JP4745833B2 - Electronic endoscope system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic endoscope system for performing medical treatment by projecting a treatment tool from a distal end portion while observing an image captured by an imaging element provided at the distal end portion of an endoscope inserted into a body cavity. About.

  In recent years, various electronic endoscope systems that detect the position of the distal end portion of an endoscope inserted into the body have been proposed. Among them, there is an electronic endoscope system using a magnetic field generator that generates a magnetic field by flowing an alternating current through a coil, and a magnetic field detection sensor that detects the magnetic field generated by the magnetic field generator using a coil or the like. . In the electronic endoscope system, the position of the distal end portion of the endoscope is detected based on the magnitude of the induced current generated by the magnetic field detection sensor disposed at the distal end of the insertion portion of the endoscope. The electronic endoscope system described above is disclosed in, for example, Patent Document 1 below.

JP 2001-145598 A

  In Patent Document 1, a magnetic field generated by a magnetic field generator arranged outside the body of a subject is distributed from the forceps port of an endoscope to the distal end portion of a treatment instrument inserted into a forceps conduit (forceps channel). An electronic endoscope system is disclosed that detects a bending form of an insertion portion of an endoscope by detecting a magnetic field detection sensor provided. According to this electronic endoscope system, the position / trajectory of the distal end portion of the endoscope can be detected.

  In a treatment using an endoscope, a lesioned part in the body may be treated with a treatment tool such as a forceps protruding from a forceps channel opening at the distal end of the endoscope. At this time, an image captured by the endoscope The treatment tool was moved and operated based on the above. In addition, for example, when a side endoscope is inserted into the duodenum through the stomach pylorus and the treatment tool protrudes from the distal end portion of the endoscope and is inserted into the fatter papilla, the captured image includes the treatment tool. The tip is not copied. Therefore, it has been desired to detect the relative position of the distal end portion of the treatment tool with respect to the distal end portion of the endoscope as distance information, for example, in addition to visual observation by an image.

  In view of the above circumstances, the present invention provides an electronic internal device capable of detecting a relative position between a distal end portion of a treatment instrument that can protrude at least from an endoscope distal end portion inserted into a body cavity and the endoscope distal end portion. An object is to provide an endoscope system.

  In order to solve the above problems, an electronic endoscope system according to claim 1 of the present invention has an image pickup device and a first magnetic field generator at a distal end portion, and the inside of a body cavity of a subject by the image pickup device. An endoscope that picks up an image of the above, a treatment tool that has a magnetic field detection sensor at the distal end, and is configured to protrude from the distal end of the endoscope via the forceps conduit of the endoscope, And a position detecting means for detecting the position of the distal end portion of the treatment tool with respect to the first magnetic field generator based on an induced current generated by the magnetic field detection sensor based on the magnetic field generated from the magnetic field generator. .

  According to the electronic endoscope system according to claim 2, the electronic endoscope system includes the second magnetic field generator disposed outside the body of the subject, and the first magnetic field generator includes a coil, and the second magnetic field generator While the magnetic field is generated from the generator, the magnetic field is not generated, the induced current is generated by the magnetic field generated from the second magnetic field generator, and the position detecting means is generated from the first magnetic field generator. Based on the induced current, the position of the first magnetic field generator relative to the second magnetic field generator can be further detected.

  According to the electronic endoscope system of claim 3, the magnetic field detection sensor is configured to generate a magnetic field generated from the second magnetic field generator while the magnetic field is generated from the second magnetic field generator. An induced current is generated, and the position detecting means detects the position of the distal end portion of the treatment tool with respect to the first magnetic field generator based on the induced current generated from the magnetic field detection sensor and the first magnetic field generator.

  The second magnetic field generator desirably generates a magnetic field in at least a first direction and a second direction orthogonal to each other.

