Surgery observation device

Abstract

To provide a surgery observation device which can eliminate need of using a table for placing a check sheet thereon, for imaging the check sheet.SOLUTION: A check sheet 9 is placed on a salient part 8 formed on a front face 7 of a vertical arm 6, the check sheet 9 can be imaged by a camera 2, so that it is possible to eliminate need of using a table for placing the check sheet 9 thereon, for imaging of the check sheet. The vertical arm 6 can be freely tilted rearward, and becomes in a stable state where the check sheet 9 leans against the front face 7 of the vertical arm 6, therefore falling of the check sheet 9 can be prevented. In addition, since the vertical arm 6 is in a rearward tilted state, a direction where the camera 2 images the check sheet 9 becomes almost vertical to the check sheet 9.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a surgical observation device. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art When performing a surgical operation, there is a method in which an image of the surgical site is taken with a camera, the taken image is displayed on a monitor, and the doctor performs the operation while observing the image displayed on the monitor.

[0003] The camera is supported in the space above the surgical site by a stand device installed in the operating room. While supported by the stand device, the camera's position and orientation can be freely changed so that the surgical site can be observed from any direction.

[0004] The images captured by the camera are not limited to visible images; depending on the type of surgery, fluorescent images may also be captured.

[0005] Known fluorescent substances used in surgery include 5-ALA, ICG, and fluorescein. When taking such fluorescent images with a camera, a check sheet is photographed in advance to adjust the sensitivity of the camera. The check sheet has a fluorescent light-emitting part on its surface that corresponds to each type of fluorescent substance.

[0006] Before surgery, the check sheet is photographed with a camera, and the sensitivity of the camera is adjusted to an optimum level so that the fluorescent areas on the check sheet are clearly displayed on the monitor. When photographing a visible image, a white check sheet is also prepared, and the sensitivity of the camera is adjusted to optimize the white balance (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0007] The method of adjusting the camera sensitivity using an actual check sheet is to first prepare a table in the operating room on which to place the check sheet, place the check sheet on the table, photograph the check sheet with the camera, display the fluorescent image or visible image on the monitor, and adjust the camera sensitivity while checking the display state. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0008] [Patent Document 1] JP 2009-136577 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0009] However, with this related technology, in order to photograph the checklist, a table on which the checklist can be placed must be prepared in the operating room, and after photographing the checklist, the table must be moved to another position, which is very cumbersome.

[0010] The present invention has been made with attention to such related techniques, and has as its object to provide a surgical observation device that does not require the use of a table on which to place a checklist in order to photograph the checklist. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] According to a first technical aspect of the present invention, there is provided a surgical observation device comprising a vertical arm supported on a part of a stand body installed on the floor so as to be freely rotatable back and forth around a first axis, a horizontal arm supported on the upper part of the vertical arm so as to be freely rotatable up and down around a second axis, a camera having a shooting port at its lower end and supported on the front end of the horizontal arm so as to be freely rotatable back and forth around a third axis, and a monitor for displaying images captured by the camera, wherein a holding section for holding a checklist for adjusting the sensitivity of the camera is provided on the front side of the vertical arm and in the range that can be captured by the camera.

[0012] According to a second technical aspect of the present invention, the vertical arm is capable of tilting backward from a vertical position, the holding portion is a convex portion formed on the front surface of the vertical arm, and the check sheet can be placed on the convex portion.

[0013] According to a third technical aspect of the present invention, the protruding portion is provided with pressing portions at both left and right ends thereof for supporting only the left and right ends of the check sheet from the front. Effect of the Invention

[0014] According to a first technical aspect of the present invention, a holding portion for holding a check sheet is provided on the front side of the vertical arm of the stand device, and the check sheet held in the holding portion can be photographed with a camera, thereby eliminating the need to prepare a table on which to place the check sheet for photography, and facilitating the task of photographing the check sheet and adjusting the sensitivity of the camera.

[0015] According to a second technical aspect of the present invention, the vertical arm can be tilted backward and has a protrusion formed on its front surface as a holder, so that when the check sheet is placed on the protrusion, the check sheet leans against the front surface of the vertical arm in a stable state, and there is no risk of the check sheet falling. Also, because the vertical arm is tilted backward, the direction in which the camera photographs the check sheet becomes nearly perpendicular to the check sheet, so that the fluorescence emitted from the check sheet can be reliably photographed.

