Endoscope system and endoscope system control method

Abstract

The endoscope system comprises: a light source unit that can generate lights of a plurality of wavelength bands different from each other, and can alternately generate a first illumination light and a second illumination light as illumination light for illuminating a subject including living tissue present in a subject; an imaging unit that captures a picture of the subject irradiated with the illumination light; an image analyzing unit that analyzes a first image obtained by capturing the subject when the first illumination light is irradiated, thereby obtaining an analysis result of whether or not abnormalities are found in the first image; and an illumination light setting unit that sets lights of a predetermined one or more wavelength bands selected from lights of a plurality of wavelength bands as the first illumination light, and sets lights of a predetermined one or more wavelength bands selected from lights of a plurality of wavelength bands in a manner having different wavelength bands according to the analysis result as the second illumination light.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an endoscope system, and in particular to an endoscope system used for observing living tissue. Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, in endoscopic observation in the medical field, a technique is known in which an object including abnormal findings such as redness existing inside the subject is irradiated with illumination light of a specific wavelength for observation.

[0003] Specifically, for example, Japanese Patent Gazette No. 6247610 discloses the following structure: in an endoscope system, when the system is set to a high-quality image mode, an image for display is generated using an image signal obtained by photographing a possible lesion site irradiated with blue limiting light and red light, and an image signal obtained by photographing the possible lesion site irradiated with purple light and green light.

[0004] However, according to the configuration disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 6247610, there arises a problem that, since the type of light irradiated to the possible lesion site is fixed in the high-quality image mode, an image that is not suitable for observing the possible lesion site may be displayed.

[0005] Therefore, according to the configuration disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 6247610, the following problem corresponding to the above-mentioned problem occurs: an excessive burden is imposed on the operator who performs the work of diagnosing abnormality discovery.

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an endoscope system that can reduce the burden on a surgeon who performs a task of diagnosing abnormalities. Summary of the invention

[0007] Means for solving problems

[0008] An endoscope system according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises: a light source unit configured to generate light of a plurality of wavelength bands different from each other, and capable of alternately generating a first illumination light and a second illumination light as illumination light for illuminating a subject including living tissue present in the subject; an imaging unit configured to capture return light from the subject irradiated with the illumination light; an image analyzing unit configured to analyze a first image obtained by capturing the subject when irradiating the first illumination light, thereby obtaining an analysis result of whether or not abnormalities are found in the first image; and an illumination light setting unit configured to set light of a predetermined one or more wavelength bands selected from the plurality of wavelength bands as the first illumination light, and to set light of a predetermined one or more wavelength bands selected from the plurality of wavelength bands in a manner having different wavelength bands according to the analysis result as the second illumination light.

[0009] An endoscope system according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises: a light source unit configured to generate light of a plurality of wavelength bands different from each other, and capable of alternately generating a first illumination light and a second illumination light as illumination light for illuminating a subject including living tissue present in the subject; an imaging unit configured to capture return light from the subject irradiated with the illumination light; an image analyzing unit configured to analyze a first image obtained by capturing the subject when irradiating the first illumination light, thereby obtaining an analysis result of whether or not abnormalities are found in the living tissue contained in the first image; and an illumination light setting unit configured to set a light intensity ratio of the plurality of wavelength bands contained in the first illumination light to a first light intensity ratio, and to set a light intensity ratio of the plurality of wavelength bands contained in the second illumination light to a second light intensity ratio that is different according to the analysis result. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] Figure 1 It is a diagram showing the configuration of a main part of an endoscope system according to an embodiment.

[0011] Figure 2 This is a diagram showing an example of the wavelength band of light emitted from each LED of the light source device provided in the endoscope system according to the embodiment.

[0012] Figure 3 It is a diagram for explaining an example of the configuration of a control unit provided in a processor of the endoscope system according to the embodiment.

[0013] Figure 4 This is a flowchart showing an overview of operations performed in the endoscope system according to the embodiment.

[0014] Figure 5 This is a flowchart for explaining a specific example of the analysis process performed in the endoscope system according to the first embodiment.

[0015] Figure 6 This is a flowchart for explaining a specific example of analysis processing performed in the endoscope system according to the second embodiment.

[0016] Figure 7 This is a flowchart for explaining a specific example of analysis processing performed in the endoscope system according to the third embodiment.

[0017] Figure 8 This is a diagram showing an example of illumination light emitted from a light source device of an endoscope system according to a modified example of the third embodiment.

[0018] Fig. 9 This is a diagram showing an example of illumination light emitted from a light source device of an endoscope system according to a modified example of the third embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0019] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0020] (First embodiment)

[0021] Figure 1 to Figure 5 This invention relates to a first embodiment.

[0022] like Figure 1 As shown, the endoscope system 1 comprises: an endoscope 2, which is configured to be inserted into a subject, and to photograph a subject such as living tissue existing in the subject and output a video signal; a light source device 3, which is configured to supply illumination light for observing the subject via a light guide 7 inserted through the interior of the endoscope 2; a processor 4, which is configured to generate and output an observation image corresponding to the video signal output from the endoscope 2; and a display device 5, which is configured to display the observation image output from the processor 4 on a screen. Figure 1 It is a diagram showing the configuration of a main part of an endoscope system according to an embodiment.

[0023] The endoscope 2 includes an insertion portion 2a formed in an elongated shape that can be inserted into a subject, and an operation portion 2b provided on the proximal side of the insertion portion 2a. The endoscope 2 is configured to be detachably connected to the processor 4 via, for example, a universal cable (not shown) having a built-in signal line for transmitting various signals such as an imaging signal output from an imaging unit 21 (described later). The endoscope 2 is configured to be detachably connected to the light source device 3 via a light guide cable (not shown) having at least a portion of a light guide 7 built-in.

[0024] An imaging unit 21 for imaging a subject including living tissues in the subject, an emission end of the light guide 7 , and an illumination optical system 22 for irradiating the subject with illumination light transmitted by the light guide 7 are provided at the distal end 2 c of the insertion portion 2 a .

[0025] The imaging unit 21 is configured to capture the return light from the subject irradiated with the illumination light from the illumination optical system 22 and output an imaging signal. Specifically, the imaging unit 21 includes an objective optical system 21a configured to image the return light emitted from the subject irradiated with the illumination light from the illumination optical system 22, and an imaging element 21b configured to generate an imaging signal by capturing the return light imaged by the objective optical system 21a, and output the generated imaging signal to the processor 4.

[0026] The imaging element 21b is configured to have an image sensor such as a CCD or a CMOS. In addition, a color filter of a primary color Bayer arrangement for splitting the return light incident from the objective optical system 21a into three colors of red, green and blue, and a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix to capture the light passing through the color filter are provided on the imaging surface of the imaging element 21b. In addition, the imaging element 21b is configured to perform an action corresponding to a control signal output from the processor 4.

[0027] The operation portion 2b is configured to have a shape that can be gripped and operated by a user. The operation portion 2b is provided with a scope switch 23 that has one or more switches that can instruct the processor 4 in accordance with the user's input operation.

[0028] A scope memory 24 is provided inside the operation portion 2b, and the scope memory 24 stores endoscope information including information specific to the endoscope 2, such as the model of the endoscope 2. When the endoscope 2 and the processor 4 are electrically connected and the power of the processor 4 is turned on, the endoscope information stored in the scope memory 24 is read out by a control unit 44 (described later) of the processor 4.

[0029] The light source device 3 is configured to have a function as a light source unit, can generate light of multiple wavelength bands different from each other, and can alternately generate illumination light EL1 and illumination light EL2 (both described later) as illumination light for illuminating a subject including living tissue present in the subject. In addition, the light source device 3 is configured to include a light emitting unit 31, a combiner 32, a converging lens 33, and a light source control unit 34.

[0030] The light emitting unit 31 is configured to include a purple LED 31a, a blue LED 31b, a green LED 31c, an amber LED 31d, and a red LED 31e. In addition, each LED of the light emitting unit 31 is configured to emit light or extinguish light individually according to the control of the light source control unit 34. In addition, each LED of the light emitting unit 31 is configured to emit light at a light emission amount corresponding to the control of the light source control unit 34.

[0031] The purple LED 31a is configured to generate purple light (hereinafter referred to as V light) having a central wavelength in the purple region. Figure 2 The central wavelength shown is set to light of any wavelength between 400 nm and 420 nm as V light. The light emission amount of the purple LED 31 a is defined as the total light amount obtained by integrating the intensity of light of each wavelength included in the wavelength band of the V light. Figure 2 This is a diagram showing an example of the wavelength band of light emitted from each LED of the light source device provided in the endoscope system according to the embodiment.

[0032] The blue LED 31b is configured to generate blue light (hereinafter referred to as B light) having a central wavelength in a blue region on the longer wavelength side than the V light. Figure 2 The central wavelength shown is set to any wavelength in the range of 440 nm to 470 nm as the B light. The light emission amount of the blue LED 31 b is defined as the total light amount obtained by integrating the intensity of the light of each wavelength included in the wavelength band of the B light.

[0033] The green LED 31c is configured to generate green light (hereinafter referred to as G light) having a central wavelength in a green region on the longer wavelength side than the B light. Specifically, the green LED 31c is configured to generate Figure 2 The central wavelength shown is set to any wavelength of 510 nm to 580 nm as G light. The emission light amount of the green LED 31 c is defined as the total light amount obtained by integrating the intensity of light of each wavelength included in the wavelength band of the G light.

[0034] The amber LED 31d is configured to generate amber light (hereinafter referred to as A light) having a central wavelength in an amber region on the longer wavelength side than the G light. Specifically, the amber LED 31d is configured to generate, for example, Figure 2 The central wavelength shown is set to any wavelength of 590 nm to 610 nm as light A. The light emission amount of the amber LED 31 d is defined as the total light amount obtained by integrating the intensity of light of each wavelength included in the wavelength band of the A light.

[0035] The red LED 31e is configured to generate red light (hereinafter referred to as R light) having a central wavelength in a red region on the longer wavelength side than the A light. Figure 2 The central wavelength shown is set to any wavelength between 620 nm and 660 nm as R light. The light emission amount of the red LED 31e is defined as the total light amount obtained by integrating the intensity of each wavelength included in the wavelength band of the R light.

[0036] The multiplexer 32 is configured to multiplex the lights emitted from the light emitting unit 31 and allow the lights to enter the focusing lens 33 .

[0037] The condensing lens 33 is configured to condense the light incident via the multiplexer 32 and emit the light toward the incident end of the light guide 7 .

[0038] The light source control unit 34 is configured to include, for example, a control circuit, etc. In addition, the light source control unit 34 is configured to drive each LED of the light emitting unit 31 based on a control signal output from the processor 4 .

[0039] The processor 4 includes a signal processing unit 41 , an image processing unit 42 , an observation image generating unit 43 , and a control unit 44 .

