JPH10309282A - Fluorescent observation device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To clearly detect the structure of an organ to diagnose a tissue correctly during a fluorescent observation. SOLUTION: This fluorescent observation device generates an excited light in the blue region from an excited light source 6 of a light source 1 and irradiates the excited light to an observed part through an endoscope 2, and images of the observed part by the fluorescent light and the reflected light are imaged by a camera 3 through the endoscope 2. In this case, the fluorescent light image is separated into images of the red region and green region, and they are imaged by CCDs 17 and 18, and the reflected light image is imaged by a variable sensitivity CCD 19 whose sensitivity is adjusted by a sensitivity adjustment device 20. Based on these image signals, image processing is performed at an image processing block 4. By adjusting the intensity of the reflected image in the blue region, an ordinary observation image and fluorescent observation image are generated whose quality is the same as that of a white light image, and these images are overlapped to be displayed on a display part 5.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a fluorescence observation apparatus for irradiating an object to be observed of a living tissue with excitation light to obtain a fluorescent image by the excitation light.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, an excitation light is applied to a site to be observed in a living tissue, and autofluorescence generated directly from the living tissue by the excitation light and fluorescence of a drug injected into the living body are detected as a two-dimensional image. Techniques for diagnosing disease states (for example, disease types and invasion ranges) of biological tissue degeneration and cancer from the fluorescent images are being used, and fluorescent observation apparatuses for performing this fluorescent observation have been developed. .

In autofluorescence, when a living tissue is irradiated with excitation light, fluorescence having a longer wavelength than the excitation light is generated. Examples of the fluorescent substance in a living body include collagen, NADH (nicotinamide adenine nucleotide), FMN (flavin mononucleotide), and pyridine nucleotide. In recent years, the correlation between the endogenous substance that generates such fluorescence and the disease has been clarified, and the diagnosis of cancer or the like can be performed by using such fluorescence.

In the fluorescence of drugs, HpD (hematoporphyrin), Photofrin, ALA (δ-amino levulinic acid) are used as fluorescent substances to be injected into a living body.
d) and the like are used. These drugs accumulate in cancer and the like, and a disease site can be diagnosed by injecting them into a living body and observing fluorescence. There is also a method in which a fluorescent substance is added to a monoclonal antibody, and the fluorescent substance is accumulated in a lesion by an antigen-antibody reaction.

[0005] As the excitation light, for example, a laser beam, a mercury lamp, a metal halide lamp, or the like is used. By irradiating the living tissue with the excitation light, a fluorescent image of a portion to be observed is obtained. The weak fluorescence in the living tissue due to the excitation light is detected to generate a two-dimensional fluorescence image for observation and diagnosis.

In such a fluorescence observation apparatus, a specific wavelength band is generally extracted from the fluorescence generated from a living tissue, and the diagnosis is performed by performing an arithmetic processing and forming an image. For example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 6-125911 discloses that an endoscope apparatus capable of observing a fluorescent image formed by excitation light and an external image formed by ordinary white illumination light detects fluorescent light having a predetermined light intensity or more. There is disclosed an image in which an image can be combined with an external image and displayed.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The above-mentioned Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-1 has been described.
As in the apparatus described in Japanese Patent No. 25911, an observation image obtained by a conventional configuration is a picture that is difficult to see due to flicker because a fluorescence image and a white light image are displayed mutually.
Further, when only a fluorescent image is displayed, it is difficult to distinguish a structural shadow portion of an organ from a lesion in an observation image, and there is a problem that diagnostic ability is reduced.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and it is possible to clearly confirm the structure of an organ during fluorescence observation, and to obtain a normal observation image and a fluorescence observation image without switching light sources and imaging means. It is an object of the present invention to provide a fluorescence observation device capable of performing accurate diagnosis.

[0009]

A fluorescence observation apparatus according to the present invention is obtained by exciting a light source for exciting fluorescence from tissue in a body cavity and exciting the tissue in the body cavity with the excitation light. A first imaging unit that captures a fluorescence image of at least two or more different color tone bands of the fluorescence, and a second imaging unit that captures a reflected light image obtained by reflection of the excitation light from the tissue in the body cavity. A sensitivity adjusting means for adjusting the sensitivity of the second imaging means for imaging the reflected light image, and an image processing means for superimposing output image signals from the first and second imaging means. is there.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 to 3 relate to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a configuration explanatory view showing a schematic configuration of a fluorescence observation device, and FIG. 2 is a color distribution showing display colors of respective parts in an observation image at the time of fluorescence observation. FIGS. 3A and 3B show the color display of each part in the case where only the fluorescent images in the red and green regions are used to generate the fluorescent image, and in the case where the fluorescent images in the red and green regions and the reflected light image in the blue region are used. FIG.

As shown in FIG. 1, a fluorescence observation apparatus according to the present embodiment includes a light source device 1 for generating excitation light, and a light source device 1.
And an endoscope 2 that irradiates the observation site in the living body with the excitation light from the body, detects a fluorescence image by the excitation light and a reflected light image of the excitation light, and transmits the image to the outside of the living body, and the endoscope 2. A camera 3 that captures a fluorescent image and a reflected light image and converts the image into an electric signal; an image processing unit 4 that processes an image signal from the camera 3 and combines the fluorescent image and the reflected light image to generate an observation image; A main part is configured to include a display unit 5 including a CRT monitor or the like for displaying the observation image generated by the image processing unit 4.

The light source device 1 is provided with an excitation light source 6 for generating excitation light having a wavelength in a narrow band (particularly 400 nm to 450 nm) in a blue region for exciting fluorescence.

The endoscope 2 has an elongated insertion portion for insertion into a living body, an illumination optical system including a light guide 7 for transmitting excitation light from the light source device 1 to the distal end of the insertion portion, and a fluorescent light at an observation site. An observation optical system including an image guide 8 for transmitting the image and the reflected light image to the eyepiece on the hand side is configured.

