JP2008125934A - Fluorescence observation apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To highly precisely acquire fluorescence intensity in a variable transmission band. <P>SOLUTION: This fluorescence observation apparatus 1 is provided with an excitation light source emitting an excitation light, the variable transmission band changing the wavelength of a transmission light by a change in spacing between optical members 13a and 13b facing each other at some interval apart, a fixed transmission band non-changing the wavelength of the transmission light despite of the change in the spacing, a Fabry-Perot resonator 13 having a transition band transmitting therebetween, an excitation light cut filter 12 cutting off the passing of the excitation light, a band-cut filter 20 having a cutoff band including the transition band and non-including the wavelength of the excitation light, and a photodetector 14 detecting the fluorescence transmitting through the Fabry-Perot resonator 13, the excitation light cut filter 12 and the band cut filter 20. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a fluorescence observation apparatus.

Conventionally, as a fluorescence observation apparatus, for example, a fluorescence endoscope apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1 is known.
Observing an autofluorescence image in endoscopic observation is useful for diagnosing and observing a lesion because information on a living body different from a reflected image can be obtained. By observing autofluorescence, that is, fluorescence derived from a living body, there is an advantage that the state of a lesion based on a change in the living body can be observed.

In order to make a diagnosis using autofluorescence, it is preferable to obtain the fluorescence of the porphyrin-derived fluorescent region 630-650 nm and the collagen-derived fluorescent region 450-550 nm, respectively, and calculate and display the ratio (for example, (See Patent Document 2).
JP 2006-187598 A JP-A-9-308604

  In the case of Patent Document 1, in order to obtain the fluorescence intensity of a porphyrin-derived fluorescent region using a variable spectral element comprising a Fabry-Perot resonator having a fixed transmission band and a variable transmission band, the variable spectral element is The calculation is performed based on the intensity of fluorescence acquired in each state.

  That is, the two states of the variable spectroscopic element are to acquire the fluorescence of both the first fluorescent region which is a fluorescent component derived from collagen and the second fluorescent region which is a fluorescent component derived mainly from porphyrin. And a second state in which only the fluorescence in the first fluorescent region is acquired. Then, by subtracting the fluorescence intensity acquired in the second state from the fluorescence intensity acquired in the first state, the fluorescence intensity of the second fluorescence region can be acquired.

  However, in order to accurately acquire the fluorescence intensity of the second fluorescence region by subtracting the fluorescence intensity acquired in the second state from the fluorescence intensity acquired in the first state, the first state of the variable spectroscopic element is used. In the second state, it is desirable that the transmittance characteristic in the region other than the variable transmission band is invariable. Realistically, due to the nature of the variable spectroscopic element composed of a Fabry-Perot resonator, changing the state of the variable transmission band results in the transmittance characteristics in the transition region formed between the fixed transmission band and the variable transmission band. There is an inconvenience that it fluctuates. Therefore, there is a problem that the fluorescence intensity of the second fluorescence region cannot be obtained with high accuracy.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a fluorescence observation apparatus that can accurately acquire the fluorescence intensity in the variable transmission band.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides the following means.
The present invention includes an excitation light source that emits excitation light;
Between the variable transmission band where the wavelength of the transmitted light changes by changing the surface spacing of the optical members facing each other with a gap between them, and the fixed transmission band where the wavelength of the transmitted light does not change regardless of the change in the surface spacing A Fabry-Perot resonator comprising a transition band, a pump light cut filter that blocks the passage of excitation light, a band cut filter that includes the transition band and has a cutoff band that does not include the wavelength of the pump light, Provided is a fluorescence observation apparatus including the Fabry-Perot resonator, an excitation light cut filter, and a photodetector that detects fluorescence transmitted through a band cut filter.

In the said invention, it is good also as the cutoff band of the said band cut filter being located in the zone between each fluorescence peak wavelength of porphyrin and collagen.
Moreover, in the said invention, it is good also as providing the other band cut filter which has a cutoff band in the zone | band on the long wavelength side in the said variable transmission zone | band.

In the above invention, the cutoff band of the other band cut filter may be arranged on the longer wavelength side than the fluorescence band of porphyrin.
Moreover, in the said invention, it is good also as the cutoff band of the said other band cut filter agree | coinciding with the transmission band of one state in a variable transmission band.

