JP2006122560A - Body fluid fluorescence spectrum acquiring system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To securely detecting a fluorescence spectrum emitted from body fluid on a requested region when detecting the fluorescence spectrum emitted from the body fluid irradiated with an excitation light. <P>SOLUTION: The excitation light Le1 irradiates an observing part 1 through a scope part 13 of an endoscope. A fluorescent light Ls emitted from the observing part 1 is imaged by a CCD (charge coupled device) image pickup device 117 and displayed on a monitor 70 as a fluorescent image. An observer brings a tip of a silica fiber 53 protruding from a forceps opening 134 into contact with the body fluid 2 on the requested region based on the displayed fluorescent image. An excitation light Le2 irradiates the body fluid 2 through the silica fiber 53. A fluorescent light L2 emitted from the body fluid 2 is received through the silica fiber 53 and its fluorescence spectrum is detected by a spectroscope 543. Therefore, the observer can select a region to detect a fluorescence spectrum of the body fluid from the composition that the fluorescent image shows. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a body fluid fluorescence spectrum acquisition device that acquires a fluorescence spectrum of fluorescence emitted from a body fluid irradiated with excitation light, and more particularly to body fluid fluorescence spectrum acquisition that acquires a fluorescence spectrum of a body fluid in a displayed observation unit. It relates to the device.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an apparatus that acquires a fluorescence spectrum of a body fluid collected from a living body or a body fluid in a living body is known (for example, see Patent Document 1). In the apparatus described in Patent Document 1, it is proposed to irradiate excitation light and receive fluorescence through a light guide as an example of a method for acquiring a fluorescence spectrum of a body fluid in a living body.
Patent Publication 2003-535330

  In recent years, research on the fluorescence spectrum of body fluids has progressed, and there are individual differences in the fluorescence spectrum of body fluids, for example, digestive fluid, and even the same person may have different fluorescence spectra depending on the site where digestive fluid is present. know. For this reason, it is desired to detect the fluorescence spectrum of a body fluid present at a desired site. However, in a conventionally known apparatus, for example, when acquiring a fluorescence spectrum of gastric juice, the gastric juice is collected by suction to obtain a fluorescence spectrum, or a light guide is inserted into the stomach to obtain fluorescence. Even if a spectrum is acquired, there exists a problem that the site | part where the gastric fluid existed is unknown. Furthermore, when a light guide is inserted into the stomach and a fluorescence spectrum is acquired, it is unclear whether the fluorescence spectrum is a fluorescence spectrum of fluorescence emitted from a body fluid. is there.

  In view of the above circumstances, the present invention provides a body fluid fluorescence spectrum acquisition apparatus that detects a fluorescence spectrum of fluorescence emitted from a body fluid irradiated with excitation light and displays body fluid fluorescence spectrum information based on the fluorescence spectrum. It is an object of the present invention to provide a body fluid fluorescence spectrum acquisition device capable of reliably detecting a fluorescence spectrum of fluorescence emitted from a body fluid present at a site.

The first body fluid fluorescence spectrum acquisition device of the present invention captures an image of fluorescence emitted from an observation unit irradiated with excitation light, and generates a fluorescence image acquisition unit that generates a fluorescence image based on the captured image of fluorescence. When,
A body fluid fluorescence spectrum that receives fluorescence emitted from body fluid irradiated with excitation light, detects fluorescence spectrum of the received fluorescence, and acquires body fluid fluorescence spectrum information based on the fluorescence spectrum. Information acquisition means;
And a display means for displaying the fluorescence image generated by the fluorescence image acquisition means and the fluorescence spectrum information acquired by the body fluid fluorescence spectrum information acquisition means.

The second bodily fluid fluorescence spectrum acquisition device of the present invention captures a reflection image of the observation unit irradiated with illumination light, and generates a normal image based on the reflection image, normal image acquisition means,
A body fluid fluorescence spectrum that receives fluorescence emitted from body fluid irradiated with excitation light, detects fluorescence spectrum of the received fluorescence, and acquires body fluid fluorescence spectrum information based on the fluorescence spectrum. Information acquisition means;
And a display means for displaying the normal image generated by the normal image acquisition means and the body fluid fluorescence spectrum information acquired by the body fluid fluorescence spectrum information acquisition means.

  The “body fluid fluorescence spectrum information based on the fluorescence spectrum” may be the fluorescence spectrum itself of the body fluid, or the light intensity of the first predetermined wavelength band and the light intensity of the second predetermined wavelength band. It may be a fluorescence intensity ratio that is a ratio.