The camera 3 is detachably connected to the eyepiece of the endoscope 2, and dichroic mirror 9, dichroic mirror 10, and dichroic mirror 9, which divides a fluorescent image and a reflected light image incident from the endoscope 2 into three optical paths. A mirror 11, a bandpass filter 12 transmitting a wavelength band λ1 for detecting fluorescence, a bandpass filter 13 transmitting a wavelength band λ2 for detecting fluorescence, and a wavelength band of reflected light of the excitation light from the excitation light source 6. A band-pass filter 14 that transmits only the light, an image intensifier (abbreviated as II in the figure) 15 that amplifies the fluorescent image transmitted through the band-pass filter 12, and
An image intensifier 16 for amplifying a fluorescent image transmitted through the bandpass filter 13, a CCD 17 for capturing an output image of the image intensifier 15, and a CCD 1 for capturing an output image of the image intensifier 16.
8, a variable sensitivity CCD 19 that captures a reflected light image transmitted through the bandpass filter 14, and a sensitivity adjusting device 20 that arbitrarily adjusts the sensitivity of the variable sensitivity CCD 19.

In the light source device 1, the excitation light source 6 generates excitation light λ0 having a light wavelength in the blue region. This light is guided to the light guide 7 of the endoscope 2. The excitation light λ 0 guided to the light guide 7 is transmitted through the endoscope 2 to the distal end portion of the insertion section, and is irradiated on the observation site in the living body.

The fluorescence image and the reflected light image of the excitation light from the observation site are transmitted to the handpiece on the hand side through the image guide 8 of the endoscope 2 and are incident on the camera 3.
The fluorescent image and the reflected light image incident on the camera 3 are converted into dichroic mirror 9, dichroic mirror 10, mirror 11
And is split into three optical paths by transmission and reflection. The three divided lights are respectively transmitted to the bandpass filters 12 and
The light passes through the band-pass filters 13 and 14.

The fluorescent image transmitted through the band-pass filter 12 is amplified by an image intensifier 15 and then picked up by a CCD 17 to be converted into a video signal. Similarly, the fluorescent image transmitted through the band-pass filter 13 is
CC after being amplified by image intensifier 16
The image is taken at D18 and converted into a video signal. The reflected light image transmitted through the band pass filter 14 is a variable sensitivity CCD.
The image is taken at 19 and converted into a video signal.

CCD 17, CCD 18 and variable sensitivity CC
The video signals of the fluorescence image and the reflected light image obtained in D19 are input to the image processing unit 4. The image processing unit 4 generates an observation image by performing arithmetic processing on a video signal of a fluorescent image and a video signal of a reflected light image in two wavelength bands.

The fluorescence in the visible region at the observation site due to the excitation light has an intensity distribution in a band having a wavelength longer than the excitation light λ 0, and is particularly near the green region λ 2 (especially 490 n
m to 560 nm) and weak at the lesion. Therefore, in the image processing unit 4, the vicinity of the green region λ2 and the vicinity of the red region λ1 having a longer wavelength (particularly 620 nm
By performing arithmetic processing on the signal of the fluorescence image of 800 nm), it is possible to distinguish between a normal site and a lesion from the obtained fluorescence image.

The brightness of the fluorescent images obtained by the CCDs 17 and 18 is much lower than that of the reflected light image obtained by the variable sensitivity CCD 19. Therefore, if the images are superimposed as they are, an image that is no different from the reflected light image will be obtained. Therefore, the sensitivity of the variable sensitivity CCD 19 is adjusted by the sensitivity adjusting device 20 to reduce the brightness of the reflected light image to C.
The brightness is adjusted to the brightness of the fluorescent image obtained by the CD 17 and the CCD 18. Then, the image signal of each image is subjected to arithmetic processing by the image processing unit 4 to generate a normal observation image substantially equivalent to a white light image obtained using a white light source.

At this time, by combining and calculating the fluorescent image near the red region λ1, the fluorescent image near the green region λ2, and the reflected light image in the blue region, the three primary colors of R, G, and B are combined to form a color image. Is obtained, and a normal observation image almost equivalent to a white light image can be obtained.

Further, the sensitivity adjustment C
Reduce the sensitivity of CD19 and increase the brightness of the reflected light image by CCD1
7. By making the fluorescence image darker than the fluorescence image obtained by the CCD 18, a fluorescence observation image substantially equivalent to the case where only the signal of the fluorescence image is calculated is generated.

The image signal generated by the image processing unit 4 is sent to the display unit 5, and the display unit 5 displays an observation image. FIG. 2 shows the distribution of display colors corresponding to each part of the structural shadow portion of the normal part, the lesion part, and the organ in the observation image at this time. FIG. 3 shows the case where only the fluorescent images of the red (R) and green regions (G) are used to generate the fluorescent image, and the fluorescent images of R and G and the reflected light image of the blue region (B) are used. The difference in the color display of each part in the case of performing is shown.

Since the fluorescence observation image contains the signal of the reflected light image in the blue region, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the lesion is purple, the normal is blue-green, and the structural shadow of the organ is Displayed in black. When only the signals of the fluorescent images in the red and green regions are calculated, the lesion is red, the normal is green, the structural shadow of the organ is black, and the reflected light image signal is added. And different.

As described above, in the fluorescence observation apparatus of this embodiment, complicated operations such as replacement of a camera and a light source are performed by adjusting the brightness of the reflected light image from the excitation light and superimposing the image on the fluorescence image. Without this, it is possible to display observation images equivalent to the normal observation image and the fluorescence observation image. For this reason, the operability is improved, and it is not necessary to prepare a white light source, and the size of the apparatus can be reduced.

