Endoscopic Devices

Abstract

To provide an endoscope apparatus which can easily grasp which operation is performed by an operator when the operator operates a controller operation switch provided in an endoscope.SOLUTION: An endoscope apparatus comprises: balloons 30, 37; a balloon controller 14; a remote controller 15 which can input plural kinds of balloon operation including inflation operation and shrinkage operation of the balloons 30, 37; a controller operation switch being the controller operation switch (multifunctional switch 29) which is provided in an endoscope 10, operates the balloon controller 14 and can input the plural kinds of balloon operation common to the remote controller 15; and a processor (display control unit 80). The processor reflects the kind of the balloon operation input to the controller operation switch on a remote controller image 72 displayed on a monitor 16 when the balloon operation is input to the controller operation switch.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an endoscope device that controls inflation and deflation of a balloon of an endoscope. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, in the medical field, a procedure has been performed in which the insertion portion of an endoscope is inserted into the intestinal tract (lumen) such as the large intestine or small intestine to observe, diagnose, and treat the inner wall surface of the intestinal tract. The intestinal tract is complexly curved, and simply pushing the insertion portion of the endoscope deep into the intestine makes it difficult to transmit force to the tip of the insertion portion.

[0003] Therefore, a double-balloon type endoscopic device is known in which an inflatable and deflated balloon is attached to the insertion section of the endoscope and to the tip of an overtube that covers the insertion section (see Patent Documents 1 to 5). With this endoscopic device, the inflation and deflation of each balloon can be individually controlled by supplying air to and suctioning the inside of each balloon from a balloon controller. This makes it possible to insert the insertion section into the inner (deep) part of the intestinal tract, which is complexly curved, by alternately inserting the insertion section and the overtube while temporarily fixing each balloon individually and at a predetermined timing.

[0004] In the endoscopic devices described in Patent Documents 1 to 4, the surgeon (including an assistant, the same applies hereinafter) can individually switch between inflation and deflation of each balloon by operating a remote controller connected to the balloon controller. Meanwhile, the operation section of the endoscope of the endoscopic device described in Patent Document 5 is provided with a switch (controller operation switch) connected to the balloon controller. The surgeon can individually switch between inflation and deflation of each balloon by operating this switch.

[0005] Furthermore, in the endoscope devices described in Patent Documents 3 and 4, a balloon state image showing whether each balloon is in an inflated state or a deflated state is displayed on a monitor. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2016-137206 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-296258 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-149999 [Patent Document 4] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-111542 [Patent Document 5] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-261781 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] However, when switching between inflating and deflating each balloon by operating a switch provided on the operation section of the endoscope, as in the endoscopic device described in Patent Document 5, there is a problem in that the surgeon has to watch the monitor and therefore find it difficult to instantly grasp which operation is being performed.

[0008] Furthermore, even in the case of the endoscope devices described in Patent Documents 3 and 4, where images of the balloon status of each balloon are displayed on a monitor, it is assumed that the balloons are inflated and deflated by switching using a remote controller or an operation panel, etc. Therefore, the surgeon operating the switches on the operation unit cannot directly grasp which operation is being performed.

[0009] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and aims to provide an endoscopic device that allows the surgeon to easily understand which operation he or she is performing when operating a controller operation switch provided on an endoscope. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] An endoscopic device for achieving the object of the present invention comprises a balloon, a balloon controller for controlling the inflation and deflation of the balloon, a remote controller connected to the balloon controller and operating the balloon controller, and capable of inputting multiple types of balloon operations including inflation and deflation of the balloon, a controller operation switch provided on the endoscope and operating the balloon controller, and capable of inputting multiple types of balloon operations common to the remote controller, and a processor, wherein the processor displays an endoscopic image captured by the endoscope and a remote controller image which is an image of the remote controller on a monitor, and when a balloon operation is input to the controller operation switch, the type of balloon operation input to the controller operation switch is reflected in the remote controller image displayed on the monitor.

[0011] With this endoscope device, the surgeon can easily understand what balloon operation has been performed on the controller operation switch while watching the monitor.

[0012] In an endoscopic device according to another aspect of the present invention, the remote controller includes a plurality of types of individual operation switches corresponding to a plurality of types of balloon operations, the remote controller image includes images of the plurality of types of individual operation switches, and when a balloon operation is input to the controller operation switch, the processor changes the display mode of the image of the individual operation switch corresponding to the type of balloon operation. This makes it easy to understand which operation the surgeon is performing when performing a balloon operation using the controller operation switch.

[0013] In an endoscope device according to another aspect of the present invention, a balloon is provided at least one of a distal end portion of an insertion portion of an endoscope and a distal end portion of an overtube through which the insertion portion is inserted.

[0014] In an endoscopic device according to another aspect of the present invention, balloons are provided at the distal end of the insertion section and the distal end of the overtube, a balloon controller controls inflation and deflation of each balloon, a remote controller allows input of balloon operations for each balloon, and a processor reflects the type of balloon operation input to the controller operation switch for each balloon in a remote controller image. Thus, even in a double-balloon endoscopic device, when an operator operates the balloons using the controller operation switch, it is easy to understand which operation the operator is performing.

[0015] In another aspect of the present invention, an endoscope device includes an emergency stop switch that causes the balloon controller to stop in an emergency, and when the emergency stop switch is operated, a processor displays information indicating that the balloon controller has stopped in an emergency on a monitor, thereby notifying the surgeon that the balloon controller has stopped in an emergency.

[0016] In an endoscope apparatus according to another aspect of the present invention, the emergency stop switch is a foot switch connected to the balloon controller, which allows the surgeon to quickly perform an emergency stop operation on the balloon controller even if both hands of the surgeon are occupied.

[0017] In another aspect of the present invention, an endoscope apparatus includes a pressure detection sensor that repeatedly detects the pressure inside the balloon, and a processor that causes the monitor to display information indicating the pressure each time the pressure detection sensor detects the pressure, thereby allowing the surgeon to easily grasp the pressure inside the balloon while gazing at the monitor.

[0018] In an endoscopic device according to another aspect of the present invention, balloons are provided at the distal end of the insertion section of the endoscope and at the distal end of an overtube through which the insertion section is inserted, a pressure detection sensor repeatedly detects the pressure of each balloon, and a processor displays information indicating the pressure for each balloon on a monitor, thereby allowing the surgeon to easily grasp the pressure in each balloon while gazing at the monitor.

[0019] In an endoscope apparatus according to another aspect of the present invention, the controller operation switch is provided in an operation section provided on the proximal end side of the insertion section of the endoscope.

