Electronic endoscope system

• US 6,602,186 B1
• Filed: 11/13/2000
• Issued: 08/05/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/11/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hoya Corporation
• Original Assignee: Pentax Corporation (Hoya Corporation)
• Inventors: Sugimoto, Hideo, Enomoto, Takayuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Look, Edward K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Edgar, Richard A.
• Application Number:
  US09/709,708
• Time in Patent Office: 995 Days
• Field of Search: 600/109, 600/126, 600/160, 600/178, 600/182, 600/476, 600/478
• US Class Current: 600/126
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/000095 for image enhancement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/043 for fluorescence imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0638 providing two or more wavelengths
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0646 with illumination filters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0669 at proximal end of an endoscope
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0071 by measuring fluorescence emission
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0084 for introduction into the body, e.g. by catheters A61B5/1459 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/2469 using optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/2484 Arrangements in relation to a camera or imaging device processing or control of video signals generated by an endoscope H04N23/60, H04N23/70
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/008 in the form of devices for effecting sequential colour changes, e.g. colour wheels

Abstract

An electronic endoscope system including a scope unit for capturing an image of an object illuminated by light using an image sensor and an image processing unit that processes the captured image to generate a video signal, is provided with a first illuminating system that illuminates the object with white light, and a second illuminating system that illuminates the object with light having a special wavelength. At least one operable switch that is operated for switching the Illumination system between the first and second systems is provided, and a switching system that switches the illuminating system between the first and second illuminating systems in response to operation of the operable switch. In such a system, the operable switch is provided at a portion accessible to an operator who is operating the scope unit.

Claims

1. An electronic endoscope system including a scope unit for capturing an image of an object illuminated by light using an image sensor and an image processing unit that processes the captured image to generate a video signal, comprising:

a first illuminating unit that illuminates the object with a first light having a first characteristic;

a second illuminating unit that illuminates the object with a second light having a second characteristic;

at least one switch that is operable to instruct a switching between said first illuminating unit and said second illuminating unit;

a switcher that selects one of said first illuminating unit and said second illuminating unit in response to the operation of said at least one switch,

said at least one switch being provided at a location accessible to an operator of said scope unit.

2. The electronic endoscope system according to claim 1, wherein said first illuminating unit includes:

(a) a first light source that emits said first light; and

(b) a first light guide cable extending through said scope unit to guide the first light from said first light source to a distal end of said scope unit,

wherein said second illuminating unit includes;

(a) a second light source that emits said second light;

(b) a second light guide cable extending through said scope unit to guide the second light from said second light source to the distal end of said scope unit; and

(c) a shutter provided between said second light source and said second light guide cable,

wherein, when said first illuminating unit is selected, said shutter is closed so that said second light is not guided by said second light guide cable, and

wherein, when said second illuminating system is selected, said shutter is opened to allow said second light to be guided by said second light guide cable and said first light source is turned OFF.

3. The electronic endoscope system according to claim 1, wherein said first illuminating unit includes:

(a) a first light source that emits light having a first characteristic;

(b) a first light guide cable extending through said scope unit to guide the first light from said first light source to a distal end of said scope unit; and

(c) a first shutter provided between said first light source and said first light guide cable,

wherein said second illuminating unit includes;

(a) a second light source that emits light having a second characteristic;

(b) a second light guide cable extending through said scope unit to guide the second light from said second light source to the distal end of said scope unit; and

(c) a second shutter provided between said second light source and said second light guide cable,

wherein, when said first illuminating unit is selected, said second shutter is closed so that said second light is not guided by said second light guide cable, and said first shutter is opened to allow said first light to be guided by said first light guide cable, and

wherein, when said second illuminating unit is selected, said first shutter is closed so that said first light is not guided by said first light guide cable, and said second shutter is opened to allow said second light to be guided by said second light guide cable.

4. The electronic endoscope system according to claim 1,

said first illuminating unit including a first light source that emits light having a first characteristic,

said second illuminating unit including a second light source that emits light having a second characteristic,

said electronic endoscope further comprising a controller that controls said second light source to turn ON and OFF,

wherein if said second light source is turned OFF and said at least one switch is operated in a predetermined manner, said second light source is turned ON, and

wherein if said second light source is turned ON and said at least one switch is operated in said predetermined manner, said second light source is turned OFF.

