JP2008043357A - Light source unit for endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a light source unit for endoscopes which enables the accurate notification of the abnormality of the light source with a simple structure. <P>SOLUTION: A fiber scope 10 comprises a scope body 20 and a light source device 40 detachably mounted on the scope body 20. A display window 60 is provided on the surface of the light source device 40. Illumination light emitted from a light source 50 is mainly admitted into a light guide 58 as indicated by the arrow A to illuminate an object to be observed. A part of the illumination light is admitted into the display window 60 as indicated by the arrow B. Thus, when the illumination light fails to be emitted due to any abnormality in the light source device 40 despite a direction given for the emission of it, this enables an operator to detect the abnormality of the light source device 40 immediately by watching the display window 60. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an endoscope light source device, and more particularly, to a light source device used with a fiberscope or the like.

2. Description of the Related Art An endoscope apparatus such as a fiberscope is known to which a light source device is attached (for example, see Patent Document 1). Illumination light from the light source device is emitted from the distal end of the scope of the endoscope device and used for illuminating the object to be observed.
JP 2003-319906 A

  Even when the user instructs the emission of illumination light, the illumination light may not be emitted due to the failure of the light source device or the end of the battery life. Such an abnormality of the light source device is likely to be overlooked if the user does not look at the distal end of the scope in a state where the scope is not inserted into an object to be observed such as an affected part in the body.

  In addition, when an abnormality occurs in the light source device during endoscopic observation, the user may not be able to recognize that the illumination light is not emitted in a situation where the surroundings of the affected part or the like to be observed are dark. If it is erroneously determined that the amount of illumination light has decreased due to the distal end of the scope moving away from the surface of the object to be observed, the scope is too close to the object to be observed, and the affected part There is a risk that the scope will come into contact.

  In view of this, it is conceivable that the light source device detects an abnormality in the voltage applied to an electric circuit provided individually and displays a warning that illumination light is not emitted. In this case, the structure of the light source device becomes complicated, or the size of the device increases due to the addition of a circuit, etc., and the power consumption of the entire light source device increases. Furthermore, not all abnormalities that occur in the light source device are detected, and for example, a wiring failure or disconnection of the light source unit may be overlooked, and there is a possibility that a warning cannot be made reliably.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an endoscope light source device that has a simple structure and can reliably notify abnormality of a light source.

  A light source device of the present invention is an endoscope light source device attached to an endoscope device for observing an object to be observed, the light source emitting illumination light for illuminating the object to be observed, and the light source device And a display window provided at a position distant from the optical axis of the light source. When illumination light is emitted from the light source, part of the illumination light passes through the display window.

  The endoscope apparatus has an eyepiece for observing an object to be observed, and the light source device is attached to a predetermined position of the endoscope apparatus so that the display window and the eyepiece are oriented in the same direction. It is preferable.

  It is desirable that the light source device is detachably attached to the endoscope device. Further, the display window is preferably provided on an optical path having a directional angle wider than the half-value angle of illumination light emitted from the light source.

  The endoscope light source device desirably further includes a light guide for guiding illumination light to the endoscope device. The endoscope light source device preferably further includes a light guide member that guides part of the illumination light toward the display window.

  The endoscope light source device preferably further includes a spectroscopic member that splits the illumination light so that the illumination light is incident on the endoscope device and the display window.

  An endoscope system of the present invention includes an endoscope device for observing an object to be observed, and a light source device having a light source that is attached to the endoscope device and emits illumination light for illuminating the object to be observed. A display window provided at a position away from the optical axis of the light source on the surface of the endoscope device, and when the illumination light is emitted from the light source, a part of the illumination light is It is characterized by passing through the display window.

  It is preferable that the endoscope system further includes a spectral member that splits the illumination light so that the illumination light is incident on the endoscope device and the display window.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, it has a simple structure and can implement | achieve the light source device for endoscopes which can notify abnormality of a light source reliably.

  DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing a fiberscope in the first embodiment.

  The fiberscope (endoscope system) 10 includes a scope main body (endoscope device) 20 and a light source device 40. The light source device 40 is used for supplying illumination light to the scope body 20. The light source device 40 is detachably attached to a plurality of scope bodies (not shown) including the scope body 20 and used. The scope body 20 is provided with an illumination optical system 22 and an observation optical system 24.

