Endoscope system with centralized control of associated peripheral equipment

• US 5,627,584 A
• Filed: 10/19/1994
• Issued: 05/06/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/1991
• 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, Oshima, Mutsumi, Shoji, Hideyuki, Takamizawa, Kazufumi, Hamano, Masahiko, Nishikori, Toshiaki, Inomata, Ken-ya
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Tommy P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): RAO, ANAND SHASHIKANT
• Application Number:
  US08/325,628
• Time in Patent Office: 930 Days
• Field of Search: 348/77, 348/75, 348/74, 348/65, 348/76, 128/6, 600/102, 600/118
• US Class Current: 348/72
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/123 using washing machines
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00362 Packages or dispensers for MIS instruments A61B2017/0479 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2050/002 having adhesive means, e.g. an adhesive strip
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2050/0056 about a lateral axis in the lid plane
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2050/0067 Types of closures or fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2050/311 Cases
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2050/314 Flexible bags or pouches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/13 Trolleys, e.g. carts
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/20 Holders specially adapted for surgical or diagnostic appliances or instruments drapes with means to hold surgical instruments A61B46/23; for catheters A61M25/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/22 Racks
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/24 Stands Mayo stands A61B50/15
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/30 Containers specially adapted for packaging, protecting, dispensing, collecting or disposing of surgical or diagnostic appliances or instruments for wound clamps A61B17/10; for ligaturing clips A61B17/122; packages or dispensers for surgical gloves or finger-stalls A61B42/40
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/31 Carrying cases or bags, e.g. doctors' bags
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/33 Trays
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/36 for collecting or disposing of used articles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/50 Supports for surgical instruments, e.g. articulated arms

Abstract

An endoscope system has an endoscope equipped with an imaging unit, and a plurality of peripheral equipment used in conjunction with the endoscope; such as, a light source for supplying illumination light to the endoscope and a video signal processor for processing a video signal originating from the endoscope, comprising a centralized operation unit for operating at least the light source and video signal processor and a centralized control for centralizing control of the light source and video signal processor based on a command sent from the centralized operation unit.

Claims

1. An endoscope system including an endoscope, a light source for supplying illuminating light to said endoscope, and a video signal processor for processing an image signal obtained by said endoscope, said endoscope system comprising:

an electric treatment device combined with said endoscope for performing electric treatment;

a centralized operation computer including a display for operating at least one of peripheral equipment including said light source, said video signal processor and said electric treatment device, said centralized operation computer having a touch panel serving as an input means on the display, and outputting a command for operating at least one of said peripheral equipment by touching a given area on said touch panel; and

a control computer connected to said light source, and said video signal processor, said electric treatment device, and said centralized operation computer via interfaces and providing centralized control for said light source, said video signal processor and said electric treatment device based on a command from said centralized operation computer,

wherein either one of said centralized operation computer and said control computer can set an area on said touch panel, and

wherein said centralized operation computer and said control computer monitor each other such that a graphical display of an operation panel of said peripheral equipment appearing on the display does not deviate from a touched state of said touch panel sensed by said control computer.

2. An endoscope system according to claim 1, wherein said endoscope is provided with a solid-state imaging device which is located at an image forming position of an objective optical system installed at a distal end of an insertion tube.

3. An endoscope system according to claim 1, wherein said endoscope is provided with a TV camera which is installed on an external side of an eyepiece to be freely detachable.

4. An endoscope system according to claim 1, wherein said centralized control means has such control modes as a fiberscope light source control mode and an electronic endoscopic light source control mode.

5. An endoscope system according to claim 1, wherein said centralized control means has such control modes as a light source control mode for controlling a light source and a video signal processing mode for processing a video signal.

6. An endoscope system according to claim 1, wherein said centralized operation means includes a power operation means for turning on or off power supplies of a plurality of peripheral equipment;

and

said centralized control means includes a switching means for turning on or off at least said power supplies of said peripheral equipment based on a command sent from said centralized operation means.

7. An endoscope system according to claim 6, wherein said centralized control means includes a switching means for turning on or off at least said lights in said endoscope system room based on a command sent from said centralized operation means.

