JP2009201555A - Endoscope apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To achieve air feeding processing with a desired amount of air feeding without complicated work for adjusting the amount of air feeding. <P>SOLUTION: When an adjustment button is operated to carry out pump adjusting processing, an endoscope apparatus determines the type of a video scope, drives a pump by a motor, and detects the amount of air feeding by a flowmeter (S101-S103). Then, the endoscope apparatus adjusts a rotating speed of the motor so that the detected amount of the air feeding is a reference amount of the air feeding (S104-S106). When the amount of the air feeding is equal to the reference amount of the air feeding, the endoscope apparatus stores the rotating speed of the motor at the moment by relating to the type of the video scope (S107). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an endoscope apparatus capable of supplying air to a distal end portion of a videoscope or a fiberscope and supplying water, and particularly relates to control of an air supply amount.

Inside the scope of the endoscope apparatus, there are provided a liquid such as water, an air supply for supplying compressed air, and a water supply pipe. Air supply and water supply processes are performed by the air supply mechanism. When a pump provided in the endoscope apparatus is operated, compressed air or cleaning water stored in a tank passes through the scope pipe and is discharged from the distal end of the scope. As a result, cleaning or removal of dirt on the lens provided at the distal end of the scope or dirt attached to the observation site is performed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP-A-8-106052

  The operation of the pump is not stable due to the operational characteristics of the motor, the instability of power supply, and the like, and it is difficult to supply air with a target air supply amount. At the manufacturing stage of the endoscope apparatus, it is necessary to connect the flow meter to the pipe to measure the actual air supply amount, and the operator adjusts the rotational speed of the pump motor while checking the air supply amount. In addition, the diameter of the videoscope varies depending on the observation target (upper digestive tract, lower digestive tract, bronchi, etc.). Therefore, even if the air supply amount is set to a predetermined value in advance, the air supply amount varies depending on the type of video scope to be connected.

  The endoscope apparatus of the present invention is an endoscope apparatus provided with a mechanism capable of automatically adjusting a pump, for example, an electronic endoscope provided with an air supply / water supply (including liquid other than water) processing mechanism. It is configured as a processor of a mirror device or a light source device of a fiberscope. And, the endoscope apparatus of the present invention is based on a pump for supplying air to a transport pipe through which a fluid is provided in a scope, an air supply amount setting means for setting a reference air supply amount, and a reference air supply amount, Pump driving means for driving the pump. The type of pump is arbitrary, and a centrifugal pump or the like may be applied. The pump drive means is constituted by an actuator such as a motor. For example, a feed pipe is connected between the pump and the transport pipe, and the air supplied by the pump passes through the transport pipe extending to the distal end of the scope and is discharged from the distal end of the scope. The air supply amount may be set according to an input operation such as a keyboard operation by an operator, or may be automatically set by a program.

  The endoscope apparatus according to the present invention includes a pump adjustment unit that adjusts the operation of the pump, and can automatically perform pump adjustment performed before the endoscope operation. The pump adjusting means includes a pump control means for controlling the operation of the pump so as to supply air at the reference air supply amount based on the air supply amount detected by the air supply amount detecting means, and a pump that satisfies the reference air supply amount. Drive parameter setting means for setting drive parameters. The air flow amount detection means such as an air flow meter may be connected to a flow pipe extending from the pump to the transport pipe by an operator, or may be installed in the middle of the flow pipe in the endoscope apparatus in advance.

  When the pump adjustment by the feedback control is performed, the drive parameter when the air supply amount is maintained at the reference air supply amount is set. For example, the drive parameter setting means stores drive parameters such as the rotational speed of the motor in the memory. When an endoscopic operation such as treatment is started and an air supply process is performed, the pump driving unit drives the pump based on the set drive parameter (according to the reference air supply amount).

  In addition to the air supply processing based on the determined air supply amount, the operator sets the air supply amount level as necessary, that is, the air supply amount setting button for setting the reference air supply amount. If provided, the drive parameters should be set according to the setting. Therefore, the air supply amount setting means sets the level of the reference air supply amount in accordance with the operation on the air supply amount setting button, and the pump drive means is configured to perform pumping based on the drive parameter corresponding to the set reference air supply level. Drive. Further, the scope diameter varies depending on the type of scope, that is, the observation target (upper digestive tract, lower digestive tract, etc.), and the diameter of the transport duct also varies depending on the scope type. For this reason, even if the air supply amount is set by a specific scope, the air supply amount changes if a different type of scope is used. Therefore, it is preferable to further include a scope discriminating unit that detects the type of the connected scope, and the drive parameter setting unit sets the drive parameter of the pump in association with the type of the scope. When performing an endoscopic operation, the pump driving means drives the pump based on the detected parameters according to the type of scope and the reference air supply amount.

