JP4648591B2 - Electronic endoscope and connecting cable - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an electronic endoscope apparatus that irradiates illumination light, images an observation site with an imaging device, and displays the image on an image display apparatus.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As shown in FIG. 5, the electronic endoscope apparatus is directly inserted into the body or the like, and the electronic endoscope 100 for photographing and treating the observation site, and the distal end 110A of the insertion portion 110 of the electronic endoscope main body 100B. A video signal processing device 200 for processing video captured by the image sensor 120 provided on the TV, and a TV monitor for displaying video captured by the electronic endoscope 100 and processed in the video signal processing device 200 (Image display device) 300 is generally configured. The video signal processing device 200 is provided with a video signal processing circuit 210 for processing a video signal and a light source unit 220 for supplying illumination light. For imaging of the observation site, light from the light source unit 220 provided in the video signal processing apparatus 200 is transmitted to the insertion unit distal end 110A of the electronic endoscope main body 100B through the light guide glass fiber bundle (LCB) 170. However, this is done by irradiating the body with this light. Between the video signal processing device 200 and the electronic endoscope main body 100B, a signal line 160 for transmitting a video signal and the like from the image sensor 120 and a light guide 170 are flexible tubular connection cables. It is communicated through the inside of a certain LCB tube (light guide cable) 150. One end of the LCB tube 150 is attached to the operation unit 130 of the electronic endoscope main body 100 </ b> B, and the other end is attached to the connector unit 140. Connection between the electronic endoscope 100 and the video signal processing apparatus 200 is performed by attaching the connector unit 140 to the video signal processing apparatus.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The appropriate length of the LCB tube 150 depends on the distance between the patient and the video signal processing apparatus 200. For example, in order to freely operate the electronic endoscope main body 100B regardless of the arrangement of the video signal processing apparatus 200, the LCB tube 150 having a sufficient length is necessary. On the other hand, if the length of the LCB tube 150 is long even though the distance between the video signal processing device 200 and the patient is short, the slack LCB tube lies on the floor and interferes with medical care and medical examinations.
[0004]
An object of the present invention is to obtain an electronic endoscope apparatus capable of adjusting the length of a connecting cable that communicates between the electronic endoscope and a video signal processing apparatus.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
An electronic endoscope apparatus according to the present invention includes an electronic endoscope main body having an elongated and flexible tubular insertion portion, a connecting cable connecting the electronic endoscope main body and the video signal processing device, and an insertion portion. Provided with a video signal processing device that performs signal processing of a video imaged by an imaging unit provided at the tip of the camera, and a winding mechanism that can wind up the connecting cable. Provided in the endoscope body, the connecting cable is provided with a signal line for connecting the imaging unit and the video signal processing device and a signal line for connecting the light source unit and the video signal processing device. It is a feature.
[0006]
The light source of the light source unit is preferably composed of, for example, a small LED that consumes less power and is provided at the distal end of the insertion unit. As a result, illumination light can be irradiated directly from the light source to the observation site, and a configuration for light transmission is not required at all. That is, the diameter of the electronic endoscope insertion portion can be easily reduced, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.
[0007]
The electronic endoscope apparatus includes, for example, a connector part that can be detachably attached to the video signal processing apparatus, and the connector part can process a video signal from the imaging part and can control driving of the imaging part. Is connected, and the connection cable and the video signal processing device are connected via this connector portion.
[0008]
The winding mechanism is preferably electrically shielded by the casing. Thereby, the influence of the external noise and radiation noise to a connection cable is suppressed.
[0009]
The winding mechanism preferably winds the connecting cable by fixing the tip of a ring obtained by folding the connecting cable in half to the winding shaft member and rotating the winding shaft member.
As a result, the connecting cable can be wound with a simple configuration.
[0010]
For example, the winding mechanism is formed as a winding device independent of the video signal processing device and the electronic endoscope main body. Further, the winding mechanism is formed integrally with the video signal processing device, for example.
[0011]
The electronic endoscope connecting cable winding mechanism according to the present invention communicates an electronic endoscope main body having an elongated and flexible tubular insertion portion, and the electronic endoscope main body and the video signal processing device. And a video signal processing device that performs signal processing of video captured by the imaging unit provided at the distal end of the insertion unit, and an illumination light source unit for video imaging is provided in the electronic endoscope main body. The connecting cable is used in an electronic endoscope apparatus in which a signal line for connecting the imaging unit and the video signal processing device and a signal line for connecting the light source unit and the video signal processing device are disposed. A winding mechanism that includes a winding shaft member that fixes the tip of a ring that is folded in two, and a shaft member rotating means that rotates the winding shaft member, Rotating the winding shaft member by the shaft member rotating means Ri is done.
[0012]
Furthermore, the video signal processing apparatus for an electronic endoscope of the present invention includes the above connecting cable winding mechanism.
[0013]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing a circuit configuration of the electronic endoscope apparatus according to the first embodiment.
