WO2011062164A1

WO2011062164A1 - Medical light source device and medical system

Info

Publication number: WO2011062164A1
Application number: PCT/JP2010/070398
Authority: WO
Inventors: 山下　真司
Original assignee: オリンパスメディカルシステムズ株式会社
Priority date: 2009-11-20
Filing date: 2010-11-16
Publication date: 2011-05-26

Abstract

Disclosed is a medical light source device which has a plurality of light emitting elements arranged in a circle; a first group of light emitting elements included in the plurality of light emitting elements; a second group of light emitting elements included in the plurality of light emitting elements; a rotation driving unit configured to be able to arrange a light collecting member at a position facing at least one of the plurality of light emitting elements by rotating along the arrangement direction of the plurality of light emitting elements and to supply a light flux collected by the light collecting member to the outside by changing an optical path of the light flux; a drive control unit that controls on the basis of a detection result of a rotation position of the rotation driving unit such that the light collecting member is arranged at a position opposite to a light emitting element emitting a light flux; and a switch control unit that can selectively switch whether the second group of light emitting elements is to be controlled by the drive control unit.

Description

Medical light source device and medical system

The present invention relates to a medical light source device and a medical system, and more particularly to a medical light source device and a medical system using a light emitting element such as an LED as a light source.

Endoscopes have been widely used in the medical field and industrial field. When performing observation using an endoscope, generally, a light source device capable of supplying illumination light for illuminating the visual field range of the endoscope is also used. For example, Japanese Patent No. 3989302 discloses a lighting device having a configuration that can be used as the above-described light source device.

On the other hand, endoscopic observation in the medical field is substantially the same as observation with the naked eye by, for example, irradiating a subject in a living body with light including each color of R (red), G (green), and B (blue). By irradiating the subject with light in a narrow band compared to the illumination light for normal light observation, which can obtain an image of the color of the light, and obtaining an image in which the blood vessel structure of the living tissue is emphasized Narrow-band light observation that can do this is generally known. Japanese Patent No. 3586157 discloses an endoscope apparatus having a configuration capable of switching to each mode corresponding to the two types of observation described above.

Here, as a method for obtaining illumination light for narrowband light observation using the illumination device described in Japanese Patent No. 3989302, for example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 3586157, A method is conceivable in which a band-pass filter or the like that passes only light in a predetermined wavelength band corresponding to narrow-band light observation is separately provided on the optical path of light emitted from the LED. However, according to such a method, it is possible to obtain illumination light for narrowband light observation, but on the other hand, there arises a problem that the apparatus configuration becomes larger or complicated depending on the arrangement of a bandpass filter or the like.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances. When a light-emitting element such as an LED is used as a light source, illumination light for narrowband light observation can be obtained with a small and simple device configuration. An object of the present invention is to provide a medical light source device and a medical system.

The medical light source device of the present invention includes a plurality of light emitting elements arranged on the circumference so as to emit light toward the inner side of the circumference, and the plurality of light emitting elements are discrete and have a plurality of wavelengths. A first light emitting element group that emits light in a first wavelength band having a band; and a first light emitting element that is included in the plurality of light emitting elements and emits light in a second wavelength band different from the first wavelength band. A plurality of light emitting element groups, and a rotation axis having a central axis common to the circumference, and the plurality of light emitting elements by rotating along the arrangement direction of the plurality of light emitting elements around the rotation axis. A rotation driving unit configured to be able to arrange a light collecting member at a position facing at least one of the elements, and to change the optical path of the light collected by the light collecting member and to supply the light to the outside; Based on the detection result of the rotational position of the rotational drive unit, the plurality of generators. A drive control unit that performs control so that the light-collecting member is disposed at a position facing the light-emitting element being turned on by turning on and off the element and rotating the rotation driving unit; A switching control unit capable of selectively switching whether or not a light emitting element group is a control target of the drive control unit.

