JP2001066511A - Microscope - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To efficiently radiate illuminating light without making an illumination optical system and a light source device larger by providing a middle part with a fiber rod curved by a specified angle. SOLUTION: The illumination mechanism of a stereomicroscope is composed of an illumination optical system, a holding member holding the vicinity of the illuminating light emitting end 105a of a light guide, and the fiber rod 3 curved to be almost L-shape. The rod 3 is arranged between the holding member holding the vicinity of the emitting end 105a of the light guide and a lens barrel 4 holding the illumination optical system, and consists of one columnar optical fiber constituted by covering a core glass having a little larger diameter than the diameter of the fiber bundle 105c of the light guide 105 with clad glass. Then, the rod 3 is formed to have almost L-shape as a whole by curving only the middle part 3b in an arc state by 90 deg. while keeping both ends of the rod 3 linear.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a microscope for magnifying and forming an image of an object to be observed, and more particularly to a microscope which applies illumination light introduced from an external light source through a light guide fiber bundle to the object through an illumination lens. It relates to a microscope for irradiation.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a microscope for enlarging and forming an image of an object to be observed has been used for treating a fine tissue such as a neurosurgery operation. That is, since organs composed of fine tissues such as the brain are difficult to visually discriminate the structural tissues, such organs must be treated under a microscope.

[0003] In such a microscope, an image becomes dark due to a high magnification of the objective optical system. Therefore, an illumination optical system for illuminating an observation target is indispensable. In order to introduce illumination light into such an illumination optical system, for example, a light source device used in an endoscope system is diverted, and a base end of a light guide fiber bundle is connected to an illumination light base of the light source device. Then, the tip may be inserted into the microscope, and the illumination light from the light source device may be introduced into the illumination optical system through the light guide fiber bundle.

In this case, from the side of the microscope body,
In some cases, it is desirable to insert the tip of the light guide fiber bundle into the microscope from the side with respect to the direction parallel to the optical axis of the objective optical system or the illumination optical system. For example, an observation target (subject) by an objective optical system via an eyepiece
When the optical axis from the objective optical system to the eyepiece is laid out linearly in an optical microscope for observing an image, the light guide fiber bundle is inserted by inserting the light guide fiber bundle from the side of the microscope body. Will not interfere with the observer's face. Also, in a video microscope in which a subject image by an objective optical system is photographed by a television camera, if the optical axis is bent at a right angle by a prism, the light guide fiber bundle can be inserted from the side of the microscope main body. Since the attachment and detachment directions of the camera and the light guide fiber bundle are the same, the preparation for photographing becomes easy and the handling of the microscope becomes easy.

However, when the light guide fiber bundle is inserted from the side of the microscope main body as described above, the insertion direction of the light guide fiber bundle and the optical axis of the illumination optical system are at an angle (for example, at a right angle). Since they are relatively inclined, a deflection optical system that deflects the illumination light emitted from the light guide guide fiber bundle in a direction along the optical axis of the illumination optical system and introduces the illumination light into the illumination optical system is indispensable. As such a deflection optical system, for example, it is conceivable to use a reflecting mirror that reflects illumination light emitted from the light guide fiber bundle.

[0006]

However, in a configuration in which the light guide fiber bundle is inserted from the side of the microscope main body, if a reflecting mirror is used as a deflection optical system,
The following problems occur.

FIG. 11 is a schematic view of a configuration in which a reflecting mirror 401 is provided in front of an emission end 400a of a light guide fiber bundle 400, and illumination light is reflected in a right angle direction and enters an illumination optical system 402.

In the case shown in FIG. 11, other optical members cannot be arranged in the optical path of a predetermined distance before and after reflection by the reflecting mirror 401 in order to avoid vignetting of light. Accordingly, the illumination light path length from the exit end 400a of the light guide fiber bundle 400 to the illumination optical system 402 must be set to be long, so that the illumination light emitted from the light guide fiber bundle 400 is
By the time it reaches 02, it spreads at a constant rate determined by the aperture angle. In order to take the illumination light into the illumination optical system 402 so as not to lose the light amount corresponding to the spread of the illumination light, a method of forming a large lens group of the illumination optical system 402 that receives the illumination light is considered. As the size increases, there is a problem that the outer shapes of the illumination optical system 402 and the microscope main body increase.

Also, a reflecting mirror 401 as shown in FIG.
In a deflecting optical system using the method, in order to suppress the spread of the illumination light so as not to lose the light amount, it is conceivable to provide the opening angle of the illumination light incident on the light guide fiber bundle 400 to be small.

FIG. 12 is a schematic sectional view showing a configuration of a portion where illumination light is incident from a light source 403 having a reflector 403a to an incident end 400b of a light guide fiber bundle 400.

From the state shown in FIG. 12, the distance from the light source 403 to the light guide emission end 400b is increased as shown in FIG.
It is considered that the aperture angle of the illuminating light can be suppressed by providing a small number 04, and the loss of the light amount in the deflection optical system 402 can be reduced.

However, comparing the state of FIG. 12 with the state of FIG. 13 using the light source 403 of the same capacity and the reflector 403a of the same size, the light guide fiber 4
By separating the light source 403 from the light incident end 400b of the light source fiber 400, the aperture angle of the illumination light incident on the light guide fiber 400 can be suppressed. However, since the housing of the light source device 106 needs to be large, the light source 403 is There is a limit to large installation.

On the other hand, in order to suppress the spread of the aperture angle, as shown in FIG.
For the size of b, the reflector 404a and the light source 404
May be provided, but the light source 404 itself is reduced, so that the total amount of illumination light is reduced.

