Observation system

• US 7,841,979 B2
• Filed: 06/03/2004
• Issued: 11/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Original Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Inventors: Hirose, Kenji
• Primary Examiner(s): KASZTEJNA, MATTHEW JOHN
• Application Number:
  US10/860,762
• Publication Number:
  US 20040246469A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,371 Days
• Field of Search: 600/102, 600/103, 606/1, 248/122.1, 248/124.1
• US Class Current: 600/102
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00048 Constructional features of the display
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00149 using articulated arms
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00188 with focusing or zooming features
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00193 adapted for stereoscopic vision
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/00 Other methods or instruments for diagnosis, e.g. instruments for taking a cell sample, for biopsy, for vaccination diagnosis vaccination prophylaxis, vaccination therapy A61B17/20; Sex determination; Ovulation-period determination menstruation tables G06C3/00; Throat striking implements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00022 Sensing or detecting at the treatment site
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2825 Inserts of different material in jaws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/506 using a parallelogram linkage, e.g. panthograph
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/20 Surgical microscopes characterised by non-optical aspects
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/36 Image-producing devices or illumination devices not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/50 Supports for surgical instruments, e.g. articulated arms
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/90 Identification means for patients or instruments, e.g. tags

Abstract

An observation system includes an observation device, an image pickup device, a display device, and at least one holding device. The observation device includes an optical objective system for observing an object. The image pickup device is capable of picking up an optical image incident upon the optical objective system of the observation device. The display device is capable of displaying the image picked up by the image pickup device. The holding device includes a moving mechanism which holds the observation device and the display device and which moves one of the observation device and the display device in conjunction with movement of the other device, and a switching mechanism capable of switching the observation device and the display device to a state in which the devices are movable by the moving mechanism and a state in which the devices are fixable in positions moved by the moving mechanism.

Claims

1. An observation system comprising:

an observation device including an optical objective system for observation of an object;

an image pickup device which picks up an optical image incident upon the optical objective system of the observation device;

a display device which is electrically connected to the image pickup device and which displays the optical image picked up by the image pickup device; and

at least one holding mechanism including;

a moving mechanism which includes a first moving mechanism which movably holds the observation device and a second moving mechanism which movably holds the display device, the moving mechanism being effective to move one of the observation device and the display device in conjunction with movement of the other device; and

a switching mechanism capable of switching the observation device and the display device to a state in which the devices are movable by the moving mechanism and a state in which the devices are fixable in positions moved by the moving mechanism.

2. An observation system according to claim 1, wherein the moving mechanism comprises:

a vertical movement mechanism capable of moving the observation device and the display device in a vertical direction;

a horizontal movement mechanism capable of moving the observation device and the display device in a horizontal direction;

an inclination mechanism which inclines the observation device and the display device; and

an equivalent movement mechanism in which the observation device and the display device are disposed and which mutually equivalently moves the observation device and the display device.

3. An observation system according to claim 2, wherein the equivalent movement mechanism comprises a timing belt which connects a first mechanism which holds the observation device to a second mechanism which holds the display device.

4. An observation system according to claim 1, wherein the holding mechanism comprises:

a first holding device which holds the observation device; and

a second holding device which holds the display device.

5. An observation system according to claim 4, wherein a control device to control a display surface of the display device and an optical axis of the observation device in a state in which the display surface and the optical axis cross each other at right angles is connected to the first and second holding devices.

6. An observation system according to claim 5, wherein the control device comprises:

a first detection section which detects posture of the observation device;

a second detection section which detects posture of the display device;

a calculation section which calculates relative positions of the observation device and the display device from detected amounts detected by the first and second detection sections; and

a posture adjustment section which adjusts the posture of at least one of the observation device and the display device in accordance with a calculation result of the calculation section.

7. An observation system according to claim 6, wherein the posture adjustment section comprises a motor being controlled by rotation number in accordance with the calculation result of the calculation section.

