An endoscope camera module and system with infrared imaging

Abstract

The present invention relates to an endoscope camera module and system with infrared imaging, which includes a housing and an endoscope module connected to each other, as well as an imaging module and a light guide component for guiding light beams located inside the housing. The imaging module includes a first camera and a second camera located horizontally and vertically. By applying single-fiber imaging technology and combining a beam splitter, the system divides the light beam into two parts. One part filters out visible light for near-infrared imaging, and the other part filters out infrared light for visible light imaging, making the two images highly consistent, facilitating comparison by doctors or fusion and enhancement through image algorithms. A switching component is also provided. When dual imaging is not required, only visible light imaging or only near-infrared imaging can be achieved through the switching component, having multiple imaging functions.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention belongs to the technical field of medical endoscopes, and particularly relates to an endoscope camera module and system for minimally invasive abdominal surgery with infrared imaging. Background Art

[0002] An endoscope is a detection instrument that integrates traditional optics, ergonomics, precision machinery, modern electronics, mathematics, software, etc. It has an image sensor, an optical lens, a light source illumination, a mechanical device, etc. In minimally invasive abdominal surgery, the endoscope is used to extend into the abdominal cavity to obtain image information.

[0003] The temperature inside the human abdominal cavity is about 36 degrees, and most of the energy radiated outward is concentrated in the infrared region. By collecting infrared light from various organs and tissues in the abdominal cavity, the temperature changes and blood flow of each organ and tissue can be observed. Combining with the pictures taken in visible light can help doctors judge the location, nature, and degree of lesions of human diseases. However, the processes of visible light imaging and near-infrared imaging of existing endoscopes are separated, which increases the operation complexity, prolongs the operation time, and the two images taken have a sequential order, with poor synchronization. During the operation, if the lens is displaced, the angles of the two images taken may be different, increasing the difficulty of comparison and combination. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of the present invention is to provide a highly integrated endoscope camera module and system for synchronous shooting of visible light and near-infrared light to solve the above problems.

[0005] The present invention realizes the above purpose through the following technical solutions:

[0006] An endoscope camera module with infrared imaging includes a housing and an endoscope module connected to each other, an imaging module located inside the housing, and a light guide component for guiding light beams;

[0007] The imaging module includes a first camera and a second camera located horizontally and vertically. A first filter for filtering infrared light is provided on the lens surface of the first camera, and a second filter for filtering visible light is provided on the lens surface of the second camera;

[0008] The light guide component includes an optical mirror fixedly connected to the inner wall of the housing and a turning lens located behind the endoscope module and rotatably connected to the inner wall of the housing. The optical mirror is located at the foot of the perpendicular formed by the first camera and the second camera. The optical mirror is a cube lens formed by splicing two triangular prisms, and there is an interlayer at the splicing position of the two triangular prisms.

[0009] As a further optimized solution of the present invention, the interlayer includes an anti-reflection interlayer, a beam splitter, and a reflective interlayer.

[0010] As a further optimized solution of the present invention, anti-reflection films are provided on both the light incident surface and the light exit surface of the steering lens and the optical mirror, reducing the reflectivity of the mirror surface and increasing the light transmittance.

[0011] As a further optimized solution of the present invention, the anti-reflection film is a bandwidth antireflection film, and the wavelength range of antireflection for visible light and near-infrared light is 400nm - 1100nm, having antireflection properties for both visible light and near-infrared light.

[0012] As a further optimized solution of the present invention, the reflective interlayer is a silver-plated reflective film, and a sealant is provided at the edge of the reflective interlayer. The silver-plated reflective film has good reflectivity for both visible light and near-infrared light, but the silver-plated reflective film needs to be sealed to prevent oxidation.

[0013] As a further optimized solution of the present invention, a switching component for driving the rotation and fixing of the steering lens is further provided on the inner wall of the housing. The switching component includes an inner extension tube provided on the inner wall of the housing. A rotating cylinder rotatably connected to the inner wall of the inner extension tube is provided on the side surface of the steering lens. At least two elastic blocks are provided on the outer wall of the rotating cylinder, and the number of card slots on the inner wall surface of the inner extension tube is three times that of the elastic blocks. The position of the steering lens is fixed by the elastic blocks, facilitating guiding the light beam to enter the optical mirror from different regions through the refraction of the steering lens.