In view of the above-mentioned problems, the object of the present invention is to insert a light guide fiber connected to a light source device into a microscope main body from a direction at an angle to an optical axis of an illumination optical system. In a microscope to be introduced into the illumination optical system, it is possible to deflect the illumination light toward the illumination optical system without spreading the illumination light very much between the end of the light guide fiber bundle drawn into the microscope and the illumination optical system. It is an object of the present invention to provide a microscope having a deflecting means capable of efficiently irradiating an observation target with illumination light generated by a light source device without increasing the size of an illumination optical system and a light source device.

[0015]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides an objective optical system for forming an image of an object to be observed, and an illumination having an optical axis substantially parallel to the optical axis of the objective optical system. An optical system, a holding member for holding the vicinity of an emission end of a light guide for transmitting illumination light in a direction at a predetermined angle with respect to an optical axis of the illumination optical system, and a light guide held by the holding member The incident end is coaxially opposed to the exit end, and the exit end is arranged coaxially to the illumination optical system, and the intermediate portion is curved at the predetermined angle. And a fiber rod.

According to this structure, the light guide is held by the holding member such that the exit end thereof is oriented at a predetermined angle with respect to the optical axis of the illumination optical system.
The illumination light emitted from the emission end of the light guide held by the holding member enters the fiber rod from the incidence end of the fiber rod coaxially facing the emission end of the light guide. The illumination light that has entered the fiber rod is deflected along the curvature of the fiber rod, and is emitted from an emission end that is coaxial with the optical axis of the illumination optical system. As described above, the illumination light emitted from the emission end of the fiber rod enters the illumination optical system, the light distribution angle is adjusted by the illumination optical system, and the illumination light is emitted to the observation target.

Therefore, according to the present invention, the illumination light does not vignet between the fiber rod as the deflection member and the light guide or the illumination optical system, so that the illumination light can be made as close as possible. Become. Therefore, the spread of the illuminating light on the optical path between them is suppressed, so that it is not necessary to make the diameter of the fiber rod to the light guide and the diameter of the illumination optical system to the fiber rod so large.

That is, in the microscope according to the present invention, the light guide is inserted into the microscope main body at a predetermined angle with respect to the optical axis of the illumination optical system, and the illumination light emitted from the emission end of the light guide is deflected by the deflection member ( The illumination light emitted from the light source device can be efficiently applied to the observation target without increasing the size of the illumination optical system and the light source device, even though the configuration is such that the light is deflected by the fiber rod).

In the present invention, the light guide held by the holding member may be made of a single fiber, or may be a light guide fiber bundle formed by bundling a number of light guide fibers. In the former case, since the light guide has a relatively large diameter like the fiber rod, the holding member can directly hold the outer peripheral surface of the light guide. Since the emitting ends of the fibers are bundled by the base, the holding member can hold the outer peripheral surface of the base.

In order to facilitate attachment / detachment and axis alignment of the holding member and the light guide fiber, a specially designed guide pipe is placed near the exit end of the light guide fiber, and the guide pipe is inserted through the guide pipe. A hole may be formed in the holding member. In this case, it is desirable to provide a locking mechanism for locking the outer peripheral surface of the guide pipe in the insertion hole of the holding member. As the structure of this locking mechanism,
It may have a claw that engages with a concave portion formed on the outer peripheral surface of the guide pipe, or may have a projecting member such as a ball plunger that engages in an annular groove formed on the outer peripheral surface of the guide pipe. It may be. With this configuration, the position of the light guide fiber when the guide pipe is fixed by the locking mechanism is the position positioned with respect to the fiber rod, so that the operator can adjust the position of the light guide fiber. You do not need to do anything. In particular, in the case of a structure using an annular groove, it is not necessary to adjust the rotational position of the light guide fiber, so that the attachment / detachment operation becomes easier.

Since the minimum requirement is that the fiber rod be a single fiber having a core and a clad, it may be a glass fiber or a resin fiber. This fiber rod is held by some kind of holding mechanism in the microscope, but its emission end is
It must be coaxial with the illumination optics.
As a configuration for this, a configuration is conceivable in which a small-diameter portion into which the emission end of the fiber rod is inserted is coaxially provided at the end of the lens barrel that holds the illumination optical system.

[0022]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

In the embodiments described below, the microscope of the present invention uses an objective optical system in which a pair of right and left zoom lenses is combined with a commonly used close-up lens group to video-photograph an observation object as a stereoscopic image. It is implemented as a video stereo microscope. Such a video stereo microscope (hereinafter simply referred to as “stereo microscope”)
Is used, for example, by being incorporated into an operation support system used in neurosurgery. This surgical support system combines a stereoscopic image (stereo image) obtained by video-taking a patient's tissue with a stereoscopic microscope with a CG (computer graphics) image created based on data of an affected part obtained in advance. Then, it is displayed on a stereoscopic viewer dedicated to the main engineer or a monitor for other staff, etc.
This is a system for recording on a recording device.

<Overall Configuration of Surgery Support System> FIG.
It is a system configuration diagram showing an outline of this surgery support system. As shown in FIG. 1, the surgery support system
A stereo microscope 101 and a high-vision CCD camera 10 attached near the upper end of the back of the stereo microscope 101
2, a microscope position measuring device 103 also mounted near the lower end, a counterweight 104 mounted on the upper surface of the stereoscopic microscope 101, a light guide 105 drawn from the back of the stereoscopic microscope 101 to the inside, A light source device 106 for introducing illumination light to the stereoscopic microscope 101 through the guide 105; a surgical planning computer 108 having a disk device 107; a real-time CG creating device 109 connected to the microscope position measuring device 103 and the surgical planning computer 108; An image synthesizing device 110 connected to the real-time CG creating device 109 and the high-vision CCD camera 102; a distributor 111 connected to the image synthesizing device 110; a recording device 115 connected to the distributor 111; And stereoscopic viewer 1 Etc. and a 3 are constituted.

