Endoscope system

• US 6,976,954 B2
• Filed: 06/28/2002
• Issued: 12/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hoya Corporation
• Original Assignee: Pentax Corporation (Hoya Corporation)
• Inventors: Takahashi, Tadashi
• Primary Examiner(s): Leubecker, John P.
• Application Number:
  US10/183,429
• Publication Number:
  US 20030004398A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,271 Days
• Field of Search: 600/101, 600/109.1, 600/17, 600/118, 707/1, 707/205, 348/65
• US Class Current: 600/118
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00006 of control signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00045 Display arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00059 provided with identification means for the endoscope
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0276 Determining malfunction

Abstract

An endoscope system is provided that includes a processor connectable to various endoscopes to process signals generated by the endoscope being connected. The processor further includes a database, a data selector and a data register. The database is configured to be registered a plurality of pieces of endoscope data, each of which being related to different one of the endoscopes connectable to the connector. Each piece of the endoscope data includes priority information indicating the priority of deleting the piece of endoscope data. The data selector selects one piece of the endoscope data based on the priority information. The data register registers a new endoscope with the database by replacing the selected piece of endoscope data with the piece of endoscope data of the new endoscope.

Claims

1. An endoscope system, comprising:

a processor connectable to various endoscopes to process signals generated by the endoscope connected to said processor via a connector, said processor being housed in a casing, said processor including;

a light source;

an operation panel for controlling the endoscope;

a database configured to register a plurality of pieces of endoscope data, each piece of endoscope data being related to a different one of the endoscopes connectable to said connector, each piece of the endoscope data including priority information indicating the priority of deleting the piece of endoscope data,

a data selector configured to select one piece of the endoscope data based on the priority information, and

a data register configured to register a new endoscope with said database by replacing the selected piece of endoscope data with the piece of endoscope data of the new endoscope

wherein the priority information includes the date when said piece of endoscope data was registered with said database.

2. The endoscope system according to claim 1,

wherein said priority information includes the date when the endoscope was connected to said processor for the first time as the date of when the piece of endoscope data was registered with said database.

3. The endoscope system according to claim 1, wherein said data selector selects the endoscope data related to the priority information including the oldest date.

4. An endoscope system, comprising:

a processor connectable to various endoscopes to process signals generated by the endoscope connected to said processor via a connector, said processor being housed in a casing, said processor including;

a light source;

an operation panel for controlling the endoscope;

a database configured to register a plurality of pieces of endoscope data, each piece of endoscope data being related to a different one of the endoscopes connectable to said connector, each piece of the endoscope data including priority information indicating the priority of deleting the piece of endoscope data,

a data selector configured to select one piece of the endoscope data based on the priority information, and

a data register configured to register a new endoscope with said database by replacing the selected piece of endoscope data with the piece of endoscope data of the new endoscope

wherein the priority information includes the date when the endoscope was used for the last time.

5. The endoscope system according to claim 4,

wherein the priority information includes the date when the endoscope was connected to said processor for the last time as the date when the endoscope was used for the last time.

6. The endoscope system according to claim 4,

wherein said data selector selects the piece of endoscope data related to the priority information including the oldest date.

7. An endoscope system comprising:

an endoscope; and

a processor configured to connect to said endoscope to process signals generated by said endoscope, said processor being housed in a casing, said processor including;

a light source;

an operation panel for controlling the endoscope;

a storage device configured to include a plurality of databases;

a data receiver configured to receive first and second data related to said endoscope, said second data including a property of said endoscope;

a database selector configured to select one of said plurality of databases based on said second data; and

a data register configured to register said endoscope with said selected database by storing at least said first data into said selected database.

8. The endoscope system according to claim 7, wherein each of said plurality of databases is defined in a different data file.

9. The endoscope system according to claim 7, wherein each of said plurality of databases is defined in a different single continuous storage area of said storage device.

10. The endoscope system according to claim 7, wherein said data register is configured to store priority information of said endoscope to said selected database in association with said first data, and

when said selected database does not have available storage space to store said first and second data, said data register selects one of said first and second data previously stored in said database based on said priority information to replace said selected data with said first and second data received by said data receiver.

11. The endoscope system according to claim 10,

wherein said priority information includes the date when said endoscope data was stored into said selected database.

12. The endoscope system according to claim 11,

wherein said priority information includes the date when said endoscope was connected to said processor for the first time as said date when said endoscope data was stored into said selected database.

13. The endoscope system according to claim 11, wherein said data register selects said endoscope data related to said priority information including the oldest date.

14. The endoscope system according to claim 10,

wherein said priority information includes the date when said endoscope was used for the last time.

15. The endoscope system according to claim 14,

wherein said priority information includes the date when said endoscope was connected to said processor as said date when the endoscope was used for the last time, said priority information being updated when said endoscope is connected to said processor.

16. The endoscope system according to claim 14, wherein said data register selects said endoscope data related to said priority information including the oldest date.

17. The endoscope system according to claim 7, said processor further includes a text information generator for displaying text information on a monitor connected to said processor, said text information generator generating said text information on the property of said endoscope based on said second data to display said text information on said monitor when said endoscope is in use.

18. The endoscope system according to claim 17, wherein said data register stores said second data to said selected database in association with said first data, and wherein said text information generator obtains said second data from said selected database when said endoscope is displaying said text information.

19. The endoscope system according to claim 17, wherein said text information generator displays said text information on said monitor when said endoscope is connected to said processor.

20. The endoscope system according to claim 17, wherein said processor includes a video signal generator, said video signal generator generates video signals from signals output from an imaging device provided to said endoscope as said endoscope is connected to said processor to display an image captured by said imaging device on said monitor at the same time that said text information is displayed.

21. The endoscope system according to claim 20, wherein said text information is superimposed on said image captured by said imaging device.

22. The endoscope system according to claim 7, wherein said data receiver receives said first and second data from a memory of said endoscope.

23. The endoscope system according to claim 7, wherein said data receiver receives said first data from a memory of said endoscope while said second data is received from a manually operable input unit.

24. The endoscope system according to claim 7, wherein said second data includes information indicating the ownership of said endoscope.

25. The endoscope system according to claim 24, wherein said information on the ownership includes information indicating whether or not said endoscope is purchased.

26. The endoscope system according to claim 24, wherein said information on the ownership includes information indicating whether or not said endoscope is leased.

27. The endoscope system according to claim 26, wherein said information on the ownership includes information indicating whether or not said endoscope is leased for a term longer than a predetermined term.

28. The endoscope system according to claim 7, wherein said first data includes information for adjusting white balance of an image captured by an imaging device provided to said endoscope.