  According to the present invention, the fluorescence intensity in the variable transmission band can be obtained with high accuracy.

Hereinafter, a fluorescence observation apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 1, the fluorescence observation apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment is an endoscope system, and includes an insertion unit 2 that is inserted into a body cavity of a living body, and an imaging that is disposed in the insertion unit 2. The unit 3 includes a light source unit 4 that emits a plurality of types of light, a control unit 5 that controls the imaging unit 3 and the light source unit 4, and a display unit 6 that displays an image acquired by the imaging unit 3. .

The insertion portion 2 has a very thin outer dimension that can be inserted into a body cavity of a living body, and includes a light guide 7 that propagates light from the imaging unit 3 and the light source unit 4 to the distal end 2a.
The light source unit 4 illuminates the observation target in the body cavity and emits illumination light for obtaining reflected light reflected and returned from the observation target, and the observation target in the body cavity is irradiated and observed. An excitation light source 9 that excites a fluorescent substance existing in the target to generate fluorescence, and a light source control circuit 10 that controls these light sources 8 and 9 are provided.

  The illumination light source 8 is, for example, a combination of a xenon lamp and a bandpass filter (not shown), and the 50% transmission region of the bandpass filter is 450 to 480 nm. That is, the illumination light source 8 generates illumination light having a wavelength band of 450 to 480 nm.

The excitation light source 9 is, for example, a semiconductor laser that emits excitation light having a peak wavelength of 405 ± 5 nm, as shown in FIG. The excitation light having this wavelength can excite autofluorescent substances such as porphyrin and collagen that are naturally present in the living body.
The light source control circuit 10 alternately turns on and off the illumination light source 8 and the excitation light source 9 at a predetermined timing according to a timing chart described later.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the imaging unit 3 includes an imaging optical system 11 that collects light incident from the observation target A, and an excitation light cut filter 12 that blocks excitation light incident from the observation target A. A band-cut filter 20, a variable spectral element 13 whose spectral characteristics can be changed by the operation of the control unit 5, and an imaging element 14 that captures the light collected by the imaging optical system 11 and converts it into an electrical signal. I have.

  The variable spectroscopic element 13 includes two flat plate-like optical members 13a and 13b that are arranged with a parallel interval and provided with a reflection film on the opposing surface, and an actuator 13c that changes the interval between the optical members 13a and 13b. Is a Fabry-Perot resonator. The actuator 13c is, for example, a piezoelectric element. The variable spectroscopic element 13 can change the wavelength band of the transmitted light by changing the distance between the optical members 13a and 13b by the operation of the actuator 13c.

  More specifically, the variable spectral element 13 has a transmittance wavelength characteristic as shown in FIG. The variable spectroscopic element 13 changes to two states according to a control signal from the control unit 5. In FIG. 3A, the wavelength characteristic indicated by the solid line and the wavelength characteristic indicated by the broken line indicate the wavelength characteristics when the variable spectroscopic element 13 is changed to two states. In FIG. 3A, the wavelength characteristics of autofluorescence are shown superimposed.

The first state is a state in which the transmittance in the porphyrin-derived fluorescent region B (620 to 670 nm) in the variable transmission band is increased to 50% or more at the maximum to transmit porphyrin-derived fluorescence. The second state is a state in which the transmittance of the fluorescent region is lowered to 20% or less and the fluorescence of the fluorescent region B is blocked by moving a transmission band having a maximum transmittance of 50% or more to the long wavelength side. .
In other words, the variable spectroscopic element 13 has a variable transmission band in which the transmittance varies depending on the state in the wavelength band of 620 to 750 nm.

The variable spectroscopic element 13 has a transmittance of 50% or more in a wavelength band of 550 nm or less regardless of the first and second states.
In other words, the variable spectroscopic element 13 has a fixed transmission band in which the transmittance does not change regardless of the state in a wavelength band of 550 nm or less.

  The fixed transmission band is located in the collagen-derived fluorescent region C (450 to 550 nm), and the transmittance is fixed to 60% or more in this wavelength band. Therefore, the variable spectroscopic element 13 can transmit fluorescence derived from collagen toward the imaging element 14 in both cases of the first and second states.

