DE102013226019A1 - Endoscope with adjustable viewing direction - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an endoscope (1), in particular a video endoscope (1), with an adjustable viewing direction at an angle with an endoscope shaft (2), wherein an optical waveguide device with a plurality of optical fiber bundles (6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 7) is provided inside the endoscope shaft (2). is provided to guide light from a light source (3) to the distal end of the endoscope shaft (2), wherein the optical fiber bundles (6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 7) each have a plurality of optical fibers, in particular glass fibers. In one embodiment, the endoscope (1) is characterized in that the optical fiber bundles (6.1, 6.2, 6.3) are arranged at different illumination angles, preferably with respect to the longitudinal axis of the endoscope shaft (2), at the distal end of the endoscope shaft (2), and wherein a first optical fiber bundle (6.1, 6.2, 6.3) is arranged with a first illumination angle and a first numerical aperture for the optical fibers of the first optical fiber bundle (6.1, 6.2, 6.3), and wherein a second light fiber optic bundle (6.1, 6.2, 6.3 ) is arranged with a second illumination angle, which differs from the first illumination angle for the first optical fiber bundle (6.1, 6.2, 6.3), and has a second numerical aperture which differs from the numerical aperture of the optical fibers of the first optical fiber bundle (6.1, 6.2, 6.3).

Description

The invention relates to an endoscope, in particular video endoscope, with adjustable viewing direction from a viewing angle with an endoscope shaft, wherein in the interior of the endoscope shaft a Lichtwellenleiteinrichtung is provided with a plurality Lichtleitfaserbündeln to direct light of a light source to the distal end of the endoscope shaft, wherein the Lichtleitfaserbündel each have a plurality of optical fibers , in particular glass fibers.

Endoscopes, in particular video endoscopes, in which the light entering a distal end of an endoscope of the endoscope of an operating field is directed by an optical system to one or more image sensors, are known in various embodiments. Thus, there are endoscopes with a straight-ahead view, a so-called 0 ° viewing direction or endoscopes with a lateral viewing direction, which have, for example, a lateral viewing direction of 30 °, 45 °, 70 ° or other viewing angles, deviating from the 0 ° viewing direction. Here, by the mentioned degree numbers is meant the angle between the central visual axis and the longitudinal axis of the endoscope shaft. Furthermore, there are endoscopes or video endoscopes with adjustable lateral viewing direction, in which the viewing angle, ie the deviation before the straight-ahead view, is adjustable.

With an adjustment of the viewing angle, therefore, the deviation from the straight-ahead view, in particular with respect to the longitudinal axis of the endoscope shaft, is changed.

For example, in DE 10 2010 028 147 A1 an endoscope with variable viewing direction described.

Such endoscopes are used primarily in endoscopic surgery, therapy or diagnostics. In this case, the endoscopes have an endoscope shaft with a distal region that can be inserted into an opening and a proximal region. Furthermore, they have an image transmission device for observing the field of view and an optical fiber bundle for illuminating the viewing field. The optical fiber bundle in the endoscope shaft serves to illuminate the object under consideration, wherein the optical fiber bundle can be coupled to an external light source or connected to a light source installed in the endoscope.

The light generated by a light source is transmitted by means of an optical fiber bundle from the proximal end to the distal end of the endoscope shaft for illuminating the distal field of view.

The object of the present invention is to improve the illumination of objects to be examined at the distal end of the endoscope in endoscopes with adjustable viewing direction.