The above-mentioned disk device 107 has a patient P
Images (CT scan images, MRI images, SPEC) obtained by previously imaging the affected area with various imaging devices
T images, angiographic images, etc.)
Three-dimensional data of the affected area and surrounding tissues created in advance based on these various images are stored. Note that this 3
The three-dimensional data is defined on the three-dimensional local coordinates defined using a reference point (marking or the like) set at a specific part of the patient's outer skin or internal tissue as the origin.
The data specifies the size and position in a vector format or a map format.

The above-mentioned stereo microscope 101 is detachably fixed to the tip of the free arm 100a of the first stand 100 via a mount 100b attached to the back surface. Therefore, this stereo microscope 101
It is free to move within a radius that the free arm 100a of the first stand 100 can reach, and can be oriented in any direction. However, here, for convenience, the direction of the observation target object with respect to the stereo microscope 101 is defined as “down”, and the opposite direction is defined as “up”. Further, among the four side surfaces of the casing of the stereoscopic microscope 101 having a substantially cubic shape, the high-vision CCD camera 1
02 and the side on which the light guide 105 is inserted while the mount 100b is attached,
, And the side surface opposite to the “back” is referred to as “front”.

The optical configuration inside the stereo microscope 101 will be described in detail later.
As shown in FIG. 2, the observation target includes a large-diameter close-up optical system 210 having a single optical axis and a pair of right and left that converge light transmitted through different portions of the close-up optical system 210. Zoom optical system 220, 2
The left and right field stops 2 are formed by an objective optical system comprising
Primary images are formed at the positions 70 and 271 respectively.
These left and right primary images are formed by a pair of left and right relay optical systems 24.
0, 250, is introduced into the high-definition CCD camera 102, and has left and right imaging areas (vertical and horizontal aspect ratios: 9:16) on the CCD 116 having an imaging surface of a high-definition size (vertical and horizontal aspect ratio = 9: 16). 8), each is re-imaged as a secondary image.

With such an imaging optical system 200, CC
The images formed in the left and right imaging regions on the imaging surface of D116 are equivalent to stereo images in which images respectively taken from two places separated by a predetermined base line length are arranged on the left and right. The output signal of the CCD 116 is generated as a Hi-Vision signal by the image processor 117 and output from the Hi-Vision CCD camera 102 to the image synthesizing device 110 as shown in FIG.

The stereoscopic microscope 101 has a built-in illumination optical system 300 (see FIG. 5) for illuminating the observation object existing near the focal point of the close-up optical system 210. Then, illumination light is introduced into the illumination optical system 300 from the light source device 106 via the light guide 105.

As shown in FIG. 1, the microscope position measuring device 103 attached to the stereoscopic microscope 101 determines the distance to the observation object existing on the optical axis of the close-up optical system 210 and the position of the close-up optical system 210. The three-dimensional direction of the optical axis and the position of the reference point are measured, and the position of the observation target in the local coordinates is calculated based on the measured information. Then, the microscope position measuring device 10
3 notifies the real-time CG creation device 109 of the information on the direction of the optical axis and the position of the observation target.

This real-time CG creation device 109
Information on the direction of the optical axis and the position of the observation target notified from the microscope position measuring device 103 and the computer 1 for the operation plan
08 based on the three-dimensional data downloaded from
A CG image (for example, a wire frame image) equivalent to stereoscopically viewing the affected part (for example, a tumor) from the direction of the optical axis is generated in real time. This CG image is obtained from the stereo microscope 1
01 is generated as a stereoscopic image (stereo image) with the same base line length and the same subject distance as the optical system in 01. Then, the real-time CG creation device 109 inputs a CG image signal indicating the CG image generated in this way to the image synthesis device 110 as needed.

The image synthesizing device 110 converts the Hi-Vision signal of the actual observation object input from the Hi-Vision CCD camera 102 into a real-time CG generating device 109.
Is superimposed by adjusting the scale of the CG image signal obtained from. In the image indicated by the high-definition signal in which the CG image signal is superimposed, the shape of the affected part,
The size and position are shown as a CG image such as a wire frame. The superimposed Hi-Vision signal is distributed by a distributor 111 to a stereoscopic viewer 113 for the operator D, a monitor 114 for other surgical staff or an advisor at a remote location, and a recording device 11.
5 and are supplied respectively.

The stereoscopic viewer 113 is connected to the second stand 1
Twelve free arms 112a are attached by hanging from the tips. Therefore, it is possible to arrange the stereoscopic viewer 113 according to a posture in which the main operator D can easily perform the treatment. FIG. 3 shows a schematic configuration of the stereoscopic viewer 113. As shown in FIG. 3, the stereoscopic viewer 113 includes a high-definition LCD panel 12.
0 is built in as a monitor. This LCD panel 1
When an image based on a high-definition signal from the distributor is displayed on the LCD 20, an image captured in the left imaging area of the CCD 116 is displayed on the left half 120b of the LCD panel 120, as shown in the plan view of FIG. LCD
On the right half 120a of the panel 120, an image photographed in the right photographing area of the CCD 116 is displayed. The boundary 120c between these left and right images shifts or tilts depending on the position of the field stops 270 and 271 described later. The optical path in the stereoscopic viewer 113 is the boundary line 1 when the field stops 270 and 271 are accurately adjusted.
It is divided into right and left by a partition 121 installed perpendicularly to 20c. On both sides of the partition 121, the wedge prism 119 is arranged in order from the LCD panel 120 side.
And an eyepiece 118 are arranged. The eyepiece 118 is a lens that enlarges and forms a virtual image of an image displayed on the LCD panel 120 at a position about 1 m (-1 diopter) in front of the observation eye I. The wedge prism 119 corrects the traveling direction of light so that the angle of convergence of the observation eye I is equal to the angle at which an object existing 1 m ahead is observed, thereby enabling natural stereoscopic observation.