As shown in FIG. 3A, in the transition region (550 to 600 nm) arranged between the fixed transmission band and the variable transmission band, the transmittance characteristic is changed according to the change in the state of the variable spectroscopic element 13. It has fluctuated. Therefore, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3C, the band cut filter 20 has an OD value of 2 or more (= transmittance of 1 × 10 ⁻² or less) in the wavelength band of 550 to 600 nm. Is set.

Thereby, the fluorescence of the wavelength included in the transition region is blocked by the band cut filter 20, and the fluorescence of the wavelength included in the fixed transmission band and the variable transmission band passes through the band cut filter 20 and is acquired by the imaging element 14. It is like that.
As shown in FIG. 3B, the excitation light cut filter 12 has an OD value of 4 or more (= transmittance 1 × 10 ⁻⁴ or less) and a wavelength band of 450 to 750 nm in a wavelength band of 400 to 450 nm. The transmittance is set to 80% or more.
Note that FIG. 3E is a diagram in which the transmittance characteristic and the wavelength characteristic of fluorescence are superimposed on the variable spectroscopic element 13, the excitation light cut filter 12, and the band cut filter 20.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the control unit 5 is acquired by an image sensor driving circuit 15 for driving and controlling the image sensor 14, a variable spectral element control circuit 16 for driving and controlling the variable spectral element 13, and the image sensor 14. A frame memory 17 for storing the image information, and an image processing circuit 18 for processing the image information stored in the frame memory 17 and outputting it from the display unit 6.

The imaging element driving circuit 15 and the variable spectral element control circuit 16 are connected to the light source control circuit 10 and are synchronized with the switching of the illumination light source 8 and the excitation light source 9 by the light source control circuit 10. The image pickup device 14 is driven and controlled.
Specifically, as shown in the timing chart of FIG. 4, when excitation light is emitted from the excitation light source 9 by the operation of the light source control circuit 10, the variable spectral element control circuit 16 causes the variable spectral element 13 to As a first state over a predetermined time, the image sensor drive circuit 15 outputs image information output from the image sensor 14 to the first frame memory 17a. Next, the variable spectroscopic element control circuit 16 sets the variable spectroscopic element 13 to the second state after a predetermined time has elapsed, and causes the image sensor driving circuit 15 to output image information output from the image sensor 14 to the second frame memory 17b. It has become.

  When illumination light is emitted from the illumination light source 8, the variable spectral element control circuit 16 maintains the variable spectral element 13 in the second state, and the image sensor driving circuit 15 is output from the image sensor 14. Image information is output to the third frame memory 17c.

  The image processing circuit 18 receives, for example, fluorescence image information obtained by irradiation with excitation light from the first and second frame memories 17a and 17b, performs a difference calculation, and obtains the obtained difference fluorescence image information. The fluorescent image information received from the second frame memory 17b is output to the first channel of the display unit 6 to the second channel of the display unit 6, respectively. Further, the image processing circuit 18 receives reflected light image information obtained by irradiation of illumination light from the third frame memory 17 c and outputs it to the third channel of the display unit 6.

The operation of the fluorescence observation apparatus 1 according to this embodiment configured as described above will be described below.
In order to image the imaging target A in the body cavity of the living body using the fluorescence observation apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, the insertion unit 2 is inserted into the body cavity, and the distal end 2a thereof is opposed to the imaging object A in the body cavity. . In this state, the light source unit 4 and the control unit 5 are operated, and the light source control circuit 10 is operated to alternately operate the illumination light source 8 and the excitation light source 9 to generate illumination light and excitation light, respectively.

Excitation light and illumination light generated in the light source unit 4 are propagated through the light guide 7 to the distal end 2a of the insertion portion 2, and are irradiated toward the imaging target A from the distal end 2a of the insertion portion 2.
When the imaging object A is irradiated with excitation light, an autofluorescent substance such as porphyrin or collagen that is naturally present in the imaging object A is excited and emits fluorescence. The fluorescence emitted from the imaging target A is collected by the imaging optical system 11 of the imaging unit 3, passes through the excitation light cut filter 12 and the band cut filter 20, and enters the variable spectral element 13.

