JPH1199127A - Endoscope light source device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide the illuminating light by which an effect similar to color emphasizing processing suitable for an object for observation can be obtained and a delicate color change in the observing can be clearly observed. SOLUTION: A light source device 2 has a plurality of a light source A11, a light source B12 and a light source C13 composed of white light sources, and a filter A15, a filter B16 and a filter C17 to respectively pass a prescribed wave length area are arranged on emitting optical paths of the respective light sources 11 to 13. The light from the respective light sources 11 to 13 becomes the light having respectively different spectral characteristics through the filters 15 to 17, and the synthetic light by synthesizing these light is made incident on the incident end of a light guide 7 of a connected endoscope 1 as the illuminating light. This illuminating light has whiteness similar to that of a xenon lamp, and becomes the light having synthetic spectral characteristics such as a color difference in an observing image of the object becomes large.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an endoscope light source device capable of emitting illumination light having a wavelength range component suitable for an object to be observed.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an elongated insertion portion has been inserted into a site to be observed, such as a body cavity, to observe a portion which cannot be normally viewed, and to perform an inspection, a therapeutic treatment, or the like using a treatment tool or the like. Various endoscopes have been proposed.

[0003] As endoscopes, there are two types of optical endoscopes, an optical endoscope using a fiber bundle as an image guide, and an electronic endoscope in which an image pickup device such as a CCD is incorporated at the tip. Since the optical endoscope consists of only optical components in the entire observation system from illumination to observation, the observed color (hereinafter referred to as the observation color) is more stable than the electronic endoscope. There is an advantage of doing. On the other hand, the electronic endoscope has an advantage that color correction, color enhancement processing, and the like can be easily performed by the image processing circuit because the electric signal obtained by the imaging element is signal-processed by the image processing circuit.

The observation system of the optical endoscope includes a light source, a light guide, an illumination optical system, an imaging optical system, an image guide, and an observation optical system. As described above, all the systems are constituted by optical components. Therefore, it is difficult to perform real-time color tone correction, color emphasis processing, and the like as in an electronic endoscope. For example, when observing a mucous membrane in a body cavity, a conventional optical endoscope observation system cannot clearly observe a subtle change in color of the mucosal surface.

Further, in the electronic endoscope apparatus, in order to obtain a large color difference in an observation image so that a subtle color change can be identified, light in a region other than a visible region, for example, an infrared wavelength region is irradiated from a light source. In addition, a technique has been proposed in which invisible information obtained from an object to be observed is converted into visible information and displayed as an image.

[0006]

As described above, in a conventional optical endoscope observation system, it is difficult to perform color tone correction and color enhancement processing as in an electronic endoscope. When observing the mucous membrane of the subject, it was not possible to clearly observe the subtle color change of the mucosal surface. In addition, electronic endoscope devices and the like irradiate light outside the visible region, such as infrared light, so that a change in color can be identified in an observed image. Is difficult to apply. Further, in the conventional light source device, the illumination light in the visible region only emits white light such as a xenon lamp, and it has been difficult to emit illumination light having a wavelength region component suitable for the object to be observed. .

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and can provide an effect similar to that of color enhancement processing suitable for an object to be observed, such as a subtle change in color of a mucous membrane in a body cavity. It is an object of the present invention to provide an endoscope light source device capable of emitting illumination light capable of clearly observing a change in body color.

[0008]

An endoscope light source device according to the present invention comprises a plurality of light sources each having a filter having different spectral transmission characteristics on an output light path, and outputs the light emitted from the plurality of light sources. The combined light is guided to a light guide of an endoscope and used as illumination light.

With this configuration, illumination light having desired spectral characteristics for clarifying a change in the color of the object to be observed is generated.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 to 5 relate to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a configuration explanatory view showing an overall configuration of an endoscope device including a light source device, and FIG. 2 shows a schematic configuration of an observation system including the light source device. FIG. 3 is a characteristic diagram showing spectral characteristics of a white light source, and FIGS. 4 and 5 are characteristic diagrams showing composite spectral characteristics of a plurality of light sources.