  Illumination light emitted from a light source (not shown) of the light source device 40 is applied to the object S to be observed through the illumination optical system 22 including the light distribution lens 23 and the like. The reflected light of the illumination light reflected from the surface of the observation object S enters the operator's eyes via the observation optical system 24, that is, the objective lens 25, the image guide 26, and the eyepiece (eyepiece) 27. Thus, the observation object S is observed by the operator.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the inside of the fiberscope 10 according to the first embodiment.

  A light source side fitting member 42 to be attached to the scope main body 20 is provided at the distal end portion of the light source device 40. The light source side fitting member 42 is a screw-type fitting member, and the light source side fitting member 42 is fitted to the scope side fitting member 32 provided at the end of the scope main body 20, whereby the light source device. 40 is detachably attached to the scope body 20.

  The light source device 40 is provided with a light source 50 that emits illumination light. The light source 50 is a bullet-type LED light source and includes an LED 44. When the main switch 48 is turned on by depressing the main switch cover 46 provided at the rear end portion of the light source device 40, power is supplied from the battery 52 to the light source 50 under the control of the control circuit provided on the substrate 54, Illumination light is emitted from the LED 44 through the resin lens 56.

  As described above, the illumination light emitted from the light source 50 is incident on the light guide 58 mainly as indicated by the arrow A. The illumination light is sent from the light guide 58 to the scope body 20 via the light guide lens 62 and enters the light receiving lens 28 of the illumination optical system 22. The illumination light incident on the light receiving lens 28 is used for illumination of the observation object S (see FIG. 1) as described above. If the light source side fitting member 42 can be fitted to the scope side fitting member 32 even if the distance between the light source 50 and the light guide lens 62 is sufficiently shortened, the light guide 58 may not be provided.

  On the surface of the light source device 40, a display window 60 for confirming the lighting of the light source 50 is provided. The display window 60 is located away from the optical axis of the light source 50 indicated by the arrow A. That is, the display window 60 is on an optical path having a directional angle wider than the half-value angle of the illumination light emitted from the light source 50, and only a part of the illumination light emitted from the light source 50 is displayed as indicated by an arrow B. The light enters the window 60. The half-value angle is half of the maximum value of the emission intensity of the illumination light, that is, the emission intensity is half the emission intensity of the illumination light emitted at a 0 ° emission angle and perpendicular to the emission surface of the LED 44. This is the illumination angle (directivity angle) of illumination light.

  A prism (light guide member) 64 for guiding a part of the illumination light toward the display window 60 is provided in the vicinity of the display window 60. For this reason, a part of the illumination light emitted from the light source 50 indicated by the arrow B passes through the display window 60. The display window 60 is made of a resin having optical transparency, and almost all of the illumination light incident through the prism 64 passes through the display window 60. As is clear from the above, whether or not the light source 50 emits illumination light can be immediately determined by the operator looking at the display window 60.

  In the fiberscope 10 in which the light source device 40 is attached to the scope main body 20, the display window 60 is on the same side as the eyepiece portion of the scope main body 20 and is in a position facing substantially the same direction as the eyepiece lens 27. This is because the light source device 40 is adjusted to be attached to a predetermined position of the scope main body 20 by a screw groove (not shown) or the like provided in the light source side fitting member 42. Therefore, as indicated by the broken line, the operator can easily visually recognize the display window 60 while looking through the eyepiece lens 27, and whether or not the display window 60 is shining, that is, whether the illumination light is passing through the display window 60 or not. It can be easily judged whether or not.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the illumination light beam emitted from the light source 50 has a directivity angle equal to or less than the half-value angle, which is a portion that is not used for illumination of the observation object S (see FIG. 1). A small amount of emitted illumination light can be used effectively. This is because even such a small amount of illumination light has sufficient brightness for visual recognition. Therefore, it can be easily confirmed by the display window 60 whether or not the illumination light of the light source 50 is emitted. In addition, when some abnormality occurs in the light source device 40 in the fiber scope 10 and the illumination light is not emitted, the operator can surely know the abnormality by visually recognizing the display window 60.

