JP2012170488A - Endoscope apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an endoscope apparatus in which the white balance of a picked-up image does not change even if the light emission wavelength of first narrow band light varies or the irradiation light quantity of the first narrow band light changes or the fluorescent characteristics of a phosphor change with time.SOLUTION: The endoscope apparatus includes: a first light source 42 irradiating first narrow band light with excitation wavelength; a second light source 44; wavelength detecting means 37, 39, 47 detecting and storing the excitation wavelength; the phosphor 20 excited to emit fluorescent light, changing in fluorescent characteristics according to variation in the irradiation light quantity and variation in excitation wavelength, and changing with time according to an actual operating time; a fluorescent characteristic storage part 29 having an operating time storage part 61 and a change-with-time table 63 and storing fluorescent characteristics; an imaging part 26 imaging and outputting picked-up image signals; and a control part 50 computing aging fluorescent characteristics and controlling the irradiation light quantity of the second light source 44 based on the aging fluorescent characteristics of the phosphor 20 due to the irradiation light quantity of the first light source 42 so that the white balance of the picked-up image signal has a reference value.

Description

  The present invention provides a light source device including a light source device that mixes narrow-band wavelength excitation light emitted from an excitation light source such as a laser light source and fluorescence light excited from the excitation light and emitted from a phosphor to produce white illumination light. The present invention relates to a mirror device.

  As a light source device used for an endoscope device, for example, a white light source device using a light emitting diode or a semiconductor laser diode as a light source has been developed. A white light source device excites a phosphor with excitation light (for example, blue laser light) emitted from a light source to generate fluorescence such as green, yellow, and red, and mixes excitation light and fluorescent light to generate white light. (Pseudo white light) is created.

Conventionally, xenon lamps and metal halide lamps have been used as the light source for the illuminating unit that illuminates the inside of a body cavity in an endoscopic device. In order to achieve this, the use of a white light source device using an excitation light source such as a light emitting diode or a semiconductor laser diode as a light source has become active.
In addition, a white light source device using a light emitting diode or a semiconductor laser diode has an advantage that a calorific value is suppressed lower than that of a xenon lamp or a metal halide lamp, and changes in the endoscope due to the heat generation can be suppressed.

  In Patent Document 1, as described above, in the white light source device using the excitation light source, when the oscillation wavelength of the excitation light in the excitation light source varies between the white light source devices, the light emission amount of the phosphor changes, and as a result, the light is finally output. There is a problem that the amount of light and chromaticity of the white light to be changed. On the other hand, in Patent Document 1, a driving current for driving the excitation light source is input as a pulse, and the amount of emitted light is made constant by changing at least one of the number of pulses, the pulse width, the pulse amplitude, and the duty ratio, The color of white light between the white light source devices is stabilized, and the white balance of the captured image is stabilized. The light quantity is a concept including not only the emission intensity but also the emission spectrum.

JP 2009-56248 A

When the phosphor used in the white light source device changes at least one of the oscillation wavelength and emission intensity from the excitation light source, the fluorescence characteristics change, and as a result, the emission spectrum of the white light finally output changes, and imaging There is a problem that the white balance of the image changes. Here, the fluorescence characteristics refer to the characteristics of the phosphor including the emission intensity of the fluorescent light and the amount of emitted light.
In particular, when the white balance of the captured image is set on the basis of the case where the excitation light amount is maximized, the excitation light amount is reduced to irradiate light with insufficient bluishness and not suitable for diagnosis. End up. The excitation light amount is a concept including the emission intensity of the excitation light, and the excitation light refers to light that causes the phosphor to emit fluorescence.

The method described in Patent Document 1 can always obtain illumination light having an appropriate light amount and chromaticity based on the accumulated light amount and chromaticity of white light, and a white light source device having different oscillation wavelengths (emission wavelengths) of excitation light. In the meantime, this is an effective method for correcting variations in the appearance of an image by correcting the accumulated light amount and chromaticity of white light due to variations in the oscillation wavelength of excitation light and stabilizing the color. However, in the method of Patent Document 1, for example, when the pulse amplitude is greatly changed, the chromaticity changes greatly, and it may be difficult to correct the change in chromaticity by changing the number of pulses and the pulse width. Many (see Patent Document 1, FIG. 12, etc.).
In other words, as soon as the excitation light amount is changed, the emission intensity and the emission light amount of the fluorescent light change, the chromaticity of the white light irradiated to the subject changes, and the white balance of the captured image also changes. It cannot be said that it works well in an endoscope apparatus in which the excitation light amount needs to be changed greatly according to the distance and reflectance of the subject.

  And since the change in white light with respect to the change in the amount of excitation light described above differs depending on the emission wavelength of the excitation light, the effect is particularly noticeable when the combination of the white light source device and the endoscope is changed in the market. appear.

In addition, the above-mentioned phosphors are used, and it is known that the fluorescence characteristics, particularly the emission intensity, change over time. The fluorescence characteristics measured at the time of endoscope manufacture and the use in the market In some cases, the fluorescence characteristics of the endoscope used are different.
In this way, when an endoscope including a phosphor having a changed fluorescence characteristic is imaged with an excitation light amount that can be assumed at the time of manufacture, the emission spectrum of white light changes as described above, and the white balance of the captured image is changed. There is a problem that changes.

  Therefore, the present invention mixes the first narrow-band light emitted from the first light source and the first fluorescent light emitted from the phosphor excited by the first narrow-band light to obtain illumination light. An endoscope apparatus including a light source device, and even if the emission wavelength of the first narrowband light is changed by changing the combination of the light source device and the endoscope, the first narrowband It is an object of the present invention to provide an endoscope apparatus in which the white balance of a captured image does not change even if the amount of light irradiation is changed and the fluorescence characteristics of the phosphor change over time.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, the present invention is a first light source that irradiates a first narrowband light having a first narrowband wavelength, which is different from the first light source. A second light source that emits a second narrowband light having a second wavelength, and a wavelength detector that detects and stores the first wavelength of the first narrowband light from the first light source. And the first wavelength is within a predetermined variation range with respect to the first central emission wavelength of the first light source, and at least one of the first narrowband light. And is excited by the first narrowband light functioning as excitation light and emits first fluorescent light having a wavelength band different from the first wavelength, which is an excitation wavelength, Fluorescence characteristics according to the amount of narrow-band light irradiation and the variation of the excitation wavelength with respect to the first central emission wavelength A fluorescent material whose fluorescent characteristics change over time according to the usage time, a usage time storage unit that stores the actual usage time of the fluorescent material, and a temporal change table that records temporal changes in the fluorescent properties of the fluorescent material. , A fluorescence characteristic storage unit that stores a first fluorescence characteristic of the phosphor that changes in response to fluctuations in the amount of excitation light irradiation and the excitation wavelength, and the excitation light and the phosphor that have passed through the phosphor From a subject irradiated with illumination light, the light mixed with the first fluorescent light emitted at, or the light mixed with the excitation light and the first fluorescent light, and the second narrowband light, An endoscope that has an imaging unit that captures an image with the return light of the illumination light and outputs the captured image signal; and reads out the excitation wavelength from the wavelength detection unit of the light source device; and fluorescence characteristics of the endoscope Storage Reading out the first fluorescence characteristic of the phosphor with respect to fluctuations of the excitation light amount and the excitation wavelength of the excitation light having the readout excitation wavelength, and reading the phosphor of the phosphor from the usage time storage unit The actual usage time was read from the temporal change information of the phosphor from the temporal change table, the temporal change of the phosphor corresponding to the actual usage time was calculated, and the calculated temporal change was read. A first temporal fluorescence characteristic is calculated from the first fluorescent characteristic, and from the first light source, the captured image signal maintains a reference white balance from the calculated first temporal fluorescence characteristic. The irradiation light amount of the second narrowband light from the second light source added to the irradiation light amount of the excitation light is calculated so as to be the calculated irradiation light amount of the second narrowband light. Said second light An endoscope apparatus comprising: a processor device having a control unit for controlling a source.