[0014] As a further optimized solution of the present invention, at least two sliding grooves are radially provided on the outer wall surface of the rotating cylinder. A sliding rod is slidably connected inside the sliding groove. An internally threaded cylinder is slidably connected along the axial direction inside the rotating cylinder. A connecting rod is hinged between the internally threaded cylinder and the sliding rod. Triangular grooves three times the number of the sliding rods are provided on the inner wall of the inner extension tube, and a clamping block engaged with the triangular groove is provided at the end of the sliding rod. A threaded rod for driving the sliding of the internally threaded cylinder is provided at the opening of the rotating cylinder. It is easy for the steering lens to shake when fixed only by the elastic blocks after rotation, so a fixed locking structure is provided to keep the angle of the steering lens fixed.

[0015] As a further optimized solution of the present invention, the endoscope module includes a connector docked with the optical adapter, an endoscope tube for extending into the human body, and a light source connector for connecting the light source. The endoscope module is a prior art. The endoscope tube is a rigid straight tube. The inner circle of the endoscope tube is a light guiding channel composed of several lenses, and several illumination optical fibers are distributed outside the light guiding channel. Lighting and supplementary lighting are carried out through the optical fibers, and the returned light beam is collected through the light guiding channel for imaging.

[0016] To apply the above camera module, the present invention further provides an endoscopic camera system with infrared imaging, which includes an image processing module, a display module, and the above endoscopic camera module with infrared imaging. The first camera and the second camera of the imaging module are electrically connected to the image processing module.

[0017] The beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows:

[0018] 1) By applying the single-fiber imaging technology and combining with a beam splitter, the present invention divides the light beam into two parts. One part filters out visible light for near-infrared imaging, and the other part filters out infrared light for visible light imaging, making the two images highly consistent, which is convenient for doctors to compare, or to be fused and enhanced through image algorithms.

[0019] 2) The present invention is also provided with a switching component. When dual imaging is not required, the device can rotate the steering lens through the switching component, and change the light beam irradiation area through refraction to achieve only visible light imaging or only near-infrared imaging. It has multiple imaging functions and also sets up an operating component for the steering lens to facilitate the positioning and fixation of the steering lens, making the switching process simple to operate. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] Figure 1 is the overall structural schematic diagram of the present invention;

[0021] Figure 2 is the cross-sectional view of the housing and its internal components of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 3 is the schematic diagram of the optical path switching process of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 4 is the Figure 2 A-A cross-sectional view in the present invention;

[0024] Figure 5 is the Figure 4 enlarged view of part B structure in the present invention;

[0025] Figure 6 is the Figure 5 side cross-sectional view of the card slot structure in the present invention;

[0026] Figure 7 is the Figure 5 side cross-sectional view of the triangular groove structure in the present invention;

[0027] In the figure: 1, image processing module; 2, display module; 3, endoscope module; 31, light source connector; 32, endoscope tube; 4, housing; 41, optical adapter; 5, imaging module; 51, first camera; 52, second camera; 53, first filter; 54, second filter; 6, light guiding assembly; 61, optical mirror; 62, anti-reflection interlayer; 63, beam splitter; 64, reflective interlayer; 65, steering lens; 66, anti-reflection film; 7, switching assembly; 71, inner extension tube; 72, rotating cylinder; 73, internally threaded cylinder; 74, chute; 75, sliding rod; 76, connecting rod; 77, card slot; 78, elastic block; 79, triangular groove; 710, threaded rod. Detailed implementation manners

[0028] The present application will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It is necessary to point out here that the following specific implementation manners are only used to further illustrate the present application and cannot be construed as limiting the protection scope of the present application. Those skilled in the art can make some non-essential improvements and adjustments to the present application according to the above application content.

[0029] Embodiment 1

[0030] As Figure 1-7 shown, an endoscope camera module with infrared imaging includes a housing 4 and an endoscope module 3 that are connected to each other, an imaging module 5 located inside the housing 4, and a light guiding assembly 6 for guiding light beams.

[0031] The endoscope module 3 includes a connector docked with the optical adapter 41, an endoscope tube 32 for extending into the human body, and a light source connector 31 for connecting to a light source. The endoscope tube 32 is a rigid straight tube. The inner circle of the endoscope tube 32 is a light guiding channel composed of several lenses, and several illumination optical fibers are distributed on the outer circle of the light guiding channel. The light source connector 31 is connected to an external cold light source, and the abdominal cavity is illuminated through the illumination optical fibers. The returned light beam enters the optical adapter 41 through the light guiding channel.

[0032] The imaging module 5 includes a first camera 51 and a second camera 52 located horizontally and vertically. A first filter 53 for filtering infrared light is provided on the lens surface of the first camera 51, and a second filter 54 for filtering visible light is provided on the lens surface of the second camera 52. The function of the first camera 51 is to collect visible light and perform imaging, while the second camera 52 is used to collect near-infrared light for imaging.