[0014]
The electronic endoscope apparatus is generally composed of an electronic endoscope 10, a video signal processing device (processor) 20, and a TV monitor 30. The electronic endoscope 10 includes an electronic endoscope main body 10 </ b> B, a connection cable 15, and a connector portion 14. The electronic endoscope main body 10B includes an elongated and flexible tubular insertion portion 11 and an operation portion 13 for performing various operations of the electronic endoscope. The extension / contraction mechanism of the connecting cable 15 will be described later with reference to FIG.
[0015]
The electronic endoscope main body 10 </ b> B and the connector portion 14 are connected via a connection cable 15. One end of the connection cable 15 is connected to the operation unit 13 of the electronic endoscope main body 10, and the other end is connected to the connector unit 14. The connector unit 14 is detachably attached to the processor 20.
[0016]
An imaging unit 12 and a light source unit 40 are disposed at the distal end of the insertion unit 11. For example, a CCD is used as an imaging element for the imaging unit, and a plurality of white LEDs or RGB three primary colors LEDs are used for the light source unit 40 as light emitting elements.
[0017]
A signal processing circuit 18 is provided in the connector unit 14, and the signal processing circuit 18 is connected to a video signal processing circuit 21 in the processor 20. The CCD provided in the imaging unit 12 is connected to a signal processing circuit 18 in the connector unit 14 via a signal line 16 disposed through the electronic endoscope main body 10B and the connection cable 15. Thereby, the imaging unit 12 and the video signal processing circuit 21 of the processor 20 are electrically connected.
[0018]
The video signal from the imaging unit 12 is sampled and held by the signal processing circuit 18, subjected to processing such as color separation and white balance, and then output to the video signal processing circuit 21 as, for example, a luminance / color signal. In the video signal processing circuit 21, conventionally known blanking, clamping, enhancement, white balance, gamma correction, and the like are performed, and then encoded into, for example, a composite signal or RGB component signal, and the TV monitor 30 is connected via a video cable. Is output. On the other hand, a CCD drive signal or the like is output from the signal processing circuit 18 to the CCD of the imaging unit 12 and its drive is controlled.
[0019]
On the other hand, the LED provided in the light source unit 40 is an LED drive provided in the processor 20 via the signal line 17 arranged in the electronic endoscope main body 10B, the connecting cable 15, and the connector unit 14. Connected to circuit 22. The LED of the light source unit 40 is supplied with power from the LED drive circuit 22 via the signal line 17.
[0020]
FIG. 2 schematically shows a schematic configuration of a connection cable length adjusting mechanism applied in the electronic endoscope apparatus of the first embodiment.
[0021]
The vicinity of the central portion of the connecting cable 15 is attached to the connecting cable winding device 50.
That is, the connecting device 15 can be wound up to a required length by the winding device 50, and the length can be adjusted according to the distance between the patient and the processor, for example. The winding device 50 is covered with a casing 51, and the connection cable 15 is wound up by a winding shaft member 52 provided in the casing. The casing 51 or the winding device main body is made of, for example, a conductive member such as metal or a resin member coated with metal, and is grounded by a ground wire GND.
[0022]
FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of a winding mechanism of the connecting cable in the winding device 50.
[0023]
The winding shaft member 52 is disposed so that the rotation axis L is substantially perpendicular to both side surfaces of the casing 51. Pivots are provided at both ends of the take-up shaft member 52, and are rotatably supported by both side surfaces of the casing 51. Further, guide plates 53 formed in a flange shape perpendicular to the rotation axis L are provided at both ends of the winding shaft member 52. That is, the winding of the connecting cable 15 is performed while being guided by the guide plate 53. In the approximate center of the winding shaft member 52, for example, a saddle member 54 is provided. The connecting cable 15 is wound up by folding the connecting cable in half at the approximate center and hooking the tip of the ring on the saddle member 54. One pivot of the winding shaft member 52 is inserted to the outside of the casing 51, and one end of the lever 55 is attached to the tip of the pivot 51. A handle portion 56 is provided at the other end of the lever 55, and the operator can wind up the connecting cable 15 by grasping and rotating the handle portion 56.
[0024]
As described above, according to the first embodiment, the length of the connection cable can be adjusted by winding the connection cable as needed according to the use situation. That is, in the connection cable in this embodiment, since it is not necessary to arrange the light guide glass fiber bundle in the connection cable, the glass fiber bundle (through the connection cable like the LCB tube which is a conventional connection cable) ( In order to prevent the LCB) from breaking, it is not necessary to make the connecting cable (LCB tube) a multilayer resin tube structure and to form a mesh tube by flat coil sheath lamination. As a result, a cable that can be bent with a small radius of curvature like a normal signal cable can be used for the connecting cable of the present embodiment, so the winding device of the present embodiment is applied. Is possible.
[0025]
In addition, the connection cable winding device of the present embodiment is configured with a conductive member, a resin member with a metal coat, etc., and is electrically shielded, so that the influence of external noise, radiation noise, etc. is suppressed. can do.
[0026]
Next, an electronic endoscope apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 1, FIG. 3, and FIG. The electrical configuration of the second embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1, and the configuration of the winding device is different from the first embodiment. Only the parts different from the first embodiment will be described below. In addition, a new reference number is attached | subjected only to a different part from 1st Embodiment, and the same reference number is used for the structure similar to 1st Embodiment.