  Moreover, the comparison result which compared the fluorescence spectrum actually acquired from the bodily fluid with the sample fluorescence spectrum previously acquired from the bodily fluid sample may be sufficient. Note that “compare a sample fluorescence spectrum acquired from a body fluid sample in advance with a fluorescence spectrum actually acquired from a body fluid” means that, for example, a fluorescence spectrum actually acquired from a body fluid is a sample fluorescence spectrum acquired from a plurality of body fluid samples. Compare which sample fluorescence spectra are closest to each other, or find the approximation between the fluorescence spectra actually obtained from body fluids and the sample fluorescence spectra obtained from at least one body fluid sample Etc.

  The bodily fluid fluorescence spectrum acquiring unit may include a bodily fluid holding unit that holds bodily fluids, and may receive fluorescence emitted from the bodily fluid held in the bodily fluid holding unit. The “body fluid holding part” may be provided at any site as long as it can hold body fluid, or may have a structure in which body fluid naturally flows into the body fluid holding part, You may have the structure into which a bodily fluid flows by sucking.

  The first body fluid fluorescence spectrum acquisition device of the present invention captures an image of fluorescence emitted from an observation unit irradiated with excitation light, and generates a fluorescence image acquisition unit that generates a fluorescence image based on the captured image of fluorescence. A body fluid that receives fluorescence emitted from a body fluid irradiated with excitation light, detects fluorescence spectrum of the received fluorescence, and acquires body fluid fluorescence spectrum information based on the fluorescence spectrum Since it comprises a fluorescence spectrum information acquisition means and a display means for displaying the fluorescence image generated by the fluorescence image acquisition means and the fluorescence spectrum information acquired by the body fluid fluorescence spectrum information acquisition means, the observer can display The body fluid fluorescence spectrum acquired based on the fluorescence spectrum of the body fluid present at the desired site selected based on the fluorescence image displayed on the means Can know the Le information securely, also it can be seen together with the fluorescence image and the body fluid fluorescence spectrum information of the observation unit. Furthermore, when the fluorescence image reflects tissue properties, the site for detecting the fluorescence spectrum of the body fluid can be selected based on the tissue properties, and the convenience of the apparatus is improved.

The second bodily fluid fluorescence spectrum acquisition device of the present invention captures a reflection image of the observation unit irradiated with illumination light, and generates a normal image based on the reflection image, normal image acquisition means,
A body fluid fluorescence spectrum that receives fluorescence emitted from body fluid irradiated with excitation light and detects fluorescence spectrum of the received fluorescence and obtains body fluid fluorescence spectrum information based on the fluorescence spectrum. Information acquisition means;
Since the display unit displays the normal image generated by the normal image acquisition unit and the body fluid fluorescence spectrum information acquired by the body fluid fluorescence spectrum information acquisition unit, the observer displays the fluorescence displayed on the display unit. The body fluid fluorescence spectrum information acquired based on the fluorescence spectrum of the body fluid present at the desired site selected based on the image can be surely known, and the normal image and the body fluid fluorescence spectrum information can be viewed together. .

  If the body fluid fluorescence spectrum information is a comparison result obtained by comparing a sample fluorescence spectrum previously obtained from a body fluid sample with a fluorescence spectrum actually obtained from a body fluid, the observer can easily recognize the characteristics of the body fluid.

  In addition, if the body fluid fluorescence spectrum acquisition unit has a body fluid holding unit for holding body fluid and receives fluorescence emitted from the body fluid held in the body fluid holding unit, a part other than the body fluid, for example, a body cavity wall The influence of the fluorescence emitted from the light source can be suppressed, and a more reliable fluorescence spectrum can be obtained.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a body fluid fluorescence spectrum acquisition system to which a first body fluid fluorescence spectrum acquisition device and a second body fluid fluorescence spectrum acquisition device according to the present invention are applied, and FIG. 2 is mounted on the main body fluid fluorescence spectrum acquisition system. It is a schematic diagram of a mosaic filter. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a switching filter mounted in the main body liquid fluorescence spectrum acquisition system.

  This body fluid fluorescence spectrum acquisition system irradiates the observation unit 1 with excitation light Le1 having a wavelength of 410 nm, displays on the monitor 70 a fluorescence diagnostic image based on the fluorescence image emitted from the observation unit 1, and the fluorescence diagnostic image. In the fluorescence diagnostic image mode for acquiring the fluorescence spectrum of the body fluid while observing the image, or in the normal image mode for displaying the normal image which is a normal color image on the monitor 70 and acquiring the fluorescence spectrum of the body fluid while observing the normal image It works. Switching between the two modes is performed by an input operation from the input unit 631.