  According to the electronic endoscope system according to claim 5, the first magnetic field generator and the second magnetic field generator switch the magnetic field generation source according to the switching means for switching the magnetic field generation source, and according to the switching of the magnetic field generation by the switching means. And a control means for selectively driving and controlling the first magnetic field generator and the second magnetic field generator. Specifically, the switching means is disposed so that the first magnetic field generator and a current supply means or a position detection means for supplying a current to the first magnetic field generator are alternatively connected. It is comprised so that a tristate buffer may be included (Claim 6).

  According to the electronic endoscope system of the seventh aspect, it is desirable that the electronic endoscope system has a notification unit that notifies information related to the position detected by the position detection unit. The notification means corresponds to, for example, display means for displaying information (claim 8). In the electronic endoscope system according to the ninth aspect, it is preferable that the notifying unit has a calculation unit that converts a result detected by the position detecting unit into distance information.

  From another viewpoint, the electronic endoscope system according to claim 10 is arranged around an endoscope that images the inside of the subject with an imaging device, and the subject into which the endoscope is inserted. A magnetic field generator, a first magnetic field detection sensor that is disposed at a distal end portion of the endoscope and detects a relative position of the distal end portion of the endoscope with respect to the magnetic field generator, and a forceps conduit from a forceps port of the endoscope From the magnetic field generator, a treatment tool that is inserted into the opening and protrudes from the opening, a second magnetic field detection sensor that is disposed at the distal end of the treatment instrument and detects the relative position of the distal end of the treatment tool with respect to the magnetic field generator, The relative position of the tip of the endoscope with respect to the magnetic field generator based on the magnitude of the induced current generated in the first magnetic field detection sensor by the generated magnetic field, and the second magnetic field detection sensor by the magnetic field generated from the magnetic field generator. Actions on the magnetic field generator based on the magnitude of the induced current The relative position of the distal end portion of the tool, characterized in that it has a relative position of the distal end portion of the endoscope, and detecting means for detecting each of the for the distal end portion of the treatment instrument based on the relative position.

  According to the present invention, the first magnetic field generator is disposed at the distal end portion of the endoscope, and the magnetic field detection sensor is disposed at the distal end portion of the treatment instrument. It becomes possible to detect the relative position of the tip. Further, if the first magnetic field generator is constituted by a coil and the second magnetic field generator is arranged outside the body of the subject, not only the magnetic field detection sensor but also the first magnetic field generator acts as the magnetic field detection sensor. be able to. Thereby, not only the relative position of the distal end portion of the treatment instrument with respect to the distal end portion of the endoscope but also the relative position of the distal end portion of the treatment instrument with respect to the second magnetic field generator or the distal end of the endoscope with respect to the second magnetic field generator It is also possible to detect the relative position of the part.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an electronic endoscope system according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a part of the electronic endoscope system 1 extracted in detail. The electronic endoscope system 1 is disposed around an endoscope 3 to be inserted into the body of the subject, a processor 5, and the subject into which the endoscope 3 is inserted, and is detachably connected to the processor 5. A second magnetic field generator 7 and a monitor 9 for displaying an image picked up by the endoscope 3.

  The endoscope 3 includes a light guide 11 for transmitting irradiation light from the processor 5 to the endoscope 3, a light distribution lens 13 for irradiating irradiation light emitted from the light guide distal end portion 11a into the body of the subject, An objective lens 15 that collects light from the body of the subject, an imaging element 17 such as a color CCD that images the inside of the subject via the objective lens 15, the forceps port 18 a, and the distal end portion of the endoscope 3. A forceps channel (forceps conduit) 18 having an opening 18b, a first magnetic field generator 19 disposed at the distal end portion of the endoscope 3, and a forceps port 18a are inserted into the forceps channel 18 and the distal end of the endoscope 3 is inserted. A treatment tool 20 such as forceps that projects from the opening 18b of the part and treats the lesion, and a magnetic field detection sensor 22 disposed in the vicinity of the distal end of the treatment tool 20. Hereinafter, the position of the first magnetic field generator 19 indicates the position of the distal end portion of the endoscope 3, and the position of the magnetic field detection sensor 22 indicates the position of the distal end portion of the treatment instrument 20.

