JP2005323738A - Endoscope device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an endoscope device which can realize the switching of observation light without inducing the enlargement or the like of the device. <P>SOLUTION: A laser diode 8 which emits a specified wavelength beam is provided as a light source, and an adapter 11 is freely detachably provided on the distal end of an endoscope main body 1 which becomes the outgoing radiation end of a laser beam. On the adapter 11, a phosphor 21 which emits a beam of another wavelength with the light of the light source as an excite light is provided. Under a state that the adapter 11 is not attached, an endoscope object 10 is irradiated with the light of the light source of the specified wavelength as it is. Under a state that the adapter 11 is attached, the endoscope object 10 is irradiated with the light which has been converted to another wavelength by the phosphor 21. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an endoscope apparatus used for medical use, industrial use, and the like, and more particularly to an endoscope apparatus provided with illumination for irradiating an inspection object.

  Conventionally, endoscope apparatuses have been widely used to observe the inside of a living body, the inside of a machine, and the like. In an endoscope apparatus, illumination that emits white light is generally used.

However, in recent years, as described in Patent Document 1 and the like, the endoscopic object is irradiated with specific wavelength light, and the fluorescence emitted from the endoscopic object is observed using the specific wavelength light as excitation light. A technique has been developed in which a fluorescent material is applied to an object in advance and fluorescence emitted from the fluorescent material is observed when the specific wavelength light is similarly irradiated. When endoscopic observation using this technology is performed in parallel with normal endoscopic observation, two light sources that emit white light and two light sources that emit specific wavelength light are provided in advance, and one of the light sources is appropriately selected. The observation light is switched.
Japanese Patent No. 3194660

  This conventional endoscope apparatus can be switched between white light observation and specific wavelength light observation by preparing two light sources in advance, but if the light sources are prepared separately, the number of equipment increases, and two light sources are used. If it is incorporated into one device, the entire device will be enlarged.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an endoscope apparatus that can realize switching of observation light without causing an increase in size of the apparatus.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, in an endoscope apparatus provided with illumination for irradiating light to an endoscopic object, a light source that emits light of a specific wavelength, and light of the light source having a different wavelength with excitation light as excitation light. A phosphor that emits light is provided, and a switching structure that can switch between the interposition of the phosphor in the optical path of the light source and its release is provided.

  In the case of the present invention, when the phosphor is interposed in the optical path of the light source by the switching structure, the phosphor emits light having a wavelength different from the specific wavelength light such as white light using the light from the light source as excitation light. The object to be viewed is irradiated. Further, when the intervention of the phosphor is released by the switching structure, the light of the specific wavelength is directly irradiated to the object to be visualized.

  A light guide that guides light from the light source to the distal end side of the insertion portion may be provided on the optical path of the light source, and the switching structure may be provided on the light emitting end side of the light guide. In this case, the operation of interposing and releasing the phosphor can be easily performed.

  For example, the switching structure may be configured to include an adapter having the phosphor and an adapter locking portion for detachably attaching the adapter to the endoscope body. In this case, irradiation with the specific wavelength light and irradiation with other light can be switched by detaching the adapter.

  Also, in this case, in addition to the adapter having the phosphor, an adapter for irradiating a specific wavelength light that has an adapter locking portion common to the adapter and converts the optical characteristics of the emitted light from the light guide May be provided. In such a case, it is possible to convert optical characteristics such as a visual field range, an observation depth, and a visual field direction when irradiating the specific wavelength light by attaching an adapter for irradiating the specific wavelength light to the apparatus main body.

  The switching structure may be a structure in which a rotating member that is rotatable in a direction intersecting the optical path of the light source is provided, and a window on which the phosphor is attached and a window on which the phosphor is not attached are provided on the rotating member. In this case, the observation light can be easily switched by switching the window by rotating the rotating member.

  The light emitted from the light source is preferably laser light. When laser light is used in this way, energy loss when guiding light from the light source with an optical fiber or the like is reduced, and it is suitable for observation purposes. The wavelength can be set.

  Further, if the light source is composed of a laser diode, the light source can be reduced in size.

  If the light emitted from the light source is light having a wavelength of 450 nm or less, the phosphor can be excited satisfactorily.

  If the phosphor emits light having a wavelength of 400 nm to 650 nm upon receiving excitation light, the emitted light can be made white light.

  Further, the phosphor may emit light having a wavelength of 600 nm or more in response to excitation light so that it can be used in a night vision environment or the like.

  Further, the phosphor may emit light different from the excitation light having a wavelength of 450 nm or less upon receiving excitation light.

