Electronic endoscope system with liquid supply apparatus

• US 6,881,188 B2
• Filed: 08/30/2002
• Issued: 04/19/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pentax Corporation (Hoya Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Pentax Corporation (Hoya Corporation)
• Inventors: Furuya, Katsuhiko, Iida, Mitsuru, Hibi, Haruhiko
• Primary Examiner(s): FLANAGAN, BEVERLY MEINDL
• Application Number:
  US10/231,122
• Publication Number:
  US 20030043264A1
• Time in Patent Office: 963 Days
• Field of Search: 600/153, 600/155, 600/156, 600/157, 600/158, 600/159
• US Class Current: 600/158
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast

Abstract

An electronic endoscope system has a video-scope, a video-processor, and a liquid supply apparatus. The video-scope has a liquid transmitting tube for spouting liquid from a tip of the video-scope, and is detachably and electrically connected to the video-processor. The liquid supply apparatus is electrically connectable to the video-processor, and has a container for storing liquid and a liquid supplier that supplies the liquid in the container to the liquid transmitting tube. A liquid jet performance member for spouting the liquid is provided on the video-scope. A liquid jet performance detector detects operational status of the liquid jet performance member, and a liquid jet performance transmitter feeds a control signal regarding the operational status of the liquid jet performance member to the liquid supply apparatus. The liquid supplier supplies the liquid in the container to the liquid transmitting tube in accordance with the control signal.

Claims

1. An electronic endoscope system comprising:

a video-scope that has an image sensor and a liquid transmitting tube that spouts liquid from a tip of said video-scope;

a video-processor that processes image signals read from said image sensor, said video-scope being detachably and electrically connected to said video-processor;

a liquid supply apparatus that is electrically connectable to said video-processor and that includes a container that stores liquid, said container being spatially connectable to said liquid transmitting tube;

a liquid jet performance member that initiates spouting the liquid from the tip of said video-scope, said liquid jet performance member being provided on said video-scope;

a liquid jet performance detector that detects the operational status of said liquid jet performance member; and

a liquid jet performance transmitter that feeds a control signal regarding the operational status of said liquid jet performance member to said liquid supply apparatus when the operation of said liquid jet performance member is detected,

wherein said liquid supply apparatus includes a liquid supplier that supplies the liquid in said container to said liquid transmitting tube in accordance with the control signal.

2. The electronic endoscope system of claim 1, further comprising:

a flow-velocity setting member that changes a flow-velocity of the liquid, which is fed to said liquid transmitting tube, said flow-velocity setting member being provided on said video-scope;

a flow-velocity change detector that detects whether said flow-velocity setting member is operated;

a flow-velocity change transmitter that feeds a transmitting signal, for informing the operation of said flow-velocity setting member, to said liquid supply apparatus; and

a flow-velocity adjuster that changes the flow-velocity in accordance with the transmitting signal.

3. The electronic endoscope system of claim 1, further comprising:

a VTR performance member that records a subject image as a moving image;

a copy performance member that prints the subject image;

a freeze performance member that displays the subject image as a still image, said VTR performance member, said copy performance member, and said freeze performance member being provided on said video-scope;

a connecting detector that detects whether said liquid supply apparatus is electrically connected to said video-processor; and

a member setter that sets one of said VTR performance member, said copy performance member, and said freeze performance member as said liquid jet performance member, when said liquid supply apparatus is electrically connected to said video-processor.

4. The electronic endoscope system of claim 3, further comprising:

a flow-velocity setting member that changes a flow-velocity of the liquid, which is fed to said liquid transmitting tube, said flow-velocity setting member being provided on said video-scope, said flow-velocity setting member having an up member for raising the flow-velocity and a down member for lowering the flow-velocity;

a flow-velocity change detector that detects whether said flow-velocity setting member is operated;

a flow-velocity change transmitter that feeds a transmitting signal, for informing the operation of said flow-velocity setting member, to said liquid supply apparatus; and

a flow-velocity adjuster that changes the flow-velocity in accordance with the transmitting signal;

wherein said member setter sets one of remaining two members among said VTR performance member, said copy performance member, and said freeze performance member, which are not being used as said liquid jet performance member, as said up member, and sets the other member of said two members as said down member, when said liquid supply apparatus is electrically connected to said video-processor.

5. The electronic endoscope system of claim 2, further comprising:

a monitor that is connected to said video-processor and that displays the subject image; and

a flow-velocity displayer that displays the flow-velocity, changed by said flow-velocity setting member, on said monitor.

6. The electronic endoscope system of claim 4, further comprising:

a monitor that is connected to said video-processor and that displays the subject image; and

a flow-velocity displayer that displays the flow-velocity, changed by said up member and said down member, on said monitor.

7. An electronic endoscope comprising:

a video-scope that has an image sensor and a liquid transmitting tube that spouts liquid from a tip of said video-scope;

a video-processor that processes image signals read from said image sensor, said video-scope being detachably and electrically connected to said video-processor;

a liquid jet performance member that initiates spouting the liquid from the tip of said video-scope, said liquid jet performance member being provided on said video-scope;

a liquid jet performance detector that detects the operational status of said liquid jet performance member; and

a liquid jet performance transmitter that is capable of outputting a control signal regarding the operational status of said liquid jet performance member, when the operation of said liquid jet performance member is detected.

8. A liquid supply apparatus electrically connectable to the endoscope according to claim 7 wherein said liquid supply apparatus can receive said control signal and is capable of supplying liquid to the liquid transmitting tube, said liquid supply apparatus comprising:

a container that stores the liquid; and

a liquid supplier that supplies the liquid in said container to said liquid transmitting tube in accordance with said control signal.

9. A liquid supply system for endoscope comprising:

a video-scope that has an image sensor and a liquid transmitting tube that spouts liquid from a tip of said video-scope, said liquid transmitting tube extends from the tip to an operating portion of said video-scope;

a liquid supply apparatus that is electrically connected to said video-scope, and has a container that stores liquid and a liquid supplier that supplies the liquid in said container to said liquid transmitting tube; and

a liquid jet performance member that initiates spouting the liquid and image processing,

wherein said liquid jet performance member is provided on said video-scope, and said liquid supplier supplies the liquid or images are processed when said liquid jet performance member is operated.