Patent Description:
Generally, an airtight structure is employed in an endoscope to protect built-in elements, such as an image pickup element and a signal cable, from water. In a state where an enclosed space formed in the endoscope communicates with the outside (also referred to as a leakage state), water penetrates into the enclosed space. For this reason, there is a possibility that the built-in elements may be affected. Accordingly, a method of determining whether or not leakage occurs in an endoscope is proposed.

<CIT> (<CIT>) discloses an endoscope device comprising a pump and a control unit that are provided in a light source device or an image processing device to be connected to an endoscope. The pump applies pressure to the inside of the endoscope, and a control unit detects the leakage of the endoscope on the basis of a change in the internal pressure of the endoscope.

<CIT> (<CIT>) discloses an airtightness check unit that is to be connected to an endoscope. The airtightness check unit includes a pump applying pressure to the inside of the endoscope and a pressure sensor detecting the internal pressure of the endoscope, and detects the leakage of the endoscope on the basis of a change in the internal pressure of the endoscope.

<CIT> discloses an endoscope leak inspection apparatus that includes an endoscope connecting section communicably connected to an inside of an endoscope, a gas feed section that communicates with the endoscope connecting section and feeds gas, and a measuring section that measures an internal pressure of the endoscope. An endoscope-information recognizing section recognizes serial numbers uniquely allocated to individual endoscopes, and a storing section stores the serial numbers and measurement results of the measuring section in association with each other. A threshold setting section sets a threshold on the basis of measurement results in past having the same serial number stored in the storing section, and a leak determining section compares the threshold and a measurement result by the measuring section and determines presence or absence of a leak of the endoscope.

<CIT> discloses an endoscope and a pressure test method therefor.

<CIT> discloses a wireless endoscope having a controller that measures, by a gas pressure sensor, a gas pressure value inside an endoscope main body and determines whether or not the acquired gas pressure value is equal to or larger than a predetermined value.

<CIT> discloses an endoscope sheath including a body and one or more sensors disposed in the body.

<CIT> discloses that leak detection system evaluates the integrity the endoscope having an internal passage. The leak detection system includes an interior chamber connected to the internal passage.

Even though leakage occurs in the endoscope, it is difficult for a large difference to be generated between the internal pressure of the enclosed space obtained in a state where pressure is applied to the enclosed space of the endoscope and the internal pressure of the enclosed space obtained when some time has passed from that state in a case where a hole allowing the enclosed space to communicate with the outside is very small. That is, in a case where this hole is small, the internal pressure of the enclosed space of the endoscope is gradually lowered over a long period, such as several tens of hours or several days.

Each of methods disclosed in <CIT> (<CIT>) and <CIT> (<CIT>) is to apply pressure to the inside of the endoscope and to detect leakage on the basis of a change in the internal pressure of the endoscope at the time of use of the endoscope or the like. Accordingly, since a change in the internal pressure of the endoscope cannot be monitored over the above-mentioned long period, in a case where very little leakage occurs, the very little leakage cannot be detected.

The invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned circumstances, and an object of the invention is to provide an endoscope, an endoscope system, a method of determining the leakage of an endoscope, and a recording medium storing a leakage determination program for an endoscope that can detect the occurrence of leakage with high accuracy.

In one aspect of the invention there is provided an endoscope system according to claim <NUM> of the appended claims.

In another aspect, there is provided a method of determining the leakage of an endoscope, according to claim <NUM> of the appended claims.

In another aspect, there is provided a recording medium storing a leakage determination program for an endoscope, according to claim <NUM> of the appended claims.

According to the invention, it is possible to provide an endoscope, an endoscope system, a method of determining the leakage of an endoscope, and a recording medium storing a leakage determination program for an endoscope that can detect the occurrence of leakage with high accuracy.

An embodiment of the invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

<FIG> is a diagram showing the schematic configuration of an endoscope system <NUM> that is an endoscope system according to an embodiment of the invention. As shown in <FIG>, the endoscope system <NUM> comprises an endoscope device <NUM> and a pressure device <NUM>.

The endoscope device <NUM> comprises an endoscope <NUM> and a main body <NUM> that includes a processor device <NUM> and a light source device <NUM> to which the endoscope <NUM> is to be connected. The main body <NUM> forms a device that can apply electric current to the endoscope <NUM>.

