JP5809823B2 - Internal observation device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention is, for example, with respect to an object having light scattering properties, such as a living body by measuring the backscattered light is irradiated with illumination light, inside the observation equipment for observing the observation target that may be present in the interior of an object It is related.

  It is generally not easy to optically observe the inside of an object having light scattering properties. Conventionally, a method of observing a specific observation target inside a living body by selecting a wavelength of light has been proposed. In this method, the living body is irradiated with light having a wavelength that is absorbed by a specific observation target (heterogeneous portion), and the intensity of the backscattered light is measured to obtain positional information of the foreign portion existing inside the living body. Can do. It is known that backscattered light can be assumed to be light that has traveled deeper in the scatterer as the distance between the light irradiation position and the light detection position in the object having light scattering properties increases.

  Further, in this method, not only obtaining the position information of the heterogeneous portion, but also collecting the intensity data of the backscattered light at each light detection position where the relative distance from the light irradiation position is equal, for example, in a two-dimensional direction, An image (two-dimensional data) can be created. As an example, Patent Document 1 discloses an apparatus / method for imaging information inside a light scatterer.

JP 2010-8286 A

  In the apparatus and method disclosed in Patent Document 1, for example, by extracting the light intensity data of the backscattered light at each point of the concentric region centered on the position where the light is irradiated on the scatterer, Two-dimensional image data at a certain depth is detected. When the apparatus and method disclosed in Patent Document 1 are used, it becomes possible to detect information inside the scatterer in a non-contact manner.

  However, in the apparatus and method for detecting information inside the scatterer using this type of backscattered light, such as the apparatus and method disclosed in Patent Document 1, in addition to the information inside the scatterer, Information (for example, surface irregularities) is also detected at the same time. In the apparatus and method disclosed in Patent Document 1, when the concentric region is close to the light irradiation position, the light intensity data of the backscattered light at each point in the concentric region is scattered in the vicinity of the light irradiation position. Strongly influenced by information on the body surface.

  In addition, when the scatterer surface has irregularities, the light intensity data of the backscattered light at each point in the concentric circular region is also strongly influenced by the irregularities on the scatterer surface. However, in the apparatus and method disclosed in Patent Document 1, the light intensity data of the backscattered light at each point of the concentric region centered on the position where the light is irradiated on the scatterer is directly used as the two-dimensional image. Individual image data in the data. For this reason, the light intensity data of the backscattered light at each point constituting the two-dimensional image data tends to be greatly influenced by the information on the scatterer surface. In this case, even when it is desired to detect only the information inside the scatterer with high contrast, the information on the scatterer surface reduces the contrast of the image.

The present invention has such has been made in view of the conventional problems, to provide a detectable internal observation equipment for observation target information that may be present in the interior of an object having light scattering properties with high contrast The purpose is that.

  In order to achieve the above object, an internal observation apparatus according to the present invention is an internal observation apparatus for observing an observation target that may exist inside an object having light scattering properties, the object having light scattering properties and the observation target. Illuminating means for irradiating the light-scattering object with light having wavelengths having different optical characteristics, and back-scattering of illumination light emitted to the light-scattering object by the illuminating means A detection unit that receives light in a non-contact manner and acquires light intensity data, and performs predetermined calculation processing using light intensity data in a specific detection region among the light intensity data acquired by the detection unit. Signal processing means for outputting as image generation data at the center point of the irradiation spot of the illumination light on the surface of the object having the light scattering property, and having the light scattering property outputted by the signal processing means. Imaging means for analyzing the image generation data at the center point of the illumination light irradiation spot on the surface of the object to be generated and generating an image; and display means for displaying the image generated by the imaging means; The specific detection area is present on a surface of the object having the light scattering property at a position away from a center point of the irradiation spot of the illumination light with a predetermined radius, and irradiation of the illumination light It includes at least two points that are separated from each other in different directions from the center point of the spot.

  In the internal observation apparatus of the present invention, it is preferable that the predetermined radius is a radius of an irradiation spot of the illumination light on the surface of the object having the light scattering property.

  In the internal observation apparatus of the present invention, the specific detection region is the whole or a part of a belt-like concentric region centering on the center point of the illumination light irradiation spot on the surface of the light scattering object. It is preferable that the inner diameter of the belt-like concentric region is larger than the radius of the irradiation spot of the illumination light.