The medical system of the present invention includes an endoscope that includes an imaging element that images a subject inside a living body, a light guide member that can transmit light for illuminating the subject, and an inner circumference. A plurality of light emitting elements arranged on a circumference so as to emit light, and a first light emitting element that emits light in a first wavelength band that is included in the plurality of light emitting elements and has a plurality of discrete wavelength bands A light emitting element group, a second light emitting element group that is included in the plurality of light emitting elements and emits light in a second wavelength band different from the first wavelength band, and a center common to the circumference A light-collecting member at a position facing at least one of the plurality of light-emitting elements by rotating along a direction in which the light-emitting elements are arranged around the rotation axis. Light that can be arranged and is collected by the light collecting member A rotation drive unit configured to be able to supply the light guide member with a change, and turning on and off the plurality of light emitting elements based on a detection result of a rotation position of the rotation drive unit, and the rotation drive unit , And a drive control unit that performs control so that the light-collecting member is disposed at a position facing the light-emitting element that is lit, and the second light-emitting element group is a control target of the drive control unit A switching control unit capable of selectively switching whether or not, and a signal for switching light supplied from the light source device to the light guide member is output to the switching control unit Based on the possible changeover switch, based on the switching signal, an exposure period for one time in the imaging element, a period in which the rotation driving unit makes one rotation, and lighting and extinguishing timings in the plurality of light emitting elements. Having a timing generator for generating and outputting a timing signal for respective synchronized.

The figure which shows the structure of the principal part of the medical system which concerns on the Example of this invention. The block diagram which shows an example of an internal structure of a light source device and a processor. The figure which mainly shows the specific structure of an LED unit among the light emission units provided in the light source device. The figure which mainly shows the specific structure of a rotation drive unit among the light emission units provided in the light source device. The figure which shows an example of the wavelength zone | band of the light radiate | emitted from each LED which belongs to the 1st LED group among each LED provided in the LED unit. The figure which shows an example of the wavelength range | band of the light radiate | emitted from each LED which belongs to the 2nd LED group among each LED provided in the LED unit. 6 is a timing chart showing an example of the relationship between the exposure period and readout period of the image sensor and the lighting period and extinguishing period of the LED when the normal light observation mode is selected. 6 is a timing chart showing an example of the relationship between the exposure period and readout period of the image sensor and the lighting period and extinguishing period of the LED when the narrow-band light observation mode is selected.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, the medical system 1 supplies an endoscope 2 that images an object inside the living body 7 and outputs an imaging signal, and illumination light for illuminating the object to the endoscope 2. The light source device 3, the processor 4 that converts the imaging signal output from the endoscope 2 into a video signal, the observation device 5 that includes the light source device 3 and the processor 4, and the processor 4 And a monitor 6 for displaying an image corresponding to the video signal.

The endoscope 2 includes an elongated insertion portion 8 that can be inserted into the living body 7, an operation portion 9 formed at the rear end of the insertion portion 8, and a universal cable 10 extending from the operation portion 9. Configured. The endoscope 2 is configured to be detachable from the observation apparatus 5 by a connector 11 provided at an end of the universal cable 10.

The insertion portion 8 includes a distal end portion 12, a bendable bending portion 13 provided at the rear end of the distal end portion 12, and a flexible tube portion 14 provided from the rear end of the bending portion 13 to the front end of the operation portion 9. , And is configured.

On the other hand, the operation unit 9 has an instruction to switch the observation mode of the medical system 1 to either the normal light observation mode or the narrow-band light observation mode, and the bending knob 15 capable of performing an operation related to the bending operation of the bending unit 13. And a mode changeover switch 22 capable of performing the above. A treatment instrument insertion port 20 into which a treatment instrument such as a biopsy forceps can be inserted is provided near the front end of the operation unit 9. Further, the treatment instrument insertion port 20 communicates with a treatment instrument channel 21 that is a pipe formed inside the insertion portion 8.

According to such a configuration, the operator or the like inserts a treatment tool such as a biopsy forceps from the treatment tool insertion port 20 and inserts the treatment tool into the treatment tool channel 21, and then the distal end of the treatment tool. In a state where the side protrudes from the distal end portion 12, it is possible to perform treatment or the like on a desired site.

A light guide 16 is inserted into the insertion portion 8 and the universal cable 10. An end surface of the light guide 16 on the light emission side is disposed at the distal end portion 12. Further, the end surface of the light guide 16 on the light incident side is provided inside the connector 11.

And according to such a structure, when the connector 11 and the observation apparatus 5 are connected, the illumination light radiate | emitted from the light source device 3 is transmitted via the light guide 16, and the illumination window of the front-end | tip part 12 is transmitted. Is emitted forward from the distal end surface fixed to the object 7 to illuminate the subject inside the living body 7.

