read value is larger than a predetermined value. If the read value is larger than the predetermined value, the air supply pressure is too high, and as shown in step 535, the air supply pressure of the air supply pump (P1) 80 is decreased. On the contrary, when the read value is smaller than the predetermined value, the insufflation pressure is too small, and the insufflation pressure of the insufflation pump (P1) 80 is increased as shown in step 540. After that, the other functions of the light source unit are executed as shown in step 545. After step 545, step 515 is executed again.

When it is determined in step 520 that the air supply switch 84 is off, the operation of the air supply pump (P1) 80 is stopped as shown in step 550. Then, in step 555, it is determined whether or not the suction switch 86 is turned on. If the suction switch 86 is on, in step 560 the pressure measurement circuit 78, A / D converter
The output pressure value of the pressure sensor (S2) 74 is read via 44-2, the I / O port 46, the bus line 50, and the bus line 38.
In step 565, it is judged whether or not this read value is larger than a predetermined value. If the read value is larger than the specified value,
When the suction pressure is too high, the suction pressure of the suction pump (P2) 82 is reduced as shown in step 570.
If the read value is smaller than the predetermined value, it means that the suction pressure is too low, and as shown in step 575,
The suction pressure of the suction pump (P2) 82 is increased. afterwards,
Step 545 is executed.

If it is determined in step 555 that the suction switch 86 is off, the operation of the suction pump (P2) 82 is stopped in step 580, and then step 545 is executed.

If it is determined in step 515 that the flag is not set, that is, if the function expansion unit 14 is not connected, it is determined in step 585 whether the air supply switch 84 is on. Step 590 when the air supply switch 84 is on
At, the set value of the air supply switch 84 is read, and at step 595, the air pressure of the air supply pump (P1) 80 is controlled according to the set value. Then, step 545 is executed.

When it is determined in step 585 that the air supply switch 84 is off, the operation of the air supply pump (P1) 80 is stopped in step 600. In step 605, it is determined whether the suction switch 86 is on. When the suction switch 86 is on, the set value of the suction switch 86 is read as shown in step 610, and the step
At 615, the suction pressure of the suction pump (P2) 82 is controlled according to this set value. Then, step 545 is executed. When it is determined in step 605 that the suction switch 86 is off, the operation of the suction pump (P2) 82 is stopped in step 620, and then step 545 is executed.

As described above, according to the second embodiment, the pressure is normally adjusted by controlling the electric power supplied from the setting switch of the light source unit to the air supply / suction pump in stages. But,
Type of endoscope (for example, for upper and lower extinguisher)
Since the diameter of the air supply conduit differs depending on the condition, the conduit resistance differs. Therefore, even if the pump is in the same state, the pressure ejected from the air supply nozzle is different. Also, when the air supply nozzle port is clogged with dirt etc. and only part of the nozzle is open, the pressure ejected from the air supply nozzle becomes abnormally high,
When the tip of the endoscope approaches the wall of the body cavity, the wall of the body cavity may be broken. Further, if the tip of the endoscope is adsorbed to the wall of the body cavity during suction, a high load state may be caused and the wall of the body cavity may be similarly broken. However, only by connecting the function expansion unit, the air supply and suction pressures are automatically controlled so as to have constant optimum values.

A block diagram of the third embodiment is shown in FIG. Endoscope body
The PH sensor 100 is provided outside the tip of the endoscope body 10 via the inside of the forceps channel of 10. The output of the PH sensor 100 is supplied to the PH measurement circuit 102 in the function expansion unit 14,
The output of the H measurement circuit 102 is input to the CPU 32 via the A / D converter 44, the I / O port 46, the bus line 50, and the bus line 38.
A still camera 60 is connected to the eyepiece of the endoscope body 10.
The still camera 60 has an imprint display unit 112, a CPU 104, and a ROM 10
6, RAM 108, I / O port 110, and bus line 114. I /
The O port 110 is connected to the I / O port 30 in the light source unit 12 via the cord in the endoscope body 10.