This object is achieved by an endoscope, in particular video endoscope, with adjustable viewing direction from an angle with an endoscope shaft, wherein in the interior of the endoscope shaft an optical waveguide is provided with a plurality Lichtleitfaserbündeln to direct light from a light source to the distal end of the endoscope shaft, wherein the optical fiber bundles respectively a plurality of optical fibers, in particular glass fibers, which is further developed in that a) at the distal end of the endoscope shaft, the optical fiber bundles are arranged at different illumination angles, preferably with respect to the longitudinal axis of the endoscope shaft, and wherein a first optical fiber bundle is arranged at a first illumination angle and a first numerical aperture for the optical fibers of the first optical fiber bundle and wherein a second optical fiber bundle having a second illumination angle extending from the first illumination angle f the first optical fiber bundle is different, arranged and has a second numerical aperture for the optical fibers of the second optical fiber bundle, which differs from the numerical aperture of the optical fibers of the first optical fiber bundle, and / or b) at the distal end of the endoscope shaft, a light deflecting device for deflecting light a light source by more than 60 °, in particular preferably by 90 °, is provided, wherein a Lichtleitfaserbündel is arranged with a plurality of optical fibers on the Lichtumlenkeinrichtung with its light exit side in the interior of the endoscope shaft, that light from the optical fibers of the Lichtleitfaserbündels for the Lichtumlenkeinrichtung in the Lichtumlenkeinrichtung is coupled or coupled, and wherein the numerical aperture of the optical fibers of the Lichtleitfaserbündels for the Lichtumlenkeinrichtung substantially, preferably between -20% to +20%, more preferably between -15% and +15% or between -10% and +10%, which corresponds to the numerical aperture of the light deflection device.

The invention is based on the idea that light is guided to the distal end of the endoscope inside the endoscope using a light waveguide consisting of several bundles of optical fibers, wherein a plurality of viewing directions of the endoscope, preferably simultaneously, are illuminated by means of the fiber optic bundles, so that the distal ends of the endoscope are illuminated Optical fiber bundles are arranged in different directions with formation of different illumination angles with respect to the longitudinal axis of the endoscope shaft, whereby, when light emerges from the optical fibers of the optical fiber bundles, the fields of view of the optical system of the endoscope are illuminated at the distal end.

Here, the optical fiber bundles are arranged according to the preferred viewing directions of the optical system, so that it is possible to arrange the optical fibers in different directions or at different illumination angles in an endoscope with adjustable viewing direction, so that the light is guided through the optical fibers in the different optical fiber bundles ,

In this case, in particular the optical fiber bundles or the optical fibers of the optical fiber bundles are curved at the distal end at the distal end in order to guide the light in different viewing directions or illumination directions (not equal to 0 °). The fact that the optical fiber bundles differ at different illumination angles in the numerical aperture also ensures that the environment illuminated at the distal end of the object is well illuminated.

Due to the different numerical apertures of the optical fibers of the respective optical fiber bundles in different illumination directions, coupling losses are also reduced. In this case, different fiber types of the optical fibers for different illumination directions are provided according to the invention, wherein at the distal end the optical waveguide device is divided into different viewing directions or illumination directions. It is thereby achieved that the optical fibers guiding the light of a light source are divided, wherein the optical fibers of an optical fiber bundle illuminate a predetermined area at a predetermined illumination angle, so that the optical fiber bundles illuminate different segments in different directions at the distal end and thus illuminate the fields of view of the optical Contribute systems of the endoscope in different directions.

In addition, in one configuration of the endoscope it is provided that, in the case of a lateral viewing direction by more than 60 ° or in the case of a 90 ° viewing direction at the distal end of the endoscope shaft, the fibers of an optical fiber bundle couple light into a light deflecting device, so that the device coupled into the light deflecting device Light is deflected by more than 60 °, in particular by 90 °, whereby the coupled light, for example at a viewing angle of 90 ° also this side area well illuminates. As a result, an illumination of the range of 90 ° is achieved, wherein using a "fused fiber element" (FFE) as Lichtumlenkeinrichtung a small-sized arrangement is made possible at the distal end. In particular, the numerical aperture of the optical fiber bundle for the light deflecting device or for the FFE embodied as a molten fiber element is adapted to the numerical aperture of the optical fibers of the corresponding optical fiber bundle.

For this purpose, it is provided in one embodiment that the respective numerical aperture of the optical fibers of the optical fiber bundles is different for different distal illumination angles of the optical fiber bundles. In addition, it is preferred that a fiber cone for the optical fiber bundles is provided at the proximal end, so as to couple light from a, preferably proximal, optical fiber cable into the optical fiber bundles, preferably into the optical fibers of the optical fiber bundles.

In one embodiment, it is provided that the optical fibers of the light deflection device or of the FFE are of the same type as the fibers in the optical fiber cable, by means of which light is coupled into the optical fibers of the optical fiber bundle.

