JPH07163517A - Stereoscopic endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] When performing surgery or treatment on the surgical site using an endoscope, it is possible to easily capture the depth sensation of the affected site or surgical tool, which facilitates surgery or treatment. To provide an endoscope. [Structure] A pair of left and right solid-state image pickup devices 9L and 9R, which are provided in the distal end configuration portion 3 of the endoscope, form left and right images of a subject O and output a video signal, and the left and right solid-state image pickup devices 9L and 9L.
A switch circuit 10 for switching the video signal from 9R in a predetermined cycle, a monitor 5 for displaying images by the left and right solid-state image pickup devices 9L, 9R switched by the switch circuit 10, and switching in synchronization with the switch circuit 10. The liquid crystal glasses 14 are alternately opened and closed corresponding to the left and right images displayed on the monitor 5, and are configured to obtain a stereoscopic image.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a stereoscopic endoscope for medical use and industrial use, which can obtain a stereoscopic image by utilizing left and right binocular parallax.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In medical and industrial electronic endoscopes, an objective optical system and a solid-state image pickup device are incorporated in the distal end portion of the insertion portion of the endoscope, and a solid-state image pickup device is used to obtain an image of a subject. The image signal from the solid-state image sensor is displayed on the monitor, and the observer observes the image displayed on the monitor.

However, the electronic endoscope constructed as described above is a two-dimensional image, and it is not possible to stereoscopically project and observe a subject. Therefore, when performing an operation while observing a diseased part as a subject with a medical electronic endoscope, the operator's experience level is required to capture the sense of depth of the diseased part and the surgical tool, and safety There is also a problem in terms of

On the other hand, as an image pickup apparatus capable of obtaining a stereoscopic image, a left and right image having a left and right binocular parallax of a subject is taken by a pair of optical systems, and the obtained images are viewed by the left and right eyes respectively. This is a technology known to be possible. This is a method in which two image pickup cameras are used as means for picking up an object and two left and right images having left and right binocular parallax are picked up by two objective optical systems and two photoelectric conversion means.

[0005]

However, the size, especially the outer diameter, of an endoscope which can be inserted into a body cavity or a narrow space such as a medical or industrial endoscope to observe the inside thereof, is particularly important. In a limited endoscope, it is difficult to incorporate two imaging cameras as a means for capturing an image.
The reality is that it has not been put to practical use.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and its purpose is to enable a stereoscopic view of a subject and to realize the miniaturization required for an endoscope. It is intended to provide a stereoscopic endoscope suitable as a medical or industrial endoscope.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is directed to one aspect of the invention, in which a left and right image of a subject is formed on a distal end portion of an endoscope and a video signal is output. A pair of left and right imaging means, a video signal switching means for switching the video signals from the left and right imaging means in a predetermined cycle, and a monitor for displaying an image by the left and right imaging means switched by the video signal switching means, And a shutter which is switched in synchronization with the video signal switching means and which is alternately opened and closed in correspondence with the left and right images displayed on the monitor.

The image pickup means includes a pair of left and right objective optical systems provided at the distal end portion of the endoscope, a mirror having two reflecting surfaces for reflecting image light rays from the objective optical system, and reflection of the mirrors. The solid-state image pickup device forms an image light beam reflected from the surface. Further, the video signal switching means is a switch circuit that can be switched at high speed, and the shutter is liquid crystal glasses.

Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a pair of left and right objective optical systems that are provided at the distal end portion of the endoscope to form left and right images of a subject and output a video signal, and to provide on the optical paths of these objective optical systems. A left and right shutter that alternately opens and closes, a single fixed image sensor that is provided on the optical path of the pair of left and right objective optical systems and that alternately images the left and right images, and a monitor that displays the image from this image sensor. , A shutter which is switched in synchronization with the shutter and which is alternately opened and closed corresponding to the left and right images displayed on the monitor.