Further, the fluorescence observation image includes a blue reflected light image in addition to the green and red fluorescence images, so that the structure of the organ is easy to see, and the part darkened by the structural shadow of the organ. It is easy to distinguish between a darkened portion due to the presence of a lesion and the diagnostic ability is improved.

Note that the display colors of the lesioned part, the normal part, and the like in the fluorescence observation image shown in the present embodiment are merely examples, and may be different colors.

The reflected light of the excitation light has a higher light intensity than the intensity of the fluorescence from the living tissue. Therefore, means for extracting only the band of the excitation light as shown in the above embodiment is not always necessary. Therefore, each C in the camera 3
If the configuration of the CD is configured like the camera 22 of the second embodiment shown in FIG. 4 and the movable mirror 35 of the camera 22 is changed to a half mirror, the bandpass filter 14 can be omitted.

4 and 5 relate to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a structural explanatory view showing a schematic structure of a fluorescence observation apparatus.
FIG. 5 is a characteristic diagram showing the relationship between the gain control and the luminance of the fluorescence observation image and the white light observation image.

The fluorescence observation apparatus of the second embodiment is for simultaneously obtaining a white light image and a fluorescence image, and includes an endoscope, light source devices for white light observation and fluorescence observation, and respective light source devices. And an image processing device corresponding to each imaging device.

As shown in FIG. 4, a light source device 21 for generating excitation light and white light, and an excitation light or white light from the light source device 21 is irradiated on an observation site in a living body to generate a fluorescent image or An endoscope 2 for detecting a white light image by white light and transmitting the image to the outside of a living body, and capturing a fluorescent image or a white light image obtained by the endoscope 2 with a fluorescent observation imaging device or a white light observation imaging device. A fluorescent image processing unit that processes a fluorescent image signal from the camera 22 to generate a fluorescent image, and processes a white light image signal from the camera 22 to generate a white light image White light image processing unit 2
4 and a gain controller 25 for adjusting the gain of each color signal of the image signal generated by the fluorescent image processing unit 23
A display comprising a superimposing unit 26 for superimposing the image signals of the white light image and the fluorescence image after adjusting the gain, and a CRT monitor or the like for inputting an output signal from the superimposing unit 26 and displaying an observation image The main part is configured to include the part 5.

The light source device 21 includes an excitation light source 27 for generating excitation light for exciting fluorescence, a white light source 28 for generating white light for obtaining a white light image, and an endoscope 2 for emitting white light.
Mirror 29 for guiding the light to the light guide 7, a movable mirror 30 for selectively guiding the excitation light and the white light to the light guide 7, and a driver 31 for driving the movable mirror 30
And is provided.

The camera 22 is detachably connected to the eyepiece of the endoscope 2 and selectively picks up a fluorescent image or a white light image incident from the endoscope 2 on a fluorescent image capturing CCD 32 and a fluorescent image capturing CCD 33. , A movable mirror 35 for guiding to a white light image capturing CCD 34, a driver 36 for driving the movable mirror 35, a dichroic mirror 37 for dividing the fluorescent image guided by the movable mirror 35 into two optical paths, and a mirror 3
8, a band-pass filter 39 transmitting the wavelength band λ1 for detecting fluorescence, a band-pass filter 40 transmitting the wavelength band λ2 for detecting fluorescence, and a band-pass filter 3
9, an image intensifier 41 for amplifying the fluorescent image transmitted through the bandpass filter 40, an image intensifier 42 for amplifying the fluorescent image transmitted through the band-pass filter 40, and a fluorescent image capturing device for capturing an output image of the image intensifier 41. The CCD 32 includes a CCD 32 for capturing a fluorescent image that captures an output image of the image intensifier 42, and a CCD 34 for capturing a white light image that captures a white light image.

A timing controller 43 for controlling the switching timing between the white light image and the fluorescent image is provided. The angle between the movable mirror 30 and the movable mirror 35 is controlled by the timing controller 43 via the driver 31 and the driver 36, respectively. It has become.

At the time of fluorescence observation, the light source device 21
The excitation light source 27 generates excitation light λ0. At this time, the movable mirror 30 transmits the excitation light λ0 to the endoscope 2 under the control of the timing controller 43 via the driver 31.
The light guide 7 is placed at an angle to guide the light. The excitation light λ 0 guided to the light guide 7 is transmitted through the endoscope 2 to the distal end portion of the insertion section, and is irradiated on the observation site in the living body.

Then, the fluorescent image generated by the excitation light from the observation site is transmitted to the eyepiece on the hand side through the image guide 8 of the endoscope 2 and is incident on the camera 22. Camera 2
2 is transmitted and reflected by the movable mirror 35, the dichroic mirror 37, and the mirror 38, and
Split into two optical paths. At this time, the movable mirror 35 is set at an angle at which the fluorescent image is guided to the dichroic mirror 37 under the control of the timing controller 43 via the driver 36. The two divided lights pass through the band-pass filters 39 and 40, respectively.

The fluorescent image having a component of the wavelength band of λ 1 transmitted through the band-pass filter 39 is amplified by the image intensifier 41 and then captured by the CCD 32 to be converted into a video signal. Similarly, a fluorescent image having a component of the wavelength band of λ2 transmitted through the band-pass filter 40 is amplified by the image intensifier 42 and then captured by the CCD 33 to be converted into a video signal.

The video signals of the fluorescent images obtained by the CCD 32 and the CCD 33 are input to the fluorescent image processing section 23. The fluorescent image processing unit 23 performs arithmetic processing on the video signals of the fluorescent images in the two wavelength bands to generate a fluorescent image.

The image signal of the fluorescent image generated by the fluorescent image processing unit 23 is input to a gain controller 25, and the gain controller 25 adjusts the gain of each of the RGB color signals to adjust the luminance. The image signal after the brightness adjustment is stored as a fluorescence observation image in a memory in the superimposing unit 26 controlled by the timing controller 43.