  The second wavelength of the second narrowband light from the second light source of the light source device falls within a predetermined variation range with respect to a second central emission wavelength of the second light source. The wavelength detecting means further detects and stores the second wavelength of the second narrowband light from the second light source, and the phosphor further includes the second light source. And transmitting at least a part of the second narrowband light, being excited by the second narrowband light, and emitting a second fluorescent light having a wavelength band different from the second wavelength, and the second center The fluorescence characteristic changes according to the change of the second wavelength with respect to the emission wavelength, and the fluorescence characteristic storage unit further changes with respect to the change of the second wavelength of the second narrowband light. Storing the second fluorescence characteristic of the phosphor, the endoscope, As the illumination light, the excitation light, the first fluorescent light, and the light obtained by mixing the second narrowband light and the second fluorescent light are used, and the control unit of the processor device includes: The second wavelength is further read out from the light source information storage unit of the light source device, and further from the fluorescence characteristic storage unit of the endoscope, the phosphor of the phosphor with respect to the read variation in the second wavelength Reading the second fluorescence characteristic, calculating a second temporal fluorescence characteristic from the calculated temporal change and the read second fluorescent characteristic, and calculating the first and second of the calculated phosphor From the time-dependent fluorescence characteristics, from the second light source added to the irradiation light quantity of the first narrowband light from the first light source so that the captured image signal maintains a reference white balance. Irradiation light of the second narrowband light Is calculated, it is preferable that controls the second light source to the irradiation amount of the calculated second narrowband light.

  Moreover, it is preferable that the said fluorescence characteristic contains the emitted light quantity of the said fluorescence light.

  Furthermore, the processor device corrects the correspondence relationship between the irradiation light amount of the first light source and the irradiation light amount of the second light source necessary for maintaining the reference white balance of the captured image signal. A correction information storage unit that stores a table, and when the endoscope device is configured by connecting the light source device, the endoscope, and the processor device to each other in the market, the control unit includes: The first wavelength and the second wavelength detected and stored by the wavelength detection means, the first fluorescence characteristic of the phosphor stored in the fluorescence characteristic storage unit of the endoscope, and the first wavelength 2, and the actual use time of the phosphor stored in the use time storage unit and the time change information recorded in the time change table, respectively, 1 time Optical characteristics and the second temporal fluorescence characteristic are respectively calculated, the correction table is created and stored in the correction information storage unit, and the first light source is irradiated from the correction table and the first light source. It is preferable to obtain a necessary irradiation light amount of the second light source and control the irradiation light amount of the second light source based on the necessary irradiation light amount.

  The reference white balance is preferably the white balance of the captured image signal when irradiation from the second light source is stopped and the amount of light emitted from the first light source is maximized.

  The wavelength band of the second narrowband light is preferably on the shorter wavelength side than the wavelength band of the first narrowband light, and the first light source has a first wavelength of 445 ± 10 nm. It is preferable that the second light source is a blue-violet laser light source having a second wavelength in the range of 405 ± 10 nm.

  Further, it is preferable that the wavelength band of the second narrowband light is on the longer wavelength side than the wavelength band of the first narrowband light.

  Further, as the white balance, it is preferable to use a G / B ratio that is a ratio of a green light component and a blue light component of the captured image signal.

  The illumination light is preferably pseudo white light including a red light component, a green light component, and a blue light component in a predetermined wavelength band.

  The wavelength detecting means includes a first slope type dichroic filter having a first filter characteristic in which light transmittance changes in proportion to the wavelength corresponding to the wavelength band of the first narrowband light; A second slope-type dichroic filter having a second filter characteristic in which a light transmittance changes in proportion to a wavelength corresponding to a wavelength band of the second narrowband light; the first narrowband light; A rotary filter that transmits the second narrowband light as it is, and can be installed on the optical paths of the first and second narrowband lights by switching them, and installed downstream of the rotary filter. A light amount detection unit for detecting the amount of the irradiated first and second narrowband light, a first table in which the first filter characteristic is recorded, and a second table in which the second filter characteristic is recorded. 2 table and wavelength The first narrow-band light detected by the light amount detection unit and the first narrow-band light from the light amount after transmission through the first slope-type dichroic filter and the light amount after transmission through the transmission unit. Calculating the transmittance of the first slope-type dichroic filter of band light, calculating the first wavelength of the first narrowband light from the calculated transmittance and the first table, The second slope of the second narrowband light based on the amount of light after the second narrowband light detected by the light amount detection unit is transmitted through the second slope-type dichroic filter and the amount of light after transmission through the transmission unit. Calculating the transmittance of the type dichroic filter, calculating the second wavelength of the second narrowband light from the calculated transmittance and the second table, and calculating the calculated first wavelength and The second wavelength is the wavelength A wavelength calculation unit for storing the parts, it is preferably provided with a.

  According to the endoscope apparatus of the present invention, even if the emission wavelength of the excitation light in the light source is changed, the excitation light quantity of the phosphor is changed, and the fluorescence characteristics of the phosphor are changed. It is possible to acquire a captured image in which the color balance does not change and the white balance is maintained.

1 is an external view showing a configuration of an endoscope apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the internal structure of the endoscope apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. (A) is a wavelength profile of the emission spectrum of the second fluorescent light in which the blue-violet laser light and the blue laser light from the blue-violet laser light source of the endoscope apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention are wavelength-converted by the phosphor. (B) is a graph which shows the wavelength profile of the emission spectrum of the 1st fluorescence light by which the blue laser beam from the blue laser light source of this invention and the blue laser beam were wavelength-converted with the fluorescent substance. . It is a schematic diagram which shows one Example of the rotation filter which has two types of slope type dichroic filters of the endoscope apparatus shown in FIG. It is a graph which shows the relationship (1st filter characteristic) of the transmittance | permeability of the 1st slope type | mold dichroic filter which comprises the rotation filter shown in FIG. 4, and the light emission wavelength of the 1st narrow-band light which is incident light. 5 is a graph showing the relationship (second filter characteristics) between the transmittance of the second slope-type dichroic filter constituting the rotary filter shown in FIG. 4 and the emission wavelength of second narrowband light that is incident light. It is a graph which shows the actual filter characteristic of the slope type dichroic filter shown in FIG. In the endoscope apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, a procedure for calculating correction table information for correcting an additional laser light amount (blue purple laser light irradiation amount) with respect to an excitation light amount (blue laser light irradiation light amount) has been defined. It is a flowchart. In the endoscope apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, it is an explanatory diagram in the case of measuring the fluorescence characteristics of the phosphor by calculating the white balance of the captured image (signal). (A) is the G / B ratio (G light component / B light component) of illumination light including the excitation light amount and the first fluorescent light from the phosphor in the endoscope apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. (B) shows a G / B ratio (G light component / B light) of illumination light including fluctuations in excitation wavelength and excitation light amount, and first fluorescent light from the phosphor. (C) is a graph showing the relationship between the fluctuation of the additional laser wavelength and the additional laser light amount, and the G / B ratio of the illumination light including the second fluorescent light from the phosphor. It is a graph to show. 6 is a graph showing changes (fluorescence change table) in fluorescence characteristics (light emission intensity) over time in the endoscope apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 10A to 10C are graphs of FIGS. 10A to 10C in the case where the change in fluorescence characteristics with time is reflected in the endoscope apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. D) is a graph showing the relationship between the excitation light amount and the additional laser light amount necessary for maintaining the captured image (signal) at the reference white balance. It is explanatory drawing explaining calculation of the time-dependent change of the fluorescence characteristic in the endoscope apparatus of this invention.

  An endoscope apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail below based on a preferred embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is an external view as an example of the endoscope apparatus of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining an embodiment of the endoscope apparatus of the present invention, and is a conceptual view of the endoscope apparatus. It is a block diagram.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, an endoscope apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an endoscope 11, a light source device 12, and a processor device 13. The processor device 13 is connected to a display unit 15 that displays image information and an input unit 17 that receives an input operation. The endoscope 11 includes an illumination optical system that irradiates illumination light from the distal end of the endoscope insertion portion 19 and an imaging optical system that includes an imaging element 26 (see FIG. 2) that captures an observation region. It is a endoscope.
Illumination light refers to light emitted from the endoscope 11 toward the subject regardless of narrow-band light or white light.

  The endoscope 11 includes a flexible endoscope insertion portion 19 that is inserted into a subject, an operation portion 23 that performs an operation for bending and observing the distal end of the endoscope insertion portion 19, and Connector portions 25A and 25B are provided for detachably connecting the endoscope 11 to the light source device 12 and the processor device 13. Although not shown, various channels such as a forceps channel for inserting a tissue collection treatment instrument and the like, a channel for air supply / water supply, and the like are provided inside the operation unit 23 and the endoscope insertion unit 19. .