  The first magnetic field generator 19 and the magnetic field detection sensor 22 are formed of a uniaxial coil. The first magnetic field generator 19 functions not only as a magnetic field generator but also as a magnetic field detection sensor under the control of the processor 5.

  The processor 5 uses a light source unit 21 that provides irradiation light to the endoscope 3, a system controller 23 that controls each processing unit of the processor 5, and a magnetic field detection sensor 22 disposed in the treatment tool 20. The changeover switch 25 operated when starting detection of the relative position between the distal end portion of the 20 and the distal end portion of the endoscope 3, the imaging timing of the imaging element 17, and the timing for reading the data recorded in the memory are controlled. The timing controller 27, an image sensor control / drive unit 29 that controls the image capture of the image sensor 17 based on the signal output from the timing controller 27, and the previous stage that performs A / D conversion or the like on the image signal captured by the image sensor 17 A magnetic field that supplies current to the image signal processing unit 31, the image memory 33, the position detection signal processing unit 35, the control calculation unit 37, and the second magnetic field generator 7. Raw drive circuit 41, a memory 43, subsequent image signal processing unit 45 for converting a signal output signal and from the image memory 33 that is output from the memory 43 into a signal for the monitor 9 displays.

  The second magnetic field generator 7 is installed around the subject in advance for performing endoscopic observation and endoscopic treatment. The second magnetic field generator 7 has three coils that generate magnetic fields in the X, Y, and Z directions orthogonal to each other. Then, an alternating current is caused to flow in each of the X, Y, and Z directions by passing an alternating current through each coil.

  Endoscopic observation and endoscopic treatment for a subject using the electronic endoscope system 1 are executed as follows.

  The system controller 23 drives and controls the light source unit 21 to illuminate the body cavity. Specifically, the light source unit 21 includes a light source 47 that is a lamp that emits white light, a substantially disc-shaped dimming diaphragm 49 that adjusts the amount of light output from the light source 47, a motor 51 that rotationally drives the dimming diaphragm 49, A motor drive / control unit 53 that drives / controls the motor 51, a light source power source 55 that supplies power to the light source 47, and a lens 57 that guides the light emitted from the light source 47 to the light guide incident end 11b. The white light incident on the light guide incident end 11 b illuminates the body cavity via the light guide 11 and the light distribution lens 13.

  The light reflected in the body cavity forms an optical image on the light receiving surface of the image sensor 17 via the objective lens 15. The image sensor 17 generates an image signal of each color corresponding to the optical image in synchronization with the drive signal from the image sensor control / drive unit 29 in synchronization with the timing signal transmitted from the timing controller 27. Are periodically transmitted to the preceding image signal processing unit 31.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the pre-stage image signal processing unit 31 includes a buffer 34d, a video filter 46, an A / D conversion unit 42d, and an insulating element 44a. The insulating element 44a electrically insulates the endoscope 3 side from the main body side of the electronic endoscope system so that the patient does not get an electric shock. In the insulating element 44a, since an electrical signal is converted into an optical signal, it can be electrically insulated. It should be noted that the same effect can be obtained with respect to the other insulating elements 44b to 44e described below.

  Image signals that have been subjected to processing such as A / D conversion by the pre-stage image signal processing unit 31 are sequentially stored in the image memory 33 as image data relating to each color. The stored image data corresponding to each color is output simultaneously to the subsequent image signal processing unit 45 in synchronization with the timing signal transmitted from the timing controller 27. The timing signal is transmitted corresponding to the cycle of the monitor 9, for example. The post-stage image signal processing unit 45 performs processing such as D / A conversion on the image data, and outputs it to the monitor 9 as a moving image.