Next, the white light generated by the white light source 28 is reflected by the mirror 29, and is reflected by the movable mirror 30 which has been moved to an angle of guiding the light to the light guide 7 under the control of the timing controller 43. The light is guided to the light guide 7 of the endoscope 2. This white light is transmitted through the endoscope 2
The light is transmitted through the inside to the distal end of the insertion portion, and is irradiated on an observation site in the living body.

Then, the white light image formed by the reflected light from the observation site is transmitted to the eyepiece on the hand side through the image guide 8 of the endoscope 2 and enters the camera 22. The white light image incident on the camera 22 is captured by the CCD 34 and converted into a video signal. At this time, the movable mirror 35 is moved to a position which does not obstruct the optical path between the eyepiece of the endoscope 2 and the CCD 34 under the control of the timing controller 43 via the driver 36.

The video signal of the white light image obtained by the CCD 34 is input to the white light image processing section 24. The white light image processing unit 24 generates a white light image by known image signal processing. The image signal of the white light image generated by the white light image processing unit 24 is input to the gain controller 25, and the gain controller 25 adjusts the gain of each of the RGB color signals to adjust the luminance. The image signal after the brightness adjustment is used as a white light observation image by the superimposing unit 2 controlled by the timing controller 43.
6 is stored in the memory.

The generation of the fluorescence observation image and the white light observation image and the writing to the memory are alternately performed by the timing controller 43 at intervals of 1/30 to 1/60 seconds.

In the gain controller 25, FIG.
As shown in (2), the brightness is adjusted so that the brightness level of the white light observation image and the fluorescence observation image changes stepwise in inverse proportion to the level of the gain control.

The fluorescence observation image and the white light observation image stored in the superimposing unit 26 with the brightness adjusted by the gain controller 25 are superimposed on each of the R, G, and B signals, and transmitted to the display unit 5. The image is displayed.

As described above, when the fluorescence observation image and the white light observation image are superimposed and displayed, the relative luminance of these images is adjusted, and the image is displayed in dark red due to the presence of the lesion. Or simply appear darkened by structural shadows. It is considered that a portion displayed in dark red in the fluorescence observation image is a lesion, and a portion displayed in dark black in the white light observation image is a structural shadow of an organ. For example, if the luminance of the fluorescence observation image is increased and there is a part displayed in dark red, the luminance of the white light observation image is increased and is this part simply darkened by structural shadow? Determine if

According to the second embodiment, when it is difficult to determine whether the image is a lesion or a structural shadow in the observation image of the fluorescence observation device, the fluorescence observation image and the white light observation image are superimposed. In addition, by adjusting the relative luminance between the fluorescence observation image and the white light observation image by performing gain control, it is possible to easily determine the tissue property.
Thereby, the diagnostic ability at the time of fluorescence observation can be improved.

The following modification of the fluorescence observation apparatus may be added to the arrangement of the first embodiment or the second embodiment.

As a third embodiment, a modification of the fluorescence observation device will be described. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of a fluorescence observation apparatus according to a third embodiment, FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of a rotary filter for switching a fluorescence detection wavelength range, and FIG. 8 is a transmission wavelength band of the rotary filter. FIG.

As shown in FIG. 6, the fluorescence observation apparatus irradiates a light source 1 for generating excitation light and an excitation light from the light source 1 to an observation site in a living body, detects a fluorescent image by the excitation light, An endoscope 2 for transmitting to the outside, a camera 44 for taking a fluorescent image obtained by the endoscope 2 and converting it into an electric signal, and a camera 44
A fluorescent image processing unit 23 that processes an image signal from the CPU and generates a fluorescence observation image; and a display unit 5 including a CRT monitor or the like that displays the fluorescence observation image generated by the fluorescence image processing unit 23. Is configured.

The camera 44 is detachably connected to the eyepiece of the endoscope 2 and divides a fluorescent image incident from the endoscope 2 into two optical paths, a dichroic mirror 37 and a mirror 38.
A rotation filter 45 for varying the wavelength band of the fluorescence to be detected, a motor 46 for rotating the rotation filter 45,
Wavelength range switching means 47 for controlling the rotation angle of the rotation filter 45, image intensifiers 41 and 42 for amplifying the fluorescent image transmitted through the rotation filter 45, and image output from the image intensifiers 41 and 42. CCDs 32 and 33 are provided.

As shown in FIG. 7, the rotary filter 45
The disk-shaped rotator includes three filter regions 45a, 45b, and 45c having different wavelength transmission bands, and transmits a fluorescent image in a different wavelength band depending on the rotation position.

As shown in FIG. 8, the filter area 45a of the rotary filter 45 has a band characteristic of transmitting light of a red wavelength of 600 nm or more, and the filter area 45b has a wavelength of 490.
It has a band characteristic of transmitting a green wavelength of ~ 560 nm,
The filter region 45c has a band characteristic of transmitting light having a wavelength of 620 to 700 nm.

In the early stage of diagnosis by fluorescence observation using an endoscope, the fluorescent image guided to the camera 44 is split into two optical paths by the dichroic mirror 37 and the mirror 38. One of the two split lights is a rotating filter 4
5 through the filter region 45a and enters the image intensifier 41. The other is transmitted through the filter area 45 b of the rotary filter 45 and enters the image intensifier 42.

The fluorescence images incident on the image intensifiers 41 and 42 are amplified,
The images are picked up by 2 and 33, converted into video signals, processed by the fluorescent image processing unit 23, and displayed on the display unit 5 as fluorescent observation images.

In the fluorescence observation, red fluorescence is emphasized in the lesion. Therefore, by obtaining the fluorescence in the red wavelength band in a wide band by the filter region 45a of the rotary filter 45, the lesion can be easily found.

Next, after finding a portion that seems to be a lesion, the wavelength range switching means 47 drives the motor 46 to rotate the rotary filter 45. At this time, the light transmitted through the filter region 45c of the rotary filter 45 enters the image intensifier 41.

