Endoscopic imaging system making it possible to detachably attach expansion unit having external expansion facility and add expansion facility for improving capability of system

• US 7,119,830 B2
• Filed: 01/07/2002
• Issued: 10/10/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Original Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Inventors: Ohno, Wataru, Nakatsuchi, Kazutaka, Yamashita, Shinji, Tsunakawa, Makoto, Mochida, Akihiko, Ogasawara, Kotaro, Saito, Katsuyuki, Hagihara, Masahiro, Matsumoto, Kanichi, Kusamura, Noboru, Tashiro, Hideki, Kami, Kuniaki
• Primary Examiner(s): PHILIPPE, GIMS S
• Application Number:
  US10/036,408
• Publication Number:
  US 20020101507A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,737 Days
• Field of Search: 348/65, 348/77, 348/75, 348/66, 600/109, 375/240.12, 375/240.23, 375/240.1, 386/33
• US Class Current: 348/65
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00022 removable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00042 for mechanical operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00055 for alerting the user
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00105 characterised by modular construction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/045 Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/307 for the urinary organs, e.g. urethroscopes, cystoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/3132 for laparoscopy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/317 for bones or joints, e.g. osteoscopes, arthroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0276 Determining malfunction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0475 Special features of memory means, e.g. removable memory cards
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00127 Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00286 with studio circuitry, devices or equipment, e.g. television cameras television studio circuitry, devices or equipment per se H04N5/222
• 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 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

In an endoscopic imaging system, a signal representing an object image produced by a scope and projected by a camera head is processed by a CCU and displayed as an endoscopic image on a TV monitor. The object image is stored as digital image data on a memory in the CCU, read as image data of a still image, and recorded on a PC card mounted in a PC card slot. The PC card slot is formed in the front panel or the like of the CCU. A lid member or the like functioning as an anti-liquid invasion member and shield can be located at an opening of the slot.

Claims

1. An endoscopic imaging system, comprising:

an imaging device for imaging an object inside a body cavity;

a digital signal converter for converting an image signal sent from said imaging device into a digital signal;

a signal processor for processing said digital signal sent from said digital signal converter;

a discriminating signal appending circuit for appending a discrimination signal to said digital signal processed by said signal processor;

a compression circuit for determining a level of compressibility according to said discrimination signal appended by said discriminating signal appending circuit, and for compressing said digital signal processed by said signal processor; and

a recording unit for recording said digital signal compressed by said compression circuit on a recording medium.

2. An endoscopic imaging system according to claim 1, wherein said discrimination signal is produced according to at least one of a type of imaging device, a type of endoscope, a level of enhancement performed by said signal processor, and data recorded in advance on said recording medium.

3. An endoscopic imaging system according to claim 2, wherein said data recorded in advance on said recording medium is medical-field data or patient data.