  In the fluorescence diagnostic image mode, first, narrowband fluorescent image data in the wavelength band 430 nm to 530 nm and wideband fluorescent image in the wavelength band 430 nm to 700 nm from the fluorescence emitted from the observation unit 1 irradiated with the excitation light Le1 of wavelength 410 nm. Data is acquired, an IR reflection image is acquired from the reflected light of the observation unit 1 irradiated with the reference light Ls that is near infrared light, and the pixel value of the narrow-band fluorescence image data is set to the pixel value of the broadband fluorescence image data. A divided normalized fluorescence calculation value is obtained, color information is created based on the normalized fluorescence calculation value, brightness information is created based on the pixel value of the IR reflection image, and a fluorescence diagnostic image obtained by synthesizing both image information is obtained. It is displayed on the monitor 70. In addition, the user observes the fluorescence diagnostic image displayed on the monitor 70, brings the quartz fiber 53 into contact with the body fluid 2 present in the observation unit 1, and the excitation light having a wavelength of 410 nm is passed through the quartz fiber 53 to the body fluid 2. The fluorescence generated by irradiating Le2 is detected by the quartz fiber 53, and the sample fluorescence spectrum acquired from the body fluid sample stored in advance in the storage unit 546 and the fluorescence spectrum of the fluorescence emitted from the body fluid 2 are obtained. The comparison is made, and the comparison result is displayed on the monitor 70.

  In the normal image mode, first, a reflected image of the observation unit 1 irradiated with frame sequential light (R light Lr, G light Lg, B light Lb) is picked up by a CCD image pickup device 117 provided at the tip of the scope unit 13. Then, the normal image created by the normal color signal processing is displayed on the monitor 70. Thereafter, similarly to the fluorescence diagnostic image mode, the fluorescence spectrum of the body fluid is acquired, and the comparison result with the sample fluorescence spectrum is displayed on the monitor 70.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a body fluid fluorescence spectrum acquisition system according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a scope 13 inserted in a site suspected of being a patient's lesion, excitation light Le2 having a wavelength of 410 nm for acquiring a fluorescence spectrum of body fluid 2. , A light source that emits excitation light Le1 having a wavelength of 410 nm for capturing a fluorescent image, a light source that emits reference light Ls for capturing an IR reflected light image, and a surface sequence that is illumination light for capturing a normal image Illumination unit 23 including a light source that emits light (R light Lr, G light Lg, and B light Lb), normal image processing unit 33 that generates and outputs normal image data, narrowband fluorescent image data, and broadband fluorescent image data The fluorescence image processing unit calculates a normalized fluorescence calculation value from the image, generates fluorescence diagnosis image data as first fluorescence diagnosis information based on the normalized fluorescence calculation value and the pixel value of the IR reflection image, and outputs the fluorescence diagnosis image data. 43, an optical path separation unit 50 for separating the excitation light Le2 and the measured fluorescence optical path, receiving fluorescence emitted from the body fluid 2 by irradiation with the excitation light Le2, and obtaining a fluorescence spectrum of the body fluid. A fluorescence spectrum is compared with a sample fluorescence spectrum acquired from a sample body fluid stored in advance, and a fluorescence spectrum comparison unit 51 that outputs a comparison result, a controller 64 that is connected to each unit and controls operation timing, An input device 631 connected to the controller 64, a monitor 70, an excitation light Le3, and a quartz fiber 53 that guides fluorescence emitted from the body fluid 2 irradiated with the excitation light Le3.

  The illumination unit 24, the normal image processing unit 33, the fluorescence image processing unit 43, the optical path separation unit 50, the fluorescence spectrum comparison unit 51, and the controller 64 constitute a processor unit 94. The scope unit 13, the processor unit 94, and the quartz fiber 53 The processor unit 94, and the processor unit 94 and the monitor 70 are detachably connected by connectors not shown.

  The scope section 13 includes a light guide 131 extending to the tip, a CCD cable 133, and a forceps port 134 through which the quartz fiber 53 passes. An illumination lens 104 and an objective lens 114 are provided at the distal ends of the light guide 131 and the CCD cable 133, that is, at the distal end of the scope unit 13. A CCD image sensor 117 on which a mosaic filter 135 in which minute band filters are combined in a mosaic pattern is connected to the tip of the CCD cable 133 is connected to the CCD image sensor 117, and a prism 118 is attached to the CCD image sensor 117. Yes. An excitation light cut filter 119 that cuts light having a wavelength of 420 nm or less is attached between the prism 118 and the objective lens 114.

