JP2007236598A - Processor and electronic endoscope system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a processor which performs image processing corresponding to an imaging region on images of a region outside a body cavity as well as of a region inside the body cavity. <P>SOLUTION: In the processor which converts color image signals acquired by an electronic endoscope to image signals suitable for a display device by an image processing means, the processor includes the image processing means, a selecting means which has at least one kind of mode of observing inside the body cavity relating to the observations of regions inside the body cavity of a subject and at least one kind of mode of observing outside the body cavity relating to the observations of regions outside the body cavity of the subject and selects one kind for each observation mode, a retaining means for retaining a reference value for image processing corresponding to each observation mode, and a control means which reads the reference value corresponding to the observation mode selected by the selecting means and controls to set the image processing means. The image processing means is configured to perform the prescribed image processing on captured images from the electronic endoscope based on the reference value set by the control means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a processor that converts a color image signal acquired by an electronic endoscope into a video signal suitable for an external device, and an electronic endoscope system including the processor.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, electronic endoscope systems are widely known and put into practical use for observing and treating a site in a body cavity of a subject. Such an electronic endoscope system includes, for example, an electronic endoscope (electronic scope) for imaging a body cavity, a processor that performs image processing on an imaging signal acquired by the electronic endoscope, and a processor that generates and processes the image. For example, a monitor for displaying the received video signal.

Various types of electronic endoscopes are produced and used according to the application, for example, which part of the stomach or duodenum is to be observed. Accordingly, the processor is configured to connect various types of electronic endoscopes interchangeably. For example, Patent Document 1 below discloses an example of an electronic endoscope system in which various types of electronic endoscopes are connected to a processor and living body observation can be performed using them.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-290778

  In recent years, the importance of health examinations including human dogs has been recognized as health consciousness has increased. In the health check, the above electronic endoscope system is used to observe a part inside the body cavity, and for example, an imaging system other than the electronic endoscope system is used to observe a part outside the body cavity. Was. In the text, the part in the body cavity is exemplified by organs such as stomach and duodenum. Examples of the part outside the body cavity include hair, body hair, skin, and the like.

  However, if a plurality of imaging systems including an electronic endoscope system are used in a space for performing the observation (for example, an examination room or the like), a space for arrangement is required or wiring is complicated. Various problems can occur. Therefore, it is desirable that each part inside and outside the body cavity can be observed with a single system.

  However, unlike other imaging apparatuses, the conventional electronic endoscope system is configured to perform image processing specialized for a part in a body cavity on a captured image. Therefore, in order to realize a system capable of observing each part inside and outside the body cavity, further improvement of the processor constituting the system has been required.

  Accordingly, in view of the above circumstances, the present invention provides a processor and an electronic endoscope system that can perform image processing corresponding to an imaging region, not only in a region in a body cavity but also in a region outside the body cavity. It is intended to provide.

  In order to solve the above problems, a processor according to the present invention includes a processor for converting a color image signal acquired by an electronic endoscope into a video signal suitable for a display device by an image processing unit, A selection means for selecting at least one of each of the observation modes, the body cavity observation mode relating to the observation of the body cavity of the examiner and the body cavity observation mode relating to the position outside the body cavity of the subject, respectively. Holding means for holding a reference value for image processing corresponding to each observation mode, and control means for controlling by reading out a reference value corresponding to the observation mode selected by the selection means from the holding means and setting it in the image processing means And the image processing means performs predetermined image processing on the captured image from the electronic endoscope based on the reference value set by the control means. .

  According to the processor, image processing corresponding to one type of observation mode selected by the selection unit can be performed on the captured image. Therefore, it is possible to always provide an image suitable for observation and diagnosis, regardless of whether the electronic endoscope is used to image any part inside or outside the body cavity.

  According to the processor of the second aspect, the observation mode related to hair is exemplified as the extracorporeal cavity observation mode. In this case, it is desirable that the holding means has a value that raises at least the contrast as compared with the other observation modes as a reference value corresponding to the observation mode regarding hair.

  Further, according to the processor of the fourth aspect, the observation mode related to the skin is exemplified as the extracorporeal body observation mode. In this case, it is desirable that the holding unit has a value that increases the resolution of at least yellow as compared with the other observation modes as the reference value corresponding to the observation mode regarding the skin.

  Further, it is desirable that the holding means has a value that increases the resolution of at least red as compared with the other observation modes as a reference value corresponding to the in-body cavity observation mode. Thereby, the image in a body cavity can also be displayed clearly.

  According to the processor of claim 7, the selection unit has the same number of switches as the types of the observation modes to which each observation mode is allocated, and each switch corresponds to each allocated observation mode. It is desirable to be configured to be identifiable. As a result, the burden on the operator is reduced, and a quicker operation is achieved. For example, each switch can be identified by color information reminiscent of an observation site imaged in each observation mode.