  The pump adjustment device of the endoscope apparatus according to the present invention supplies air by an air supply amount detecting means for detecting a set reference air supply amount and an air supply amount detecting means for measuring an air supply amount of the gas flowing through the transport pipe. An air supply amount detecting means for detecting the amount, a pump control means for controlling the operation of the pump so as to supply air at the reference air supply amount based on the detected air supply amount, and a pump satisfying the reference air supply amount. Drive parameter setting means for setting a drive parameter is provided.

  The pump adjustment method of the endoscope apparatus of the present invention detects a reference air supply amount that is set, detects an air supply amount by an air supply amount detection means that measures the air supply amount of the gas flowing through the transport pipe, and detects The pump operation is controlled so that air is supplied at the reference air supply amount based on the supplied air supply amount, and a drive parameter of the pump that satisfies the reference air supply amount is set.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to realize an air supply process with a desired air supply amount without performing complicated adjustment of the air supply amount.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an electronic endoscope apparatus according to this embodiment.

  The electronic endoscope apparatus includes a video scope 10 and a processor 30, and a monitor 60 is connected to the processor 30. The video scope 10 differs depending on the observation target such as the lower digestive tract and the upper digestive tract, and the selected video scope 10 is detachably connected to the processor 30.

  The lamp 36 in the processor 30 is turned on by a drive signal from the lamp control unit 40. The light emitted from the lamp 36 enters the incident end 12A of the light guide 12 via the diaphragm 38 and a condenser lens (not shown). The light that has passed through the ride guide 12 exits from the exit end 12B of the ride guide 12, and irradiates the observation site via a light distribution lens (not shown).

  The light reflected at the observation site passes through an objective lens (not shown) and reaches the light receiving surface of the CCD 14, and a subject image is formed on the light receiving surface of the CCD 14. In the CCD 14, an image signal corresponding to the subject image is generated by photoelectric conversion, and is read out at predetermined time intervals by a drive signal from the CCD driver 20. According to the NTSC or PAL system, here, an image signal for one field is read from the CCD 14 every 1/60 (or 1/50) second.

  As the imaging method, a single-plate simultaneous type using an on-chip color filter is applied here, and cyan (Cy) yellow (Ye), magenta (Mg), and green (G) are formed on the light receiving surface of the CCD 14. Are arranged so as to face each pixel. Then, according to the interline type CCD 14, the image signal is read according to the color difference line sequential method.

  The read image signal is amplified by the amplifier circuit 16 provided in the connector 10 </ b> C of the video scope 10, and then sent to the initial signal processing circuit 18. The image signal is subjected to processing such as gain adjustment in the initial signal processing circuit 18, and then sent to the subsequent signal processing circuit 32 of the processor 30.

  In the post-processing circuit 32, various processes such as a white balance adjustment process and a gamma correction process are performed on the image signal to generate a video signal. The generated video signal is output to the monitor 60, whereby the observation image is displayed on the monitor 60. Further, the luminance signal generated in the post-processing circuit 32 is sent to the system control circuit 34.

  The system control circuit 24 of the video scope 10 controls the operation of the video scope 10 and outputs a control signal to a tying control circuit 22 that outputs a synchronization signal to the CCD driver 20. The EEPROM 26 stores data related to the type of the video scope 10 in advance, and is read out as necessary.

  On the other hand, a system control circuit 34 in the processor 30 including the CPU 33 and the RAM 35 controls the operation of the processor 30 and outputs a control signal to each circuit such as the lamp control unit 40. Further, in order to execute the automatic dimming process, the system control circuit 34 maintains the brightness of the subject image displayed on the monitor 60 at an appropriate brightness based on the luminance signal sent from the subsequent signal processing circuit 32. The diaphragm 38 is controlled so as to.

  Data can be transmitted between the system control circuit 34 and the system control circuit 24 of the video scope 10. When the video scope 10 is connected, data related to the type of the video scope 10 stored in the EEPROM 26 is stored in the system control circuit. 34.

  The pump 46 compresses the air sent from the air supply port 42 via the flow pipe 34A, and sends the compressed air to the tank 48 in which a liquid such as water is stored via the flow pipe 34B. The compressed air passes through the flow pipe 43C, the flow meter 44, and the flow pipe 43D, and is sent to the air / water pipe 15 that extends into the video scope 10. The compressed air that has passed through the air supply / water supply pipe 15 is discharged from the distal end of the video scope 10, thereby removing dirt on the lens or deposits on the observation site.

  As is conventionally known, a valve mechanism (not shown) for switching between air supply and water supply is configured below the operation button 17 provided in the operation unit of the video scope 10, and the operation button 17 is pressed. Then, the liquid in the tank 48 passes through the air supply / water supply pipe 15 and is discharged from the distal end of the scope by the compressed air.