[0020] The remote controller is provided with multiple types of individual operation switches corresponding to multiple types of balloon operations, the operation unit is provided with multiple multi-function switches to which multiple types of operations can be selectively assigned, and the controller operation switch is a plurality of multi-function switches to which the functions of the multiple types of individual operation switches are individually assigned. This makes it possible to apply the present invention to existing endoscope devices equipped with multi-function switches. [Effects of the Invention]

[0021] The present invention makes it possible to easily grasp which operation the surgeon is performing when operating a controller operation switch provided on an endoscope. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0022] [Figure 1] 1 is a configuration diagram of a double-balloon type endoscope device according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a duct diagram of the endoscope device. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a front view of the remote controller. [Figure 4] 4 is an explanatory diagram for explaining display patterns of a first balloon state display section and a second balloon state display section of a remote controller. FIG. [Figure 5] 10 is an explanatory diagram for explaining assignment of functions of some switches of the remote controller to a multifunction switch. FIG. [Figure 6] 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an endoscopic examination screen displayed on the monitor by the processor device in a balloon operation presentation mode. FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of the remote controller image in the second display area. [Figure 8] 10A and 10B are explanatory diagrams illustrating an example of a change in the display mode of the inflation state display section image and the deflation state display section image in response to an inflation operation or a deflation operation on the multifunction switch. [Figure 9] 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an endoscopic examination screen displayed on a monitor by a processor device of the endoscope device of the second embodiment. FIG. [Figure 10] 10A and 10B are enlarged views of a remote controller image, first pressure information, and second pressure information according to a second embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram of an endoscope device according to a third embodiment. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the display of warning information on a monitor. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0023] [First embodiment] 1 is a configuration diagram of a double-balloon type endoscope device 2 of the first embodiment. As shown in Fig. 1, the endoscope device 2 includes an endoscope 10 which is an electronic endoscope with a balloon, an overtube 11 with a balloon, a light source device 12, a processor device 13, a balloon controller 14, a remote controller 15, and a monitor 16.

[0024] The endoscope 10 includes a flexible insertion section 17 and an operation section 18 connected to the proximal end side of the insertion section 17 .

[0025] The operation unit 18 is used by the surgeon to perform operations, and is also referred to as a hand-held operation unit. A universal cable 19 is connected to this operation unit 18. The universal cable 19 contains a signal cable (not shown), a light guide (not shown), a first supply and exhaust pipe 31 (see FIG. 2), and the like. A light source connector 20 is provided at the tip of this universal cable 19.

[0026] A cable 21 branches off from the light source connector 20, and a processor connector 22 is provided at the tip of this cable 21. The light source connector 20 is detachably connected to the light source device 12, and the processor connector 22 is detachably connected to the processor device 13.

[0027] The operation unit 18 is provided with a pair of well-known angle knobs 23, an air / water supply button 27, a suction button 28, and a treatment tool insertion section 18a, as well as a plurality of multi-function switches 29. Each multi-function switch 29, which will be described in detail later, can be selectively assigned to perform a plurality of operations on the endoscope device 2, such as capturing an image of the observation site, switching between special light observation modes, and inflating and deflating the balloons 30 and 37 (see FIG. 5). Note that the term "switch" in this specification includes various well-known operation units and operating members, such as a button type, a lever type, and a touch sensor type.

[0028] The insertion section 17 is inserted into a lumen (for example, the small intestine or the large intestine) of a subject. The insertion section 17 includes a distal end portion 24, a bending portion 25, and a flexible portion 26 from the distal end side to the proximal end side.

[0029] The distal end portion 24 includes an imaging unit 24a (see FIG. 6) that images the observation site within the lumen, as well as a known observation window, an illumination window that emits illumination light supplied from the light source device 12, a nozzle for supplying air and water, and a forceps port that communicates with the treatment tool insertion section 18a via a treatment tool channel (not shown) in the insertion section 17, all of which are not shown. The imaging unit 24a is provided behind the observation window and captures an image of the observation site through this observation window. A signal cable (not shown) is connected to the imaging unit 24a, and this signal cable is connected to the processor device 13 via the insertion section 17, operation unit 18, universal cable 19, light source connector 20, cable 21, processor connector 22, etc., as described above. As a result, an imaging signal of the observation site captured by the imaging unit 24a is output to the processor device 13 via the signal cable.

[0030] The bending portion 25 is remotely bent (angled) by rotating a pair of angle knobs 23 provided on the operation unit 18. This allows the distal end surface (observation window and illumination window) of the distal end portion 24 to be oriented in a desired direction.

[0031] The flexible portion 26 is connected to the base end of the bending portion 25 and has flexibility. The flexible portion 26 has a length of several meters to allow the distal end portion 24 to reach a target position inside the body.

[0032] A first balloon 30, which corresponds to the balloon of the present invention, is detachably attached to the distal end portion 24. The first balloon 30 is formed in a generally cylindrical shape with its ends narrowed by an elastic material such as rubber, and has small-diameter distal and proximal balloon ends, as well as a central bulging portion. After the distal end portion 24 is inserted into the first balloon 30 and positioned at a predetermined position on the distal end portion 24, the first balloon 30 is fixed to the distal end portion 24 by, for example, fitting rubber rings around the distal and proximal balloon ends.

[0033] The overtube 11 is detachably placed over the insertion section 17. The overtube 11 includes a gripping section 35 that is gripped by the surgeon, a main body section 36, and a second balloon 37 that corresponds to the balloon of the present invention.

[0034] The grip portion 35 is a cylindrical body made of a hard material such as plastic. The main body portion 36 is made of a flexible material such as polyurethane and has a generally cylindrical shape. The main body portion 36 is fitted onto the distal end of the grip portion 35 and fixed thereto.

[0035] The second balloon 37 is formed in a generally cylindrical shape with its ends narrowed by an elastic material such as rubber, and has small-diameter distal and proximal balloon ends and a central bulge. The second balloon 37 is placed over the distal outer peripheral surface of the main body 36 and secured to the main body 36 by, for example, winding thread around the distal and proximal balloon ends and applying adhesive thereto.

[0036] Fig. 2 is a duct diagram of the endoscope device 2. Note that Fig. 2 shows the endoscope 10 and the overtube 11 in a simplified form.

[0037] 2 and the above-described FIG. 1, the endoscope 10 is provided with a first supply / exhaust duct 31 for supplying and suctioning air into and from the inside of the first balloon 30. The first supply / exhaust duct 31 is a flexible tube, and is inserted through the inside of the insertion section 17, the operation section 18, the universal cable 19, and the light source connector 20.