A display unit <NUM> that displays a picked-up image and the like and an input unit <NUM> that is an interface used to input various kinds of information to the processor device <NUM> are connected to the processor device <NUM>. The processor device <NUM> controls the endoscope <NUM>, the light source device <NUM>, and the display unit <NUM>.

The endoscope <NUM> comprises: an insertion part <NUM> that is a tubular member extending in one direction and is to be inserted into a body cavity as an object to be observed; an operation part <NUM> that is connected to a proximal end portion of the insertion part <NUM> and is provided with operation members used to perform an observation mode-switching operation, an image pickup/recording operation, the operation of forceps, an air/water supply operation, a suction operation, the operation of an electric scalpel, and the like; angle knobs <NUM> that are provided on the operation part <NUM> to be adjacent to each other; and a universal cord <NUM> that includes connector parts 13A and 13B for attachably and detachably connecting the endoscope <NUM> to the light source device <NUM> and the processor device <NUM>, respectively.

Although not shown in <FIG>, a treatment tool passage into which a treatment tool, such as a pair of biopsy forceps or an electric scalpel, as a collection instrument for collecting biological tissue, such as cells or a polyp, is to be inserted is provided in the operation part <NUM> and the insertion part <NUM>.

The insertion part <NUM> includes a soft portion 10A that has flexibility, a bendable portion 10B that is provided at the distal end of the soft portion 10A, and a hard distal end portion 10C that is provided at the distal end of the bendable portion 10B. The distal end portion 10C is a portion that is harder than the soft portion 10A and the bendable portion 10B.

The bendable portion 10B is adapted to be bendable by an operation for rotationally moving the angle knob <NUM>. Since the bendable portion 10B can be bent at any angle in any direction according to a portion of an object or the like to be examined where the endoscope <NUM> is used, the bendable portion 10B can allow the distal end portion 10C to face in a desired direction.

<FIG> is a schematic diagram showing the internal configuration of the endoscope device <NUM> of the endoscope system <NUM> shown in <FIG>. As shown in <FIG>, the light source device <NUM> comprises a light source control unit <NUM> and a light source unit <NUM>.

The light source unit <NUM> is to generate illumination light that is used to illuminate a portion to be observed. Illumination light emitted from the light source unit <NUM> is incident on a light guide <NUM> built in the universal cord <NUM>, and is applied to the portion to be observed through an illumination lens 20a that is provided in the distal end portion 10C of the insertion part <NUM>.

A white light source emitting white light, a plurality of light sources that include a white light source and a light source emitting another color light (for example, a blue light source emitting blue light), or the like is used as the light source unit <NUM>. Examples of a light-emitting element used as a light source in this specification include a laser diode (LD), a light-emitting diode (LED), and the like.

The light source control unit <NUM> is formed of various processors that execute programs to perform processing, and is connected to a system control unit <NUM> of the processor device <NUM>. The light source control unit <NUM> controls the light source unit <NUM> on the basis of a command that is sent from the system control unit <NUM>.

The distal end portion 10C of the endoscope <NUM> is provided with an image pickup optical system that includes an objective lens <NUM> and a lens group <NUM>, an image pickup element <NUM> that picks up the image of a subject through the image pickup optical system, and a light guide <NUM> that guides illumination light emitted from the light source unit <NUM> to the illumination lens 20a.

The light guide <NUM> extends from the distal end portion 10C to the connector part 13A of the universal cord <NUM>. A state where illumination light emitted from the light source unit <NUM> of the light source device <NUM> can be supplied to the light guide <NUM> is made in a state where the connector part 13A of the universal cord <NUM> is connected to the light source device <NUM>. The light guide <NUM> is, specifically, an optical fiber bundle that is obtained in a case where a plurality of flexible optical fibers (for example, optical fibers made of plastic) are coated with a coating member in a state where the plurality of flexible optical fibers are bundled up, and transmits illumination light emitted from the light source unit <NUM> to the distal end portion 10C.

A charge coupled device (CCD) image sensor, a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor, or the like is used as the image pickup element <NUM>.