[0040] The signal processing unit 41 is configured to include, for example, a signal processing circuit, etc. In addition, the signal processing unit 41 is configured to generate image data by performing predetermined signal processing such as A / D conversion on the imaging signal output from the endoscope 2, and output the generated image data to the image processing unit 42 and the control unit 44 frame by frame.

[0041] The image processing unit 42 is configured to include, for example, an image processing circuit. In addition, the image processing unit 42 is configured to perform the following processing: based on the image data output from the signal processing unit 41 and the control signal output from the control unit 44, the image data IDV of the purple component corresponding to the V light included in the return light of the illumination light irradiated to the subject, the image data IDB of the blue component corresponding to the B light included in the return light, the image data IDG of the green component corresponding to the G light included in the return light, the image data IDA of the amber component corresponding to the A light included in the return light, and the image data IDR of the red component corresponding to the R light included in the return light are generated. In addition, the image processing unit 42 is configured to perform a predetermined image processing on the image data of each color component generated as described above, and output the image data to the observation image generating unit 43.

[0042] The observation image generating unit 43 is configured to include, for example, an image generating circuit, etc. In addition, the observation image generating unit 43 is configured to generate an observation image using the image data output from the image processing unit 42 according to a control signal output from the control unit 44, and output the generated observation image to the display device 5 frame by frame.

[0043] The control unit 44 is configured to include, for example, a control circuit. In addition, the control unit 44 is configured to generate and output a control signal for performing an operation corresponding to an instruction from the scope switch 23. In addition, the control unit 44 is configured to generate and output a control signal for controlling the operation of the imaging element 21b. In addition, the control unit 44 is configured to read the endoscope information stored in the scope memory 24 when the endoscope 2 and the processor 4 are electrically connected and the power of the processor 4 is turned on.

[0044] The control unit 44 is configured to generate a control signal for alternately generating the illumination light EL1 and the illumination light EL2, and output it to the light source control unit 34. In addition, the control unit 44 is configured to generate a control signal for performing an operation corresponding to the illumination light EL1 and EL2, and output it to the image processing unit 42 and the observation image generating unit 43, respectively. In addition, for example, Figure 3 As shown, the control unit 44 is configured to include an image analysis unit 44a, an illumination light setting unit 44b, and a control signal generation unit 44c. Figure 3 It is a diagram for explaining an example of the configuration of a control unit provided in a processor of the endoscope system according to the embodiment.

[0045] The image analysis unit 44a is configured to perform analysis processing on the image data output from the signal processing unit 41 according to the irradiation of the illumination light EL1, and output analysis result information indicating the analysis result obtained by the analysis processing to the illumination light setting unit 44b. Specific examples of the operations performed by the image analysis unit 44a will be described later.

[0046] The illumination light setting unit 44b is configured to set one or more predetermined colors of light selected from the five colors of light (V light, B light, G light, A light, and R light) emitted from each LED of the light emitting unit 31 as the illumination light EL1. In addition, the illumination light setting unit 44b is configured to select one or more colors of light from the five colors of light emitted from each LED of the light emitting unit 31 based on the analysis result information output from the image analysis unit 44a, and set the selected one or more colors of light as the illumination light EL2. In addition, the illumination light setting unit 44b is configured to be able to perform the following processing: for comparing the analysis result represented by the latest analysis result information output from the image analysis unit 44a with the analysis result represented by the past analysis result information stored in the memory or the like (not shown). In addition, the illumination light setting unit 44b is configured to alternately output the illumination light setting information indicating the setting content of the illumination light EL1 and the illumination light setting information indicating the setting content of the illumination light EL2 to the control signal generating unit 44c. In addition, a specific example of the operation performed by the illumination light setting unit 44b will be described later.

[0047] The control signal generating section 44c is configured to alternately generate a control signal for generating the illumination light EL1 and a control signal for generating the illumination light EL2 described later, based on the illumination light setting information output from the illumination light setting section 44b, and output the control signal to the light source control section 34. In addition, the control signal generating section 44c is configured to generate a control signal for performing an operation corresponding to the illumination light EL1 and EL2, based on the illumination light setting information output from the illumination light setting section 44b, and output the control signal to the image processing section 42 and the observation image generating section 43, respectively. In addition, a specific example of the operation performed in the control signal generating section 44c will be described later.

[0048] In the present embodiment, the control signal generating section 44c generates a control signal for setting the switching speed when the illumination light EL1 and EL2 are alternately generated to twice the set value of the frame rate when the observation image is displayed on the display device 5, and outputs it to the light source control section 34, the image processing section 42, and the observation image generating section 43. Specifically, the control signal generating section 44c generates a control signal for switching and generating the illumination light EL1 and EL2 every 1 / 60 second, for example, based on the illumination light setting information output from the illumination light setting section 44b, and outputs it to the light source control section 34, and generates a control signal for outputting the observation image to the display device 5 at 30 fps, and outputs it to the image processing section 42 and the observation image generating section 43.

[0049] In addition, in the present embodiment, for example, each part of the processor 4 may be configured as an individual electronic circuit, or may be configured as a circuit block in an integrated circuit such as an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array). In addition, in the present embodiment, for example, the processor 4 may also be configured to have more than one CPU. In addition, by appropriately modifying the structure of the present embodiment, for example, the processor 4 may also read a program for executing the functions of the signal processing unit 41, the image processing unit 42, the observation image generating unit 43, and the control unit 44 from a storage medium such as a memory (not shown), and perform an action corresponding to the read program.

[0050] The display device 5 is configured to include, for example, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) and the like, and can display an observation image output from the processor 4 and the like.

[0051] Next, refer to Figure 4 and Figure 5 The operation of this embodiment will be described. Figure 4 This is a flowchart showing an overview of operations performed in the endoscope system according to the embodiment. Figure 5 This is a flowchart for explaining a specific example of the analysis process performed in the endoscope system according to the first embodiment.

[0052] The illumination light setting unit 44b sets, for example, G light and R light selected from the five colors of light emitted by each LED of the light emitting unit 31 as the illumination light EL1 when the user indicates the intention to start observation using the endoscope 2 based on the operation of the scope switch 23 by the user, and outputs illumination light setting information ESA indicating the setting content of the illumination light EL1 to the control signal generating unit 44c. In addition, in the present embodiment, the illumination light setting unit 44b may set B light, G light, and R light as the illumination light EL1.

[0053] The control signal generating section 44c generates a control signal for generating the illumination light EL1 based on the illumination light setting information ESA output from the illumination light setting section 44b, and outputs it to the light source control section 34. Furthermore, the control signal generating section 44c generates a control signal for stopping the generation of image data of each color component corresponding to the return light of the illumination light EL1 based on the illumination light setting information ESA output from the illumination light setting section 44b, and outputs it to the image processing section 42. Furthermore, the control signal generating section 44c generates a control signal for stopping the generation of the observation image during the irradiation period of the illumination light EL1 based on the illumination light setting information ESA output from the illumination light setting section 44b, and outputs it to the observation image generating section 43.

[0054] Moreover, according to the operation of the illumination light setting unit 44b and the control signal generating unit 44c described above, the illumination light EL1 including G light and R light is irradiated onto the subject including living tissue, the imaging signal obtained by capturing the return light from the subject is output from the imaging unit 21, and the image data ID1 generated based on the imaging signal is output from the signal processing unit 41.

[0055] The image analysis unit 44a performs analysis processing on the image data ID1 corresponding to the image obtained when the illumination light EL1 is irradiated, and outputs analysis result information ARA indicating the analysis result obtained by the analysis processing to the illumination light setting unit 44b ( Figure 4 Step S1).

[0056] Here, refer to Figure 5 A specific example of the analysis process performed by the image analysis unit 44a of this embodiment is described below.

[0057] The image analysis unit 44a performs processing for dividing the image data ID1 output from the signal processing unit 41 into a plurality of regions ( Figure 5 Then, according to this processing, for example, the image data ID1 output from the signal processing unit 41 is divided into n (n ≥ 2) areas Hi (1 ≤ i ≤ n).

[0058] The image analysis unit 44a performs a process for detecting the Figure 5 The processing of the average hue of each of the plurality of regions Hi obtained by the processing of step S11 ( Figure 5 Step S12).

[0059] Specifically, the image analysis unit 44a performs the following processing, for example: performing the operation of the following formula (1) on s pixels excluding the pixel generating halo from all pixels included in one region Hi, thereby calculating the calculated value CVA, and detecting the average value AVA of the calculated values ​​CVA on the s pixels as the value indicating the average color tone of the one region Hi. Then, the image analysis unit 44a obtains the calculation results of the average values ​​AVA of each of the plurality of regions Hi obtained by repeating the above processing n times as the detection results of the average colors of each of the plurality of regions Hi.

[0060] CVA = 32 × log 2 (Rp / Gp)…(1)

[0061] The image analysis unit 44a performs the following processing: Figure 5 The hue of each of the plurality of regions Hi is determined based on the detection result of the average hue of each of the plurality of regions Hi obtained by the process of step S12. Figure 5 Step S13).

[0062] Specifically, the image analysis unit 44a obtains a determination result that the hue of the one region Hi is a low-saturation red hue, for example, when the average value AVA calculated in one region Hi is less than the threshold value THA. In addition, the image analysis unit 44a obtains a determination result that the hue of the one region Hi is a high-saturation red hue, for example, when the average value AVA calculated in one region Hi is greater than the threshold value THB (>THA). In addition, the image analysis unit 44a obtains a determination result that the hue of the one region Hi is a medium-saturation red hue, for example, when the average value AVA calculated in one region Hi is within the range of more than the threshold value THA and less than the threshold value THB.

[0063] The image analysis unit 44a performs the following processing: Figure 5 The determination result of the hue of each of the plurality of regions Hi obtained by the process of step S13 is used as Figure 5 The color tone of the image data ID1 to be processed in step S11 is evaluated ( Figure 5 Step S14).

[0064] Specifically, for example, when the number of regions Hi determined as low-saturation red tones among the n regions Hi obtained by dividing the image data ID1 is greater than n / 2 (accounting for the majority), the image analysis unit 44a obtains an evaluation result that the hue of the image data ID1 is equivalent to the hue of the faded mucous membrane. Furthermore, for example, when the number of regions Hi determined as high-saturation red tones among the n regions Hi obtained by dividing the image data ID1 is greater than n / 2 (accounting for the majority), the image analysis unit 44a obtains an evaluation result that the hue of the image data ID1 is equivalent to the hue of the reddish mucous membrane. Furthermore, for example, when the number of regions Hi determined as medium-saturation red tones among the n regions Hi obtained by dividing the image data ID1 is greater than n / 2 (accounting for the majority), the image analysis unit 44a obtains an evaluation result that the hue of the image data ID1 is equivalent to the hue of the normal mucous membrane. In addition, the image analysis unit 44a obtains an evaluation result that the hue of the image data ID1 is equivalent to the hue of the normal mucous membrane when, for example, the number of regions Hi judged to be low-saturation red tones, the number of regions Hi judged to be high-saturation red tones, and the number of regions Hi judged to be medium-saturation red tones among the n regions Hi obtained by dividing the image data ID1 are all less than n / 2 (less than half).