Since the variable spectroscopic element 13 is first switched to the first state in synchronism with the operation of the excitation light source 9 by the operation of the variable spectroscopic element control circuit 16, the transmittance of the porphyrin-derived fluorescence is increased. It is possible to transmit the incident fluorescence together with the collagen-derived fluorescence. In this case, a part of the excitation light irradiated to the imaging target A is reflected by the imaging target A and enters the imaging unit 3 together with the fluorescence. The imaging unit 3 is provided with the excitation light cut filter 12. Therefore, the excitation light is blocked and is prevented from entering the image sensor 14.
And the fluorescence which permeate | transmitted the variable spectroscopy element 13 injects into the image pick-up element 14, and fluorescence image information is acquired. The acquired fluorescent image information is stored in the first frame memory 17a.

  Next, when the variable spectroscopic element 13 is switched to the second state by the operation of the variable spectroscopic element control circuit 16, the transmittance for the porphyrin-derived fluorescence is reduced, so that only the collagen-derived fluorescence can be transmitted. . The fluorescence transmitted through the variable spectroscopic element 13 is incident on the image sensor 14 and fluorescence image information is acquired. The acquired fluorescence image information is stored in the second frame memory 17b.

  The image processing circuit 18 receives the fluorescence image information from the first and second frame memories 17a and 17b, and performs a difference calculation. The first frame memory 17a stores fluorescence image information including both collagen-derived fluorescence and porphyrin-derived fluorescence, and the second frame memory 17b stores fluorescence image information including only collagen-derived fluorescence. Therefore, the fluorescence image information including only the porphyrin-derived fluorescence can be calculated by calculating the difference between the two.

  The calculated fluorescence image information including only the porphyrin-derived fluorescence is output from the image processing circuit 18 to the first channel of the display unit 6 and includes only the collagen-derived fluorescence stored in the second frame memory 17b. The fluorescent image information is output from the image processing circuit 18 to the second channel of the display unit 6 and displayed.

  In this case, according to the fluorescence observation apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, since the band-cut filter 20 that blocks the light having the wavelength in the transition region between the fixed transmission region and the variable transmission region is provided, It is possible to prevent the transmittance wavelength characteristics of the transition region from changing due to a change in state. As a result, there is an advantage that fluorescence image information including only porphyrin-derived fluorescence can be accurately calculated by the difference calculation by the image processing circuit 18.

  On the other hand, when the illuminating light is irradiated onto the photographic subject A, the illuminating light is reflected on the surface of the photographic subject A, collected by the imaging optical system 11, and transmitted through the excitation light cut filter 12 and the band cut filter 20. , And enters the variable spectroscopic element 13. Since the wavelength band of the reflected light of the illumination light is located in the fixed transmission band of the variable spectral element 13, all the reflected light incident on the variable spectral element 13 is transmitted through the variable spectral element 13.

  And the reflected light which permeate | transmitted the variable spectroscopy element 13 injects into the image pick-up element 14, and reflected light image information is acquired. The acquired reflected light image information is stored in the third frame memory 17 c, output to the third channel of the display unit 6 by the image processing circuit 18, and displayed on the display unit 6.

Thus, according to the fluorescence observation apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, it is possible to provide the user with an image obtained by synthesizing the two types of autofluorescent substances derived from the autofluorescence image and the reflected light image.
In this case, according to the fluorescence observation apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, the variable spectroscopic element 13 that changes the light transmittance characteristic only by changing the interval between the flat optical members 13a and 13b is used. An extremely small variable spectroscopic element 13 and imaging element 14 can be arranged at the distal end 2a of the insertion portion 2. Therefore, it is not necessary to take out the fluorescence and reflected light from the imaging target A outside the body using the fiber bundle.

  In the present embodiment, since the state of the variable spectral element 13 is switched in synchronization with the switching of the light sources 8 and 9 in the light source unit 4, a plurality of types of light having different wavelength bands are photographed by the same imaging element 14. can do. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide a plurality of photographing optical systems corresponding to fluorescence and reflected light. As a result, the insertion portion 2 can be reduced in diameter.