  The endoscope insertion portion 19 includes a flexible soft portion 31, a bending portion 33, and a distal end portion (hereinafter also referred to as an endoscope distal end) 35. As shown in FIG. 2, the endoscope tip 35 has an irradiation port 21 that irradiates illumination light to the observation region, a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) image sensor that acquires image information of the observation region, and a CMOS (Complementary). An image sensor 26 such as a metal-oxide semiconductor (image sensor) is disposed. In the back of the irradiation port 21, a phosphor 20 that emits fluorescence upon receiving excitation light from the light source device 12 is disposed at the tip of the optical fiber 18, and an objective lens unit 24 is disposed on the light receiving surface of the image sensor 26. The

In addition, as shown in FIG. 2, the endoscope 11 serves as a signal processing system for an image signal of a captured image from the image sensor 26, and performs correlated double sampling (CDS) and automatic gain control on a captured image signal that is an analog signal. A CDS / AGC circuit 27 for performing (AGC), and an A / D converter (A / D converter) 28 for converting an analog image signal subjected to sampling and gain control in the CDS / AGC circuit 27 into a digital image signal And a fluorescence characteristic storage unit 29 that stores the fluorescence characteristics of the phosphor 20 described above. The fluorescence characteristic storage unit 29 includes a use time storage unit 61 and a temporal change table 63. The usage time storage unit 61 obtains information on the time when the phosphor 20 was irradiated with light from the light source device 12 from the processor device 13 during use, and stores the actual usage time of the endoscope 11. The temporal change table 63 is a table that stores temporal changes in the fluorescence characteristics of the phosphor 20.
When the endoscope 11 and the processor device 13 are connected, the fluorescence characteristic storage unit 29 stores information on the fluorescence characteristics of the fluorescent material 20 specific to each endoscope 11, information on the actual usage time, and the temporal change table. Information is output to the processor unit 13. The digital image signal A / D converted by the A / D converter 28 is input to the image processing unit 52 of the processor device 13 via the connector unit 25B.

  The bending portion 33 is provided between the soft portion 31 and the distal end portion 35 and is freely bent by the rotation operation of the angle knob 22 disposed in the operation portion 23. The bending portion 33 can be bent in an arbitrary direction and an arbitrary angle according to a part of the subject in which the endoscope 11 is used, and observation of the irradiation port 21 of the endoscope tip 35 and the imaging element 26. The direction can be directed to the desired observation site. Although illustration is omitted, a cover glass or a lens is disposed at the irradiation port 21 of the endoscope insertion portion 19.

  The light source device 12 generates illumination light to be supplied to the irradiation port 21 of the endoscope distal end 35, and the processor device 13 includes an image processing unit 52 that performs image processing on an image signal from the imaging element 26. The light source device 12 is connected to the endoscope 11 via the connector portion 25A, and the processor device 13 is connected to the endoscope 11 via the connector portion 25B. In addition, a rotation filter 37 (see FIG. 2) and a light amount detection unit 39 (see FIG. 2) are provided on the connector section 25A side.

  The display unit 15 and the input unit 17 are connected to the processor device 13. The processor device 13 performs image processing on the imaging signal transmitted from the endoscope 11 based on an instruction from the input unit 17 or the operation unit 23, and generates and supplies a display image to the display unit 15.

As shown in FIG. 2, the light source device 12 includes a blue laser light source (LD1) 42 as a first light source and a blue-violet laser light source (LD2) 44 as a second light source. Specifically, the blue laser light source 42 is a laser diode that emits blue laser light having a central emission wavelength λ ₁ (445 nm) as first narrowband light, and is installed at the endoscope tip 35 as an excitation light source. It acts as excitation light that causes a phosphor 20 described later to emit fluorescence. The blue laser light is mixed with the first fluorescent light that is fluorescently emitted, and is irradiated to the subject as white (pseudo white) irradiation light.

The blue-violet laser light source 44 is a laser diode that emits blue-violet laser light having a central emission wavelength λ ₀ (405 nm) as second narrowband light, and a B light component ( As additional laser light that compensates for the shortage of the blue light component), a captured image picked up by the return light from the subject by illumination light is irradiated to maintain the reference white balance in a predetermined range.
In addition, a part of the second narrowband light from the blue-violet laser light source 44 also acts as excitation light that causes a phosphor 20 (described later) installed at the endoscope distal end 35 to emit fluorescence. The amount of emitted light is about 1/20 as compared with the first fluorescent light described above. The second fluorescent light is also applied to the subject as part of the illumination light.

The actual blue laser light source 42 and blue violet laser light source 44 are often slightly shifted from their ideal center emission wavelengths λ ₁ and λ _{0 in} the individual light source devices 12. Therefore, the actual wavelength of the first narrowband light emitted from the blue laser light source 42 is set as the first wavelength, and the actual wavelength of the second narrowband light emitted from the blue-violet laser light source 44 is set as the second wavelength. The wavelength.
Further, the deviation from the central emission wavelength of each of the first wavelength and the second wavelength is regarded as a fluctuation, and the maximum width of the deviation that can be assumed is expressed as ± Δλ as a predetermined fluctuation range. Therefore, when the above-described central emission wavelengths λ ₁ and λ ₀ are used, the first wavelength is in the range of λ ₁ ± Δλ, and the second wavelength is in the range of λ ₀ ± Δλ.

  As the blue laser light source 42 and the blue-violet laser light source 44, a broad area type InGaN laser diode can be used, and an InGaNAs laser diode or a GaNAs laser diode can also be used. In addition, a light-emitting body such as a light-emitting diode may be used as the light source.

  The light emission from the blue laser light source 42 and the blue violet laser light source 44 is individually controlled by the light source control unit 40, and the light amount ratio between the irradiation light amount of the blue laser light source 42 and the irradiation light amount of the blue violet laser light source 44. Is changeable.

  The blue laser light and the blue-violet laser light emitted from the blue laser light source 42 and the blue-violet laser light source 44 are respectively input to the optical fiber 18 by a condenser lens (not shown), and are combined by a multiplexer 46. It is transmitted to the connector portion 25A. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the configuration may be such that the laser light from the blue laser light source 42 and the blue-violet laser light source 44 is sent directly to the connector portion 25A without using the multiplexer 46.

  The combined light obtained by combining the first narrowband light and the second narrowband light supplied to the connector unit 25A is transmitted to the endoscope tip 35 of the endoscope 11 via the optical fiber 18. Is done.

The blue laser light source 42 and the blue-violet laser light source 44 of the light source device 12 vary slightly from their ideal central emission wavelengths λ ₁ and λ ₀ even during manufacturing, and further, as the time passes, the light emission is further increased. It is assumed that the wavelength shifts.

  The light source device 12 is a rotary filter having two types of slope dichroic filters in order to detect the first wavelength that is the emission wavelength of the blue laser light source 42 and the second wavelength that is the emission wavelength of the blue-violet laser light source 44. 37, a wavelength detection unit including a light amount detection unit 39 and a wavelength calculation unit 47 is provided.

Rotary filter 37, as shown in FIG. 4, the first slope type dichroic filter having a first filter characteristic that assumes the transmission of the central light emission wavelength lambda ₁ of the narrow-band light (hereinafter, referred to as first filter) 37A And a second slope type dichroic filter (hereinafter referred to as a second filter) 37B having a second filter characteristic assuming transmission of a narrow band light having a center wavelength λ ₀ , and a transmission part 37T, It is rotated by the rotating means 49 according to an instruction from the control unit 40, and three types of filters are switched and used.

The light amount detection unit 39 is the light amount of the first narrow-band light emitted from the blue laser light source 42 and is transmitted through the transmission unit 37T of the rotary filter 37 and the first filter 37A. In this case, the amount of light is detected and output to the wavelength calculation unit 47.
Similarly, in the case of the blue-violet laser light source 44, the light amount of the second narrow-band light, that is, the light amount when passing through the transmission part 37T of the rotary filter 37 and the light amount when passing through the second filter 37B. The amount of light is detected and output to the wavelength calculation unit 47.