[0065] That is, the image analysis unit 44a of the present embodiment performs Figure 5 The analysis processing shown in the flowchart of , obtains the evaluation result related to the color tone of the image data ID1 as the analysis result of the analysis processing, and outputs the analysis result information ARA indicating the obtained analysis result to the illumination light setting unit 44b. In addition, the image analysis unit 44a of this embodiment analyzes the image data ID1 obtained by photographing the subject including the living tissue when the illumination light EL1 is irradiated, thereby obtaining the evaluation result related to whether the color tone of the image data ID1 belongs to the color tone corresponding to the abnormal finding or the color tone corresponding to the normal finding, as the analysis result of whether there is an abnormal finding in the image data ID1.

[0066] The illumination light setting unit 44b sets one or more colors of light selected from the five colors of light emitted by each LED of the light emitting unit 31 as the illumination light EL2 ( Figure 4 Step S2), and outputs the illumination light setting information ESB indicating the setting content of the illumination light EL2 to the control signal generating unit 44c.

[0067] Specifically, the illumination light setting unit 44b sets V light, G light, and R light selected from the five colors of light emitted by each LED of the light emitting unit 31 as the illumination light EL2, and outputs illumination light setting information ESB indicating the setting content of the illumination light EL2 to the control signal generating unit 44c, based on the analysis result information ARA outputted from the image analyzing unit 44a, when it is detected that the color tone of the image data ID1 corresponds to the color tone of the mucous membrane that is bleached, for example. Furthermore, the illumination light setting unit 44b sets B light, G light, and A light selected from the five colors of light emitted by each LED of the light emitting unit 31 as the illumination light EL2, and outputs illumination light setting information ESB indicating the setting content of the illumination light EL2 to the control signal generating unit 44c, based on the analysis result information ARA outputted from the image analyzing unit 44a, when it is detected that the color tone of the image data ID1 corresponds to the color tone of the mucous membrane that is rubescent, for example. In addition, the illumination light setting unit 44b sets B light, G light, and R light selected from the five colors of light emitted by each LED of the light emitting unit 31 as the illumination light EL2 based on the analysis result information ARA output from the image analysis unit 44a, for example, when it is detected that the color tone of the image data ID1 is equivalent to the color tone of the normal mucous membrane, and outputs the illumination light setting information ESB indicating the setting content of the illumination light EL2 to the control signal generating unit 44c.

[0068] That is, the illumination light setting unit 44b of the present embodiment combines light of one or more wavelength bands selected from the five colors of light emitted by each LED of the light emitting unit 31 and sets it as the illumination light EL2 in a manner having different wavelength bands according to the analysis result represented by the analysis result information ARA output from the image analysis unit 44a.

[0069] The control signal generating section 44c generates a control signal for generating the illumination light EL2 based on the illumination light setting information ESB outputted from the illumination light setting section 44b, and outputs the control signal to the light source control section 34( Figure 4 In addition, the control signal generating unit 44c generates a control signal for generating image data of each color component corresponding to the return light of the illumination light EL2 based on the illumination light setting information ESB outputted from the illumination light setting unit 44b, and outputs it to the image processing unit 42( Figure 4 In addition, the control signal generating unit 44c generates a control signal based on the illumination light setting information ESB output from the illumination light setting unit 44b and outputs it to the observation image generating unit 43. The control signal is used to generate an observation image ( Figure 4 Step S3).

[0070] Furthermore, according to the operations of the illumination light setting unit 44b and the control signal generating unit 44c described above, for example, when the color tone of the image data ID1 corresponds to the color tone of the faded mucous membrane, the illumination light EL2 including the V light, the G light, and the R light is irradiated onto the subject including the living tissue, the imaging unit 21 outputs an imaging signal obtained by capturing the return light from the subject, and the signal processing unit 41 outputs the image data ID2 generated based on the imaging signal. Furthermore, according to the operations of the illumination light setting unit 44b and the control signal generating unit 44c described above, for example, when the color tone of the image data ID1 corresponds to the color tone of the reddish mucous membrane, the illumination light EL2 including the B light, the G light, and the A light is irradiated onto the subject including the living tissue, the imaging unit 21 outputs an imaging signal obtained by capturing the return light from the subject, and the signal processing unit 41 outputs the image data ID2 generated based on the imaging signal. In addition, according to the operations of the illumination light setting unit 44b and the control signal generating unit 44c described above, for example, when the color tone of the image data ID1 is equivalent to the color tone of a normal mucous membrane, the illumination light EL2 including B light, G light and R light is irradiated onto a subject including living tissue, an imaging signal obtained by capturing the return light from the subject is output from the imaging unit 21, and image data ID2 generated based on the imaging signal is output from the signal processing unit 41.

[0071] The image processing unit 42 generates image data IDV2 of a purple component included in the image data ID2, image data IDG2 of a green component included in the image data ID2, and image data IDR2 of a red component included in the image data ID2, based on the image data ID2 output from the signal processing unit 41 and the control signal output from the control signal generating unit 44c, for example, when the color tone of the image data ID1 corresponds to the color tone of a faded mucous membrane, and performs a predetermined image processing on each of the generated image data, and outputs the image data to the observed image generating unit 43. In addition, the image processing unit 42 generates image data IDB2 of a blue component included in the image data ID2, image data IDG2 of a green component included in the image data ID2, and image data IDA2 of an amber component included in the image data ID2, based on the image data ID2 output from the signal processing unit 41 and the control signal output from the control signal generating unit 44c, for example, when the color tone of the image data ID1 corresponds to the color tone of a reddish mucous membrane, and performs a predetermined image processing on each of the generated image data, and outputs the image data to the observed image generating unit 43. In addition, the image processing unit 42 generates image data IDB2 of a blue component included in the image data ID2, image data IDG2 of a green component included in the image data ID2, and image data IDR2 of a red component included in the image data ID2, based on the image data ID2 output from the signal processing unit 41 and the control signal output from the control signal generating unit 44c. For example, when the hue of the image data ID1 corresponds to the hue of a normal mucous membrane, the image processing unit 42 performs prescribed image processing on each of the generated image data and outputs the image data to the observation image generating unit 43.

[0072] The observation image generation unit 43 generates an observation image KGA by allocating the image data IDV2 to the B (blue) channel of the display device 5, the image data IDG2 to the G (green) channel of the display device 5, and the image data IDR2 to the R (red) channel of the display device 5, based on the control signal output from the control unit 44, for example, when the color tone of the image data ID1 corresponds to the color tone of the faded mucous membrane, and outputs the generated observation image KGA to the display device 5. In addition, the observation image generation unit 43 generates an observation image KGB by allocating the image data IDB2 to the B channel of the display device 5, the image data IDG2 to the G channel of the display device 5, and the image data IDA2 to the R channel of the display device 5, based on the control signal output from the control unit 44, for example, when the color tone of the image data ID1 corresponds to the color tone of the reddish mucous membrane, and outputs the generated observation image KGB to the display device 5. In addition, the observation image generating unit 43 allocates the image data IDB2 to the B channel of the display device 5, allocates the image data IDG2 to the G channel of the display device 5, and allocates the image data IDR2 to the R channel of the display device 5 according to the control signal output from the control unit 44, for example, when the color tone of the image data ID1 is equivalent to the color tone of the normal mucous membrane, thereby generating an observation image KGC, and outputs the generated observation image KGC to the display device 5.

[0073] The illumination light setting unit 44b sets the Figure 4 After the illumination light setting information ESB obtained in the process of step S2 is output to the control signal generating unit 44c, the illumination light setting information ESA is output to the control signal generating unit 44c again.

[0074] The control signal generating section 44c generates a control signal for generating the illumination light EL1 based on the illumination light setting information ESA output from the illumination light setting section 44b, and outputs it to the light source control section 34. Furthermore, the control signal generating section 44c generates a control signal for stopping the generation of the image of each color component corresponding to the return light of the illumination light EL1 based on the illumination light setting information ESA output from the illumination light setting section 44b, and outputs it to the image processing section 42. Furthermore, the control signal generating section 44c generates a control signal for stopping the generation of the observation image during the irradiation period of the illumination light EL1 based on the illumination light setting information ESA output from the illumination light setting section 44b, and outputs it to the observation image generating section 43.

[0075] The image analysis unit 44a performs a process based on the image data ID1 corresponding to the image obtained when the illumination light EL1 is irradiated. Figure 4The analysis process is performed in the same manner as step S1, and analysis result information ARB indicating the analysis result obtained by the analysis process is output to the illumination light setting unit 44b ( Figure 4 Step S4).

[0076] The illumination light setting unit 44b performs the following processing: determining whether the analysis result indicated by the latest analysis result information ARBN is the same as the analysis result indicated by the past analysis result information ARBP. Figure 4 The past analysis result information ARBP corresponds to the analysis result information ARB obtained by the process of step S4, and the past analysis result information ARBP corresponds to the analysis result information ARA or ARB referred to when setting the current illumination light EL2 ( Figure 4 Step S5).

[0077] When the illumination light setting unit 44b obtains the determination result that the analysis result indicated by the latest analysis result information ARBN is the same as the analysis result indicated by the past analysis result information ARBP (S5: Yes), it proceeds to the following step. Figure 4 In addition, when the illumination light setting unit 44b obtains the determination result that the analysis result indicated by the latest analysis result information ARBN is different from the analysis result indicated by the past analysis result information ARBP (S5: No), it continues to perform the following step S6. Figure 4 The process of step S7.

[0078] The illumination light setting unit 44b outputs illumination light setting information ESB indicating the same setting contents as the current setting contents to the control signal generating unit 44c so as to maintain the current setting contents of the illumination light EL2 ( Figure 4 Step S6).

[0079] The illumination light setting unit 44b performs the following processing: determining whether the number of times the same analysis result as the analysis result indicated by the latest analysis result information ARBN is continuously obtained is equal to or greater than a predetermined number of times ( Figure 4 Step S7).

[0080] When the illumination light setting unit 44b obtains a determination result that the number of times the same analysis result as the analysis result indicated by the latest analysis result information ARBN is obtained continuously is less than a predetermined number of times (S7: No), the illumination light setting unit 44b continues the above Figure 4Furthermore, when the illumination light setting unit 44b obtains a determination result that the number of times the same analysis result as the analysis result indicated by the latest analysis result information ARBN is continuously obtained is equal to or greater than a predetermined number of times (S7: Yes), the illumination light setting unit 44b changes the setting content of the illumination light EL2 to the setting content corresponding to the analysis result indicated by the latest analysis result information ARBN, and outputs the illumination light setting information ESB indicating the changed setting content of the illumination light EL2 to the control signal generating unit 44c ( Figure 4 Step S8).