[0038] The distal end side of the first supply / exhaust pipe 31 communicates with an opening 32 for a balloon formed in the outer peripheral surface of the distal end portion 24. The opening 32 is formed in the outer peripheral surface of the distal end portion 24 at a position where the first balloon 30 is attached. In addition, an endoscope side mouthpiece 33 is provided on the proximal end side of the first supply / exhaust pipe 31.

[0039] The endoscope side mouthpiece 33 is formed integrally with the light source connector 20. The endoscope side mouthpiece 33 is connected to the balloon controller 14 via a tube 34. This allows the balloon controller 14, described below, to supply air to the inside of the first balloon 30 via the tube 34, the endoscope side mouthpiece 33, the first supply / exhaust pipe 31, and the opening 32 to inflate the first balloon 30, or conversely, to suck air from the inside of the first balloon 30 to deflate the first balloon 30. Note that the "air" referred to here refers to a gas for inflating the first balloon 30 (including the second balloon 37, described below), and the type (components) of the air is not particularly limited. Furthermore, various fluids, including liquids such as water, may be used instead of "air."

[0040] A supply pipe line 38 and a second supply / exhaust pipe line 39 are formed in the axial direction inside the main body part 36 of the overtube 11. The supply pipe line 38 is a hole through which the insertion part 17 of the endoscope 10 is inserted, and its inner diameter is formed to be slightly larger than the outer diameter of the insertion part 17.

[0041] When the overtube 11 is in use, a lubricant such as water is supplied to the inner circumferential surface of the supply pipe 38 (the gap between the insertion portion 17 and the main body portion 36) to reduce friction between the insertion portion 17 and the main body portion 36. The lubricant is injected from a connector 40 (see FIG. 1) that communicates with the supply pipe 38 using a syringe or the like (not shown).

[0042] The second supply / exhaust pipe 39 is a pipe for supplying and suctioning air to and from the second balloon 37, and is provided within the pipe wall of the supply pipe 38. The distal end of this second supply / exhaust pipe 39 communicates with a balloon opening 41 formed in the outer peripheral surface of the main body 36. The opening 41 is formed in the outer peripheral surface of the main body 36 at a position where the second balloon 37 is attached. A small-diameter tube 42 is connected to the proximal end of the second supply / exhaust pipe 39, and a connector 43 is further connected to the proximal end of this tube 42.

[0043] A tube 44 is connected to the connector 43, and this tube 44 is further connected to the balloon controller 14. This allows the balloon controller 14, which will be described later, to supply air to the inside of the second balloon 37 via the tube 44, the connector 43, the tube 42, the second supply / discharge pipe 39, and the opening 41 to inflate the second balloon 37, or conversely, to suction air from the inside of the second balloon 37 to deflate the second balloon 37.

[0044] 1, the balloon controller 14 supplies and suctions air independently to the first balloon 30 of the endoscope 10 and the second balloon 37 of the overtube 11 in order to alternately inflate and deflate the balloons 30, 37. The balloon controller 14 is provided with a pump, an electromagnetic valve, etc. The remote controller 15 is also electrically connected to the balloon controller 14 via a cable 45.

[0045] Furthermore, the balloon controller 14 is connected to a part of a plurality of multi-function switches 29 provided on the operation unit 18 via a signal cable (not shown). but are electrically connected.

[0046] The balloon controller 14 individually controls the inflation and deflation (expansion / contraction) of each of the balloons 30, 37 in response to an operator's operation input to the remote controller 15 or the multifunction switch 29. For example, the balloon controller 14 individually supplies air to each of the balloons 30, 37 to inflate each of the balloons 30, 37, or controls the air pressure to a constant value to maintain each of the balloons 30, 37 in an inflated state. The balloon controller 14 also individually suctions air from each of the balloons 30, 37 to deflate each of the balloons 30, 37, or controls the air pressure to a constant value to maintain each of the balloons 30, 37 in a deflated state.

[0047] The front surface of the balloon controller 14 is provided with a display unit 46, a power switch 47, an emergency stop switch 48, a tube connection unit 49, and the like.

[0048] When inflating or deflating each of the balloons 30, 37, the display unit 46 displays the pressure value of each of the balloons 30, 37 and information indicating the inflation or deflation state of each of the balloons 30, 37 (whether it is inflated or deflated). The display unit 46 also displays an error code when an abnormality occurs, such as a rupture of each of the balloons 30, 37. When the balloon controller 14 displays an error code on the display unit 46, it also outputs a buzzer sound from a speaker (not shown).

[0049] The power switch 47 is used to turn on and off the power to the balloon controller 14. The emergency stop switch 48 is used to emergency stop the balloon controller 14 (emergency stop of the inflation / deflation operation of each balloon 30, 37). The emergency stop here includes, for example, stopping the inflation / deflation operation of each balloon 30, 37, or deflating each balloon 30, 37. Note that the emergency stop may be executable individually for each balloon 30, 37.

[0050] The previously described tubes 34 and 44 are connected to the tube connection part 49. Although not shown, a backflow prevention unit is provided in the tube connection part 49. The backflow prevention unit prevents bodily fluids and the like from flowing into the balloon controller 14 if the balloons 30 and 37 are ruptured.

[0051] 3 is a front view of the remote controller 15. As shown in FIG. 3, the remote controller 15 is used to input a variety of balloon operations, including inflation and deflation operations for the balloons 30 and 37.

[0052] The remote controller 15 has a shape that can be held by the surgeon, and on its front surface are provided a first balloon operation unit 51, a second balloon operation unit 52, a first balloon status display unit 53, a second balloon status display unit 54, a first balloon pause button 55, a second balloon pause button 56, and a stop button 57. The first balloon operation unit 51, the second balloon operation unit 52, the first balloon pause button 55, the second balloon pause button 56, and the stop button 57 are used to operate the multiple types of balloons described above, and correspond to the multiple types of individual operation switches of the present invention.

[0053] The first balloon operation unit 51 is located on the right side of the remote controller 15 when viewed from the front, and is a circular toggle switch for inflating and deflating the first balloon 30 using the balloon controller 14. In this embodiment, the first balloon operation unit 51 is also formed in black (shown by hatching in the drawing) to match the general color (black) of the endoscope 10.