  The wavelength calculation unit 47 includes a first table 65A in which the first filter characteristics are recorded and a second table 65B in which the second filter characteristics are recorded, and the transmittance is obtained when the light is transmitted through the transmission unit 37T of the rotary filter 37. 100% is obtained from the light amount after passing through the first filter 37A and the second filter 37B, and the respective emission wavelengths of the blue laser light source 42 and the blue violet laser light source 44 are calculated. Information on the first wavelength of the blue laser light source 42 and the second wavelength of the blue-violet laser light source 44 calculated by the wavelength calculation unit 47 is stored in the wavelength storage unit 67, and the control unit of the processor device 13 as necessary. 50 is output. Moreover, you may memorize | store in the correction information storage part 54 of the control part 50 as needed.

The first filter 37A is a filter whose transmittance changes according to the emission wavelength of the first narrow-band light to be transmitted. As shown in the graph of FIG. 5 showing the first filter characteristics, the first filter 37A starts to transmit light from the emission wavelength of about 435 nm, and transmits all the light from the emission wavelength of 455 nm and thereafter.
Therefore, in the first narrowband light, the irradiation light amount is constant, and the light amount detection unit 39 transmits the first filter 37A and the light amount detected when transmitted through the transmission unit 37T (first filter). The first wavelength transmitted through the first filter 37A by calculating the transmittance of the irradiated first narrow-band light in the wavelength calculation unit 47 from the amount of light detected when 37A is not used) Can be calculated.

The second filter 37B is also a filter whose transmittance changes according to the emission wavelength of the second narrowband light that is transmitted. As shown in the graph of FIG. 6 showing the second filter characteristic, the second filter 37B starts to transmit light from the emission wavelength of approximately 395 nm and transmits all the light from the emission wavelength of 415 nm and thereafter.
Similarly to the case of the first narrowband light described above, the second wavelength transmitted through the second filter 37B can be calculated by calculating the transmittance of the second narrowband light. .

  The characteristics of the first and second slope type dichroic filters shown in the graphs of FIGS. 5 and 6 are ideal, and the actual characteristics are as shown in FIG.

  FIG. 7 is a graph showing actual characteristics of the first slope type dichroic filter 37A corresponding to light in the wavelength band of 435 to 455 nm shown in FIG. 5, and the first slope type dichroic filter 37A is shown in FIG. It can be seen that a substantially linear characteristic is exhibited in the vicinity of 445 nm.

  Also, in the area where the filter characteristics of these slope-type dichroic filters deviate from the linear characteristics, the initial characteristics of the slope-type dichroic filter are measured in advance, the initial characteristic data is stored, and the measurement results are measured when measuring the wavelength. If corrected and used based on the aforementioned initial characteristic data, the emission wavelength of the narrow band light can be obtained from the transmittance characteristic.

In the normal observation mode, which is normal endoscopic observation, no wavelength detecting means is used, but the emission wavelengths of the blue laser light source 42 and the blue violet laser light source 44 (variations ± Δλ from the central emission wavelengths λ ₁ and λ _0). These wavelength detection means are used in the calibration mode for detecting (). The wavelength detection of the light source device 12 in the calibration mode will be briefly described later.
The normal observation mode and the calibration mode are switched by an input unit of the light source device 12 (not shown).

The calibration mode will be briefly described below.
In the calibration mode, the light emission wavelengths λ ₁ ± Δλ and λ ₀ ± Δλ of the blue laser light source 42 and the blue-violet laser light source 44 can be detected by the light source device 12 alone.

  First, the case of obtaining the emission wavelength of the first narrowband light will be described. When the light source device 12 is set to the calibration mode by the input unit of the light source device 12 (not shown), the rotation filter 37 is rotated by the rotation unit 49 according to an instruction from the light source control unit 40, and the first filter 37A is Installed in front of the light quantity detector 39.

  Next, according to an instruction from the light source control unit 40, the first narrowband light is emitted, passes through the first filter 37 </ b> A, and is detected by the light amount detection unit 39. In the above-described light amount detection unit 39, the light amount of the first narrowband light transmitted through the first filter 37A is detected.

Next, in accordance with an instruction from the light source control unit 40, the rotary filter 37 is rotated by the rotation unit 49, and the transmission unit 37 </ b> T is installed in front of the light amount detection unit 39.
Similarly to the above, the light amount detection unit 39 detects the light amount of the first narrowband light transmitted through the transmission unit 37T.

  The light amount of the first narrowband light when transmitted through the first filter 37A and the light amount of the first narrowband light when transmitted through the transmission unit 37T are output to the wavelength calculation unit 47, respectively. The transmittance of the first filter 37A for one narrowband light is calculated. Then, the wavelength calculation unit 47 calculates the first wavelength, which is the emission wavelength of the first narrowband light, from the above-described transmittance and the first table 65 A, and stores it in the wavelength storage unit 67.

In the case of obtaining the emission wavelength of the second narrowband light, the second filter 37B is similarly installed, and the second narrowband 65B is determined from the transmittance calculated by the wavelength calculation unit 47 and the second table 65B. The second wavelength, which is the emission wavelength of the band light, is calculated and stored in the wavelength storage unit 67 as well.
The above is the operation when the emission wavelengths of the blue laser light source 42 and the blue-violet laser light source 44 are detected by the wavelength detection means of the light source device 12 in the calibration mode.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the phosphor 20 is disposed at a position of the endoscope tip 35 facing the light irradiation end of the optical fiber 18. The phosphor 20 functions as a wavelength conversion member. That is, the blue laser light from the blue laser light source 42 supplied from the optical fiber 18 excites the phosphor 20 to emit fluorescent light. Some of the blue laser light passes through the phosphor 20 as it is. On the other hand, the blue-violet laser light from the blue-violet laser light source 44 passes through the phosphor 20 almost without being excited as described above.

  The optical fiber 18 is a multimode fiber, and as an example, a thin cable having a core diameter of 105 μm, a cladding diameter of 125 μm, and a diameter including a protective layer serving as an outer shell of φ0.3 to 0.5 mm can be used.

The phosphor 20 functions as a wavelength conversion member, and emits fluorescent light upon receiving narrowband light acting as excitation light, as described above. The phosphor 20 mainly includes a plurality of types of phosphors that absorb part of the energy of the blue laser light and emit fluorescent light from green to yellow. As a specific example of the phosphor 20, for example, a YAG phosphor, a phosphor containing BAM (BaMgAl ₁₀ O ₁₇ ), or the like can be used. Therefore, white (pseudo white) illumination light is obtained as a result of the combination of the green to yellow first fluorescent light that uses blue laser light as excitation light and the blue laser light that is transmitted without being absorbed by the phosphor 20. Is irradiated from the irradiation port 21 of the endoscope front end 35. If a blue laser light source is used as an excitation light source as in this embodiment, white light with a high light emission amount can be obtained with high light emission efficiency, and the light emission amount of white light can be easily adjusted.

The phosphor 20 described above can prevent the occurrence of noise superposition, which is an obstacle to imaging, or flickering when performing moving image display, due to speckle caused by the coherence of laser light. In addition, the phosphor 20 takes into account the difference in refractive index between the phosphor constituting the phosphor and the fixing / solidifying resin serving as the filler, and the particle size of the phosphor itself and the filler is set to light in the infrared region. In contrast, it is preferable to use a material that has low absorption and high scattering. As a result, the scattering effect is enhanced without reducing the light intensity with respect to light in the red or infrared region, and an optical path changing means such as a concave lens becomes unnecessary, and the optical loss is reduced.

  FIG. 3 shows a wavelength profile (A) that is an emission spectrum of the second fluorescent light in which the blue-violet laser light and the blue laser light from the blue-violet laser light source 44 are wavelength-converted by the phosphor 20 in the present embodiment, 4 is a graph showing a blue laser light from a blue laser light source and a wavelength profile (B) that is an emission spectrum of first fluorescent light in which the wavelength of the blue laser light is converted by the phosphor.

The blue laser light is represented by a bright line having a central emission wavelength of 445 nm, and the first fluorescent light from the phosphor 20 by the blue laser light has a spectral intensity distribution in which the emission intensity increases in a wavelength band of approximately 450 nm to 700 nm. The white light (pseudo white light) described above is formed by the profile B of the first fluorescent light and the blue laser light.
The blue-violet laser light is represented by a bright line having a central emission wavelength of 405 nm, and the second fluorescent light from the phosphor 20 caused by the blue-violet laser light is also 1/20 of the first fluorescent light as described above. However, the spectral intensity distribution increases in emission intensity in a wavelength band substantially equivalent to that of the first fluorescent light. Further, the profile A based on the second fluorescent light and the blue-violet laser light is irradiated as substantially blue-violet light alone because the light emission amount of the second fluorescent light is small as described above.