  The light guide 131 is a bundle of a light guide 132a for the excitation light Le1, a light guide 132b for the reference light Ls, and a light guide 132c for frame sequential light, and is integrated into a cable shape. Connected to unit 23.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the mosaic filter 135 is a fine optical filter 136a that is a bandpass filter that transmits light in the wavelength band of 430 nm to 530 nm, and a bandpass filter that transmits light in the wavelength band of 430 nm to 700 nm. A small optical filter 136b and an optical filter 136c that transmits light in the entire wavelength band are combined, and each band filter corresponds to the pixel of the CCD image sensor 117 on a one-to-one basis. The optical filter 136a is an optical filter for acquiring narrow-band fluorescence image data when the excitation light Le1 is irradiated, and the optical filter 136b is an optical for acquiring broadband fluorescent image data when the excitation light Le1 is irradiated. The optical filter 136c is an optical filter for obtaining a normal image and an IR reflection image.

  The illumination unit 24 includes a Ga-N semiconductor laser 201 and an excitation light source power source 202 that emit excitation light Le1 having a wavelength of 410 nm, and a Ga-N semiconductor laser 204 and excitation that emits excitation light Le2 having a wavelength of 410 nm. A power source for light source 205, a reference light source 207 for emitting reference light Ls and a power source for reference light source 208, a white light source 231 for emitting white light, a power source for white light source 232, white light for R light Lr, G light Lg and B light. Lb includes a switching filter 234 and a filter rotating unit 236 for sequentially separating colors.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the switching filter 234 includes an R filter 235a that transmits R light Lr, a G filter 235b that transmits G light Lg, and a B filter 235c that transmits B light Lb.

  The normal image processing unit 33 is a signal processing circuit 331 that performs process processing on image data received by pixels corresponding to the optical filter 136c of the mosaic filter 135 when the R light Lr, G light Lg, or B light Lb is irradiated. An A / D conversion circuit 332 for digitizing the image data output from the signal processing circuit 331; an image memory 333 for storing the digitized image data as an image for each color (R image, G image, and B image); A normal image generation unit 334 that generates normal image data from an image for each color stored in the image memory, and a video signal processing circuit 335 that converts the normal image data output from the normal image generation unit 334 into a video signal and outputs the video signal. It has.

  The fluorescent image processing unit 43 includes a signal processing circuit 401 that performs process processing of a signal imaged by the CCD image sensor 117 when the excitation light Le1 or the reference light Ls is irradiated, and image data obtained by the signal processing circuit 401. A / D conversion circuit 402 for digitizing the image, the narrow-band fluorescence image data obtained by capturing the fluorescence image Zj1, the broadband fluorescence image data, and the IR reflection image obtained by capturing the IR reflected light image Zs in different storage areas For each corresponding pixel of the memory 431, the pixel value of the narrow-band fluorescence image data stored in the image memory 431 is divided by the pixel value of the wide-band fluorescence image data to obtain a normalized fluorescence calculation value as a first feature amount A fluorescence calculation value calculation unit 432 serving as a first feature amount acquisition unit for calculating the color information, assigning color information based on the normalized fluorescence calculation value, assigning luminance information based on the pixel value of the IR reflection image, Yo And a fluorescence diagnostic image generation unit 433 that generates and outputs fluorescence diagnostic image data that is first fluorescence diagnostic information by combining the luminance information and a video that converts the fluorescence diagnostic image data into a video signal and outputs the video signal to the monitor 70 And a signal processing circuit 434.

  The optical path separation unit 50 causes the excitation light Le2 output from the Ga-N semiconductor laser 204 to enter the quartz fiber 53, and conversely, transmits the fluorescence passing through the quartz fiber 53 to the fluorescence spectrum comparison unit 51. Is provided.

  The tip portion 531 of the quartz fiber 53 is formed in a spherical shape as shown in FIG. For this reason, the excitation light Le2 can be efficiently irradiated to the surroundings, and the fluorescence L2 emitted from the body fluid 2 can be received efficiently. Further, a conical cover 532 as a body fluid holding part is attached around the tip part 531. The cover 532 is made of aluminum that has been subjected to black alumite treatment. The conical bottom surface portion 533 of the cover 532 is covered with aluminum, but a large number of window portions 534 are provided on the side surface portion.