In an image stereoscopically viewed by the stereoscopic viewer 113 or an image displayed on the monitor 114, as described above, a tumor detected based on images previously photographed by various photographing devices is used. A CG such as a wire frame indicating the shape, size, and position of the affected part such as is superimposed. Therefore, the main operator D or other surgical staff observing these,
An affected part that is difficult to identify in an actual video can be easily identified. As a result, accurate and prompt treatment can be performed.

<Structure of Stereo Microscope> Next, a specific structure of the above-described stereo microscope 101 (including the high-vision CCD camera 102) will be described in detail.

FIG. 5 is a perspective perspective view showing the entire configuration of the microscope optical system, FIG. 6 is a side perspective view, FIG. 7 is a front perspective view, and FIG. 8 is a plan perspective view.

The stereoscopic microscope 101 includes an imaging optical system 200 for electronically capturing an image of an observation object, and a light guide 1.
The illumination optical system 300 for illuminating the observation target with the illumination light guided from the light source device 106 by the light source device 05 is built therein.

[Optical Configuration of Imaging Optical System] Imaging Optical System 20
Reference numeral 0 denotes an objective optical system 280 including one close-up optical system 210 and a pair of left and right zoom optical systems 220 and 230 that are shared by the left and right as described above.
A pair of left and right relay optical systems 240 and 250 for relaying a primary image of the observation target formed by the objective optical system 280 to form a secondary image of the observation target, and these relay optical systems 240 and 250 And a convergence approaching prism 260 for bringing the observation object light from the camera closer to each other.

Further, field stops 270 and 271 are arranged at positions where the primary images are formed by the zoom optical systems 220 and 230, respectively. A pentaprism 272 and a relay optical systems 240 and 250 deflect the optical path at right angles. 273 are respectively arranged.

The optical axes Ax2 and Ax3 of the pair of left and right zoom optical systems 220 and 230 that constitute the objective optical system 280 and the optical axis Ax4 of the illumination optical system 300 described later correspond to the stereo microscope 1
01 is provided in parallel with the longitudinal direction of the casing. Also, each of the pentaprisms 272, 2
Each of the relay optical systems 240 and 250 that are coaxial via 73
Is directed in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the casing of the stereoscopic microscope 101. The optical axes of the two relay optical systems 240 and 250 are shifted in parallel in a direction approaching each other by a convergence approaching prism 260 disposed immediately before the CCD camera 102, so that the inside of the CCD 102 camera (left and right on the imaging surface of the CCD 116). (The center of the imaging area).

With such a configuration, the CCD camera 10
In the left and right imaging areas on the CCD 116 arranged in
It is possible to form left and right observation target object images having a predetermined parallax. In the description of the optical system, “left and right” is C
When projected onto the CD 116, the direction coincides with the longitudinal direction of the imaging surface, and “up / down” refers to the direction orthogonal to the left / right direction on the CCD 116. Hereinafter, the configuration of each optical system will be described in order.

As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, the close-up optical system 210 is configured by arranging a negative first lens 211 and a positive second lens 212 in order from the object side. The second lens 212 is movable in the optical axis direction,
The focus can be adjusted for observation objects at different distances by the movement adjustment.

That is, the close-up optical system 210
Has a collimating function that is adjusted so that the observation target is located at the focal position, and converts divergent light from the observation target into substantially parallel light.

The first lens 211 and the second lens 212 of the close-up optical system 210 have a shape (D-cut shape) in which a part of the edge is cut out along a plane parallel to the optical axis. The close-up optical system 210 is adjacent to the planar cutout surface generated by the cutout.
With its optical axis parallel to the optical axis of
00 is arranged.

The pair of zoom optical systems 220 and 230 form the observation object light from the close-up optical system 210 at infinity at the positions of the field stops 270 and 271, respectively.

As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, one zoom optical system 220 has first, positive, negative, negative, and positive powers in order from the close-up optical system 210 side.
To the fourth lens group 221, 222, 223, 224. Further, the zoom optical system performs zooming by moving the second lens 222 and the third lens 223 in the optical axis direction while the first lens group 221 and the fourth lens group 224 are fixed. At this time, the second
The magnification is changed by moving the lens 222, and the focal position is kept constant by moving the third lens 223.

The other zoom optical system 230 has the same configuration as the above-described zoom optical system 220, and includes first to fourth lens groups 231, 232, 233, and 234. These zoom optical systems 220 and 230 are linked by a drive mechanism (not shown), and can simultaneously change the photographing magnification of the left and right images.

The optical axis Ax of the zoom optical systems 220 and 230
2, Ax3 is the optical axis Ax of the close-up optical system 210
1 and parallel to the zoom optical system 220, 2
As shown in FIG. 6, a plane including both the optical axes Ax2 and Ax3 is parallel to this plane and includes the optical axis of the close-up optical system 210, as shown in FIG.
Just away.

The diameter of the close-up optical system 210 is set to be larger than the diameter of a circle containing the maximum effective diameter of the zoom optical systems 220 and 230 and the maximum effective diameter of the illumination optical system 300. As described above, the zoom optical systems 220 and 2
The 30 optical axes Ax2 and Ax3 are close-up optical systems 21
By setting the optical axis Ax1 at a position more distant from the notch than the optical axis Ax1, the illumination optical system 300 can also be accommodated within the diameter occupied by the close-up optical system, and the whole can be made compact.