8. An observation system according to claim 6, wherein the first detection section comprises a plurality of encoders disposed in the first holding device, and

the second detection section comprises a plurality of encoders disposed in the second holding device.

9. An observation system according to claim 5, wherein the control device comprises:

a first detection section which detects posture of the observation device;

a second detection section which detects posture of the display device;

a relative position calculation section which calculates relative positions of a view field direction of the image pickup device and a view field direction displayed in the display device from detected amounts detected by the first and second detection sections; and

an image rotation section which rotates an image displayed in the display device in accordance with a calculation result from the relative position calculation section.

10. An observation system according to claim 9, wherein the first detection section comprises a plurality of encoders disposed in the first holding device, and

the second detection section comprises a plurality of encoders disposed in the second holding device.

11. An observation system according to claim 5, wherein the first and second holding devices comprise indexes which calibrate the relative positions between the holding devices.

12. An observation system according to claim 1, wherein the observation device comprises an insertion section of an endoscope, and

the insertion section comprises a bendable portion.

13. An observation system according to claim 12, wherein a coupling mechanism is disposed between the insertion section and the display device, in which the bendable portion is bent with the movement of the display device and the display device is moved with the bending of the bendable portion.

14. An observation system according to claim 1, wherein the observation device comprises an electronic image microscope.

15. An observation system according to claim 14, wherein the electronic image microscope comprises a stereoscopic observation mechanism.

16. An observation system comprising:

an observation device including an optical objective system for observation of an object;

an image pickup device which picks up an optical image incident upon the optical objective system of the observation device;

a display device which is electrically connected to the image pickup device and which displays the optical image picked up by the image pickup device; and

at least one holding mechanism including a moving mechanism which holds the observation device and the display device and which moves one of the observation device and the display device in conjunction with movement of the other device, and a switching mechanism capable of switching the observation device and the display device to a state in which the devices are movable by the moving mechanism and a state in which the devices are fixable in positions moved by the moving mechanism, wherein the moving mechanism comprises;

a vertical movement mechanism capable of moving the observation device and the display device in a vertical direction;

a horizontal movement mechanism capable of moving the observation device and the display device in a horizontal direction;

an inclination mechanism which inclines the observation device and the display device; and

an equivalent movement mechanism in which the observation device and the display device are disposed and which mutually equivalently moves the observation device and the display device,

wherein the equivalent movement mechanism comprises a first parallelogram link in which the observation device is disposed, and a second parallelogram link in which the display device is disposed, and

the first and second parallelogram links comprise a parallel link mechanism connected to at least a common arm among arms constituting the first and second parallelogram links.

17. An observation system according to claim 16, wherein the parallel link mechanism comprises:

a first arm comprising one end portion and the other end portion, the one end portion being connected to the inclination mechanism;

a second arm comprising an upper end portion and a lower end portion, the lower end portion being connected to the other end portion of the first arm;

a third arm comprising one end portion and the other end portion, the one end portion being connected to the upper end portion of the second arm, the third arm being disposed in parallel with the first arm;

a fourth arm comprising an upper end portion, and a lower end portion which holds the endoscope, the upper end portion being connected to the other end portion of the third arm, the fourth arm being disposed in parallel with the second arm;

a fifth arm comprising an upper end portion and a lower end portion, the lower end portion being connected between the one end portion and the other end portion of the first arm, the fifth arm being disposed in parallel with the second arm; and

a sixth arm comprising one end portion and the other end portion, the one end portion being connected to the upper end portion of the fifth arm, the other end portion being connected to the fourth arm, the one end portion and the other end portion being connected between the upper and lower end portions of the second arm, the sixth arm being disposed in parallel with the first arm,

wherein the second, third, fourth, and sixth arms form the first parallelogram link, and

the first, second, fifth, and sixth arms form the second parallelogram link.

18. An observation system according to claim 17, wherein the display device is disposed on a connecting portion of the other end portion of the first arm with the lower end portion of the second arm, and

a central axis of the observation device is in a vertical state with respect to a display surface of the display device.

