JP2005152367A - Special light observation system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a special light observation system capable of observing a fluorescent part and a background part in appropriate colors and brightness at the time of fluorescent observation. <P>SOLUTION: The special light observation system comprises: a light source device 1 with a special light transmission filter 13 in which transmissivity capable of emitting the exciting light of a wavelength range for exciting a fluorescent substance by a prescribed peak value is provided, the transmissivity capable of emitting the background light of a prescribed wide band wavelength by a value of a prescribed level lower than the peak value in the wavelength band other than the peak value is provided and the high cutoff value of the wide band wavelength is set to a prescribed wavelength value or less on a short wavelength side from the peak value of a fluorescent wavelength emitted by the fluorescent substance; and a scope 3 with a cutoff filter 36 capable of transmitting the light of the wavelength range of a longer wavelength than the prescribed cutoff value and provided with a cutoff value set to be the prescribed wavelength value or more on the long wavelength side from the peak value of the exciting light. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

    The present invention enables fluorescent observation by administering a fluorescent substance to an object to be inspected and irradiating the object to be inspected with excitation light, and the fluorescent part and the background part have appropriate brightness at the time of the fluorescent observation. The present invention relates to a special light observation system that enables observation by color.

This type of special light observation system is known as an apparatus that enables fluorescence observation by administering a fluorescent substance to a test object and irradiating the test object with excitation light. An optical dynamic diagnostic apparatus has been proposed as one of such special light observation systems.

  The optical dynamic diagnostic apparatus includes at least one light source having a lamp system that emits light in a wavelength range of 380 [nm] to 680 [nm], a light guide that guides light from the light source to an object to be inspected, and A scope having an image light guide for taking in reflected light from the object to be inspected, and image processing means for image processing the image from the scope; In addition, the optical dynamic diagnostic apparatus matches the spectral transmittance of the light guide of the scope with the spectrum of the fluorescence excitation light that irradiates the inspection target, and the inspection target emits the spectral transmittance of the image light guide. The spectral transmittance of the light guide and the image light guide is 5% or more in the entire 50 nm band according to the fluorescence spectrum, and other than that, the spectral transmittance is smaller than the above value. (Patent Document 1: German Published Patent No. 19639653A1).

According to such an optical dynamic diagnostic apparatus, the object to be inspected can be observed with fluorescence.
German Published Patent No. 19639653A1

  However, in the conventional optical dynamic diagnostic apparatus described above, fluorescence excitation light can be given to the object to be inspected, and the light guide can effectively capture the fluorescence emitted from the object to be inspected. In other words, the color and brightness of the image cannot be adjusted by background light.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a special light observation system capable of observing the fluorescent portion and the background portion with appropriate colors and brightness during fluorescent observation. Yes.

  The special light observation system according to the present invention excites the fluorescent substance in the special light observation system in which a fluorescent substance is administered to cause a chemical change and the object to be inspected is irradiated with excitation light to enable fluorescence observation. A background light having a predetermined level lower than the peak value of the excitation light having the peak waveform of the predetermined wavelength and the peak value of the excitation light having the peak waveform of the predetermined wavelength is located in a wide band on the long wavelength side of the excitation light having the peak waveform of the predetermined wavelength. Light having a transmission characteristic to transmit and a first cutoff value below a predetermined wavelength value on the short wavelength side from the peak value of the fluorescence wavelength emitted by the fluorescent material, and having a wavelength equal to or greater than the first cutoff value A light source device including a special filter that cuts off the light, and a second cut-off value that is set to a predetermined wavelength value or longer on the longer wavelength side than the excitation light having the peak waveform of the predetermined wavelength. Less than cut-off value Constituted by and a scope equipped with a cut-off filter that cuts off light of wavelengths.

  According to the present invention, there is an effect that the fluorescent portion and the background portion can be observed with appropriate colors and brightness during fluorescence observation.

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

  FIGS. 1 to 3 relate to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a special light observation system, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a distal end portion of a scope used in the special light observation system of FIG. FIG. 3 is a characteristic diagram showing the characteristics of light obtained by the special light transmission filter provided in the light source device used in the special light observation system of FIG. 1 and the transmission characteristics of the off filter. In FIG. 3, the horizontal axis represents wavelength [nm] and the vertical axis represents brightness.

  1 and 2, the special light observation system according to the present embodiment is roughly divided into a light source device 1, a scope 3, an image processing device 5, and a monitor 7, and light emitted from the light source device 1. Is guided to the scope 3 by the light guide cable 31 to irradiate the object to be inspected, and an imaging signal obtained by imaging the reflected wave from the object to be inspected by the scope 3 is guided to the image processing device 5 by the composite cable 32, The image signal is converted into a video signal by the image processing device 5 and can be displayed on the monitor 6.

  Further, each component will be described. The light source device 1 rotates the xenon lamp 11 as a light source, a special light transmission filter 13 provided on the rotating plate 12, a condensing lens 14, and the rotating plate 12. At least a rotating plate driving unit 15, a rotating plate control unit 16 that controls the rotating plate driving unit 15, and a visible light transmission filter 17 provided on the rotating plate 12 are provided.