  In the internal observation apparatus of the present invention, it is preferable that the predetermined arithmetic processing performed by the signal processing means is integration or average of light intensity data at individual points in the specific detection region.

  In the internal observation apparatus of the present invention, it is preferable that the detection unit is an imaging unit that can collectively acquire the light intensity data in a two-dimensional direction.

  In the internal observation apparatus of the present invention, the illumination unit simultaneously irradiates a surface of the object having light scattering properties with a plurality of illumination light irradiation spots, and the signal processing unit includes each of the illumination lights. Irradiation of the illumination light on the surface of the object having the light scattering property by performing the predetermined calculation process using light intensity data in the specific detection region corresponding to the center point of the irradiation spot Output as data for creating an image at the center point of the spot, and the imaging means outputs the center of each irradiation spot of the illumination light on the surface of the object having the light scattering property output by the signal processing means It is preferable to generate the image by analyzing the image generation data at the points.

  In the internal observation apparatus of the present invention, the illuminating unit irradiates a plurality of illumination light irradiation spots simultaneously at positions where the specific detection regions do not overlap on the surface of the light scattering object. It is preferable to do this.

  In the internal observation apparatus of the present invention, the signal processing unit further includes a scanning unit that scans a center point of the irradiation spot of the illumination light by the illumination unit with respect to the object having the light scattering property. The predetermined calculation processing is performed using light intensity data in the specific detection region corresponding to the center point of the irradiation spot of the illumination light scanned by the scanning means, and the respective light scattering properties are obtained. On the surface of the object having light scattering properties, output as image generation data at the center point of the irradiation spot of the illumination light on the surface of the object having, and the imaging means output by the signal processing means It is preferable to generate an image by analyzing image generation data at the center point of each of the illumination light irradiation spots.

  In the internal observation device of the present invention, it is preferable that the illuminating unit includes a laser light source that emits light including wavelengths having different optical characteristics between the object having light scattering properties and the observation target.

  In the internal observation apparatus of the present invention, it is preferable that the illumination unit further includes an illumination optical system and an optical fiber that guides the emitted light from the laser light source to the incident end of the illumination optical system.

  Further, in the internal observation device of the present invention, the illumination means further includes an NA of the illumination light so that the illumination light emitted from the emission end becomes parallel light in an optical path until the illumination light irradiates the object having the light scattering property. It is preferable that an NA adjustment optical system is provided.

  In the internal observation apparatus of the present invention, it is preferable that the light scattering object or the observation target is a living tissue.

  In the internal observation device of the present invention, it is preferable that the internal observation device is a medical endoscope.

  In the internal observation apparatus of the present invention, it is preferable that the medical endoscope is a rigid endoscope.

According to the present invention, the observation target of information that may be present in the interior of an object having light scattering property introspecting equipment detectable at high contrast is obtained.

The overall structure of the written that the part observation device according to an embodiment of the present invention is a block diagram schematically showing. (a) is explanatory drawing which shows notionally an example of the specific detection area | region which a signal processing means makes a process target in the image of the 1st biological tissue detected by the detection means with which the internal observation apparatus of FIG. ) Is a concept of image generation data at the center point of the irradiation spot of the illumination light output by the signal processing means performing predetermined arithmetic processing on the output signal at each point in the specific detection region shown in (a). FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the two-dimensional image obtained when the scanning means with which the internal observation apparatus of FIG. 1 is equipped scans the center point of the irradiation spot of the illumination light on a 1st biological tissue to a two-dimensional direction. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram conceptually showing a modification of a specific detection region to be processed by the signal processing means in the first biological tissue image detected by the detection means provided in the internal observation apparatus of FIG. The figure which shows one modification, (b) is a figure which shows another modification. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram conceptually showing still another modification example of the specific detection region to be processed by the signal processing unit in the first biological tissue image detected by the detection unit included in the internal observation apparatus of FIG. 1. It is an explanatory view schematically showing the entire structure of a medical rigid endoscope configured as a vascular visualization device under human adipose according to an embodiment of the internal observation device of the present invention. It is sectional drawing which shows notionally the path | route through which irradiation light propagates in the object which has light-scattering property.