  The centrifugal pump 46 is operated by the rotation of the motor 47. Here, the motor 47 is constituted by a DC motor, and the pump drive circuit 50 outputs a drive signal to the motor 47 based on a control signal from the system control circuit 34.

  On the front panel of the processor 30, a pump button 52 for operating the pump 32, an adjustment button 53 for adjusting the pump 32, and an air supply amount setting button 54 for setting and changing the air supply amount in three stages. And are provided. The air supply amount setting button 54 sets the air supply amount at three levels of low, medium, and high (in order of increasing air supply amount), and the detection signal is sent to the system control circuit 34 according to the operation of the air supply amount button 54. Sent to. When the pump button 52 is operated, the pump 32 is operated based on the set air supply amount, and air supply or water supply processing can be executed during endoscopic work such as surgery, treatment, and examination. . When the adjustment button 53 is operated, a pump adjustment process to be described later is executed.

  In a flow meter 44 such as an air flow meter, the amount of air flowing through the flow pipes 43C and 44D, that is, the air supply and water supply pipes 15, is measured, and the data of the air supply is converted into digital data by the A / D converter 52. Then, it is sent to the system control circuit 34. However, the air supply amount represents the flow rate of air flowing per unit time. The system control circuit 34 adjusts the operation of the pump 46, that is, adjusts the rotation speed of the motor 47 so that the detected air supply amount becomes equal to the set air supply amount while the pump adjustment processing is performed. To do.

  The pump data memory 39 stores the rotational speed data of the motor 47 set by the pump adjustment process in association with the type of the video scope 10. When the pump button 52 is operated, the system control circuit 34 determines from the rotational speed data stored in the pump data memory 39 the rotational speed corresponding to the type of the connected videoscope 10 and the set air supply amount. And the motor 47 is rotated based on the selected data.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart of the pump adjustment process executed by the system control circuit 34.

  In step S101, it is determined whether or not the adjustment button 53 has been operated in order to execute the pump adjustment process. If it is determined that the adjustment button 53 has been operated by the operator before the endoscopic operation is performed in order to adjust the operation of the pump 46, that is, to set the rotation speed of the motor 47, the process proceeds to step S102. In step S <b> 102, the type of the video scope 10 is determined based on the data regarding the type of the video scope 10 read from the EEPROM 26 of the video scope 10.

  In step S103, the air supply amount A0 is detected based on the level of the air supply amount set by the air supply amount button 54. Further, the pump 46 is driven by a motor 47. Here, a default rotation speed corresponding to the set air supply amount is stored in the ROM 35 in advance, and corresponding data is read from the ROM 35. In step S104, the air supply amount A measured by the flow meter 44 is detected. In step S105, it is determined whether or not the air supply amount A is equal to the set air supply amount (reference air supply amount).

  If it is determined in step S105 that the detected air supply amount A is not equal to the reference air supply amount A0, the process proceeds to step S106, and the rotation speed of the motor 47 of the pump 46 is changed. When the air supply amount A is larger than the reference air supply amount A0, a control signal is output to the pump drive circuit 50 so as to reduce the rotational speed of the motor 47, and conversely, the air supply amount A is smaller than the reference air supply amount A0. In this case, a control signal for increasing the rotation speed of the motor 47 is output.

  When step S106 is executed, the process returns to step S104, and steps S104 to S106 are repeatedly executed until the air supply amount A becomes equal to the reference air supply amount A0. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S105 that the air supply amount A is equal to the reference air supply amount A0, the process proceeds to step S107. During the adjustment of the air supply amount, data relating to the air supply such as the air supply amount is displayed on the monitor 60.

  In step S107, the rotational speed of the motor 47 in a state where the air supply amount A is equal to the reference air supply amount A0 is detected and stored in the pump data memory 39 in association with the video scope type. The rotational speed of the motor 47 is detected by an encoder (not shown) provided in the motor 47, and rotational speed data is sent to the system control circuit 34 via the pump drive circuit 50. The type of the video scope is represented by a model number, for example, and is stored together with the rotation speed. When step S107 is executed, the process proceeds to step S108.

  In step S108, it is determined whether or not the air supply level has been changed by operating the air supply button 54. The operator sets each of the three air supply levels in order and performs operation adjustment processing of the pump 46, and therefore, when the adjustment of one air supply level is completed, the air supply button 54 is operated. If it is determined in step S108 that the air supply button 54 has been operated, the process returns to step S103, and steps S103 to S107 are executed.

  When the pump adjustment process is executed for all the air supply levels, the process proceeds to step S109, and it is determined whether or not the adjustment button 53 has been operated again to stop the pump 46. If it is determined that the air / water supply button 54 has been operated, the pump adjustment process is terminated.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, when the adjustment button 53 is operated in order to perform the pump adjustment process before shipment, before the endoscope operation, the type of the video scope 10 is determined, and the pump 46 is It is driven by the motor 47 and the air supply amount is detected by the flow meter 44 (S101 to S103). Then, the rotational speed of the motor 47 is adjusted so that the detected air supply amount becomes the set reference air supply amount (S104 to S106). When the air supply amount becomes equal to the reference air supply amount, the rotational speed of the motor 47 at that time is stored in the pump data memory 39 in association with the type of the video scope 10 (S107).