As shown in FIG. 1, the endoscope apparatus includes an endoscope 1 and a light source device 2 for supplying illumination light to the endoscope 1. The endoscope 1 includes an elongated insertion portion 3 to be inserted into a body cavity or the like, an operation portion 4 which also serves as a grip portion provided continuously to a base end portion of the insertion portion 3, and a side portion of the operation portion 4. It is configured to include an extended universal cable 5 and is connected to the light source device 2 via a light guide connector 6 at the end of the universal cable 5.

A light guide 7 for transmitting illumination light and an image guide 8 for transmitting an optical image of an object to be observed are provided in the insertion section 3. The light guide 7 includes the insertion portion 3
Of the universal cable 5 through the insertion section 3 and the operation section 4 to the end of the universal cable 5. When the light guide connector 6 is connected to the light source device 2, the incident end of the light guide 7 emits light from the light source device 2. Section. The image guide 8 is provided from the distal end of the insertion section 3 to the eyepiece 9 formed at the end of the operation section 4 via the inside of the insertion section 3. A treatment instrument insertion port 10 is provided on a side portion of the operation unit 4 and communicates with a channel provided in the insertion unit 3.
A treatment tool or the like can be inserted to the distal end.

When the endoscope device is used, the light source device 2
The emitted illumination light is transmitted through the light guide 7 of the endoscope 1 to the distal end of the insertion section, and is emitted from the illumination optical system at the distal end toward the object to be observed. The illuminated object is imaged by the imaging optical system at the distal end of the insertion unit, transmitted to the eyepiece 9 of the operation unit 4 via the image guide 8, and the observer can observe the observation optics of the eyepiece 9. It can be visually observed from the system. An image of the object to be observed can also be taken by connecting an imaging means such as an optical camera for film photography or a TV camera having an imaging device such as a CCD to the eyepiece 9.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic configuration of an observation system of an endoscope apparatus including the light source device 2 of the present embodiment. The light source device 2 includes a plurality of light sources A11, B12, and C13 formed of a white light source such as a xenon lamp. A filter A15, a filter B16, and a filter C17 that transmit a predetermined wavelength range are provided.

The characteristics of each of the filters 15 to 17 are, for example, as follows.
00 to 480 nm (420 nm peak), filter B1
6 uses a bandpass filter having a wavelength of 480 to 530 nm (510 nm peak) and a filter C17 having a wavelength of 560 to 700 nm (610 nm peak).

Here, a method of generating illumination light having a wavelength region component suitable for the object to be observed will be described. In the present embodiment, a case where a doctor observes a mucous membrane (gastric mucosa) in a body cavity as an observation target is illustrated.

First, the spectral characteristics of the light source and the color difference between the normal part and the lesion in the observed image (the color difference perceived by humans, C
(A distance in a color space such as the IE LUV uniform color space). In order to calculate the color difference value, first, the color light observed through the optical endoscope is formulated.
Assuming that the spectral radiation of the endoscope light source is E (λ), the total spectral transmittance of the light guide and the image guide is t (λ), and the spectral reflectance at a certain point of the living mucous membrane is ο (λ), The observed color light is represented by these spectral products E (λ) t (λ) ο (λ). Further, if this color light is represented by CIE XYZ tristimulus values, it becomes as shown in the following Expression 1.

[0018]

(Equation 1)

In order to make a doctor's diagnosis easier and more accurate, it is important to design a light source E (λ) capable of clearly observing a subtle color change on the mucosal surface, which is the object to be observed. Therefore, in the present embodiment, as one of the desirable scales of the light source, the spread (color difference) of the distribution of the observed mucosal color in the CIE LUV uniform color space is used as an evaluation value, and a light source that increases this spread is considered to be a better light source.