[0054] Each time the first balloon operating unit 51 is pushed, an operation to inflate the first balloon 30 and an operation to deflate the first balloon 30 are alternately input to the balloon controller 14. As a result, when an operation to inflate the first balloon 30 is input, the balloon controller 14 supplies air to the first balloon 30 to inflate the first balloon 30, and conversely, when an operation to deflate the first balloon 30 is input, the balloon controller 14 sucks air from the first balloon 30 to deflate the first balloon 30.

[0055] The first balloon state display unit 53 is provided in the first balloon operation unit 51, and has an inflation state display unit 53A and a deflation state display unit 53B. The inflation state display unit 53A displays the inflation state in which the first balloon 30 is inflated by air being supplied to the first balloon 30 from the balloon controller 14. The deflation state display unit 53B displays the deflation state in which the first balloon 30 is deflated by air being sucked from the first balloon 30.

[0056] The inflation state display unit 53A is disposed along the outer periphery of the first balloon operation unit 51, and is a ring-shaped state display unit that indicates the inflation state of the first balloon 30. The deflation state display unit 53B is disposed inside the inflation state display unit 53A (on the first balloon operation unit 51), and is a flat-shaped state display unit that indicates the deflation state of the first balloon 30. Note that the detailed configurations of the inflation state display unit 53A and the deflation state display unit 53B are publicly known techniques (see Patent Document 1 above), and therefore will not be described in detail here.

[0057] The inflation state display unit 53A switches to a display state (light-emitting state) when the first balloon 30 is in an inflation state, and switches to a non-display state (non-light-emitting state) when the first balloon 30 is in a deflated state. On the other hand, the deflated state display unit 53B switches to a display state (light-emitting state) when the first balloon 30 is in a deflated state, and switches to a non-display state (non-light-emitting state) when the first balloon 30 is in an inflation state. Therefore, either the inflation state display unit 53A or the deflated state display unit 53B will be in a display state, and the other will be in a non-display state.

[0058] The second balloon operation unit 52 is provided on the left side of the remote controller 15 when viewed from the front, and in a position symmetrical to the first balloon operation unit 51 with respect to the center line of the remote controller 15. The second balloon operation unit 52 is a circular toggle switch for inflating and deflating the second balloon 37 using the balloon controller 14. In this embodiment, the second balloon operation unit 52 is also formed in white to match the general color (white) of the overtube 11.

[0059] Each time the second balloon operating unit 52 is pushed, an operation to inflate the second balloon 37 and an operation to deflate the second balloon 37 are alternately input to the balloon controller 14. As a result, when an operation to inflate the second balloon 37 is input, the balloon controller 14 supplies air to the second balloon 37 to inflate the second balloon 37, and conversely, when an operation to deflate the second balloon 37 is input, the balloon controller 14 sucks air from the second balloon 37 to deflate the second balloon 37.

[0060] The second balloon state display unit 54 has an inflation state display unit 54A and a deflation state display unit 54B. The inflation state display unit 54A is provided along the outer periphery of the second balloon operation unit 52 and is a ring-shaped state display unit that displays the inflation state of the second balloon 37. The deflation state display unit 54B is provided inside the inflation state display unit 54A (on the second balloon operation unit 52) ​​and is a flat-shaped state display unit that displays the deflation state of the second balloon 37.

[0061] The inflation state display unit 54A switches to a display state (light-emitting state) when the second balloon 37 is in an inflation state, and switches to a non-display state (non-light-emitting state) when the second balloon 37 is in a deflated state. On the other hand, the deflated state display unit 54B switches to a display state (light-emitting state) when the second balloon 37 is in a deflated state, and switches to a non-display state (non-light-emitting state) when the second balloon 37 is in an inflation state. Therefore, either the inflation state display unit 54A or the deflated state display unit 54B will be in a display state, and the other will be in a non-display state.

[0062] In this way, by referring to the displays of the inflation state display section 53A and the deflation state display section 53B and the displays of the inflation state display section 54A and the deflation state display section 54B, the surgeon can determine whether each balloon 30, 37 is in an inflation state or a deflation state.

[0063] Note that FIG. 3 shows an example of the remote controller 15, and the shape of the remote controller 15, the shape and arrangement of each button (switch), and the function of each button (switch) can be changed as appropriate.

[0064] 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the display patterns of the first balloon state display unit 53 and the second balloon state display unit 54 of the remote controller 15. For example, as shown by reference numeral 4A in FIG. 4, when the inflation state display unit 53A is in a non-display state, the deflation state display unit 53B is in a display state, the inflation state display unit 54A is in a display state, and the deflation state display unit 54B is in a non-display state, the surgeon can determine that the first balloon 30 is in a deflated state and the second balloon 37 is in an inflated state.

[0065] Furthermore, as shown by reference symbol 4B in Figure 4, when the inflation state display unit 53A is in the display state, the deflation state display unit 53B is in the hidden state, the inflation state display unit 54A is in the hidden state, and the deflation state display unit 54B is in the display state, the surgeon can determine that the first balloon 30 is in the inflation state and the second balloon 37 is in the deflation state.

[0066] Furthermore, as shown by reference numeral 4C in Fig. 4, when both inflation state display units 53A, 54A are in the display state and both deflated state display units 53B, 54B are in the non-display state, the surgeon can determine that both balloons 30, 37 are in the inflated state. Furthermore, as shown by reference numeral 4D in Fig. 4, when both inflation state display units 53A, 54A are in the non-display state and both deflated state display units 53B, 54B are in the display state, the surgeon can determine that both balloons 30, 37 are in the deflated state.

[0067] 3, the word "ENDOSCOPE," which means the endoscope 10, is written below the first balloon operating unit 51, and the word "OVERTUBE," which means the overtube 11, is written below the second balloon operating unit 52. However, without being limited to this, illustrations representing the endoscope 10 and the overtube 11 may also be written.

[0068] A first balloon pause button 55 is provided below the character string "ENDOSCOPE," and a second balloon pause button 56 is provided below the character string "OVERTUBE." The first balloon pause button 55 and the second balloon pause button 56 are rectangular push buttons. The character string "PAUSE," which means to pause, is written between the first balloon pause button 55 and the second balloon pause button 56.

[0069] The first balloon pause button 55 is used to pause the inflation of the first balloon 30. Zhang A pause operation for the inflated state and the deflated state is input to the balloon controller 14. Upon receiving this pause operation, the balloon controller 14 maintains the first balloon 30 in an inflated state by maintaining the pressure of the air supplied to the first balloon 30 at a constant value, or maintains the first balloon 30 in a deflated state by maintaining the pressure of the air sucked from the first balloon 30 at a constant value.