By narrowing the wavelength range of the fluorescent light transmitted by the filter region 45c of the rotary filter 45 and reducing the fluorescent light in the red wavelength band, a portion observed in red other than the lesion (for example, a structural shadow of tissue) Part) no longer emits red. For this reason, the diagnostic ability by fluorescence observation can be improved.

As described above, in the third embodiment, the detection of a lesion can be facilitated by first taking red fluorescence over a wide band. Next, by narrowing the wavelength range of the fluorescent light in the red region, it is difficult to determine whether the portion is darkened due to the presence of a lesion or is darkened due to structural shadow of an organ. It is possible to easily determine the tissue properties of the appropriate parts. Therefore, observation ability and diagnostic ability can be improved.

In the present embodiment, the red fluorescence wavelength band is changed. However, the green fluorescence wavelength band is changed, a green band is observed at an early stage of the observation, and then the green band is wider. The band may be observed.

Next, as a fourth embodiment, another modification of the fluorescence observation apparatus will be described. FIG. 9 is a configuration explanatory view showing a configuration of a main part of a fluorescence observation device according to a fourth embodiment, and FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 9 showing a configuration of a connection adapter.
In the fourth embodiment, an endoscope 2 and a camera 51 for capturing a fluorescent image
This is a configuration example in which a connection adapter for connecting the connection adapter is provided, and only a characteristic portion related to this connection adapter will be described.

As shown in FIG. 9, the fluorescence observation apparatus includes an endoscope 2 for irradiating an observation site in a living body with excitation light to detect a fluorescent image by the excitation light and transmitting the fluorescence image to outside the living body. A fluorescence observation camera 51 that captures the fluorescence image obtained in the above and converts it into an electric signal, a fluorescence image processing unit 23 that processes an image signal from the fluorescence observation camera 51 to generate a fluorescence observation image, A display section 5 for displaying the fluorescence observation image generated by the section 23, and an adapter body 48 for connecting the endoscope 2 and the fluorescence observation camera 51 as a connection adapter for the fluorescence observation camera. The main part is constituted.

The adapter main body 48 is rotatably attached to the adapter main body 48, and is connected to an eyepiece rotating section 49 which is detachably connected to the eyepiece section of the endoscope 2, and a fluorescent image from the endoscope 2. And a transmission light guide 50 for transmitting to the fluorescence observation camera 51. The eyepiece rotating part 49 is formed of a columnar member fitted inside one end of a cylindrical adapter body 48. As shown in FIG. Stopper 48a
A rotation restricting member 52 that restricts the rotation of the eyepiece rotating unit 49 by abutting on the projection is provided.

The eyepiece of the endoscope 2 is connected and fixed to the eyepiece rotating part 49 and is rotatable with respect to the adapter body 48. The transmission light guide 50 is fixed to the eyepiece rotating unit 49 on the eyepiece side of the endoscope 2, and is fixed to the adapter main body 48 on the fluorescence observation camera 51 side. Further, the transmission light guide 50 is not fixed except in the vicinity of its end face, and can be twisted.

The fluorescent image from the endoscope 2
The fluorescence image processing unit 23 generates a fluorescence observation image and displays the fluorescence observation image on the display unit 5 through the transmission light guide 50 in the camera 8 and guided by the fluorescence observation camera 51.

When the endoscope 2 is rotated during the fluorescence observation, the eyepiece rotating unit 49 is rotated accordingly. However, the adapter body 48 and the fluorescence observation camera 51 are
It does not rotate because it is rotatable with respect to. Eyepiece rotating unit 4
9 rotates, the eyepiece rotating unit 4 of the transmission light guide 50 rotates.
Although the 9 side rotates, the fluorescence observation camera 51 side does not rotate, so that the center of the transmission light guide 50 is twisted to absorb the rotation. At this time, the rotation of the eyepiece rotation unit 49 with respect to the adapter body 48 is regulated by the rotation regulating member 52 provided on the eyepiece rotation unit 49, thereby preventing the transmission light guide 50 from being cut off.

As described above, in the fourth embodiment, the endoscope 2
By mounting an adapter provided with a transmission light guide 50 as a rotatable image transmission means between the camera and the fluorescence observation camera 51, even if the endoscope 2 is rotated during fluorescence observation, the transmission light guide 50 By twisting the camera, the camera itself can be fixed without rotating the observed image.

Since the camera for fluorescence detection is large, there is a problem in the conventional configuration that the operability is reduced when the endoscope is complicatedly rotated, such as when observing the digestive tract. Had a point.

According to the configuration of the present embodiment, it is not necessary to rotate the large camera with the rotation of the endoscope, so that the operation of the endoscope is not hindered or hindered during the fluorescence observation. In addition, the operability of the endoscope can be improved.

FIG. 11 shows a modification of the fourth embodiment as the fifth embodiment. In the fifth embodiment, the adapter body 48 in the fourth embodiment is changed to an adapter member 53 made of a soft tubular member.

According to this configuration, since the adapter member 53 is sufficiently long and the fluorescence observation camera 51 can be kept away from the eyepiece of the endoscope 2, the operability is further improved.

Next, as a sixth embodiment, another modified example of the fluorescence observation apparatus will be described. FIG. 12 is a configuration explanatory diagram showing a configuration of a main part of the fluorescence observation device according to the sixth embodiment.

The fluorescence observation apparatus irradiates an observation site in a living body with excitation light or white light, detects a fluorescent image by the excitation light or a white light image by white light, and transmits the fluorescence image to the outside of the living body. The main part is configured to include a light source and an imaging unit for obtaining a fluorescence image and a fluorescence observation unit 59 in which the light source and the imaging unit for obtaining a white light image are one unit.