The field stops 270 and 271 are arranged at the positions of the primary images formed by the zoom optical systems 220 and 230. As shown in FIG. 5, the field stops 270 and 271 have a circular outer shape, and have substantially semicircular openings on the inside in the left and right directions. Each field stop 270, 271
Are arranged such that the straight edge of the opening coincides with the direction corresponding to the boundary between the left and right images on the CCD 116, and are arranged so as to transmit only the luminous flux inside it (FIG. 2). , Apertures inside the field stops 270 and 271 are shown in white.)

As described above, the microscope 1 according to the embodiment of the present embodiment
In No. 01, since the left and right secondary images are formed in adjacent regions on a single CCD 116, it is necessary to clarify the boundary between the left and right images on the CCD 116 and prevent the images from overlapping. For this reason, the microscope 101 has a field stop 2 at the position of the primary image.
70 and 271 are arranged. By making the straight edge of the substantially semicircular aperture function as a so-called knife edge and transmitting only the light beam inside the knife edge, the boundary between the left and right images on the CCD 116 can be clarified.

The primary images formed on the field stops 270 and 271 are re-imaged by the relay optical systems 240 and 250 to become secondary images, and the primary image and the secondary image are inverted vertically and horizontally. . Therefore, the knife edge that defines the outside in the left-right direction at the position of the primary image defines the inside in the left-right direction at the position of the secondary image, that is, the boundary between the left and right images.

The relay optical systems 240 and 250 have the function of re-forming the primary image formed by the zoom optical systems 220 and 230 as described above, and each of them has three positive lens groups 241, 242, 243 and Three positive lens groups 25
1, 252 and 253.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, one relay optical system 240 includes a first lens 241 composed of a single positive meniscus lens and a second lens 242 having a positive power as a whole. , A third lens 243 composed of a single biconvex lens. Among them, the first lens 241 and the second lens 242 have their entire object-side focal points coincident with the image plane of the primary image formed by the zoom optical system 220 (the same plane as the field stop 271). Further, the third lens 243 causes the parallel light emitted from the second lens 242 to converge on the imaging surface of the CCD 116. A pentaprism 272 that deflects the optical path at right angles is provided between the first lens 241 and the second lens 242.
Is disposed, and a brightness stop 244 for adjusting the amount of light is provided between the second lens 242 and the third lens 243.

The other relay optical system 250 has the same configuration as the above-mentioned relay optical system 240, and includes first, second, and third lenses 251, 252, and 253, and includes a first lens 251 and a second lens 252. The pentaprism 273 is disposed between the second lens 252 and the third lens 25.
3, a brightness stop 254 is provided.

The divergent light that has passed through the field stops 270 and 271 passes through the first lenses 241 and 251 of the relay optical system and the second
After being converted into almost parallel light again by the lenses 242 and 252 and passing through the aperture stop 244 and 254, the image is formed again by the third lens 243 and 253 to form a secondary image.

By disposing the pentaprisms 272, 273 in the relay optical systems 240, 250, the optical axes of the zoom optical systems 220, 230 and the relay optical systems 240, 25
It can be provided by bending the zero optical axis. Thus, the entire length of the imaging optical system 200 along the optical axis direction of the close-up optical system 210, that is, the close-up optical system 2
An imaging optical system 2 including 10 optical axes, optical axes of zoom optical systems 220 and 230, and optical axes of relay optical systems 240 and 250.
00 can be shortened.

In order to obtain a stereoscopic effect by stereoscopic vision, a predetermined base line length is required between the left and right zoom optical systems 220 and 230 and the relay optical systems 240 and 250.
On the other hand, in order to form a secondary image in an adjacent area on the CCD 116, the distance between the optical axes needs to be smaller than the base length. Therefore, the convergence shifting prism 260 shifts the optical axes of the relay optical systems 240 and 250 to the inside, respectively, so that a predetermined base line length is secured and the same CCD 1 is used.
16 is possible. Relay optical system 24
0, 250 and the CCD camera 102, the convergence approaching prism 260
It has a function of narrowing the interval between the left and right of the observation object light from 0,250.

The converging prism 260 is shown in FIGS.
As shown in the figure, the optical axis shift prisms 261 and 262 of a pentagonal prism are arranged to face each other with a gap of about 0.1 mm.

As shown in FIG. 8, the optical axis shift prisms 261 and 262 have an entrance end face and an exit end face parallel to each other, and have a first reflection face and a second reflection face parallel to each other inside and outside. It has. In addition, these optical axis shift prisms 261 and 262 have an incident end face, an exit end face,
When a plane perpendicular to the first reflecting surface and the second reflecting surface is viewed in a plane (see FIG. 8), one of the acute apex angles of the parallelogram is represented by:
It is a pentagonal shape formed by cutting out a line perpendicular to the emission end face.

The object light to be observed from the relay optical systems 240 and 250 enters from the incident end faces of the optical axis shift prisms 261 and 262, is reflected by the outer first reflecting surface, and is directed inward in the left-right direction. Is reflected again by the inner second reflection surface in the same optical axis direction as that at the time of incidence, exits from the exit end face, and
The light enters the CD camera 102. As a result, the left and right observation object lights are narrowed only in the left and right intervals without changing their traveling directions, and form a secondary image on the same imaging surface of the CCD 116.

[Illumination Mechanism] Next, the configuration of an illumination mechanism including the above-described light guide 105 and illumination optical system 300 will be described.