The values L *, u *, v * of CIE LUV are
Can be calculated from XYZ in accordance with the definition formula. At this time, the reference white is the observation color for the perfectly diffuse object. The color difference evaluation value is obtained by calculating the spectral reflectance of the living mucous membrane based on the probability of occurrence of ο (λ) as L *, u *, v * of the corresponding observed color.
Obtained by the sum of the respective variances. Where ο (λ)
Since the occurrence probability is usually unknown, here, the color difference evaluation value V is calculated by an approximate expression shown in the following Expression 2 using n pieces of known biological mucosa spectral reflectance data acquired in the past.

[0021]

(Equation 2) Here, Li *, ui *, vi * are values corresponding to the i-th spectral reflectance of the living mucous membrane, and ￣ of L *, u *, v * represents an average value.

As can be seen from Equation 2, as the degree of variance (variation) of the chromaticity with respect to the average value, that is, as the color spread increases, the color difference evaluation value V increases, and the normal part and the lesion in the observed image of the living mucous membrane are increased. Subtle color differences such as parts become clearer.

Next, the whiteness of the light source will be considered. In the above color difference evaluation values, the whiteness of the light source is not considered.
In general, doctors are accustomed to diagnosis under xenon lamp illumination, which is a standard white light source. It is desirable to use a light source that is as white as possible from a xenon lamp. Therefore, the average color of the observed biological mucosa should be closer to that under xenon lamp illumination. Thus, as another measure of a desirable light source, the whiteness of the light source is used as an evaluation value, and it is considered that a light source that has a large color difference evaluation value and is closer to the white color of a xenon lamp is a better light source.

Here, first, the average value of the u'v 'chromaticity of the observed mucosa color under each light source is obtained by the following equation 3 using the above-mentioned biological mucosa spectral reflectance data.

[0025]

(Equation 3)

The average chromaticity when the test light source is used is Ce, and the average chromaticity when the xenon lamp is used is C
As x, the distance D between chromaticities is obtained as a whiteness evaluation value by the following Expression 4.

[0027]

(Equation 4)

As can be seen from Equation 4, the whiteness evaluation value D is 0 for a light source having the same average chromaticity as the xenon lamp.
It is considered that the smaller the whiteness evaluation value D is, the higher the whiteness of the light source is, which is similar to a xenon lamp, so that the observer can observe without discomfort.

Based on the color difference evaluation value V and the whiteness evaluation value D, a light source having a certain spectral characteristic is evaluated.
By selecting a light source having a large white value and a small whiteness evaluation value D, a desirable light source capable of clearly observing a subtle color change in the object to be observed is obtained.

In the present embodiment, a plurality of light sources having predetermined spectral characteristics are combined to obtain a light source that satisfies the above two evaluation values by the combined spectral characteristics.

FIG. 3 shows the spectral characteristics of a white light source using a xenon lamp. In the observation system shown in FIG. 2, light emitted from light sources 11 to 13 which are white light sources having spectral characteristics as shown in FIG. Illumination light having the combined spectral characteristics shown in FIG. The light source of FIG. 4 has spectral characteristics in which light in three wavelength bands having peaks at 420 nm, 510 nm, and 610 nm, respectively, is synthesized.

As another example of a light source satisfying the above two evaluation values, a light source having a combined spectral characteristic as shown in FIG. 5 may be used. In the light source of FIG.
The spectral characteristics are obtained by synthesizing light having peaks at 0 nm and 640 nm, respectively.

The illumination light of the light source having the combined spectral characteristics shown in FIG. 4 or FIG. 5 satisfies the condition that the color difference evaluation value V is larger than the predetermined value and the whiteness evaluation value D is smaller than the predetermined value. Is what you do. That is, by mixing the light of the three wavelength bands, a spectral characteristic is obtained that has whiteness similar to that of a xenon lamp and increases the color difference between a normal part and a lesion in an observed image of a living mucous membrane. Here, two examples are shown which are optimal within a range that can be practically implemented by combining a plurality of light sources and filters from among samples obtained from several spectral characteristics. In these two examples, the combined spectral characteristic of FIG. 4 has whiteness closer to that of a xenon lamp, and the combined spectral characteristic of FIG. 5 has a larger color difference in an observed image of a living mucous membrane.

