Television – Special applications – With endoscope
Reexamination Certificate
1998-07-30
2001-02-06
Britton, Howard (Department: 2713)
Television
Special applications
With endoscope
C348S075000, C600S109000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06184922
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an endoscopic imaging system in which a still image-specific or motion picture-specific expansion unit can be coupled in a freely detachable manner to a digital video output terminal of a camera control unit for processing a signal sent from an imaging device incorporated in an endoscope.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, endoscopes have been widely adopted in the fields of medicine and industries alike. Moreover, an endoscopic imaging system has come to be adopted widely. In the endoscopic imaging system, a TV camera-mounted endoscope having a TV camera which includes an imaging means mounted on an eyepiece unit of an optical endoscope, or an electronic endoscope including an imaging means in a distal part thereof is used to produce an endoscopic image, and the endoscopic image is displayed on a monitor.
Assume that such an endoscopic imaging system is used, for example, to conduct an endoscopic examination in the field of medicine. In this case, an operator often records images (photographs an object) using a photography unit or produces hard copies of endoscopic images by outputting image data to a video printer so that he/she can utilize them for future diagnosis.
Moreover, image data may be output to an image filing system for recording of endoscopic images.
Moreover, a video tape recorder (VTR) has been adopted for recording a motion picture.
However, when the photography unit is employed, it takes much time to complete development of a film. In addition, a request for checking an image right away cannot be met, as is possible when the video printer is employed. However, as far as the photography unit or video printer is concerned, management of developed films or print sheets is a nuisance. Since it is hard to retrieve the films or print sheets, the films or print sheets are usually manually filed. This brings about a drawback that the filing (using an image scanner) is time-consuming.
Moreover, when an image filing system is employed, image retrieval can be achieved readily. However, a system including the image filing system becomes large in scale. Such a system can be installed only in a hospital that is somewhat large in scale. Furthermore, a location in which such retrieval is carried out is restricted.
Moreover, in some clinical cases, image data of a motion picture is recorded. However, there is a drawback that when the VTR is used to dub films or to edit or manipulate the image data, image quality deteriorates.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide an endoscopic imaging system making it possible to readily retrieve or edit image data of even a still image or a motion picture, and to suppress deterioration of image quality.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an endoscopic imaging system designed compactly and capable of providing endoscopic image data that can be readily retrieved or edited.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide an endoscopic imaging system including a simply structured external storage and capable of readily fetching digital image data.
An endoscopic imaging system of the present invention comprises:
an endoscope including an illumination optical system located at and end of an elongated insertion unit for emitting illumination light, an objective optical system located at the distal end of the insertion unit for forming an optical image of an object illuminated with the illumination light, and an imaging device for photoelectrically converting the optical image directly or the optical image that has been transmitted through the insertion unit;
a signal processing apparatus for driving the imaging device, processing an image signal output from the imaging device, producing digital and analog video signals, and outputting the digital and analog video signals through a digital video signal output terminal and analog video signal output terminal, respectively;
a monitor for displaying an object image represented by the analog video signal in response to an input of the analog video signal output through the analog video signal output terminal; and
an expansion unit to be coupled to the digital video signal output terminal in a freely detachable manner, and including at least one of a compression unit for compressing the digital video signal and a PC card slot to which a PC card, in which a motion picture digital video signal representing a motion picture whose data has been compressed by the compression unit and a digital video signal representing a still image whose data has been compressed by the compression unit are stored, can be coupled in the freely detachable manner.
An operator should merely connect an expansion unit specific to still images or motion pictures according to the kind of image to be recorded. Thus, image data can be compressed and recorded digitally. Retrieval, editing, and manipulation of the image data can therefore be carried out easily. Even if manipulation or the like is repeated, resultant deterioration of image quality can be minimized.
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Hagihara Masahiro
Kami Kuniaki
Kusamura Noboru
Matsumoto Kanichi
Mochida Akihiko
Britton Howard
Diep Nhon T
Olympus Optical Co,. Ltd.
Ostrolenk Faber Gerb & Soffen, LLP
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