The fluorescence observation unit 59 includes a laser light source 55 for generating excitation light and a fluorescence observation camera 56 for obtaining a fluorescent image, and a white light source 5 for obtaining a white light image.
7, a CCD 58 for white light observation.

The endoscope 54 for fluorescence observation includes a light guide 7
And an image guide 8. These end faces are integrally held and fixed by a connector 60. The fluorescence observation unit 59 includes a white light observation connector receiver 61 and a fluorescence observation connector receiver 6 corresponding to the connector 60.
2 is provided, and the connector 60 is mounted on one of the connector receivers 61 and 62.
The white light observation connector receiver 61 is configured to connect the end portions of the light guide 7 and the image guide 8 of the connector 60 to the white light source 57 and the white light observation CCD 58, respectively. The fluorescent observation connector receiver 62 includes a connector 60.
The light guide 7 and the image guide 8 are connected to the laser light source 55 and the fluorescence observation camera 56, respectively.

At the time of white light observation, the fluorescence observation unit 59
The connector 60 of the endoscope 54 is attached to and connected to the white light observation connector receiver 61. The white light from the white light source 57 is guided to the light guide 7, transmitted to the distal end of the insertion section through the endoscope 54, and irradiated to the observation site in the living body. The white light image resulting from the reflection of the white light from the observation site is transmitted to the white light observation CCD 58 through the image guide 8 of the endoscope 54, and the white light observation CCD 5
8 is converted into a video signal.

At the time of fluorescence observation, the connector 6 of the endoscope 54
0 is the fluorescent observation connector receiver 6 of the fluorescence observation unit 59
Replace with 2 and attach. Excitation light .lambda.0 whose light wavelength is in the blue region is generated in the laser light source 55, and this excitation light is guided to the light guide 7 of the endoscope 54. The excitation light guided to the light guide 7 is transmitted through the endoscope 54 to the distal end portion of the insertion section, and is applied to an observation site in the living body. And the fluorescence image by the excitation light from the observation site is
The image is transmitted to the fluorescence observation camera 56 through the image guide 8 of the endoscope 54, and is converted into a video signal by the fluorescence observation camera 56.

The video signal obtained by the white light observation CCD 58 and the fluorescence observation camera 56 is sent to an image processing section, as in the other embodiments, to generate an observation image and display it on a monitor. Is done.

As described above, in the sixth embodiment, when switching from white light observation to fluorescence observation, both the camera and the light source can be exchanged by one operation. Therefore, operability can be further improved.

Next, as a seventh embodiment, another modification of the fluorescence observation apparatus will be described. FIG. 13 is a configuration explanatory diagram showing a configuration of a main part of the endoscope for fluorescence observation according to the seventh embodiment. Since the basic configuration of the fluorescence observation device is the same as that of the other embodiments, only the characteristic portions will be described here.

FIG. 13 shows a schematic configuration of the distal end portion of the insertion section of the endoscope 63 for fluorescence observation according to the seventh embodiment. The fluorescence observation endoscope 63 forms an airtight portion by combining a bellows portion 64 made of a polymer such as butadiene rubber that expands and contracts the insertion portion tip, and the bellows portion 64 at the insertion portion tip of the fluorescence observation endoscope 63. A sealing member 65, a gas supply / suction duct 66 having one end communicating with the hermetic portion, and a pressurization / suction drive portion for supplying gas to the hermetic portion through the duct 66 or sucking gas from the hermetic portion. 67,
And a control unit 68 for controlling the pressurization / suction drive unit 67.

The endoscope 63 for fluorescence observation has a light guide 7 and an image guide 8 in the insertion portion, and the distal ends of the light guide 7 and the image guide 8 are arranged in a meandering manner in a bellows portion 64. 64 are arranged so as not to hinder expansion and contraction. Normally, gas is not injected into an airtight portion formed by the bellows portion 64 and the sealing member 65, and the bellows portion 64 is in a contracted state.

The control section 68 controls the pressurizing / suction driving section 67 to send and suck gas to and from the airtight portion.
When the distal end of the insertion section of the endoscope 63 for fluorescence observation is extended, gas is sent into the hermetic portion via the duct 66 by the pressurization / suction drive section 67. The supplied gas fills the airtight portion and extends the bellows portion 64, and as a result, the distal end of the insertion portion extends. Accordingly, the distal end of the insertion section of the endoscope 63 for fluorescence observation can be brought close to the tissue to be observed, and the close observation can be easily performed.

In the seventh embodiment, the movement of the tissue required for fluorescence observation from a distance observation to a near observation is performed by expanding and contracting only the distal end of the endoscope. It can be easily performed without performing complicated and delicate operations. Therefore, since the observation point can be easily moved from a distance to a near point, the operability is improved.

Next, a modification of the seventh embodiment will be described as an eighth embodiment. FIG. 14 is a configuration explanatory view showing a configuration of a main part of the endoscope for fluorescence observation according to the eighth embodiment. Since the basic configuration is the same as that of the seventh embodiment, only the characteristic portions will be described here.

FIG. 14 shows the schematic configuration of the distal end of the insertion section of the endoscope 69 for fluorescence observation in the eighth embodiment. The endoscope 69 for fluorescence observation includes a bellows portion 64 made of a polymer such as butadiene rubber that expands and contracts the distal end of the insertion portion, a pulling wire 70 for pulling the distal end of the insertion portion including the bellows portion 64, and a pulling wire 70. An actuator 71 to be moved and a control unit 72 for controlling the driving of the actuator 71 are provided.

The endoscope 69 for fluorescence observation has a light guide 7 and an image guide 8 in the insertion portion, and the distal ends of the light guide 7 and the image guide 8 are arranged in a meandering manner in a bellows portion 64. 64 are arranged so as not to hinder expansion and contraction.