[0033] The light guide component 6 includes an optical mirror 61 fixedly connected to the inner wall of the housing 4 and a steering lens 65 located behind the endoscope module 3 and rotatably connected to the inner wall of the housing 4. The optical mirror 61 is located at the foot of the perpendicular formed by the first camera 51 and the second camera 52. The optical mirror 61 is a cubic lens formed by splicing two triangular prisms. An anti-reflection interlayer 62, a beam splitter 63, and a reflective interlayer 64 are provided at the splicing position of the two triangular prisms.

[0034] The light beam is collimated into parallel light after passing through the optical adapter 41, guided by the steering lens 65, and enters different regions of the optical mirror 61. Among them, the anti-reflection interlayer 62 is used to reduce reflection and increase the transmittance of the light beam, so that the light beam is collected by the first camera 51; the beam splitter 63 refracts and reflects the light in proportion, so that a part of the light beam passes through the beam splitter 63 and is collected by the first camera 51, and the other part is reflected by the beam splitter 63 and finally collected by the second camera 52; the reflective interlayer 64 reflects all the light beams so that they are collected by the second camera 52.

[0035] Anti-reflection films 66 are provided on both the light incident surface and the light exit surface of the steering lens 65 and the optical mirror 61 to increase the transmittance of the light beam and reduce reflection.

[0036] The anti-reflection film 66 is a bandwidth antireflection film, and the antireflection wavelength range for visible light and near-infrared light is 400nm - 1100nm, and this range covers the wavelength ranges of visible light and near-infrared light.

[0037] The reflective interlayer 64 is a silver-plated reflective film, and a sealant is provided at the edge of the reflective interlayer 64. The silver-plated reflective film has good reflectivity for both visible light and near-infrared light, but the silver-plated reflective film needs to be sealed to prevent oxidation.

[0038] A switching component 7 for driving the steering lens 65 to rotate and fix is further provided on the inner wall of the housing 4. The switching component 7 includes an inner extension tube 71 provided on the inner wall of the housing 4. A rotating cylinder 72 rotatably connected to the inner wall of the inner extension tube 71 is provided on the side surface of the steering lens 65. At least two elastic blocks 78 are provided on the outer wall of the rotating cylinder 72, and the number of card slots 77 on the inner wall surface of the inner extension tube 71 is three times that of the elastic blocks 78. The function of the switching component 7 is to rotate the steering lens 65 so that the light beam enters the optical mirror 61 in different regions through refraction.

[0039] At least two sliding grooves 74 are arranged on the outer wall surface of the rotating cylinder 72 along the radial direction. A sliding rod 75 is slidably connected inside the sliding groove 74. An internally threaded cylinder 73 is slidably connected inside the rotating cylinder 72 along the axial direction. A connecting rod 76 is hinged between the internally threaded cylinder 73 and the sliding rod 75. The inner wall of the inner extension tube 71 is provided with triangular grooves 79 whose number is three times that of the sliding rods 75. And a clamping block meshing with the triangular groove 79 is arranged at the end of the sliding rod 75. A threaded rod 710 for driving the sliding of the internally threaded cylinder 73 is arranged at the opening of the rotating cylinder 72. After the steering lens 65 rotates, it is easy to shake when only fixed by the elastic block 78. Therefore, a fixed locking structure is provided to keep the angle of the steering lens 65 fixed.

[0040] To apply the above endoscopic imaging module, the present invention also provides an endoscopic camera system with infrared imaging, including an image processing module 1, a display module 2 and the above endoscopic imaging module with infrared imaging. The first camera 51 and the second camera 52 of the imaging module are electrically connected to the image processing module 1.

[0041] The specific implementation mode is as follows: When performing minimally invasive abdominal surgery on a patient, first insert the endoscope tube 32 into the patient's abdominal cavity, then irradiate through the light source and return the light beam. The light beam passes through the steering lens 65 and enters the optical lens 61. When the steering lens 65 is perpendicular to the light beam, the light beam is aligned with the beam splitter 63. Part of the light beam enters the first camera 51, and the other part enters the second camera 52. After filtering the corresponding light beam, imaging is performed. The images after imaging are synchronous and the shooting angles are the same, which is convenient for doctors to compare, and can also be fused and deepened through the image algorithm of the image processing module 1.