  According to the processor of the ninth aspect, the light source unit that emits light for illuminating the observation target is provided, and the control unit performs light emission control of the light source unit corresponding to the observation mode selected by the selection unit. It is desirable to do. In this way, not only image processing but also adjustment of the amount of light for illuminating the observation target and the illumination time makes it possible to generate an image more suitable for observation.

  From another point of view, an electronic endoscope system according to claim 10 includes a processor having the above characteristics and at least one type of electronic endoscope that is detachable from the processor. .

  According to the electronic endoscope system of claim 11, when there are a plurality of types of electronic endoscopes, the control means automatically performs control based on the unique information transmitted from the electronic endoscope connected to the processor. The observation mode can be selected. Further, the observation mode automatically selected by the control means can be further changed by the selection means (claim 12).

  According to the processor and the electronic endoscope system having the processor according to the present invention, it is preferable that the part is inside or outside the body cavity according to a plurality of observation modes corresponding to the part to be observed. Image processing can be performed. This expands the usage of the single processor and electronic endoscope system. As a result, the surgeon can obtain images suitable for observation, diagnosis, and the like for each part inside and outside the body cavity without using a plurality of imaging systems.

  Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings, the configuration and operation of the processor of the present embodiment and an electronic endoscope system including the processor will be described.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an electronic endoscope system 100 according to the present embodiment. The electronic endoscope system 100 includes a processor 10, an electronic endoscope 30, and a monitor 50. The electronic endoscope 30 includes a connector part 30a, a flexible tube 30b having an imaging system at the tip, and an operation part (gripping part) not shown. The electronic endoscope 30 is optically and electrically connected to the processor 30 via the connector portion 30a. The monitor 50 is connected to the processor 10 and appropriately displays predetermined information.

  Basic imaging processing using the electronic endoscope system 100 is performed as follows. First, an operator arranges the tip of the electronic endoscope 30 in advance, more specifically, the tip of the flexible tube 30b in the vicinity of the observation target. For example, when the observation target is a living tissue in a body cavity, the tip of the flexible tube 30b is inserted to a position in the body cavity of the subject.

  When the operator operates an operation unit (not shown) of the electronic endoscope 30 with the distal end of the flexible tube 30b positioned in the vicinity of the observation target, the processor 10 starts an imaging process.

  The processor 10 includes a system controller 1, a light source unit 2, a data memory 3, an image sensor driving unit 4, a timing controller 5, an image processing unit 6, a front panel / operation unit (hereinafter simply referred to as a front panel) 7, a front panel illumination unit. 8. An auxiliary memory 9 is provided.

  The system controller 1 controls the entire electronic endoscope system 100 as well as the processor 10. When receiving a signal related to the start of the imaging process via the connector unit 30 a of the electronic endoscope 30, the system controller 1 controls the light source unit 2 to emit light. The light source unit 2 includes a light source 21, a diaphragm 22, a diaphragm driving mechanism 23, and a condenser lens 24. When receiving a control signal from the system controller 1, light is emitted from the light source 21. In the present embodiment, the light source 21 uses a known white light source such as a metal halide lamp, a xenon lamp, a halogen lamp, or the like.

  The light emitted from the light source 21 enters the light guide 31 of the electronic endoscope 30, more specifically, the incident end 31 a of the light guide 31 through the diaphragm 22 and the condenser lens 24. The light guide 160 is an optical fiber bundle. Therefore, the incident light is transmitted through the light guide 31 and is emitted from the emission end 31b. The emitted light is irradiated from the tip of the flexible tube 30b through the light distribution lens 32, and illuminates the observation target.

  The reflected light from the illuminated observation object forms an optical image on the light receiving surface of the image sensor 34 via the objective lens 33. The image sensor 34 is driven and controlled by the image sensor driver 4 of the processor 10. Specifically, the image sensor drive unit 4 transmits a drive signal to the image sensor 34 at a predetermined timing defined by the timing controller 5 under the control of the system controller 1. The image sensor 34 generates an image signal of each color based on the optical image in synchronization with the drive signal transmitted from the image sensor drive unit 4 and periodically transmits it to the image processing unit 6 of the processor 10.

  The image processing unit 6 includes a pre-stage image signal processing unit 61, an image memory 62, and a post-stage image signal processing unit 63 in the order in which image signals are input. The pre-stage image signal processing unit 61 performs predetermined processing such as A / D conversion on the image signal so that an image suitable for each observation mode described later is generated. The predetermined processing includes, for example, gain adjustment and resolution adjustment for each color, white balance and black balance adjustment, gamma correction, enhancement processing, and the like. The image signal output from the pre-stage image signal processing unit 61 is sequentially stored in the image memory 62 as image data relating to each color. The stored image data corresponding to each color is simultaneously output to the subsequent image signal processing unit 63 in synchronization with the timing signal transmitted from the timing controller 5. The timing signal is transmitted corresponding to the cycle of the monitor 50, for example.