[0070] The second balloon pause button 56 stops the inflation of the second balloon 37. Zhang A pause operation for the inflated state and the deflated state is input to the balloon controller 14. Upon receiving this pause operation, the balloon controller 14 maintains the pressure of the air supplied to the second balloon 37 at a constant value to maintain the second balloon 37 in the inflated state, or maintains the pressure of the air sucked from the second balloon 37 at a constant value to maintain the second balloon 37 in the deflated state.

[0071] A stop button 57 is provided below the first balloon pause button 55 and the second balloon pause button 56 and on the center line of the remote controller 15. The stop button 57 is a rectangular push button. The word "STOP" is written above the stop button 57.

[0072] The stop button 57 outputs a stop operation for the buzzer sound (which may include displaying an error code) to the balloon controller 14. If a stop operation is input while the buzzer sound is being output, the balloon controller 14 stops outputting the buzzer sound. Note that instead of using the stop button 57 to stop the buzzer sound, it may also be used to urgently stop the inflation / deflation action of the balloons 30, 37.

[0073] 5 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the allocation of functions of some of the switches of the remote controller 15 to the multifunction switch 29. Note that reference numerals 5A and 5B in FIG. 5 are enlarged views of the operation unit 18 seen from different directions, and reference numeral 5C is a front view of the remote controller 15.

[0074] As shown in FIG. 5, the operation unit 18 is provided with five (or a number other than five) multi-function switches 29 (hereinafter referred to as multi-function switches 29a to 29e as appropriate). The multi-function switches 29 are capable of inputting a plurality of types of balloon operations in common with the remote controller 15. In this embodiment, the function of the first balloon operation unit 51 is assigned to the multi-function switch 29e, and the function of the second balloon operation unit 52 is assigned to the multi-function switch 29d. As a result, the multi-function switch 29e functions as a toggle switch similar to the first balloon operation unit 51 described above, and the multi-function switch 29d functions as a toggle switch similar to the second balloon operation unit 52 described above.

[0075] Therefore, each time multifunction switch 29e is pushed, an inflation operation for the first balloon 30 and a deflation operation for the first balloon 30 are alternately input to the balloon controller 14 via a signal cable (not shown). Also, each time multifunction switch 29d is pushed, an inflation operation for the second balloon 37 and a deflation operation for the second balloon 37 are alternately input to the balloon controller 14 via a signal cable (not shown). As a result, by pushing multifunction switches 29e and 29d, each balloon 30 and 37 can be individually switched between an inflated state and a deflated state. Note that operation information of multifunction switch 29e (inflating and deflating the first balloon 30) and operation information of multifunction switch 29d (inflating and deflating the second balloon 37) are also sequentially input to the processor device 13 via a signal cable (not shown).

[0076] The multi-function switch 29c may be assigned the function of the stop button 57. The multi-function switch 29a is assigned the function of an imaging button that causes the imaging unit 24a (see FIG. 6) to capture an image of the observation site. The multi-function switch 29b is assigned the function of a selector switch that switches between observation modes such as normal observation and special light observation.

[0077] Returning to Figure 1, the processor device 13 displays an endoscopic examination screen 100 including an endoscopic image 70 (see Figure 6) of the area to be observed on the monitor 16 based on image signals of the area to be observed that are sequentially input from the imaging unit 24a (see Figure 6) via a signal cable (not shown) and a processor connector 22.

[0078] The processor device 13 includes an arithmetic circuit configured with various processors, memories, etc. The various processors include a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), and a programmable logic device (e.g., simple programmable logic devices (SPLD), complex programmable logic devices (CPLD), and field programmable gate arrays (FPGA)). The various functions of the processor device 13 may be realized by a single processor, or may be realized by multiple processors of the same or different types.

[0079] The processor device 13 has a normal mode and a balloon operation presentation mode as display modes for displaying the endoscopic examination screen 100 on the monitor 16. The normal mode is a display mode selected when the remote controller 15 is used to input balloon operations (inflation operations, deflation operations, etc.) for the balloons 30, 37. Note that the normal mode is the same as in the past, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted here.

[0080] The balloon operation display mode is a display mode that is selected when the multifunction switches 29 (particularly the multifunction switches 29e and 29d) are used to input balloon operations for the balloons 30 and 37. As described above, when the multifunction switch 29e is used to perform the inflation and deflation operations for the first balloon 30 or the multifunction switch 29d is used to perform the inflation and deflation operations for the second balloon 37, the surgeon is gazing at the monitor 16, and it is therefore difficult for the surgeon to instantly grasp which balloon operation is being performed. Therefore, when the balloon operation display mode is selected, the processor device 13 displays, together with the endoscopic image 70, a remote controller image 72 on the monitor 16, which allows the surgeon to easily identify the type of balloon operation input to the multifunction switch 29.

[0081] Fig. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an endoscopic examination screen 100 (endoscopic image 70 and remote controller image 72) displayed on the monitor 16 by the processor device 13 in the balloon operation presentation mode. Note that Fig. 6 will be explained taking as an example a case where only the multifunction switches 29e and 29d are used to input balloon operations. As shown in Fig. 6, in the balloon operation presentation mode, the processor 13a of the processor device 13 functions as a display control unit 80 by executing a program read from a memory (not shown).

[0082] The display control unit 80 sequentially generates an endoscopic examination screen 100 and sequentially outputs it to the monitor 16 based on the imaging signals sequentially input from the imaging unit 24a via a signal cable not shown and the operation information of the multifunction switches 29e, 29d sequentially input from the operation unit 18 via a signal cable not shown.

[0083] The endoscopic examination screen 100 roughly includes a first display area 100a and a second display area 100b. The first display area 100a displays an endoscopic image 70 of a known observation site generated by the display control unit 80 based on an imaging signal. The second display area 100b displays a remote controller image 72 generated by the display control unit 80 based on operation information of the multifunction switches 29e and 29d.

[0084] In this embodiment, the endoscopic image 70 and the remote controller image 72 are displayed in the first display area 100a and the second display area 100b, which are different from each other, within the endoscopic examination screen 100. However, for example, the remote controller image 72 may be superimposed on the endoscopic image 70. Alternatively, the remote controller image 72 may be displayed in a display window separate from the display window of the endoscopic image 70 using a picture-in-picture method.

[0085] 7 is an enlarged view of the remote controller image 72 in the second display area 100b. As shown in FIG. 7, the remote controller image 72 is an image showing the remote controller 15. Here, the remote controller image 72 may be an image of the entire remote controller 15, or may be an image of a portion of the remote controller 15 as in this embodiment. Specifically, the remote controller image 72 may be an image of a portion of the remote controller 15, as long as it includes images of the individual operation switches of the remote controller 15 corresponding to the multi-function switch 29 to which a balloon operation is assigned, in this case, images of the balloon operation units 51 and 52 corresponding to the multi-function switches 29e and 29d.