19. An observation system according to claim 18, wherein the observation device includes an insertion section of the endoscope, and

the optical objective system of the insertion section is disposed on an extended line of the central axis of the first arm by the fourth arm.

20. An observation system according to claim 17, wherein the switching mechanism comprises a brake for link, which is disposed on at least one of connecting portions between the arms among the first to sixth arms and which is switchable between a braking-off state to allow deformation of the first and second parallelogram links and a braking-on state to control the deformation.

21. An observation system according to claim 20, wherein the switching mechanism comprises:

a brake for vertical movement, which is disposed in the vertical movement mechanism and which is switchable between a braking-off state to allow movement of the observation device and the display device in a vertical direction and a braking-on state to control the movement;

a brake for horizontal movement, which is disposed in the horizontal movement mechanism and which is switchable between a braking-off state to allow movement of the observation device and the display device in a horizontal direction and a braking-on state to control the movement; and

a brake for inclination, which is disposed in the inclination mechanism and which is switchable between a braking-off state to allow inclination of the observation device and the display device and a braking-on state to control the inclination.

22. An observation system according to claim 21, wherein the fourth arm comprises a switch capable of switching the braking-off state and the braking-on state of the brakes for link, vertical movement, horizontal movement, and inclination.

23. An observation system according to claim 22, wherein a switch capable of switching the braking-off state and the braking-on state of at least one of the brakes for link, vertical movement, horizontal movement, and inclination is disposed in the vicinity of the display device.

24. An observation system according to claim 21, wherein a switch capable of switching the braking-off state and the braking-on state of the brakes for link, vertical movement, horizontal movement, and inclination is disposed in the vicinity of the observation device.

25. An observation system according to claim 24, wherein a switch capable of switching the braking-off state and the braking-on state of at least one of the brakes for link, vertical movement, horizontal movement, and inclination is disposed in the vicinity of the display device.

26. An observation system comprising:

an observation device including an optical objective system for observation of an object;

an image pickup device which picks up an optical image incident upon the optical objective system of the observation device;

a display device which is electrically connected to the image pickup device and which displays the optical image picked up by the image pickup device; and

at least one holding mechanism including a moving mechanism which holds the observation device and the display device and which moves one of the observation device and the display device in conjunction with movement of the other device, and a switching mechanism capable of switching the observation device and the display device to a state in which the devices are movable by the moving mechanism and a state in which the devices are fixable in positions moved by the moving mechanism, wherein the holding mechanism comprises;

a first holding device which holds the observation device; and

a second holding device which holds the display device,

wherein the moving mechanism of the first holding device comprises;

a first vertical movement mechanism capable of moving the observation device in the vertical direction;

a first horizontal movement mechanism capable of moving the observation device in the horizontal direction;

a first inclination mechanism which inclines the observation device; and

a first equivalent movement mechanism in which the observation device is disposed, and

the moving mechanism of the second holding device comprises;

a second vertical movement mechanism capable of moving the display device in the vertical direction;

a second horizontal movement mechanism capable of moving the display device in the horizontal direction;

a second inclination mechanism which inclines the display device; and

a second equivalent movement mechanism in which the display device is disposed and which moves the display device equivalently to the movement of the observation device by the first equivalent movement mechanism.

27. An observation system according to claim 26, wherein the first equivalent movement mechanism comprises a parallel link mechanism.