The object illuminated by the illumination light is imaged by the objective lens 17 attached to the observation window arranged adjacent to the illumination window.

An imaging element 18, which is a color CCD having a Bayer array color filter provided on the imaging surface, is disposed at the imaging position of the objective lens 17. The imaging element 18 generates and outputs an imaging signal of a color component corresponding to the return light by performing color conversion on the return light from the subject imaged by the objective lens 17 by color separation using a color filter. . That is, the imaging unit 19 of the distal end portion 12 includes the objective lens 17 and the imaging element 18.

The image signal of each color component output from the image sensor 18 is output to the processor 4 via a signal line provided inside the insertion unit 8 and the universal cable 10. The processor 4 performs signal processing on the input image pickup signal to generate a video signal and output it to the monitor 6.

Subsequently, specific configurations of the light source device 3 and the processor 4 will be described.

As shown in FIG. 2, the light source device 3 includes a light emitting unit 23 and a light emission drive controller 24.

The light emitting unit 23 is configured to include a plurality of LEDs arranged on the circumference, and according to the lighting state of the plurality of LEDs, both the normal light observation mode and the narrow-band light observation mode are observed. The illumination light corresponding to the mode can be supplied to the light guide 16. The detailed configuration of the light emitting unit 23 will be described later.

The light emission drive control part 24 detects the positional information output with the drive of the light emission unit part 23 at any time. The light emission drive control unit 24 performs drive control on the light emission unit unit 23 based on the position information, the timing signal output from the processor 4, and the observation mode switching signal output from the mode switch 22. . The details of the drive control performed by the light emission drive control unit 24 will be described later.

As shown in FIG. 2, the processor 4 includes a timing generator 34, an image sensor driving unit 35, a preamplifier 36, a process circuit 37, an A / D converter 38, a selector 39, a first memory 41a, a first memory 41a, and a first memory 41a. The second memory 41b, the third memory 41c, the image processing unit 42, the D / A converter 43, and the input / output interface (I / O) 44 are included.

The timing generator 34 generates a timing signal for synchronizing the operations of the light emission drive control unit 24, the image sensor drive unit 35, the selector 39, and the like based on the observation mode switching signal output from the mode switch 22. Output.

The image sensor driving unit 35 controls the exposure period of the image sensor 18 by driving the image sensor 18 according to the timing signal output from the timing generator 34.

The image signal of each color component output from the image sensor 18 is amplified by the preamplifier 36, subjected to signal processing such as noise removal in the process circuit 37, and converted into a digital image signal by the A / D converter 38. It is output to the selector 39.

The selector 39 switches the output destination of the signal in accordance with the timing signal output from the timing generator 34, thereby converting the image signal output from the A / D converter 38 into the first memory 41a, the second memory 41b, and the third memory. Selectively output to the memory 41c.

By such an operation of the selector 39, for example, when displaying an image on the monitor 6, an R component signal corresponding to red is stored in the first memory 41a, and a G component signal corresponding to green is second. The B component signal stored in the memory 41b and corresponding to blue is stored in the third memory 41c.

The image processing unit 42 simultaneously receives the R component signal stored in the first memory 41a, the G component signal stored in the second memory 41b, and the B component signal stored in the third memory 41c. read out. Then, the image processing unit 42 reads a parameter corresponding to the currently selected observation mode from a memory (not shown) based on the observation mode switching signal output from the mode changeover switch 22, and then performs gain adjustment using the parameter. After the image processing such as the above is performed on the signal of each color component, the signal of each color component after the image processing is output to the D / A converter 43.

The signal of each color component output from the image processing unit 42 is converted into an analog video signal by the D / A converter 43 and then output to the monitor 6 via the input / output interface (I / O) 44.

Next, the detailed configuration of the light emitting unit 23 will be described.

The light emitting unit 23 has a configuration similar to that of the illumination unit disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 3989302. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the light emitting unit portion 23 is formed in a drum shape, and an LED unit 101 in which a plurality of LEDs are disposed along the inner side surface of the drum shape; And a rotation drive unit 111 that reflects the illumination light emitted from the LED unit 101 by a reflecting mirror and supplies the light to the light guide 16.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the LED unit 101 includes a first LED group 103 that emits light of a first wavelength band along the inner peripheral side surface of the drum support member 102 having a drum shape, And a second LED group 104 that emits light in the second wavelength band. (In FIG. 4, the LED on the depth side of the drum support member 102 is omitted for simplicity.)
Each LED of the first LED group 103 is turned on or off according to the control of the light emission drive control unit 24. Each LED of the first LED group 103 has a configuration in which an LED emitting blue light and an orange phosphor excited by the blue light are integrated. According to such a configuration, when each LED of the first LED group 103 is turned on, the blue light that is not involved in the excitation of the orange phosphor and the fluorescence that is emitted along with the excitation of the orange phosphor. Are mixed and emitted as light in the first wavelength band.

