JP5422849B2 - Optical imaging probe - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an optical imaging probe that observes a subject by irradiating light.

  The diagnostic imaging technique (optical imaging technique) is a technique that is widely used in various fields such as machine equipment, semiconductors, and medical care. For example, X-ray CT, nuclear magnetic resonance, ultrasonic observation, etc. that can take a tomographic image in addition to general microscopic observation in a manufacturing site such as precision equipment and semiconductors and a medical site are examples. .

  In particular, image diagnostic techniques in the medical field are widely used for the purpose of diagnosing a patient's disease state without using a surgical technique. For example, X-ray CT can obtain a tomographic image as if the inside of a patient's body was cut, and thus has made it possible to perform more accurate diagnosis while keeping the burden on the patient small.

  However, as long as X-rays are used, exposure to radiation is an unavoidable problem, so there is a limit to taking a detailed tomographic image, and the spatial resolution is limited to about several hundred μm. Therefore, it is not possible to obtain detailed pathological conditions and details of the affected part, which causes oversight.

  As a tomographic image diagnosis technique that is not affected by radiation, there is a technique based on ultrasonic diagnosis. However, since the spatial resolution is still only about several hundreds of micrometers, it is impossible to obtain detailed pathological conditions and details of the affected part, which may cause oversight.

  In order to obtain detailed pathological conditions and details of the affected area, it is necessary to rely on a surgical technique based on the foresight of the doctor. From the above, there is a demand for a diagnostic technique that uses a diagnostic imaging technique with higher spatial resolution and that places less burden on the patient.

  Therefore, in recent years, OCT (optical coherence tomography) technology using light coherence has attracted attention as an image diagnostic technique. Near-infrared light having a wavelength of about 1300 nm is often used as a light source, but near-infrared light is non-invasive to living bodies and has a shorter wavelength than ultrasonic waves, so it has excellent spatial resolution, approximately 10 to 20 μm. Since it can be identified, it is expected to play an active role especially in the medical field. The following patent documents are shown as an example of an endoscope using the OCT technology (hereinafter referred to as an OCT endoscope).

Japanese Patent No. 3885114 US2005 / 0143664 Japanese Patent No. 4461216

  In the OCT endoscope shown in Patent Document 1, the rotational force of a motor is transmitted to a rotating shaft via a belt and further transmitted to a lens unit via a flexible shaft. For this reason, a stable observation image can be obtained, such as a rotational transmission delay or torque loss due to the torsional elasticity of the flexible shaft or the elasticity of the belt, or the lens unit rotating eccentrically due to the flexure of the flexible shaft. There is a risk of not being able to.

  As a conventional technique for solving the above-described problems, in the inventions described in Patent Document 2 and Patent Document 3, a reflecting mirror is directly connected to the tip of the rotating shaft of the motor. However, in the present invention, since the main body of the motor is located on the front side of the reflector, the power supply wiring for the motor is bent toward the optical fiber, or the power supply wiring is located on the side of the reflector. As a result, the light reflected by the reflecting mirror is blocked, and a part of the 360 ° circumference is shaded to limit the angle of view, or a portion protruding forward from the reflecting mirror (motor body portion) May be in contact with the subject, resulting in problems such as limiting the imaging range in the probe axis direction.

  This invention makes it an example of a subject to cope with such a problem. That is, to reduce the occurrence of rotation transmission delay and torque loss, to reduce the eccentricity of the optical conversion element during rotation, to obtain a stable observation image, to simplify the handling of the power supply wiring, It is an object of the present invention to prevent the circumferential and axial imaging ranges from being limited.

  Technical means for solving the above problems include a rotational drive source having a rotor that rotates about a central axis, a rotation support member that rotatably supports the rotor on at least one end side in the axial direction of the rotor, An optical fiber inserted in the axial direction with respect to the rotor and the rotation support member, and supported on one end side of the rotor so as to convert the direction of light guided by the optical fiber into a direction substantially intersecting the axial direction The optical path conversion element is provided.

  According to the present invention, since the optical path conversion element is supported on one end of the rotor, the rotation transmission delay and torque loss are reduced as compared with the prior art (Patent Document 1) in which a flexible shaft, a belt, or the like is interposed. Etc. can be reduced. In addition, if the rotor integrated with the optical path conversion element is supported on both sides in the axial direction of the rotor, it is possible to further reduce the eccentricity and rotation of the optical conversion element, which is stable. An observation image can be obtained.