The image pickup element <NUM> includes a light-receiving surface on which a plurality of pixels are two-dimensionally arranged, converts an optical image, which is formed on the light-receiving surface by the image pickup optical system, into electrical signals (image pickup signals) at the respective pixels, and outputs the electrical signals. For example, an image pickup element on which color filters having primary colors, complementary colors, or the like are mounted is used as the image pickup element <NUM>. The image pickup element <NUM> is electrically connected to the processor device <NUM> through a signal cable (not shown) that extends in the endoscope <NUM> from the distal end portion 10C to the connector part 13B.

In a case where a light source unit for dividing white light, which is emitted from a white light source, in a time-sharing manner by a plurality of color filters to generate illumination light is used as the light source unit <NUM>, an image pickup element on which color filters are not mounted may be used as the image pickup element <NUM>.

The inside of the endoscope <NUM> except for the above-mentioned treatment tool passage forms an enclosed space <NUM> (see <FIG>), and built-in elements, such as the image pickup optical system, the image pickup element <NUM>, and the signal cable and the like, are housed in the enclosed space <NUM>. Accordingly, the built-in elements are protected from water and the like.

The pressure device <NUM> is a device that is used to determine whether or not a leakage state where the enclosed space <NUM> of the endoscope <NUM> communicates with the outside is made.

The processor device <NUM> comprises a signal processing unit <NUM>, a display control unit <NUM>, and a system control unit <NUM>.

The signal processing unit <NUM> receives and processes digital pixel signals, which are transmitted from the image pickup element <NUM>, to generate picked-up image data. The picked-up image data, which is generated by the signal processing unit <NUM>, is recorded in a recording medium, such as a hard disk drive or a flash memory (not shown).

The display control unit <NUM> causes the display unit <NUM> to display a picked-up image that is based on the picked-up image data generated by the signal processing unit <NUM>.

The system control unit <NUM> controls the respective parts of the processor device <NUM>, and sends a command to the endoscope <NUM> and the light source control unit <NUM> to generally control the entire endoscope device <NUM>. The system control unit <NUM> performs the control of the image pickup element <NUM>, the control of the light source unit <NUM> through the light source control unit <NUM>, and the like.

The system control unit <NUM> includes various processors that execute programs to perform processing, a random access memory (RAM), and a read only memory (ROM).

Various processors of this specification include a central processing unit (CPU) that is a general-purpose processor executing programs to perform various kinds of processing, a programmable logic device (PLD) that is a processor of which circuit configuration can be changed after manufacture, such as a field programmable gate array (FPGA), a dedicated electrical circuit that is a processor having circuit configuration designed exclusively to perform specific processing, such as an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), and the like. The structures of these various processors are more specifically electrical circuits where circuit elements, such as semiconductor elements, are combined.

The system control unit <NUM> may be formed of one of the various processors, or may be formed of a combination of two or more same kind or different kinds of processors (for example, a combination of a plurality of FPGAs or a combination of CPUs and FPGAs).

<FIG> is a schematic diagram showing the internal configuration of the pressure device <NUM> and the endoscope <NUM> of the endoscope system <NUM> shown in <FIG>. A scope control unit <NUM>, a pressure sensor <NUM>, and a storage unit <NUM> are provided in the enclosed space <NUM> of the endoscope <NUM> at any portion, for example, the distal end portion 10C, the operation part <NUM>, the connector part 13A, the connector part 13B, or the like.

The scope control unit <NUM> controls the endoscope <NUM> on the basis of the command of the system control unit <NUM> of the processor device <NUM> in a state where the endoscope <NUM> is connected to the processor device <NUM>. The scope control unit <NUM> is formed of the above-mentioned various processors.

The pressure sensor <NUM> is to detect pressure inside the enclosed space <NUM> formed in the endoscope <NUM>, and a capacitive sensor, a strain gauge type sensor, or the like is used as the pressure sensor <NUM>. Information about the pressure detected by the pressure sensor <NUM> is transmitted to the scope control unit <NUM>.

The storage unit <NUM> stores the pressure inside the enclosed space <NUM>, which is detected by the pressure sensor <NUM> at a first timing to be described later, (hereinafter, referred to as reference pressure P1) in association with detection time information t1 about the reference pressure P1. The storage unit <NUM> is formed of a storage medium, such as an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM) or a flash memory. The reference pressure P1 and the detection time information t1 are stored in the storage unit <NUM> by the control of the scope control unit <NUM>. The reference pressure P1 forms a first pressure value. The detection time information t1 forms first detection time information.