In addition, it is provided in the endoscope in an advantageous embodiment, that for the optical fiber bundle for the distal Lichtumlenkeinrichtung at the proximal end of the endoscope shaft, the light of a light source of a Lichtleitkabel directly, that is without the interposition of a fiber cone or other optical element, einkoppelbar or coupled becomes.

In a further embodiment, it is provided that, using a fiber cone, it can be coupled or coupled into the optical fiber bundle for the distal light deflection device.

For this purpose, it is furthermore advantageous if the fiber cone for the optical fiber bundles comprises fused glass fibers or is made of fused glass fibers and / or that the fiber cone for the fiber optic fiber bundle for the distal light deflecting device has fused glass fibers or is made of fused glass fibers.

Preferably, the distal light deflecting means is arranged to deflect light laterally by 90 ° with respect to the longitudinal axis of the endoscope shaft. Preferably, the light deflecting device is formed as a fused fiber element (FFE).

The optical fibers of the optical fiber bundles or of the fibers of the optical fiber cable for the optical fiber bundles are glass fibers or plastic fibers which transmit light from a light source, the light being guided lossless or almost lossless as a result of total reflection at the fiber walls of the fibers. Under numerical aperture is understood in particular a measure of the opening of an optical system, such as optical fibers. The larger the numerical aperture, the brighter an object will be illuminated. The type of optical fibers or glass fibers is determined in particular by the degree of transmission as a function of the wavelength of the light and by the numerical aperture, which results from the choice of material for the core glasses and cladding glasses. In the coupling of two lighting elements, the efficiency for the coupling of the light to be transmitted increases, if the numerical apertures of the two lighting elements do not differ or only slightly.

The numerical aperture is defined, in particular, as the sine of half the aperture angle or acceptance angle of fibers, the numerical aperture NA being given by the equation NA = n × sin (α), where n is the refractive index of the medium in which the object is embedded (As a rule, air with n = 1) and α is the opening angle or the maximum opening angle of the object-side light beam or beam.

Further features of the invention will become apparent from the description of embodiments according to the invention together with the claims and the accompanying drawings. Embodiments of the invention may satisfy individual features or a combination of several features.

The invention will be described below without limiting the general inventive concept by means of embodiments with reference to the drawings, reference being expressly made to the drawings with respect to all in the text unspecified details of the invention. Show it:

1 a schematic representation of an endoscope;

2 a schematic representation of another endoscope and

3 a schematic representation of an endoscope according to a third embodiment.

In the drawings, the same or similar elements and / or parts are provided with the same reference numerals, so that apart from a new idea each.

1 schematically shows a representation of an endoscope 1 , which is designed in particular as an endoscope with a variable adjustable viewing direction. For the sake of clarity, the illustration of optical systems for detecting objects at the distal end of the endoscope has been omitted for the sake of clarity and other facilities.

The schematically illustrated endoscope 1 has an elongated endoscope shaft 2 in which the optical devices for detecting objects and for conducting signals are arranged. The endoscope 1 is with a proximal light source 3 connected to generate light outside the endoscope shaft 2 is provided. In one embodiment, the light source 3 inside the endoscope shaft 2 be arranged.

The light source 3 is arranged for generating light on the proximal side, wherein the generated light via a light guide cable 4 to a proximal fiber cone 5 to be led. The fiber optic cable 4 consists of glass fibers, the glass fibers of the fiber optic cable 4 characterized by a predetermined numerical aperture.

The fiber cone 5 ("Fiber cone") consists of fused glass fibers, wherein the fiber cone 5 tapered conically from the proximal end to the distal end. Through the fiber cone 5 The numerical aperture of a small numerical aperture on that of the light source 3 facing side to a large numerical aperture on the small side of the cone, which faces the distal end, changed.

Through the fiber cone 5 becomes the light of the light source 3 into the glass fibers from inside the endoscope shaft 2 arranged optical fiber bundles 6.1 . 6.2 . 6.3 coupled. By means of the optical fiber bundle 6.3 becomes the light in the endoscope shaft 2 in the 0 ° -view of the optical device of the endoscope. By means of the optical fiber bundles 6.1 . 6.2 the light rays are directed to other solid angles (not equal to 0 °) on the distal side. For example, by means of the optical fiber bundle 6.2 the light at an illumination angle of 30 °, relative to the longitudinal axis of the endoscope shaft 2 , guided. By means of the optical fiber bundle 6.1 For example, the light is guided at an illumination angle of 45 ° distally to illuminate the object. Thus, the fibers of the optical fiber bundles shine 6.1 . 6.2 in different directions and angles of view, whereby the viewing environment of the object to be examined is well illuminated under these (viewing) angles and when changing the viewing direction of the optical system of the endoscope 1 even these areas are easily captured.