  Further, since the optical path conversion element is arranged on one end side of the rotor, it is not necessary to provide a rotational drive source on the front side of the optical path conversion element as in the prior art (Patent Documents 2 and 3). In addition to simplifying the routing of the power supply wiring, it is possible to prevent the imaging range in the probe circumferential direction from being limited by the power supply wiring or the imaging range from being limited by a portion in front of the optical path conversion element.

It is sectional drawing which shows Example 1 of the probe for optical imaging which concerns on this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows Example 2 of the probe for optical imaging which concerns on this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows Example 3 of the probe for optical imaging which concerns on this invention.

  As one mode for carrying out the present invention, a rotational drive source having a rotor that rotates about a central axis, a rotation support member that rotatably supports the rotor on at least one end side in the axial direction of the rotor, and the rotor And an optical fiber inserted in the axial direction with respect to the rotation support member, and supported on one end side of the rotor so as to convert the direction of light guided by the optical fiber into a direction substantially intersecting the axial direction. And an optical path conversion element.

As a more preferred form, a through hole is provided on the center side of the rotor, at least one end side of the rotor is rotatably supported by the rotation support member, the optical fiber is inserted into the through hole, and the optical fiber is inserted. The light is emitted in the axial direction from one end of the optical fiber, and the optical path conversion element is fixed to one end of the rotor so as to be spaced from the one end of the optical fiber in the axial direction.
Furthermore, it is more preferable that the rotational drive source is an inner rotor motor having the rotor in a stator.

As another preferred embodiment, the optical fiber is fixed to the center side of the rotor so as to protrude from the rotor to at least one end side in the axial direction, and at least one end side of the optical fiber is rotated by the rotation support member. The optical path conversion element was fixed to one end of the optical fiber.
Furthermore, it is more preferable that the rotational drive source is an inner rotor motor having the rotor in a stator.

Further, as another preferred embodiment, the optical fiber is supported non-rotatably on the center side of the rotation support member, and at least one end side of the rotor is rotatably supported on the outer peripheral side of the rotation support member, The optical path conversion element was fixed to one end side of the rotor so as to be spaced from one end of the optical fiber in the axial direction.
Furthermore, it is more preferable that the rotational drive source is an outer rotor motor including a stator that is inserted through the optical fiber so as not to rotate and the rotor that rotates around the stator.

  Further, as a preferable form applicable to all of the above, another optical fiber positioned on the other end side with respect to the one end side and optically connected to the end portion of the optical fiber, and the other optical fiber The fixed support member is fixed to the non-rotatable portion on the other end side, and the other optical fiber is supported.

  Furthermore, as a preferable embodiment applicable to all of the above, the rotation support members are provided on both sides in the axial direction of the rotor.

  Here, as the rotational drive source, any actuator that can rotate around the central axis, such as an electric motor, an ultrasonic motor, or a fluid motor such as a pneumatic type or a hydraulic type, can be applied. is there. Further, as the optical path conversion element, it is possible to apply all elements that can convert the optical path, including a reflecting mirror, a prism, a lens, and the like.

Further, a part of the above-described embodiment can be an independent invention that does not partially include the constituent elements of the above-described embodiment.
One of the independent inventions is a rotational drive source having a rotor that rotates about a central axis, a rotation support member that rotatably supports the rotor, and an axially inserted passage through the rotor and the rotation support member. An optical imaging probe comprising: an optical fiber; and an optical path conversion element supported on one end of the rotor so as to convert the direction of light guided by the optical fiber into a direction substantially intersecting the axial direction. A through hole is provided in the rotation axis direction of the rotor, at least one end of the rotor is rotatably supported by the rotation support member, the optical fiber is inserted into the through hole, and the optical fiber is inserted. The light is emitted in the axial direction from one end of the optical fiber, and the optical path conversion element is fixed to one end of the rotor so as to be spaced in the axial direction from one end of the optical fiber. And wherein the door.

