JP2014138868A - Light source device for endoscope and operation method for the same, and endoscope system and operation method for the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a light source device for endoscope, an endoscope system, and their operation methods in which, in a special light observation, a ratio between white illumination light and narrowband light can be kept constant, the light amount balance and color balance between them can be maintained, a high-definition special light observation image with no or little change in brightness and hue can be obtained, and, as a result, a high-definition observation image bright as a whole can be obtained in special light observation and normal observation and a high level of diagnosis becomes possible.SOLUTION: A light source device for endoscope comprises: light quantity measuring means for measuring the light quantity of multiplexed light in which white illumination light emitted from a first light source part 24 and narrowband light emitted from a second light source part 26 are multiplexed; and light quantity control means for controlling a drive part 42a of the second light source part 26 to adjust the light quantity of the narrowband light according to the measured light quantity of the multiplexed light.

Description

  The present invention relates to special light observation for irradiating a mucous tissue of a living body with specific narrow wavelength band light to obtain tissue information of a desired depth by an endoscope, and normal irradiation for visible light. The present invention relates to an endoscope light source device that enables both observation and an operation method thereof, an endoscope system, and an operation method thereof.

  Conventionally, in endoscopic diagnosis, visible light such as white illumination light from an endoscope light source device is guided by a light guide, and the white illumination light guided by the light guide is transmitted to an endoscope insertion unit. An endoscope apparatus is used that performs normal observation in which an inspection target region is illuminated by radiating from an illumination window at the tip and observing the inspection target region.

  On the other hand, in recent years, in endoscopic diagnosis, in addition to normal observation with white illumination light as described above, light in a specific wavelength band narrower than white illumination light (white light) (hereinafter also referred to as narrow-band light). Endoscope devices capable of performing special light observation, which obtains tissue information at a desired depth of the living tissue by irradiating a living tissue such as mucosal tissue on the body cavity wall.

  Such an endoscope apparatus can easily visualize biological information that cannot be obtained by a normal observation image, such as a fine structure of a new blood vessel generated in a mucosal layer or a submucosal layer, enhancement of a lesioned part, and the like. For example, if the observation target is a cancerous lesion, irradiating the mucosal tissue with blue narrow-band light allows more detailed observation of the state of microvessels and microstructures on the surface of the tissue. Can do.

  In such narrow-band light observation, in order to make it easier to observe the fine blood vessels and fine structures on the surface layer of the living tissue, as the narrow-band light irradiated to the living tissue, mainly the middle layer and deep tissue of the living tissue are observed. Without using the red (R) narrow band light suitable for the observation, the blue (B) narrow band light suitable for the observation of the surface layer structure and the green (G) narrow band light suitable for the observation of the middle layer structure and the surface layer structure. And two types of narrowband light, and obtained by the image sensor by irradiation with the B narrowband light, the image sensor mainly including information on the surface layer tissue (B narrowband data) and the G narrowband light. Using only the G image signal (G narrowband data) mainly including the information on the middle layer tissue and the surface layer tissue obtained in the above, the G image signal (G narrowband data) is allocated to the R image data of the color image, and the B image signal is G image data of color image And assigned to B image data, to generate a pseudo color image consisting of the color image data of 3ch (channels) are displayed on a monitor or the like (see Patent Document 1).

  In the endoscope apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1, two types of narrowband light, B narrowband light and G narrowband light used for narrowband light observation, are white light from a white light source used for normal light observation. Are switched in a time-sharing manner by means of a color filter to emit light in a frame sequential manner. In normal light observation as well, white light from a white light source is switched in a time-sharing manner by a color filter to emit RGB light in a frame sequential manner.

In special light observation, in addition to observation using narrowband light as described above, the difference in intensity of autofluorescence generated by irradiating the body cavity wall with excitation light and exciting living tissue is used. Endoscopic devices that perform fluorescence observation that enable early detection of cancerous lesions are also used.
An endoscope light source device used in an endoscope apparatus that performs special light observation as described above is disclosed in Patent Document 2.