According to the invention, it is provided that the numerical aperture of the glass fibers of the optical fiber bundle 6.1 with a larger viewing angle (eg 45 °) is greater than the numerical aperture of the glass fibers of the optical fiber bundle 6.2 with a smaller viewing angle (eg 45 °) or Illumination angle. The numerical aperture of the glass fibers of the optical fiber bundle 6.3 with an illumination direction of 0 ° for the 0 ° viewing direction is smaller than the numerical aperture of the optical fibers of the optical fiber bundles 6.1 respectively. 6.2 ,

Because the fibers of the optical fiber bundles 6.1 . 6.2 . 6.3 in the numerical aperture as a function of the illumination direction or the illumination angle (relative to the longitudinal axis of the endoscope shaft 2 ), a good and uniform illumination of the environment of the object to be examined is achieved.

In addition, in one embodiment, the light of the light source 3 over the fiber optic cable 4 and the fiber cone 5 in another optical fiber bundle 7 coupled, wherein the optical fiber bundle 7 also inside the endoscope shaft 2 is arranged. At the distal end of the endoscope shaft 2 is a fused fiber element (FFE) 8th arranged, by means of which light is deflected by 90 °, so that even with a lateral viewing direction of the optical system of 90 °, the environment is illuminated at this angle or angle of illumination.

By doing that, the molten fiber element 8th is formed hook-shaped or at a right angle at the distal end, and the coupled-in light is deflected by 90 ° to the side. The into the optical fiber bundle 7 coupled light is then in the molten fiber element 8th coupled, wherein the numerical aperture of the glass fibers of the optical fiber bundle 7 the numerical aperture of the molten fiber element 8th equivalent. In the context of the invention, it is possible that the numerical aperture of the molten fiber element 8th in a range of ± 20%, more preferably less than ± 15%, even more preferably less than ± 10%, of the numerical aperture of the optical fibers of the optical fiber bundle 7 differs.

In the 2 and 3 are other embodiments of the endoscope 1 shown schematically.

In the embodiment according to 2 becomes the light of the light source 3 via a fiber optic cable 4.1 led, whereby the light guide cable 4.1 is divided into two branches, making the light on the one hand to a fiber cone 5.1 for the optical fiber bundles 6.1 to 6.3 is guided and over the other branch of the fiber optic cable 4.1 a fiber cone 5.2 for the optical fiber bundle 7 is exposed to light. Thereby, a separate separation of the light for the 90 ° deflection of the light by means of the molten fiber element 8th from the other optical fiber bundles 6.1 to 6.3 achieved, by means of which in the viewing directions between 0 ° to the range of 90 °, preferably less than 90 °, light is guided.

In the embodiment according to 3 becomes the light of the light source 3 over the fiber optic cable 4.1 over a branch of the light cable 4.1 to a fiber cone 5.1 for the optical fiber bundles 6.1 to 6.3 guided. By means of the other branch of the fiber optic cable 4.1 the light goes directly into the fiber optic bundle 7 , ie coupled without the interposition of another optical element.

All mentioned features, including the drawings alone to be taken as well as individual features that are disclosed in combination with other features are considered alone and in combination as essential to the invention. Embodiments of the invention may be accomplished by individual features or a combination of several features. In the context of the invention, features which are identified by "particular" or "preferably" are to be understood as optional features.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

 endoscope

2

 endoscope shaft

3

 light source

4

 optical cable

4.1

 optical cable

5, 5.1, 5.2

 fiber cone

6.1, 6.2, 6.3

 optical fiber bundle

7

 optical fiber bundle

8th

 molten fiber element (FFE)

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• DE 102010028147 A1 [0004]

Claims (8)