Prior to the description of the embodiment of the present invention, the function and effect of the present invention will be described.
Introspection equipment of the present invention, as described above, of the light intensity data, by performing predetermined arithmetic processing by using the light intensity data in a particular detection area, on the surface of the object with the light-scattering Is output as data for image generation at the center point of the illumination light irradiation spot at a predetermined point from the center point of the illumination light irradiation spot on the surface of the object having the light scattering property. It includes at least two points that exist at positions apart from the radius and that are separated from each other in different directions from the center point of the irradiation spot of the illumination light.
Further, Oite inside observation equipment of the present invention is preferably a predetermined radius, the radius of the illumination spot of the illumination light on the surface of an object having the light scattering.

As internal observation equipment of the present invention, the predetermined arithmetic processing by using the light intensity data from the center point of the irradiation spot of the illumination light in a specific detection region including at least two points that exist apart from each other in different directions If it is output as data for image generation at the center point of the illumination light irradiation spot on the surface of the object having light scattering properties, the light at the light irradiation position received by the light intensity data of the backscattered light The influence of the surface shape of the object having scattering properties can be reduced.

  Furthermore, the specific detection area to be subjected to the predetermined arithmetic processing is present on the surface of the object having the light scattering property at a position away from the center point of the irradiation spot of the illumination light than the predetermined radius. Thus, it becomes possible to detect information on an observation target existing inside an object having light scattering properties with a higher contrast than that of a conventional apparatus described in Patent Document 1.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view conceptually showing a path through which irradiation light propagates in an object having light scattering properties. In FIG. 7, a point A _i is a center point of the illumination light irradiation spot, and a region B _i is a region located in a range away from the center point A _i by a predetermined radius r ₁ to radius r ₂ .
It has been known so far that when light propagates through a scatterer such as a living body, the probability of being scattered forward is high. That is, when a scatterer such as a living body is irradiated with light, the light is in a state of high straightness immediately after the scatterer is incident. Accordingly, the illumination light transmits with high probability just below the illumination point (the center point A _i of the irradiation spot in FIG. 7), and the backscattered light includes information directly under the illumination point A _i with high probability. Further, as described in Patent Document 1, the backscattered light is predominantly light that has passed through the surface layer portion of the object having light scattering properties in the vicinity of the illumination point, and the deeper part of the object becomes more distant from the illumination point. The transmitted light becomes dominant (see FIG. 7).
However, as the internal observation equipment of the present invention, it suffices to detect the backscattered light was avoided neighboring illumination spot region, it is possible to obtain information on the deep part of the object directly beneath the illumination point efficient Thus, the signal to be observed can be detected with higher contrast than in the past.

Further, Oite inside observation equipment of the present invention, as described above, the specific detection area, centered on the center point of the irradiation spot of the illumination light on the surface of an object having the light-scattering It is preferable that it is the whole or a part of the belt-like concentric region, and the inner diameter of the belt-like concentric region is larger than the radius of the irradiation spot of the illumination light.
Thus, if the signal processing range by the signal processing means is limited, the number of signal processing target points can be reduced, and as a result, the signal processing time can be reduced.

Further, Oite inside observation equipment of the present invention, as described above, the predetermined calculation process is preferably a cumulative or average of the light intensity data at each point in the specific detection area.
In this way, the influence of the surface shape of the object can be reduced with simple signal processing.

Further, Oite inside observation equipment of the present invention, as described above, it is preferable to use an image pickup means for said light intensity data can be obtained at once in a two-dimensional direction.
In this way, two-dimensional data can be acquired simply and at high speed.

Further, Oite inside observation equipment of the present invention, as described above, the irradiation spot of the light scattering properties of the illuminated spot of the plurality of the illumination light on the surface of an object with irradiation simultaneously, each said illumination light The center of each irradiation spot of the illumination light on the surface of the object having the light scattering property by performing the predetermined calculation processing using the light intensity data in the specific detection region corresponding to the center point of Output image creation data at a point, and generate an image by analyzing the data for image generation at the center point of each irradiation spot of the illumination light on the surface of the output light scattering object It is preferable to do so.
In this way, it is possible to acquire an image inside the object at a higher speed.

Further, Oite inside observation equipment of the present invention, as described above, the position where the particular detection area of each of the surface of an object having the light scattering property do not overlap, the irradiation spot of the plurality of the illumination light Are preferably irradiated at the same time.
In this way, a signal to be observed existing inside the object can be detected with higher contrast, and the image inside the object becomes clearer.