The illumination light composed of the profile A and the profile B is reflected by the subject and detected as a picked-up image signal by the image sensor 26 as return light.
As shown in FIG. 3, the profile A and the profile B are mainly composed of the B light component mainly composed of blue-violet laser light and blue laser light, and the undulating central portion of the first fluorescent light and the second fluorescent light. The G light component to be detected and the R light component mainly composed of the above-described undulating long-wavelength side portion are mainly classified and detected as captured image signals.

  As described above, the white balance of the captured image is a ratio of the signal intensities of these R light component, G light component, and B light component detected by the image sensor 26. Therefore, in order to maintain the reference white balance in the captured image, it is necessary to maintain the signal intensity ratio of the R light component, the G light component, and the B light component in the captured image within a predetermined range.

Moreover, in the fluorescent substance 20, it has been found that the emitted light quantity of the fluorescent light with respect to the excitation light quantity is not always constant, and the fluorescence characteristics of the fluorescent substance 20 change according to the excitation light quantity.
Here, the excitation light amount is the light amount of the excitation light, and the excitation light is a concept including not only the first narrowband light but also the second narrowband light added as the additional laser light. In the specification, hereinafter, the first narrow-band light and the light amount thereof are described as the excitation light and the excitation light amount, and the second narrow-band light and the light amount thereof are separately described as the additional laser light and the additional laser light amount.

In addition, as described above, the white balance of the captured image changes depending on the excitation light amount. Therefore, in order to maintain the captured image at the reference white balance by irradiating the additional laser light, the white balance changes with respect to the excitation light amount and the additional laser light amount. Information is required.
Therefore, in the endoscope 11, the change in white balance in the captured image when the white plate is imaged with respect to the excitation light amount and the additional laser light amount is calculated as a graph, and information on the graph is used as the fluorescence characteristics of the phosphor 20. Stored and used for adjustment of additional laser light quantity with respect to excitation light quantity.
Here, the fluorescence characteristics of the phosphor 20 can be broadly classified according to the oscillation wavelength. The first fluorescence characteristics for the excitation light and the second fluorescence characteristics for the additional laser light can be considered.

Note that the shapes of the wavelength profiles of the first fluorescent light and the second fluorescent light do not change so much with respect to the excitation light amount and the additional laser light amount, and the B light component of the excitation light and additional laser light that excites the phosphor 20. On the other hand, since the R light component and the G light component, which are mainly the first fluorescent light and the second fluorescent light, change at a substantially constant rate, the G light component and the B light component are used as the white balance described above. It is possible to use the G / B ratio which is the ratio of the signal intensity to
Therefore, in the present invention, changes in the G / B ratio with respect to the excitation light amount and the additional laser light amount are respectively calculated as graphs, and information on these graphs is stored as the first fluorescence characteristic and the second fluorescence characteristic.

  Further, as described above, the emission wavelengths of the excitation light source and the additional laser light source vary somewhat for each light source and have a predetermined fluctuation range. Therefore, as described above, the light emission for each light source can be obtained simply by storing the change in the fluorescence characteristics of the phosphor 20 with respect to the excitation light amount and the additional laser light amount as the graph information of the change in the G / B ratio with respect to the excitation light amount and the additional laser light amount. It cannot cope with wavelength variations.

Therefore, as described above, in order to maintain the reference white balance in the captured image, in the endoscope, the center emission wavelength λ ₁ and the fluctuation range ± Δλ of the excitation light and the center emission wavelength λ ₀ of the additional laser light are further provided. In consideration of the fluctuation range ± Δλ, for each oscillation wavelength including these fluctuation ranges, the change in the G / B ratio with respect to the change in the excitation light amount and the additional laser light amount is calculated as a graph. Are also stored as the first fluorescence characteristic and the second fluorescence characteristic. Accordingly, even if the first wavelength of the excitation light and the second wavelength of the additional laser light are changed by a maximum ± Δλ from their center emission wavelengths λ ₁ and λ ₀ , it can be dealt with.

  Although it is difficult to obtain a graph of the change in G / B ratio with respect to all emission wavelengths within the fluctuation range, the maximum fluctuation ± Δλ is obtained, and interpolation between them is performed within the fluctuation range. The graph of the change of G / B ratio with respect to the emission wavelength of can be calculated.

  In addition, the white light referred to in the present specification is not limited to one that strictly includes all wavelength components of visible light, and includes light in a specific wavelength band such as R light, G light, and B light. For example, light including a wavelength component from green to red, light including a wavelength component from blue to green, and the like are broadly included.

In the endoscope apparatus 10, illumination light having different characteristics can be obtained according to the mixing ratio of the profiles A and B by relatively increasing and decreasing the light amounts of the profile A and the profile B by the light source control unit 40. it can.
As described above, when the two laser beams are not multiplexed, the endoscope 11 has two irradiation ports (not shown) at the tip 35 of the endoscope, and one irradiation port at the tip. A configuration may be adopted in which the phosphor 20 is provided and pseudo white light composed of blue laser light and fluorescence light is emitted, and the other irradiation port is not provided with a phosphor at the tip portion and is irradiated with blue-violet laser light as it is.

  It is known that the fluorescence characteristics of the phosphor 20 of the endoscope 11 change with time depending on the usage time. Therefore, the first fluorescence characteristic and the second fluorescence characteristic described above should be calculated in consideration of changes due to usage time.

  As described above, the fluorescence characteristic storage unit 29 of the endoscope 11 includes the use time storage unit 61 that stores the irradiation time of the excitation light, and the temporal change table 63 that stores the change of the fluorescent characteristic of the phosphor 20 with respect to the use time. Is provided. As shown in FIG. 11, the temporal change table 63 is a table that stores the actual use time (excitation time of excitation light) of the phosphor 20 and the change in emission intensity.

  Returning again to FIG. As described above, the illumination light including the excitation light, the first fluorescent light from the phosphor 20, the additional laser light, and the second fluorescent light from the phosphor 20 is reflected from the distal end portion 35 of the endoscope 11. Irradiation is directed toward the observation region of the specimen. Then, the state of the observation area irradiated with the illumination light is imaged on the light receiving surface of the image sensor 26 by the objective lens unit 24 and imaged.

  A captured image signal output from the image sensor 26 after imaging is subjected to sampling and gain control by the CDS / AGC circuit 27, and then transmitted to the A / D converter 28 to be converted into a digital signal. To the processor device 13.

  The processor device 13 includes a control unit 50 that controls the light source device 12 through the light source control unit 40, an image processing unit 52 that is connected to the control unit 50, and a correction information storage unit 54. As described above, when the light source device 12 and the processor device 13 are connected, the first wavelength that is the emission wavelength of the blue laser light source 42 of the light source device 12 and the second wavelength that is the emission wavelength of the blue-violet laser light source 44. Is output to the control unit 50 of the processor device 13.

When the endoscope 11 is connected to the processor device 13, the control unit 50 performs internal processing based on the information on the first wavelength of the blue laser light source 42 and the second wavelength of the blue violet laser light source 44 described above. The first fluorescence characteristic and the second fluorescence characteristic included in the fluorescence characteristic storage unit 29 of the endoscope 11 are acquired.
At that time, the control unit 50 obtains the information on the actual usage time of the endoscope 11 from the usage time storage unit 61 of the fluorescence characteristic storage unit 29 simultaneously with the acquisition of the first fluorescence characteristic and the second fluorescence characteristic. Information on the temporal change in the temporal change table 63 is acquired.

  In the control unit 50, the time-dependent change in the fluorescence characteristics of the phosphor 20 with respect to the actual use time, that is, the change in the fluorescence characteristics of the phosphor 20 with respect to the actual use time, based on the information on the actual use time stored in the use time storage unit 61 and the information on the change with time in the time change table 63. Calculates a change in the emission intensity, and reflects the change in the calculated emission intensity in the first fluorescence characteristic and the second fluorescence characteristic described above, so that the first temporal fluorescence characteristic and the second The fluorescence characteristics over time are calculated. Details of the first temporal fluorescence characteristic and the second temporal fluorescence characteristic will be described later.