In this embodiment, the blue light emitted from each LED of the first LED group 103 is a narrow band light whose center wavelength is set in the vicinity of 400 to 410 nm as shown in FIG. In the present embodiment, the fluorescence emitted upon excitation of the orange phosphor is broadband light having a center wavelength set in the vicinity of 620 to 630 nm as shown in FIG. 5, for example.

Each LED of the second LED group 104 is turned on or off according to the control of the light emission drive control unit 24. In addition, each LED of the second LED group 104 is configured by an LED that emits green light. According to such a configuration, when each LED of the second LED group 104 is turned on, for example, as shown in FIG. 6, green light having a center wavelength set in the vicinity of 500 nm is emitted from the second wavelength band described above. It is emitted as light. In this embodiment, the wavelength band of green light emitted when the second LED group 104 is lit is at least one for the wavelength bands of blue light and fluorescence emitted when the first LED group 103 is lit. The parts are set to overlap.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the rotary drive unit 111 includes a rotary bearing 112, a rotary shaft 113 supported by the rotary bearing 112, and a planar reflecting mirror 114 connected to one end of the rotary shaft 113. The drive motor 115 connected to the other end of the rotation shaft 113, the rotation support member 116 integrally formed with the rotation shaft 113, and the lens frame 116a of the rotation support member 116 are arranged in a collection state. And an optical lens 117.

The rotary shaft 113 is provided so as to have a common central axis with the drum support member 102. In addition, a slope is formed at one end of the rotating shaft 113, and a plane reflecting mirror 114 is connected along the slope. With such a configuration, the reflecting surface of the planar reflecting mirror 114 is arranged in a positional relationship so as to face both the light emitting side surface of the condenser lens 117 and the light incident side end surface of the light guide 16. Is done.

The drive motor 115 rotates the rotating shaft 113 in the direction of arrow S in FIG. 4 according to the control of the light emission drive control unit 24. According to such a configuration, each part of the plane reflecting mirror 114, the rotation support member 116, and the condenser lens 117 rotates around the central axis of the rotation shaft 113 as the drive motor 115 rotates.

The drive motor 115 includes an encoder (not shown) that can detect its rotational position, and outputs the detection result of the encoder to the light emission drive control unit 24 as position information.

The lens frame 116a of the rotation support member 116 is a condensing lens so that the light emitted from the LEDs that are lit among the LEDs of the first LED group 103 and the second LED group 104 can be satisfactorily captured. The arrangement state of 117 is defined. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, three condenser lenses 117 are disposed adjacent to the lens frame 116 a of the rotation support member 116.

In other words, according to the configuration of the light emitting unit 23 described above, the light emitted from the LED that is lit out of the LEDs of the first LED group 103 and the second LED group 104 is transmitted through the condenser lens 117. Once converged and reflected by the plane reflecting mirror 114, the light guide 16 enters the light incident side end face.

Further, according to the configuration of the light emitting unit 23 described above, which of the LEDs of the first LED group 103 and the second LED group 104 is a condensing lens as the drive motor 115 rotates. Based on the position information output from the encoder of the drive motor 115, it can be detected whether it is currently disposed at a position facing 117 (and the plane reflecting mirror 114).

Here, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

First, the surgeon or the like activates each part of the medical system 1 and then performs an operation for performing observation in the normal light observation mode on the mode switch 22.

When an operation for performing observation in the normal light observation mode is performed on the mode switch 22, an observation mode switching signal corresponding to the operation is sent from the light emission drive control unit 24, the timing generator 34, and the image processing unit 42. Output to each part.

The timing generator 34 synchronizes operations of the light emission drive control unit 24, the image sensor drive unit 35, the selector 39, and the like in the normal light observation mode based on the observation mode switching signal output from the mode changeover switch 22. Generate and output a timing signal.