  Furthermore, since it is not necessary to provide a special circuit in the light source device 40 for detecting an abnormality such as a voltage drop supplied to the light source 50, the structure of the light source device 40 is simplified. In the case where a special circuit for detecting an abnormality is provided, it may be misunderstood that an abnormality has occurred in the light source 50 due to, for example, an abnormality in a lamp for warning display. In the embodiment, the abnormality of the light source 50 can be reliably confirmed by directly determining whether or not the light source 50 is turned on. Further, since the display window 60 is provided in the light source device 40, even when the display window 60 is used with a fiberscope body other than the fiberscope body 20, an abnormality of the light source device 40 can be notified to the operator.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the inside of the fiberscope 10 according to the second embodiment. In the following drawings, the same components as those of the fiberscope 10 in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals.

  The fiberscope 10 of the present embodiment is the first embodiment in that a condenser lens 66 and a half mirror (spectral member) 68 are provided on the emission end side of the light source 50, and the shape of the resin lens 56 of the light source 50 is the first. Different from form.

  In the present embodiment, since the resin lens 56 has a convex shape with high light condensing property and the condensing lens 66 is provided, substantially all of the illumination light emitted from the LED 44 is collected. Light is incident on the light guide 58. The incident illumination light is split by a half mirror 68 provided on the light guide 58. At this time, most of the illumination light passes through the half mirror 68 as indicated by the arrow A, and the remaining small amount of illumination light is reflected so as to travel toward the display window 60 as indicated by the arrow B. The periphery of the optical path from the half mirror 68 to the display window 60 is surrounded by a prism 64.

  As described above, in this embodiment, the illumination light is used more effectively than in the first embodiment in which a part of the illumination light other than the light beam used for the illumination of the observation object S (see FIG. 1) is effectively used. Can do. This is because all of the illumination light emitted from the light source 50 is used for either illumination of the observation object S or lighting confirmation display of the light source 50 in the display window 60. Furthermore, by adjusting the optical characteristics such as the material and transmittance of the half mirror 68, it is easy to suppress the amount of illumination light passing through the display window 60 to the minimum necessary amount.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to check the presence or absence of abnormality of the light source device 40 while using illumination light more effectively.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the inside of the fiberscope 10 according to the third embodiment.

  In the present embodiment, the point that the display window 60 is provided on the scope body 20 side is different from the previous embodiments. Thus, in the present embodiment in which the display window 60 is on the scope main body 20 side, it is not necessary to provide the light guide 58 in the light source device 40. This is due to the following reason.

  When the display window 60 is provided on the light source device 40 side, the display window 60 needs to be disposed on the inner side of the light source device 40 than the light source side fitting member 42, that is, on the substrate 54 side, avoiding the light source side fitting member 42. (See FIGS. 2 and 3). For this reason, the light source 50 that should be in the vicinity of the display window 60 is also provided at a position away from the tip of the light source device 40. Therefore, when the light source device 40 is attached to the scope body 20, the light source 50 is located away from the light receiving lens 28, and it is necessary to guide the illumination light from the light source 50 to the scope body 20 using the light guide 58. .

  On the other hand, when the display window 60 is provided on the scope main body 20 side, the light source device 40 surrounded by the light source side fitting member 42 is, as shown in FIG. 4, the light source 50 that should be in the vicinity of the display window 60. It can arrange | position to the front-end | tip part. In this case, the distance between the light source 50 and the light receiving lens 28 is short in a state where the light source device 40 is attached to the scope body 20, and illumination light can be efficiently incident on the light receiving lens 28 on the scope body 20 side. The light guide 58 becomes unnecessary.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, illumination light from the light source 50 can be efficiently incident on the scope main body 20 side, and the emitted illumination light has a directivity angle larger than the half-value angle of the light source 50. Only the emitted illumination light enters the display window 60.

  Also in the present embodiment, the display window 60 is separated from the optical axis of the light source 50 indicated by the arrow A, and is positioned in the same direction as the eyepiece lens 27 with the light source device 40 attached to the scope body 20. It is in. Then, only illumination light that does not enter the light receiving lens 28 and is difficult to be used for observing the observation object S enters the display window 60 as indicated by an arrow B and passes through the display window 60. Moreover, the surface of the front-end | tip part of the light source device 40 in which the light source 50 is provided is formed with the light transmissive member, and allows illumination light to pass through.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the structure of the fiberscope 10 can be further simplified. Furthermore, since the display window 60 can be provided in the vicinity of the eyepiece lens 27, the abnormality of the light source device 40 can be detected more easily.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the inside of the fiberscope 10 according to the fourth embodiment.