28. An observation system according to claim 27, wherein the parallel link mechanism comprises:

a first arm comprising one end portion and the other end portion, the one end portion being connected to the first inclination mechanism;

a second arm comprising an upper end portion and a lower end portion, the lower end portion being connected to the other end portion of the first arm;

a third arm comprising one end portion and the other end portion, the one end portion being connected to the upper end portion of the second arm, the third arm being disposed in parallel with the first arm;

a fourth arm comprising an upper end portion, and a lower end portion which holds the observation device, the upper end portion being connected to the other end portion of the third arm, the fourth arm being disposed in parallel with the second arm;

a fifth arm comprising an upper end portion and a lower end portion, the lower end portion being connected between the one end portion and the other end portion of the first arm, the fifth arm being disposed in parallel with the second arm; and

a sixth arm comprising one end portion and the other end portion, the one end portion being connected to the upper end portion of the fifth arm, the other end portion being connected to the fourth arm, the one end portion and the other end portion being connected between the upper and lower end portions of the second arm, the sixth arm being disposed in parallel with the first arm.

29. An observation system according to claim 28, wherein the switching mechanism comprises a brake for link, which is disposed on at least one of connecting portions between the arms among the first to sixth arms and which is switchable between a braking-off state to allow deformation of the parallel link mechanism and a braking-on state to control the deformation.

30. An observation system according to claim 29, wherein the switching mechanism further comprises:

a first brake for vertical movement, which is disposed in the first vertical movement mechanism and which is switchable between a braking-off state to allow movement of the observation device in the vertical direction and a braking-on state to control the movement;

a first brake for horizontal movement, which is disposed in the first horizontal movement mechanism and which is switchable between a braking-off state to allow movement of the observation device in the horizontal direction and a braking-on state to control the movement; and

a first brake for inclination, which is disposed in the first inclination mechanism and which is switchable between a braking-off state to allow inclination of the observation device and a braking-on state to control the inclination.

31. An observation system according to claim 30, wherein the fourth arm comprises a switch capable of switching the first brakes for link, vertical movement, horizontal movement, and inclination to the braking-off state and the braking-on state.

32. An observation system according to claim 31, wherein a switch capable of switching at least one of the first brakes for link, vertical movement, horizontal movement, and inclination to the braking-off state and the braking-on state is disposed in the vicinity of the display device.

33. An observation system according to claim 30, wherein a switch capable of switching the first brakes for link, vertical movement, horizontal movement, and inclination to the braking-off state and the braking-on state is disposed in the vicinity of the observation device.

34. An observation system according to claim 33, wherein a switch capable of switching at least one of the first brakes for link, vertical movement, horizontal movement, and inclination to the braking-off state and the braking-on state is disposed in the vicinity of the display device.

35. An observation system according to claim 27, wherein the second equivalent movement mechanism comprises a parallel link mechanism.

36. An observation system according to claim 35, wherein the parallel link mechanism of the second equivalent movement mechanism comprises:

a first arm comprising one end portion and the other end portion, the one end portion being connected to the second inclination mechanism;

a second arm comprising an upper end portion and a lower end portion, the lower end portion being connected to the other end portion of the first arm;

a third arm comprising one end portion and the other end portion, the one end portion being connected to the upper end portion of the second arm, the third arm being disposed in parallel with the first arm;

a fourth arm comprising an upper end portion, and a lower end portion which holds the display device, the upper end portion being connected to the other end portion of the third arm, the fourth arm being disposed in parallel with the second arm;

a fifth arm comprising an upper end portion and a lower end portion, the lower end portion being connected between the one end portion and the other end portion of the first arm, the fifth arm being disposed in parallel with the second arm; and

a sixth arm comprising one end portion and the other end portion, the one end portion being connected to the upper end portion of the fifth arm, the other end portion being connected to the fourth arm, the one end portion and the other end portion being connected between the upper and lower end portions of the second arm, the sixth arm being disposed in parallel with the first arm.

37. An observation system according to claim 36, wherein the switching mechanism comprises a brake for link, which is disposed on at least one of connecting portions between the arms among the first to sixth arms and which is switchable between a braking-off state to allow deformation of the link mechanism and a braking-on state to control the deformation.