  The fluorescence spectrum comparison unit 51 measures the fluorescence spectrum of the fluorescence that has passed through the excitation light cut filter 541 and the excitation light cut filter 541 that cuts light having a wavelength of 430 nm or less including the wavelength of the excitation light Le2 from the fluorescence that has passed through the quartz fiber 53. Spectrum spectrometer 543, a storage unit 544 for storing the fluorescence spectrum measured by the spectrum spectrometer 543, and a sample fluorescence spectrum previously obtained from a body fluid sample, for example, gastric juice obtained from three subjects as shown in FIG. The sample irradiates the sample with excitation light Le2, and stores a sample fluorescence spectrum that is a fluorescence spectrum of fluorescence emitted from the gastric juice, and a subject's body fluid stored in the memory 544, for example, a fluorescence spectrum of gastric juice The sample fluorescence spectrum stored in the storage unit 546 is compared, and A type: sample fluorescence spectrum is compared. A determination unit 545 that determines and outputs an appropriate type from the approximation of Coutor A, B type: approximation of sample fluorescence spectrum B, C type: approximation of sample fluorescence spectrum C, and D type: not applicable Yes.

  The controller 64 is connected to each unit and controls the operation timing. An input device 631 is connected to the controller 64.

  The operation of the fluorescence endoscope apparatus according to the present invention will be described below. First, the operation in the fluorescence diagnostic image mode will be described. Based on the signal from the controller 64, the excitation light source power source 202 is driven, and excitation light Le 1 having a wavelength of 410 nm is emitted from the Ga—N semiconductor laser 201. The excitation light Le1 passes through the lens 203, enters the light guide 132a, is guided to the distal end of the scope unit 13, and is irradiated from the illumination lens 104 to the observation unit 1.

  Fluorescence from the observation unit 1 generated by irradiating the excitation light Le1 is collected by the condenser lens 114, light is cut into a wavelength band of 420 nm or less by the excitation light cut filter 119, and reflected by the prism 118. Then, it passes through the mosaic filter 135 and forms an image on the CCD image sensor 117 as a fluorescent image Zj1. At this time, since the reflected light of the excitation light Le1 is cut by the excitation light cut filter 119, it does not enter the CCD image sensor 117. In the CCD image sensor 117, the fluorescent image Zj1 is received, photoelectrically converted, converted into an image signal corresponding to the intensity of light, and output.

  The signal output from the CCD image sensor 117 is processed by the signal processing circuit 401 of the fluorescence image processing unit 43, converted into a digital signal by the A / D conversion circuit 402, and transmitted through the optical filter 136a. The band fluorescence image data and the broadband fluorescence image data transmitted through the optical filter 136b are divided and stored in the storage area of the image memory 431.

  Next, the operation when capturing the IR reflected light image Zs of the reference light Ls will be described. Based on the signal from the controller 61, the reference light source power source 208 is driven, and the reference light source 207 emits the reference light Ls which is near infrared light. The reference light Ls passes through the lens 209, enters the light guide 112c, is guided to the tip of the scope unit 11, and then is irradiated from the illumination lens 104 to the observation unit 1.

  The reflected light of the reference light Ls reflected by the observation unit 1 is collected by the condenser lens 114, reflected by the prism 118, transmitted through the mosaic filter 135, and reflected on the CCD image sensor 117 by the IR reflected light image Zs. Is imaged. In the CCD image pickup device 117, the IR reflected light image Zs is received, photoelectrically converted, converted into an image signal corresponding to the intensity of light, and output. The signal output from the CCD image sensor 117 is processed and output by the signal processing circuit 401, converted into a digital signal by the A / D conversion circuit 402, and only the image data transmitted through the optical filter 136c is received. And stored as an IR reflection image in the image memory 431.

  When the narrowband fluorescence image data, the broadband fluorescence image data, and the IR reflection image are stored in the image memory 431, the fluorescence calculation value calculation unit 432 first stores the narrowband fluorescence image data stored in the image memory 431 for each adjacent pixel. The normalized fluorescence calculation value is calculated by dividing the pixel value of the band fluorescence image data by the pixel value of the broadband fluorescence image data.

  In the fluorescence diagnostic image generation unit 433, color information is assigned based on the normalized fluorescence calculation value. Normally, the normalized fluorescence calculation value of fluorescence emitted from normal tissue is large, and the normalized fluorescence calculation value of fluorescence emitted from diseased tissue is small, so set a pseudo color that makes the difference in display color clear Thus, for example, by assigning color information so that the normalized fluorescence calculation value changes from green to red sequentially from the larger one to the smaller one, the observer can distinguish between the normal tissue and the diseased tissue.

  The observer observes the fluorescence diagnostic image, selects a site from which the fluorescence spectrum of the body fluid is acquired in the observation unit 1, and guides the tip 531 of the quartz fiber 53 to the site by manual operation. When the distal end portion 531 covered with the cover 532 is immersed in the body fluid 2 or is pressed to a site where the body fluid 2 exists, the body fluid 2 flows into the cover 532 from the window portion 534 of the cover 532.