The pressure device <NUM> comprises a control unit <NUM>, a pump <NUM>, an air supply tube <NUM>, and a connector <NUM> and is operated by a power source (not shown).

The connector <NUM> is to be connected to the universal cord <NUM> of the endoscope <NUM>. In a state where the connector <NUM> and the universal cord <NUM> are connected to each other, a state where the air supply tube <NUM> is inserted into the enclosed space <NUM> of the endoscope <NUM> is made and a state where the signal cable <NUM> of the endoscope <NUM> and the control unit <NUM> are electrically connected to each other is made.

The pump <NUM> sends air to the air supply tube <NUM> to apply pressure to the enclosed space <NUM> formed in the endoscope <NUM> connected to the connector <NUM>. The pump <NUM> is controlled by the control unit <NUM>. Since a portion of the endoscope <NUM> into which the air supply tube <NUM> is to be inserted has a check valve structure, the endoscope <NUM> is adapted so that air in the endoscope <NUM> does not leak from this portion in a state where the air supply tube <NUM> is detached.

The control unit <NUM> is electrically connected to the scope control unit <NUM>, which is provided in the endoscope <NUM>, through the signal cable <NUM>.

In the endoscope system <NUM>, pressure is applied to the enclosed space <NUM> of the endoscope <NUM> with respect to the atmospheric pressure by the pressure device <NUM> at a timing when the cleaned endoscope <NUM> is to be stored, or the like, and the reference pressure P1 and the detection time information t1, which are obtained in a state where pressure is applied, are stored in the storage unit <NUM>. The endoscope <NUM> is stored until the time of next use in a state where the reference pressure P1 and the detection time information t1 are stored in the storage unit <NUM> in this way.

More specifically, the administrator of the endoscope <NUM> connects the universal cord <NUM> of the endoscope <NUM> to the connector <NUM> of the pressure device <NUM> first and starts the pressure device <NUM>. Then, the administrator of the endoscope <NUM> operates an operation part (not shown) provided on the pressure device <NUM> to give an instruction to apply pressure to the enclosed space <NUM> of the endoscope <NUM>. The control unit <NUM> of the pressure device <NUM> receiving this instruction causes the pump <NUM> to operate and instructs the scope control unit <NUM> to store the reference pressure P1 and the detection time information t1.

The scope control unit <NUM> receiving this instruction monitors the value of pressure detected by the pressure sensor <NUM> while pressure is applied to the enclosed space <NUM> by the pump <NUM>; at a point of time when this pressure value becomes a peak, stores the pressure value of the peak in the storage unit <NUM> as the reference pressure P1; and stores the date and time at this point of time in the storage unit <NUM> as the detection time information t1 in association with the reference pressure P1. The point of time when this pressure value becomes a peak is the above-mentioned first timing. In this way, pressure inside the enclosed space <NUM>, which is obtained in a state where pressure is applied to the enclosed space <NUM> with respect to the atmospheric pressure, and information about the date and time at a point of time when the internal pressure of the enclosed space <NUM> becomes the pressure are stored in the storage unit <NUM> of the endoscope <NUM> in association with each other.

In the endoscope system <NUM>, the scope control unit <NUM> of the endoscope <NUM> executes programs, which include a leakage (also refer to as "airtight leak") determination program, to perform processing for determining whether or not the leakage of the enclosed space <NUM> of the endoscope <NUM> occurs on the basis of the information stored in the storage unit <NUM> and information about the pressure of the enclosed space <NUM> detected by the pressure sensor <NUM>. The scope control unit <NUM> forms a leakage determination unit. The details of this processing will be described below.

<FIG> is a flowchart illustrating an operation for determining the leakage of the endoscope <NUM> of the endoscope system <NUM> shown in <FIG>. A case where the reference pressure P1 and the detection time information t1 have already been stored in the storage unit <NUM> of the endoscope <NUM> by the above-mentioned work will be described.

In a case where the connector parts 13A and 13B of the endoscope <NUM> are connected to the main body <NUM> and electric current is applied to the endoscope <NUM> from the main body <NUM>, the scope control unit <NUM> acquires pressure P2 of the enclosed space <NUM> detected by the pressure sensor <NUM> and temporarily stores the pressure P2 in a built-in memory in association with detection time information t2 that represents the date and time of the detection of the pressure P2 (Step S1). The pressure P2 forms a second pressure value. The detection time information t2 forms second detection time information. Date and time, which are represented by the detection time information t2, form a second timing.

