Endoscope examination system for processing endoscope picture image

• US 5,622,528 A
• Filed: 11/23/1994
• Issued: 04/22/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Olympus Optical Corporation Limited (Olympus Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Olympus Optical Corporation Limited (Olympus Corporation)
• Inventors: Kaneko, Yasuyuki, Amano, Atsushi, Shoji, Hideyuki, Hamano, Masahiko, Inomata, Ken-ya, Oshima, Mutsumi, Takamizawa, Kazufumi, Nishikori, Toshiaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Apley, Richard J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Leubecker, John P.
• Application Number:
  US08/347,223
• Time in Patent Office: 881 Days
• Field of Search: 600/921, 600/101, 600/118, 348/65-76, 395/200, 395/500, 395/600, 395/650, 395/725
• US Class Current: 600/118
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/14 Digital output to display device ; Cooperation and interconnection of the display device with other functional units
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1423 controlling a plurality of local displays, e.g. CRT and flat panel display
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast

Abstract

An endoscope examination system of the present invention consisting of a centralized controlling apparatus, a plurality of auxiliary functioning apparatuses and a plurality of workstations. The centralized controlling apparatus comprises a computer which controls each of the auxiliary apparatuses or the like and a switching apparatus which controls a changeover of picture image information transmitted to the auxiliary functioning apparatuses. The plurality of auxiliary functioning apparatuses comprise a computer which exchanges control information with the computer of the centralized controlling apparatus and with the workstations, a switching apparatus which exchanges picture image information with the switching apparatus of the centralized controlling apparatus and with the workstations, and a VTR which records the picture image information. The workstations are provided with a computer which exchanges control information with the computer of the auxiliary functioning apparatuses or of the centralized controlling apparatus and a switching apparatus which exchanges picture image information with the switching apparatus of the auxiliary functioning apparatuses or of the centralized controlling apparatus.

Claims

1. An endoscope examination system comprising:

a plurality of endoscope systems including at least an endoscope body which is inserted into a cavity to obtain a picture image within the cavity as an electric signal, light-source means for supplying illuminating light to an endoscope in order to illuminate the interior of said cavity, a video processing means for processing a picture image signal from said endoscope to convert the picture image signal to a signal which is adequate for monitor observation, and a monitoring means for displaying the processed signal;

a switching means electrically connected to said plurality of endoscope systems, for enabling said picture image signal to be transmitted from any one of said endoscope systems to another of the remaining said endoscope systems;

a plurality of recording/processing means each provided within one of said endoscope systems for recording or processing said endoscope picture image, wherein each said recording/processing means performs a different function for each said endoscope system; and

control means electrically connected to said plurality of endoscope systems and said switching means for sending out an operation control signal to said plurality of endoscope systems and said switching means and enabling any one of said endoscope systems to control the recording/processing means of another one of said endoscope systems.

2. An endoscope examination system according to claim 1, wherein said control means includes input means for inputting the control signal into the respective systems.

3. An endoscope examination system according to claim 1, wherein one of said recording/processing means comprises a VTR.

4. An endoscope examination system according to claim 1, wherein one of said recording/processing means comprises a printer.

5. An endoscope examination system comprising:

a plurality of endoscope systems including at least an endoscope body which is inserted into a cavity to obtain a picture image within the cavity as an electric signal, light-source means for supplying illuminating light to an endoscope in order to illuminate the interior of said cavity, a video processing means for processing a picture image signal from said endoscope to convert the picture image signal to a signal which is adequate for monitor observation, and a monitoring means for displaying the processed signal;

a plurality of recording/processing means each provided within one of said endoscope systems for recording or processing said endoscope picture image, wherein each said recording/processing means performs a different function for each said endoscope system; and

control means electrically connected to said plurality of endoscope systems for sending out an operation control signal to said plurality of endoscope systems for enabling said picture image signal to be transmitted from any one of said endoscope systems to another one of said endoscope systems and enabling any one of said endoscope systems to control the recording/processing means of another one of said endoscope systems.