Further, the control unit 50 captures the captured image information in the image processing unit 52 or captures from the CDS / AGC circuit 27 so that the captured image maintains the reference white balance even if the excitation light quantity from the blue laser light source 42 changes. The amount of additional laser light from the blue-violet laser beam source 44 necessary for white balance adjustment is calculated from the image signal. Details of the calculation of the additional laser light amount with respect to the change in the excitation light amount will be described later.
The calculated relationship between the excitation light amount and the additional laser light amount is stored in advance in the correction information storage unit 54 as the correction table 56 and is used for controlling the blue-violet laser light source 44 through the light source control unit 40.

  Further, the light source control unit 40 controls the drive currents in the blue laser light source 42 and the blue-violet laser light source 44 to control the amount of irradiation light. Therefore, in the correction information storage unit 54, the relationship between the drive current for the blue laser light source 42 and the blue-violet laser light source 44 and the amount of irradiation light is also stored in advance as information. Then, the control unit 50 calculates drive current information necessary for the amount of irradiation light, outputs the drive current information to the light source control unit 40, and the light source control unit 40 controls the drive current flowing through each light source. By doing so, the amount of irradiation light is controlled.

The captured image signal output from the A / D converter 28 is input to the image processing unit 52 described above. The image processing unit 52 converts the input digital image signal into image data, performs appropriate image processing, and generates desired output image information. The generated output image information is output to the display unit 15 through the control unit 50 according to instructions from the input device 17 and the operation unit 23.
The above is the configuration of the endoscope apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Next, in the endoscope apparatus 10 of the present invention, the relationship between the excitation light amount from the blue laser light source 42 and the additional laser light amount from the blue-violet laser light source 44 for keeping the white balance of the captured image signal at a reference value. The operation of creating the correction table 56 shown and storing it in the correction information storage unit 54 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
In the following, the embodiment will be described in principle with white balance as the G / B ratio.

First, the endoscope 11 is connected to the reference light source device and the processor device 13 (S10). Next, as shown in FIG. 9, the endoscope tip 35 is placed so as to face the white plate, and excitation light is emitted from the blue laser light source 42 (S <b> 12). Then, the reference light source device is operated to adjust the emission wavelength of the blue laser light source 42 to the central emission wavelength λ ₁ (for example, 445 nm) (S14). As described above, the reference light source device is a light source device that can arbitrarily shift the emission wavelengths of the blue laser light source 42 and the blue-violet laser light source 44 by a predetermined amount.

After adjusting the emission wavelength of the blue laser light source 42 to lambda _1, the output (driving current value) as the maximum, the illumination light obtained by mixing the excitation light and fluorescence light is irradiated with the white plate, imaging the returning light An image is picked up by the element 26. The image sensor 26 outputs a captured image signal (captured image information) (S16).

The picked-up image signal picked up by the image pickup device 26 is correlated double-sampled by the CDS / AGC circuit 27 to remove reset noise and amplifier noise in the image pickup device 26, and the analog picked-up image signal is converted by the A / D converter 28. It is converted as a digital captured image signal and output to the image processing unit 52.
In the image processing unit 52, for example, the captured image signal is separated into three components of an R light component, a G light component, and a B light component, and a display image signal to be displayed in the output unit 15 is generated. . The control unit 50 calculates the ratio of the signal values of the R light component, the G light component, and the B light component separated in the image processing unit 52, and calculates the reference white balance in the image sensor 26. As described above, the reference white balance may be the reference G / B ratio. In the embodiment of the present invention, the G / B ratio is used as the white balance. Further, the G / B ratio of the captured image may be calculated by the CDS / AGC circuit 27 (S18).
Then, the above-mentioned G / B ratio calculated when the emission wavelength of the blue laser light source 42 is the center emission wavelength λ ₁ is used as a reference G / B ratio in the imaging device 26, and the fluorescence characteristic storage unit 29 of the endoscope 11. Remember me. (S20).

Next, the light source control unit 40 is operated to gradually decrease the excitation light amount. When the excitation light amount decreases, the white balance of the captured image changes because the ratio of the emitted light amount to the excitation light amount in the phosphor 20 is not constant. As described above, in practice, when the excitation light amount is reduced, the ratio of the excitation light transmitted through the phosphor 20 is reduced, and the light amount of the B light component is insufficient.
Specifically, a change in white balance of the captured image signal calculated by the image processing unit 52, here a change in the G / B ratio, is graphed in the control unit 50 with respect to the drive current value for driving the blue laser light source 42. And stored in the fluorescence characteristic storage unit 29 of the endoscope 11 as described above. As described above, since the ratio of the G light component and the R light component to the B light component does not change, the G / B ratio is used here as the white balance.
Therefore, the fluorescence characteristic storage unit 29 includes information on the graph of FIG. 10A that shows that the G / B ratio increases as the excitation light quantity decreases as the characteristic of the phosphor 20 unique to the endoscope 11. Stored (S22).

Next, the reference light source device is adjusted so that the emission wavelength of the excitation light from the blue laser light source 42 is shifted by Δλ (for example, 10 nm) from the central emission wavelength λ ₁ to the short wavelength side. The wavelength variation Δλ here is the maximum deviation width that can be assumed within a predetermined variation range of the blue laser light source 42 and the blue-violet laser light source 44 of the light source device 12 as described above (S24).
The above steps S16, S18, and S22 are repeated by setting the emission wavelength of the excitation light from the blue laser light source 42 to λ ₁ −Δλ. As a result, a graph in which the G / B ratio changes as the excitation light amount of the blue laser light source 42 decreases when the emission wavelength shown in FIG. 10B is λ ₁ −Δλ is calculated, and the information is the fluorescence characteristic storage unit 29. (S26).

Next, the reference light source device is adjusted so that the emission wavelength of the excitation light from the blue laser light source 42 is shifted by Δλ (for example, 10 nm) from the central emission wavelength λ ₁ to the long wavelength side (S 28).
Steps S16, S18, and S22 are repeated in the same manner as described above, assuming that the emission wavelength of the excitation light from the blue laser light source 42 is λ ₁ + Δλ. Accordingly, a graph in which the G / B ratio changes as the excitation light amount of the blue laser light source 42 decreases when the emission wavelength shown in FIG. 10B is λ ₁ + Δλ is calculated, and the information is stored in the fluorescence characteristic storage unit 29. Stored (S30).

The blue violet laser light source 44 operating as an additional laser light source is also subjected to the same processing as described above.
By operating the reference light source device, the emission wavelength of the blue-violet laser light source 44 is adjusted to the center emission wavelength λ ₀ (for example, 405 nm), and steps S16 to S28 are repeated except for step S20 (S32).
By this step S32, as in the case of the blue laser light source 42, as shown in FIG. 10C, when the emission wavelength of the blue-violet laser light source 44 is set to the central emission wavelength λ _0, and to λ ₀ −Δλ, For each of the cases of λ ₀ + Δλ, a graph in which the G / B ratio changes as the amount of additional laser light from the blue-violet laser light source 44 decreases is calculated, and the information is stored in the fluorescence characteristic storage unit 29.

  The fluorescence characteristic storage unit 29 performs steps S10 to S32 in FIG. 4 to obtain information on the reference G / B ratio and the blue laser light source 42 as the first fluorescence characteristic of the phosphor 20 unique to the endoscope 11 as shown in FIG. The information of (B) and the information of FIG. 10C for the blue-violet laser light source 44 as the second fluorescence characteristic are stored.

In addition, the fluorescence characteristic storage unit 29 stores the actual use time of the endoscope 11, that is, the use time storage unit 61 that stores the time when the phosphor 20 is irradiated with the excitation light, and the fluorescence characteristic of the phosphor 20 over time. A temporal change table 63 that stores changes.
As shown in FIG. 11, the time-dependent change table 63 has the horizontal axis as the usage time and the vertical axis as the fluorescence characteristic ratio, and the vertical axis represents the ratio of the emission intensity of the phosphor 20 over time to the initial emission intensity of the phosphor 20. , That was taken. Therefore, as the usage time elapses, the fluorescence characteristic ratio (light emission intensity ratio) gradually decreases from 1.0. Further, as is clear from the graph of FIG. 11, the change in fluorescence characteristics with time progresses slowly until a certain use time, and rapidly progresses after a certain use time. Specifically, the emission intensity ratio is obtained from the emission intensity of the G light band.