[0081] The control signal generating unit 44c is based on Figure 4 The illumination light setting information ESB obtained by processing in any of step S6 and step S8 generates a control signal for generating illumination light EL2 corresponding to the illumination light setting information ESB, and outputs it to the light source control unit 34 ( Figure 4 Step S9). In addition, according to Figure 4 The illumination light setting information ESB obtained by processing any of step S6 and step S8 generates a control signal for performing an action corresponding to the illumination light setting information ESB (generation of an observation image), and outputs it to the image processing unit 42 and the observation image generation unit 43 ( Figure 4 Step S9).

[0082] According to the present embodiment, for example, in response to the operation of the scope switch 23 by the user, the operation is repeated until an instruction to end observation with the endoscope 2 is given. Figure 4The processing of steps S4 to S9 is performed. In addition, according to the present embodiment, the spectrum of the illumination light EL2 is set according to the color tone of the image data ID1 obtained when the illumination light EL1 set to a prescribed spectrum is irradiated on the subject, and the observation image corresponding to the illumination light EL2 is displayed on the display device 5. In addition, according to the present embodiment, for example, when the abnormality discovery area ABF corresponding to the mucosa where atrophy occurs is included in the image data ID1, the observation image KGA (as the observation image corresponding to the illumination light EL2) generated using the image data IDV2 corresponding to the return light of the V light strongly scattered on the surface of the mucosa is displayed on the display device 5, so that the visual recognizability of the abnormality discovery area ABF can be improved. Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, for example, when the abnormal finding region ABR corresponding to the mucous membrane where diffuse redness occurs is included in the image data ID1, the observation image KGB (as the observation image corresponding to the illumination light EL2) generated using the image data IDA2 corresponding to the return light of the A light having a higher absorption coefficient for hemoglobin than the R light is displayed on the display device 5, so that the visual recognition of the abnormal finding region ABR can be improved. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the burden on the surgeon who performs the work of diagnosing the abnormal finding can be reduced.

[0083] (Second embodiment)

[0084] Figure 6 This invention relates to a second embodiment.

[0085] In addition, in this embodiment, the outline of the operation of the control unit 44 is the same as Figure 4 The flowchart of the embodiment is the same as that of the embodiment 1, but the details of the operation of the control unit 44 are partially different from those of the first embodiment. Figure 4 The flowchart of FIG. 4 will be used to describe the outline of the operation of the control unit 44 , and the details of the operation of the control unit 44 will be described with emphasis on the parts that are different from those of the first embodiment.

[0086] For example, the illumination light setting unit 44b sets V light, G light, and R light selected from the five colors of light emitted by each LED of the light emitting unit 31 as the illumination light EL1 when an instruction to start observation using the endoscope 2 is given based on the user's operation of the scope switch 23, and outputs illumination light setting information ESC indicating the setting content of the illumination light EL1 to the control signal generating unit 44c.

[0087] The control signal generating section 44c generates a control signal for generating the illumination light EL1 based on the illumination light setting information ESC output from the illumination light setting section 44b, and outputs the control signal to the light source control section 34. Furthermore, the control signal generating section 44c generates a control signal for generating image data of each color component corresponding to the return light of the illumination light EL1 based on the illumination light setting information ESC output from the illumination light setting section 44b, and outputs the control signal to the image processing section 42. Furthermore, the control signal generating section 44c generates a control signal for stopping the generation of the observation image and maintaining the image data of each color component output from the image processing section 42 during the irradiation period of the illumination light EL1 based on the illumination light setting information ESC output from the illumination light setting section 44b, and outputs the control signal to the observation image generating section 43.

[0088] Moreover, according to the operation of the illumination light setting unit 44b and the control signal generating unit 44c described above, the illumination light EL1 including V light, G light and R light is irradiated onto the subject including living tissue, and an imaging signal obtained by capturing the return light from the subject is output from the imaging unit 21, and image data ID3 generated based on the imaging signal is output from the signal processing unit 41.

[0089] The image processing unit 42 generates image data IDV3 of a purple component included in the image data ID3, image data IDG3 of a green component included in the image data ID3, and image data IDR3 of a red component included in the image data ID3, respectively, based on the image data ID3 output from the signal processing unit 41 and the control signal output from the control signal generating unit 44c during the irradiation period of the illumination light EL1, and performs prescribed image processing on each of the generated image data and outputs the image data to the observation image generating unit 43.

[0090] The observation image generating section 43 holds the image data (image data IDV3 , image data IDG3 , and image data IDR3 ) of each color component output from the image processing section 42 during the irradiation period of the illumination light EL1 , based on the control signal output from the control section 44 .

[0091] The image analysis unit 44a performs analysis processing on the image data ID3 corresponding to the image obtained when the illumination light EL1 is irradiated, and outputs analysis result information ARC indicating the analysis result obtained by the analysis processing to the illumination light setting unit 44b ( Figure 4 Step S1).

[0092] Here, refer to Figure 6 A specific example of the analysis process performed by the image analysis unit 44a of this embodiment is described below. Figure 6 This is a flowchart for explaining a specific example of analysis processing performed in the endoscope system according to the second embodiment.

[0093] The image analysis unit 44a performs processing for converting the RGB pixel value of each pixel included in the image data ID3 output from the signal processing unit 41 into a coordinate value in the L*a*b* color space ( Figure 6 Step S21).

[0094] The image analysis unit 44a performs the following processing: Figure 6 The coordinate values ​​obtained by the processing of step S21 are used to extract pixels satisfying the prescribed conditions from the pixels included in the image data ID3. Figure 6 Step S22).

[0095] Specifically, the image analysis unit 44a performs the following processing, for example: from each pixel included in the image data ID3, extract a pixel having an a* value smaller than the average value of the a* values ​​of each pixel included in the image data ID3, and having a b* value larger than the average value of the b* values ​​of each pixel included in the image data ID3.

[0096] Alternatively, the image analysis unit 44a performs the following processing, for example: when the coordinate values ​​(a*, b*) of each pixel contained in the image data ID3 are represented by coordinate values ​​(r, θ) in polar coordinate form, and the coordinate values ​​in polar coordinate form obtained by the average value of the a* value and the average value of the b* value of each pixel contained in the image data ID3 are represented by (rt, θt), pixels having an r value greater than the radius rt and an angle θ value greater than θt and less than 90 degrees are extracted.

[0097] The image analysis unit 44a performs the following processing: Figure 6 The adjacency AD of each extracted pixel extracted by the process of step S22 is equivalent to the value of the index representing the adjacency state ( Figure 6 Step S23).

[0098] Specifically, the image analysis unit 44a obtains 1 as the count value corresponding to the one extracted pixel, for example, when there is one or more extracted pixels among the eight pixels near the one pixel of interest selected from the extracted pixels. In addition, the image analysis unit 44a obtains 0 as the count value corresponding to the one extracted pixel, for example, when there is no other extracted pixel among the eight pixels near the one pixel of interest selected from the extracted pixels. Then, the image analysis unit 44a obtains the total of the count values ​​obtained in each pixel of interest as the adjacency AD.

[0099] The image analysis unit 44a performs the following processing: Figure 6 The proximity AD obtained by the process of step S23 is determined as Figure 6Whether there is an abnormality finding area ( Figure 6 Step S24).

[0100] Specifically, the image analysis unit 44a obtains a determination result that the image data ID3 includes an abnormality detection region when the degree of adjacency AD is greater than the threshold value THC, for example. In addition, the image analysis unit 44a obtains a determination result that the image data ID3 does not include an abnormality detection region when the degree of adjacency AD is less than the threshold value THC, for example.

[0101] That is, the image analysis unit 44a of this embodiment performs Figure 6 The analysis processing shown in the flowchart of the embodiment is performed, and the determination result of whether there is an abnormality found region in the image data ID3 is obtained as the analysis result of the analysis processing, and the analysis result information ARC indicating the obtained analysis result is output to the illumination light setting unit 44b. In addition, the image analysis unit 44a of this embodiment analyzes the image data ID3 obtained by photographing a subject including living tissue when irradiating the illumination light EL1, thereby obtaining the determination result of whether the image data ID3 contains an abnormality found region having a predetermined color tone (yellow tone) as the analysis result of whether there is an abnormality found in the image data ID3.

[0102] In addition, the image analysis unit 44a of this embodiment may also replace Figure 6 The processing of step S23 and step S24 is replaced by the processing described below, thereby obtaining the determination result of whether there is an abnormality-detected area in the image data ID3.

[0103] The image analysis unit 44a connects one pixel of interest selected from each extracted pixel and eight pixels near the one pixel of interest, thereby generating a connected area. Furthermore, the image analysis unit 44a assigns the same label to multiple connected areas that are in contact with or overlap each other, thereby integrating the multiple connected areas into one label area. Then, the image analysis unit 44a obtains a determination result that the image data ID3 contains an abnormality detection area when the number of label areas with a pixel number greater than a prescribed number of pixels is greater than a prescribed number. In addition, the image analysis unit 44a obtains a determination result that the image data ID3 does not contain an abnormality detection area when the number of label areas with a pixel number greater than a prescribed number of pixels is less than a prescribed number.

[0104] The illumination light setting unit 44b sets one or more colors of light selected from the five colors of light emitted by each LED of the light emitting unit 31 as the illumination light EL2 ( Figure 4Step S2), and outputs the illumination light setting information ESD indicating the setting content of the illumination light EL2 to the control signal generating unit 44c.

[0105] Specifically, the illumination light setting unit 44b sets the V light and the A light selected from the five colors of light emitted by each LED of the light emitting unit 31 as the illumination light EL2, based on the analysis result information ARC output from the image analysis unit 44a, for example, when it is detected that the image data ID3 includes the abnormality finding region, and outputs the illumination light setting information ESD indicating the setting content of the illumination light EL2 to the control signal generation unit 44c. In addition, the illumination light setting unit 44b sets the B light and the A light selected from the five colors of light emitted by each LED of the light emitting unit 31 as the illumination light EL2, based on the analysis result information ARC output from the image analysis unit 44a, for example, when it is detected that the image data ID3 does not include the abnormality finding region, and outputs the illumination light setting information ESD indicating the setting content of the illumination light EL2 to the control signal generation unit 44c.

[0106] That is, the illumination light setting unit 44b of the present embodiment combines light of one or more wavelength bands selected from the five colors of light emitted by each LED of the light emitting unit 31 and sets it as the illumination light EL2 in a manner having different wavelength bands according to the analysis result represented by the analysis result information ARC output from the image analysis unit 44a.

[0107] The control signal generating section 44c generates a control signal for generating the illumination light EL2 based on the illumination light setting information ESD outputted from the illumination light setting section 44b, and outputs the control signal to the light source control section 34( Figure 4 In addition, the control signal generating unit 44c generates a control signal for generating image data of each color component corresponding to the return light of the illumination light EL2 based on the illumination light setting information ESD outputted from the illumination light setting unit 44b, and outputs it to the image processing unit 42( Figure 4 In addition, the control signal generating unit 44c generates a control signal based on the illumination light setting information ESD outputted from the illumination light setting unit 44b and outputs it to the observation image generating unit 43, and the control signal is used to generate an observation image ( Figure 4 Step S3).