The operation of the third embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. After the power is turned on (step 700), it is determined whether the function expansion unit 14 is connected (step 70
5) Set a flag according to the judgment result (step 71
0), the same as the first embodiment until it is determined whether the flag is set (step 715). Step 7
When it is determined in 15 that the flag is set, the PH value is read from the PH measurement circuit 102 as shown in step 720. In the next step 725 the CPU 32 will P through I / O port 30.
The H value is transmitted to the still camera 60. In step 730, the PH value is displayed on the display unit 112 of the still camera 60. At this time, when a picture is taken, the PH value is imprinted with the image. After this, as shown in step 735, other functions of the light source unit are executed. After step 735, step 715 is executed again. If step 715 determines that the flag is not set, then step 735 is executed immediately.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the PH value in the body cavity can be measured and the PH value can be imprinted on the photograph by connecting the function expansion unit. In addition,
A temperature sensor and a pressure sensor may be provided instead of the PH sensor. Further, the measured value may be displayed on the display panel of the light source unit 12.

FIG. 8 shows a block diagram of a fourth embodiment of the present invention.
In this embodiment, band-shaped marks 118, ... Are printed at regular intervals on the outside of the insertion portion of the endoscope body 10. This mark 1
For example, the width of 18 becomes wider toward the rear end, and the insertion depth can be detected from the width. This mark is formed by a member having a high light reflection coefficient, here a light reflection coefficient different from the light reflection coefficient of the insertion portion. In this embodiment, when the function expansion unit 14 is connected, the endoscope body 10 is inserted into the human body via the reading device 120. The reading device 120 includes a through hole when the endoscope body 10 is inserted and a detector that detects the light reflectance of the surface of the endoscope body 10. The detection signal of the reading device 120 is supplied to the arithmetic circuit 122 in the function expansion unit 14, and the output of the arithmetic circuit 122 is sent to the CPU 32 via the A / D converter 44, the I / O port 46, the bus line 50, and the bus line 38. Entered in. Other configurations are similar to those of the third embodiment.

The operation of the fourth embodiment will be described. While the endoscope body 10 is being inserted into the human body, the width of the mark is detected by the reading device 120. The arithmetic circuit 122 obtains the insertion depth from this width, transmits it to the still camera 60, and performs the same operation as in the third embodiment. That is, instead of the PH value of the third embodiment, the insertion depth of the endoscope body 10 is imaged in the fourth embodiment.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and the connection detection method of the function expansion unit and the function of the function expansion unit can be variously changed.

〔The invention's effect〕

As described above, according to the present invention, there is provided an endoscope apparatus to which a function expansion unit can be connected and whose functions can be easily expanded.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a first embodiment of endoscope mounted values according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram showing a connection detecting method of a function expansion unit in the first embodiment, and FIG. 3 is a first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the second embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing the operation of the second embodiment, and FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing the operation of the third embodiment,
FIG. 8 is a block diagram of the fourth embodiment of the present invention. 10 …… Endoscope body 12 …… Light source unit 14 …… Function expansion unit 18 …… Monitor device 24 …… TV camera 26 …… Illumination lamp 28 …… Light intensity setting switch 32 …… CPU 34, 48 …… ROM 40 …… Driver 42 …… Luminance signal averaging circuit

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Shinji Hatta 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Inside Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. (56) Reference JP-A-57-44117 (JP, A) JP JP 59-17327 (JP, A) JP 58-195821 (JP, A) JP 58-67231 (JP, A) JP 53-13163 (JP, A) Actual development JP 59-112489 (JP , U) Japanese Patent Publication No. 54-37794 (JP, B2)

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A light source unit for generating illumination light to an endoscope main body, and program data for controlling at least one of a plurality of types of peripheral devices of the endoscope main body including the light source unit are stored and predetermined. Connector which is connectable to a function expansion unit having a storage means to which the address of is allocated, and a predetermined address which is provided to the light source unit and is allocated to the storage means. And a peripheral device control means for controlling the peripheral device based on the read program data when the program data can be read. 2. The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the peripheral device control means controls automatic dimming of the illumination light amount. 3. The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the peripheral device control means controls an air supply / suction pressure. 4. The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the peripheral device control means controls temperature measurement and temperature display. 5. The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the peripheral device control means controls pressure measurement and pressure display means. 6. The peripheral device control means measures PH value and PH.
The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the value display means is controlled.