  The post-stage image signal processing unit 63 performs D / A conversion on the image data read from the image memory 62 and generates a video signal (video signal) that conforms to the standard of the monitor 50. When the monitor 50 receives the video signal output from the subsequent image signal processing unit 63, the monitor 50 displays an image corresponding to the signal.

  The electronic endoscope system 100 configured as described above has each observation mode suitable for observing each part inside and outside the body cavity. Note that there are at least two types of observation modes that can be executed by the processor 10, at least one type as an observation mode related to a region inside the body cavity, and at least one type as an observation mode related to a region outside the body cavity. The processor 10 according to the present embodiment, as an observation mode, in addition to an in-body cavity observation mode for observing a site inside a body cavity, a hair observation mode for observing hair outside the body cavity, particularly the outside of the body cavity and particularly for skin. Assume that there are three types of skin observation modes to observe. In addition, as a case where a plurality of observation modes relating to a part outside the body cavity are set, for example, a case where the observation mode is properly used depending on which organ the biological tissue to be observed exists in can be considered.

  The front panel 7 of the processor 10 is provided with a switch for selecting an observation mode for suitably imaging and observing different observation objects. Each switch is configured to be visually identified so that the operator can perform any operation quickly and accurately while using the endoscope. In the present embodiment, the front panel illumination unit 8 illuminates each switch with a different color.

  Note that the front panel illumination unit 8 is controlled by the system controller 1 that reads data related to illumination patterns from the data memory 3. The data memory 3 is, for example, an EEPROM. In addition to the data relating to the illumination pattern, the data memory 3 stores reference values necessary for image processing so that an image captured under each observation mode can best observe the observation target. Stored in an associated state.

  Specifically, the front panel illumination unit 8 is illuminated with light of a color that recalls the target site observed in the observation mode assigned to each switch. For example, the color is red for the body cavity observation mode, black or dark green for the hair observation mode, and yellow for the skin observation mode.

  Note that the configuration for visually identifying is achieved not only by color coding of illumination light but also by displaying character information representing an observation target on a display or the like. Moreover, even if it is color classification of illumination light, you may distinguish by colors other than the color which recalls the above observation objects. For example, the surgeon may set a favorite color using an external input means such as the front panel 7 or a keyboard.

  The surgeon operates a switch to which a desired observation mode is allocated among the illuminated switches as described above. When the system controller 1 receives a signal from the operated switch, the system controller 1 reads the reference value associated with the selected observation mode from the data memory 3. Then, the system controller 1 sets the reference value in the pre-stage image signal processing unit 61.

  Reference values set in the pre-stage image signal processing unit 61 will be described in detail. When the selected observation mode is the in-body cavity observation mode, the observation target inevitably becomes a biological tissue with a lot of red color. Therefore, the reference value associated with the in-vivo observation mode is set to a value that increases only the resolution of the red component of the image data, for example.

  When the selected observation mode is the hair observation mode, an image in which hair (for example, hair) appears on the background (for example, skin portion) is obtained. Therefore, the reference value associated with the hair observation mode is set to a value that enhances contrast or resets the black balance.

  When the selected observation mode is the skin observation mode, an image that appears abundantly from yellow to white is obtained. Accordingly, the reference value associated with the hair observation mode is set to a value that adjusts the gain of the color difference signal, increases the yellow resolution, or resets the white balance.

  Further, depending on the observation mode, it may be preferable to adjust the amount of light emitted from the distal end of the flexible tube 30b to illuminate the observation target. In particular, when shifting from the intra-body-cavity observation mode to any one of the observation modes related to the outside of the body cavity, or vice versa, light amount adjustment is required. Therefore, the system controller 1 adjusts the light emission amount by adjusting the aperture 22 via the aperture drive mechanism 23 or changing the amount of voltage applied to the light source 21 according to the selected observation mode. .

  As described above, the pre-stage image signal processing unit 61 is controlled by the system controller 1 so as to perform image processing optimal for the currently selected observation mode. The amount of light emitted from the light source 21 is also adjusted to an appropriate amount corresponding to the observation mode. Therefore, the image displayed on the monitor 50 is picked up with a light amount suitable for the observation mode selected by the operator and subjected to suitable image processing. Therefore, the surgeon can obtain an image suitable for observation of any part inside or outside the body cavity with one electronic endoscope system.

  The above is the embodiment of the present invention. The processor and the electronic endoscope system according to the present invention are not limited to the above-described embodiment, and for example, the following modifications can be performed.