[0108] Furthermore, according to the operations of the illumination light setting unit 44b and the control signal generating unit 44c described above, for example, when the abnormality finding region is included in the image data ID3, the illumination light EL2 including the V light and the A light is irradiated onto the subject including the living tissue, the imaging unit 21 outputs an imaging signal obtained by capturing the return light from the subject, and the signal processing unit 41 outputs the image data ID4 generated based on the imaging signal. Furthermore, according to the operations of the illumination light setting unit 44b and the control signal generating unit 44c described above, for example, when the abnormality finding region is not included in the image data ID3, the illumination light EL2 including the B light and the A light is irradiated onto the subject including the living tissue, the imaging unit 21 outputs an imaging signal obtained by capturing the return light from the subject, and the signal processing unit 41 outputs the image data ID2 generated based on the imaging signal.

[0109] The image processing unit 42 generates image data IDV4 of a purple component and image data IDA4 of an amber component, respectively, based on the image data ID4 output from the signal processing unit 41 and the control signal output from the control signal generating unit 44c, when, for example, the abnormality detection region is included in the image data ID3, and performs a predetermined image processing on each of the generated image data, and outputs the image data to the observed image generating unit 43. In addition, the image processing unit 42 generates image data IDB4 of a blue component and image data IDA4 of an amber component, respectively, based on the image data ID4 output from the signal processing unit 41 and the control signal output from the control signal generating unit 44c, when, for example, the abnormality detection region is not included in the image data ID3, and performs a predetermined image processing on each of the generated image data, and outputs the image data to the observed image generating unit 43.

[0110] The observation image generation unit 43 generates an observation image KGD by assigning image data obtained by adding the image data IDV3 and IDV4 that are aligned with each other for each pixel, assigning image data IDG3 to the G channel of the display device 5, and assigning image data IDA4 to the R channel of the display device 5, based on the control signal output from the control unit 44, for example, when the image data ID3 includes the abnormality detection region, and outputs the generated observation image KGD to the display device 5. In addition, the observation image generation unit 43 generates an observation image KGE by assigning image data obtained by adding the image data IDV3 and IDB4 that are aligned with each other for each pixel, assigning image data IDG3 to the G channel of the display device 5, and assigning image data obtained by adding the image data IDR3 and IDA4 that are aligned with each other for each pixel, based on the control signal output from the control unit 44, for example, when the image data ID3 does not include the abnormality detection region, and outputs the generated observation image KGE to the display device 5.

[0111] The illumination light setting unit 44b sets the Figure 4 After the illumination light setting information ESD obtained in the process of step S2 is output to the control signal generating unit 44c, the illumination light setting information ESC is output again to the control signal generating unit 44c.

[0112] The control signal generating section 44c generates a control signal for generating the illumination light EL1 based on the illumination light setting information ESC output from the illumination light setting section 44b, and outputs the control signal to the light source control section 34. Furthermore, the control signal generating section 44c generates a control signal for generating image data of each color component corresponding to the return light of the illumination light EL1 based on the illumination light setting information ESC output from the illumination light setting section 44b, and outputs the control signal to the image processing section 42. Furthermore, the control signal generating section 44c generates a control signal for stopping the generation of the observation image and maintaining the image data of each color component output from the image processing section 42 during the irradiation period of the illumination light EL1 based on the illumination light setting information ESC output from the illumination light setting section 44b, and outputs the control signal to the observation image generating section 43.

[0113] The image analysis unit 44a performs a process based on the image data ID3 corresponding to the image obtained when the illumination light EL1 is irradiated. Figure 4 The analysis process is performed in the same manner as step S1, and analysis result information ARD indicating the analysis result obtained by the analysis process is output to the illumination light setting unit 44b ( Figure 4 Step S4).

[0114] The illumination light setting unit 44b performs the following processing: determining whether the analysis result indicated by the latest analysis result information ARDN is the same as the analysis result indicated by the past analysis result information ARDP. Figure 4 The past analysis result information ARDP is equivalent to the analysis result information ARC or ARD referred to when setting the current illumination light EL2. Figure 4 Step S5).

[0115] When the illumination light setting unit 44b obtains the determination result that the analysis result indicated by the latest analysis result information ARDN is the same as the analysis result indicated by the past analysis result information ARDP (S5: Yes), it continues to perform the following steps. Figure 4 In addition, when the illumination light setting unit 44b obtains the determination result that the analysis result indicated by the latest analysis result information ARDN is different from the analysis result indicated by the past analysis result information ARDP (S5: No), it continues to perform the following step S6. Figure 4 The process of step S7.

[0116] The illumination light setting unit 44b outputs illumination light setting information ESD indicating the same setting contents as the current setting contents to the control signal generating unit 44c so as to maintain the current setting contents of the illumination light EL2 ( Figure 4 Step S6).

[0117] The illumination light setting unit 44b performs the following processing: determining whether the number of times the same analysis result as the analysis result indicated by the latest analysis result information ARDN is continuously obtained is equal to or greater than a predetermined number ( Figure 4 Step S7).

[0118] When the illumination light setting unit 44b obtains a determination result that the number of times the same analysis result as the analysis result indicated by the latest analysis result information ARDN is obtained continuously is less than a predetermined number of times (S7: No), the illumination light setting unit 44b continues the above Figure 4 Furthermore, when the illumination light setting unit 44b obtains a determination result that the number of times the same analysis result as the analysis result indicated by the latest analysis result information ARDN is continuously obtained is a predetermined number of times or more (S7: Yes), the illumination light setting unit 44b changes the setting content of the illumination light EL2 to the setting content corresponding to the analysis result indicated by the latest analysis result information ARDN, and outputs the illumination light setting information ESD indicating the changed setting content of the illumination light EL2 to the control signal generating unit 44c ( Figure 4 Step S8).

[0119] The control signal generating unit 44c is based on Figure 4 The illumination light setting information ESD obtained by processing in any of steps S6 and S8 generates a control signal for generating illumination light EL2 corresponding to the illumination light setting information ESD, and outputs it to the light source control unit 34 ( Figure 4 Step S9). In addition, according to Figure 4 The illumination light setting information ESD obtained by processing any of step S6 and step S8 generates a control signal for performing an action corresponding to the illumination light setting information ESD (generation of an observation image), and outputs it to the image processing unit 42 and the observation image generation unit 43 ( Figure 4 Step S9).

[0120] According to the present embodiment, for example, in response to the operation of the scope switch 23 by the user, the operation is repeated until an instruction to end observation with the endoscope 2 is given. Figure 4 The processing of steps S4 to S9 is performed. In addition, according to the present embodiment, the spectrum of the illumination light EL2 is set according to whether or not there is an abnormality detection area in the image data ID3 obtained when the subject is irradiated with the illumination light EL1 set to a prescribed spectrum, and the observation image corresponding to the illumination light EL2 is displayed on the display device 5. In addition, according to the present embodiment, for example, in the case where the abnormality detection area ABB that is visualized as a reddish area when observed with white light and as a Brownish Area when observed with narrow-band light is included in the image data ID3, the observation image KGD (as the observation image corresponding to the illumination light EL2) in which the abnormality detection area ABB is emphasized in yellow is displayed on the display device 5, thereby improving the visual recognizability of the abnormality detection area ABB. Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, for example, when the abnormality finding region ABB is included in the image data ID3, the illumination light EL2 including the A light is irradiated to the abnormality finding region ABB, and an observation image KGD (as an observation image corresponding to the illumination light EL2) that enables visual recognition of the state of the deep layer of the mucosa in the abnormality finding region ABB is displayed on the display device 5, so that the change in the state of the mucosa from the surface layer to the deep layer of the abnormality finding region ABB can be confirmed at one time. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the burden on the surgeon who performs the work of diagnosing the abnormality finding can be reduced.

[0121] In addition, in the present embodiment, for example, when the abnormality detection region is included in the image data ID3, the illumination light setting unit 44b may set the V light selected from the five colors of light emitted by each LED of the light emitting unit 31 as the illumination light EL2. In addition, in this case, for example, the observation image generating unit 43 may assign the image data obtained by adding the image data IDV3 and IDV4 that are aligned with each other for each pixel to the B channel and the G channel of the display device 5, respectively, and assign the image data IDG3 to the R channel of the display device 5, thereby generating the observation image KGF. And, according to such a configuration, when the abnormality detection region ABB is included in the image data ID3, the observation image KGF (as the observation image corresponding to the illumination light EL2) is displayed on the display device 5, in which the abnormality detection region ABB is emphasized with brown according to the allocation of the image data, and the brightness of the entire image region including the abnormality detection region ABB is improved by the addition of the image data IDV3 and IDV4, so that the visual recognition of the abnormality detection region ABB can be improved.

[0122] (Third embodiment)

[0123] Figure 7 to Figure 9 This invention relates to a third embodiment.

[0124] In addition, in this embodiment, the outline of the operation of the control unit 44 is the same as Figure 4 The flowchart of the embodiment is the same as that of the embodiment 1, but the details of the operation of the control unit 44 are partially different from those of the first embodiment. Figure 4 The flowchart of the embodiment of the present invention is used to describe the outline of the operation of the control unit 44, and the details of the operation of the control unit 44 are mainly described with reference to the parts that are different from those of the first embodiment and the second embodiment. In addition, in this embodiment, for example, the control unit 44 detects that the endoscope 2 is a model for the upper digestive tract such as the stomach based on the endoscope information stored in the scope memory 24. In addition, in this embodiment, the case of photographing and observing a subject existing inside the stomach is taken as an example for description.

[0125] For example, the illumination light setting unit 44b sets V light, G light, and R light selected from the five colors of light emitted by each LED of the light emitting unit 31 as the illumination light EL1 when an instruction to start observation using the endoscope 2 is given based on the user's operation of the scope switch 23, and outputs illumination light setting information ESC indicating the setting content of the illumination light EL1 to the control signal generating unit 44c.

[0126] The control signal generating unit 44c generates a control signal for generating the illumination light EL1 based on the illumination light setting information ESE output from the illumination light setting unit 44b, and outputs it to the light source control unit 34. Furthermore, the control signal generating unit 44c generates a control signal for generating image data of each color component corresponding to the return light of the illumination light EL1 based on the illumination light setting information ESE output from the illumination light setting unit 44b, and outputs it to the image processing unit 42. Furthermore, the control signal generating unit 44c generates a control signal for stopping the generation of the observation image and maintaining the image data of each color component output from the image processing unit 42 during the irradiation period of the illumination light EL1 based on the illumination light setting information ESE output from the illumination light setting unit 44b, and outputs it to the observation image generating unit 43.

[0127] Moreover, according to the operation of the illumination light setting unit 44b and the control signal generating unit 44c described above, the illumination light EL1 including V light, G light and R light is irradiated onto the subject including living tissue, and an imaging signal obtained by capturing the return light from the subject is output from the imaging unit 21, and image data ID5 generated based on the imaging signal is output from the signal processing unit 41.