FIG. 9 shows the imaging optical system 200, the illumination optical system 300 and the CC along the plane including the optical axis Ax1 of the close-up optical system 210 and the optical axis Ax4 of the illumination optical system 300.
FIG. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view of a stereoscopic microscope 101 including a D camera 102 and a tip of a light guide 105. FIG. 10 is an optical configuration diagram showing a light guide fiber bundle 105c, a fiber rod 3, and an illumination optical system 300.

The illumination mechanism of the stereomicroscope 101 comprises an illumination optical system 300, a holding member 1 for holding the vicinity of the emission end 105 a of the illumination light of the light guide 105, and a fiber rod 3 curved in an approximately L shape. Is composed.

The illumination optical system 300 includes an illumination lens group 310 for adjusting the degree of divergence of the illumination light, and a wedge prism 320 for matching the illumination range of the illumination light with the photographing range of the illumination optical system 200. Be composed. The illumination lens group 310 includes a first lens 311 having a positive power and a second lens 31 having a positive power.
2 and a third lens 313 having negative power.

The illumination lens group 310 includes the first lens 3
11 and the second lens 312 and the third lens 313 are each configured to be adjustable in the optical axis direction. In order to enable the adjustment, the lenses 311, 312, and 313 constituting the illumination lens group 310 are held in the lens barrel 4. The lens barrel 4 includes a first lens 311 and a second lens 3
A first lens frame 41 for directly holding the second lens 12 and a third lens 3
The first lens frame 41 and the second lens frame 42, and a fixed barrel 43 and a cam barrel 44 that are sequentially fitted to the outside of the first lens frame 41 and the second lens frame 42.
The fixed cylinder 43 has a cylindrical shape, and is fixed to the casing of the stereoscopic microscope 101 so as to be immovable and non-rotatable by a stay (not shown). Outside the fixed cylinder 43, a cylindrical cam cylinder 44 having a slightly larger diameter than the fixed cylinder 43 is provided.
However, it is fitted so that it can rotate only with respect to the fixed cylinder 43. The fixed barrel 43 is formed with a slit-shaped guide groove parallel to the optical axis of the illumination lens group 310, and the cam barrel 44 is formed with a spiral cam groove, and the first and second lenses are formed. Drive pins are provided on the outer peripheral surfaces of the frames 41 and 42 so as to pass through the intersections of the guide grooves and the cam grooves. Note that a wedge prism 320 is fixed to the lower end of the fixed cylinder 43.

With the above configuration, when the cam cylinder 44 rotates with respect to the fixed cylinder 43, their intersection moves in the thrust direction at a constant moving speed according to the inclination (lead angle) of the cam groove with respect to the guide groove. By doing so, the first and second lens frames 41 and 42 move in the thrust direction with respect to the fixed cylinder 43. As a result, the light distribution angle of the illumination light by the illumination lens group 310 changes, and the irradiation range is adjusted according to the zooming by the zoom optical systems 220 and 230.

Note that the upper end of the fixed barrel 43 in the lens barrel 4 extends above the cam barrel 44, and its opening edge is narrowed into a circular hole coaxial with the optical axis of the illumination lens group 310. The inner flange 4a is formed, and its end face is in a plane shape orthogonal to the optical axis of the illumination lens group 310.

The holding member 1 has a function of holding the vicinity of the light emitting end 105a of the light guide 105. As shown in FIG. 9, the stereoscopic microscope is provided above the upper end of the lens barrel 4 (fixed cylinder 43). The casing 101 is fixed through the casing.

The holding member 1 has a substantially cylindrical shape formed by integrally connecting a flange 1c, a large-diameter portion 1a, and a small-diameter portion 1b from the outside of the casing 101. The entire length of the small diameter portion 1b is about twice as large as the entire length of the large diameter portion 1a. Also, a flange 1c is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the large diameter portion 1a.
A fixing ring 11 having substantially the same outer diameter as that of the fixing ring 11 is screwed. By holding the casing of the stereo microscope 101 between the fixing ring 11 and the flange 1c, the holding member 1
It is fixed to the casing. Inside the holding member 1, an emission end 105 of the light guide 105 is provided.
An insertion hole 1e, which is inserted in the vicinity of a and into which a later-described guide pipe 2 is inserted, is formed coaxially with its central axis. A ball plunger 12 is provided between the large-diameter portion 1a of the holding member 1 and the fixing ring 11 along the direction perpendicular to the central axis of the insertion hole 1e from the outer peripheral surface of the fixing ring 11 to the through hole 1a.
It is fixed in a state penetrating toward e. In such a fixed state, the ball plunger 12
The ball disposed at the tip of the hole slightly protrudes into the insertion hole 1e. The central axis of the holding member 1 configured as described above is oriented in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis direction of the illumination optical system 300 in a state where the holding member 1 is fixed to the casing of the stereoscopic microscope 101.

By the way, the above-described light guide 105
Has a structure in which a fiber bundle 105c in which both ends of a large number of optical fibers are bundled is covered with a silicon tube. And near the emission end 105a,
A base 105b for fixing the silicon tube to the fiber bundle 105c is inserted so as to be cut into the surface of the silicon tube. Further, the light guide 105 has a substantially cylindrical metal guide pipe 2 so as to cover the base 105b and the emission end 105a.
Is filled. The inner diameter of the guide pipe 2 is substantially the same as the outer diameter of the base 105b, and the outer diameter is slightly smaller than the through hole 1e of the holding member 1. Therefore, the guide pipe 2 can be inserted into and removed from the through hole 1 e of the holding member 1.

However, an annular outer flange 2a is formed so as to protrude from the distal end side of the guide pipe 2 (the right end in FIG. 9) at a distance substantially equal to the entire length of the holding member 1. Therefore, the front end surface of the outer flange 2a abuts on the outer end surface of the holding member 1, and thus the guide pipe 2 (accordingly, the emission end 105 of the light guide 105).
The positioning of a) is performed.