  The endoscope light source device disclosed in Patent Document 2 has a white light source that emits white light, and a semiconductor laser as an excitation light source that emits excitation light that is short-wavelength light on the ultraviolet region side, The optical path from the white light source to the light guide for entering the white light is arranged linearly, while the optical path of the excitation light is arranged so as to intersect perpendicularly to the optical path of the white light, and these two optical paths are connected to the optical path. It is synthesized by a dichroic mirror that is a synthesis element. In this example, the dichroic mirror has a characteristic of transmitting light of a specific wavelength or more and reflecting light of a specific wavelength or less, thereby transmitting most of the white light and reflecting the excitation light. .

  A light source device of this type of endoscope system makes white light and excitation light enter into an end face of a light guide as convergent light by using a condenser lens. As the white light source, a discharge type high-intensity lamp such as a xenon lamp, a mercury lamp, or a metal halide lamp is used. However, such a lamp has a large initial light amount, and the amount of emitted light decreases as the usage time elapses. In some cases, it is reduced to about half of the initial light amount. For this reason, in the white light source of the endoscope light source device of Patent Document 2, the amount of white light irradiated into the body cavity from the distal end of the light guide becomes excessive in the initial use, and the temperature of the distal end portion of the endoscope rises. In order to prevent dangers in the body, the condensing point of white light is shifted from the end face of the light guide, the capture efficiency is lowered, and the incident efficiency to the light guide is not set to the maximum. In order to keep the amount of white light emitted from the light guide as constant as possible even when the amount of light emitted from the white light source decreases as the usage time elapses, the white light source and the dichroic mirror are A focus adjuster that adjusts the degree of convergence of white light with respect to the light guide by moving one of the two lenses constituting the afocal optical system for changing the beam diameter of white light in the optical axis direction. A white light calibration is performed at the time of starting the white light source and the white light condensing point is brought close to the end face of the light guide to improve the capturing efficiency.

Japanese Patent No. 4009626 JP 2007-252492 A

  By the way, also in the endoscope apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1, a discharge-type high-intensity lamp such as the above-described xenon lamp is used as the white light source. Therefore, the white light source is disclosed in Patent Document 2. By applying the technique, the amount of white light emitted from the light guide can be kept as constant as possible. However, in the endoscope apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1, narrowband light used for special light observation is GB light that is switched in a time-division manner by a color filter and is emitted in a surface sequential manner, and RGB light that is emitted during normal observation. As a result, the amount of light from the light source is reduced, and the entire image displayed on the monitor becomes dark.

Further, the lens is moved by the focus adjustment mechanism disclosed in Patent Document 2 to bring the condensing point of white light closer to the end face of the light guide to increase the capture efficiency, and the amount of white light emitted from the light guide can be as much as possible. In the method of keeping constant, the deterioration of the lamp of the white light source with time includes electrode wear due to evaporation of the electrode material, contamination of the emission surface, etc. If the deterioration with time progresses, the amount of white light incident on the light guide is constant. If the value cannot be restored, and the deterioration with time progresses, the lifetime of the lamp of the white light source approaches and the lamp needs to be replaced.
Furthermore, in the endoscope light source device that combines the white light and the excitation light disclosed in Patent Document 2 with a dichroic mirror, the semiconductor laser that is the excitation light source has less deterioration over time than the lamp of the white light source lamp. Therefore, when the lamp of the white light source deteriorates over time, the light quantity and spectral distribution of the white light incident on the light guide change and cannot be restored, the light quantity balance of white light and excitation light, the spectral distribution and color There is a problem that the balance is shifted and the brightness and color of the observation image, particularly the special light observation image are changed, which may be inappropriate as a diagnostic image.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to maintain a constant ratio between white illumination light and narrow band light in special light observation using white illumination light and narrow band light in a specific wavelength range. The light intensity balance and color balance with the band light can be maintained, and high-precision special light observation images with little or no change in brightness and color can be obtained. As a result, both special light observation and normal observation can be obtained. In observation, an endoscope light source device and an operation method thereof, and an endoscope system and an operation method thereof that can obtain a high-accuracy observation image whose entire image is bright and thereby enable advanced diagnosis. It is to provide.