The control section 72 controls the driving of the actuator 71 to control the amount of pulling of the pulling wire 70. The distal end of the towing wire 70 is connected and fixed at the distal end side of the insertion portion of the bellows portion 64, and normally keeps the bellows portion 64 in a contracted state.

When extending the distal end of the insertion section of the fluorescence observation endoscope 69, the control section 72 controls the actuator 71 to reduce the amount of pulling of the towing wire 70, and the bellows section 64
To extend. As a result, the distal end of the insertion section is extended, and the distal end of the insertion section of the endoscope 69 for fluorescence observation can be made to approach the tissue to be observed, so that close observation can be easily performed.

In the eighth embodiment, similarly to the seventh embodiment, the movement of the tissue required for the fluorescence observation from a distant observation to a near observation is performed by expanding and contracting only the distal end of the endoscope. The movement can be easily performed without performing complicated and delicate operation of the entire endoscope. Therefore,
The operability is improved because the observation point can be easily moved from a distance to a near point.

The bellows assembly shown in the seventh and eighth embodiments may be configured to be detachable from the endoscope end. This eliminates the need for a dedicated endoscope,
The same function can be realized at low cost because it can be used by being attached to the distal end of a general-purpose endoscope.

Next, as a ninth embodiment, another modification of the fluorescence observation apparatus will be described. FIG. 15 is a configuration explanatory view showing a configuration of a main part of the fluorescence observation device according to the ninth embodiment. Since the basic configuration of the fluorescence observation device is the same as that of the other embodiments, only the characteristic portions will be described here.

The fluorescence observation apparatus according to the ninth embodiment includes an endoscope 2
And a sensor 74 connected to the sensor 74 for processing an output signal of the sensor 74, the sensor 74 being provided so as to be inserted into the treatment instrument channel 73.
And further comprising:

The excitation light intensity detecting device 75 processes the output signal of the sensor 74 to generate a light intensity value.
And a memory 77 for recording the light intensity value generated by the signal processing unit 76, and a comparison for comparing the light intensity value before treatment recorded in the memory 77 with the current light intensity value generated by the signal processing unit 76. A notifying unit 7 for notifying that the light intensity values of both the unit 78 and the comparing unit 78 are equal based on the output of the comparing unit 78
9 is provided.

When performing fluorescence observation before treatment such as EMR (endoscopic mucosal resection) or the like, at the start of fluorescence observation, a sensor 74 is inserted into the treatment instrument channel 73 of the endoscope 2 and from the distal end of the endoscope. Protrude and approach or contact diseased tissue. Then, the excitation light from the light source device 1 is detected by the sensor 74.
The output signal from the sensor 74 is transmitted to a signal processing unit 76 where the signal is processed, and the light intensity value is measured. The light intensity value before the treatment generated by the signal processing unit 76 is recorded in the memory 77.

Next, at the time of the fluorescence observation after the treatment, the sensor 74 is brought into contact with or in contact with the diseased tissue similarly to the above-described fluorescence observation start, and the output signal of the sensor 74 is processed by the signal processing unit 76. Measure the current light intensity value. Then, the value from the memory 77 recorded during the fluorescence observation before the treatment and the value that changes in real time from the signal processing unit 76 are sent to the comparing unit 78. The comparing unit 78 compares the value from the memory 77 with the value from the signal processing unit 76.

In this state, the endoscope 2 is operated to change the distance between the distal end of the insertion section and the diseased tissue, and change the distance between the sensor 74 and the excitation light irradiation end face. Thus, the light intensity value from the signal processing unit 76 fluctuates in real time. When the light intensity value recorded in the memory 77 and the light intensity value from the signal processing unit 76 become equal within a certain range, the comparison unit 78 outputs a detection signal to the notification unit 79 as a result. The notification unit 79 receives the detection signal from the comparison unit 78 and notifies the surgeon that the observation conditions have become equal to the previous time by means such as emitting a notification sound with a buzzer or the like.

As described above, in the ninth embodiment, the intensity of the excitation light applied to the lesion is measured and stored in a memory, and is compared with the current light intensity value to obtain the fluorescence before and after the treatment. Observation conditions can be made equal. Thereby, it is possible to accurately perform follow-up observation, comparison, and the like after the treatment.

[Supplementary Notes] (1) At least two of a light source for generating excitation light for exciting fluorescence from the body cavity tissue and fluorescence obtained by exciting the body cavity tissue with the excitation light. A first imaging unit that captures a fluorescent image in a different color tone band, a second imaging unit that captures a reflected light image obtained by reflecting the excitation light from the tissue in the body cavity, and captures the reflected light image Sensitivity adjustment means for adjusting the sensitivity of the second imaging means;
Image processing means for superimposing output image signals from the first and second image pickup means.

(2) The fluorescence observation apparatus according to Appendix 1, wherein the color tone bands of the fluorescent image are a green band and a red band, and the color tone band of the reflected light image is a blue band.

(3) The sensitivity adjusting means lowers the sensitivity of the second imaging means for capturing the reflected light image to be lower than the sensitivity of the first imaging means for capturing the fluorescence image during fluorescence observation. 2. The fluorescence observation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at the time of light observation, the sensitivity of the second imaging unit is adjusted to be at the same level as the sensitivity of the first imaging unit.

(4) The wavelength band of the fluorescence image is 490
green band of 560 nm to 560 nm and 620 nm to 800 n
m. The fluorescence observation device according to claim 1, wherein the fluorescence observation device has a red color band of m.

(5) The wavelength band of the reflected light image is 400
2. The fluorescence observation device according to claim 1, wherein the fluorescence observation device has a blue band of nm to 450 nm.