38. An observation system according to claim 37, wherein the switching mechanism further comprises:

a second brake for vertical movement, which is disposed in the first vertical movement mechanism and which is switchable between a braking-off state to allow movement of the observation device in the vertical direction and a braking-on state to control the movement;

a second brake for horizontal movement, which is disposed in the first horizontal movement mechanism and which is switchable between a braking-off state to allow movement of the observation device in the horizontal direction and a braking-on state to control the movement; and

a second brake for inclination, which is disposed in the first inclination mechanism and which is switchable between a braking-off state to allow inclination of the observation device and a braking-on state to control the inclination.

39. An observation system according to claim 38, wherein the fourth arm comprises a switch capable of switching the second brakes for link, vertical movement, horizontal movement, and inclination to the braking-off state and the braking-on state.

40. An observation system according to claim 39, wherein a switch capable of switching at least one of the second brakes for link, vertical movement, horizontal movement, and inclination to the braking-off state and the braking-on state is disposed in the vicinity of the display device.

41. An observation system according to claim 38, wherein a switch capable of switching the second brakes for link, vertical movement, horizontal movement, and inclination to the braking-off state and the braking-on state is disposed in the vicinity of the observation device.

42. An observation system according to claim 41, wherein a switch capable of switching at least one of the second brakes for link, vertical movement, horizontal movement, and inclination to the braking-off state and the braking-on state is disposed in the vicinity of the display device.

43. An observation system comprising:

an observation device including an optical objective system for observation of an object;

an image pickup device which picks up an optical image incident upon the optical objective system of the observation device;

a display device which displays an observation image picked up by the image pickup device;

a first holding section which holds the observation device;

a second holding section which holds the display device;

a moving mechanism which includes a first moving mechanism in which the first holding section is disposed and a second moving mechanism in which the second holding section is disposed, the moving mechanism being effective to move one of the observation device and the display device in conjunction with movement of the other device; and

a switching mechanism capable of switching the observation device and the display device to a state in which the devices are movable by the moving mechanism and a state in which the devices are fixable in positions moved by the moving mechanism.

44. An observation system according to claim 43, wherein the moving mechanism comprises:

a vertical movement mechanism capable of moving the observation device and the display device in a vertical direction;

a horizontal movement mechanism capable of moving the observation device and the display device in a horizontal direction;

an inclination mechanism which inclines the observation device in the vertical direction and which inclines the display device with respect to a horizontal plane; and

an equivalent movement mechanism in which the observation device and the display device are mutually equivalently moved.

45. An observation system according to claim 44, wherein the equivalent movement mechanism comprises a parallel link mechanism including at least two parallelogram links.

46. An observation system according to claim 43, wherein the observation device comprises an insertion section of an endoscope, and

the insertion section comprises a bendable portion.

47. An observation system according to claim 46, wherein a coupling mechanism is disposed between the insertion section and the display device, in which the bendable portion is bent with the movement of the display device and the display device is moved with the bending of the bendable portion.

48. An observation system according to claim 43, wherein the observation device comprises an electronic image microscope.

49. An observation system according to claim 48, wherein the electronic image microscope comprises a stereoscopic observation mechanism.

50. An observation system comprising:

an observation device including an optical objective system for observation of an object;

an image pickup device which picks up an optical image incident upon the optical objective system of the observation device;

a display device which displays an observation image picked up by the image pickup device;

a first holding section which holds the observation device;

a second holding section which holds the display device;

a moving mechanism in which the first and second holding sections are disposed and which moves one of the observation device and the display device in conjunction with movement of the other device; and

a switching mechanism capable of switching the observation device and the display device to a state in which the devices are movable by the moving mechanism and a state in which the devices are fixable in positions moved by the moving mechanism,

wherein the moving mechanism comprises;

a vertical movement mechanism capable of moving the observation device and the display device in a vertical direction;

a horizontal movement mechanism capable of moving the observation device and the display device in a horizontal direction;

an inclination mechanism which inclines the observation device in the vertical direction and which inclines the display device with respect to a horizontal plane; and

an equivalent movement mechanism in which the observation device and the display device are mutually equivalently moved,

wherein the equivalent movement mechanism comprises a parallel link mechanism including at least two parallelogram links,