The image sensor driving unit 35 drives the image sensor 18 so that the exposure period is a predetermined period (for example, 1/60 seconds) based on the timing signal output from the timing generator 34.

On the other hand, the light emission drive control unit 24 controls the rotation shaft 113 (and each unit attached to the rotation shaft 113) during the predetermined period (for example, 1/60 second) based on the timing signal output from the timing generator 34. The drive motor 115 is controlled to rotate once. The light emission drive control unit 24 also includes an observation mode switching signal output from the mode switch 22, a timing signal output from the timing generator 34, and position information output from the encoder as the drive motor 115 rotates. Based on the above, among the LEDs of the first LED group 103 and the second LED group 104, the LEDs currently disposed at positions facing the three condenser lenses 117 are pulse-lit, and Control is performed to turn off other LEDs than the LEDs.

Then, by performing the control as described above in the light emission drive control unit 24, the LED that is lit in each LED of the first LED group 103 and the second LED group 104 is driven to rotate (drive) the drive motor 115. According to the rotation speed and the rotation direction of the motor 115, the drum support member 102 is sequentially switched in time series so as to go around the inner peripheral side surface.

Therefore, in the normal light observation mode, the light in the first wavelength band as shown in FIG. 5 and the light in the second wavelength band as shown in FIG. Supplied.

The light in the first wavelength band and the light in the second wavelength band supplied from the light emitting unit 23 are transmitted by the light guide 16 and then emitted from the tip 12 to the subject. Then, reflected light of the first wavelength band and reflected light of the second wavelength band as the return light from the subject are sequentially imaged on the image sensor 18.

The image sensor 18 receives return light from the subject during the exposure period set as the predetermined period based on the control of the image sensor drive unit 35, and performs color conversion on the return light by color separation using a color filter. Thus, the charge for each color component corresponding to the return light is accumulated.

Here, the exposure of the image sensor 18 when a total of N LEDs are arranged along the inner peripheral side surface of the drum support member 102 and the normal light observation mode is selected by operating the mode switch 22. The relationship between the period and the readout period and the LED lighting period and the extinguishing period will be described with reference to the timing chart of FIG.

First, at the time Ta1 as the timing at which the above-described predetermined period starts, for example, as shown in FIG. 7, the exposure period of the image sensor 18 is started, and the first, second, and third LEDs are turned on. The fourth to Nth LEDs are turned off. At time Ta1, the first, second, and third LEDs described above and the three condenser lenses 117 are arranged to face each other.

Next, at time Ta2 after time Ta1, for example, as shown in FIG. 7, the exposure period of the image sensor 18 is continued, the second, third, and fourth LEDs are lit, and the first The LED and the fifth to Nth LEDs are turned off. At the time Ta2, the second, third, and fourth LEDs described above and the three condenser lenses 117 are disposed so as to face each other.

Then, at the time TaN as the timing when the above-mentioned predetermined period ends, for example, as shown in FIG. 7, the exposure period of the image sensor 18 ends, the Nth, first and second LEDs are lit, The 3rd to (N-1) th LEDs are turned off. At the time TaN, the above-described Nth, first and second LEDs and the three condenser lenses 117 are arranged to face each other.

According to the operation described above, when the normal light observation mode is selected, the rotating shaft 113 (and the respective parts attached to the rotating shaft 113) is at the times Ta1 to TaN corresponding to the predetermined period described above. By making one rotation, the imaging element 18 during the exposure period receives the reflected light of the light in the first wavelength band and the reflected light of the light in the second wavelength band. That is, the imaging device 18 includes a blue component included in the reflected light of the first wavelength band and a red component included in the reflected light of the first wavelength band during the exposure period from time Ta1 to TaN. The charge for each color component of the green component as reflected light of the light in the second wavelength band is accumulated. Then, the imaging element 18 generates and outputs an imaging signal of each color component corresponding to the charge accumulated during the exposure period in the readout period.

The selector 39 switches the output destination of the signal in accordance with the timing signal output from the timing generator 34, whereby the red component image signal among the image signals output from the A / D converter 38 is sent to the first memory 41a. The green component image signal is output to the second memory 41b, and the blue component image signal is output to the third memory 41c.

The R, G, and B component image signals stored in the first memory 41a, the second memory 41b, and the third memory 41c are simultaneously read out by the image processing unit 42 and subjected to image processing. After being converted into an analog video signal by the converter 43, it is output to the monitor 6 via an input / output interface (I / O) 44.