Further, Oite inside observation equipment of the present invention, as described above, further, the center point of the irradiation spot of the illumination light is scanned with respect to the object having the light scattering, the illumination light scanned Irradiation of the illumination light on the surface of each object having the light scattering property by performing the predetermined calculation process using light intensity data in the specific detection region corresponding to the center point of the irradiation spot Output as data for image generation at the center point of the spot, and analyze the image generation data at the center point of the irradiation spot of each illumination light on the surface of the output object having the light scattering property to generate an image. Preferably, it is generated.
In this way, a two-dimensional image inside the object can be obtained.

Further, Oite inside observation equipment of the present invention, as described above, so as to emit light having a wavelength having different optical characteristics between the object and the observation target with the light scattering using a laser light source It is preferable to do this.
In this way, the irradiation spot of the illumination light on the surface of the object can be reduced, and the signal of the observation target existing inside the object can be detected with higher contrast.

Further, Oite inside observation equipment of the present invention, as described above, further preferably such that guides the light emitted from the laser light source to the entrance end of the illumination optical system using an optical fiber .
In this way, operability is improved.

Further, Oite inside observation equipment of the present invention, as described above, further, using the NA adjusting optical system, the optical path to the illumination light emitted from the emission end irradiates the object with the light-scattering It is preferable to adjust the NA of the illumination light so as to be parallel light.
In this way, when observing an object with a large surface undulation, a deep object, or an object with a tilted surface, the size of the irradiation spot of the illumination light on the surface of the object does not change. Becomes easier.

Further, Oite inside observation equipment of the present invention, as described above, preferably the object or the observation target with the light scattering is a biological tissue.
Moreover, in the internal observation apparatus of the present invention, it is preferable to use a medical endoscope as described above.
In the internal observation apparatus of the present invention, as described above, the medical endoscope is preferably a rigid endoscope.
In this way, the present invention is very useful for observing blood vessels under human fat in a surgical operation.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
Embodiment Figure 1 is a block diagram schematically showing the overall structure of the part observation device that write to an embodiment of the present invention.
The internal observation apparatus 10 according to this embodiment includes an illumination unit 11, a scanning unit 16, a detection unit 12, a signal processing unit 13, an imaging unit 14, a display unit 15, and a control unit 17 that controls them. I have.

Based on the control from the control unit 17, the illumination unit 11 has optical characteristics such as scattering characteristics and absorption characteristics between the first biological tissue 20 and the second biological tissue 21 as an observation target that may exist inside the first biological tissue 20. The illumination light 18 including different wavelengths is irradiated to the first living tissue 20. Note that the first living tissue 20 has an optical characteristic that scatters the illumination light 18.
The scanning unit 16 is configured to scan the center point of the irradiation spot of the illumination light 18 by the illumination unit 11 with respect to the first living tissue 20. Note that the scanning unit 16 is arranged in non-contact with the first living tissue 20.

  The detection means 12 receives the backscattered light 19 generated by illuminating the first living tissue 20 with the illumination light 18 by the illumination means 11 and converts it into an electrical signal so as to obtain light intensity data. It is configured. The detection means 12 is arranged in non-contact with the first living tissue 20.

The signal processing unit 13 performs a predetermined calculation process using the light intensity data in a specific detection area among the light intensity data acquired by the detection unit 12, so that the illumination light on the first living tissue 20 is reflected. It is configured to output as image generation data at the center point of the irradiation spot.
The specific detection region is present at a position away from the center point of the illumination light irradiation spot on the first living tissue 20 with a predetermined radius and in a different direction from the center point of the illumination light irradiation spot. It includes at least two points that are separated from each other.
For example, the entire area outside the circle having a predetermined radius from the center point of the illumination light irradiation spot in the area of the light intensity data acquired by the detection means 12 corresponds to a specific detection area in the present invention. Further, in the region of the light intensity data acquired by the detection means, they exist outside the circle of a predetermined radius from the center point of the illumination light irradiation spot and are separated from each other in different directions from the center point of the illumination light irradiation spot. A plurality of areas also correspond to specific detection areas in the present invention. Further, in the region of the light intensity data acquired by the detection means, they exist outside the circle of a predetermined radius from the center point of the illumination light irradiation spot and are separated from each other in different directions from the center point of the illumination light irradiation spot. A case where the number of regions is two and each of the two regions is composed of one point (pixel) corresponds to a specific detection region in the present invention.