  To achieve the above object, an endoscope light source device according to a first aspect of the present invention includes a first light source unit that emits white illumination light, and narrowband light having a narrower wavelength band than the white illumination light. A narrow-band light source that emits light, a second light source unit that includes a drive unit that drives the narrow-band light source, and collects the combined light obtained by combining the white illumination light and the narrow-band light. A condenser lens for entering the light guide of the endoscope, a light amount measuring unit for measuring the light amount of the combined light, and a light amount of the narrowband light according to the light amount of the combined light measured by the light amount measuring unit And a light amount control means for controlling the drive section of the second light source section so as to adjust the light intensity.

Here, the light amount control unit is configured to control the second light source according to a light amount of the combined light measured by the light amount measuring unit so that a light amount ratio between the white illumination light and the narrow band light is constant. It is preferable to control the drive unit of the unit.
The endoscope light source device according to this aspect further includes a first shutter disposed in an optical path of the combined light and blocking the optical path of the combined light, and the first shutter is an optical path of the combined light. It is preferable that a reflection mirror is provided on the upstream side of the light source, and the light amount measuring means is disposed at a position off the optical path of the combined light and measures the light amount of the combined light reflected by the reflection mirror.

Further, a first shutter disposed in the optical path of the combined light and blocking the optical path of the combined light, and the light amount measuring means are arranged on the upstream side of the optical path of the combined light from the first shutter. Moving means that is inserted in synchronism with the closing operation of the shutter and exits the optical path of the combined light in synchronism with the opening operation of the first shutter, and the light quantity measuring means is in the closing operation of the first shutter It is preferable to measure the amount of the combined light.
The condensing lens is disposed in the optical path of the combined light, the first shutter is disposed between the condensing lens and the light guide of the endoscope, and the light amount measuring unit includes It is preferable to measure the amount of the combined light collected by the condenser lens.

The optical filter further includes a color filter that acts on an optical path of the combined light and separates the combined light into a plurality of different predetermined wavelength band components, and the light amount measurement unit is configured to output the combined light separated by the color filter. It is preferable that the light quantity of each predetermined wavelength component is measured for each of the plurality of predetermined wavelength region components.
The color filter is included in a first filter group that separates the combined light into a red component, a green component, and a blue component of white illumination light, and a green region having a narrower wavelength region than the green component. It is preferable to have a second filter set that is included in the wavelength band of the narrow band component and the blue component and separates into the blue narrow band component of a narrower wavelength band.
Moreover, it is preferable that the said color filter is a rotation filter which has arrange | positioned the said 1st filter set on the outer side and the said 2nd filter set on the inner side.

In addition, the light amount measuring unit is configured to transfer a picked-up image signal of an image pickup device that picks up the return light from the photographing target obtained when the combined light is irradiated onto the photographing target through the light guide of the endoscope. In addition, it is preferable to measure the amount of the combined light.
In addition, the light amount measurement unit is configured to irradiate the imaging target with each predetermined wavelength component for each of the plurality of predetermined wavelength region components of the combined light separated by the color filter through the light guide of the endoscope. It is preferable to measure the light quantity of the combined light during the transfer period of the picked-up image signal of each predetermined wavelength component of the image pickup device that picks up the obtained return light from the photographing target.

The image sensor is preferably a frame transfer type CCD.
The second light source is preferably a semiconductor light source.
The first light source is preferably a discharge tube.

  In order to achieve the above object, an endoscope system according to a second aspect of the present invention includes a first light source unit that emits white illumination light, and narrowband light having a narrower wavelength band than the white illumination light. An endoscope light source device comprising: an emitted second light source unit; and a light amount measuring unit that measures a light amount of the combined light obtained by combining the white illumination light and the narrowband light, and the endoscope A light guide for guiding the combined light emitted from the mirror light source device to irradiate the object to be imaged, and a return from the imaged object obtained when the combined light is irradiated to the object to be imaged through the light guide An endoscope including an imaging device that captures light; and a captured image signal that is captured by the imaging device of the endoscope and that is input from the imaging device; and predetermined image processing is performed on the received captured image signal An image processing unit for applying The image processing unit further includes a light amount control unit that controls the light amount of the narrowband light emitted from the second light source unit according to the light amount of the combined light measured by the light amount measuring unit. The photographed image signal obtained by the imaging device is corrected in accordance with the light amount of the combined light measured by the light amount measuring means.