Therefore, the operator can easily grasp the sense of depth of the affected part or the surgical tool when performing the operation or the operation of the operation part while observing the stereoscopic image displayed on the monitor, and the operation or the operation is easy. Becomes

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 and 2 show a first embodiment. Figure 2
Shows the whole stereoscopic endoscope, 1 is an endoscope main body, this endoscope main body 1 is provided with an insertion portion 2, and the tip end portion of this insertion portion 2 is provided with a tip forming portion 3. ing. Further, a monitor 5 as a display device is connected to the endoscope body 1 via a cable 4.

As shown in FIG. 1, the tip forming section 3 is formed in a cylindrical shape, and a front end surface thereof is provided with a pair of left and right objective optical systems 6L and 6R facing the object O and corresponding to the left and right eyes. Has been. Behind the objective optical systems 6L and 6R, one mirror 7 is provided substantially in the center of the tip forming portion 3. The mirror 7 has a reflecting surface 8L for reflecting the object image of the left objective optical system 6L and a right side. A reflecting surface 8R for reflecting the subject image of the objective optical system 6R is provided, and the mirror 7 is formed in a substantially triangular prism shape.

Left and right solid-state image pickup devices 9L and 9R as image pickup means are provided on the inner side wall of the tip forming portion 3 facing the reflection optical paths of the reflection surfaces 8L and 8R of the mirror 7, and the reflection surfaces 8L and 8R.
The image light beam reflected from 8R is imaged.

The left and right solid-state image pickup devices 9L and 9R convert the image light beam into an electric signal, and this video signal is inputted to a first switch circuit 10 as a video signal switching means. The first switch circuit 10 has a high-speed cycle (for example, 60H).
z), the video signal from the left solid-state image sensor 9L and the video signal from the right solid-state image sensor 9L are switched to monitor 5
The monitor 5 alternately displays the left-side image and the right-side image at high speed.

Further, the first switch circuit 10 is connected to the liquid crystal glasses 1 as a shutter via the second switch circuit 12.
3, the second switch circuit 12 is configured to perform switching operation in synchronization with the switching cycle of the first switch circuit 10. That is, when the left side image is displayed on the monitor 5, only the left eye side is opened so that only the left eye can recognize it, and conversely, when the right side image is displayed on the monitor 5, only the right eye side is seen through. It is opened as much as possible and recognized only by the right eye.

Therefore, when the operator puts on the liquid crystal glasses 13 and looks at the image displayed on the monitor 5, the image is recognized with a stereoscopic effect. Therefore, for example, surgery is performed while observing a subject O such as a surgical site such as a diseased part in a body cavity.
When the treatment is performed, the sense of depth of the subject O can be clearly recognized, the surgery and the treatment can be facilitated, and the safety can be improved.

FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment, and the same components as those in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals. A pair of left and right objective optical systems 6L and 6R facing the subject O and corresponding to the left and right eyes are provided on the front end surface of the distal end forming portion 3 of the endoscope body 1. Shutters 14L and 14R that open and close the optical path are provided at the rear of the objective optical systems 6L and 6R.
L and 14R are driven by actuators 15L and 15R as a shutter drive mechanism.

Behind the shutters 14L and 14R, one solid-state image pickup device 16 as an image pickup device facing the objective optical systems 6L and 6R is provided at a substantially central portion of the tip forming section 3.
Image light rays from the objective optical systems 6L and 6R are alternately formed.

The solid-state image sensor 16 converts an image light beam into an electric signal, and this video signal is input to the first switch circuit 10 as a video signal switching means. The first switch circuit 10 includes a video signal from the left objective optical system 6L and a right objective optical system 6R at a high-speed cycle (for example, 60 Hz).
The image signal on the left side and the image on the right side are alternately switched and displayed at high speed on the monitor 5.