wherein the parallel link mechanism comprises;

a first arm comprising one end portion and the other end portion, the one end portion being rotatably connected to the inclination mechanism;

a second arm comprising an upper end portion and a lower end portion, the lower end portion being connected to the other end portion of the first arm;

a third arm comprising one end portion and the other end portion, the one end portion being connected to the upper end portion of the second arm, the third arm being disposed in parallel with the first arm;

a fourth arm comprising an upper end portion, and a lower end portion which holds the observation device, the upper end portion being connected to the other end portion of the third arm, the fourth arm being disposed in parallel with the second arm;

a fifth arm comprising an upper end portion and a lower end portion, the lower end portion being connected between the one end portion and the other end portion of the first arm, the fifth arm being disposed in parallel with the second arm; and

a sixth arm comprising one end portion and the other end portion, the one end portion being connected to the upper end portion of the fifth arm, the other end portion being connected to the fourth arm, the one end portion and the other end portion being connected between the upper and lower end portions of the second arm, the sixth arm being disposed in parallel with the first arm.

51. An observation system according to claim 50, wherein the display device is disposed on a connecting portion of the other end portion of the first arm with the lower end portion of the second arm,

the observation device comprises an insertion section of an endoscope, and

the optical objective system of the insertion section is disposed on an extended line of a central axis of the first arm by the fourth arm, and an optical axis of an optical image between the optical objective system and the image pickup device is in a vertical state with respect to a display surface of the display device.

52. An observation system comprising:

an observation device including an optical objective system for observation of an object;

an image pickup device which picks up an optical image incident upon the optical objective system of the observation device;

a display device which displays an observation image picked up by the image pickup device;

a first holding section which holds the observation device;

a second holding section which holds the display device;

a moving mechanism in which the first and second holding sections are disposed and which moves one of the observation device and the display device in conjunction with movement of the other device; and

a switching mechanism capable of switching the observation device and the display device to a state in which the devices are movable by the moving mechanism and a state in which the devices are fixable in positions moved by the moving mechanism,

wherein the moving mechanism comprises a first movable member in which the first holding section is disposed, a second movable member in which the second holding section is disposed, and a movable member conjunction mechanism which moves at least one of the first and second movable members in conjunction with the movement of the other movable member.

53. An observation system according to claim 52, wherein the movable member conjunction mechanism comprises a control device which controls a display surface of the display device and an optical axis of the observation device in a state in which the display surface and the optical axis cross each other at right angles.

54. An observation system according to claim 53, wherein the control device comprises:

a first detection section which detects posture of the observation device;

a second detection section which detects posture of the display device;

a calculation section which calculates relative positions of the observation device and the display device from detected amounts detected by the first and second detection sections; and

a posture adjustment section which adjusts the posture of at least one of the observation device and the display device in accordance with a calculation result of the calculation section.

55. An observation system according to claim 54, wherein the posture adjustment section comprises a motor being controlled by rotation number in accordance with the calculation result of the calculation section.

56. An observation system according to claim 54, wherein the first detection section comprises a plurality of encoders, disposed in the moving mechanism, to detect the movement amount of the observation device, and

the second detection section comprises a plurality of encoders, disposed in the moving mechanism, to detect the movement amount of the display device.

57. An observation system according to claim 53, wherein the control device comprises:

a first detection section which detects posture of the observation device;

a second detection section which detects posture of the display device;

a relative position calculation section which calculates relative positions of a view field direction of the image pickup device and a view field direction displayed in the display device from detected amounts detected by the first and second detection sections; and

an image rotation section which rotates an image displayed in the display device in accordance with a calculation result from the relative position calculation section.

58. An observation system according to claim 57, wherein the first detection section comprises a plurality of encoders, disposed in the moving mechanism, to detect the movement amount of the observation device, and

the second detection section comprises a plurality of encoders, disposed in the moving mechanism, to detect the movement amount of the display device.