The illumination light generated in the light source device 2 and having the combined spectral characteristics shown in FIG. 4 or FIG. 5 is incident on the incident end face of the light guide 7 of the endoscope 1 as shown in FIG. The light is transmitted to the distal end of the insertion section 3 by the guide 7, and is radiated to the mucous membrane 19, which is the observation target, via the illumination lens 18. The illuminated image of the mucous membrane 19 is
The image is formed at 0 and transmitted to the eyepiece 9 of the operation unit 4 by the image guide 8. In the eyepiece section 9, the observer can visually observe the optical image of the observed object.

By using the light source device 2 having the combined spectral characteristics as in this embodiment, the color difference between the normal part and the lesion part in the observation image under observation by the optical endoscope is large, and is close to the white light source. Thus, a light source with less discomfort can be realized, and a subtle color change on a mucous membrane surface or the like can be clearly observed. As a result, the diagnostic performance of the optical endoscope can be improved.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the second embodiment, a configuration example in which the level of a band having a combined spectral characteristic can be changed in a light source device that obtains illumination light by combining a plurality of lights is described.

FIGS. 6 to 9 relate to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of a light source device, and FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of operation switches of the light source device. 8 and 9 are characteristic diagrams showing the combined spectral characteristics by a plurality of light sources.

The light source device of the second embodiment includes a plurality of light sources A
A control unit 21 for independently controlling the light emission intensity of each of the light source 11, the light source B12, and the light source C13 is provided. This control unit 2
1 is provided between each of the light sources 11 to 13 and the power supply 22;
The power supply voltage supplied to the light source is changed. Each light source 1 is provided on a front panel of the light source device.
Operation switch unit 2 for setting and adjusting the light emission intensity of 1 to 13
3 is provided and connected to the control unit 21. And
A half mirror 24, a half mirror 25, and a mirror 26 are provided on the emission optical paths of the light sources A11, B12, and C13, respectively, and the emitted lights from the three light sources are combined into one and guided to the light guide 7. It has become.

The operation switch unit 23 includes a rotary knob type switch 23a for instructing the strength by the amount of rotation as shown in FIG. 7A or two on / off switches as shown in FIG. 7B. A two-way switch 23b is used.

In the second embodiment, when the observer instructs a switch provided on the operation switch section 23, the control section 21 controls the power supply voltage supplied to each of the light sources 11 to 13, and the individual The light emission intensity (brightness) of the light source is adjusted. For example, by increasing the light emission intensity of the light source C13 as compared with the other light sources, a combined spectral characteristic as shown in FIG. 8 is obtained, and by increasing the light emission intensity of the light source B12 as compared with the other light sources, as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. Here, the filter A15 is 400
The filter B16 has a transmission characteristic of a 510 nm peak, and the filter C17 has a transmission characteristic of a 620 nm peak.

By changing the power supply voltage supplied to each light source and changing the light emission intensity of each light source as in the present embodiment, a specific combination of one type of filter can be used without replacing the filter. The combined spectral characteristics of the light source can be changed by arbitrarily changing the luminance in the wavelength region, and different color emphasis can be performed according to the state of the observation target such as the mucous membrane. This makes it possible to easily obtain a desired color enhancement effect such that a subtle color change clearly appears in an observation image under observation by an optical endoscope.

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the third embodiment, a configuration example is shown in which a light guide connector of a different type can be connected in a light source device that obtains illumination light by combining a plurality of lights.

FIGS. 10 and 11 relate to a third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is an explanatory view showing a schematic structure of a light source device. FIG. 11 shows a state where a plurality of branched light guides are connected to the light source device. FIG.

The light source device according to the third embodiment includes a plurality of light sources A
11, light path switching means for switching the path of light emitted from the light source B12 and the light source C13. This light source device is connected to a single-type endoscope light guide as in the above-described embodiment, and has a plurality of incident ends (herein) so that the light emitted from each light source is incident and transmitted. In this case, a branch type endoscope light guide branched into three types can be connected.