  According to this independent invention, when the optical path conversion element is rotated, it is not necessary to rotate the optical fiber in the through hole. Therefore, it is possible to more effectively reduce the occurrence of rotation transmission delay, torque loss, and the like. In addition, a more stable observation image can be obtained, and further, effects such as simplifying the routing of the power supply wiring and preventing the imaging range in the probe circumferential direction and the axial direction from being restricted are obtained. be able to.

  As another independent invention, a rotational drive source having a rotor that rotates about a central axis, a rotation support member that rotatably supports the rotor, and an axial insertion with respect to the rotor and the rotation support member And an optical path conversion element supported on one end side of the rotor so as to convert the direction of light guided by the optical fiber into a direction substantially intersecting the axial direction. A probe that rotatably supports the optical fiber on a center side of the rotation support member, and at least one end of the rotor is rotatably supported on an outer peripheral side of the rotation support member; Is fixed to one end side of the rotor so as to be spaced from one end of the optical fiber in the axial direction.

  Also in this independent invention, since the optical fiber does not rotate when the optical path conversion element is rotated, it is possible to more effectively reduce the occurrence of rotation transmission delay, torque loss, etc., and thus obtain a more stable observation image. Furthermore, it is possible to obtain operational effects such as simplifying the handling of the power supply wiring and preventing the imaging range in the probe circumferential direction and the axial direction from being restricted.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments embodying the above embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of an optical imaging probe according to the present invention.
This optical imaging probe A includes a non-rotatable stator 1, a rotor 2 that rotates about the central axis of the stator 1, and a hollow shaft 11 that is fixed so as to protrude from the rotor 2 to both sides in the axial direction. A rotor assembly (corresponding to a rotor in the present invention), and a plurality (two in the illustrated example) of rotation support members 3 that are rotatably supported on both sides in the axial direction of the rotor 2 via the hollow shaft 11. 4, the optical fiber 5 inserted in the axial direction with respect to the rotor 2 and the rotation support members 3, 4, and the direction of light guided by the optical fiber 5 to be converted into a crossing direction with respect to the axial direction, An optical path conversion element 8 supported by a hollow shaft 11 and a bracket 15 is provided on one end side of the rotor 2. The optical imaging probe A is housed on the front end side of a flexible long cylindrical sheath (not shown), and the base end side (left end side according to FIG. 1) of the sheath is the light source. Is connected to an OCT (Optical Coherence Tomography) apparatus (not shown).

  Note that the stator 1 and the rotor 2 in FIG. 1 are shown as structural examples in the case of constituting an inner rotor type rotational drive source (electric motor) that rotates the rotor 2 by magnetic action.

  The stator 1 is formed of a cylindrical electromagnetic coil, and the outer peripheral portion thereof is fixed to the inner peripheral surface of a tubular case 9 using a material that forms a magnetic circuit such as a laminated steel plate or permalloy. The stator 1 is connected to a power supply wiring 10 via a connection terminal (not shown) provided on an annular spacer 12. The power supply wiring 10 extends rearward from the outer peripheral side of the spacer 12 and is connected to an OCT apparatus (not shown) through a sheath (not shown). The tubular case 9 is formed in a cylindrical shape that is slightly larger than the stator 1 and is longer in the axial direction than the stator 1.

  The rotor 2 is a cylindrical member disposed with a predetermined air gap with respect to the inner peripheral surface of the stator 1, and a permanent magnet is mounted so as to rotate by the magnetic action of the stator 1. The hollow shaft 11 constituting the rotor 2 is a long cylindrical member having rigidity, and is formed of, for example, a metal tube. The inner diameter of the hollow shaft 11 is set to such an extent that the optical fiber 5 can be inserted with play, that is, slightly larger than the outer diameter of the optical fiber 5. The front and rear end portions of the hollow shaft 11 are rotatably supported by the rotation support members 3 and 4, respectively.

  The rotation support members 3 and 4 are cylindrical members that rotatably support members on the inner peripheral surface side thereof (in the example of FIG. 1, the hollow shaft 11), and for example, ball bearings or sleeve bearings are used. The rotation support member 3 on one end side (right end side according to FIG. 1) is fitted and fixed to the inner peripheral surface of the tubular case 9. The rotation support member 4 on the other end side (left end side in FIG. 1) is fitted and fixed to the inner peripheral surface of the rear end cap 13. The rear end cap 13 is a bottomed cylindrical member connected to the rear end of the tubular case 9, and the optical fiber 5 is inserted through the center thereof.

