Endoscope with high frequency accessory and reduced video interference

• US 5,056,503 A
• Filed: 02/28/1991
• Issued: 10/15/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/1983
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Olympus Optical Corporation Limited (Olympus Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Olympus Optical Corporation Limited (Olympus Corporation)
• Inventors: Nagasaki, Tatsuo, Fujimori, Hiroyoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): SHAY, DAVID M
• Application Number:
  US07/658,419
• Time in Patent Office: 229 Days
• Field of Search: 128/4-6, 606/34, 606/41, 606/42, 606/45, 606/46
• US Class Current: 600/110
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00179 for off-axis viewing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/05 characterised by the image sensor, e.g. camera, being in the distal end portion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/12 by passing a current through the tissue to be heated, e.g. high-frequency current
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1206 Generators therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0066 without feedback, i.e. open loop control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/555 for picking-up images in sites, inaccessible due to their dimensions or hazardous conditions, e.g. endoscopes or borescopes

Abstract

An endoscope incorporating a solid state image pickup element for picking-up optical images of an object under observation, and an accessory means having a high frequency oscillator, is able to perform imaging and an accessory function without mutual interference due to high frequency noise from the accessory means oscillator affecting the imaging signals. The output of high frequency oscillation in the accessory means is inhibited during a signal reading period of the image pickup element by a control pulse sychronized with the application of clock signals to the image pickup element.

Claims

1. An endoscope comprising:

an elongate insertion member insertable within a body cavity;

an image-forming optical system disposed at a tip of said insertion member, said image-forming optical system for forming an image of an object under observation on a focal plane thereof;

illuminating means for illuminating an object to be imaged within an image-forming range of said image-forming optical system;

a solid state optical image pickup having a plurality of photo-electrically converting receiver elements each arranged on a pickup plane coinciding with said focal plane of said image forming optical system, said solid state optical image pickup producing picture element signals corresponding to an image formed thereon;

driving circuit means connected with said solid state optical image pickup, said driving circuit means for applying clock signals to said solid state optical image pickup in order to read out said picture element signals during a reading period;

frame memory means connected with said solid state optical image pickup, said frame memory means for storing read out picture element signals;

television signal converter means connected with said frame memory means for reading out said picture element signals written in said frame memory means and for converting said read out picture element signals into video signals of a predetermined television signal format;

display means connected with said television signal converter means, said display means for displaying said video signals as a television picture on a display monitor;

accessory means for being locatable through said insertion member;

high frequency oscillation means for driving said accessory means, said high frequency oscillation means for producing high frequency components within a band when said pickup element signals are read out of said solid state optical image pickup;

gate means connected to said driving circuit means, said gate means for gating clock signals of said driving circuit means during a read out period of said solid state optical image pickup; and

control gate generator means for supplying high and low levels of control gate signals in repeated synchronization with a pickup function of said solid state optical image pickup, said control gate generator means being connected to said gate means and said high frequency oscillation means in order to inhibit an operation of said accessory means only during said reading period;

wherein said reading period is of shorter duration than each video frame period of said predetermined television signal format.

2. An endoscope according to claim 1 wherein said accessory means are a high frequency surgical knife insertable through a channel defined in said insertion member for inserting a medical instrument.

3. An endoscope according to claim 1 wherein said accessory means are DC-DC converter means installed in an operating means of said endoscope.

4. An endoscope according to claim 1 wherein said accessory means;

are ultrasonic diagnostic means provided with ultrasonic probes formed of ultrasonic vibrators emitting ultrasonic waves under application of high frequency pulses thereto, and disposed at the tip of said insertion member.

5. An endoscope according to claim 1 wherein said solid state optical image pickup is of a line transferring type and includes means for reducing a signal reading-out period thereof.

6. An endoscope according to claim 1 wherein said solid state optical image pickup is formed of a plurality of photo-electrically converting receiver element means arranged in plural regular horizontal rows for each storing electrical charge signals corresponding to incident illumination received thereon and transmitting said electrical charge signals successively horizontally therealong under application of said clock signals thereto, and a plurality of shift register means each in operable association with said rows of receiver elements and each having an output terminal, for reducing a reading-out period of said charge signals from said pickup by dividing the signal output of said pickup into plural channels each employing one of said plurality of shift registers.

7. An endoscope according to claim 1 wherein said control gate generator means includes means for outputting a low level control gate signal during which said accessory means is switched off and said solid state optical image pickup is read out during this low level signal.

8. An endoscope according to claim 1 including a synchronizing means for causing an operating period of said accessory means to coincide with a storage period of said solid state optical image pickup said storage period being when said solid state optical image pickup is under illumination by said illuminating means.