Electronic endoscope apparatus capable of warning lifetime of electronic scope

An electronic endoscope apparatus comprising:

• detector means for detecting use-condition data on an endoscopic operation member;
• storage means for accumulating each of the use-condition data with each other to store the accumulated use-condition data therein as use-history data on the endoscopic operation member;
• comparator means for comparing the use-history data with use-limit data preset for the endoscopic operation member to derive a comparison result signal;
• and,
• warning producing means for producing a warning in response to the comparison result signal so as to grasp a use limit condition of the electronic scope.

An electronic endoscope apparatus comprising:

• an electronic scope having an image sensor at a distal end thereof and an angle operation portion adjacent to the image sensor;
• a scope unit coupled with the electronic scope, including an endoscopic operation switch mechanically connected to the electronic scope, a scope computer for processing a switch operation signal derived from the endoscopic operation switch so as to obtain first use-history data on the operation switch, and a memory device for temporarily storing the first use-history data therein;
• and,
• a main unit including a signal processor for processing an image signal derived from the image sensor so as to produce an endoscopic image signal of a biological body under medical examination, a system computer for fetching the use-history data on the operation switch from the memory device via the scope computer, and a display unit for selectively displaying an endoscopic image of the biological body in response to the endoscopic image signal and use-history information in response to the fetched used-history data.

An electronic endoscope assembly comprising:

• an electronic scope having an image sensor at one end thereof and an angle operation portion adjacent to the image sensor;
• an image driver unit for driving the image sensor to produce an endoscopic image signal of a biological body under medical examination;
• and,
• a scope control unit connected to the other end of the electronic scope, including a scope computer for processing a switch operation signal derived from an endoscope operation switch mechanically connected to the electronic scope so as to obtain first use-history data on the operation switch, and a memory device for temporarily storing the first use-history data for a use-history condition displaying purpose.