  The optical fiber 5 has a well-known structure formed of, for example, quartz glass or plastic in a thin fiber shape, and has a proximal end connected to a light source (not shown) of the OCT apparatus and a distal end inside the hollow shaft 11. The lens part 5a which guides light to an axial direction is provided in the most advanced part.

  Further, one end side (right end portion according to FIG. 1) of the hollow shaft 11 protrudes forward in the axial direction from one end of the rotation support member 3 and the tubular case 9, and a bracket 15 is provided on the outer peripheral portion thereof. The optical path conversion element 8 is fixedly supported.

  The bracket 15 includes a circular substrate portion 15a that is fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the hollow shaft 11, and a cylindrical portion 15b that protrudes forward in the axial direction (rightward in FIG. 1) from the outer peripheral edge of the substrate portion 15a. It is composed integrally. The substrate portion 15a is in contact with the front end portion of the tubular case 9 via a bearing member 14 such as a thrust bearing, thereby preventing the bracket 15 and the optical path conversion element 8 from rotating in the axial direction. The cylindrical portion 15b fixes the optical path conversion element 8 in an inclined shape in a part of the circumferential direction, and the optical path is converted by the optical path conversion element 8 to a part opposite to the optical path conversion element 8 across the central axis. A window 15b1 that passes through the light x.

  In addition, the member 16 which exists in the both ends of the hollow shaft 11 is an annular | circular shaped locking member fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the hollow shaft 11, and the hollow shaft 11 is made to contact or adjoin to the rotation support members 3 and 4. The optical path conversion element 8 is held so as not to move in the axial direction.

The optical path conversion element 8 is a substantially flat reflecting mirror, and is disposed in an inclined manner with a distance from the lens portion 5a at the tip of the optical fiber 5 in the axial direction, and is emitted from the lens portion 5a in the axial direction. Bend the light path at a substantially right angle. Note that the optical path conversion can be freely changed according to the angle at which the optical path conversion element 8 is attached.
Further, the window portion 15b1 that passes the light x is penetrated so as not to obstruct the optical path, or a transparent or translucent plate material is disposed.

Next, the effects of the optical imaging probe A having the above-described configuration will be described in detail.
Light x (specifically, near-infrared light) supplied from the OCT apparatus (not shown) to the proximal end of the optical fiber 5 passes through the optical fiber 5 and forwards in the axial direction from the lens portion 5a at the distal end of the optical fiber 5. The light is emitted, guided in a substantially orthogonal direction by the optical path conversion element 8, and irradiated on the subject p. Then, the light x reflected by the subject p passes through a path opposite to that described above, is first reflected by the optical path conversion element 8, enters the optical fiber 5 from the lens unit 5a, travels through the optical fiber 5, and returns to the OCT apparatus. It is. The OCT apparatus analyzes the returned reflected light x and images it.

  Further, if the power supplied to the power supply wiring 10 is controlled as necessary, the rotor 2, the hollow shaft 11, the bracket 15, and the optical path conversion element 8 rotate, so that the entire circumference of the optical imaging probe A in the circumferential direction is obtained. The subject p can be imaged over the entire area. Further, if an operation for moving the entire optical imaging probe A back and forth is performed, the subject p can be imaged in a range extending in the axial direction of the optical imaging probe A.

  As described above, when the optical path conversion element 8 is rotated, the rotational force of the rotor 2 is directly transmitted to the optical path conversion element 8, so that it is possible to reduce the occurrence of rotation transmission delay and torque loss. Moreover, since the rotor 2 and the hollow shaft 11 integral with the optical path conversion element 8 are supported on both sides in the axial direction, the optical conversion element 8 can be prevented from rotating eccentrically, and consequently A stable observation image can be obtained.

  In addition, since the main configuration such as the rotational drive source is not disposed on the front side of the optical path conversion element 8, the handling of the power supply wiring 10 can be simplified, and the power supply wiring 10 can image the probe in the circumferential direction of the probe. It is possible to prevent the range from being limited or the imaging range from being limited due to a portion in front of the optical path conversion element 8 being in contact with the subject p.