(6) A light source for generating excitation light for exciting the fluorescence from the body cavity tissue, and a fluorescence image in a plurality of wavelength bands is captured from the fluorescence obtained by exciting the body cavity tissue with the excitation light. A first imaging unit that performs imaging, a second imaging unit that captures a reflected light image obtained by reflection of the excitation light from the tissue in the body cavity, and a wavelength of a plurality of fluorescent images detected by the first imaging unit. A fluorescence image wavelength band setting unit for setting the bands to different color tone bands, a sensitivity adjustment unit for adjusting the sensitivity of the second imaging unit for imaging the reflected light image, and An image processing means for superimposing output image signals, comprising: a fluorescence observation device.

(7) White light image generating means for obtaining a white light image by capturing an image reflected by white illumination light, fluorescent image generating means for detecting fluorescent light from living tissue to obtain a fluorescent image, and the white light A fluorescence observation apparatus comprising: an image synthesizing unit that superimposes and displays an image and a fluorescent image; and a luminance adjusting unit that changes the luminance of the white light image and the fluorescent image in a stepwise manner.

(8) The fluorescence observation apparatus according to attachment 7, wherein the brightness adjusting means changes the brightness of the white light image and the brightness of the fluorescent image in inverse proportion.

(9) A light source for generating excitation light for exciting the fluorescence from the tissue in the body cavity, and a fluorescence image in a plurality of wavelength bands is captured from the fluorescence obtained by exciting the tissue in the body cavity with the excitation light. A fluorescence image observation apparatus, comprising: an imaging unit for performing the operation; and a fluorescence image wavelength band varying unit that varies at least one of a plurality of wavelength bands of the fluorescence image captured by the imaging unit.

(10) The wavelength bands of the plurality of fluorescent images are a green band and a red band, and one of the wavelength bands is variable by the fluorescent image wavelength band changing means. The fluorescence observation device according to the above.

(11) The fluorescence image wavelength band variable means includes a broadband transmission filter that transmits a wideband specific wavelength, a narrowband transmission filter having a transmission wavelength band included in the wideband wavelength range, and the wideband transmission filter. A band changing means for switching from the to the narrow band transmission filter;
10. The fluorescence observation device according to supplementary note 9, comprising:

(12) An endoscope that guides fluorescence from living tissue, a fluorescence observation camera that captures an image of the fluorescence, a connection unit that can be connected to an eyepiece of the endoscope, and the fluorescence An adapter having a main body unit connectable to the observation camera, wherein the adapter is provided such that the connection unit is rotatable with respect to the main body unit, one end is fixed to the connection unit, and the other end is A fluorescence observation apparatus comprising an image transmission unit fixed to the main body.

(13) The fluorescence observation apparatus according to appendix 12, wherein the image transmission means comprises a fiber bundle.

(14) The fluorescence observation apparatus according to appendix 12, wherein the connection portion includes a rotation regulating member for regulating a rotation amount with respect to the main body.

[0113]

As described above, according to the present invention, the structure of the organ can be clearly confirmed during the fluorescence observation, and the normal observation image and the fluorescence observation image can be obtained without switching the light source and the imaging means. There is an effect that an accurate diagnosis can be performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration explanatory view showing a schematic configuration of a fluorescence observation apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a color distribution diagram showing a display color of each part in an observation image at the time of fluorescence observation.

FIG. 3 shows a color display of each part when only a fluorescent image of a red region and a green region is used to generate a fluorescent image, and when a fluorescent image of a red region and a green region and a reflected light image of a blue region are used. Illustration for comparison

FIG. 4 is a configuration explanatory view showing a schematic configuration of a fluorescence observation device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a characteristic diagram showing a relationship between gain control and luminance of a fluorescence observation image and a white light observation image.

FIG. 6 is a configuration explanatory view showing a schematic configuration of a fluorescence observation device according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a configuration explanatory view showing a schematic configuration of a rotary filter that switches a fluorescence detection wavelength range.

FIG. 8 is a characteristic diagram showing a transmission wavelength band of a rotating filter.

FIG. 9 is a configuration explanatory view showing a configuration of a main part of a fluorescence observation device according to a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. 9 showing the configuration of the connection adapter.

FIG. 11 is a configuration explanatory view showing a schematic configuration of a fluorescence observation device according to a fifth embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a configuration explanatory view showing a configuration of a main part of a fluorescence observation device according to a sixth embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a configuration explanatory view showing a configuration of a main part of an endoscope for fluorescence observation according to a seventh embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a configuration explanatory view showing a configuration of a main part of an endoscope for fluorescence observation according to an eighth embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a configuration explanatory view showing a configuration of a main part of a fluorescence observation device according to a ninth embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Light source device 2 ... Endoscope 3 ... Camera 4 ... Image processing part 5 ... Display part 6 ... Light source for excitation 12, 13, 14 ... Band pass filter 17, 18 ... CCD 19 ... Variable sensitivity CCD 20 ... Sensitivity adjustment device

Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Sakae Takehata 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Inside Olympus Optical Industrial Co., Ltd. (72) Masaya Yoshihara 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Olympus Inside Optical Industry Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Mamoru Kaneko 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Inside Olympus Optical Industry Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Seiwa Iwa ▲ saki ▼ 2-34-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo No. Olympus Optical Kogyo Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Makoto Adult 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Olympus Optical Kogyo Co., Ltd. (72) Shinya Matsumoto 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo No. Within Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. (72) Yoshiharu Takasugi, Inventor 2-43-2, Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Inside Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. (72) Akira Yokota, 2-43-2, Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo No. Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A light source for generating excitation light for exciting fluorescence from tissue in a body cavity, and at least two or more different color tone bands among fluorescence obtained by exciting the body cavity tissue with the excitation light. A first imaging unit that captures a fluorescent image; a second imaging unit that captures a reflected light image obtained by reflecting the excitation light from the tissue in the body cavity; and a second imaging that captures the reflected light image A fluorescence observation apparatus comprising: a sensitivity adjusting unit that adjusts sensitivity of the unit; and an image processing unit that superimposes output image signals from the first and second imaging units.