Here, it is preferable that the endoscope light source device is the endoscope light source device according to the first aspect.
The light amount control unit controls the light amount of the narrowband light emitted from the second light source unit according to the light amount of the combined light measured by the light amount measurement unit, and the image processing unit. Preferably, the photographic image signal obtained by the imaging device is corrected according to the light amount of the combined light measured by the light amount measuring means.

In order to achieve the above object, an operating method of the endoscope light source device according to the third aspect of the present invention includes a first light source unit that emits white illumination light, and a wavelength band narrower than that of the white illumination light. A second light source unit that emits the narrow-band light, and an operation method of the light source device for the endoscope that controls the light amount of the combined light obtained by combining the white illumination light and the narrow-band light. And the light quantity of the said combined light combined by the said combining member is measured, The light quantity of the said narrow-band light is controlled according to the measured light quantity of the said combined light, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.
In order to achieve the above object, an operation method of an endoscope system according to a fourth aspect of the present invention includes a first light source unit that emits white illumination light, and a narrower wavelength band narrower than the white illumination light. An endoscope light source device that emits combined light obtained by combining the white illumination light and the narrowband light, and a light source device for the endoscope. A light guide for guiding the combined light emitted from the light to irradiate the object to be imaged, and imaging a return light from the imaged object obtained when the combined light is irradiated to the object to be imaged through the light guide An image sensor that receives an image of an image captured by the image sensor of the endoscope and that is input from the image sensor and performs predetermined image processing on the received image signal An endoscope system having a processing unit In the moving method, the amount of the combined light emitted from the endoscope light source device is measured, and the narrow light emitted from the second light source unit is measured according to the measured amount of the combined light. The amount of band light is controlled, or the image processing unit corrects the captured image signal obtained by the imaging device in accordance with the measured amount of the combined light.

  According to the present invention, in the special light observation using the white illumination light and the narrow band light in the specific wavelength range, the ratio of the white illumination light and the narrow band light can be kept constant. The light balance and color balance can be maintained, and a high-precision special light observation image with little or no change in brightness and color can be obtained. As a result, both special light observation and normal observation can be obtained. In this case, it is possible to obtain a high-accuracy observation image in which the entire image is bright, thereby enabling advanced diagnosis.

1 is a block diagram schematically showing an example of an overall configuration of an endoscope system according to the present invention. It is a front schematic diagram which shows typically one Example of a structure of the light source device for endoscopes of this invention. It is a front view which shows the structure of the rotation filter used for the light source device for endoscopes shown in FIG. (A) And (b) is a graph which shows the spectral characteristics of the 1st filter group of a rotation filter shown in Drawing 3, and the 2nd filter group, respectively. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the operating method of the light source device for endoscopes of this invention.

Hereinafter, an endoscope light source device and an operating method thereof, and an endoscope system and an operating method thereof according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to preferred embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the overall configuration of an endoscope system that has the endoscope light source device of the present invention and that performs the operating method of the endoscope light source device and the operating method of the endoscope system of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows an example typically.
As shown in the figure, the endoscope system 10 of the present embodiment includes an endoscope 12, an endoscope light source device 14, a processor 16, and an input / output unit 18 of the present invention.
Here, an endoscope light source device (hereinafter also simply referred to as a light source device) 14 and a processor 16 constitute a control device for the endoscope 12, and the endoscope 12 is optically connected to the light source device 14. , Electrically connected to the processor 16. The processor 16 is electrically connected to the input / output unit 18. The light source device 14 and the processor 16 may be electrically connected. The input / output unit 18 includes a display unit (monitor) 30 that outputs and displays image information, a recording unit (not shown) that outputs image information, and a normal observation mode (also referred to as a normal light mode) or special light. The input unit 32 functions as a UI (user interface) that accepts input operations such as mode settings such as an observation mode (also referred to as a special light mode) and function settings.