Then, the scope control unit <NUM> acquires the reference pressure P1 and the detection time information t1 from the storage unit <NUM> and temporarily stores the reference pressure P1 and the detection time information t1 in the built-in memory (Step S2).

After that, the scope control unit <NUM> calculates a difference ΔP between the reference pressure P1 and the pressure P2 (Step S3). In a case where leakage does not occur in the enclosed space <NUM> of the endoscope <NUM>, this difference ΔP is reduced. On the other hand, in a case where leakage occurs in the enclosed space <NUM> of the endoscope <NUM>, this difference ΔP is increased. Accordingly, leakage can be determined through the comparison of the magnitude of this difference ΔP and a threshold value TH to be described later.

Furthermore, the scope control unit <NUM> calculates elapsed time Δt, which has passed until a point of time (second timing) when the pressure P2 of the enclosed space <NUM> is detected from a point of time (first timing) when pressure inside the enclosed space <NUM> of the endoscope <NUM> becomes the reference pressure P1, on the basis of the detection time information t1 and the detection time information t2 (Step S4).

Then, the scope control unit <NUM> sets the threshold value TH, which is to be compared with the difference ΔP for the determination of leakage, according to the elapsed time Δt (Step S5).

Even in a case where leakage does not occur in the enclosed space <NUM> of the endoscope <NUM>, air present in the enclosed space <NUM> gradually leaks to the outside due to the material of a member forming the exterior of the endoscope <NUM> or the like although the amount of air to leak is not so much. The amount of air to leak is larger at time (the elapsed time Δt) between the timing when the reference pressure P1 is detected and the timing when the pressure P2 is detected is longer.

In this embodiment, a plurality of values corresponding to the length of the elapsed time Δt are determined in advance as the threshold value TH to improve the accuracy of the determination of leakage. For example, a value TH1 corresponding to a case where the elapsed time Δt becomes a first value exceeding a predetermined value and a value TH2 corresponding to a case where the elapsed time Δt becomes a second value equal to or smaller than the predetermined value are determined as the threshold value TH, and the value TH1 is larger than the value TH2.

In a case where leakage does not occur, a value, which is larger than the upper limit of the magnitude of the difference ΔP assumed to be generated in a case where the elapsed time Δt becomes the first value, is set as the value TH1. In a case where leakage does not occur, a value, which is larger than the upper limit of the magnitude of the difference ΔP assumed to be generated in a case where the elapsed time Δt becomes the second value, is set as the value TH2. In Step S5, the scope control unit <NUM> sets the value TH1 as the threshold value TH in a case where the elapsed time Δt is the first value and sets the value TH2 as the threshold value TH in a case where the elapsed time Δt is the second value.

After Step S5, the scope control unit <NUM> determines whether or not the difference ΔP calculated in Step S3 is equal to or larger than the set threshold value TH (Step S6). In a case where the difference ΔP is equal to or larger than the threshold value TH (YES in Step S6), the scope control unit <NUM> determines that leakage occurs in the enclosed space <NUM> of the endoscope <NUM> (Step S7) and performs notification processing (Step S8).

For example, the scope control unit <NUM> performs notification processing for causing the display unit <NUM> to display a predetermined message (a warning message for displaying that leakage occurs) through the system control unit <NUM>. The scope control unit <NUM> may cause the message to be output from a speaker (not shown), which is provided in the endoscope device <NUM>, instead of causing the display unit <NUM> to display a message. Alternatively, the scope control unit <NUM> may send the message to an external electronic device, which is connected to the processor device <NUM>, to notify the administrator of the endoscope <NUM> of necessity of repair.

In a case where the difference ΔP is smaller than the threshold value TH (NO in Step S6), the scope control unit <NUM> determines that leakage does not occur in the enclosed space <NUM> of the endoscope <NUM> and ends an operation for determining the leakage.