The first switch circuit 10 is connected to the actuators 15L and 15R via the shutter drive circuit 17. Then, a drive signal is input to the shutter drive circuit 17 in synchronization with the switching cycle of the first switch circuit 10 to operate the actuators 15L and 15R. That is, when the shutter 14L is opened by the actuator 15L, the image light beam only on the left side of the subject O is imaged on the solid-state imaging device 16 via the objective optical system 6L, and conversely, when the shutter 14R is opened by the actuator 15R. The image light beam only on the right side of O passes through the objective optical system 6R and the solid-state imaging device 1
Imaged at 6.

Further, as in the first embodiment, the first switch circuit 10 is connected to the liquid crystal glasses 13 as a shutter via the second switch circuit 12, and the second switch circuit 12 is the first switch. The switching operation is performed in synchronization with the switching cycle of the circuit 10. That is, when the left side image is displayed on the monitor 5, only the left eye side is opened so that only the left eye can recognize it, and conversely, when the right side image is displayed on the monitor 5, only the right eye side is seen through. It is opened as much as possible and recognized only by the right eye.

Therefore, when the operator wears the liquid crystal glasses 13 and looks at the image displayed on the monitor 5, the image is recognized with a stereoscopic effect. Therefore, for example, surgery is performed while observing a subject O such as a surgical site such as a diseased part in a body cavity.
When the treatment is performed, the sense of depth of the subject O can be clearly recognized, the surgery and the treatment can be facilitated, and the safety can be improved.

With this structure, a mirror is not necessary, and right and left images can be alternately obtained by one solid-state image pickup element, and the diameter of the tip forming portion can be reduced.

FIG. 4 shows a modification of the second embodiment, in which the same components are designated by the same reference numerals and their description is omitted. On the front end surface of the distal end forming portion 3 of the endoscope body 1, one objective optical system 18 that faces the object O and collimates the incident light into parallel rays is provided. At the rear of the objective optical system 18, a micro array lens 19 with a shutter is provided.

This shutter-equipped microarray lens 1
Reference numeral 9 denotes a plurality of condenser lenses 21 supported by the lens holder 20, and a shutter 2 facing each condenser lens 21.
2 and. Then, two adjacent condensing lenses 21 and two shutters 22 are set as one set, and the shutters 22 are alternately opened and closed so that the parallel light beams from the objective optical system 18 are condensed by the condensing lens 21 to form a microarray lens with a shutter. An image is formed on one solid-state image pickup device 16 provided behind 19.

That is, when the position of the object O is biased to the right, the two condenser lenses 21 and the two shutters 22 in the right area 19R of the microarray lens 19 with shutter are selected, and the position of the object O is biased to the left. When the shutter is on, the two condenser lenses 21 and the two shutters 22 in the left area 19L of the microarray lens 19 with shutter are selected. A pair of two condenser lenses 21 and two shutters 22 correspond to the left and right eyes, and by alternately opening and closing the shutters 22, image light rays from the objective optical system 18 are alternately arranged. 16
Is imaged.

The solid-state image pickup device 16 converts the image light beam into an electric signal, and this video signal is inputted to the first switch circuit 10 as a video signal switching means. The first switch circuit 10 switches the left-side video signal and the right-side video signal by the objective optical system 18 at a high-speed cycle (for example, 60 Hz) and outputs the video signal to the monitor 5.
The image on the left and the image on the right are alternately switched and displayed at high speed.

The first switch circuit 10 is connected to the shutter drive mechanism 24 via the shutter drive circuit 23. Then, a drive signal is input to the shutter drive circuit 23 in synchronization with the switching cycle by the first switch circuit 10 to operate the shutter drive mechanism 24. That is, the shutter 2 is driven by the shutter drive mechanism 24.
By opening 2 alternately, the image light beam of the subject O is imaged on the solid-state imaging device 16 via the objective optical system 18.

Further, as in the first embodiment, the first switch circuit 10 is connected to the liquid crystal glasses 13 as a shutter via the second switch circuit 12, and the second switch circuit 12 is the first switch. The switching operation is performed in synchronization with the switching cycle of the circuit 10. That is, when the left side image is displayed on the monitor 5, only the left eye side is opened so that only the left eye can recognize it, and conversely, when the right side image is displayed on the monitor 5, only the right eye side is seen through. It is opened as much as possible and recognized only by the right eye.