  The observer uses the input device 631 to specify acquisition of the fluorescence spectrum of the body fluid. First, based on a signal from the controller 64, the excitation light source power source 205 is driven, and excitation light Le2 having a wavelength of 410 nm is emitted from the Ga-N semiconductor laser 204. The excitation light Le2 passes through the lens 206 and travels toward the dichroic mirror 501. The excitation light Le2 reflected by the dichroic mirror 501 is incident on the quartz fiber 53 by the lens 502, passes through the forceps port 134 of the scope unit 13, and is guided to the vicinity of the body fluid 2 and from the distal end portion 531 of the quartz fiber 53 to the body fluid. 2 is irradiated.

  The fluorescence L2 emitted from the body fluid 2 by being irradiated with the excitation light Le2 is incident on the distal end portion 531 of the quartz fiber 53 and travels toward the dichroic mirror 501 through the quartz fiber 53 and the lens 502. Note that the distal end portion 531 of the quartz fiber 53 is covered with the cover 532, so that the distal end portion 531 of the quartz fiber 53 does not contact the body cavity wall. For this reason, fluorescence can be reliably acquired from the body fluid 2 held in the cover 532. Further, since the bottom surface part 533 of the body fluid holding part 532 is covered with aluminum, it is affected by the fluorescence emitted from the body cavity wall even when the tip part 531 is located in the vicinity of the body cavity wall. Can be prevented. In addition, since the cover 532 is subjected to black alumite treatment, no fluorescence is emitted from the body fluid holding unit 532 itself. The fluorescence L2 that has passed through the dichroic mirror 501 passes through the excitation light cut filter 541 and the lens 542 and enters the spectrum spectrometer 543. The spectrum spectrometer 543 outputs the detected spectrum of the fluorescence L2 to the measurement data memory 544.

  The determination unit 545 compares the fluorescence spectrum of the subject's body fluid stored in the storage unit 544, for example, gastric fluid, with the sample fluorescence spectrum stored in the storage unit 546, and A type: approximate to the sample fluorescence spectrum A, B type : Approximate to sample fluorescence spectrum B, C type: Approximate to sample fluorescence spectrum C and D type: Not applicable, and determine an appropriate fluorescence type. Further, the fluorescence spectrum of the body fluid 2 and the determined fluorescence type are output to the monitor 70.

  The monitor 70 displays a fluorescence diagnostic image, a fluorescence spectrum of the body fluid, and a fluorescence type of the body fluid. The observer can know the property of the observation unit 1 and the property of the body fluid by viewing these displays.

  Next, the operation in the normal image mode will be described. The observer uses the input device 631 to select the normal image mode. In the normal image mode, irradiation with frame sequential light is performed, a normal image is captured, normal image data is generated, and a normal image that is a color image is displayed on the monitor 70. Prior to imaging, the observer inserts the scope unit 13 into the body cavity of the subject and guides the distal end of the scope unit 13 to the vicinity of the observation unit 1.

  First, an operation when acquiring an R image will be described. Based on the signal from the controller 64, the white light source power source 232 is driven, and white light is emitted from the white light source 231. The white light is collected by the condenser lens 233 and passes through the switching filter 234. In the switching filter 234, an R filter 235a is arranged on the optical path based on a signal from the controller 64. For this reason, white light becomes R light Lr when passing through the switching filter 234. The R light Lr is incident on the light guide 132c, guided to the tip of the scope unit 13, and then irradiated to the observation unit 1 from the illumination lens 104.

  The reflected light of the R light Lr reflected by the observation unit 1 is collected by the condenser lens 114, reflected by the prism 118, and formed on the CCD image sensor 117 as an R light reflected light image Zr. Of the image data output from the CCD image sensor 117, only the signal received by the pixel corresponding to the optical filter 136c of the mosaic filter 135 is subjected to process processing by the signal processing circuit 331 of the normal image processing unit 33. It is output as image data and the remaining signals are discarded. The R image data is converted into a digital signal by the A / D conversion circuit 332 and stored in the R image storage area of the image memory 333. Thereafter, the G image and the B image are acquired by the same operation, and stored in the storage area for the G image and the storage area for the B image in the image memory 333, respectively.

  When the R image, the G image, and the B image are stored in the image memory 333, the normal image generation unit 334 generates normal image data from the three colors and outputs it in accordance with the display timing. The video signal processing circuit 335 converts normal image data into a video signal and outputs it to the monitor 70. A normal image that is a color image is displayed on the monitor 70.