  FIG. 3 shows an example of the screen of the monitor 9. The image data output from the post-stage image signal processing unit 45 is displayed as the main image 71 on the screen of the monitor 9, for example. While observing the main image 71, the surgeon specifies a lesioned part or performs a treatment such as collection of a living tissue using forceps. The above is an explanation of endoscopic observation and endoscopic treatment for a subject using the electronic endoscope system 1.

  Next, the position detection related to the treatment tool 20 which is the main feature of the present invention will be described in detail. The electronic endoscope system 1 according to the present embodiment detects the position of the treatment instrument 20 using the first magnetic field generator 19 (first mode), the first magnetic field generator 19 using the second magnetic field generator 7, and the treatment. It is comprised so that the position detection (2nd aspect) of the tool 20 can be performed.

  First, the position detection of the treatment tool 20 using the first magnetic field generator 19 will be described as a first aspect. In addition, switching of each said position detection process is performed when an operator operates the switch 25. FIG. When the operator operates the changeover switch 25, a signal instructing the position detection of the treatment tool 20 using the first magnetic field generator 19 is transmitted from the switch 25 to the system controller 23. When the signal is received, the system controller 23 drives the first magnetic field generator 19 via the position detection signal processing unit 35.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the position detection signal processing unit 35 includes a tristate buffer 36a, a tristate buffer 36b, a buffer 34c, a level detector 38a, a level detector 38c, a first magnetic field generator drive circuit 40, and an A / D. It has the conversion part 42a, the A / D conversion part 42c, the insulating element 44b, the insulating element 44c, the insulating element 44d, and the insulating element 44e.

  The tristate buffer 36a has an input terminal a, an input terminal b, and an output terminal c. The tristate buffer 36a has an input terminal (enable terminal) a connected to the system controller 23 (more precisely, an insulating element 44b), an input terminal b connected to the first magnetic field generator 19, and an output terminal c connected to the level detector 38a. Each is arranged to be connected.

  The tristate buffer 36b has an input terminal d, an input terminal e, and an output terminal f. The tristate buffer 36b has an input terminal (enable terminal) d for the system controller 23 (more precisely, an insulating element 44b), an input terminal e for the first magnetic field generator drive circuit 40, and an output terminal f for the first magnetic field generation. The container 19 is disposed so as to be connected to each other.

  When the system controller 23 receives a signal instructing the position detection of the treatment instrument 20 using the first magnetic field generator 19, the system controller 23 transmits an off control signal to the input terminal a of the tristate buffer 36a via the insulating element 44b. By this control signal, the tristate buffer 36a becomes high impedance. That is, the first magnetic field generator 19 and the level detector 38a are electrically disconnected.

  Further, the system controller 23 drives and controls the first magnetic field generator drive circuit 40 via the control calculation unit 37 and the insulating element 44d. Specifically, the first magnetic field generator drive circuit 40 supplies a certain level of alternating current to the first magnetic field generator 19 via the tristate buffer 36 b that is ON-controlled by the system controller 23.

  The first magnetic field generator 19 generates a magnetic field by being supplied with an alternating current from the pre-stage image signal processing unit 31. The magnetic field detection sensor 22 disposed at the distal end of the treatment instrument 20 generates an induced current by the magnetic field generated from the first magnetic field generator 19. The generated induced current is input to the level detector 38c via the buffer 34c. The level detector 38c generates and outputs a position detection signal corresponding to the induced current. The position detection signal output from the level detector 38c is A / D converted by the A / D converter 42c and received by the control arithmetic unit 37 via the insulating element 44e.

  Here, when the magnetic field generated by the first magnetic field generator 19 is at a certain level, the relative position between the magnetic field detection sensor 22 and the first magnetic field generator 19 and the magnitude of the induced current generated by the magnetic field detection sensor 22 are determined. Are correlated. Therefore, by measuring the magnitude of the induced current generated by the magnetic field detection sensor 22, the first magnetic field generator 19 (the distal end portion of the endoscope 3) and the magnetic field detection sensor 22 (the distal end portion of the treatment instrument 20) are relative to each other. The position can be detected.