[0016] According to a third technical aspect of the present invention, since the retaining portions are formed on both the left and right ends of the convex portion, the check sheet will not fall even if the vertical arm is tilted forward, and the check sheet can be photographed with peace of mind. Since the check sheet will not fall regardless of the state of the vertical arm, it is possible to hold the check sheet on the convex portion at all times, eliminating the risk of losing the check sheet. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0017] [Figure 1] 1 is an overall perspective view showing a stand device and a camera according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a side view equivalent to FIG. 2 showing the state in which the vertical arm is tilted backward during shooting. [Figure 4] FIG. [Diagram 5] FIG. 11 is an enlarged perspective view showing a protrusion and a check sheet according to a second embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing a protrusion holding a check sheet. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0018] 1 to 4 are diagrams showing a first embodiment of the present invention. In the above and following, the front, back, left and right directions are as shown in FIG.

[0019] The stand device 1 is for supporting the camera 2 in the operating room. The camera 2 is for photographing the surgical site G, and a monitor 3 is installed near the stand device 1 for displaying the image of the surgical site G photographed by the camera 2.

[0020] The stand device 1 has a stand body 5 on a base 4 installed on the floor. The stand body 5 can rotate horizontally relative to the base. A vertical arm 6 is supported at its midpoint on the stand body 5 so as to be rotatable back and forth around a first axis A. The vertical arm 6 is made of cast iron and has a vertically long hollow shape with a rectangular cross section and a flat front surface 7 on the front side. A protrusion (holding portion) 8 is formed on the front surface 7 slightly below the first axis A. The protrusion 8 is a block shape extending in the width direction of the front surface 7, and is formed integrally with the vertical arm 6. The protrusion 8 is for placing a check sheet 9, which will be described later.

[0021] The base end side of a horizontal arm 10 is supported on the upper part of the vertical arm 6 so as to be vertically rotatable around the second axis B. The horizontal arm 10 is formed of a metal tube extending laterally, and the camera 2 is supported at its front end via a hanging arm 11. The hanging arm 11 has a universal arm structure, allowing the orientation of the camera 2 to be aimed in any direction. In particular, the camera 2 is rotatable back and forth around the third axis C of the hanging arm 11, allowing the orientation of the shooting port 12 at its lower end to be changed back and forth.

[0022] A lower arm 13 extending rearward is provided at the lower end of the vertical arm 6, and a counterweight W that balances the weight of the camera 2 is attached to the rear end of the lower arm 13. The middle part of the lower arm 13 and the rear end part of the horizontal arm 10 are connected by a rear arm 14 that is parallel to the vertical arm 6, thereby forming a parallel link including the vertical arm 6 and the horizontal arm 10.

[0023] The weight of camera 2 is cancelled out by counterweight W, and furthermore, vertical arm 6 is rotatable back and forth around first axis A, horizontal arm 10 is rotatable up and down around second axis B, furthermore, stand main body 5 is rotatable horizontally, and hanging arm 11 supporting camera 2 has a universal arm structure, so camera 2 can be moved to any position, and even if you release camera 2 at a moved position, it will stop in the air at that position. Also, the orientation of shooting port 12 of camera 2 can be freely changed at that position.

[0024] Therefore, during surgery, camera 2 is placed above the surgical site G, and the doctor changes the position and orientation of camera 2 to photograph the surgical site G from various angles, and performs the surgery while observing the image of the surgical site G displayed on monitor 3.

[0025] The surgical site G can be photographed either by irradiating the surgical site G with white light to capture a visible image or by irradiating it with excitation light of a specific wavelength to capture a fluorescent image. Known fluorescent substances include 5-ALA, ICG, and fluorescein, but because the fluorescence emitted from the surgical site G is weak, it is necessary to adjust the sensitivity of the camera 2 to the optimum sensitivity according to the fluorescence before surgery. For this purpose, a check sheet 9 according to each type of fluorescence is used. The check sheet 9 has a fluorescent light-emitting part on its surface according to the type of fluorescence, and emits fluorescence when irradiated with excitation light. The fluorescence is then photographed by the camera 2, and the sensitivity of the camera 2 is adjusted to the optimum while checking the brightness of the fluorescence displayed on the monitor 3.

[0026] Conventionally, in order to photograph this check sheet 9 with the camera 2, a table was placed near the surgical site G, and the check sheet 9 was placed on the table and photographed with the camera 2. Then, after adjusting the sensitivity, it was necessary to move the table to another position away from the surgical site G, which was very troublesome.