  The fiberscope 10 of the present embodiment is different from the third embodiment in that a half mirror 68 is provided at the tip of the light source device 40. When the illumination light emitted from the light source 50 enters the half mirror 68, the illumination light is split as in the third embodiment. That is, most of the illumination light passes through the half mirror 68 as indicated by arrow A, and a small amount of illumination light is reflected so as to travel toward the display window 60 as indicated by arrow B.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, almost all of the illumination light emitted from the light source 50 can be used for either illumination of the observation object S or lighting confirmation display of the light source 50 in the display window 60. Furthermore, by adjusting the material, shape, and the like of the half mirror 68, it is easy to suppress the amount of illumination light that passes through the display window 60 to the minimum necessary amount.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to check the presence or absence of abnormality of the light source device 40 while using illumination light more effectively.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the inside of a conventional fiberscope 30.

  In the conventional fiberscope 30, the display window 60 is not provided. For this reason, when abnormality occurs in the light source 50 or the like in the light source device 40 and the illumination light is not emitted, it is difficult to detect the abnormality. For example, an abnormality that occurs before being inserted into the subject's body or the like is not discovered unless the operator looks at the tip of the scope body 20 provided with the light distribution lens 23. In addition, the abnormality of the light source device 40 that occurs during endoscopic observation may not be detected because the decrease in luminance that occurs is small in a dark environment such as an affected area that is the object of observation.

  On the other hand, in the fiberscope 10 of the above-described embodiment, the illumination light does not reach the display window 60 that can be visually recognized by the operator together with the eyepiece lens 27, so that an abnormality occurring in the light source device 40 is easily detected. It is possible to respond quickly to abnormalities.

  The shape of the scope main body 20 and the light source device 40, the arrangement of members, and the like are not limited to any of the embodiments. For example, the light guide 58 is effective for efficiently guiding illumination light, but may not be provided. The same applies to the prism 64, the condenser lens 66, the half mirror 68, and the like. The half mirror 68 may be provided inside the prism as a part of the prism.

  The light source 50 is not limited to the bullet-type LED 44, and may be a chip-type LED, for example. Moreover, although it is preferable that it is LED for reasons, such as being excellent in luminous efficiency, a light source lamp may be used. The light source device 40 may be used by being attached to the processor of the electronic endoscope device using an adapter other than the fiberscope body 20.

It is a figure showing roughly the fiberscope in a 1st embodiment. It is a figure which shows the inside of the fiberscope in 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the inside of the fiberscope in 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the inside of the fiberscope in 3rd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the inside of the fiberscope in 4th Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the inside of the fiberscope of a prior art example.

Explanation of symbols

10 Fiberscope (endoscope system)
20 Scope body (endoscope device)
27 Eyepiece (eyepiece)
40 light source device 50 light source 58 light guide 60 display window 64 prism (light guide member)
68 Half mirror (spectral member)

Claims (9)

A light source device attached to an endoscope device for observing an object to be observed,
A light source that emits illumination light for illuminating the object to be observed;
A display window provided at a position away from the optical axis of the light source on the surface of the light source device,
When the illumination light is emitted from the light source, a part of the illumination light passes through the display window.   The endoscopic device has an eyepiece for observing the object to be observed, and the light source device is arranged so that the display window and the eyepiece are oriented in the same direction. The endoscope light source device according to claim 1, wherein the endoscope light source device is attached at a predetermined position.   The endoscope light source device according to claim 1, wherein the light source device is detachably attached to the endoscope device.   The endoscope light source device according to claim 1, wherein the display window is provided on an optical path having a directivity angle wider than a half-value angle of the illumination light emitted from the light source.   The endoscope light source device according to claim 1, further comprising a light guide for guiding the illumination light to the endoscope device.   The endoscope light source device according to claim 1, further comprising a light guide member configured to guide part of the illumination light toward the display window.   The endoscope light source device according to claim 1, further comprising a spectral member that splits the illumination light so that the illumination light is incident on the endoscope device and the display window. An endoscope system comprising: an endoscope apparatus for observing an object to be observed; and a light source device having a light source attached to the endoscope apparatus and emitting illumination light for illuminating the object to be observed. There,
A display window provided at a position away from the optical axis of the light source on the surface of the endoscope device;
When the illumination light is emitted from the light source, a part of the illumination light passes through the display window.   The endoscope system according to claim 8, further comprising a spectral member that splits the illumination light so that the illumination light is incident on the endoscope device and the display window.

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