Details of the predetermined arithmetic processing performed by the signal processing means 13 will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 2A is a diagram conceptually illustrating an example of a specific detection region to be processed by the signal processing unit 13 in the image of the first living tissue 20 detected by the detection unit 12. Here, the point A _i (i = 0, 1,..., N−1) is the center point of the irradiation spot of the illumination light 18 (where N is the first living tissue 20 detected by the detection means 12). The total number of center points of irradiation spots that can be taken in the image area), and the area B _i is a specific area in the present invention. In this example, the distance R _in or more on the first living tissue 20 from the point A _i It is a distant area (the shaded area in FIG. 2A). Area B _i is the radius of the irradiation spot of the illumination light 18 in the first biological tissue 20 on when the R, satisfies the relationship of R <r _in. The region B _i includes two points that are separated from each other in different directions from the center point A _i of the irradiation spot of the illumination light 18.
The signal processing means 13 integrates or averages the light intensity data at individual points (pixels) in the region B _i in FIG. 2A among the light intensity data acquired by the detecting means 12 to obtain a point A _i. Is output as a detected value C _i (image generation data) (see FIG. 2B).

Here, when the scanning means 16 is used to scan the center point A _i of the irradiation spot of the illumination light 18 by the illumination means 11 on the first biological tissue 20 in, for example, a two-dimensional direction, the detection means 12 and the signal processing means. 13, each detected value C _i at each scanned point A _i can be obtained. That is, it is possible to detect the two-dimensional distribution of the second living tissue 21 existing inside the first living tissue 20.

For example, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the imaging unit 14 performs predetermined analysis (for example, each individual constituting the two-dimensional distribution data on the two-dimensional distribution data of the detection value C _i output from the signal processing unit 13. Data values are compared to generate a grayscale image or a color image.
The display unit 15 displays the image generated by the imaging unit 14.

  According to the internal observation device of the present embodiment, it is possible to obtain an image of the second living tissue 21 by reducing the influence of the shape of the surface of the first living tissue 20. At this time, an arbitrary scanning method such as raster scanning or spiral scanning can be used as the scanning method of the scanning unit 16.

The area B _i satisfies the relationship of R <r _in, and, two points that are present away from each other from the irradiation center point A _i of the spot in different directions of the illumination light 18 as long as it contains at least 2 R as shown in (a) <may not be the entire region satisfying the relation r _in.
For example, as a modified example, as shown in FIG. 4A, a band-shaped concentric circle centered on a point A _i surrounded by an inner radius r _in and an outer radius r _out can be set as a region B _i . Limiting in this way the area B _i to be processed in the signal processing unit 13 in the region of the strip-shaped concentric within r _in more and r _out, it is possible to reduce the number of points where the signal processing unit 13 processes, that As a result, the signal processing speed is improved.

Further, the backscattered light 19 acquired by the detecting means 12 becomes weaker as the distance from the point A _i on the first biological tissue 20 increases.
Therefore, if the inner radius r _in of the region B _i to be processed by the signal processing unit 13 is expanded to a predetermined radius at which the backscattered light 19 acquired by the detection unit 12 becomes sufficiently weak, the object is obtained. The light transmitted through the surface layer portion of the first living tissue 20 is excluded, and the signal from the second living tissue 21 that is the observation target existing in the deep part of the first living tissue 20 can be detected with high contrast.
On the other hand, if the outer radius r _out of the region B _i to be processed by the signal processing means 13 is expanded to a predetermined radius where the backscattered light 19 acquired by the detection means 12 becomes too weak, the detected value at the point A _i When the average value of individual points in the region B _i is output as C _i , the average value becomes too weak, and on the contrary, the detection sensitivity decreases. Therefore, if r _out is provided in a range where the intensity of the backscattered light 10 is sufficiently weak, a decrease in detection sensitivity can be suppressed.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 4 (b) as another modification, a portion of the area that satisfies the relationship of R <r _in may as an area B _i. Also in this modified example, as in the modified example of FIG. 4A, the number of points processed by the signal processing means 13 can be reduced, and as a result, the signal processing speed is improved.

As another modification, as shown in FIG. 5, two or more points (points A _i1 , A _i2 ) are simultaneously illuminated as the center point of the irradiation spot of the illumination light 18. The regions (regions B _i1 and B _i2 ) corresponding to the center points A _i1 and A _i2 of the irradiation spot may be configured as regions to be processed by the signal processing unit 13. In this way, the center point of the irradiation spot of the illumination light 18 can be scanned in parallel through the scanning unit 16, and the processing time for acquiring the image of the second living tissue 21 can be reduced. It leads to shortening.
In this case, the light transmitted through the surface layer portion of the object (first biological tissue 20) is excluded, and the signal from the observation target (second biological tissue 21) existing in the deep part of the object is detected with high contrast. Therefore, it is desirable that the region B _i1 and the region B _i2 do not overlap.