  The above embodiment has been described on the assumption that only one electronic endoscope 30 is used. However, the processor according to the present invention can be modified to connect a plurality of electronic endoscopes. Thereby, for example, the surgeon can use the optimal electronic endoscope 30 depending on the difference in the observation site such as the site inside the body cavity and the site outside the body cavity. More specifically, the surgeon can use an electronic endoscope having a flexible tube with a reduced diameter in order to reduce the burden on the subject when observing a site in the body cavity. In addition, the operator can use an electronic endoscope having a flexible tube having a shape and size that can be easily operated by the operator for observing a site outside the body cavity.

  When adopting this modification, the system controller 1 reads the ID (for example, model name, model number, etc.) unique to the electronic endoscope 30 from the ROM 35 of the connected electronic endoscope 30 and specifications (for example, the imaging device method, Endoscope identification data such as the number of pixels and γ characteristics) is read out. Then, the system controller 1 automatically sets the optimum observation mode based on the identification data, that is, reads a reference value related to the observation mode suitable for the electronic endoscope 30 in the connected state from the data memory 3 to read out the light source unit. 2 and the pre-stage image signal processing unit 61 can be controlled.

  Further, the observation mode automatically set by the system controller 1 as described above can be further changed by the operator operating the front panel 7.

  In addition, the operator can arbitrarily set the reference value held in the data memory 3 of the above embodiment. When setting the reference value, the surgeon operates the reference value setting processing start switch of the front panel 7 or an external input device (not shown) and selects an observation mode for setting the reference value. With this operation, a setting instruction signal is transmitted to the system controller 1. When the instruction signal is received, the system controller 1 reads a sample image corresponding to the observation mode selected by the operator from the auxiliary memory 9 connected to the pre-stage image signal processing unit 61 and displays the sample image on the monitor 50. Here, the sample image is, for example, a captured image of an organ in the body cavity observation mode, and a captured image of hair in the hair observation mode.

  The surgeon operates the front panel 7 and external input means while referring to the image displayed on the monitor 50, and adjusts the image quality so that a preferable image is obtained. The system controller 1 compares the adjusted image with the sample image, and writes the comparison result in the data memory 3 as a new reference value.

It is the figure which showed roughly the external appearance of the electronic endoscope system of embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 System controller 2 Light source part 3 Data memory 6 Image processing part 61 Previous stage image signal processing part 7 Front panel 8 Front panel illumination part 9 Auxiliary memory 10 Processor 30 Electronic endoscope 34 Image pick-up element 35 ROM
50 monitor 100 electronic endoscope system

Claims (12)

In a processor for converting a color image signal acquired by an electronic endoscope into a video signal suitable for a display device by an image processing means,
Image processing means;
A selection means for selecting at least one of each of the observation modes, and having at least one type of in-body cavity observation mode for observing a part of the body cavity of the subject and an extra-body cavity observation mode for the external position of the body cavity of the subject; ,
Holding means for holding a reference value for image processing corresponding to each observation mode;
Control means for controlling by reading a reference value corresponding to the observation mode selected by the selection means from the holding means and setting it in the image processing means,
The processor, wherein the image processing means performs predetermined image processing on a captured image from the electronic endoscope based on the reference value set by the control means. The processor of claim 1, wherein
The processor according to claim 1, wherein the extracorporeal observation mode is an observation mode related to hair. The processor of claim 2, wherein
The processor is characterized in that the holding means has, as the reference value corresponding to the observation mode relating to the hair, a value that increases at least the contrast compared to other observation modes. The processor according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The extracorporeal cavity observation mode is an observation mode related to skin. The processor of claim 4, wherein
The processor is characterized in that the holding means has, as the reference value corresponding to the observation mode related to the skin, a value for increasing the resolution of at least yellow as compared with other observation modes. The processor according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The processor is characterized in that the holding means has, as the reference value corresponding to the in-body cavity observation mode, a value for increasing the resolution of at least red as compared with other observation modes. The processor according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
The selection means has the same number of switches as the type of the observation mode, to which each observation mode is assigned,
Each said switch is comprised so that identification is possible corresponding to the said observation mode allocated, respectively. The processor of claim 7, wherein
The processor is characterized in that each of the switches is identified by color information reminiscent of an observation site imaged in each of the allocated observation modes. The processor according to any one of claims 1 to 8,
A light source unit that emits light for illuminating the observation target;
The processor, wherein the control unit performs light emission control of the light source unit corresponding to the observation mode selected by the selection unit. A processor according to any one of claims 1 to 9,
An electronic endoscope system comprising: at least one type of electronic endoscope that is detachable from the processor. Having a plurality of types of the electronic endoscope,
11. The electronic endoscope system according to claim 10, wherein the control unit automatically selects an observation mode based on unique information transmitted from an electronic endoscope connected to the processor. The electronic endoscope system according to claim 11,
The electronic endoscope system according to claim 1, wherein the selection means is configured to further change the observation mode automatically selected by the control means.

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