Therefore, when the operator puts on the liquid crystal glasses 13 and looks at the image displayed on the monitor 5, the image is recognized with a stereoscopic effect. Therefore, for example, surgery is performed while observing a subject O such as a surgical site such as a diseased part in a body cavity.
When the treatment is performed, the sense of depth of the subject O can be clearly recognized, the surgery and the treatment can be facilitated, and the safety can be improved.

With this configuration, a wide field of view can be observed without moving the distal end forming portion 3 of the endoscope body 1 to the left and right, and the operation of the endoscope becomes easy. Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment. That is, by arbitrarily and selectively combining the constituent elements of each of the above-described embodiments, it is possible to configure a device having a function equivalent to or different from that of each of the embodiments. Therefore,
An embodiment in which the constituent elements of the above embodiments are arbitrarily and selectively combined may be a new embodiment.

[0032]

As described above, according to the present invention, the video signals from the pair of left and right image pickup means provided in the distal end portion of the endoscope are switched at a predetermined cycle, and the left and right image pickup means are switched. A three-dimensional image can be obtained by displaying an image on the monitor and alternately opening and closing the shutters corresponding to the left and right images displayed on the monitor in synchronization with the switching of the video signal.

Therefore, when performing surgery or treatment on the surgical site using the endoscope, the sense of depth of the affected area or the surgical tool can be easily captured, and the surgery or procedure is facilitated. Another aspect of the invention is to provide a pair of left and right objective optical systems provided at the distal end portion of the endoscope with shutters that are opened and closed alternately on the left and right sides, and form left and right images on the light paths periodically. There is provided a single fixed image pickup device. Therefore, in addition to the effects described above, only one solid-state image sensor is required, and the diameter of the distal end constituent portion of the endoscope can be reduced, and the patient's pain can be reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a stereoscopic endoscope according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view showing the entire stereoscopic endoscope according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a stereoscopic endoscope according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of a stereoscopic endoscope showing a modified example of the same embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 3 ... Tip configuration part 5 ... Monitor 6L, 6R ... Objective optical system 7 ... Mirror 8L, 8R ... Reflecting surface 10 ... Switch circuit (video signal switching means) 13 ... Liquid crystal glasses (shutter)

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Hironobu Kobana 33, Shinisogo-cho, Isogo-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A pair of left and right image pickup means which is provided at a distal end portion of an endoscope and forms a left and right image of a subject to output a video signal, and video signals from the left and right image pickup means at a predetermined cycle. Corresponding to the video signal switching means for switching, a monitor for displaying the image by the left and right imaging means switched by the video signal switching means, and the left and right images switched in synchronization with the video signal switching means and displayed on the monitor. And a shutter that alternately opens and closes. 2. The image pickup means comprises a pair of left and right objective optical systems provided at a distal end portion of an endoscope, a mirror having two reflecting surfaces for reflecting image light rays from the objective optical system, and the mirror. 2. The stereoscopic endoscope according to claim 1, further comprising a solid-state image pickup device that forms an image light beam reflected from the reflection surface of the solid-state image pickup device. 3. The video signal switching means is a switch circuit capable of switching at high speed.
The stereoscopic endoscope described. 4. The stereoscopic endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the shutter is liquid crystal glasses. 5. A pair of left and right objective optical systems, which are provided at the distal end portion of the endoscope to form left and right images of a subject and output a video signal, and left and right alternately provided on the optical paths of these objective optical systems. A shutter that opens and closes, a single fixed image pickup device that is provided on the optical path of the pair of left and right objective optical systems and alternately forms left and right images, a monitor that displays images from the image pickup device, and the shutter. A stereoscopic endoscope, comprising: a shutter that is switched in synchronism and that alternately opens and closes corresponding to left and right images displayed on the monitor.