[0086] The remote controller image 72 includes at least a first balloon operation unit image 51P corresponding to the first balloon operation unit 51 and a second balloon operation unit image 52P corresponding to the second balloon operation unit 52. In this embodiment, the first balloon operation unit 51 is provided with a first balloon state display unit 53, and the second balloon operation unit 52 is provided with a second balloon state display unit 54. Therefore, the remote controller image 72 includes a first balloon state display unit image 53P corresponding to the first balloon state display unit 53 and a second balloon state display unit image 54P corresponding to the second balloon state display unit 54.

[0087] The first balloon state display section image 53P includes an inflation state display section image 53AP corresponding to the inflation state display section 53A and a deflated state display section image 53BP corresponding to the deflated state display section 53B. The second balloon state display section image 54P includes an inflation state display section image 54AP corresponding to the inflation state display section 54A and a deflated state display section image 54BP corresponding to the deflated state display section 54B.

[0088] In addition, similar to the remote controller 15, the remote controller image 72 displays a character string or illustration indicating the endoscope 10 (i.e., the first balloon 30) in the vicinity of the first balloon operation unit image 51P, and a character string or illustration indicating the overtube 11 in the vicinity of the second balloon operation unit image 52P.

[0089] Each time an expansion operation or a contraction operation is input to multifunction switches 29e, 29d, the display control unit 80 reflects the type of operation input on the remote controller image 72. For example, based on operation information input from the operation unit 18, the display control unit 80 changes the display mode of expansion state display unit image 53AP when an expansion operation is performed on multifunction switch 29e, and changes the display mode of contraction state display unit image 53BP when a contraction operation is performed on multifunction switch 29e.

[0090] Furthermore, for example, based on the operation information input from the operation unit 18, the display control unit 80 changes the display mode of the expansion state display unit image 54AP when an expansion operation is performed on the multi-function switch 29d, and changes the display mode of the contraction state display unit image 54BP when a contraction operation is performed on the multi-function switch 29d.

[0091] Here, changing the display mode of the expansion state display section images 53AP, 54AP and the contraction state display section images 53BP, 54BP means, for example, flashing each image, or changing the color, shape, or size of each image.

[0092] FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an example of changes in the display modes of the inflation state display portion images 53AP, 54AP and the deflation state display portion images 53BP, 54BP in response to inflation or deflation operations on the multifunction switches 29e, 29d.

[0093] As shown by symbol 8A in Figure 8, the display control unit 80 changes the display mode of the contraction state display unit image 53BP (first balloon operation unit image 51P) and the expansion state display unit image 54AP (second balloon operation unit image 52P) in accordance with the contraction operation of the first balloon 30 using the multi-function switch 29e and the expansion operation of the second balloon 37 using the multi-function switch 29d.

[0094] Furthermore, as shown by the symbol 8B in Figure 8, the display control unit 80 changes the display mode of the expansion state display unit image 53AP (first balloon operation unit image 51P) and the contraction state display unit image 54BP (second balloon operation unit image 52P) in accordance with the expansion operation of the first balloon 30 using the multi-function switch 29e and the contraction operation of the second balloon 37 using the multi-function switch 29d.

[0095] 8, the display control unit 80 changes the display mode of the inflation state display unit images 53AP, 54AP (the first balloon operation unit image 51P and the second balloon operation unit image 52P) in response to the inflation operation of the balloons 30, 37 for the multifunction switches 29e, 29d. Furthermore, as shown by reference numeral 8D in FIG. 8, the display control unit 80 changes the display mode of the deflation state display unit images 53BP, 54BP (the first balloon operation unit image 51P and the second balloon operation unit image 52P) in response to the deflation operation of the balloons 30, 37 for the multifunction switches 29e, 29d.

[0096] Thereafter, each time the surgeon inputs an inflation or deflation operation for each balloon 30, 37 to the multi-function switches 29e, 29d, the display control unit 80 repeatedly changes the display mode of the first balloon operation unit image 51P (inflation state display unit image 53AP or deflation state display unit image 53BP) and the second balloon operation unit image 52P (inflation state display unit image 54AP or deflation state display unit image 54BP).

[0097] As described above, in the first embodiment, the display mode of the first balloon operation unit image 51P is changed corresponding to the inflation operation and deflation operation of the first balloon 30 for the multi-function switch 29e, respectively, and the display mode of the second balloon operation unit image 52P is changed corresponding to the inflation operation and deflation operation of the second balloon 37 for the multi-function switch 29d, respectively. As a result, the inflation operation and deflation operation of the first balloon 30 for the multi-function switch 29e are individually reflected in the remote controller image 72, and the inflation operation and deflation operation of the second balloon 37 for the multi-function switch 29d are individually reflected in the remote controller image 72. This allows the surgeon to easily understand what operations have been performed on the multi-function switches 29e and 29d while gazing at the monitor 16.

[0098] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the operation of the multi-function switches 29e, 29d is reflected in the remote controller image 72 of the remote controller 15 used for the inflation and deflation operations of the balloons 30, 37. This allows the surgeon to more intuitively understand which switch on the remote controller 15 the operation of the multi-function switches 29e, 29d corresponds to, compared to when only character strings or illustrations indicating the inflation and deflation operations of the balloons 30, 37 are displayed on the monitor 16.

[0099] [Second embodiment] 9 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an endoscopic examination screen 100 displayed on the monitor 16 by the processor device 13 of the endoscopic device 2 of the second embodiment. The endoscopic device 2 of the second embodiment displays information indicating the pressure in the first balloon 30 and the pressure in the second balloon 37 on the endoscopic examination screen 100.

[0100] 9, the endoscope device 2 of the second embodiment has basically the same configuration as the endoscope device 2 of the first embodiment, except that a pressure sensor 81 is provided in the balloon controller 14 and the processor 13a of the processor device 13 functions as a pressure information acquisition unit 82. For this reason, components that are the same in function or configuration as those of the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals and their description will be omitted.