[0027] However, in this embodiment, since there is a protrusion 8 on the front surface 7 of the vertical arm 6 of the stand device 1, it is possible to place the check sheet 9 on the protrusion 8 and take an image with the camera 2 without using a table. Therefore, there is no need to use a table as in the conventional case.

[0028] Specifically, as shown in Fig. 3, the vertical arm 6 is tilted backward. Then, the check sheet 9 is placed on the protrusion 8. Because the vertical arm 6 is tilted backward, the check sheet 9 is in a stable state leaning against the front surface 7 of the vertical arm 6 and there is no risk of it falling. Then, the camera 2 is rotated about the third axis C, and its imaging port 12 is directed toward the check sheet 9 to capture an image. At this time, because the vertical arm 6 is tilted backward, the imaging direction of the camera 2 becomes nearly perpendicular to the check sheet 9, and the fluorescence emitted from the check sheet 9 can be reliably captured.

[0029] 5 and 6 are diagrams showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

[0030] This embodiment includes the same components as those in the first embodiment, and therefore the same components are given the same reference numerals and redundant explanations are omitted.

[0031] The protrusion 15 according to this embodiment has retaining portions 16 formed on both left and right ends to support only the left and right ends of the check sheet 9 from the front. Therefore, the check sheet 9 will not fall even if the vertical arm 6 is tilted forward. In addition, because the retaining portions 16 only hold down the left and right ends of the check sheet 9, the necessary portions of the check sheet 9 are exposed and photographing by the camera 2 is not impeded.

[0032] Even if the vertical arm 6 is in a forward tilted state, the camera 2 can be rotated about the third axis C to orient its photographing port 12 toward the check sheet 9, so that the check sheet 9 can be photographed reliably.

[0033] In this way, the check sheet 9 will not fall regardless of the state of the vertical arm 6, so there is no risk of losing the check sheet 9 if it is always held on the protrusion 15. When holding it at all times, the check sheet 9 is held with the back side up to prevent the surface of the check sheet 9 from being damaged, and is only turned so that the surface faces forward when photographing with the camera 2.

[0034] In the above explanation, the protrusions 8, 15 formed integrally with the front surface 7 of the vertical arm 6 have been used as an example of the holding portion, but the holding portion may be formed separately from the vertical arm 6 and attached to the front surface 7 of the vertical arm 6 by adhesive or other method.

[0035] In addition, although an example has been shown in which the convex portions 8, 15 are formed below the first axis A of the vertical arm 6, the convex portions 8, 15 may be provided anywhere on the front surface 7 of the vertical arm 6 as long as it is within the range that can be photographed by the camera 2.

[0036] Although the vertical arm 6 has a square cross section as an example, any vertical arm having a forward facing surface may be used, such as a circular or elliptical cross section.

[0037] The camera 2 may be a standalone camera or a surgical microscope with a built-in camera, and may take any other form as long as it can capture visible and fluorescent images of the surgical site G.

[0038] Although 5-ALA, ICG, and fluorescein are used as examples of fluorescent substances, other substances may be used as well. When adjusting the white balance for a visible image, a white check sheet is used.

[0039] Although the stand device 1 has been exemplified as a type balanced by a counterweight W, it may be structured such that the vertical arm and the horizontal arm are rotated by a motor. [Explanation of symbols]

[0040] 1 Stand device 2 Camera 3 Monitors 5 Stand body 6 Vertical Arm 7 Front 8, 15 Convex part (retaining part) 9 Check Sheet 10 Horizontal Arm 12 Shooting Port 16 Holding part A 1st axis B 2nd axis C 3rd axis G. Operation W Counterweight

Claims

1. A surgical observation device comprising: a vertical arm pivotally supported on a part of a stand body installed on a floor so as to be rotatable back and forth about a first axis; a horizontal arm pivotally supported on an upper portion of the vertical arm so as to be rotatable up and down about a second axis; a camera having an imaging port at its lower end and pivotally supported on a front end of the horizontal arm so as to be rotatable back and forth about a third axis; and a monitor for displaying an image captured by the camera, a holder for holding a check sheet for adjusting the sensitivity of the camera, the check sheet being provided on the front surface of the vertical arm and within a range where the camera can take pictures;

2. 2. The surgical observation device according to claim 1, wherein the vertical arm is tiltable backward from a vertical position, the holding portion is a protrusion formed on a front surface of the vertical arm, and the check sheet can be placed on the protrusion.

3. 3. A surgical observation device according to claim 2, wherein pressing portions are formed on both left and right ends of the protrusion for supporting only the left and right ends of the check sheet from the front.

Images