Movable mirrors 31 and 32 are provided on the light paths of the light sources B12 and C13, respectively. The movable mirrors 31 and 32 can be inserted into and removed from the light paths. Half mirrors 33 and 34 are provided on the intersection with the emission path, and the movable mirrors 31 and
When the light source 32 is disposed in the light paths of the light sources B12 and C13, the light beams emitted from the three light sources 11 to 13 are combined.

The light source device includes movable mirrors 31, 3
2 is provided with a mirror driving circuit 35 for driving the light guide 2 and a light guide insertion detecting circuit 36 for detecting the inserted state of the light guide. The movable mirrors 31 and 32 are driven by the mirror driving circuit 35 according to the inserted state of the light guide. It is designed to be driven.

The light source device is a single type of light guide 7 or a branch type light guide 7a, 7 branched into three.
b, 7c are inserted and engaged with connector receptacles 38a, 38
b, 38c.
Each of 8b and 38c is provided with an insertion detecting means 39 composed of, for example, a light emitting element and a light receiving element arranged opposite to each other in the opening, and the output thereof is connected to the light guide insertion detecting circuit 36.

In the light source device of the third embodiment, when the light guide of the endoscope is not connected in the initial state and the insertion of the light guide is not detected by the insertion detecting means 39 in the connector receivers 38b and 38c, FIG.
As shown by the middle broken line, the movable mirrors 31 and 32 are the light source B1.
2. The light source C13 is disposed in the output light path.

When the single-type light guide connector 6 is connected and the light guide 7 is inserted into the connector receiver 38a, the connector receivers 38b and 3 are connected in the same manner as in the initial state.
8c, the insertion of the light guide is not detected by the insertion detection means 39, so that the movable mirrors 31 and 32
12, the light source C13 remains placed in the output light path. In this case, the light beams emitted from the light sources B12 and C13 are reflected by the movable mirrors 31 and 32, respectively, are reflected by the half mirrors 33 and 34, and are combined with the light beams emitted from the light source A11 and transmitted through the half mirrors 33 and 34. The light is guided to the incident end face of one light guide 7.

When the three light guides 7a, 7b, and 7c are inserted into the connector receivers 38a, 38b, and 38c, respectively, when the branch-type light guide connector 6a is connected, the insertion detection means 39 detects the insertion of the light guide. The movable mirrors 31 and 3 are
2 are light sources B12 and C13 as indicated by solid lines in FIG.
Is driven out of the exit optical path. Thus, the light emitted from each of the light sources 11 to 13 is separately guided to the incident end face of the light guide 7a, 7b, 7c.

As in the present embodiment, the insertion state of the light guide is detected to determine the type of the light guide, and each light source 11
By switching outgoing light paths of １３13 to 型 13, light from a plurality of light sources can be appropriately guided to the light guide corresponding to different types of light guides depending on the endoscope used, such as a single type or a branch type, As in the above-described embodiment, illumination light having a desired combined spectral characteristic can be obtained from a plurality of light sources. Therefore, when using illumination light generated by combining a plurality of lights having different spectral characteristics, light guide connectors of different types can be connected, and light from a plurality of light sources can be viewed regardless of the type of the light guide connector. Since it can be supplied to the mirror, it becomes possible to clearly observe a subtle color change of the object to be observed such as a mucosal surface under the observation of the optical endoscope.

Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the above-described embodiment, an example in which a plurality of light sources and filters correspond one-to-one in a light source device that obtains illumination light by combining a plurality of lights is described. A configuration example in which a plurality of types of filters can be switched will be described.

FIG. 12 is a structural explanatory view showing a schematic structure of a light source device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

In the light source device of the fourth embodiment, the filters A41, B42 and C4 are arranged so that a plurality of filters having different transmission characteristics correspond to one light source.
3, Filter D44, Filter E45, Filter F46
And a filter switching device 47 for switching these filters is provided. An operation switch 49 for instructing switching of a filter is provided on a front panel or the like of the light source device, and is connected to a filter switching device 47 via a switching circuit 48.