  The endoscope 11 in which the first fluorescent characteristic and the second fluorescent characteristic of the phosphor 20 unique to the endoscope are stored in the fluorescent characteristic storage unit 29 is put on the market, and the blue laser light source 42 and the blue-violet laser light source 44 is connected to the light source device 12 in which the respective emission wavelengths vary slightly (S34). Variations in the emission wavelengths of the blue laser light source 42 and the blue-violet laser light source 44 of the light source device 12 are unique to the light source device and vary depending on the individual light source device.

  When the endoscope 11, the light source device 12, and the processor device 13 are connected to each other, the control unit 50 of the processor device 13 provides information on the emission wavelengths of the blue laser light source 42 and the blue-violet laser light source 44 of the light source device 12. Is obtained from the wavelength storage unit 67 of the wavelength calculation unit 47, and the first fluorescence characteristic corresponding to the information on the reference G / B ratio and the information on the emission wavelength is obtained from the fluorescence characteristic storage unit 29 of the endoscope 11. The second fluorescent characteristic is acquired, information on the actual usage time of the phosphor 20 is acquired from the usage time storage unit 61, and information on the temporal change of the phosphor 20 is acquired from the temporal change table 63.

  Then, the control unit 50 calculates the temporal change of the phosphor 20 from the information on the actual usage time of the fluorescent substance 20 and the information on the temporal change of the fluorescent substance 20, and the first temporal change considering the temporal change. The fluorescence characteristic and the second temporal fluorescence characteristic are calculated.

  The graph shown in FIG. 12A is a graph of the first fluorescence characteristic when the emission wavelength of the blue laser light source 42 is the central emission wavelength. The dotted line is the first fluorescence characteristic before the change with time, and the solid line is the first fluorescence characteristic with the change with time. The dotted line is the same graph as the fluorescence characteristics shown in FIG. From the graph of FIG. 12A, it can be seen that the fluorescence characteristics gradually fall horizontally as the usage time elapses.

  Specifically, the control unit 50 reflects the information of change over time on the first fluorescence characteristic shown in the graph of FIG. 10B, so that the first time-lapse fluorescence shown in the graph of FIG. The characteristic is calculated, and the second time-dependent fluorescence characteristic shown in the graph of FIG. 12C is calculated by reflecting the time-dependent change information to the second fluorescence characteristic shown in the graph of FIG. S36). In the graphs of FIGS. 12B and 12C, the inclination gradually lies horizontally compared to the graphs of FIGS. 10B and 10C. That is, it can be seen that the phosphor 20 does not gradually emit fluorescent light as the usage time elapses.

  Then, the relationship between the excitation light amount and the G / B ratio in FIG. 12B, which is the calculated first temporal fluorescence characteristic, and the additional laser in FIG. 12C, which is the calculated second temporal fluorescence characteristic. From the relationship between the light amount and the G / B ratio, the solid line graph in FIG. 12D shows the excitation light amount and the additional laser light amount necessary to compensate for the G / B ratio that has changed as the excitation light amount decreases. The correction table 56 is calculated and stored in the correction information storage unit 54 (S36). The dotted line in FIG. 12D is a graph of the correction table 56 before the change with time of the phosphor 20 is reflected.

  Therefore, in the endoscope apparatus 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the irradiation amount of the blue laser light source 42 and the correction table 56 described above, regardless of the light source apparatus 12 connected to the endoscope 11 in the market. From the above, the irradiation light quantity of the blue-violet laser light source 44 is determined, and the additional laser light is added from the blue-violet laser light source 44 based on the determined irradiation light quantity, so that the G / B ratio is maintained. A captured image in which white balance is maintained can be captured.

  Next, in the endoscope apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, an operation when imaging a subject will be briefly described.

  First, the endoscope insertion unit 19 is inserted into the subject, and excitation light is emitted from the blue laser light source 42 to excite the phosphor 20 at the endoscope tip 35 and emit white light toward the subject. Irradiated. For example, when the distance between the endoscope tip 35 and the subject is adjusted by the operator and the excitation light amount is adjusted according to the distance, the control unit 50 stores the excitation light amount and the correction information storage unit 54. The amount of additional laser light is calculated from the correction table 56 described above, and a predetermined amount of additional laser light is emitted from the blue-violet laser light source 44. By irradiating the calculated additional laser light amount, the endoscope apparatus 10 can acquire a captured image in which the G / B ratio of the captured image is maintained at a reference value.

  In the embodiment of the present invention, special light observation can be performed in addition to the normal observation using the white light described above. Specifically, the amount of irradiation of the additional laser light from the blue-violet laser light source 44, which is the second light source, is increased by a predetermined amount from the above-described normal observation, so that the captured image is present on the subject surface without darkening It is possible to acquire a superficial blood vessel emphasized image in which superficial blood vessels are emphasized.

  In the embodiment of the present invention, the wavelength band of the additional laser light that is the light from the second light source is on the shorter wavelength side than the wavelength band of the excitation light that is the light from the first light source. As described above, the wavelength band of the additional laser light may be longer than the wavelength band of the excitation light. In this case, for example, if the additional laser light itself is light of the G light component, the amount of light of the G light component that greatly affects the brightness (luminance value) and color rendering of the captured image increases in the illumination light. In addition, the brightness and color rendering properties of the captured image can be improved.

In the embodiment of the present invention, instead of irradiating the additional laser light, the control unit 50 may directly control the CDS / AGC circuit 27 and adjust the white balance gain.
Correction indicating the relationship between the amount of excitation light from the blue laser light source 42 and the gain (B gain) multiplied by the B light component (B light image signal) in the captured image signal in order to maintain the reference G / B ratio of the captured image A table is created, and a captured image in which the G / B ratio is maintained and the reference white balance is maintained is obtained by multiplying the captured image signal output from the image sensor 26 by the B gain based on the correction table. An image can be taken.

  The above is the endoscope apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  In the above-described embodiment, the endoscope 11 includes the temporal change table 63 in the fluorescence characteristic storage unit 29, and the phosphors according to the actual use time of the endoscope 11 stored in the use time storage unit 61. Although the 20 fluorescent characteristics are corrected, the temporal change of the phosphor 20 may be directly measured in the market regardless of the actual use time and the temporal change table 63.

  Specifically, first, in the market, the light source device 12 and the endoscope 11 are connected, and the processor device 13 is connected to each of them, and steps S12 to S22 of the above-described embodiment shown in FIG. Based on this, the temporal fluorescence characteristic of the current endoscope apparatus 10 (change in G / B ratio with respect to change in the amount of excitation light (see (1) in FIG. 13)) is measured.

  Next, as in the case of the above-described embodiment, in the light source device 12, the calibration mode is used to detect the wavelength variation of the light source device 12, and the control unit 50, based on the wavelength variation, Fluorescence characteristics (change in G / B ratio with respect to change in excitation light quantity (see (2) in FIG. 13)) stored in the fluorescence characteristic storage unit 29 when the phosphor 20 has not changed with time are calculated.

  Next, in the control unit 50, the current fluorescence characteristics over time of the endoscope apparatus 10 (see (1) in FIG. 13) and the fluorescence characteristics when the phosphor 20 has not changed over time ((2) in FIG. 13). And the time-dependent change of the fluorescence characteristics of the phosphor 20 is calculated from the difference between them. The difference between the graph of (1) and the graph of (2) in FIG. 13 is the change over time in the fluorescence characteristics of the phosphor 20.

The information on the temporal change of the fluorescence characteristic calculated as described above is stored in the fluorescence characteristic storage unit 29 of the endoscope 11, and in addition to the excitation light source, as in the case of the above-described embodiment, the additional laser light source It is also used for calculating the G / B ratio with respect to the additional laser light quantity from.
Further, the actual usage time of the endoscope 11 stored in the usage time storage unit 61 may be corrected from the calculated temporal change information of the fluorescence characteristics and the temporal change table 63.

  In FIG. 13, the change with time in the fluorescence characteristics is described in terms of the G / B ratio. However, in the same manner as in the above-described embodiment, in practice, in all of the R light component, the G light component, and the B light component. Affect. Therefore, when the correction is performed by adjusting the gain of the RGB component of the captured image signal, it is necessary to change the weighting for each of the R light component, the G light component, and the B light component, as described above.