[0128] The image processing unit 42 generates image data IDV5 of a purple component included in the image data ID5, image data IDG5 of a green component included in the image data ID5, and image data IDR5 of a red component included in the image data ID5, respectively, based on the image data ID5 output from the signal processing unit 41 and the control signal output from the control signal generating unit 44c during the irradiation period of the illumination light EL1, and performs prescribed image processing on each of the generated image data and outputs the image data to the observation image generating unit 43.

[0129] The observation image generating section 43 holds the image data (image data IDV5 , image data IDG5 , and image data IDR5 ) of each color component output from the image processing section 42 during the irradiation period of the illumination light EL1 , based on the control signal output from the control section 44 .

[0130] The image analysis unit 44a performs analysis processing on the image data ID5 corresponding to the image obtained when the illumination light EL1 is irradiated, and outputs analysis result information ARE indicating the analysis result obtained by the analysis processing to the illumination light setting unit 44b ( Figure 4 Step S1).

[0131] Here, refer to Figure 7 A specific example of the analysis process performed by the image analysis unit 44a of this embodiment is described below. Figure 7 This is a flowchart for explaining a specific example of analysis processing performed in the endoscope system according to the third embodiment.

[0132] The image analysis unit 44a performs processing for converting the RGB pixel value of each pixel included in the image data ID5 output from the signal processing unit 41 into a coordinate value in the L*a*b* color space ( Figure 7 Step S31).

[0133] The image analysis unit 44a performs the following processing: Figure 7 The coordinate values ​​obtained by the processing of step S31 are used to generate image data ID5a obtained by extracting only the a* values ​​of each pixel of the image data ID5, and a spatial filter SFA ( Figure 7 Step S32).

[0134] The image analysis unit 44a performs the following processing: Figure 7 The coordinate values ​​obtained by the processing of step S31 are calculated, and pixels other than the processing object are excluded from the pixels included in the image data ID5 ( Figure 7 Step S33).

[0135] Specifically, the image analysis unit 44a extracts, from each pixel included in the image data ID5, pixels that generate halation and correspond to pixels that satisfy the following condition: Figure 7 The L* value obtained by the processing of step S31 is greater than the threshold THD and Figure 7 The absolute values ​​of the a* value and the absolute values ​​of the b* value obtained in the process of step S31 both fall within the prescribed range.

[0136] The image analysis unit 44a performs the following processing: Figure 7 The pixels that have not been processed by the processing result obtained by the processing of step S32 are included in the image data ID5b corresponding to the processing result obtained by the processing of step S32. Figure 7 In step S33, the a* value of the pixel excluded from the processing object is used to determine whether there is a branched blood vessel ( Figure 7 Step S34).

[0137] Specifically, the image analysis unit 44a obtains a determination result that the image data ID5 contains a blood vessel branch when the number of pixels having an a* value greater than 0 is greater than the threshold value THE, for example. Alternatively, the image analysis unit 44a obtains a determination result that the image data ID5 does not contain a blood vessel branch when the number of pixels having an a* value greater than 0 is less than the threshold value THE, for example.

[0138] The image analysis unit 44a performs the following processing: Figure 7Based on the determination result of the presence or absence of branched blood vessels obtained in the process of step S33, the atrophy degree of the gastric mucosa included in the image data ID5 is evaluated ( Figure 7 Step S35).

[0139] Specifically, for example, when the image data ID5 does not contain a blood vessel branch, the image analysis unit 44a obtains an evaluation result that the degree of atrophy of the gastric mucosa contained in the image data ID5 is either mild or moderate. Also, when the image analysis unit 44a obtains a determination result that the image data ID5 contains a blood vessel branch, the image analysis unit 44a obtains an evaluation result that the degree of atrophy of the gastric mucosa contained in the image data ID5 is high.

[0140] That is, the image analysis unit 44a of this embodiment performs Figure 7 The image analysis unit 44a of this embodiment analyzes the image data ID5 obtained by photographing a subject including living tissue when irradiating the illumination light EL1, thereby obtaining an evaluation result related to the atrophy degree of the mucosa contained in the image data ID5 as an analysis result of the analysis process, and outputs analysis result information ARE indicating the obtained analysis result to the illumination light setting unit 44b. In addition, the image analysis unit 44a of this embodiment analyzes the image data ID5 obtained by photographing a subject including living tissue when irradiating the illumination light EL1, thereby obtaining an evaluation result related to the atrophy degree of the mucosa contained in the image data ID5 as an analysis result of whether or not an abnormality is found in the image data ID5.

[0141] In addition, the image analysis unit 44a of this embodiment may also perform the following processing, for example: Figure 7 In step S34, according to Figure 5 The evaluation result of the color tone of the image data ID5 obtained by the same processing as steps S11 to S14 is Figure 7 The determination result obtained by the processing of step S33 is used to evaluate the atrophy degree of the gastric mucosa included in the image data ID5. In this case, for example, when the color tone of the image data ID5 corresponds to the color tone of the faded mucosa and the image data ID5 includes a branched blood vessel, it is possible to obtain an evaluation result that the atrophy degree of the gastric mucosa included in the image data ID5 is high.

[0142] In addition, the image analysis unit 44a of this embodiment may also perform the following processing, for example: Figure 7 In step S34, the inspection information of past endoscopic inspections is read from a database storing electronic medical records, etc., and the information related to gastritis and the process contained in the read inspection information is used to determine the gastritis. Figure 7The determination result obtained by the processing of step S33 is used to evaluate the atrophy degree of the gastric mucosa contained in the image data ID5. In addition, as the information related to gastritis, for example, information indicating the atrophy degree of the gastric mucosa, information indicating whether there is infection with Helicobacter pylori, and information indicating whether the pyrrolidone is removed can be used.

[0143] The illumination light setting unit 44b sets one or more colors of light selected from the five colors of light emitted by each LED of the light emitting unit 31 as the illumination light EL2 ( Figure 4 Step S2), and outputs the illumination light setting information ESF indicating the setting content of the illumination light EL2 to the control signal generating unit 44c.

[0144] Specifically, the illumination light setting unit 44b sets V light, G light, and A light selected from the five colors of light emitted by the LEDs of the light emitting unit 31 as the illumination light EL2, for example, when the degree of atrophy of the gastric mucosa included in the image data ID5 is detected to be either mild or moderate, based on the analysis result information ARE outputted from the image analysis unit 44a, and outputs illumination light setting information ESF indicating the setting content of the illumination light EL2 to the control signal generating unit 44c. Furthermore, the illumination light setting unit 44b sets B light, G light, and A light selected from the five colors of light emitted by the LEDs of the light emitting unit 31 as the illumination light EL2, for example, when the degree of atrophy of the gastric mucosa included in the image data ID5 is detected to be high, based on the analysis result information ARC outputted from the image analysis unit 44a, and outputs illumination light setting information ESD indicating the setting content of the illumination light EL2 to the control signal generating unit 44c.

[0145] That is, the illumination light setting unit 44b of the present embodiment combines light of one or more wavelength bands selected from the five colors of light emitted by each LED of the light emitting unit 31 and sets it as the illumination light EL2 in a manner having different wavelength bands according to the analysis result represented by the analysis result information ARE output from the image analysis unit 44a.

[0146] The control signal generating section 44c generates a control signal for generating the illumination light EL2 based on the illumination light setting information ESF outputted from the illumination light setting section 44b, and outputs the control signal to the light source control section 34( Figure 4 In addition, the control signal generating unit 44c generates a control signal for generating image data of each color component corresponding to the return light of the illumination light EL2 based on the illumination light setting information ESF outputted from the illumination light setting unit 44b, and outputs it to the image processing unit 42( Figure 4In addition, the control signal generating unit 44c generates a control signal based on the illumination light setting information ESF outputted from the illumination light setting unit 44b, and outputs it to the observation image generating unit 43, and the control signal is used to generate an observation image ( Figure 4 Step S3).

[0147] Furthermore, according to the operation of the illumination light setting unit 44b and the control signal generating unit 44c described above, for example, when the atrophy degree of the gastric mucosa included in the image data ID5 is either mild or moderate, the illumination light EL2 including the V light, the G light, and the A light is irradiated onto the subject including living tissue, the imaging unit 21 outputs an imaging signal obtained by capturing the return light from the subject, and the signal processing unit 41 outputs the image data ID6 generated based on the imaging signal. Furthermore, according to the operation of the illumination light setting unit 44b and the control signal generating unit 44c described above, for example, when the atrophy degree of the gastric mucosa included in the image data ID5 is high, the illumination light EL2 including the B light, the G light, and the A light is irradiated onto the subject including living tissue, the imaging unit 21 outputs an imaging signal obtained by capturing the return light from the subject, and the signal processing unit 41 outputs the image data ID6 generated based on the imaging signal.

[0148] The image processing unit 42 generates image data IDV6 of the purple component contained in the image data ID6, image data IDG6 of the green component contained in the image data ID6, and image data IDA6 of the amber component contained in the image data ID6, based on the image data ID6 output from the signal processing unit 41 and the control signal output from the control signal generating unit 44c, for example, when the degree of atrophy of the gastric mucosa contained in the image data ID5 is either mild or moderate, and performs prescribed image processing on each of the generated image data and outputs the image data to the observation image generating unit 43. In addition, the image processing unit 42 generates image data IDB6 of the blue component included in the image data ID6, image data IDG6 of the green component included in the image data ID6, and image data IDA6 of the amber component included in the image data ID6, based on the image data ID6 output from the signal processing unit 41 and the control signal output from the control signal generating unit 44c, for example, when the degree of atrophy of the gastric mucosa included in the image data ID5 is high, and performs prescribed image processing on each of the generated image data and outputs them to the observation image generating unit 43.

[0149] In addition, in the present embodiment, for example, when the degree of atrophy of the gastric mucosa contained in the image data ID5 is either mild or moderate, the image processing unit 42 may also perform structural emphasis processing or grayscale conversion processing on at least one of the image data IDV6, IDG6, and IDA6 to clarify the unevenness of the gastric mucosa.

[0150] The observation image generation unit 43 generates an observation image KGG by assigning the image data IDV6 to the B channel of the display device 5, the image data IDG6 to the G channel of the display device 5, and the image data IDA6 to the R channel of the display device 5, for example, when the atrophy degree of the gastric mucosa included in the image data ID5 is either mild or moderate, according to the control signal output from the control unit 44, and outputs the generated observation image KGG to the display device 5. In addition, the observation image generation unit 43 generates an observation image KGH by assigning the image data obtained by adding the image data IDV5 and IDB6 that are aligned with each other for each pixel to the B channel of the display device 5, assigning the image data IDG6 to the G channel of the display device 5, and assigning the image data obtained by adding the image data IDR5 and IDA6 that are aligned with each other for each pixel, according to the control signal output from the control unit 44, and outputs the generated observation image KGH to the display device 5.