Here, the filter A41 is 420 nm,
The filter B42 is 460 nm, and the filter C43 is 510 nm.
nm, the filter D44 has 530 nm, the filter E45 has 610 nm, and the filter F46 has a transmission characteristic having a peak at each wavelength of 640 nm. In this case, the filters A41 and B42, the filters C43 and D44, and the filters E45 and F46 are switched.

FIG. 12 shows the filter switching means.
The filter is not limited to one in which the plurality of filters are alternately inserted and removed in the optical path, and each filter is rotated in the optical path by rotating a disk-shaped rotary filter in which a plurality of filters are arranged in the circumferential direction. Other configurations, such as those to be inserted, can also be used.

In the fourth embodiment, the filters 41 to 46 are switched by the filter switching device 47 when the observer instructs the operation switch 49 in accordance with the state or preference of the object to be observed. For example, filter A4
1, a combination of a filter C43 and a filter E45, or a filter B42, a filter D44, and a filter F46.
By switching to any of the combinations, illumination light having a combined spectral characteristic of a plurality of combinations is generated. That is, it is possible to switch light sources having combined spectral characteristics in which the peak values of the respective wavelength bands are slightly different as shown in FIGS. It should be noted that the combination of the filters is the same as that of the above-mentioned 2
Any combination is possible without being limited to the example.

By switching between filters having different characteristics for a plurality of light sources and arbitrarily combining a plurality of types of filters and a plurality of light sources as in this embodiment,
Since illumination light having a combined spectral characteristic of a plurality of combinations can be generated, desired color enhancement processing can be performed under observation of an optical endoscope, and a subtle color change on a mucous membrane surface or the like can be performed. It becomes possible to observe clearly.

In each of the embodiments described above, the configuration examples using three light sources have been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a plurality of light sources may be used so as to obtain a desired spectral characteristic. The number of filters may be two or four or more, and the number of filters corresponding to one light source may be any number irrespective of singular or plural. Further, the transmission band of the filter is not limited to those exemplified in each embodiment.

In the present embodiment, an optical endoscope has been described as an endoscope connected to the light source device. However, the light source device of the present embodiment is applied to an electronic endoscope that captures an image with an image pickup device such as a CCD. By connecting, even in the case of an electronic endoscope, an image in which a change in color of a mucous membrane surface or the like is similarly enhanced can be obtained without performing correction by a video processing circuit downstream of the image sensor.

[Supplementary Notes] (1) A plurality of light sources each having a filter having a different spectral transmission characteristic on an output light path are provided, and a combined light obtained by combining the output lights of the plurality of light sources is used as a light for an endoscope. An endoscope light source device characterized by using illumination light guided to a guide.

(2) The endoscope light source device according to appendix 1, wherein the combined light in the visible region composed of the light emitted from the plurality of light sources is guided to a light guide of the endoscope and used as illumination light.

(3) The endoscope according to appendix 1, wherein the plurality of light sources include three white light sources and filters having respectively different spectral transmission characteristics. Light source device.

(4) The filter has a plurality of filters having different spectral transmission characteristics for one light source in at least one light source, and the plurality of filters are switched to emit light of the corresponding light source. 2. The endoscope light source device according to claim 1, further comprising a filter switching unit disposed on a road.

(5) The endoscope light source device according to appendix 1, further comprising intensity adjusting means for adjusting light intensities of the plurality of light sources.

(6) A light capable of connecting a plurality of types of light guides as a light guide of the endoscope, a single light guide having a single incident end and a branched light guide having a plurality of incident ends. 2. The light-emitting device according to claim 1, further comprising: a guide connection portion, and an optical path switching unit configured to switch outgoing optical paths of the plurality of light sources according to a type of the light guide connected to the light guide connection portion. Endoscope light source device.