[0101] The pressure sensors 81 correspond to the pressure detection sensors of the present invention and are provided in the balloon controller 14 corresponding to each of the balloons 30 and 37. While the balloon controller 14 is operating, the pressure sensors 81 repeatedly detect the pressure in the first balloon 30 and the pressure in the second balloon 37. Note that the method for detecting the pressure in each of the balloons 30 and 37 using the pressure sensor 81 is a publicly known technique (see, for example, Patent Document 5), and therefore a detailed description thereof will be omitted here. Furthermore, the pressure sensor 81 may be provided in the endoscope 10 instead of in the balloon controller 14. Each time the pressure sensor 81 detects the pressure in each of the balloons 30 and 37, it repeatedly outputs the pressure detection result of each of the balloons 30 and 37 to the processor device 13 via a communication cable (not shown).

[0102] The pressure information acquisition unit 82 repeatedly acquires the pressure detection results of the balloons 30 and 37 from the pressure sensor 81 and outputs the pressure detection results of the balloons 30 and 37 to the display control unit 80 .

[0103] The display control unit 80 of the second embodiment sequentially generates an endoscopic examination screen 100 and sequentially outputs it to the monitor 16 based on the imaging signals sequentially input from the imaging unit 24a, the operation information of the multifunction switches 29e, 29d sequentially input from the operation unit 18, and the output of the pressure detection results of each balloon 30, 37 input from the pressure information acquisition unit 82.

[0104] The endoscopic examination screen 100 of the second embodiment is basically the same as the endoscopic examination screen 100 of the first embodiment, except that in addition to the remote controller image 72, the second display area 100b includes first pressure information 74 indicating the pressure in the first balloon 30 and second pressure information 75 indicating the pressure in the second balloon 37.

[0105] 10 is an enlarged view of a remote controller image 72, first pressure information 74, and second pressure information 75 according to the second embodiment. As shown in FIG. 10, the display control unit 80 generates first pressure information 74 based on the pressure detection result of the first balloon 30 input from the pressure information acquisition unit 82, and displays the first pressure information 74 in the vicinity of the first balloon operation unit image 51P. The display control unit 80 also generates second pressure information 75 based on the pressure detection result of the second balloon 37 input from the pressure information acquisition unit 82, and displays the second pressure information 75 in the vicinity of the second balloon operation unit image 52P.

[0106] The first pressure information 74 includes an indicator 74A indicating the magnitude of the pressure in the first balloon 30 and a pressure value 74B indicating the numerical value of the pressure in the first balloon 30. The second pressure information 75 includes an indicator 75A indicating the magnitude of the pressure in the second balloon 37 and a pressure value 75B indicating the numerical value of the pressure in the second balloon 37.

[0107] In the second embodiment, both the indicator 74A and the pressure numerical value 74B are displayed within the remote controller image 72 as the first pressure information 74, but only either the indicator 74A or the pressure numerical value 74B may be displayed. For example, by operating a display changeover switch (not shown) provided on the balloon controller 14 (the function of which may be assigned to the multi-function switch 29), it is possible to switch between displaying both the indicator 74A and the pressure numerical value 74B, displaying only the indicator 74A, and displaying only the pressure numerical value 74B. Similarly, the second pressure information 75 may be switched between displaying both the indicator 75A and the pressure numerical value 75B, displaying only the indicator 75A, and displaying only the pressure numerical value 75B.

[0108] Thereafter, the display control unit 80 updates the display of the first pressure information 74 and the second pressure information 75 each time new pressure detection results for the balloons 30 and 37 are input from the pressure information acquisition unit 82.

[0109] As described above, in the second embodiment, by displaying the first pressure information 74 and the second pressure information 75 on the monitor 16, the surgeon can easily grasp the pressure inside each of the balloons 30, 37 while gazing at the monitor 16. Furthermore, by displaying the first pressure information 74 in a position near the first balloon operation unit image 51P and the second pressure information 75 in a position near the second balloon operation unit image 52P, the surgeon can easily distinguish between the pressure inside the first balloon 30 and the pressure inside the second balloon 37.

[0110] In the second embodiment, the first pressure information 74 and the second pressure information 75 are displayed near the remote controller image 72, but the first pressure information 74 may be superimposed on the first balloon operation unit image 51P, and the second pressure information 75 may be superimposed on the second balloon operation unit image 52P. Also, the first pressure information 74 and the second pressure information 75 may be displayed at any position within the endoscopic examination screen 100.

[0111] [Third embodiment] 11 is a configuration diagram of an endoscope device 2 of a third embodiment. In each of the above embodiments, when executing an emergency stop of the balloon controller 14 (an emergency stop of the inflation / deflation operations of the balloons 30, 37), it is necessary to operate the emergency stop switch 48 provided on the front of the balloon controller 14, but since the surgeon's hands are occupied, the emergency stop operation may take time.

[0112] Therefore, the endoscope device 2 of the third embodiment has an emergency stop foot switch 110 connected to the balloon controller 14. The endoscope device 2 of the third embodiment has basically the same configuration as the endoscope device 2 of each of the above embodiments, except that it includes the foot switch 110 and the function of the display control unit 80 is partially different. Therefore, components that are the same in function or configuration as those of the above embodiments are given the same reference numerals and their description will be omitted.

[0113] The foot switch 110 corresponds to the emergency stop switch of the present invention and accepts a foot operation (a stepping operation) by the surgeon's foot. The balloon controller 14 of the third embodiment executes an emergency stop (stopping the inflation / deflation operation of each of the balloons 30, 37, or deflating each of the balloons 30, 37) when a foot operation is performed on the foot switch 110. Note that two foot switches 110 may be connected to the balloon controller 14 so that the balloon controller 14 can execute an emergency stop of each of the balloons 30, 37 individually.

[0114] 12 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the display of warning information 79 on the monitor 16. As shown in FIG. 12, when a foot operation is performed on the foot switch 110, the display control unit 80 of the third embodiment displays warning information 79 indicating that the balloon controller 14 has made an emergency stop on the monitor 16, for example, by superimposing the warning information 79 on the endoscopic examination screen 100. This makes it possible to notify the user that the balloon controller 14 has made an emergency stop. In addition to or instead of displaying the warning information 79 on the monitor 16, the warning information 79 may be output as audio from a speaker (not shown).

[0115] As described above, in the third embodiment, the balloon controller 14 can be stopped in an emergency using the foot switch 110, so that the balloon controller 14 can be stopped in an emergency quickly even when the surgeon has both hands full.

[0116] In the third embodiment, the balloon controller 14 can be stopped in an emergency using the foot switch 110, but the remote controller 15 or the multi-function switch 29 may also have the function of an emergency stop switch.