8. An endoscope system according to claim 6, wherein said centralized control means includes a light control means for controlling at least a quantity of light of said lights in said endoscope system room based on a command sent from said centralized operation means.

9. An endoscope system according to claim 6, wherein said centralized control means includes:

a hue detection means for picking up a video signal of an endoscopic image to detect the levels of color signals;

a determination means for assessing the levels of said color signals detected to determine whether or not an endoscope is being used for examination; and

an illumination control means for controlling said lights in said endoscope system room based on the determinant of said determination means.

10. An endoscope system according to claim 1, wherein said centralized operation computer is a light-weight computer in which a display and a computer control is formed as a unit.

11. An endoscope system according to claim 1,

wherein said centralized operation means is capable of setting an output level of at least said electric treatment device with respect to said electric treatment device.

12. An endoscope system according to claim 11, wherein said electric treatment device is an electrosurgical unit.

13. An endoscope system according to claim 12, wherein said centralized operation means is capable of setting an output level of an electrosurgical unit and capable of setting, in selection, an output mode of an electric scalpel at least from a cut mode for cutting off organization and a coagulate mode for solidifying the organization.

14. An endoscope system according to claim 13,

wherein said system further includes an ON-OFF switch for an output from said electrosurgical unit, and

wherein a signal from said ON-OFF switch is directly inputted to said electrosurgical unit not through said centralized control means.

15. An endoscope system according to claim 14, wherein said ON-OFF switch is a foot switch.

16. An endoscope system according to claim 11, wherein said electric treatment device is a heat probe unit.

17. An endoscope system according to claim 16, wherein said centralized operation means is capable of setting a heat output level of said heat probe unit and setting a quantity of water which is discharged from said heat probe unit.

18. An endoscope system according to claim 17,

wherein said system further includes and ON-OFF switch for the heat output from said heat probe unit and an ON-OFF switch for the water output from said heat probe unit, and

wherein signals from the ON-OFF switch are directly inputted to said heat probe unit not through said centralized control means.

19. An endoscope system according to claim 1,

wherein said centralized operation means includes output level setting means for setting an output level of said electric treatment device, and

wherein said endoscope system comprises an ON-OFF switch for operation of said electric treatment device separately from said centralized operation means.

20. An endoscope system according to claim 19, wherein signals from the ON-OFF switch are supplied to said electric treatment device not through said centralized control means.

21. An endoscope system according to claim 1, wherein said light source, said video signal processor and said electric treatment device are connected to said centralized control means through a first serial expansion means, said centralized control means and said first serial expansion means capable of performing serial communication of at least a control signal, and said first serial expansion means is connected to said light source, said video signal processor and said electric treatment device, to perform serial communication of at least the control signal.

22. An endoscope system according to claim 21,

wherein said system further includes an image recording device and/or image print device for recording an image from an endoscope device which is not used in proximity to said endoscope, and

wherein said centralized control means is connected to said image recording device and/or said image print device, through a second serial expansion means to perform serial communication of at least the control system.

23. An endoscope system according to claim 1, wherein said light source, said video signal processor and said electric treatment device are connected to said centralized control means through a first local area network connecting line.

24. An endoscope system according to claim 23,

wherein said system further includes an image recording device and/or an image print device for recording an image from the endoscope, and

wherein said centralized control means is connected to said image recording device and/or said image print device through a second local area network connecting line.

25. An endoscope system according to claim 1,

wherein said system further includes detecting means for detecting organism information of a patient, and

wherein said centralized control means receives detecting results from said detecting means so as to be capable of displaying said organism information on said display means.

26. An endoscope system according to claim 1,

wherein said system further includes detecting means for detecting organism information of a patient, and

wherein said centralized control means receives detecting results from said detecting means to issue a warning upon abnormality of said organism information, to said display means.

27. An endoscope system according to claim 25, wherein said detecting means is a pulse oximeter and/or a blood pressure gauge.

28. An endoscope system according to claim 1, wherein said electric treatment device is a lithotriptor.

29. An endoscope system according to claim 1, wherein said electric treatment device is a hyperthermia unit.

30. An endoscope system according to claim 1, wherein said electric treatment device is an ultrasonic surgical unit.

31. An endoscope system according to claim 1, wherein said electric treatment device is an orthopedic power unit.