  When the pump button 52 is operated to perform the air supply process in the endoscope operation, the rotation speed of the motor 47 corresponding to the video scope being used and the set reference air supply amount is stored in the pump data memory 39. The pump 46 is actuated based on the rotation speed. In this way, it is not necessary to adjust the operation of the pump 46 while visually observing the flow meter. Therefore, the pump adjustment is performed not only by an operator such as a manufacturer having expertise in an endoscope apparatus but also by an operator such as a doctor. It can be carried out.

  The air supply volume varies depending on the size of the videoscope's air supply and water pipe diameter. To maintain the same air supply volume for any videoscope, the smaller the videoscope, the higher the pump output, that is, the motor rotation. Need to increase speed. In the present embodiment, the rotational speed of the motor is stored in association with the video scope type even at the same air supply level. Then, when the endoscopic work is executed, the pump 46 is operated at the rotational speed of the motor corresponding to the video scope to be used. As a result, the rotation speed of the motor is adjusted for various types of videoscopes, and the air supply process with the same air supply amount is executed.

  The type of the motor is arbitrary, and the type of the pump may be a configuration other than the embodiment. Instead of the rotation speed of the motor, a drive parameter for changing the output characteristics of the pump, that is, the air supply amount is set. The flow meter 44 may be configured not to be provided inside the processor but to connect a portable flow meter to a flow pipe in the processor connected to the transport pipe of the videoscope. Moreover, you may apply the light source device used for a fiberscope instead of an electronic endoscope apparatus.

  In this embodiment, the air flow rate is adjusted according to the connected video scope, but a mode for setting the reference air flow rate is provided, and a dedicated video scope that requires air flow rate adjustment is connected, and the reference air flow rate is set. You may comprise so that it may set. In this case, for each scope type, a proportional coefficient in consideration of a difference in diameter may be stored in a memory in advance, and the reference air supply amount may be multiplied by a proportional coefficient suitable for the type of connected scope. . As a result, the amount of air supply can be appropriately adjusted for any type of videoscope by simply connecting one videoscope.

It is a block diagram of the electronic endoscope apparatus which is this embodiment. It is a flowchart of the pump adjustment process performed by a system control circuit.

Explanation of symbols

10 Videoscope 15 Air / water pipe (transport pipe)
30 Processor 34 System control circuit 39 Pump data memory 44 Flow meter (Air supply detection means)
46 Pump 47 Motor 50 Pump drive circuit 52 Pump button 53 Adjustment button 54 Air supply amount button (Air supply amount setting button)

Claims (5)

A pump for supplying air to a transport pipe for fluid passing through the scope;
An air supply amount setting means for setting a reference air supply amount;
Pump driving means for driving the pump based on a reference air supply amount;
A pump adjusting means for adjusting the operation of the pump;
The pump adjusting means is
Pump control means for controlling the operation of the pump so as to supply air at a reference air supply amount based on the air supply amount detected by the air supply amount detecting means for measuring the air supply amount of the gas flowing through the transport pipe; ,
Drive parameter setting means for setting a drive parameter of the pump that satisfies a reference air supply amount, and
The endoscope apparatus, wherein the pump driving means drives the pump based on a driving parameter. An air supply amount setting button for setting a reference air supply amount;
The air supply amount setting means sets a reference air supply level according to an operation on the air supply amount setting button,
The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pump driving unit drives the pump based on a drive parameter corresponding to a set reference air supply level. It further has a scope discrimination means for detecting the type of the connected scope,
The drive parameter setting means sets the drive parameter of the pump in association with the type of scope,
The endoscope apparatus, wherein the pump driving means drives the pump based on a drive parameter corresponding to the detected scope type and reference air supply amount. An air supply amount detecting means for detecting a set reference air supply amount;
An air supply amount detecting means for detecting an air supply amount by an air supply amount detecting means for measuring an air supply amount of the gas flowing through the transport pipe;
Pump control means for controlling the operation of the pump so as to supply air at a reference air supply amount based on the detected air supply amount;
And a drive parameter setting unit configured to set a drive parameter of the pump that satisfies a reference air supply amount. Detect the set reference air flow rate,
Detecting the air supply amount by an air supply amount detecting means for measuring the air supply amount of the gas flowing through the transport pipe,
Based on the detected air supply amount, control the operation of the pump so as to supply air at the reference air supply amount,
A pump adjustment method for an endoscope, wherein a drive parameter of the pump that satisfies a reference air supply amount is set.

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