  The control calculation unit 37 generates relative position information between the first magnetic field generator 19 and the magnetic field detection sensor 22 based on the position detection signal transmitted from the position detection signal processing unit 35. In the present embodiment, distance information between the first magnetic field generator 19 and the magnetic field detection sensor 22 is calculated as relative position information. The calculation result is converted into character information indicating the distance in the character information creation unit 39. The character information generated by the character information creation unit 39 is temporarily recorded in the memory 43. The character information recorded in the memory 43 is read out by the subsequent image signal processing unit 45 in synchronization with the timing signal transmitted from the timing controller 27 and output to the monitor 9.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the character information is displayed on the monitor 9 together with the main image 71 as distance information 72 from the distal end of the endoscope 3 to the distal end of the treatment instrument. As a result, the surgeon can clearly grasp how far the treatment tool 20 protrudes from the distal end of the endoscope 3, and thus can perform a treatment using the treatment tool quickly and accurately.

  Moreover, according to the first aspect, since the first magnetic field generator 19 and the magnetic field detection sensor 22 are both located in the body cavity, there is almost no shielding between them. Also, the distance between the two is much closer than when the magnetic field generating means is arranged outside the body. Therefore, the accuracy of the detected signal is high, and a highly reliable detection result can be obtained.

  Next, as a second mode, position detection of the first magnetic field generator 19 and the treatment tool 20 using the second magnetic field generator 7 will be described. When the operator operates the changeover switch 25 to detect the positions of the first magnetic field generator 19 and the treatment tool 20, the system controller 23 generates the second magnetic field via the arithmetic processing unit 37 and the magnetic field generator drive circuit 41. The position detection signal processing unit 35 is also driven and controlled.

  When the arithmetic processing unit 37 receives a predetermined control signal from the system controller 23, it supplies the alternating current via the magnetic field generator drive circuit 41 to drive the second magnetic field generator 7. Here, the magnetic field generator drive circuit 41 is configured to be able to supply an alternating current independently to each of the coils corresponding to the X, Y, and Z directions in the second magnetic field generator 7. Then, each time the control calculation unit 37 receives the predetermined control signal once, the second magnetic field generator 7 sequentially generates a magnetic field in a different direction once for each coil. Supply current. Even if the magnetic field is generated continuously, the deviation at the time of generation of each magnetic field is set to be very small, and can be regarded as substantially the same timing in practice.

  Further, the system controller 23 transmits an off control signal to the input terminal d of the tristate buffer 36b through the insulating element 44b. By this control signal, the tristate buffer 36b becomes high impedance. That is, the first magnetic field generator 19 and the first magnetic field generator drive circuit 40 are electrically disconnected. Thereby, the first magnetic field generator 19 functions as a magnetic field detection sensor.

  When a magnetic field is generated from the second magnetic field generator 7, the first magnetic field generator 19 generates an induced current under the influence of the magnetic field. The generated induced current is input to the level detector 38a through the tristate buffer 36a that is ON-controlled by the system controller 23. The level detector 38a generates and outputs a position detection signal corresponding to the induced current. The position detection signal output from the level detector 38a is A / D converted by the A / D conversion unit 42a and received by the control calculation unit 37 via the insulating element 44c.

  Here, when the magnetic fields in the X, Y, and Z directions generated by the second magnetic field generator 7 are at a certain level, the magnitude of the induced current generated by the first magnetic field generator 19 is as follows. And corresponding to the distance between the first magnetic field generator 19. That is, the relative positions of the second magnetic field generator 7 and the first magnetic field generator 19 can be detected by detecting the levels of the induced current when the magnetic fields are generated in the X, Y, and Z directions. Therefore, the control calculation unit 37 associates each direction of the magnetic field being generated with the level of the transmitted position detection signal, and the relative position information of the first magnetic field generator 19 with respect to the second magnetic field generator 7 (here, the first position information). Distance information between the two magnetic field generator 7 and the first magnetic field generator 19). That is, the distance information includes an induced current amount when generating a magnetic field in the X direction (distance information in the X direction), an induced current amount when generating a magnetic field in the Y direction (distance information in the Y direction), and when generating a magnetic field in the Z direction. It consists of the amount of induced current (distance information in the Z direction).