[0042] When dual imaging is not required, the device can achieve only visible light imaging or only near-infrared imaging through the switching component 7, and has multiple functions. The specific switching operation is as follows. Figure 4 As shown in the figure, rotate the rotating cylinder 72 to make the elastic block 78 leave the current card slot 77 and enter the corresponding other card slot 77. Then, by rotating the threaded rod 710, the internally threaded cylinder 73 slides, drives the sliding rod 75 to slide through the connecting rod 76. After the sliding rod 75 enters the triangular groove 79, it is locked and fixed, so that the steering lens 65 maintains a stable angle, refracts the light beam, and makes the light beam align with the reflective interlayer 64 or the anti-reflection interlayer 62.

[0043] The above-described embodiments only represent one implementation mode of the present invention, and its description is relatively specific and detailed, but it should not be construed as a limitation on the scope of the present invention. It should be noted that for those of ordinary skill in the art, without departing from the concept of the present invention, several deformations and improvements can still be made, and these all belong to the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An endoscope camera module with infrared imaging, characterized in that, It includes a mutually connected housing (4) and an endoscope module (3), as well as an imaging module (5) and a light guide component (6) for guiding a light beam located inside the housing (4); The imaging module (5) includes a first camera (51) in the longitudinal direction and a second camera (52) in the transverse direction. A first filter (53) for filtering infrared light is provided on the lens surface of the first camera (51), and a second filter (54) for filtering visible light is provided on the lens surface of the second camera (52); The light guide component (6) includes an optical mirror (61) fixedly connected to the inner wall of the housing (4) and a steering lens (65) located behind the endoscope module (3) and rotatably connected to the inner wall of the housing (4). The axes of the first camera (51) and the second camera (52) are perpendicular to each other. The optical mirror (61) is located at the foot of the perpendicular. The optical mirror (61) is a cube lens formed by splicing two triangular prisms. There is an interlayer at the splicing position of the two triangular prisms. The interlayer includes an anti-reflection interlayer (62), a beam splitter (63), and a reflective interlayer (64); A switching component (7) for driving the rotation and fixing of the steering lens (65) is further provided on the inner wall of the housing (4). The switching component (7) includes an inner extension tube (71) provided on the inner wall of the housing (4). A rotating cylinder (72) rotatably connected to the inner wall of the inner extension tube (71) is provided on the side surface of the steering lens (65). At least two elastic blocks (78) are provided on the outer wall of the rotating cylinder (72). The number of card slots (77) provided on the inner wall surface of the inner extension tube (71) is three times that of the elastic blocks (78); When dual imaging is not required, the steering lens (65) is rotated through the switching component (7), and the light beam irradiation area is changed by refraction, so that the light beam is aligned with the reflective interlayer (64) or the anti-reflection interlayer (62), realizing visible light imaging or near-infrared imaging only.

2. The endoscopic camera module with infrared imaging according to claim 1, wherein: Anti-reflection films (66) are provided on both the light incident surface and the light exit surface of the steering lens (65) and the optical mirror (61).

3. The endoscopic camera module with infrared imaging according to claim 2, characterized in that: The anti-reflection film (66) is a bandwidth anti-reflection film, and the anti-reflection wavelength range for visible light and near-infrared light is 400nm - 1100nm.

4. An endoscope camera module with infrared imaging according to claim 1, characterized in that: The reflective interlayer (64) is a silver-plated reflective film, and a sealant is provided at the edge of the reflective interlayer (64).

5. The endoscopic camera module with infrared imaging according to claim 1, wherein: At least two sliding grooves (74) are provided on the outer wall surface of the rotating cylinder (72) along the radial direction. A sliding rod (75) is slidably connected inside the sliding groove (74). An internally threaded cylinder (73) is slidably connected inside the rotating cylinder (72) along the axial direction. A hinged connecting rod (76) is provided between the internally threaded cylinder (73) and the sliding rod (75). Triangular grooves (79) with a number three times that of the sliding rods (75) are provided on the inner wall of the inner extension tube (71), and a clamping block meshing with the triangular grooves (79) is provided at the end of the sliding rod (75). A threaded rod (710) for driving the sliding of the internally threaded cylinder (73) is provided at the opening of the rotating cylinder (72).

6. The endoscopic camera module with infrared imaging according to claim 1, characterized in that: The endoscope module (3) includes a connector docked with an optical adapter (41), an endoscope tube (32) for extending into the human body, and a light source connector (31) for connecting a light source.

7. An endoscope camera system with infrared imaging, characterized in that: It includes an image processing module (1), a display module (2), and an endoscope camera module with infrared imaging as described in any one of claims 1-6. The first camera (51) and the second camera (52) of the imaging module are electrically connected to the image processing module (1).

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