  The endoscope 12 includes an illumination optical system that includes an optical fiber 20 for emitting illumination light from the distal end thereof, and an imaging optical system that includes an imaging element (sensor) 22 that images an observation region and a scope cable 23. An electronic endoscope. Although not shown, the endoscope 12 includes an endoscope insertion portion that is inserted into the subject, an operation portion that performs an operation for bending and observing the distal end of the endoscope insertion portion, and an endoscope. A connector portion is provided for detachably connecting the mirror 12 to the light source device 14 and the processor 16 of the control device. Further, although not shown, various channels such as a forceps channel for inserting a tissue collection treatment instrument and the like and a channel for air supply / water supply are provided inside the operation unit and the endoscope insertion unit.

As shown in FIG. 1, the distal end portion of the endoscope 12 is provided with an irradiation port 28A for irradiating light to the observation region, and image information of the observation region is transmitted to the light receiving unit 28B adjacent to the irradiation port 28A. An imaging element (sensor) 22 such as a monochrome CCD (Charge Coupled Device) image sensor or a CMOS (Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor) image sensor is arranged. A cover glass or a lens (not shown) constituting the illumination optical system is disposed at the irradiation port 28A of the endoscope 12, and an objective lens constituting the imaging optical system is provided on the light receiving surface of the imaging element 22 of the light receiving unit 28B. A unit (not shown) is arranged. Note that a CCD image sensor is preferably used as the image pickup element 22, and a frame transfer type CCD (FT-CCD) image sensor is preferably used as the CCD image sensor.
The endoscope insertion section can be bent by the operation of the operation section, and can be bent in an arbitrary direction and an arbitrary angle according to the part of the subject in which the endoscope 12 is used. The portion 28B, that is, the observation direction of the image sensor 22 can be directed to a desired observation site.

Next, with reference to FIG.1 and FIG.2, the light source device of this invention is demonstrated.
FIG. 2 is a schematic front view schematically showing an embodiment of the configuration of the endoscope light source device according to the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 2, the light source device 14 of the present invention includes a first light source unit 24, a second light source unit 26, a light amount control unit 40 that controls the light amount of the second light source unit 26, and multiplexing. A member 46, a rotary filter 47, a condenser lens 48, a rod integrator 50, a first shutter 52, and a light quantity measurement sensor 54 are included. The light source device 14 of the present invention may further include a second shutter 56.

The first light source unit 24 includes a xenon light source (first light source) 36 that emits white illumination light (hereinafter also simply referred to as white light) used in both the normal light mode and the special light mode, and a xenon light source 36. It is composed of a reflector (parabolic mirror) 34 that is a converging optical system that converts the emitted white light into a substantially parallel light beam.
In this embodiment, a xenon light source is used as a white light source that emits white light, but in the present invention, there is no particular limitation as long as it is a light source that emits white light. A discharge-type high-intensity lamp light source such as a mercury lamp or a metal halide lamp can be used. However, for the xenon light source, a 300 W xenon lamp manufactured by PerkinElmer Japan is preferably used.
The reflector 34 is not particularly limited as long as the white light can be converted into a parallel light beam by an arc provided near the focal point, and a known one may be used.

On the other hand, the second light source unit 26 is a light source unit used in the special light mode, and is a laser light source or LED light source for emitting narrow band light, for example, a blue-violet laser emitting blue-violet laser light. Special light source 42 using a semiconductor laser light source that emits blue laser light such as a light source (405LD) or a blue LED that emits blue LED light, a drive unit 42a that drives the special light source 42, and a special light source The parallel beam of white light from the xenon light source 36 whose size (shape and size) is transmitted through the multiplexing member 46 while making the beam of laser light or LED light (narrowband light) emitted from 42 into a parallel beam. And a collimator lens 44 which is shaped so as to be equal to the size of.
In the present invention, the special light source 42 is not particularly limited as long as it is a light source that emits narrowband light having a narrower wavelength band than white light, but blue light such as a blue-violet laser light source (405LD) or a blue LED is used. A laser light source or LED light source other than the system semiconductor laser light source or LED light source may be used, but when observing the surface layer structure, it is preferable to use a blue laser light source or LED light source.
The collimator lens 44 is also configured so that the narrow-band light beam emitted from the special light source 42 is a parallel beam, and the size of the collimator lens 44 is the same as the size of the parallel beam of white light from the xenon light source 36 that transmits the multiplexing member 46. If it can shape so that it may become equal, there will be no limitation in particular.