  In the optical imaging probe A of Example 1 described above, as a particularly preferable aspect, the hollow shaft 11 integrated with the rotor 2 is rotatably supported by the two rotation support members 3 and 4 on both sides thereof. As another example, if the rigidity of the hollow shaft 11 is increased by setting the material, thickness, etc., or if the axial length of the rotation support member 3 or 4 is adjusted, the two rotation support members 3 and 4 Any one of them can be omitted.

Next, another example of the optical imaging probe according to the present invention will be described.
Other examples of the optical imaging probe shown below are obtained by changing a part of the above-described optical imaging probe A. Therefore, the changed part will be mainly described in detail and substantially the same as the optical imaging probe A described above. About this part, the detailed description which overlaps is abbreviate | omitted by attaching | subjecting the same code | symbol.

FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of the optical imaging probe according to the present invention.
The optical imaging probe B includes a non-rotatable stator 1, a rotor 2 that rotates about a central axis in the stator 1, and a center side of the rotor 2. The optical imaging probe B is fixed to the rotor 2 and fixed to the rotor 2. A first optical fiber 17 projecting from both ends of the optical fiber to both sides in the axial direction, and a plurality of (two in the illustrated example) rotation support members 3 that rotatably support both end sides of the first optical fiber 17. 4 and the second light which is located on the other end side (left end side according to FIG. 2) with respect to one end side of the first optical fiber 17 and optically connected to the end portion of the first optical fiber 17 A fiber 18 and a fixed support member 19 that supports the second optical fiber 18, and the direction of the light guided by the first optical fiber 17 at the tip of the first optical fiber 17 is the axis. Direction of intersection (according to the example shown) Having an optical path conversion element 17a that converts the orthogonal direction). The optical imaging probe B is housed on the front end side of a flexible long cylindrical sheath (not shown), substantially the same as the optical imaging probe A, and the proximal end side of the sheath. (Left end side according to FIG. 2) is connected to an OCT apparatus (not shown) having a light source.

  Note that the stator 1 and the rotor 2 in FIG. 2 are shown as structural examples in the case of constituting an inner rotor type rotational drive source (electric motor) that rotates the rotor 2 by magnetic action.

  The first optical fiber 17 is an optical fiber having a predetermined length longer than the rotor 2, and is inserted into the rotor 2 and fixed. Both ends of the first optical fiber 17 are supported by a plurality (three in the illustrated example) of rotation support members 3, 4, and 20. In particular, the rotation support member 20 that supports the most rear end side (the left end side in FIG. 2) suppresses the eccentricity of the rear end portion when the first optical fiber 17 rotates, and the light with respect to the second optical fiber 18. Improves transmission.

  The material of the first optical fiber 17 is preferably a material having relatively high rigidity so that the first optical fiber 17 is not bent due to bending during rotation. As another example, the first optical fiber 17 may be inserted into a tubular body made of a rigid material such as metal or ceramic and rotated integrally.

  An optical path conversion element 17 a is provided at the most distal portion of the first optical fiber 17. The optical path conversion element 17a is constituted by a prism or a lens that converts an optical path in the axial direction along the first optical fiber 17 into a direction substantially perpendicular to the axial direction.

  The second optical fiber 18 is a long and flexible optical fiber. The base end side of the second optical fiber 18 is connected to a light source of an OCT apparatus (not shown) and the first optical fiber 17 is connected to the first optical fiber 17. On the other hand, the distal end portion is brought close to the rear end portion of the first optical fiber 17 and is fixed by the fixing support member 19 so as to transmit light.

The fixed support member 19 is a bottomed cylindrical member including a bottom portion 19a and a cylindrical portion 19b, and the front end portion of the cylindrical portion 19b is connected and fixed to the rear end portion of the rear end cap 13 (non-rotatable portion). Yes.
The fixed support member 19 is inserted and fixed to the bottom portion 19a of the distal end side of the second optical fiber 18, and the first optical fiber is connected to the front end side inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 19b via the rotation support member 20. The rear end of 17 is rotatably supported. According to this fixed support member 19, the second optical fiber 18 that does not rotate and the first optical fiber 17 that can rotate can be brought close to each other and faced so that their axial centers substantially coincide. As a result, the light transmission between the two optical fibers can be maintained satisfactorily.