On the outer surface of the guide pipe 2, an annular groove 2b having a V-shaped cross section is formed over the entire circumference at a position where the tip (ball) of the ball plunger 12 comes into contact with the guide pipe 2 positioned as described above. Have been. Therefore,
When the guide pipe 2 is positioned with respect to the holding member 1 by the outer flange 2a abutting on the outer end surface of the holding member 1, the ball of the ball plunger 12 is moved into the annular groove 2b.
, The guide pipe 2 is fixed at that position. When the operator pulls the guide pipe 2 strongly from this state, the ball is pushed back against the force of the spring of the ball plunger 12 pressing down the ball, so that the ball comes off from the annular groove 2b and the guide pipe 2
(Therefore, the light guide 105) is pulled out of the holding member 1.

The fiber rod 3 is connected to the light guide 1
05 is disposed between the holding member 1 holding the vicinity of the emission end 105a and the lens barrel 4 holding the illumination optical system 300. The fiber rod 3 is composed of a single columnar optical fiber in which a core glass having a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the fiber bundle 105c of the light guide 105 is covered with cladding glass. And the fiber rod 3
Only the middle portion 3b is formed in an arc shape with both ends being straight.
It is formed so as to be curved by 0 degrees and to have a substantially L-shape as a whole. However, the length of the linear portion on the incident end 3a side is small, and the length of the linear portion on the exit end 3c side occupies half or more of the entire length of the fiber rod 3.

A collar 5 is fitted and fixed to a linear portion of the fiber rod 3 on the exit end 3c side. The collar 5 has a cylindrical shape having substantially the same inner diameter as the outer diameter of the fiber rod 3, and the outer diameter on the emission end side is substantially the same as the inner diameter of the inner flange 4 a of the lens barrel 4. I have. Therefore, this collar 5 is placed inside the inner flange 4 a of the lens barrel 4 together with the exit end of the fiber rod 3.
It can be inserted without play. When the collar 5 is thus inserted into the inner flange 4a, the axis of the fiber rod 3 is coaxial with the optical axis of the illumination lens group 310.

Further, an outer flange 5a is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the collar 5 so as to project on the end surface of the lens barrel 4 when the exit end 3c of the fiber rod 3 approaches the illumination lens group 310 to a predetermined distance. Have been. Therefore, the collar 5 is positioned with respect to the lens barrel 4 when the outer flange 5a contacts the end face of the lens barrel 4, whereby the fiber rod 3 is fixed to the upper end of the lens barrel 4.

The incident end 3a of the fiber rod 3
Position of the fiber rod 3 as described above
Are adjusted in advance so that they are coaxial and parallel to the emission end 105a of the light guide 105 held by the holding member 1 when the light guide 105 is fixed to the light guide 105. That is, as shown in FIG. 10, the incident end 3a of the fiber rod 3 is arranged with a slight gap 6 between it and the exit end 105a of the light guide 105. However, the input end 3a of the fiber rod 3 is connected to the output end 10 of the light guide 105.
It may be arranged in contact with 5a. The incidence end 3a of the fiber rod 3 and the emission end 105 of the light guide 105
In the case where a slight gap 6 is formed between the light emitting end 105a and the light emitting end 105a of the fiber rod 3, the illumination light is emitted from the emitting end 105a so as to spread at a predetermined opening angle. Must be arranged in a position range where the diameter of the illumination light is equal to or smaller than the core diameter.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 10, illumination light emitted from the emission end 3c of the fiber rod 3 toward the first lens 311 of the illumination lens group 310 also flows from the emission end 3c according to a predetermined opening angle, as shown in FIG. However, there is nothing blocking the illumination light between the exit end 3 c of the fiber lot 3 and the first lens 311, so that the exit end 3 a is as close as possible to the first lens 311. Let the first lens 31
It is possible to reduce the diameter of the illumination light within 1. As a result, by disposing the exit end 3c and the first lens 311 close to each other, the illumination lens group 310 does not need to be formed large.

By the way, the light emitting end 105 a of the light guide 105 is connected to the guide pipe 2 by the ball plunger 12.
By locking the annular groove 2d, even if it is pulled out with a weak force, it does not come off easily, and if it is pulled out strongly, it can be removed. That is, the guide pipe 2 attached to the light guide 105 has a function of a connector detachable from the holding member 1. Further, the holding member 1 and the guide pipe 2 maintain the incident end 105a even when the step of repeatedly attaching and detaching the guide pipe 2 to and from the holding member 1 is repeated.
When the optical fiber is inserted into the holding member 1 and attached, the axis near the emission end 105a is always oriented constantly in the direction facing the optical axis of the incident end 3a of the fiber rod 3.

With the above configuration, the illumination light supplied from the light guide 105 is incident on the incident end 3a of the fiber rod 3 from its exit end 105a with almost no loss of light quantity, and Deflected by
From the exit end 3a to the first lens 31 of the illumination optical system 300
Injected toward 1. The illumination light incident on the illumination optical system 300 has its light distribution angle adjusted by the illumination lens group 310, passes through the wedge prism 320, and irradiates the observation target.

Here, the optical axis Ax4 of the illumination lens group 310
Is a close-up optical system 21 as shown in FIG.
Since the optical axis Ax1 of 0 is offset in parallel by a predetermined amount Δ, the center of the illumination range does not coincide with the center of the photographing range, and the amount of illumination light is wasted. Therefore, the wedge prism 320 in the illumination optical system 300 is provided with the illumination optical system 3 so as to intersect the optical axis Ax1 of the close-up optical system 210 near the object-side focal position of the objective optical system 280.
A wedge angle of tilting the optical axis Ax4 of 00 is given. Thus, the mismatch between the illumination range and the photographing range is resolved, and the illumination light amount is effectively used.