  Since the present invention can switch light of a specific wavelength and light of other wavelengths only by the intervening operation of the phosphor by the switching structure, the observation light can be switched without increasing the number of light sources and increasing the size of the apparatus. Can be realized.

  Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In addition, about each embodiment, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the same part and description is abbreviate | omitted about the overlapping part.

First, the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 will be described.
FIG. 1 shows an overall configuration of an endoscope apparatus according to the present invention. 1 is an endoscope main body including an insertion portion that is inserted into a lumen or the like of an endoscope target, and 2 is an image signal. An image processing unit 4 that processes and displays on the display 3 is a light source unit that generates illumination light.

  The endoscope main body 1 is provided with an electrification coupling element 5 (hereinafter referred to as “CCD 5”) as an imaging means and an observation optical member 6 such as an objective lens for connecting an image of the endoscopic object 10 to the CCD 5. At the same time, a light guide 7 made of an optical fiber or the like is provided for guiding the light produced by the light source unit 4 to the distal end of the insertion portion of the endoscope body 1. The image processing unit 2 inputs an image signal captured by the CCD 5 to a signal processing circuit (not shown), and displays the signal processed by the signal processing circuit on the display 3 as an image. The light source unit 4 includes a plurality of laser diodes 8 as light sources that emit light of a specific wavelength, and a condensing optical member 9 that condenses the light generated by each of the diodes 8 on the light guide 7. The laser diode 8 used here generates light having a wavelength of 450 nm or less.

  The image processing unit 2, the display 3, the light source unit 4, etc. may all be formed as an integrated block on the base side of the endoscope body 1 or may be formed as separate blocks and connected by cables. .

  A male screw 13 is formed on the outer periphery of the distal end portion of the endoscope main body 1, and the adapter 11 can be attached to the male screw 13 portion. 1 and 2 show a state where the adapter 11 is attached to the distal end of the endoscope body 1, and FIGS. 3 and 4 show a state where the adapter 11 is removed. As shown in FIG. 1, the adapter 11 holds a phosphor 21 that emits light of another wavelength using the light of the laser diode 8 as excitation light, and is attached to the front surface of the distal end of the endoscope body 1. It can be attached to the mirror body 1. Specifically, the adapter 11 includes a substantially cylindrical holder 12 and a disk-shaped front plate 22 that is rotatably held at the front end of the holder 12. Is formed with a female screw 14 to be screwed with the male screw 13 of the endoscope body 1. The male screw 13 and the female screw 14 constitute an adapter locking portion, and this adapter locking portion constitutes the switching structure in the present invention together with the adapter 11 itself.

  The front plate 22 includes an illumination window 15 corresponding to the light emitting end 7a of the light guide 7 at the distal end of the endoscope body 1, and an observation window 16 corresponding to the observation optical member 6 at the distal end of the endoscope body 1. The phosphor 21 formed in a disc shape is attached to the illumination window 15 in such a manner that the front and rear are sandwiched between the protective glasses 17 and 17, and only the protective glass 18 is attached to the observation window 16. . Further, a positioning recess 19 is formed at a position offset from the center of the front end surface of the endoscope body 1, and a locking projection 20 fitted to the positioning recess 19 is formed on the back surface of the front plate 22. . The positioning structure formed by the locking projection 20 and the positioning recess 19 ensures that the illumination window 15 and the observation window 16 are always positioned on the front surfaces of the light guide 7 and the observation optical member 6, respectively. That is, the adapter 11 positions the front plate 22 on the endoscope main body 1 by fitting the locking protrusion 20 into the positioning recess 19, and rotates only the holder 12 in this state to the endoscope main body 1. Screw it on.

  Here, the phosphor 21 that emits light including light having a wavelength of 400 nm to 650 nm upon receiving laser light that is excitation light is used to emit white light forward.

  In the endoscope apparatus according to this embodiment, the adapter 11 including the phosphor 21 can be attached to and detached from the distal end portion of the endoscope body 1 as described above. It is possible to easily switch between irradiation of specific wavelength light and irradiation of white light. Since the specific wavelength light observation and the white light observation can be switched by using the laser diode 8 as a common light source, an increase in the size of the apparatus due to an increase in the number of light sources can be avoided.

  Further, in this endoscope apparatus, if a plurality of types of adapters 11 having different characteristics of the phosphor 21 are prepared in advance, it is possible to flexibly cope with various observations. Furthermore, it is possible to provide a detachable structure for the phosphor 21 in the middle of the endoscope body 1, but in this embodiment, a detachable structure for the phosphor 21 is employed at the distal end portion of the endoscope body 1. Therefore, there is an advantage that the observation light can be easily switched and the structure of the apparatus can be simplified.