In addition, when the light intensity data at each point (pixel) in the region B _i is integrated as the predetermined calculation process in the signal processing unit 13, in addition to simply adding the light intensity data at each point, for example, The light intensity data at each point may be added after being multiplied by a coefficient corresponding to the distance from the center point A _i of the irradiation spot of the illumination light 18.
Further, when the region B _i is a predetermined limited region such as a belt-like concentric region, when the center point A _i of the irradiation spot of the illumination light 18 is located at the end on the first biological tissue 20, Compared with the case where a part of the predetermined limited region is excluded from the processing target of the signal processing means 13 and the center point A _i of the irradiation spot of the illumination light 18 is located at the center on the first biological tissue 20. Thus, a large difference occurs in the detection value C _i that is the image generation data after the arithmetic processing. Therefore, when the light intensity data at the individual points (pixels) in the region B _i is integrated / averaged as the predetermined arithmetic processing in the signal processing means 13, the first living tissue 20 is obtained with respect to the integrated / average value. A coefficient corresponding to the position of the center point A _i of the irradiation spot of the illumination light 18 above may be multiplied.

Examples will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, an embodiment of the internal observation device of the present invention.
6 is an explanatory view schematically showing an overall configuration of a medical rigid endoscope configured as a vascular visualization device under human adipose according to an embodiment of the internal observation device of the present invention. In this embodiment, the first living tissue 20 is human abdominal fat, and the second living tissue 21 is a blood vessel. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected about the same structural member as embodiment of FIG. 1, and detailed description is abbreviate | omitted.

In the blood vessel visualization device according to the present embodiment, the illumination unit 11 includes a laser light source 11a, an optical fiber 11b, an NA adjustment optical system 11d, and an illumination optical system 11c.
The laser light source 11a includes a laser diode (LD) 11a1 and an LD driver 11a2 that drives the LD 11a1. The LD 11 a 1 emits a laser beam having a wavelength of 940 nm as the illumination light 18. By using the laser light, the size of the irradiation spot of the illumination light 18 on the surface of the fat of the human abdomen that is the first living tissue 20 can be easily reduced. Here, the LD 11a1 is designed so that the diameter of the irradiation spot of the illumination light 18 is 1 mm.
The optical fiber 11b guides the emitted light from the laser light source 11a to the incident end of the illumination optical system 11c via the NA adjustment optical system 11d and the scanning unit 16.
The numerical aperture (NA) adjustment optical system 11d becomes parallel light in the optical path until the illumination light 18 emitted from the emission end of the illumination means 11 irradiates the surface of the fat of the human abdomen, which is the first biological tissue 20. Thus, the NA of the illumination light 18 is configured to be adjustable.

  In the illuminating means 11, the laser light emitted from the laser light source 11a enters the biaxial scanner mirror 16a constituting the scanning means 16 via the optical fiber 11b and the numerical aperture (NA) adjusting optical system 11d. . The light reflected by the biaxial scanner mirror 16a is applied to the fat surface of the human abdomen via the illumination optical system 11c. At this time, the light emitted from the optical fiber 11b can be converted into illumination light having a desired NA, here parallel light, and irradiated onto the fat surface of the human abdomen via the NA adjustment optical system 11d. Yes. The center point of the irradiation spot of the illumination light 18 is raster-scanned on the fat surface of the human abdomen by the biaxial scanner mirror 16a.

In the detection means 12, a detection optical system 12a, a magnification adjustment optical system 12b (for example, an objective lens for beam expansion), a charge coupled device (CCD) imager 12c, and an analog-to-digital (AD) converter 12d. have.
In the detection means 12, first, an image of the fat surface of the human abdomen as the first biological tissue 20 is formed on the imaging surface of the CCD imager 12c via the detection optical system 12a and the magnification adjustment optical system 12b. An image is formed and the CCD imager 12c picks up an image. Next, the AD converter 12d converts the analog signal output from the CCD imager 12c into a digital signal.