  In the light source device 1, a light guide connector 33 provided at one end of the light guide cable 31 is configured to be detachable. The light emitted from the xenon lamp 11 can be supplied to the light guide cable 31 via the light guide connector 33 after passing through the special light transmission filter 13 and condensed by the condenser lens 14, for example. ing.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the special light transmission filter 13 has a transmittance that allows irradiation with excitation light in a wavelength range that excites a fluorescent substance at a center frequency λa of 410 [nm], for example, at a predetermined peak value. ing. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the special light transmission filter 13 has a light intensity value lower than the peak value by a predetermined level (for example, about 1/3) on the long wavelength region side other than the peak value. The peak of the fluorescence wavelength λk (= for example, 630 [nm]) from which the fluorescent material emits the first cutoff value λf of the broadband wavelength. The value is set to a predetermined wavelength value λf or less on the short wavelength side from the value.

  Specifically, the special light transmission filter 13 sets the first cutoff value λf of the background light to the short wavelength side from the peak value of the fluorescence wavelength λk (= for example, 630 [nm]) emitted from the fluorescent material. For example, the wavelength value is set to 20 [nm] or less.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the scope 3 includes a light guide 34, a lens 35, a cut-off filter 36, and a CCD 37 as an image sensor, and writes light transmitted through the light guide 34. Light is applied to the inspection target 20 from the tip of the guide 34, and reflected light or fluorescence from the inspection target 20 is imaged on the CCD 37 via the lens 35 and the cut-off filter 36. . The CCD 37 can input an image pickup signal to the image processing apparatus 5 via the composite cable 32.

  The scope 3 is provided with a cut-off filter 36. As shown in FIG. 3, the cut-off filter 36 sets the second cut-off value λp to the peak value of the excitation light (for example, the wavelength 420 [ nm]) is set to a transmittance that is 20 [nm] or longer from the wavelength position to the long wavelength side (see characteristic CF in FIG. 3). Thereby, the cut-off filter 36 can reliably transmit the background light and the fluorescence without transmitting the excitation light.

  The image processing device 5 can capture an imaging signal from the CCD 37 of the scope 3 via the composite cable 32, perform image processing on the captured imaging signal, convert it to a video signal, and supply the video signal to the monitor 7. It is configured as follows. The image processing device 5 is electrically connected to the rotating plate control unit 16 of the light source device 1, and gives a switching command to the rotating plate control unit 16 through the image processing device 5 as necessary. Thus, the special light transmission filter 13 or the visible light transmission filter 17 can be selected by controlling the rotation of the rotating plate 12.

  The monitor 7 can display the video signal from the image processing device 5 on the display as an image.

  The operation of the special light observation system configured as described above will be described with reference to FIGS.

  For example, in the case of examining and treating cancerous tissue of bladder cancer, 5-ALA (5-Aminolevulinic acid) is administered to cause a chemical change in ProtoporphyrinIX, and a portion of the test object 20 is fluorescent. Allow observation.

  In such a state, in the light source device 1, after the light from the xenon lamp 11 passes through the special light transmission filter 13, the light is condensed on the light guide connector 33 by the condenser lens 14, and the light guide cable 31. Then, the light is guided to the light guide 34 of the scope 3 via, and the object 20 is irradiated from the tip of the light guide 34 of the scope 3.

  At this time, the light irradiated onto the inspection target 20 from the tip of the light guide 34 of the scope 3 includes excitation light having a predetermined frequency width having a peak at 410 [nm] as shown in FIG. As shown, it includes broadband background light.

  When the inspection object 20 is irradiated with excitation light having a predetermined frequency width having a peak of, for example, 410 [nm] as shown in FIG. 3, the portion of the inspection object 20 is, for example, 630 [ nm] at a wavelength λk.

  Further, background light is irradiated to the inspection object 20 and its periphery from the tip of the light guide 34 of the scope 3.

  Reflected light and fluorescence from the inspection object 20 and its periphery enter the CCD 37 via the lens 35 and the cut-off filter 36 at the tip of the scope 3. Since the second cutoff frequency (wavelength λp) of the cutoff filter 36 is set to 20 nm or more from the central wavelength λa (= 410 [nm]) of the excitation light, the inspection object The reflected light component of the excitation light from 20 is not transmitted, but the background light and the fluorescence from the inspection object 20 are transmitted. Further, the peak value of the fluorescence from the inspection target object 20 and the peak value of the background light irradiating the inspection target object 20 are substantially the same or smaller as shown in FIG. Since it is set, both can be taken into the CCD 37 in a state close to the same level. Therefore, at the time of such fluorescence observation, it becomes possible to observe the fluorescent part and the background part with appropriate colors and brightness. Further, the special light transmission filter 13 considers the transmission level of excitation light, the transmission level of background light, and the emission level of fluorescence, and sets the transmission level of each wavelength region as necessary. It becomes easy to adjust the color and brightness of the ground light.