  The observer observes this normal image, selects a part from which the fluorescence spectrum of the body fluid is acquired in the observation part 1, and guides the tip part 531 of the quartz fiber 53 to the part by manual operation. When the distal end portion 531 covered with the cover 532 is immersed in the body fluid 2 or is pressed to a site where the body fluid 2 exists, the body fluid 2 flows into the cover 532 from the window portion 534 of the cover 532. Thereafter, as in the case where the fluorescence diagnostic image mode is selected, the fluorescence spectrum of the body fluid 2 is detected, the fluorescence type is determined, and the fluorescence spectrum and the fluorescence type are output to the monitor 70.

  The monitor 70 displays a normal image, a body fluid fluorescence spectrum, and a body fluid fluorescence type. The observer can know the property of the observation unit 1 and the property of the body fluid 2 by viewing these displays.

  As apparent from the above description, in the fluorescence diagnostic image mode, the observer is based on the fluorescence spectrum of the body fluid 2 present at the desired site selected based on the fluorescence diagnostic image of the observation unit 1 displayed on the monitor 70. The fluorescence type acquired in this way can be known with certainty, and the fluorescence diagnostic image, the fluorescence spectrum of the body fluid and the fluorescence type can be observed together. Furthermore, the observer can select a site for detecting the fluorescence spectrum of the body fluid based on the tissue properties shown in the fluorescence diagnostic image, and the convenience of the apparatus is improved.

  Even in the normal image mode, the observer surely knows the fluorescence type acquired based on the fluorescence spectrum of the body fluid 2 present at the desired site selected based on the normal image of the observation unit 1 displayed on the monitor 70. In addition, the fluorescence diagnostic image, the fluorescence spectrum of the body fluid, and the fluorescence type can be viewed together.

  In addition, if it has a cover as a bodily fluid holding part and receives fluorescence emitted from the bodily fluid held in the bodily fluid holding part, the influence of the fluorescent light emitted from a part other than the bodily fluid, such as a body cavity wall, is suppressed. And a fluorescence spectrum with higher reliability can be obtained.

  In addition, by removing the quartz fiber 53 from the forceps port 134, the forceps port 134 can be used to pass, for example, forceps for performing a biopsy.

  Further, as a modification of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, the tip portion 141 of the forceps port 134 is provided with a body fluid holding area 142 capable of holding bodily fluids, or the tip of the forceps port 134 as shown in FIG. A part provided with a lid 144 having a window part 143 through which body fluid can flow into the part 141 is conceivable. In this case, the distal end portion 141 of the forceps port 134 functions as the body fluid holding portion of the present invention. When using a system provided with these body fluid holding portions, first, the distal end portion 531 of the quartz fiber 53 is arranged at the distal end portion 141 of the forceps port 134, and in this state, the distal end portion of the endoscope, that is, the forceps port 134. The body fluid holding part provided at the distal end portion 141 is immersed in the body fluid or pressed against the site where the body fluid exists. In a state where the body fluid 2 flows into the body fluid holding part, fluorescence emitted from the body fluid 2 is acquired. Also in this case, since the distal end portion 531 of the quartz fiber 53 does not contact the body cavity wall, fluorescence can be reliably detected from the body fluid 2 held in the body fluid holding portion. The body fluid holding portion is formed so as not to emit fluorescence by black alumite treatment or the like. In the modification shown in FIG. 6, the forceps port 134 can be used as a normal forceps port 134 by removing the quartz fiber 53 from the forceps port 134. In the modification shown in FIG. 7, the forceps port 134 can be used as a normal forceps port 134 by removing the lid 144 from the tip of the forceps port 134 and removing the quartz fiber 53 from the forceps port 134.

  A cladding tube may be provided around the quartz fiber 53, and the body fluid holding area 142 or the lid 144 may be provided at the tip of the cladding tube.