Endoscope ( 1 ), in particular video endoscope ( 1 ), with adjustable viewing direction at a viewing angle with an endoscope shaft ( 2 ), wherein inside the endoscope shaft ( 2 ) an optical waveguide device with a plurality of optical fiber bundles ( 6.1 . 6.2 . 6.3 . 7 ) is provided to light a light source ( 3 ) to the distal end of the endoscope shaft ( 2 ), the optical fiber bundles ( 6.1 . 6.2 . 6.3 . 7 ) each have a plurality of optical fibers, in particular glass fibers, characterized in that at the distal end of the endoscope shaft ( 2 ) the optical fiber bundles ( 6.1 . 6.2 . 6.3 ) at different illumination angles, preferably with respect to the longitudinal axis of the endoscope shaft ( 2 ), and wherein a first optical fiber bundle ( 6.1 . 6.2 . 6.3 ) is arranged with a first illumination angle and a first numerical aperture for the optical fibers of the first optical fiber bundle ( 6.1 . 6.2 . 6.3 ), and wherein a second optical fiber bundle ( 6.1 . 6.2 . 6.3 ) with a second illumination angle which differs from the first illumination angle for the first optical fiber bundle (FIG. 6.1 . 6.2 . 6.3 ) is arranged, and has a second numerical aperture, which differs from the numerical aperture of the optical fibers of the first optical fiber bundle (FIG. 6.1 . 6.2 . 6.3 ), and / or that at the distal end of the endoscope shaft ( 2 ) a light deflection device ( 8th ) for redirecting light from a light source ( 3 ) is provided by more than 60 °, in particular preferably by 90 °, wherein an optical fiber bundle ( 7 ) with a plurality of optical fibers in such a way at the Lichtumlenkeinrichtung ( 8th ) is arranged with its light exit side that light from the optical fibers of the optical fiber bundle ( 7 ) for the Lichtumlenkeinrichtung ( 8th ) in the Lichtumlenkeinrichtung ( 8th ) is coupled or coupled in, and wherein the numerical aperture of the optical fibers of the optical fiber bundle ( 7 ) for the Lichtumlenkeinrichtung ( 8th ) substantially, preferably between -20% to +20%, more preferably between -15% and +15% or between -10% and +10%, the numerical aperture of the light-deflecting device ( 8th ) corresponds. Endoscope ( 1 ) according to claim 1, characterized in that for different distal illumination angles of the optical fiber bundles ( 6.1 . 6.2 . 6.3 ) the respective numerical aperture of the optical fibers of the optical fiber bundles ( 6.1 . 6.2 . 6.3 ) are different. Endoscope ( 1 ) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that at the proximal end a fiber cone ( 5 . 5.1 . 5.2 ) for the optical fiber bundles ( 6.1 . 6.2 . 6.3 ) in such a way as to transmit light from a, preferably proximal, optical fiber cable ( 4 ) in the optical fiber bundles ( 6.1 . 6.2 . 6.3 . 7 ), preferably in the optical fibers of the optical fiber bundles ( 6.1 . 6.2 . 6.3 . 7 ), to couple. Endoscope ( 1 ) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that for the optical fiber bundle ( 7 ) for the distal light deflection device ( 8th ) at the proximal end of the endoscope shaft ( 2 ) the light of a light source ( 3 ) is directly coupled or coupled by a light guide cable. Endoscope ( 1 ) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that using a fiber cone ( 5.2 ) in the optical fiber bundle ( 6.1 . 6.2 . 6.3 . 7 ) for the distal light deflection device ( 8th ) can be coupled or coupled. Endoscope ( 1 ) according to one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the fiber cone ( 5 . 5.1 . 5.2 ) for the optical fiber bundles ( 6.1 . 6.2 . 6.3 . 7 ) has fused glass fibers or is made of fused glass fibers and / or that the fiber cone ( 5 . 5.1 . 5.2 ) for the optical fiber bundle ( 6.1 . 6.2 . 6.3 . 7 ) for the distal light deflection device ( 8th ) comprises fused glass fibers or is made of fused glass fibers. Endoscope ( 1 ) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the distal light deflection device ( 8th ) is adapted to light by 90 ° with respect to the longitudinal axis of the endoscope shaft ( 2 ) to deflect laterally. Endoscope ( 1 ) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the Lichtumlenkeinrichtung ( 8th ) is formed as a fused fiber element (FFE).

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