  The control calculation unit 37 stores the generated distance information in the memory 43. Specifically, the control calculation unit 37 converts each distance information in the X direction and the Y direction among the generated distance information into an address of the first image memory 43. Then, distance information in the Z direction is stored in the memory area specified by the address. The control calculation unit 37 executes the above-described series of processing every time it receives a control signal from the system controller 23.

  The post-stage image signal processing unit 45 generates an image related to the shape of the endoscope 3 (the trajectory of the distal end portion of the endoscope 3 entering the body cavity) based on the distance information read from the memory 43 in accordance with the timing signal. Specifically, the address of the memory area in which data is stored is converted into distance information in the X direction and the Y direction. A point specified by distance information in the X direction and the Y direction, that is, a position detection point is interpolated by, for example, a straight line. The interpolation process is performed with reference to the header information. The amount of data stored in the memory area, that is, distance information in the Z direction is converted into a luminance level at the position detection point. Thereby, a two-dimensional image relating to the shape of the endoscope specified by the X, Y, and Z directions is generated.

  The post-stage image signal processing unit 45 outputs the two-dimensional image generated by performing the above processing to the monitor 9. In FIG. 3, the two-dimensional image is displayed side by side with the main image 71 as a sub image 73. In the sub-image 73, the white dots are position detection points developed on two-dimensional coordinates corresponding to the X and Y directions with the origin as the position of the magnetic field generator 2. Each white dot is expressed as a luminance corresponding to distance information in the Z direction. Therefore, the surgeon can easily grasp the shape of the endoscope 3 by observing the sub-image 73.

  In the second aspect, it has been described that a two-dimensional image is displayed on the monitor 9 as the position detection result of the first magnetic field generator 19, but the electronic endoscope system according to the present invention is not limited to this. It is also possible to display the coordinate values in the X, Y and Z directions with the second magnetic field generator 7 as the origin, or the distances in the X, Y and Z directions with the second magnetic field generator 7 as a reference. It is.

  Further, in the second aspect, while the magnetic field is generated from the second magnetic field generator 7 and the first magnetic field generator 19 functions as the magnetic field detection sensor, the magnetic field detection sensor 22 is moved from the second magnetic field generator 7. The generated magnetic field is detected and an induced current is generated. However, the induced current is not used for position detection in the second embodiment.

  The above is the embodiment of the present invention. The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and can be modified in various ranges as exemplified below.

  For example, in the second aspect, it has been described that the induced current from the magnetic field detection sensor 22 is not used for position detection. However, the second magnetic field generator 7 is used as the magnetic field generator, and the magnetic field generated by the second magnetic field generator 7 is determined based on the respective induced currents obtained from the first magnetic field generator 19 and the magnetic field detection sensor 22. The deformation | transformation which calculates | requires a relative position with the magnetic field generator 7 with a coordinate value is also possible. In the case of the deformation, the relative position of the magnetic field detection sensor 22 with respect to the first magnetic field generator 19 can be calculated based on the relative positions of the first magnetic field generator 19 and the magnetic field detection sensor 22 with respect to the second magnetic field generator 7. It is.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, it demonstrated that the information regarding the various detected relative positions was displayed on the monitor 9 as character information. However, the means for notifying the surgeon of the relative position information is not limited to this. For example, means for notifying the distance by a sound generated by a sound generator may be used.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an electronic endoscope system according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an extracted part of the electronic endoscope system of FIG. FIG. 3 shows a monitor screen during operation of the electronic endoscope system.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Electronic endoscope system 3 Endoscope 5 Processor 7 2nd magnetic field generator 9 Monitor 17 Imaging element 18 Forceps channel 19 1st magnetic field generator 20 Treatment tool 21 Light source part 22 Magnetic field detection sensor 23 System controller 35 Position detection signal processing Unit 37 control calculation unit 39 character information creation unit 41 magnetic field generator drive circuit 43 memory 45 subsequent image signal processing unit