  Furthermore, the light of a specific wavelength does not necessarily need to be laser light, but when laser light is used as in this embodiment, energy loss in the light guide 7 such as an optical fiber is reduced, so that it is stable. Irradiation light can be obtained. In particular, when the laser diode 8 is used as a light source as in this embodiment, the light source unit 4 of the apparatus can be reduced in size.

  In the above embodiment, the front plate 22 is provided with the illumination window 15 and the observation window 16 and the phosphor 21 is disposed in the illumination window 15. However, the entire front plate 22 is formed of a transparent member, and the light guide. Alternatively, the phosphor 21 may be disposed only at the front surface position of the light emitting end 7a. In the above-described embodiment, a screwed structure using the male screw 13 and the female screw 14 is used as the adapter locking portion. However, the adapter locking portion can also be a screw structure or a lock structure using uneven engagement. However, when the screwing structure as in the above-described embodiment is adopted, the adapter 11 can be tightened and the attachment / detachment operation is facilitated.

  By the way, in the above, white light can be obtained by adopting the phosphor 21 that receives laser light that is excitation light and emits light including a wavelength of 400 nm to 650 nm. Alternatively, the phosphor 21 that emits the light may be employed so that infrared light can be applied to the observation object 10. Further, depending on the purpose of observation, it is possible to use a phosphor 21 that receives excitation light and emits excitation light of 450 nm or less and light having a different wavelength.

Next, the second embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 will be described.
The basic configuration of the endoscope apparatus of this embodiment is almost the same as that of the first embodiment, but an adapter 111 (see FIG. 3) that converts light of a specific wavelength into other wavelength light. In addition to the wavelength conversion adapter 111 "), an adapter 211 (see FIG. 4; hereinafter referred to as the" specific wavelength adapter 211 ") to be attached to the endoscope body 1 at the time of specific wavelength light observation is prepared. It is very different in terms.

  The specific wavelength adapter 211 is rotatably held at the front end portion of the cylindrical holder 12 having a female screw 14 that is screwed into the endoscope main body 1 (the male screw 13 thereof) similarly to the wavelength conversion adapter 111. A disc-shaped front plate 22, and the front plate 22 includes an observation optical member 6 on the endoscope body 1 side, an observation window 16 corresponding to the light emitting end 7 a of the light guide 7, and an illumination window 15. Is formed. Note that a locking projection 20 is formed on the back surface of the front plate 22 to be fitted in the positioning recess 19 at the tip of the endoscope body 1 as in the first embodiment. An optical member 25 such as a lens for changing the visual field range, observation depth, visual field direction, and the like is attached to the observation window 16 of the front plate 22, and the illumination window 15 is an observation determined by the optical member 25 of the observation window 16. An optical member 26 such as a lens for efficiently irradiating a specific wavelength light to the field of view is mounted.

  The wavelength conversion adapter 111 is basically the same as that of the first embodiment. However, as shown in FIG. 3, an optical for changing the viewing field range, the observation depth, the viewing direction, and the like on the observation window 16. The difference is that a member 27 is mounted and a similar optical member 28 is mounted on the front surface of the phosphor 21 in the illumination window 15.

  The endoscope apparatus of this embodiment can be switched to irradiation with light of a different wavelength by simply exchanging the adapters 111 and 211 as in the first embodiment. In addition to this, in addition to the adapter, There is an advantage that the observation range, the irradiation range, and the like can be simultaneously changed to the optimum ones by the optical members 25 to 28 provided in 111, 211. The optical members 25, 26, 27, and 28 of the wavelength conversion adapter 111 and the specific wavelength adapter 211 may have the same characteristics or different characteristics.

  Further, a plurality of specific wavelength adapters 211 and wavelength conversion adapters 111 having different characteristics only from the optical members 25 to 28 may be prepared and appropriately replaced according to the observation application.

Subsequently, a third embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 5 to 7 will be described.
The endoscope apparatus of this embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment except for the configuration of the endoscope body 1, but the switching structure of the phosphor 21 provided at the distal end portion of the endoscope body 1. Is greatly different from that of the first embodiment.

Hereinafter, this switching structure will be described.
A support shaft 30 projects from the center of the distal end of the endoscope body 1, and a disk-shaped front plate 31 (rotating member) is rotatably attached to the support shaft 30. As shown in FIG. 5, the front plate 31 is provided with two illumination windows 32 and 33 adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction, and an observation window 34 that extends in the shape of a long hole in the circumferential direction. . The front plate 31 can be switched to two positions in the rotational direction with respect to the endoscope main body 1, and can be fixed to one of the two positions by a lock mechanism (not shown).