According to the operation of each unit described above, when the normal light observation mode is selected, the normal light image that is an image having substantially the same color as when the subject inside the living body 7 is viewed with the naked eye. Is displayed on the monitor 6.

On the other hand, the surgeon or the like operates the insertion portion 8 while viewing the normal light image displayed on the monitor 6 to place the distal end portion 12 in the vicinity of a desired observation site inside the living body 7. In such a state, the operator or the like performs an operation for performing observation in the narrow-band light observation mode on the mode switch 22.

When an operation for performing observation in the narrow-band light observation mode is performed on the mode switch 22, an observation mode switching signal corresponding to the operation is transmitted to the light emission drive control unit 24, the timing generator 34, and the image processing unit 42. Is output to each part of

The timing generator 34 synchronizes the operations of the light emission drive control unit 24, the image sensor drive unit 35, the selector 39, and the like in the narrow-band light observation mode based on the observation mode switching signal output from the mode switching switch 22. The timing signal is generated and output.

On the other hand, the light emission drive control unit 24 controls the rotation shaft 113 (and each unit attached to the rotation shaft 113) during the predetermined period (for example, 1/60 second) based on the timing signal output from the timing generator 34. The drive motor 115 is controlled to rotate once. The light emission drive control unit 24 also includes an observation mode switching signal output from the mode switch 22, a timing signal output from the timing generator 34, and position information output from the encoder as the drive motor 115 rotates. Based on the above, among the LEDs of the first LED group 103, the LEDs currently disposed at the positions facing the three condenser lenses 117 are pulse-lit, and other LEDs other than the LEDs are turned on. Control to turn off. Further, when the light emission drive control unit 24 detects that the narrow-band light observation mode is selected based on the observation mode switching signal output from the mode switch 22, the light emitting drive control unit 24 always turns off the second LED group 104 ( (Do not light up all the time).

Then, by performing the above-described control in the light emission drive control unit 24, the LED that is lit in each LED of the first LED group 103 is driven to rotate the drive motor 115 (the rotation speed and rotation of the drive motor 115). The direction is changed sequentially in time series so as to go around the inner peripheral side surface of the drum support member 102 according to the direction.

Accordingly, in the narrow-band light observation mode, light in the first wavelength band as shown in FIG. 5 is sequentially supplied from the light emitting unit 23, while the second LED group 104 is always turned off (not always turned on). Therefore, the light in the second wavelength band as shown in FIG. 6 is not supplied.

The light in the first wavelength band supplied from the light emitting unit 23 is transmitted by the light guide 16 and then emitted from the tip 12 to the subject. Then, the reflected light of the light in the first wavelength band as the return light from the subject is sequentially imaged on the image sensor 18.

Here, a total of N LEDs are arranged along the inner peripheral side surface of the drum support member 102, and the imaging element 18 in the case where the narrowband light observation mode is selected by the operation of the mode switch 22 is shown. The relationship between the exposure period and readout period, and the LED lighting period and extinguishing period will be described with reference to the timing chart of FIG. In the timing chart of FIG. 8, description will be given assuming that “second LED” is one of the LEDs belonging to the second LED group 104.

First, at the time Tb1 as the timing at which the predetermined period starts, as shown in FIG. 8, for example, the exposure period of the image sensor 18 is started, the first and third LEDs are lit, and the second And the fourth to Nth LEDs are turned off. At time Tb1, the first and third LEDs described above and the three condensing lenses 117 are arranged to face each other.

Next, at time Tb2 after time Tb1, for example, as shown in FIG. 8, the exposure period of the image sensor 18 is continued, the third and fourth LEDs are lit, and the first and second LEDs are further turned on. The LED and the fifth to Nth LEDs are turned off. At the time Tb2, the above-described third and fourth LEDs and the three condenser lenses 117 are arranged to face each other.

Then, at time TbN as the timing when the predetermined period ends, for example, as shown in FIG. 7, the exposure period of the image sensor 18 ends, the Nth and first LEDs are lit, and the second The (N-1) th LED is turned off. Further, at time TbN, the above-described Nth and first LEDs and the three condenser lenses 117 are arranged to face each other.