[0151] The illumination light setting unit 44b sets the Figure 4 After the illumination light setting information ESF obtained in the process of step S2 is output to the control signal generating unit 44c, the illumination light setting information ESE is output again to the control signal generating unit 44c.

[0152] The control signal generating unit 44c generates a control signal for generating the illumination light EL1 based on the illumination light setting information ESE output from the illumination light setting unit 44b, and outputs it to the light source control unit 34. Furthermore, the control signal generating unit 44c generates a control signal for generating image data of each color component corresponding to the return light of the illumination light EL1 based on the illumination light setting information ESE output from the illumination light setting unit 44b, and outputs it to the image processing unit 42. Furthermore, the control signal generating unit 44c generates a control signal for stopping the generation of the observation image and maintaining the image data of each color component output from the image processing unit 42 during the irradiation period of the illumination light EL1 based on the illumination light setting information ESE output from the illumination light setting unit 44b, and outputs it to the observation image generating unit 43.

[0153] The image analysis unit 44a performs a process based on the image data ID5 corresponding to the image obtained when the illumination light EL1 is irradiated. Figure 4 The analysis process is performed in the same manner as step S1, and analysis result information ARF indicating the analysis result obtained by the analysis process is output to the illumination light setting unit 44b ( Figure 4 Step S4).

[0154] The illumination light setting unit 44b performs the following processing: determining whether the analysis result indicated by the latest analysis result information ARFN is the same as the analysis result indicated by the past analysis result information ARFP. Figure 4 The past analysis result information ARFP corresponds to the analysis result information ARF obtained by the process of step S4, and the past analysis result information ARFP corresponds to the analysis result information ARE or ARF referred to when setting the current illumination light EL2 ( Figure 4 Step S5).

[0155] When the illumination light setting unit 44b obtains the determination result that the analysis result indicated by the latest analysis result information ARFN is the same as the analysis result indicated by the past analysis result information ARFP (S5: Yes), it continues to perform the following steps. Figure 4 In addition, when the illumination light setting unit 44b obtains the determination result that the analysis result indicated by the latest analysis result information ARFN is different from the analysis result indicated by the past analysis result information ARFP (S5: No), it continues to perform the following step S6. Figure 4 The process of step S7.

[0156] The illumination light setting unit 44b outputs the illumination light setting information ESF indicating the same setting contents as the current setting contents to the control signal generating unit 44c so as to maintain the current setting contents of the illumination light EL2 ( Figure 4 Step S6).

[0157] The illumination light setting unit 44b performs the following processing: determining whether the number of times the same analysis result as the analysis result indicated by the latest analysis result information ARFN is continuously obtained is equal to or greater than a predetermined number ( Figure 4 Step S7).

[0158] When the illumination light setting unit 44b obtains a determination result that the number of times the same analysis result as the analysis result indicated by the latest analysis result information ARFN is obtained continuously is less than a predetermined number of times (S7: No), the illumination light setting unit 44b continues the above-mentioned Figure 4Furthermore, when the illumination light setting unit 44b obtains a determination result that the number of times the same analysis result as the analysis result indicated by the latest analysis result information ARFN is continuously obtained is equal to or greater than a predetermined number of times (S7: Yes), the illumination light setting unit 44b changes the setting content of the illumination light EL2 to the setting content corresponding to the analysis result indicated by the latest analysis result information ARFN, and outputs the illumination light setting information ESF indicating the changed setting content of the illumination light EL2 to the control signal generating unit 44c ( Figure 4 Step S8).

[0159] The control signal generating unit 44c is based on Figure 4 The illumination light setting information ESF obtained by processing in any of step S6 and step S8 generates a control signal for generating illumination light EL2 corresponding to the illumination light setting information ESF, and outputs it to the light source control unit 34 ( Figure 4 Step S9). In addition, according to Figure 4 The illumination light setting information ESF obtained by processing any of step S6 and step S8 generates a control signal for performing an action corresponding to the illumination light setting information ESF, and outputs it to the image processing unit 42 and the observation image generating unit 43 ( Figure 4 Step S9).

[0160] According to the present embodiment, for example, in response to the operation of the scope switch 23 by the user, the operation is repeated until an instruction to end observation with the endoscope 2 is given. Figure 4The processing of steps S4 to S9 is performed. In addition, according to the present embodiment, the spectrum of the illumination light EL2 is set according to the degree of atrophy of the gastric mucosa included in the image data ID5 obtained when the subject is irradiated with the illumination light EL1 set to a prescribed spectrum, and the observation image corresponding to the illumination light EL2 is displayed on the display device 5. In addition, according to the present embodiment, for example, in a case where the abnormal finding area ABT corresponding to the gastric mucosa with mild or moderate atrophy is included in the image data ID5, the observation image KGG (as the observation image corresponding to the illumination light EL2) generated using the image data IDA6 is displayed on the display device 5. The image data IDA6 corresponds to the return light of the A light having a higher absorption coefficient for hemoglobin than the R light, and therefore, the visual recognition of the redness of the gastritis-like lesions that occur frequently in the abnormal finding area ABT can be improved. Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, for example, when the abnormality finding region ABT is included in the image data ID5, the observation image KGG (as the observation image corresponding to the illumination light EL2) generated using the image data IDA6 corresponding to the return light of the A light is displayed on the display device 5, so that the histological changes in the deep layer of the mucosa in the abnormality finding region ABT can be confirmed. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the burden on the surgeon who performs the work of diagnosing the abnormality finding can be reduced.

[0161] In the present embodiment, for example, instead of the green LED 31c, an LED 31ga (not shown) generating GS light whose center wavelength is set on the short wavelength side of the green range and an LED 31gb (not shown) generating GL light whose center wavelength is set on the long wavelength side of the green range may be provided in the light emitting section 31. And, in such a configuration, the illumination light EL1 including V light, GS light, GL light and R light may be irradiated to the subject including living tissue. In such a configuration, in the case where the atrophy degree of the gastric mucosa is either mild or moderate, light including GL light instead of G light may be irradiated to the subject as the illumination light EL2, and an observation image obtained by assigning the image data IDGL of the green component corresponding to the GL light included in the return light of the illumination light EL2 to the G channel of the display device 5 may be displayed on the display device 5. Furthermore, in the above-described configuration, when the degree of atrophy of the gastric mucosa is high, the illumination light EL2 including the GS light and the GL light instead of the G light is irradiated onto the subject including the living tissue, and the following observation image is displayed on the display device 5, which is obtained by assigning the image data IDGS of the green component corresponding to the GS light included in the return light of the illumination light EL2 and the image data IDGL of the green component corresponding to the GL light included in the return light of the illumination light EL2 to the G channel of the display device 5. Furthermore, according to the above-described configuration, the GL light having a narrower bandwidth than the G light and a center wavelength set on the long wavelength side of the green region is irradiated onto the subject including the living tissue, so that, for example, an observation image with improved visibility of the deep layer of the mucosa can be displayed on the display device 5 compared with the observation image displayed on the display device 5 when the G light is irradiated onto the subject.

[0162] In addition, according to this embodiment, when setting the lighting light, the lighting light setting unit 44b is not limited to selecting one or more colors of light from the five colors of light emitted from each LED of the light emitting unit 31. For example, the light intensity ratio can also be changed when the five colors of light are selected.

[0163] Specifically, for example, Figure 8 As shown, the illumination light setting unit 44b may also output illumination light setting information ESG when V light, B light, G light, A light, and R light are selected as the illumination light EL1, and the illumination light setting information ESG indicates the setting content of the light quantity ratio ERG such that the ratio of V light included in the illumination light EL1 is smaller than the ratio of B light, and the ratio of A light included in the illumination light EL1 is smaller than the ratio of R light. In addition, the illumination light setting unit 44b may also output illumination light setting information ESG when the degree of atrophy of the gastric mucosa is either mild or moderate, such as Fig. 9As shown, in a state where V light, B light, G light, A light, and R light are selected as the illumination light EL2, the illumination light setting information ESH is output, and the illumination light setting information ESH indicates the setting content of the light quantity ratio ERH, such that the ratio of B light included in the illumination light EL2 is smaller than the ratio of V light, and the ratio of R light included in the illumination light EL2 is smaller than the ratio of A light. In addition, the illumination light setting unit 44b may output the illumination light setting information ESI having the same setting content as the illumination light setting information ESG, for example, in a state where the atrophy degree of the gastric mucosa is high, and V light, B light, G light, A light, and R light are selected as the illumination light EL2. In addition, in a case where the illumination light setting information ESG, ESH, and ESI are output from the illumination light setting unit 44b, for example, a control signal may be output from the control signal generating unit 44c, such that an observation image is generated using the image data output from the image processing unit 42 when the illumination light EL2 is irradiated. Figure 8 and Fig. 9 This is a diagram showing an example of illumination light emitted from a light source device of an endoscope system according to a modified example of the third embodiment.

[0164] That is, according to the above-described structure, when setting the illumination light, the illumination light setting unit 44b is not limited to setting the LEDs of the light emitting unit 31 to selectively emit light or extinguish light, and for example, setting the LEDs of the light emitting unit 31 to emit light and selectively change the ratio of the light emission amount. In addition, according to the above-described structure, the illumination light setting unit 44b sets the light amount ratio of each color of light included in the illumination light EL1 to the light amount ratio ERM, and sets the light amount ratio of each color of light included in the illumination light EL2 to either one of the light amount ratios ERM and ERN, which are different according to the evaluation result related to the atrophy degree of the mucosa included in the image data ID5.

[0165] In addition, by appropriately modifying the structure of each part of this embodiment, it can also be applied to, for example, the case of photographing and observing a subject existing inside the large intestine. In addition, in this case, for example, by modifying Figure 7 The processing of the flowchart may be appropriately changed to obtain an evaluation result of the state of the intestinal mucosa included in the image data ID5 according to the endoscopic finding classification such as Matts classification.

[0166] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications and applications are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention.

[0167] This application is filed based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2018-083282 filed in Japan on April 24, 2018 as a priority claim, and the above-mentioned disclosure is applied to the description and claims of this application.