  The two illumination windows 32, 33 open the light emitting end 7 a of the light guide 7 forward by either side depending on the rotational position of the front plate 31, and the oblong observation window 34 is related to the rotational position of the front plate 31. First, the observation optical member 6 is opened forward. One illumination window 32 is attached with a phosphor 21 that emits light of a different wavelength using light of a specific wavelength of a light source such as a laser diode (see FIG. 6), and the other illumination window 33 is transparent. A protective glass 35 is attached. The phosphor 21 is attached to the illumination window 32 in such a manner that the front and rear are sandwiched by the protective glass 17 as in the first embodiment. Further, only the transparent protective glass 18 is attached to the observation window 34.

  In the endoscope apparatus according to this embodiment, the illumination window 32 with the phosphor 21 and the illumination window 33 without the phosphor 21 can be switched by the rotation of the front plate 31, so that only 450 nm can be obtained by rotating the front plate 31. The irradiation of the following specific wavelength light and the irradiation of the light of other wavelengths can be switched easily. Also in this apparatus, since the observation light can be switched as described above using the light source of the specific wavelength light as a common light source, the increase in the size of the apparatus due to an increase in the number of light sources can be avoided.

  In the case of this embodiment as well, the frequency characteristic of the phosphor 21 that emits when receiving the excitation light can be arbitrarily selected as in the first embodiment. Further, in the above embodiment, the front plate 31 provided rotatably at the distal end portion of the endoscope body 1 is provided with the window 32 having the phosphor 21 and the window 33 without the phosphor 21, and the front plate 31 is used by rotating. Although the windows are switched, a member having a window with a phosphor and a window without a phosphor may be provided so that it can slide straight on the front surface of the insertion portion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The 1st Embodiment of this invention is shown, The figure which combined the schematic block diagram of the whole endoscope apparatus, and the expanded cross section of the principal part which attached the adapter. The front view of the principal part which shows the same embodiment and equipped with the adapter. Sectional drawing of the principal part when not attaching an adapter which shows the embodiment. The front view of the principal part at the time of not attaching an adapter which shows the embodiment. Sectional drawing of the principal part when showing the 2nd Embodiment of this invention and mounting | wearing with an adapter. Sectional drawing of the principal part when the same adapter is shown and the other embodiment is shown. The front view of the principal part which shows 3rd Embodiment of this invention. Sectional drawing of the principal part when showing the same embodiment and employ | adopting one switching mode. Sectional drawing of the principal part when showing another embodiment and employ | adopting another switching mode.

Explanation of symbols

8 Laser diode (light source that emits light of specific wavelength)
11, 111, 211 Adapter (switching structure)
13 Male thread (Adapter locking part, switching structure)
14 Female thread (adapter locking part, switching structure)
21 Phosphor 31 Front plate (Rotating member)
32 Lighting windows (windows equipped with phosphors)
33 Lighting windows (windows not fitted)

Claims (12)

In an endoscope apparatus equipped with illumination for irradiating light to an endoscopic object,
A light source that emits light of a specific wavelength and a phosphor that emits light of another wavelength using the light of the light source as excitation light, and a switching structure that can switch between the interposition of the phosphor in the optical path of the light source and its release An endoscope apparatus characterized by being provided.   The light guide for guiding the light of the light source to the distal end side of the insertion portion is provided on the optical path of the light source, and the switching structure is provided on the light emitting end side of the light guide. The endoscope apparatus described.   The said switching structure is a structure provided with the adapter which has the said fluorescent substance, and the adapter latching | locking part which attaches this adapter to an endoscope main body so that attachment or detachment is possible. Endoscopic device.   In addition to the adapter having the phosphor, an adapter for irradiating a specific wavelength that has an adapter locking portion common to the adapter and converts the optical characteristics of the light emitted from the light guide is provided. The endoscope apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the endoscope apparatus is characterized.   The switching structure includes a rotating member that is rotatable in a direction intersecting an optical path of a light source, and the rotating member includes a window on which the phosphor is mounted and a window on which the phosphor is not mounted. The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1 or 2.   The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light emitted from the light source is laser light.   The endoscope apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the light source is a laser diode.   The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light emitted from the light source is light having a wavelength of 450 nm or less.   The endoscope according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the phosphor emits light including a wavelength of 400 nm to 650 nm upon receiving excitation light.   The endoscope apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein white light is irradiated to an endoscopic object by interposing a phosphor in the optical path.   The endoscope according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the phosphor emits light having a wavelength of 600 nm or more upon receiving excitation light. The endoscope according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the phosphor emits light having a wavelength different from that of the excitation light of 450 nm or less when receiving the excitation light.

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