According to the operation described above, when the narrow-band light observation mode is selected, the rotating shaft 113 (and each part attached to the rotating shaft 113) at the times Tb1 to TbN corresponding to the predetermined period described above. Makes one rotation, the reflected light of the light in the first wavelength band is received by the image sensor 18 during the exposure period. That is, the imaging device 18 includes a blue component included in the reflected light of the first wavelength band and a red component included in the reflected light of the first wavelength band during the exposure period from time Tb1 to TbN. The charge for each color component is accumulated. Then, the imaging element 18 generates and outputs an imaging signal of each color component corresponding to the charge accumulated during the exposure period in the readout period.

The selector 39 switches the output destination of the signal in accordance with the timing signal output from the timing generator 34, whereby the red component image signal among the image signals output from the A / D converter 38 is sent to the first memory 41a. The blue component image signal is output to the third memory 41c.

The R component image signal stored in the first memory 41a and the B component image signal stored in the third memory 41c are simultaneously read out by the image processing unit 42 and subjected to image processing. After being converted into an analog video signal by the / A converter 43, it is output to the monitor 6 via the input / output interface (I / O) 44.

According to the operation of each part described above, when the narrow-band light observation mode is selected, the narrow-band structure is an image in which the structure of the capillaries existing near the mucosal surface layer inside the living body 7 is emphasized. An optical image is displayed on the monitor 6.

It should be noted that the light emission drive control unit 24 of the present embodiment repeats turning on and off the LEDs provided in the LED unit 101 even during the readout period of the image sensor 18, and the drive motor 115 in the rotary drive unit 111. Continue to drive. In response to this, the light emission drive control unit 24 of the present embodiment detects position information output from the encoder of the drive motor 115 as needed, thereby accompanying the rotational drive of the drive motor 115 during the readout period of the image sensor 18. No matter what position the current rotational position has changed, the drive motor 115 is moved from the current rotational position to 1 in the predetermined period defined based on the timing signal output from the timing generator 34. Control is performed to rotate and turn on or off each LED according to the timing chart of FIG. 7 or FIG.

On the other hand, as an example of a specific configuration of the light emitting unit 23 of the present embodiment, the number of condensing lenses 117 is three, and the number of LEDs provided on the drum support member 102 is 18 in total. The LED can dissipate heat at an appropriate time interval, and illumination light with brightness suitable for observation can be supplied mainly in the normal light observation mode.

Note that the total number of LEDs provided on the drum support member 102, the number of LEDs belonging to the first LED group 103, the number of LEDs belonging to the second LED group 104, and the number of condensing lenses 117 depend on the application. It may be changed as appropriate. Further, the light emitting element provided on the drum support member 102 is not limited to the LED, and may be, for example, an organic EL element.

As described above, the medical system 1 (light source device 3) of the present embodiment can emit light in the first wavelength band including blue and narrow band light and red band light. A light emitting element is used. For this reason, the medical system 1 (light source device 3) of the present embodiment turns on only a light emitting element that can emit light in the first wavelength band described above, thereby obtaining a mode (narrow) for obtaining a narrowband light image. Illumination light according to the band light observation mode) can be supplied. That is, according to the medical system 1 (light source device 3) of the present embodiment, for example, illumination light for narrowband light observation is provided without providing an optical member such as a bandpass filter on the optical path of the light emitted from the LED. As a result, a small and simple device configuration can be realized.

Further, the medical system 1 (light source device 3) of the present embodiment supplements the light in the first wavelength band with the light in the green band as the light in the second wavelength band, thereby normal light. Illumination light according to a mode for obtaining an image (normal light observation mode) can be supplied. That is, according to the medical system 1 (light source device 3) of the present embodiment, for example, an optical member such as a bandpass filter, and a switching control mechanism that switches an arrangement state or optical characteristics of the optical member according to an observation mode. Even without providing, the illumination light can be switched in the normal light observation and the narrow-band light observation. As a result, a small and simple device configuration can be realized.

Furthermore, the medical system 1 (light source device 3) of the present embodiment has a configuration in which the LED that emits light in the second wavelength band is not always lit in the narrow-band light observation mode. Therefore, according to the medical system 1 (light source device 3) of the present embodiment, it is possible to supply illumination light according to the narrow-band light observation mode while suppressing power consumption accompanying light emission of the LED as much as possible.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications and applications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

This application is filed on the basis of the priority claim of Japanese Patent Application No. 2009-265328 filed in Japan on November 20, 2009, and the above disclosure is disclosed in the present specification, claims, It shall be cited in the drawing.