  The member 21 is an annular locking member that is fixed to the outer peripheral surface on the distal end side of the first optical fiber 17 and that is close to or slidably contacts the front end surface of the rotation support member 3. The member 22 is an annular locking member that is fixed to the outer peripheral surface on the rear end side of the first optical fiber 17 and that approaches or slides on the rear end surface of the rear end cap 13. These locking members 21 and 22 hold the first optical fiber 17 so as not to move in the axial direction.

  Therefore, according to the optical imaging probe B having the above-described configuration, the light x (specifically, near infrared light) supplied from the OCT apparatus (not shown) to the second optical fiber 18 passes through the second optical fiber 18. The first optical fiber 17 is transmitted from the tip of the second optical fiber 18 to the rotating first optical fiber 17 and guided in a substantially orthogonal direction by the optical path changing element 17a at the front end of the first optical fiber 17 to irradiate the subject p. Is done. Then, the light x reflected by the subject p passes through the reverse path, and is first reflected by the optical path conversion element 17a, whereby the optical path is converted in the axial direction of the first optical fiber 17, and the first It is transmitted from the optical fiber 17 to the second optical fiber 18 and returned to the OCT apparatus. The OCT apparatus analyzes the returned reflected light x and images it.

  Further, if the power supplied to the power supply wiring 10 is controlled as necessary, the rotor 2, the first optical fiber 17, and the optical path conversion element 17a rotate, so that the entire range of the optical imaging probe B is covered. The subject p can be imaged. Further, if an operation for moving the entire optical imaging probe B back and forth is performed, the subject p can be imaged in a range extending in the axial direction of the optical imaging probe B.

  As described above, when the optical path conversion element 17a is rotated, the rotational force of the rotor 2 is directly transmitted to the optical path conversion element 17a, so that it is possible to reduce the occurrence of rotation transmission delay, torque loss, and the like. In addition, since the rotor 2 and the first optical fiber 17 integrated with the optical path conversion element 17a are supported on both sides in the axial direction, it is possible to reduce the eccentric rotation of the optical path conversion element 17a. As a result, a stable observation image can be obtained.

  In addition, since the main configuration such as the rotational drive source is not disposed on the tip side of the optical path conversion element 17a, the handling of the power supply wiring 10 can be simplified, and the power supply wiring 10 can image the probe in the circumferential direction of the probe. It is possible to prevent the range from being limited or the imaging range from being limited due to the tip of the optical path conversion element 17a being in contact with the subject p.

  In the optical imaging probe B of the second embodiment, as a particularly preferable aspect, the first optical fiber 17 integrated with the rotor 2 is provided with a plurality of (three in the illustrated example) rotation support members 3 on both sides. 4 and 20 are supported rotatably, but as another example, when the material of the first optical fiber 17 is made higher in rigidity, or the outer periphery of the first optical fiber 17 is relatively rigid. When a high reinforcing pipe (for example, a metal or ceramic tube) is provided, any one or two of the plurality of rotation support members 3, 4, and 20 can be omitted.

FIG. 3 shows a third embodiment of the optical imaging probe according to the present invention.
This optical imaging probe C includes a stator 30 that is non-rotatable on the center axis side, a substantially cylindrical rotor 31 that rotates around the stator 30, and a plurality of (see FIG. According to the example, two rotation support members 3, 4, an optical fiber 32 inserted through the stator 30 and supported non-rotatably on the center side of the rotation support members 3, 4, and one end of the optical fiber 32 And an optical path conversion element 34 that is fixed to one end side of the rotor 31 via the tubular case 9 and the bracket 33. The optical imaging probe C is housed on the front end side of a flexible long cylindrical sheath (not shown), similar to the optical imaging probes A and B. The end side (left end side according to FIG. 3) is connected to an OCT apparatus (not shown) having a light source.

  Note that the stator 30 and the rotor 31 in FIG. 3 are shown as structural examples when an outer rotor type rotational drive source (electric motor) that rotates the cylindrical rotor 31 on the outer peripheral side by a magnetic action is configured.

  The stator 30 is composed of a cylindrical electromagnetic coil, and an optical fiber 32 is inserted through and fixed to the inner periphery of the stator 30 so as not to rotate. The rear end side (left end side according to FIG. 3) of the stator 30 is connected to the power supply wiring 10 via a connection terminal (not shown) provided on the annular spacer 35.