Claims (10)

An endoscope having an imaging element and a first magnetic field generator at a distal end, and imaging an image of a body cavity of a subject by the imaging element;
A treatment instrument having a magnetic field detection sensor at the distal end and configured to protrude from the distal end of the endoscope via a forceps conduit of the endoscope;
Position detecting means for detecting the position of the distal end portion of the treatment instrument relative to the first magnetic field generator based on an induced current generated by the magnetic field detection sensor based on the magnetic field generated from the first magnetic field generator; An electronic endoscope system comprising: The electronic endoscope system according to claim 1,
A second magnetic field generator disposed outside the subject's body;
The first magnetic field generator is formed of a coil, and does not generate a magnetic field while the magnetic field is generated from the second magnetic field generator, and an induced current is generated by the magnetic field generated from the second magnetic field generator. Is generated,
The position detecting means further detects the position of the first magnetic field generator with respect to the second magnetic field generator based on an induced current generated from the first magnetic field generator. Endoscopic system. The electronic endoscope system according to claim 2,
The magnetic field detection sensor generates an induced current by the magnetic field generated from the second magnetic field generator while the magnetic field is generated from the second magnetic field generator,
The position detecting means detects the position of the distal end portion of the treatment tool with respect to the first magnetic field generator based on an induced current generated from the magnetic field detection sensor and the first magnetic field generator. Electronic endoscope system. The electronic endoscope system according to claim 2 or claim 3,
The electronic endoscope system according to claim 2, wherein the second magnetic field generator generates a magnetic field in at least a first direction and a second direction orthogonal to each other. The electronic endoscope system according to any one of claims 2 to 4,
Switching means for switching a magnetic field generation source between the first magnetic field generator and the second magnetic field generator;
An electronic endoscope comprising: control means for selectively driving and controlling the first magnetic field generator and the second magnetic field generator in response to switching of magnetic field generation by the switching means. Mirror system.   The switching means is a tri-state arranged so that the first magnetic field generator and a current supply means for supplying a current to the first magnetic field generator or the position detecting means are alternatively connected. The electronic endoscope system according to claim 5, further comprising a buffer.   The electronic endoscope system according to claim 1, further comprising a notification unit that notifies information about the position detected by the position detection unit.   The electronic endoscope system according to claim 7, wherein the notification unit is a display unit that displays the information.   9. The electronic endoscope system according to claim 7, wherein the notification unit includes a calculation unit that converts a result detected by the position detection unit into distance information. An endoscope for imaging the inside of the subject's body with an image sensor;
A magnetic field generator disposed around a subject into which the endoscope is inserted;
A first magnetic field detection sensor disposed at a distal end portion of the endoscope and detecting a relative position of the distal end portion of the endoscope with respect to the magnetic field generator;
A treatment instrument inserted into the forceps conduit from the forceps opening of the endoscope and protruding from the opening;
A second magnetic field detection sensor disposed at a distal end portion of the treatment instrument and detecting a relative position of the distal end portion of the treatment instrument with respect to the magnetic field generator;
The relative position of the distal end portion of the endoscope with respect to the magnetic field generator based on the magnitude of the induced current generated in the first magnetic field detection sensor by the magnetic field generated from the magnetic field generator, the magnetic field generated from the magnetic field generator Based on the magnitude of the induced current generated by the second magnetic field detection sensor, the relative position of the distal end portion of the treatment instrument with respect to the magnetic field generator, the endoscope with respect to the distal end portion of the treatment instrument based on each relative position An electronic endoscope system comprising: a detecting unit that detects a relative position of each of the distal end portions of each of the two.

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