Claims

A plurality of light emitting elements arranged on the circumference so as to emit light toward the inside of the circumference;
A first light emitting element group that is included in the plurality of light emitting elements and emits light in a first wavelength band that is discrete and has a plurality of wavelength bands;
A second light emitting element group that is included in the plurality of light emitting elements and emits light in a second wavelength band different from the first wavelength band;
A rotation axis having a central axis common to the circumference, and rotating along the arrangement direction of the plurality of light emitting elements around the rotation axis; and at least one of the plurality of light emitting elements A rotation driving unit configured to be able to arrange a condensing member at a facing position, and to change the optical path of the light condensed by the condensing member and supply the light to the outside;
Based on the detection result of the rotational position of the rotation drive unit, the light-emitting element is turned on and off, and by rotating the rotation drive unit, the condensing member is located at a position facing the light-emitting element being lit. A drive control unit that performs control so as to be disposed;
A switching control unit capable of selectively switching whether or not the second light emitting element group is a control target of the drive control unit;
A medical light source device characterized by comprising:
2. The light-emitting elements belonging to the first light-emitting element group simultaneously emit blue light and red light as light in the first wavelength band. Medical light source device.
Each light emitting element belonging to the first light emitting element group is formed by integrating an LED that emits light in the blue range and a phosphor that emits fluorescence in the red range when excited by the light in the blue range. The medical light source device according to claim 2, wherein the medical light source device is configured.
4. The medical light source device according to claim 2, wherein each light emitting element belonging to the second light emitting element group emits light in a green region as light in the second wavelength band. 5. .
4. The medical light source device according to claim 2, wherein the light in the blue region is narrow band light capable of acquiring a structure of a capillary vessel existing in the vicinity of a mucous membrane surface layer of a living body.
An endoscope provided with an image sensor that images a subject inside a living body, and a light guide member capable of transmitting light for illuminating the subject;
A plurality of light emitting elements arranged on the circumference so as to emit light toward the inner side of the circumference, and a first wavelength band included in the plurality of light emitting elements and having a plurality of discrete wavelength bands A first light-emitting element group that emits light; a second light-emitting element group that is included in the plurality of light-emitting elements and emits light in a second wavelength band different from the first wavelength band; and the circle A position having a rotation axis having a central axis common to the circumference, and facing at least one of the plurality of light emitting elements by rotating along the arrangement direction of the plurality of light emitting elements around the rotation axis And a rotation driving unit configured to change the optical path of the light collected by the light collecting member and to supply the light guiding member, and to rotate the rotation driving unit. Based on the position detection result, the plurality of light emitting elements are turned on and off. And by rotating the rotation drive unit, the drive control unit for controlling the light-collecting member to be disposed at a position facing the light-emitting element being lit, and the second light-emitting element group A light source device having a switching control unit capable of selectively switching whether to be a control target of the drive control unit,
A selector switch capable of outputting a signal for switching light supplied from the light source device to the light guide member to the switching control unit;
Based on the switching signal, timing signals for synchronizing one exposure period in the image sensor, a period in which the rotation driving unit makes one rotation, and timings of turning on and off in the plurality of light emitting elements, respectively. A timing generator that generates and outputs,
A medical system characterized by comprising:
The switching control unit turns on and off the second light emitting element group according to the control of the drive control unit when detecting that a signal related to an instruction to supply normal light is output from the changeover switch. The medical system according to claim 6, wherein:
The switching control unit always turns off the second light emitting element group regardless of the control of the drive control unit when detecting that a signal related to an instruction to supply special light is output from the changeover switch. The medical system according to claim 6, wherein:
The light emitting elements belonging to the first light emitting element group simultaneously emit blue light and red light as light in the first wavelength band. Medical system.
Each light emitting element belonging to the first light emitting element group is formed by integrating an LED that emits light in the blue range and a phosphor that emits fluorescence in the red range when excited by the light in the blue range. It is comprised, The medical system of Claim 9 characterized by the above-mentioned.
The medical system according to claim 9 or 10, wherein each light emitting element belonging to the second light emitting element group emits light in a green region as light in the second wavelength band.
The medical system according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the light in the blue region is narrowband light capable of acquiring a structure of a capillary vessel existing in the vicinity of a mucous membrane surface layer of a living body.