[0027]
Similar to the first embodiment, the electronic endoscope main body 10B is coupled to the connector unit 14 via a coupling cable, and the connector unit 14 is attached to the processor 20. In the first embodiment, the winding device 50 is provided as an independent device from the processor 20 and the electronic endoscope 10, but in the second embodiment, for example, as described in the first embodiment. A winding mechanism is provided in the processor 20.
[0028]
In 2nd Embodiment, winding device 50 'is arrange | positioned at the corner | angular part near the position where the connector part 14 is attached in processor 20', for example. That is, the configuration excluding the casing 51 of FIG. 3 is attached to one corner of the processor 20 ′. A pivot provided at one end of the take-up shaft member 52 is rotatably supported by being inserted through one side surface constituting the corner portion of the processor 20. A lever 55 is attached to the tip of the pivot, and the connecting cable 15 is wound by gripping the handle portion 56 and rotating the lever 55. The casing of the processor 20 ′ is formed of a conductive member such as a metal member and is grounded, and the wound connection cable is electrically shielded.
[0029]
As described above, also in the second embodiment, the same effect as in the first embodiment can be obtained. In the second embodiment, there is no need to separately provide the connection cable winding device 50 as in the first embodiment, so that a more compact connection cable winding mechanism can be provided.
[0030]
In the present embodiment, only the signal lines for the CCD and the LED of the light source unit provided in the imaging unit are illustrated as the signal lines disposed in the connection cable. In addition, signal lines for various operation switches provided in the operation unit may be provided.
[0031]
In this embodiment, the light source unit is provided at the distal end of the insertion unit of the electronic endoscope main body. For example, only the light source unit is provided in the operation unit of the electronic endoscope main body, and illumination light is transmitted by a light guide or the like. May be configured to transmit up to. In this embodiment, the LED drive circuit is provided in the processor. However, the LED drive circuit may be provided on the electronic endoscope side such as a connector unit.
[0032]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to obtain an electronic endoscope apparatus capable of adjusting the length of the connecting cable that communicates between the electronic endoscope and the video signal processing apparatus.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing a configuration of an electronic endoscope apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the outline of a connecting cable length adjusting mechanism in the first embodiment;
FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing a winding mechanism of a connecting cable winding device.
FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining an outline of a connecting cable length adjusting mechanism in a second embodiment;
FIG. 5 is a block diagram schematically showing a configuration of a conventional electronic endoscope apparatus.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Electronic endoscope 10B Electronic endoscope main body 12 Imaging part 15 Connection cable 16, 17 Signal line 20 Video signal processing apparatus 30 TV monitor 40 Light source part 50 Connection cable winding apparatus

Claims (10)

An electronic endoscope body having an elongated and flexible tubular insertion portion;
A video signal processing device that performs signal processing of video captured by an imaging unit provided at a distal end of the insertion unit;
A connecting cable connecting the electronic endoscope main body and the video signal processing device ;
And a take-up can be the take-up mechanism the previous Symbol connecting cable,
An illumination light source unit for photographing the video is provided in the electronic endoscope main body, the connection cable includes a signal line connecting the imaging unit and the video signal processing device, and the light source unit. An electronic endoscope apparatus comprising: a signal line that communicates with the video signal processing apparatus.   The electronic endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light source unit is provided at a distal end of the insertion unit.   The electronic endoscope device includes a connector unit that can be detachably attached to the video signal processing device, and the connector unit can process a video signal from the imaging unit, and drive the imaging unit. The electronic endoscope according to claim 1, wherein a signal processing circuit capable of outputting a signal for controlling the video signal is mounted, and the connection cable and the video signal processing device are connected via the connector unit. Mirror device.   The electronic endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a light source of the light source unit is configured by an LED.   The electronic endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the winding mechanism is electrically shielded by a casing.   The winding mechanism is characterized in that the connecting cable is wound by fixing a tip of a ring formed by folding the connecting cable in half to a winding shaft member and rotating the winding shaft member. The electronic endoscope apparatus according to 1.   The electronic endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the winding mechanism is formed as a winding apparatus independent of the video signal processing apparatus and the electronic endoscope main body.   The electronic endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the winding mechanism is formed integrally with the video signal processing apparatus. An electronic endoscope main body having an elongated and flexible tubular insertion portion, a video signal processing device for performing signal processing of a video photographed by an imaging portion provided at a distal end of the insertion portion, and the electronic internal A connection cable for connecting the endoscope main body and the video signal processing device, and an illumination light source unit for photographing the video is provided in the electronic endoscope main body, and the connection cable includes the imaging A winding mechanism used in an electronic endoscope apparatus in which a signal line that communicates with a video signal processing device and a signal line that communicates between the light source unit and the video signal processing device are disposed. And
A winding shaft member for fixing a tip of a ring formed by folding the connecting cable in half;
Shaft member rotating means for rotating the winding shaft member,
The connection cable winding mechanism of the electronic endoscope, wherein the winding of the connection cable is performed by rotating the winding shaft member by the shaft member rotating means.   A video signal processing apparatus for an electronic endoscope, comprising the connecting cable winding mechanism according to claim 9.

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