As described above, whether or not leakage occurs is determined in the endoscope system <NUM> on the basis of the magnitude of the difference ΔP between the pressure P2 of the enclosed space <NUM> at a timing when the determination of leakage is performed (in the above-mentioned example, a timing when the endoscope <NUM> is connected to the processor device <NUM> and electric current is applied to the endoscope <NUM>) and the reference pressure P1 that is stored in the storage unit <NUM> in advance. For this reason, time between a timing when the reference pressure P1 is detected and a timing when the determination of leakage is performed (a timing when the pressure P2 is detected) can be set to long time corresponding to the storage period of the endoscope <NUM>. As a result, since the difference ΔP is increased during this long time even though minute leakage occurs in the endoscope <NUM>, the leakage can be detected. Accordingly, the determination of leakage can be performed with high accuracy.

Further, according to the endoscope system <NUM>, since the threshold value TH is controlled according to the elapsed time Δt, a determination can be made in a consideration of a change in the internal pressure of the enclosed space <NUM> caused by a factor other than leakage. Accordingly, the determination of leakage can be performed with high accuracy.

Furthermore, according to the endoscope system <NUM>, the scope control unit <NUM> of the endoscope <NUM> determines leakage. For this reason, since the main body <NUM> of the endoscope device <NUM> does not need to be significantly revamped, costs required to construct the system can be reduced. Moreover, since an additional function can be added to the existing endoscope device <NUM> by merely the interchange of the endoscope <NUM>, versatility can be improved.

<FIG> is a schematic diagram showing a modification example of the endoscope <NUM> shown in <FIG>. The endoscope <NUM> of the modification example shown in <FIG> has the same configuration as that of the endoscope <NUM> shown in <FIG> except that a temperature sensor <NUM> for detecting the temperature of the enclosed space <NUM> is added to the endoscope <NUM> of the modification example. The temperature sensor <NUM> transmits information about the detected temperature of the enclosed space <NUM> to the scope control unit <NUM>.

The scope control unit <NUM> of the endoscope <NUM> shown in <FIG> is different from that of the endoscope <NUM> shown in <FIG> in that the scope control unit <NUM> of the endoscope <NUM> shown in <FIG> stores temperature T1 of the enclosed space <NUM>, which is detected by the temperature sensor <NUM> at a point of time when the reference pressure P1 is detected, in the storage unit <NUM> in association with the reference pressure P1 in a case where the scope control unit <NUM> stores the reference pressure P1 and the detection time information t1 in the storage unit <NUM>. The temperature T1 forms first temperature.

<FIG> is a flowchart illustrating an operation for determining the leakage of the endoscope <NUM> of the endoscope system <NUM> including the endoscope <NUM> shown in <FIG>. The flowchart shown in <FIG> is the same as the flowchart shown in <FIG> except that Step S2 is replaced with Step S20 and Step S21. The same processing of <FIG> as that of <FIG> will be denoted by the same reference numeral as those of <FIG>, and the description thereof will be omitted.

After Step S1, the scope control unit <NUM> acquires the reference pressure P1, the detection time information t1, and the temperature T1 from the storage unit <NUM>, and temporarily stores the reference pressure P1, the detection time information t1, and the temperature T1 in a built-in memory (Step S20).

Then, the scope control unit <NUM> acquires temperature T2 of the enclosed space <NUM>, which is detected by the temperature sensor <NUM> at a point of time when the pressure P2 is detected, and corrects the pressure P2 acquired in Step S1 on the basis of the temperature T2 and the temperature T1 (Step S21). The temperature T2 forms second temperature.

In Step S3 and processing subsequent to Step S3 after Step S21, a value corrected in Step S21 is used as the pressure P2.

The internal pressure of the enclosed space <NUM> can be changed due to the temperature of the enclosed space <NUM>. For example, in a case where the temperature of the enclosed space <NUM> is high even though the internal pressure of the enclosed space <NUM> is constant, the internal pressure rises due to the thermal expansion of air present in the enclosed space <NUM>. In a case where the temperature of the enclosed space <NUM> is low, the internal pressure is lowered in reverse.

Accordingly, the scope control unit <NUM> performs correction for converting the value of the pressure P2, which is acquired in Step S1, into a value, which is obtained in a case where the temperature of the enclosed space <NUM> is the temperature T1, in Step S21 to improve the accuracy of the calculation of the difference ΔP. Specifically, the scope control unit <NUM> calculates a value, which is the product of the pressure P2 acquired in Step S1 and (T1/T2), as corrected pressure P2.

Since the difference ΔP is calculated as the amount of pressure changed to be obtained under the same temperature in this way, the determination of leakage can be performed with higher accuracy.