  The rotating plate 12 is provided with a visible light transmission filter 17, and the visible light transmission filter 17 can pass visible light for observing normal light. Then, it is possible to switch between the special light transmission filter 13 and the visible light transmission filter 17 by making it possible to select fluorescence observation or visible light observation by a switch or the like and inputting this switching information to the rotary plate control unit 16. It is. By switching the observation mode, the special light transmission filter 13 or the visible light transmission filter 17 is used, and visible light observation can be performed in addition to fluorescence observation.

  FIG. 4 is a characteristic diagram showing the characteristics of a special light transmission filter provided in the light source device used in the special light observation system according to Example 2 of the present invention, where the horizontal axis represents wavelength [nm] and the vertical axis represents Brightness is taken individually.

  Since the second embodiment is almost the same as the first embodiment, only different points will be described, and the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof will be omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the special light observation system of the present embodiment is characterized by the transmission characteristics of the special light transmission filter 13a of the light source device 1a. It is exactly the same as the observation system. Accordingly, only the characteristics of the special light transmission filter 13a will be described, and description of the configuration and operation of the special light observation system according to the second best mode for carrying out the present invention will be omitted.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 4, the special light transmission filter 13a of the light source device 1a emits excitation light in a predetermined wavelength region centered on a wavelength λk (= 410 [nm]) for exciting the fluorescent substance at a predetermined peak. It has a transmittance that enables irradiation with a value. Further, the special light transmission filter 13a has a transmittance set to a longer wavelength region side than the excitation light band, and irradiates background light having a predetermined level lower than the peak value and a predetermined broadband wavelength. The first cutoff value λf of the broadband wavelength is set to a predetermined wavelength value or less from the peak value of the fluorescence wavelength λk (= 630 [nm]) emitted by the fluorescent material to the short wavelength side. Is set.

  That is, the special light transmission filter 13a is set to an independent band between the third cutoff wavelength λe and the first cutoff wavelength λf for the background light, and the wavelength λa for the excitation light. (= 410 [nm]) is set in a predetermined wavelength range.

  Further, the second cut-off value λf of the cut-off filter 36 is not less than 20 nm from the center frequency of the pumping light (center wavelength λa = 410 nm, for example), as in the first best mode. It is set on the long wavelength region side (see the characteristic CF in FIG. 4). Of course, the cut-off filter 36 can transmit the background light in the wavelength range λe to λf and the fluorescence in the fluorescence wavelength λk.

  As described above, this embodiment also achieves the same effects as those of the first embodiment.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

1 is a block diagram showing a special light observation system according to Example 1 of the present invention. The figure which shows the front-end | tip part of the scope used with the special light observation system of FIG. 1 with an affected part FIG. 3 is a characteristic diagram showing the characteristics of light obtained by the special light transmission filter provided in the light source device used in the special light observation system of FIG. 1 and the transmission characteristics of the off filter. The characteristic view which shows the characteristic of the special light transmissive filter provided in the light source device used with the special light observation system which concerns on Example 2 of this invention

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Light source device 3 ... Scope 5 ... Image processing device 7 ... Monitor 11 ... Xenon lamp 12 ... Rotating plate 13 ... Special light transmission filter 14 ... Condensing lens 15 ... Rotating plate drive means 16 ... Rotating plate control unit 17 ... Visible light Transmission filter 31 ... Light guide cable 32 ... Composite cable Agent Patent attorney Susumu Ito

Claims (4)

In a special light observation system that allows fluorescent observation by injecting a fluorescent substance to cause a chemical change and irradiating the object to be inspected with excitation light,
Located in a wide band on the long-wavelength side of the excitation light having a predetermined wavelength for exciting the fluorescent material and the excitation light having the peak waveform having the predetermined wavelength and lower by a predetermined level than the peak value of the excitation light having the peak waveform having the predetermined wavelength A transmission characteristic that transmits background light of a value, and a first cutoff value below a predetermined wavelength value on the short wavelength side from the peak value of the fluorescence wavelength emitted by the fluorescent material, the first cutoff A light source device equipped with a special filter that cuts off light of a wavelength greater than the value,
A cut that has a second cutoff value that is set to a predetermined wavelength value or longer on the longer wavelength side than the excitation light having a peak waveform of the predetermined wavelength, and that cuts off light having a wavelength equal to or less than the second cutoff value. A special light observation system comprising: a scope having an off filter. The special light observation system according to claim 1, wherein the special filter separates and transmits the excitation light having the peak waveform of the predetermined wavelength and the background light. 2. The special light according to claim 1, wherein the first cutoff value is set to a wavelength value of 20 nm or less on a short wavelength side from a peak value of a fluorescence wavelength emitted from the fluorescent material. Observation system. The special light observation system according to claim 1, wherein the second cutoff value is set to 20 [nm] or longer on a longer wavelength side than the peak value of the excitation light.

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