  Although the endoscope apparatus of the present invention has been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various improvements and modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. Good.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Endoscope apparatus 11 Endoscope 12 Light source apparatus 13 Processor apparatus 15 Display part 17 Input part 18 Optical fiber 19 Endoscope insertion part 20 Phosphor 21 Irradiation port 22 Angle knob 23 Operation part 24 Objective lens unit 25A, 25B Connector Unit 26 Imaging device 27 CDS / AGC circuit 28 A / D converter 29 Fluorescence characteristic storage unit 31 Flexible unit 33 Bending unit 35 Tip (end of endoscope)
37 Rotating filter 37A First slope type dichroic filter (first filter)
37B Second slope type dichroic filter (second filter)
37T Transmission unit 39 Light amount detection unit 40 Light source control unit 42 Blue laser light source (excitation light source)
44 Blue-violet laser light source (additional laser light source)
46 multiplexer 47 wavelength calculation unit 49 rotating means 50 control unit 52 image processing unit 54 correction information storage unit 56 correction table 61 usage time storage unit 63 time change table 65A first table 65B second table 67 wavelength storage unit

Claims (11)

A first light source for irradiating a first narrowband light having a first narrowband wavelength;
A second light source that irradiates a second narrowband light having a narrowed second wavelength, different from the first light source, and the first narrowband light from the first light source. Wavelength detecting means for detecting and storing the first wavelength;
The first wavelength is within a predetermined variation range with respect to the first central emission wavelength of the first light source; and
The first narrowband light that is transmitted through at least a part of the first narrowband light and is excited by the first narrowband light that functions as excitation light, has a wavelength band different from the first wavelength that is an excitation wavelength. Fluorescent light is emitted, and the fluorescence characteristics change according to the fluctuation of the excitation wavelength with respect to the irradiation amount of the first narrow-band light and the first central emission wavelength, and the fluorescence characteristics change with time depending on the use time. Phosphors,
It has a usage time storage unit that stores the actual usage time of the phosphor and a temporal change table that records temporal changes in the fluorescence characteristics of the phosphor, and changes with changes in the amount of excitation light irradiation and the excitation wavelength. A fluorescence characteristic storage unit that stores the first fluorescence characteristic of the phosphor, and
Light obtained by mixing the excitation light transmitted through the phosphor and the first fluorescence light emitted from the phosphor, or the excitation light, the first fluorescence light, and the second narrowband light are mixed. An endoscope having an imaging unit that performs imaging with a return light of the illumination light from a subject irradiated with the emitted light as illumination light, and outputs the captured image signal;
The excitation wavelength is read from the wavelength detection unit of the light source device, and the fluorescence with respect to the fluctuation of the excitation wavelength and the excitation light irradiation amount with the excitation wavelength read out from the fluorescence characteristic storage unit of the endoscope The first fluorescence characteristic of the body is read, the actual use time of the phosphor is read from the use time storage unit, and the information on the change with time of the phosphor is read from the time change table, and the actual use time is read out. The first time-dependent fluorescence characteristic is calculated from the calculated time-dependent change and the read first fluorescence characteristic, and the calculated first time-dependent fluorescence is calculated. From the characteristics, the second narrow band from the second light source is added to the irradiation light amount of the excitation light from the first light source so that the captured image signal maintains a reference white balance. A processor device having a control unit which calculates the irradiation light amount of the light, controls the second light source so that the calculated second narrowband light irradiation light amount,
An endoscope apparatus comprising: The second wavelength of the second narrowband light from the second light source of the light source device falls within a predetermined fluctuation range with respect to a second central emission wavelength of the second light source. Yes,
The wavelength detecting means further detects and stores the second wavelength of the second narrowband light from the second light source,
The phosphor further transmits at least a part of the second narrowband light and is excited by the second narrowband light to emit second fluorescent light having a wavelength band different from the second wavelength. , And the fluorescence characteristics change according to the fluctuation of the second wavelength with respect to the second central emission wavelength,
The fluorescence characteristic storage unit further stores a second fluorescence characteristic of the phosphor that changes with respect to a variation in the second wavelength of the second narrowband light,
The endoscope uses light obtained by mixing the excitation light and the first fluorescent light, and the second narrowband light and the second fluorescent light as the illumination light,
The control unit of the processor device further reads the second wavelength from the light source information storage unit of the light source device, and further reads the second wavelength read from the fluorescence characteristic storage unit of the endoscope. Reading the second fluorescence characteristic of the phosphor with respect to wavelength variation, calculating a second temporal fluorescence characteristic from the calculated temporal change and the read second fluorescent characteristic, and calculating the phosphor From the first and second temporal fluorescence characteristics, the captured image signal is added to the irradiation amount of the first narrowband light from the first light source so that the standard white balance is maintained. 2. An irradiation light amount of the second narrowband light from the second light source is calculated, and the second light source is controlled to the calculated irradiation light amount of the second narrowband light. The endoscope apparatus described in 1.   The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the fluorescent characteristic includes a light emission amount of the fluorescent light. Furthermore, the processor device corrects the correspondence relationship between the irradiation light amount of the first light source and the irradiation light amount of the second light source necessary for maintaining the reference white balance of the captured image signal. A correction information storage unit for storing the table;
When the light source device, the endoscope, and the processor device are connected to each other in the market, an endoscope device is configured.
The controller is
The first wavelength and the second wavelength detected and stored by the wavelength detection unit of the light source device, and the first fluorescence of the phosphor stored in the fluorescence characteristic storage unit of the endoscope Characteristic and the second fluorescence characteristic, and the actual use time of the phosphor stored in the use time storage unit and the information on the change over time recorded in the time change table are respectively acquired. Calculating the first temporal fluorescence characteristic and the second temporal fluorescence characteristic, creating the correction table, and storing the correction table in the correction information storage unit,
Obtaining a necessary irradiation light amount of the second light source from the correction table and an irradiation light amount of the first light source, and controlling the irradiation light amount of the second light source based on the necessary irradiation light amount; The endoscope apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3.   The reference white balance is a white balance of the captured image signal when the irradiation from the second light source is stopped and the irradiation light amount of the first light source is maximized. The endoscope apparatus described in 1.   The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a wavelength band of the second narrowband light is on a shorter wavelength side than a wavelength band of the first narrowband light.   The first light source is a blue laser light source having a first wavelength in a range of 445 ± 10 nm, and the second light source is a blue-violet laser light source having a second wavelength in a range of 405 ± 10 nm. The endoscope apparatus according to claim 6.   The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a wavelength band of the second narrowband light is on a longer wavelength side than a wavelength band of the first narrowband light.   The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a G / B ratio that is a ratio of a green light component and a blue light component of the captured image signal is used as the white balance.   The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the illumination light is pseudo white light including a red light component, a green light component, and a blue light component in a predetermined wavelength band. The wavelength detecting means includes
A first slope-type dichroic filter having a first filter characteristic whose light transmittance changes in proportion to a wavelength corresponding to a wavelength band of the first narrowband light; and A second slope-type dichroic filter having a second filter characteristic in which the light transmittance changes in proportion to the wavelength corresponding to the wavelength band, and the first narrowband light and the second narrowband light as they are. A rotary filter having a transmission part, and a rotary filter that can be installed by switching each on the optical paths of the first and second narrowband light,
A light amount detector that is installed downstream of the rotary filter and detects a light amount of the irradiated first and second narrowband light; and
A first table that records the first filter characteristic; a second table that records the second filter characteristic; and a wavelength storage unit; and the first table detected by the light amount detection unit. The transmittance of the first narrow-band light of the first slope-type dichroic filter is calculated from the amount of light of the narrow-band light after passing through the first slope-type dichroic filter and the amount of light after passing through the transmission part. The first wavelength of the first narrowband light is calculated from the transmitted transmittance and the first table, and the second narrowband light detected by the light amount detection unit is calculated. The transmittance of the second slope-type dichroic filter for the second narrowband light is calculated from the amount of light after transmission through the slope-type dichroic filter and the amount of light after transmission through the transmission portion, and the calculated transmittance and the first 2 tables A wavelength calculation unit that calculates a second wavelength of the second narrowband light and stores the calculated first wavelength and the second wavelength in the wavelength storage unit. The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the endoscope apparatus is characterized in that:

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