Processing for determining leakage shown in <FIG> or <FIG> may be performed in a case where the processor of the system control unit <NUM> of the processor device <NUM> connected to the endoscope <NUM> executes a leakage determination program. In this case, the processor of the system control unit <NUM> functions as a leakage determination unit. According to this configuration, the manufacturing cost of the endoscope <NUM> can be reduced.

Alternatively, the processing for determining leakage shown in <FIG> or <FIG> may be performed in a case where the control unit <NUM> of the pressure device <NUM> executes a leakage determination program. In this case, a flow where a user connects the endoscope <NUM> to the pressure device <NUM> and operates the operation part to cause the control unit <NUM> to start performing the processing for determining leakage immediately before the endoscope <NUM> is used, or the like is made. In this configuration, the control unit <NUM> of the pressure device <NUM> forms a leakage determination unit and the pressure device <NUM> forms a device that can apply electric current to the endoscope <NUM>. According to this configuration, the manufacturing cost of the endoscope <NUM> can be reduced.

The scope control unit <NUM> of the endoscope <NUM> has performed control to store the reference pressure P1 and the detection time information t1 in the storage unit <NUM> in the above description, but is not limited thereto. For example, the control unit <NUM> of the pressure device <NUM> is adapted to be capable of having direct access to the pressure sensor <NUM> and the storage unit <NUM> through the signal cable <NUM>. Further, the control unit <NUM> may be adapted to acquire information about pressure detected by the pressure sensor <NUM> and to store the reference pressure P1 and the detection time information t1 in the storage unit <NUM>. According to this configuration, the manufacturing cost of the endoscope <NUM> can be reduced.

Even in the endoscope <NUM> shown in <FIG>, likewise, the control unit <NUM> of the pressure device <NUM> may be adapted to store the reference pressure P1, the detection time information t1, and the temperature T1 in the storage unit <NUM>.

The enclosed space <NUM> may be present even in the universal cord <NUM> in the examples shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, but is not limited thereto. There is also a case where the enclosed space <NUM> of the endoscope <NUM> is present only in a portion closer to the distal end portion 10C than the universal cord <NUM>. In this case, a portion into which the pump <NUM> may be to be inserted is provided near, for example, the operation part <NUM> of the endoscope <NUM> so that pressure can be applied to the enclosed space <NUM>.

Pressure, which is detected in a state where pressure is applied to the enclosed space <NUM> with respect to the atmospheric pressure by the pump <NUM>, has been employed as the reference pressure P1 in the above description. However, pressure, which is detected in a state where pressure is reduced from the enclosed space <NUM> with respect to the atmospheric pressure by the pump <NUM>, may be employed as the reference pressure P1. Even in this case, the difference ΔP is increased as the internal pressure of the enclosed space <NUM> becomes closer to the atmospheric pressure in a case where leakage occurs. For this reason, the determination of leakage can be performed on the basis of the magnitude of the difference ΔP.

Claim 1:
An endoscope system (<NUM>) comprising:
an endoscope (<NUM>) including an enclosed space therein, the endoscope comprising:
a pressure sensor (<NUM>) configured to detect pressure inside the enclosed space (<NUM>); and
a storage unit (<NUM>) that stores a first pressure value, which is detected by the pressure sensor (<NUM>) at a first timing in a state where pressure is applied to or removed from the enclosed space (<NUM>) with respect to atmospheric pressure, in association with first detection time information about the first pressure value,
a leakage determination unit configured to determine leakage of the enclosed space (<NUM>) on the basis of the first pressure value and the first detection time information stored in the storage unit (<NUM>) and a second pressure value that is detected by the pressure sensor (<NUM>) at a second timing after the first timing and second detection time information about the second pressure value;
wherein the leakage determination unit is configured to determine that the leakage of the enclosed space (<NUM>) occurs in a case where a difference between the first pressure value and the second pressure value is equal to or larger than a threshold value, and configured to set the threshold value on the basis of elapsed time that has passed until the second timing from the first timing, based on the first detection time information and the second detection time information; and
wherein the endoscope (<NUM>) is configured to be connected to a main body of an endoscope device (<NUM>) that is capable of applying current to the endoscope (<NUM>) and the second timing is a timing when the endoscope (<NUM>) is connected to the main body.