[0117] [others] In the above-described embodiments, changing the display mode of the first balloon operation unit image 51P and the second balloon operation unit image 52P is exemplified as a method for reflecting the type of balloon operation (expansion operation, deflation operation) input to the multifunction switches 29e, 29d on the remote controller image 72, but the present invention is not limited to this. As long as the surgeon can grasp the type of balloon operation input to the multifunction switch 29, there is no particular limitation on the method for reflecting the type of balloon operation on the remote controller image 72. For example, a character string or an illustration indicating the type of balloon operation input to the multifunction switch 29 may be displayed on or near the remote controller image 72.

[0118] In each of the above embodiments, the functions of the balloon operation units 51, 52 of the remote controller 15 are assigned to the multifunction switches 29, but the functions of the stop button 57 as shown in Fig. 5 or other buttons and switches may be assigned to each multifunction switch 29. In this case, the remote controller image 72 includes an image of the individual operation switch of the remote controller 15 corresponding to the multifunction switch 29 to which the balloon operation is assigned.

[0119] In each of the above embodiments, the functions of some of the individual operation switches of the remote controller 15 are assigned to each multi-function switch 29 provided in the operation unit 18, but the controller operation switch of the present invention is not limited to the multi-function switch 29. For example, a dedicated operation switch having the functions of at least some of the individual operation switches of the remote controller 15 may be provided in the operation unit 18. Furthermore, the multi-function switch 29 or the dedicated operation switch may be provided in a location other than the operation unit 18 of the endoscope 10.

[0120] In each of the above embodiments, the remote controller image 72, the first pressure information 74, and the second pressure information 75 are displayed on the endoscopy screen 100 only in the balloon operation presentation mode using the multifunction switch 29, but the remote controller image 72, the first pressure information 74, and the second pressure information 75 may also be displayed on the endoscopy screen 100 in the normal mode. In this case, the operation on the remote controller 15 is reflected in the remote controller image 72.

[0121] Although the above embodiments have been described as using a double-balloon type endoscope device 2, the present invention can also be applied to a single-balloon type endoscope device 2 (endoscope 10). [Explanation of symbols]

[0122] 2 Endoscopic devices 10 Endoscopy 11 Overtube 12 Light source device 13 Processor unit 13a processor 14 Balloon Controller 15 Remote Controller 16 monitors 17 Insertion section 18 Control section 18a Treatment tool insertion part 19 Universal Cable 20 Light source connector 21 Cable 22 Processor connector 23 Angle knob 24 Tip 24a Imaging unit 25 Curved section 26 Soft part 27 Air and water supply button 28 Suction button 29 Multifunction Switch 29a, 29b, 29c, 29d, 29e Multifunction Switch 30 First Balloon 31 1st supply / discharge pipe 32 Aperture 33 Endoscope side mouthpiece 34 tubes 35 Gripping part 36 Main body 37 Second Balloon 38 Supply pipeline 39 2nd supply / discharge pipe 40 connectors 41 Aperture 42 tubes 43 Connector 44 tubes 45 Cable 46 Display section 47 Power switch 48 Emergency stop switch 49 Tube connection 51 First balloon operating unit 51P First balloon operation unit image 52 Second balloon operating unit 52P Second balloon control unit image 53 First balloon status display unit 53A Inflation status display 53AP expansion status display image 53B Contraction status display unit 53BP contraction status display image 53P First balloon status display image 54 Second balloon status display unit 54A Inflation status display 54AP expansion status display image 54B Contraction status display 54BP contraction status display image 54P Second balloon status display image 55 First balloon pause button 56 Second balloon pause button 57 Stop button 70 Endoscopic Images 72 Remote Controller Images 74 First Pressure Information 74A indicator 74B pressure value 75 Second Pressure Information 75A indicator 75B pressure value 79 Warning Information 80 Display control unit 81 Pressure Sensor 82 Pressure information acquisition unit 100 Endoscopy Screen 100a 1st display area 100b 2nd display area 110 Footswitch

Claims

1. Balloons and a balloon controller for controlling inflation and deflation of the balloon; a remote controller connected to the balloon controller and configured to operate the balloon controller, the remote controller being capable of inputting a plurality of types of balloon operations including an operation to inflate and an operation to deflate the balloon; a controller operation switch provided on the endoscope for operating the balloon controller, the controller operation switch being capable of inputting a plurality of types of balloon operations common to the remote controller; a processor; Equipped with the processor: an endoscopic image captured by the endoscope and a remote controller image, which is an image of the remote controller, are displayed on a monitor; an endoscope apparatus that, when the balloon operation is input to the controller operation switch, reflects the type of balloon operation input to the controller operation switch on the remote controller image displayed on the monitor.

2. the remote controller includes a plurality of types of individual operation switches corresponding to a plurality of types of balloon operations, the remote controller image includes images of a plurality of types of the individual operation switches, The endoscope device according to claim 1 , wherein the processor changes a display mode of an image of the individual operation switch corresponding to a type of the balloon operation when the balloon operation is input to the controller operation switch.

3. 3. The endoscope device according to claim 1, wherein the balloon is provided at least on one of a distal end of an insertion section of the endoscope and a distal end of an overtube through which the insertion section is inserted.

4. the balloon is provided at a distal end portion of the insertion portion and a distal end portion of the overtube, the balloon controller controls inflation and deflation of the balloons for each of the balloons; the remote controller is capable of inputting the balloon operation for each of the balloons, The endoscope apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the processor reflects the type of balloon operation input to the controller operation switch on the remote controller image for each balloon.

5. an emergency stop switch for stopping the balloon controller in an emergency; The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the processor causes the monitor to display information indicating that the balloon controller has been brought to an emergency stop when the emergency stop switch is operated.

6. 6. The endoscope apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the emergency stop switch is a foot switch connected to the balloon controller.

7. a pressure detection sensor for repeatedly detecting the pressure inside the balloon; The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the processor causes the monitor to display information indicating the pressure each time the pressure detection sensor detects the pressure.

8. the balloon is provided at a distal end portion of an insertion portion of an endoscope and at a distal end portion of an overtube through which the insertion portion is inserted, the pressure detection sensor repeatedly detects the pressure for each of the balloons; The endoscope apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the processor causes the monitor to display information indicating the pressure for each of the balloons.

9. 3. The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the controller operation switch is provided in an operation section provided on the proximal end side of the insertion section of the endoscope.

10. the remote controller includes a plurality of types of individual operation switches corresponding to a plurality of types of balloon operations, The operation unit is provided with a plurality of multi-function switches to which a plurality of types of operations can be selectively assigned, The endoscope apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the controller operation switch is a plurality of multi-function switches to which functions of a plurality of types of individual operation switches are individually assigned.

Images