  The rotor 31 is a cylindrical member disposed with a predetermined air gap with respect to the outer peripheral surface of the stator 30, and a permanent magnet is mounted so as to rotate by the magnetic action of the stator 30. A tubular case 9 is fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the rotor 31 so as to rotate integrally with the rotor 31. The tubular case 9 is formed to be longer in the axial direction than the rotor 31, and the front end side thereof is rotatably supported on the outer peripheral portion of the rotation support member 3, and the rear rotation support member 4 via the rear end cap 36. Is rotatably supported on the outer peripheral portion.

  The optical fiber 32 is inserted into the stator 30 and the rotation support members 3 and 4 before and after the stator 30 so as not to rotate. The proximal end side of the optical fiber 32 is connected to a light source of an OCT apparatus (not shown) and the distal end side is connected to the rotation support member 3. It protrudes forward. A lens portion 32 a for guiding light entering and exiting the tip portion in the axial direction is provided at the most distal end portion of the optical fiber 32.

  The rotation support members 3 and 4, the stator 30, the spacer 35, and the optical fiber 32 are provided by two annular locking members 37 that are fixed to the outer peripheral surfaces at both ends of the optical fiber 32 by press-fitting or bonding. It is fixed in the axial direction by being sandwiched in proximity to or in contact with the rotation support members 3 and 4. Further, the optical path conversion element 8 is held so as not to move in the axial direction by bringing one end face of each of the bracket 33 and the rear end cap 36 close to or in sliding contact with the rotation support members 3 and 4.

  The bracket 33 is a cylindrical member that is fitted and fixed to the front end portion of the tubular case 9. The optical path conversion element 34 is fixed to a part of the circumferential direction in an inclined manner, and the optical path is sandwiched between the central axes. A window 33 a that passes the light x whose optical path has been converted by the optical path conversion element 34 is provided on the side opposite to the conversion element 34.

The optical path conversion element 34 is a substantially flat reflector, and extends in the axial direction from the lens portion 32a at the tip of the optical fiber 32 so as to bend the optical path of the light x emitted from the lens portion 32a in the axial direction at a substantially right angle. It is fixed in an inclined shape at intervals.
Further, the window 33a through which the light x passes is penetrated so as not to disturb the optical path, or a transparent or translucent plate material is disposed.

  Therefore, according to the optical imaging probe C configured as described above, the light x (specifically, near-infrared light) supplied from the OCT apparatus (not shown) to the proximal end of the optical fiber 32 passes through the optical fiber 32, and The light is emitted from the lens portion 32a at the tip of the optical fiber 32 in the axial direction, guided in a substantially orthogonal direction by the optical path changing element 34, and irradiated on the subject p. Then, the light x reflected by the subject p passes through a path opposite to that described above, is first reflected by the optical path conversion element 34, enters the optical fiber 32 from the lens portion 32a, travels through the optical fiber 32, and returns to the OCT apparatus. It is. The OCT apparatus analyzes the returned reflected light x and images it.

  The rotation support members 3 and 4 are cylindrical members that rotatably support members on the inner peripheral surface side thereof (in the example of FIG. 1, the hollow shaft 11), and for example, ball bearings or sleeve bearings are used. The rotation support member 3 on one end side (right end side according to FIG. 1) is fitted and fixed to the inner peripheral surface of the tubular case 9. The rotation support member 4 on the other end side (left end side in FIG. 1) is fitted and fixed to the inner peripheral surface of the rear end cap 13. The rear end cap 13 is a bottomed cylindrical member connected to the rear end of the tubular case 9, and the optical fiber 5 is inserted through the center thereof.

  If necessary, if the power supplied to the power supply wiring 10 is controlled, the rotor 31, the tubular case 9, the bracket 33, the optical path conversion element 34, and the rear end cap 36 rotate. The subject p can be imaged in a range over the entire circumference. Further, if an operation for moving the entire optical imaging probe C forward and backward is performed, the subject p can be imaged in a range extending in the axial direction of the optical imaging probe C.