(7) Light guide detecting means for detecting the insertion state of the light guide in the light guide connecting portion, wherein the light path switching means is connected based on the output of the light guide detecting means. 7. The endoscope light source device according to claim 6, wherein a type of the light source is determined and a path of light emitted from the plurality of light sources is switched.

(8) A light guide for transmitting illumination light for illuminating an object to be observed is provided, and a plurality of light sources having filters having different spectral transmission characteristics on an emission optical path are provided. Light source means for guiding the combined light in the visible region obtained by combining the emitted light to the light guide as illumination light, an illumination optical system for irradiating the illumination light transmitted by the light guide toward an object to be observed, and illumination by the illumination light An imaging optical system that forms an image of the observed object, an image guide that transmits an optical image of the observed object that is formed by the imaging optical system, and an observed object that is transmitted by the image guide. And an observation optical system that makes the optical image observable as an observable image.

(9) An endoscope having a light guide for transmitting illumination light, and a plurality of light sources to which the light guide of the endoscope is connected and which have filters having different spectral transmission characteristics on an output optical path are provided. An endoscope system comprising: a light source device for guiding the light emitted from the plurality of light sources to the light guide as illumination light.

(10) The light guide has an incident end of 1
The endoscope system according to claim 9, wherein the endoscope system comprises two single-type light guides, and the light source device has light guide means for guiding light emitted from the plurality of light sources at an incident end of the light guide.

(11) The light guide comprises a branched light guide having a plurality of input ends branched, and the light source device guides light emitted from the plurality of light sources to a plurality of input ends of the light guide. 10. The endoscope system according to supplementary note 9, comprising:

(12) The light source device has a light guide connecting portion capable of connecting a plurality of types of light guides, that is, a single type light guide having one incident end and a branched type light guide having a plurality of incident ends. And light path switching means for switching a path of emitted light from the plurality of light sources to an incident end of the light guide according to a type of the light guide connected to the light guide connection portion. An endoscope system according to item 1.

(13) The light source device further includes a light guide detecting means for detecting a state of insertion of the light guide in the light guide connecting portion, and the light path switching means is provided based on an output of the light guide detecting means. The type of the connected light guide is determined, and a path of light emitted from the plurality of light sources is switched.
3. The endoscope system according to 2.

[0074]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to obtain an effect similar to the color emphasizing process suitable for an object to be observed, such as a subtle change in color of a mucous membrane in a body cavity. There is an effect that it is possible to emit illumination light that can clearly observe a change in color of the illumination light.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration explanatory diagram showing an overall configuration of an endoscope apparatus including a light source device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration explanatory view showing a schematic configuration of an observation system including a light source device according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a characteristic diagram showing spectral characteristics of a white light source.

FIG. 4 is a characteristic diagram showing a combined spectral characteristic by a plurality of light sources according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a characteristic diagram showing a combined spectral characteristic by a plurality of light sources according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a configuration explanatory view showing a schematic configuration of a light source device according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a configuration explanatory view showing an example of an operation switch of the light source device.

FIG. 8 is a characteristic diagram showing a combined spectral characteristic by a plurality of light sources according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a characteristic diagram showing a combined spectral characteristic by a plurality of light sources according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a configuration explanatory view showing a schematic configuration of a light source device according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 11 is an operation explanatory view showing a state where a plurality of branched light guides are connected to the light source device according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a configuration explanatory view showing a schematic configuration of a light source device according to a fourth embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Endoscope 2 ... Light source device 3 ... Insertion part 4 ... Operation part 6 ... Light guide connector 7 ... Light guide 8 ... Image guide 9 ... Eyepiece part 11-13 ... Light source 15-17 ... Filter 19 ... Mucous membrane

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A light source comprising a plurality of light sources each having a filter having a different spectral transmission characteristic on an output optical path,
An endoscope light source device, wherein a combined light obtained by combining the light emitted from the plurality of light sources is guided to a light guide of the endoscope to be used as illumination light.