<Operation of Embodiment> As described above, the stereoscopic microscope 101 according to the embodiment of the present embodiment has the exit end 105 a of the light guide fiber bundle 105 and the illumination optical system 3.
In the vicinity of each of the input end surfaces of the light guide 10 and the light guide 10, the optical rod 3 is bent at a predetermined angle (90 degrees in the present embodiment).
5 and the optical axis of the illumination optical system 300, the direction in which the light guide fiber bundle 105 is drawn into the stereoscopic microscope 101 and the optical axis of the illumination optical system 300 are different from each other. Even in a microscope that is shifted at a certain angle, the illumination light to be introduced into the illumination optical system 300 can be reliably deflected and supplied to the illumination optical system 300 without significantly reducing the light amount.

Therefore, according to the configuration of the stereoscopic microscope according to the embodiment of the present invention, compared to the configuration using a reflecting member such as a mirror or a prism, the loss due to the spread of the illumination light is almost eliminated, and the illumination optical system is not required. It is not necessary to increase the size, and it is possible to efficiently irradiate the illumination light generated by the external light source to the observation target.

Various circuits in the stereo microscope 101 (for example, a circuit for adjusting the focus of the close-up optical system 210, a circuit for performing zooming of the zoom optical systems 220 and 230, and the zooming of the illumination lens group 310) For supplying a control signal and driving power to the guide pipe 2, and on the back of the stereoscopic microscope 101, A female connector that conducts to a circuit and is connected to the male connector may be provided adjacent to the holding member 1. Thereby, the cable, the lead wire, and the light guide can be easily attached to and detached from the stereoscopic microscope 101, and the preparation, setup, handling, and the like of the microscope are facilitated.

[0085]

As described above, according to the microscope of the present invention, the light guide fiber is inserted into the main body of the microscope from a direction at an angle to the optical axis of the illumination optical system and introduced into the illumination optical system. Although it is a microscope that does not require a large light source device or an illumination optical system, the illumination light introduced from the light guide can be supplied to the illumination optical system after being deflected at the above angle without much loss. Thereby, the illumination light generated by the light source device can be efficiently radiated to the observation target.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of a surgery support system incorporating a video stereo microscope according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an optical configuration diagram schematically showing an optical configuration in a video stereo microscope.

FIG. 3 is an optical configuration diagram schematically showing an optical configuration of a video stereoscopic viewer.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of an LCD panel.

FIG. 5 is a perspective perspective view showing the entire configuration of a microscope optical system.

FIG. 6 is a side perspective view showing the entire configuration of the microscope optical system.

FIG. 7 is a front perspective view showing the entire configuration of the microscope optical system.

FIG. 8 is a perspective plan view showing the entire configuration of the microscope optical system.

FIG. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view of a stereo microscope along a plane including the optical axis Ax1 and the optical axis Ax4.

FIG. 10 is an optical configuration diagram of a light guide, a fiber rod, and an illumination optical system.

FIG. 11 is an optical configuration diagram when a reflecting mirror is used as a deflecting member.

FIG. 12 is a schematic sectional view of a light source device.

FIG. 13 is a schematic sectional view of a light source device in which a distance from a light source to a light guide is long.

FIG. 14 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a light source device having a small light source.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 holding member 1d ball plunger 1e insertion hole 2 guide pipe 2b annular groove 3 fiber rod 3a entrance end 3b emission end 3c middle part 4 lens barrel 5 collar 5a outer flange 6 gap 101 stereo microscope 105 light guide 105a emission end 200 imaging optics System 280 Objective optical system 300 Illumination optical system 310 Illumination lens group

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2H037 AA02 BA07 BA35 CA21 2H052 AA13 AB05 AB19 AB21 AB23 AC04 AC22 AC26 AC28 AD04 AF14 AF21 AF22 AF23 AF25

Claims (8)

[Claims] An objective optical system for forming an image of an object to be observed, an illumination optical system having an optical axis substantially parallel to the optical axis of the objective optical system, A holding member that holds the light guide in a direction that forms a predetermined angle with respect to the optical axis of the illumination optical system; Placed,
A microscope comprising: an illumination optical system, an emission end of which is coaxially opposed to the illumination optical system; and a fiber rod having an intermediate portion curved at the predetermined angle. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said holding member has an insertion hole, and holds a substantially cylindrical guide pipe inserted through the vicinity of an emission end of said light guide in a state of being inserted through said insertion hole. Item 7. The microscope according to Item 1. 3. The microscope according to claim 2, wherein the holding member includes a locking mechanism for locking an outer peripheral surface of the guide pipe inserted into the insertion hole. 4. The locking mechanism includes a ball plunger embedded and fixed in the holding member with its tip protruding into the insertion hole, and the tip is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the guide pipe. The microscope according to claim 3, wherein the microscope engages in the formed annular groove. 5. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a lens barrel for holding said illumination optical system and for fixing an emission end of said fiber rod at the upper end thereof coaxially with said illumination optical system. The microscope according to any one of the above. 6. The microscope according to claim 1, wherein the holding member holds the light guide at an exit end of the light guide in a state where the exit end comes into contact with an entrance end of the fiber rod. 7. The microscope according to claim 1, wherein a core diameter of the fiber rod is larger than a diameter of a light guide that can be held by the holding member. 8. The microscope according to claim 1, wherein the light guide is a light guide fiber bundle composed of a number of optical fibers.