  At this time, the beam diameter of the light passing through the detection optical system 12a is adjusted so as to substantially match the opening of the aperture 12e via the magnification adjustment optical system 12b (for example, an objective lens for beam expansion). Then, stray light can be shielded with high accuracy. Further, if the aperture 12e is arranged at a position conjugate with the surface of the fat of the human abdomen, which is the first living tissue 20, in the detection optical system 12a, the light that is out of focus is emitted from a depth other than the surface of the fat. Can be easily shielded from light.

  An output signal from the AD converter 12 d is input to a personal computer (PC) 22. The PC 22 also functions as the control unit 17, the signal processing unit 13, and the imaging unit 14.

  As a function of the control means 17, the PC 22 controls the LD driver 11a2 and the scanner driver 16b. The PC 22 adjusts the output light amount of the LD 11a1 by sending a signal to the LD driver 11a2. Further, the PC 22 sends a signal to the scanner driver 16b so that the center point of the irradiation spot of the illumination light 18 is raster-scanned on the surface of the fat of the human abdomen, which is the first biological tissue 20, by driving the biaxial scanner mirror 16a. Send.

As a function of the signal processing means 13, the PC 22 first specifies the center point of the irradiation spot of the illumination light 18 from the image data digitally converted by the AD converter 12d. Then, light intensity data of a plurality of individual points (pixels) in a region 5 mm or more away from the center point of the irradiation spot of the illumination light 18 on the surface of the fat of the human abdomen that is the first living tissue 20 is calculated. Specifically, it is averaged to obtain the output value (image creation data) of the center point of the irradiation spot of the illumination light 18.
Here, it is preferable that the detection region for the arithmetic processing is a region away from the center of the irradiation spot from the radius of the irradiation spot. Furthermore, in the examination by the living tissue, it is found that it is preferable to increase the S / N ratio that the region within 3 to 5 mm from the outer edge of the irradiation spot is not set as the detection region regardless of the size of the irradiation spot. It was.

  As a function of the imaging means 14, the PC 22 functions as the signal processing means 13 while performing a raster scan on the surface of the fat of the human abdomen as the first biological tissue 20 at the center point of the irradiation spot of the illumination light 18. Using the output value of the image creation data at the center point of the irradiation spot of the illumination light 18 obtained by the above, a two-dimensional image is formed. Here, the magnitude of the output value of the image creation data is displayed by the density of the image. The two-dimensional image data is displayed on the monitor as the display means 15 as an image of the fat inside the human abdomen.

  According to the blood vessel visualization device of the present embodiment, it is possible to observe the blood vessel distribution existing inside the human abdominal fat as a two-dimensional image with a simple configuration and the influence of the surface shape of the human abdominal fat is reduced. it can. In addition, according to the blood vessel visualization device of the present embodiment, the light intensity data in an area 5 mm or more away from the center point of the irradiation spot of the illumination light 18 on the surface of the fat of the human abdomen is averaged. Reduced and highly sensitive image observation becomes possible. Furthermore, according to the blood vessel visualization device of the present embodiment, high-speed image shooting is possible via the scanning unit 16, and thus moving image shooting is also possible.

In the blood vessel visualization device of this embodiment, instead of the CCD imager 12c, complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS), electron multiplexing (EM) -CCD, electron bombardment (EB) -CCD, intensified CCD, etc. May be used. In the example of FIG. 6, the scanning unit 16 is configured by using a scanner mirror. However, the scanning unit 16 divides the optical fiber vibration method, illumination light irradiation with a plurality of light sources, and acquisition of light intensity data with a plurality of detection units. You may comprise using the method switched by.
Further, in the present embodiment has described the example of the blood vessel visualization device under human adipose, introspecting equipment of the present invention is not intended to be limited in application to a blood vessel observed under human fat.

  Further, in the above description, the case where both the illumination unit and the detection unit are observed in a non-contact state with respect to an object (for example, a living tissue) is exemplified, but in the present invention, both are not necessarily in a non-contact state. It is not necessary, and the illumination means can be similarly applied to an apparatus or method for observing the object in contact with an object. In this case, the illumination unit and the detection unit need not be provided integrally. However, it is preferable that the illumination unit and the detection unit are integrally provided because the object can be illuminated and detected at substantially the same distance, so that the detection data of each time is quantitatively compared in continuous observation or the like.

Introspection equipment of the present invention, to an object having light scattering properties, by measuring the backscattered light is irradiated with illumination light, it is required to observe the observation target that may be present in the interior of an object Useful in all fields.