In the present embodiment, the semiconductor laser 201, the power source 202 for excitation light source, the semiconductor laser 201 that emits excitation light Le1 for imaging a fluorescent diagnostic image, and the semiconductor that emits excitation light Le2 for detecting the fluorescence spectrum of body fluid Although the laser 204 is provided separately, it may be shared by one semiconductor laser. In the present embodiment, the excitation light Le2 for detecting the fluorescence spectrum of the body fluid emitted from the semiconductor laser 204 is guided to the tip of the endoscope by the quartz fiber 53. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, a semiconductor laser 201a that emits excitation light Le2 for detecting a fluorescence spectrum of a body fluid may be provided at the distal end of the endoscope, and the illumination unit 24 can be downsized. Further, as shown in FIG. 8, the quartz fiber 53 may be embedded in the scope 13 main body of the endoscope without passing through the forceps port 134. By adopting such a configuration, the forceps port 134 can be used for insertion of another device, and acquisition of the fluorescence spectrum of the body fluid 2 and, for example, biopsy can be performed in parallel. When the quartz fiber 53 is embedded in the main body of the scope portion 13 of the endoscope as described above, a body fluid holding portion as shown in FIG. 6 or 7 may be provided in the vicinity of the distal end portion of the quartz fiber 53.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the body fluid holding part is provided at the tip part of the quartz fiber 53 or the tip part of the forceps port 134. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and any part can be used as long as it can hold the body fluid. It may be provided at the site. For example, as shown in FIG. 9, a body fluid reservoir 14 as a body fluid holding unit is provided between the scope unit 13 and the processor unit 94 of the endoscope, and a suction tube 15 is passed through the scope unit 13 of the endoscope. The body fluid 2 at a desired site may be sucked up to the body fluid pool 14 by the suction tube 15. In this case, the tip portion 531 of the quartz fiber 53 is disposed in the body fluid reservoir 14. The influence of fluorescence emitted from the body cavity wall or the like can be completely eliminated, and the reliability of the detected fluorescence spectrum is improved. Further, by adopting such a configuration, the fluorescence spectrum of the aspirated body fluid 2 can be acquired immediately, and the normal image or fluorescence image and the body fluid 2 present at a desired site in the normal image or fluorescence image. Can be displayed in real time. Further, by removing the suction tube 15 from the forceps port 134, the forceps port 134 can be used, for example, for passing forceps for performing a biopsy.

Schematic configuration diagram of a bodily fluid fluorescence spectrum acquisition system which is a specific embodiment according to the present invention Schematic configuration diagram of mosaic filter Schematic configuration diagram of switching filter Explanatory drawing of the cover provided on the tip of the quartz fiber Illustration of sample fluorescence spectrum Explanatory drawing of the bodily fluid holding area provided at the tip of the forceps opening Explanatory drawing of the lid provided at the tip of the forceps opening Schematic configuration diagram of another body fluid fluorescence spectrum acquisition system Schematic configuration diagram of another body fluid fluorescence spectrum acquisition system

Explanation of symbols

1 Observation part 2 Body fluid
13 Scope section
24 Lighting unit
30 Imaging processing unit
33 Normal image processing unit
43 Fluorescence image processing unit
50 optical path separation unit
51 Fluorescence spectrum comparison unit
53 Quartz fiber
64 controller
70 Monitor
131 Light guide
134 Forceps port
135 Mosaic filter
117 CCD image sensor
234 Switching filter
432 Fluorescence calculation value calculation unit
433 Fluorescence diagnostic image generator
543 spectrum spectrometer
546 Memory

Claims (4)

A fluorescence image acquisition unit that captures an image of fluorescence emitted from an observation unit irradiated with excitation light, and generates a fluorescence image based on the captured image of fluorescence;
A body fluid fluorescence spectrum that receives fluorescence emitted from body fluid irradiated with excitation light and detects fluorescence spectrum of the received fluorescence and obtains body fluid fluorescence spectrum information based on the fluorescence spectrum. Information acquisition means;
A bodily fluid fluorescence spectrum acquisition apparatus comprising: a fluorescence image generated by the fluorescence image acquisition means; and a display means for displaying fluorescence spectrum information acquired by the body fluid fluorescence spectrum information acquisition means. Normal image acquisition means for capturing a reflected image of the observation unit irradiated with illumination light and generating a normal image based on the reflected image;
A body fluid fluorescence spectrum that receives fluorescence emitted from body fluid irradiated with excitation light, detects fluorescence spectrum of the received fluorescence, and acquires body fluid fluorescence spectrum information based on the fluorescence spectrum. Information acquisition means;
A bodily fluid fluorescence spectrum acquisition apparatus comprising: a display unit that displays a normal image generated by the normal image acquisition unit and a bodily fluid fluorescence spectrum information acquired by the bodily fluid fluorescence spectrum information acquisition unit.   The body fluid fluorescence spectrum information acquisition means is acquired by the sample fluorescence spectrum storage means for storing the sample fluorescence spectrum previously acquired from the body fluid sample, the sample fluorescence spectrum stored in the sample fluorescence spectrum storage means, and the body fluid fluorescence spectrum acquisition means. 3. The body fluid fluorescence spectrum acquisition apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the fluorescence spectrum is compared with each other and the comparison result is output as body fluid fluorescence spectrum information.   4. The body fluid fluorescence spectrum acquisition unit includes a body fluid holding unit that holds body fluid, and receives fluorescence emitted from the body fluid held in the body fluid holding unit. The body fluid fluorescence spectrum acquisition apparatus according to item 1.

Images