5. An electronic endoscope system including a scope unit for capturing an image of an object illuminated by light using an image sensor and an image processing unit that processes the captured image to generate a video signal, comprising:

a first illuminating unit that illuminates the object with white light;

a second illuminating unit that illuminates the object with light having a special wavelength;

at least one switch that is operable to instruct a switching between said first illuminating unit and said second illuminating unit;

a switcher that selects one of said first illuminating unit and said second illuminating unit in response to the operation of said at least one switch,

said at least one switch being provided at a location accessible to an operator of said scope unit.

6. The electronic endoscope system according to claim 5, said at least one switch including a foot switch which is operable by a foot of the operator.

7. The electronic endoscope system according to claim 5, said scope unit being provided with an instrument channel through which a treatment tool is insertable, said at least one switch including a manually operable switch arranged adjacent to an inlet of said instrument channel.

8. The electronic endoscope system according to claim 7, said scope unit having an operation portion, at which operation switches are provided, said at least one switch including another manually operable switch arranged at said operation.

9. The electronic endoscope system according to claim 5, wherein said first illuminating unit includes:

(a) a first light source that emits white light; and

(b) a light guide cable extending through said scope unit to guide the white light from said first light source to a distal end of said scope unit,

wherein said second illuminating unit includes;

(a) a special wavelength light source that emits light having a special wavelength;

(b) another light guide cable extending through said instrument channel to guide the light having the special wavelength from said special wavelength light source to the distal end of said scope unit; and

(c) a shutter provided between said special wavelength light source and said another light guide cable,

wherein, when said first illuminating unit is selected using said at least one switch for illuminating the object, said shutter is closed so that the special wavelength light is not guided by said another light guide cable, and

wherein, when said second illuminating unit is selected using said at least one switch for illuminating the object, said shutter is opened to allow the light having the special wavelength to be guided by said another light guide cable and said white light source if turned OFF.

10. The electronic endoscope system according to claim 5, wherein said first illuminating unit includes:

(a) a white light source that emits white light;

(b) a light guide cable extending through said scope unit to guide the white light from said white light source to a distal end of said scope unit; and

(c) a first shutter provided between said white light source and said light guide cable,

wherein said second illuminating unit includes;

(a) a special wavelength light source that emits light having a special wavelength;

(b) a second light guide cable extending through said instrument channel to guide the light having the special wavelength from said special wavelength light source to the distal end of said scope unit; and

(c) a second shutter provided between said special wavelength light source and said second light guide cable,

wherein, when said first illuminating unit is selected using said at least one switch for illuminating the object, said second shutter is closed so that the special wavelength light is not guided by said second light guide cable, and said first shutter is opened to allow the white light to be guided by said first light guide cable, and

wherein, when said second illuminating unit is selected using said at least one switch for illuminating the object, said first shutter is closed so that the white light is not guided by said first light guide cable, and said second shutter is opened to allow the light having the special wavelength to be guided by said second light guide cable.

11. The electronic endoscope system according to claim 5, wherein a performance of said image processing unit is changed in accordance with the operation of said at least one switch so that an appropriate image processing operation is performed depending on a selected one of said first and second illuminating units.

12. The electronic endoscope system according to claim 11, said image processing unit includes an amplifier that amplifies image signals output by the image sensor, a gain of said amplifier when said second illuminating unit is selected being higher than a gain when said first illuminating unit is selected.

13. The electronic endoscope system according to claim 5, wherein said light having the special wavelength is UV light.

14. The electronic endoscope system according to claim 5,

said first illuminating unit including a white light source that emits white light,

said second illuminating unit including a second light source that emits light having a special wavelength,

said electronic endoscope further comprising a controller that controls said second light source to turn ON and OFF,

wherein if said second light source is turned OFF and said at least one switch is held in an operative position for a predetermined duration of time, said second light source is turned ON, and

wherein if said second light source is turned ON and said at least one switch is held in an operative position for a predetermined duration of time, said second light source is turned OFF.

15. The electronic endoscope system according to claim 14, said at least one switch including a foot switch which is operable by a foot of the operator.

16. The electronic endoscope system according to claim 14, said scope unit being provided with an instrument channel through which a treatment tool is insertable, said at least one switch including a manually operable switch arranged adjacent to an inlet of said instrument channel.

17. The electronic endoscope system according to claim 14, said scope unit having an operation portion, at which operation switches are provided, said at least one switch including another manually operable switch arranged at said operation portion.