10 Internal observation device 11 Illumination means 11a Laser light source 11a1 LD
11a2 LD driver 11b Optical fiber 11c Illumination optical system 11d NA adjustment optical system 12 Detection means 12a Detection optical system 12b Magnification adjustment optical system 12c Imager 12d AD converter 12e Aperture 13 Signal processing means 14 Imaging means 15 Display means 16 Scanning Means 16a Biaxial scanner mirror 16b Scanner driver 17 Control means 18 Illumination light 19 Back scattered light 20 First biological tissue (object having light scattering property)
21 Second biological tissue (observation target)
22 PC

Claims (14)

An internal observation device for observing an observation target that may exist inside an object having light scattering properties,
Illuminating means for irradiating the object having the light scattering property to the object having the light scattering property, and a light having a wavelength different from that of the observation object;
Detecting means for receiving backscattered light of illumination light irradiated to the light scattering object by the illumination means in a non-contact manner and acquiring light intensity data;
The irradiation spot of the illumination light on the surface of the object having the light scattering property by performing a predetermined calculation process using the light intensity data in a specific detection area among the light intensity data acquired by the detection means Signal processing means for outputting as image generation data at the center point of
Imaging means for generating an image by analyzing data for image generation at the center point of the irradiation spot of the illumination light on the surface of the object having the light scattering property output by the signal processing means;
Display means for displaying the image generated by the imaging means,
The specific detection region exists on a surface of the object having light scattering properties at a position away from a center point of the illumination light irradiation spot and a center of the illumination light irradiation spot. An internal observation device comprising at least two points that are separated from each other in different directions.   The internal observation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined radius is a radius of an irradiation spot of the illumination light on a surface of the object having the light scattering property.   The specific detection region is the whole or a part of a belt-like concentric region centering on the center point of the illumination light irradiation spot on the surface of the object having the light scattering property, and the inner diameter of the belt-like concentric region is The internal observation device according to claim 2, wherein the internal observation device is larger than a radius of an irradiation spot of the illumination light.   The internal processing according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the predetermined calculation processing performed by the signal processing means is integration or average of light intensity data at individual points in the specific detection region. Observation device.   The internal observation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detection unit is an imaging unit that can collectively acquire the light intensity data in a two-dimensional direction. The illumination means irradiates the surface of the object having the light scattering property with a plurality of illumination spots of the illumination light simultaneously,
The signal processing means performs the predetermined calculation process using light intensity data in the specific detection region corresponding to the center point of each irradiation spot of the illumination light, and has the light scattering property Output as image creation data at the center point of the irradiation spot of each of the illumination light on the surface of
The imaging means analyzes the image generation data output from the signal processing means at the center point of the illumination light irradiation spot on the surface of the light scattering object to generate an image. The internal observation device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein   The illumination unit irradiates a plurality of irradiation spots of the illumination light simultaneously at positions where the specific detection regions on the surface of the object having the light scattering property do not overlap with each other. The internal observation apparatus described. Furthermore, it comprises scanning means for scanning the center point of the irradiation spot of the illumination light by the illumination means with respect to the object having the light scattering property,
The signal processing means performs the predetermined arithmetic processing using light intensity data in the specific detection region corresponding to the center point of the irradiation spot of the illumination light scanned by the scanning means, Output as image generation data at the center point of the illumination light irradiation spot on the surface of the object having the light scattering property,
The imaging means analyzes the image generation data output from the signal processing means at the center point of the illumination light irradiation spot on the surface of the light scattering object to generate an image. The internal observation device according to claim 1, wherein   The said illuminating means was equipped with the laser light source which radiate | emits the light containing the wavelength from which the optical characteristic differs with the object which has the said light-scattering property, and the said observation object, The one in any one of Claims 1-8 characterized by the above-mentioned. Internal observation device.   10. The internal observation according to claim 9, wherein the illumination unit further includes an illumination optical system and an optical fiber that guides light emitted from the laser light source to an incident end of the illumination optical system. apparatus.   The illumination means further includes an NA adjustment optical system that adjusts the NA of the illumination light so that the illumination light emitted from the emission end becomes parallel light in the optical path until the illumination light irradiates the object having the light scattering property. The internal observation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the internal observation apparatus is characterized.   The internal observation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light scattering object or the observation target is a biological tissue.   The internal observation device according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the internal observation device is a medical endoscope.   The internal observation apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the medical endoscope is a rigid endoscope.

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