The multiplexing member 46 transmits white light emitted from the xenon light source 36 in the normal light mode, and transmits white light emitted from the xenon light source 36 in the special light mode. The narrow band light emitted from the light source 42 is reflected, and the white light and the narrow band light are combined to generate combined light.
As shown in FIG. 2, the multiplexing member 46 is disposed downstream of the xenon light source 36 and the narrow-band light source 42 (downstream in the direction in which the light beam propagates). The xenon light source 36, the narrow band light source 42, and the multiplexing member 46 are arranged so that the narrow band light from the band light source 42 enters from a direction orthogonal to the multiplexing member 46.
As such a multiplexing member 46, a dichroic mirror can be used.
In the present invention, the white light transmitted through the multiplexing member 46 in the normal mode and the white light combined by the multiplexing member 46 in the special light mode and the combined light of the narrowband light need to be described separately. In the case where there is no signal, it is represented by the combined light for the sake of simplicity.

A rotary filter 47 is disposed on the downstream side of the multiplexing member 46.
3 is a diagram showing the configuration of the rotary filter shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 (a) is a diagram showing the spectral characteristics of the first filter set of the rotary filter in FIG. 3, while FIG. b) is a diagram showing the spectral characteristics of the second filter set of the rotary filter of FIG. 3.
In the normal mode, the rotary filter 47 separates the white light emitted from the xenon light source 36 and transmitted through the multiplexing member 46 into red (R), green (G), and blue (B) components, and special light. In the mode, the combined light of the white light emitted from the xenon light source 36 and the narrow band light emitted from the special light source 42 by the multiplexing member 46 is included in the wavelength range of the G component and has a narrower wavelength range. It is included in the wavelength band of the G narrow band component and the B component, and is separated into the B narrow band component of a narrower wavelength band.

As shown in FIG. 3, the rotary filter 47 is formed in a disc shape and has a double structure with the center as a rotation axis. The outer diameter portion of this double structure has an R1 filter section constituting a first filter set for outputting frame sequential light having overlapping spectral characteristics suitable for color reproduction as shown in FIG. 47r1, G1 filter part 47g1, and B1 filter part 47b1 are arranged. As shown in FIG. 4A, the R1 filter unit 47r1 of the rotary filter 47 separates the R component, the G1 filter unit 47g1 separates the G component, and the B1 filter unit 47b1 separates the B component. On the other hand, in order to output two-band narrow-band surface-sequential light having discrete spectral characteristics capable of extracting desired layer texture information as shown in FIG. A G2 filter unit 47g2, a B2 filter unit 47b2, and a light shielding filter unit 47Cut that constitute the second filter group are arranged. As shown in FIG. 4B, the G2 filter unit 47g2 of the rotary filter 47 separates the G narrowband component, and the B2 filter unit 47b2 separates the B narrowband component.
The rotary filter 47 is rotated by driving control of the rotary filter motor 47a by a control circuit (not shown). Further, the radial movement is performed by a mode switching motor (not shown) according to a control signal from the input unit 32 or the processor 16 when switching between a normal light mode and a special light mode, which will be described later.

  The condensing lens 48 is disposed on the downstream side of the rotation filter 47 and passes through the combining member 46 or is combined by the combining member 46 and separated by the rotating filter 47 (hereinafter referred to as a surface). (Also referred to as sequential light) on one incident end face of the rod integrator 50, which will be described later, so that each color component of the combined light is incident on the entire incident end face of the rod integrator 50. Light is condensed so that the size is the size of the incident end face of the rod integrator 50. As the condenser lens 48, a known condenser lens used in the condenser optical system may be used.