  In addition, since there is external light that passes through living tissue even within the body cavity of a living body, it is important to reduce noise especially when observing faint light such as fluorescence observation. In the embodiment, by providing the variable spectroscopic element 13 in the imaging unit 3, light other than the wavelength to be observed can always be shielded even if the wavelength band to be observed changes, so that a good image with reduced noise is obtained. be able to.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the illumination light source 8 generates illumination light having a wavelength band of 450 to 480 nm. Since this wavelength band includes the absorption band of hemoglobin, when the reflected light is imaged, information such as the structure of a blood vessel that is relatively close to the surface of the living body can be acquired.

  In the fluorescence observation apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, in the imaging unit 3, the imaging optical system 11, the excitation light cut filter 12, the band cut filter 20, and the variable spectral element 13 are arranged in this order from the distal end 2a side of the insertion portion 2. However, the arrangement order of these components is not limited to this, and any arrangement order can be adopted.

  In the fluorescence observation apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, the band cut filter 20 that blocks light in the transition region between the fixed transmission band and the variable transmission band of the variable spectroscopic element 13 is used. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, another band cut filter 21 that blocks light in the wavelength band on the long wavelength side of the variable transmission band may be provided. As the band cut filter 21, for example, a filter that blocks light in a wavelength band of 650 to 740 nm is employed.

By doing so, it is possible to reduce the amount of porphyrin-derived fluorescence acquired by the imaging element 14 in the second state of the variable spectroscopic element 13, and to perform the difference calculation in the image processing circuit 18 with higher accuracy. There is an advantage that you can.
In addition, by doing this, there is an advantage that the movement of the region where the transmittance becomes high can be minimized in the variable transmission region.
In place of the band cut filter 21, a low pass filter may be employed.

  In addition, the fluorescence observation apparatus 1 of the present invention is not limited to a scope type having the imaging element 14 at the distal end of the insertion portion 2 to be inserted into a body cavity of a living body, and includes a light source portion, an imaging means, and a variable spectroscopy means. The present invention may be applied to a capsule type that is provided in one casing and can be inserted into the body cavity of the living body together with the casing.

1 is a block diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a fluorescence observation apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the structure inside the imaging unit of the fluorescence observation apparatus of FIG. It is a figure which shows the transmittance | permeability characteristic of each optical component which comprises the fluorescence observation apparatus of FIG. 1, and the wavelength characteristic of fluorescence. It is a timing chart explaining operation | movement of the fluorescence observation apparatus of FIG. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the modification of the imaging unit of the fluorescence observation apparatus of FIG. It is a figure which shows the transmittance | permeability characteristic which combined each optical component which comprises the fluorescence observation apparatus of FIG. 5, and the wavelength characteristic of fluorescence.

Explanation of symbols

A Imaging object 1 Fluorescence observation device 9 Light source for excitation light (excitation light source)
12 Excitation light cut filter 13 Variable spectroscopic element (Fabry-Perot resonator)
13a, 13b Optical member 14 Image sensor (photodetector)
20, 21 Band cut filter

Claims (5)

An excitation light source that emits excitation light;
Between the variable transmission band where the wavelength of the transmitted light changes by changing the surface spacing of the optical members facing each other with a gap between them, and the fixed transmission band where the wavelength of the transmitted light does not change regardless of the change in the surface spacing A Fabry-Perot resonator comprising a transition band to be
An excitation light cut filter that blocks the passage of excitation light;
A band cut filter including the transition band and having a cutoff band not including the wavelength of the excitation light;
A fluorescence observation apparatus comprising: a Fabry-Perot resonator, an excitation light cut filter, and a photodetector that detects fluorescence transmitted through the band cut filter.   The fluorescence observation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a cutoff band of the band cut filter is located in a band between respective fluorescence peak wavelengths of porphyrin and collagen.   The fluorescence observation apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising another band cut filter having a cutoff band in a long wavelength side band in the variable transmission band.   The fluorescence observation apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a cutoff band of the other band cut filter is disposed on a longer wavelength side than the fluorescence band of porphyrin.   The fluorescence observation apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a cutoff band of the other band cut filter matches a transmission band in one state in the variable transmission band.

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