Claims

1. An endoscope system, characterized in that: The endoscope system comprises: A light source unit configured to emit light of multiple wavelength bands; an illumination light setting unit configured to set a first illumination light formed by combining lights of one or more wavelength bands selected from the lights of the plurality of wavelength bands and a second illumination light formed by combining lights of one or more wavelength bands selected from the lights of the plurality of wavelength bands different from the first illumination light, as illumination lights for illuminating a subject including living tissue present in the subject; a light source control unit configured to control the light source unit so that the first illumination light and the second illumination light set by the illumination light setting unit are alternately irradiated from the light source unit; an imaging unit configured to capture return light from the subject irradiated with the illumination light; as well as an image analysis unit configured to analyze the first image obtained by the imaging unit when the first illumination light is irradiated, thereby obtaining an analysis result of whether or not an abnormality is found, The illumination light setting unit sets a combination of light of wavelength bands included in the second illumination light to be irradiated next, based on the analysis result of the first image acquired by the imaging unit when the first illumination light is irradiated by the image analyzing unit. When the latest analysis result obtained by the processing of the image analysis unit is different from the past analysis result referred to when setting the second illumination light, and the number of consecutive analysis results identical to the latest analysis result is greater than a prescribed number, the illumination light setting unit changes the setting content of the second illumination light to the setting content corresponding to the latest analysis result. The illumination light setting unit sets green light and red light selected from the lights of the plurality of wavelength bands as the first illumination light. The image analysis unit analyzes the first image, thereby obtaining an evaluation result of whether the color tone of the first image belongs to the color tone corresponding to the abnormal finding or the color tone corresponding to the normal finding as the analysis result. When the first evaluation result is obtained that the hue of the first image is equivalent to the hue of a faded mucous membrane, the illumination light setting unit sets the purple light, the green light, and the red light selected from the multiple bands of light as the second illumination light; when the second evaluation result is obtained that the hue of the first image is equivalent to the hue of a reddened mucous membrane, the illumination light setting unit sets the blue light, the green light, and the amber light selected from the multiple bands of light as the second illumination light; and when the third evaluation result is obtained that the hue of the first image is equivalent to the hue of a normal mucous membrane, the blue light, the green light, and the red light selected from the multiple bands of light as the second illumination light.

2. The endoscope system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The endoscope system also has an observation image generating unit, which is configured to generate an observation image using purple components, green components, and red components included in a second image obtained by photographing the subject when irradiating the second illumination light when the first evaluation result is obtained, generate an observation image using blue components, green components, and amber components included in the second image when the second evaluation result is obtained, and generate an observation image using blue components, green components, and red components included in the second image when the third evaluation result is obtained.

3. An endoscope system, characterized in that: The endoscope system comprises: A light source unit configured to emit light of multiple wavelength bands; an illumination light setting unit configured to set a first illumination light formed by combining lights of one or more wavelength bands selected from the lights of the plurality of wavelength bands and a second illumination light formed by combining lights of one or more wavelength bands selected from the lights of the plurality of wavelength bands different from the first illumination light, as illumination lights for illuminating a subject including living tissue present in the subject; a light source control unit configured to control the light source unit so that the first illumination light and the second illumination light set by the illumination light setting unit are alternately irradiated from the light source unit; an imaging unit configured to capture return light from the subject irradiated with the illumination light; as well as an image analysis unit configured to analyze the first image obtained by the imaging unit when the first illumination light is irradiated, thereby obtaining an analysis result of whether or not an abnormality is found, The illumination light setting unit sets a combination of light of wavelength bands included in the second illumination light to be irradiated next, based on the analysis result of the first image acquired by the imaging unit when the first illumination light is irradiated by the image analyzing unit. When the latest analysis result obtained by the processing of the image analysis unit is different from the past analysis result referred to when setting the second illumination light, and the number of consecutive analysis results identical to the latest analysis result is greater than a prescribed number, the illumination light setting unit changes the setting content of the second illumination light to the setting content corresponding to the latest analysis result. The illumination light setting unit sets purple light, green light, and red light selected from the plurality of wavelength bands of light as the first illumination light. The image analysis unit analyzes the first image to obtain, as the analysis result, a determination result of whether the first image includes an abnormality finding region having a predetermined color tone. The illumination light setting unit sets the purple light and the amber light selected from the plurality of wavelength bands of light as the second illumination light when a first judgment result is obtained that the first image includes an abnormality detection area having the prescribed hue, and sets the blue light and the amber light selected from the plurality of wavelength bands of light as the second illumination light when a second judgment result is obtained that the first image does not include an abnormality detection area having the prescribed hue.

4. The endoscope system according to claim 3, characterized in that: The endoscope system also has an observation image generating unit, which is configured to generate an observation image using the purple component and green component included in the first image and the purple component and amber component included in the second image obtained by photographing the subject when irradiating the second illumination light when the first judgment result is obtained, and to generate an observation image using the purple component, green component and red component included in the first image and the blue component and amber component included in the second image when the second judgment result is obtained.

5. An endoscope system, characterized in that: The endoscope system comprises: A light source unit configured to emit light of multiple wavelength bands; an illumination light setting unit configured to set a first illumination light formed by combining lights of one or more wavelength bands selected from the lights of the plurality of wavelength bands and a second illumination light formed by combining lights of one or more wavelength bands selected from the lights of the plurality of wavelength bands different from the first illumination light, as illumination lights for illuminating a subject including living tissue present in the subject; a light source control unit configured to control the light source unit so that the first illumination light and the second illumination light set by the illumination light setting unit are alternately irradiated from the light source unit; an imaging unit configured to capture return light from the subject irradiated with the illumination light; as well as an image analysis unit configured to analyze the first image obtained by the imaging unit when the first illumination light is irradiated, thereby obtaining an analysis result of whether or not an abnormality is found, The illumination light setting unit sets a combination of light of wavelength bands included in the second illumination light to be irradiated next, based on the analysis result of the first image acquired by the imaging unit when the first illumination light is irradiated by the image analyzing unit. When the latest analysis result obtained by the processing of the image analysis unit is different from the past analysis result referred to when setting the second illumination light, and the number of consecutive analysis results identical to the latest analysis result is greater than a prescribed number, the illumination light setting unit changes the setting content of the second illumination light to the setting content corresponding to the latest analysis result. The illumination light setting unit sets purple light, green light, and red light selected from the plurality of wavelength bands of light as the first illumination light. The image analysis unit analyzes the first image to obtain, as the analysis result, a determination result of whether the first image includes an abnormality finding region having a predetermined color tone. The illumination light setting unit sets the purple light selected from the plurality of wavelength bands of light as the second illumination light when a first determination result is obtained that the first image includes living tissue corresponding to the abnormal finding, and sets the blue light and amber light selected from the plurality of wavelength bands of light as the second illumination light when a second determination result is obtained that the first image does not include living tissue corresponding to the abnormal finding.

6. The endoscope system according to claim 5, characterized in that: The endoscope system also has an observation image generating unit, which is configured to generate an observation image using the purple component and green component included in the first image and the purple component included in the second image obtained by photographing the subject when irradiating the second illumination light when the first judgment result is obtained, and to generate an observation image using the purple component, green component and red component included in the first image and the blue component and amber component included in the second image when the second judgment result is obtained.

7. An endoscope system, characterized in that: The endoscope system comprises: A light source unit configured to emit light of multiple wavelength bands; an illumination light setting unit configured to set a first illumination light formed by combining lights of one or more wavelength bands selected from the lights of the plurality of wavelength bands and a second illumination light formed by combining lights of one or more wavelength bands selected from the lights of the plurality of wavelength bands different from the first illumination light, as illumination lights for illuminating a subject including living tissue present in the subject; a light source control unit configured to control the light source unit so that the first illumination light and the second illumination light set by the illumination light setting unit are alternately irradiated from the light source unit; an imaging unit configured to capture return light from the subject irradiated with the illumination light; as well as an image analysis unit configured to analyze the first image obtained by the imaging unit when the first illumination light is irradiated, thereby obtaining an analysis result of whether or not an abnormality is found, The illumination light setting unit sets a combination of light of wavelength bands included in the second illumination light to be irradiated next, based on the analysis result of the first image acquired by the imaging unit when the first illumination light is irradiated by the image analyzing unit. When the latest analysis result obtained by the processing of the image analysis unit is different from the past analysis result referred to when setting the second illumination light, and the number of consecutive analysis results identical to the latest analysis result is greater than a prescribed number, the illumination light setting unit changes the setting content of the second illumination light to the setting content corresponding to the latest analysis result. The illumination light setting unit sets purple light, green light, and red light selected from the plurality of wavelength bands of light as the first illumination light. The image analysis unit analyzes the first image to thereby obtain an evaluation result related to the degree of atrophy of the mucosa included in the first image as the analysis result. When the first evaluation result is obtained that the atrophy degree of the mucosa contained in the first image is either mild or moderate, the illumination light setting unit sets the purple light, the green light, and the amber light selected from the multiple bands of light as the second illumination light; when the second evaluation result is obtained that the atrophy degree of the mucosa contained in the first image is high, the illumination light setting unit sets the blue light, the green light, and the amber light selected from the multiple bands of light as the second illumination light.

8. The endoscope system according to claim 7, characterized in that: The endoscope system also has an observation image generating unit, which is configured to generate an observation image using the purple component, green component and amber component included in the second image obtained by photographing the subject when irradiating the second illumination light when the first evaluation result is obtained, and to generate an observation image using the purple component and red component included in the first image and the blue component, green component and amber component included in the second image when the second evaluation result is obtained.

9. An endoscope system, characterized in that: The endoscope system comprises: A light source unit configured to emit light of multiple wavelength bands; an illumination light setting unit configured to select a combination of one or more wavelength bands from the plurality of wavelength bands of light, and to set first illumination light and second illumination light having different ratios of the light in the combination as illumination light for illuminating a subject including living tissue present in the subject; a light source control unit configured to control the light source unit so that the first illumination light and the second illumination light set by the illumination light setting unit are alternately irradiated from the light source unit; an imaging unit configured to capture return light from the subject irradiated with the illumination light; as well as an image analysis unit configured to analyze the first image obtained by the imaging unit when the first illumination light is irradiated, thereby obtaining an analysis result of whether or not an abnormality is found, The illumination light setting unit sets the light quantity ratio of the plurality of wavelength bands included in the second illumination light to be irradiated next, based on the analysis result of the first image acquired by the imaging unit when the first illumination light is irradiated by the image analyzing unit, When the latest analysis result obtained by the processing of the image analysis unit is different from the past analysis result referred to when setting the second illumination light, and the number of consecutive analysis results identical to the latest analysis result is greater than a prescribed number, the illumination light setting unit changes the setting content of the second illumination light to the setting content corresponding to the latest analysis result. The illumination light setting unit sets a light quantity ratio as a first light quantity ratio, wherein a ratio of purple light included in the first illumination light is smaller than a ratio of blue light, and a ratio of amber light included in the first illumination light is smaller than a ratio of red light, The image analysis unit analyzes the first image to thereby acquire, as the analysis result, an evaluation result related to the degree of atrophy of the mucous membrane included in the first image.

10. The endoscope system according to claim 9, characterized in that: When the first evaluation result is obtained that the degree of atrophy of the mucosa contained in the first image is either mild or moderate, the illumination light setting unit sets the following light intensity ratio as the second light intensity ratio, in which the ratio of the blue light contained in the second illumination light is smaller than the ratio of the purple light, and the ratio of the red light contained in the second illumination light is smaller than the ratio of the amber light; when the second evaluation result is obtained that the degree of atrophy of the mucosa contained in the first image is high, the second light intensity ratio is set to the same light intensity ratio as the first light intensity ratio.

Images