  As described above, when the optical path conversion element 34 is rotated, the rotational force of the rotor 31 is directly transmitted to the optical path conversion element 34. Therefore, the occurrence of rotation transmission delay, torque loss, and the like can be reduced. In addition, since the rotor 31 and the tubular case 9 that rotate integrally with the optical path conversion element 34 are supported on both sides in the axial direction, the optical path conversion element 34 can be prevented from rotating eccentrically. As a result, a stable observation image can be obtained.

  In addition, since the main configuration such as the rotational drive source is not disposed on the front side of the optical path conversion element 34, the handling of the power supply wiring 10 can be simplified, and the power supply wiring 10 can image the probe in the circumferential direction of the probe. It is possible to prevent the range from being limited or the imaging range from being limited due to a portion in front of the optical path conversion element 34 being in contact with the subject p.

  In addition, according to the above description, only the optical imaging probe B of the second embodiment is configured such that the two optical fibers 17 and 18 are optically connected within the fixed support member 19. However, it is possible to adopt a similar connection structure and to configure the optical fiber 5 (or 32) from a plurality of optical fibers.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1,30: Stator 2,31: Rotor 3,4,20: Rotation support member 5,32: Optical fiber 5a, 32a: Lens part 8,17a, 34: Optical path conversion element 9: Tubular case 10: Feeding wiring 11: Hollow shaft 12, 35: Spacer 13, 36: Rear end cap 14: Bearing member 15, 33: Bracket 15a: Bracket substrate portion 15b: Bracket cylinder portion 15b1, 33a: Window portion 16, 21, 22, 37: Locking member 17: 1st optical fiber 18: 2nd optical fiber 19: Optical fiber fixed support member 19a: Optical fiber fixed support member bottom part 19b: Optical fiber fixed support member cylinder part A, B, C: Probe for optical imaging

Claims (11)

A rotational drive source having a rotor that rotates about a central axis;
A hollow shaft fixed so as to protrude from both sides of the rotor in the axial direction;
A rotary support member for supporting the hollow shaft rotatably at least one end side of the axial direction,
An optical fiber having a distal end inserted through the hollow shaft ;
An optical imaging device comprising: an optical path conversion element supported on one end of the hollow shaft so as to convert the direction of light guided by the optical fiber into a direction substantially intersecting the axial direction. Probe. The optical imaging probe according to claim 1, wherein the optical path conversion element is fixed to one end of the hollow shaft so as to be spaced apart from one end of the optical fiber in the axial direction. 3. The optical imaging probe according to claim 1 , wherein the rotation drive source is an inner rotor motor having the rotor in a stator . 4. The optical imaging probe according to claim 1 , wherein the rotation support members are provided on both sides of the rotor in the axial direction . 5. A rotational drive source having a rotor that rotates about a central axis;
An optical fiber fixed to the center side of the rotor so as to protrude from the rotor to both sides in the axial direction;
A rotation support member that rotatably supports the optical fiber on at least one end side in the axial direction;
An optical path conversion element fixed to one end of the optical fiber so as to convert the direction of light guided by the optical fiber into a direction substantially intersecting the axial direction;
Another optical fiber located on the other end side with respect to the one end side and optically connected to the end of the optical fiber;
An optical imaging probe , comprising: a fixed support member that is fixed to the non-rotatable portion on the other end side and supports the other optical fiber . 6. The optical imaging probe according to claim 5, wherein the rotational drive source is an inner rotor motor having the rotor in a stator . The optical imaging probe according to claim 5, wherein the rotation support members are provided on both sides in the axial direction of the rotor . A rotational drive source having a rotor that rotates about a central axis;
A stator non-rotatably disposed on the central axis side;
An optical fiber inserted through the stator in a non-rotatable manner on the tip side;
A rotation support member that rotatably supports the optical fiber on the center side and rotatably supports at least one end side of the rotor on the outer peripheral side;
An optical imaging probe comprising: an optical path conversion element fixed to one end of the rotor so as to convert the direction of light guided by the optical fiber into a substantially intersecting direction with respect to the axial direction. . 9. The optical imaging probe according to claim 8, wherein the optical path changing element is fixed to one end of the rotor so as to be spaced apart from one end of the optical fiber in the axial direction. The optical imaging probe according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the rotation drive source is an outer rotor motor including the rotor rotating around the stator. The optical imaging probe according to claim 8, wherein the rotation support members are provided on both sides in the axial direction of the rotor.

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