  The rod integrator 50 is disposed on the downstream side of the condensing lens 48, combined by the combining member 46, separated by the rotary filter 47, and collected by each surface sequential light (each color of the combined light) collected by the condensing lens 48. The component is made incident on the incident end face of the optical fiber 20 of the endoscope 12 after the in-plane light quantity distribution is made uniform. That is, the rod integrator 50 causes each surface sequential light collected by the condensing lens 48 to be incident from the incident end surface, and internally reflected multiple times, to uniformize the light amount distribution in the exit end surface, and to exit from the exit end surface. Then, all the emitted light beams of the separated light beams are incident on the incident end face of the optical fiber 20 of the endoscope 12 without leaving any excess.

In addition, the rod integrator 50 makes the light incident on the incident end face repeat the multiple reflection (total reflection) inside, thereby making the light quantity distribution in the outgoing end face of the light emitted from the outgoing end face uniform. The light ray angle of the light incident on the incident end face is stored, and each light ray of the incident light is emitted at the same emission angle as the incident angle on the incident end face.
In particular, in the present invention, in the special light mode, each surface sequential light (each color component of the combined light) combined by the combining member 46, separated by the rotary filter 47, and collected by the condenser lens 48 is a rod. When entering the integrator 50, narrow-band light and white light included in each surface sequential light are incident with the same NA, and the rod integrator 50 emits each surface sequential light from the emitting end surface. The light quantity distribution in the exit surface of each surface sequential light is made uniform.
In the present invention, the rod integrator 50 is not particularly limited, and a known rod integrator generally used for an illumination optical system of an endoscope apparatus may be used.

The first shutter 52 is disposed so that the first shutter 52 is inserted between the condenser lens 48 and the rod integrator 50 during calibration of the light source device 14.
The first shutter 52 is inserted into the optical path of each surface sequential light (each color component of the combined light) collected by the condensing lens 48 by a driving means (not shown) such as a motor, and the rod integrator for each separated light. In addition to blocking the incident light 50, each separated light is incident on the light quantity measuring sensor 54. For this reason, the first shutter 52 includes a reflection mirror 52 a for reflecting each surface sequential light toward the light quantity measurement sensor 54 on the upstream side (condenser lens 48 side). When the light amount measurement of the separated light by the light amount measurement sensor 54 is completed, the first shutter 52 is retracted from the optical path of the separated light and enables the imaging element 22 to image the imaging target.

Here, for example, the first shutter 52 captures return light from the imaging target obtained when the imaging target is irradiated with each surface sequential light (each color component of the combined light) collected by the condenser lens 48. A signal charge generated by photoelectric conversion of a captured image signal of an image to be captured obtained by capturing at 22 from an imaging region in which photoelectric conversion is performed in the image sensor 22 in accordance with return light from the image capturing target. Is inserted into the optical path of the frame sequential light during the transfer of the captured image signal, that is, during the transfer period of the picked-up image signal, and then retreats from the optical path of the frame sequential light again after the transfer period of the picked-up image signal. Is preferred.
That is, the calibration of the light source device 14 is preferably performed during the transfer period of the captured image signal. Therefore, it is preferable that the first shutter 52 is driven in synchronization with the imaging of the imaging target by the imaging element 22 (the generation period of the captured image signal and the transfer period of the captured image signal), and insertion / retraction is performed.

The light quantity measurement sensor 54 is disposed at a position deviated from the optical path (optical axis) of the separated light from the condenser lens 48 toward the rod integrator 50, and receives each surface sequential light reflected by the reflection mirror 52a of the first shutter 52. Then, the amount of light is measured.
A photosensor such as a photodiode can be used as the light quantity measurement sensor 54, but is not particularly limited, and a known light quantity measurement sensor can be used.
The measurement value of the light quantity of each surface sequential light measured by the light quantity measurement sensor 54 is transmitted to the light quantity control unit 40.

The light amount control unit 40 controls the drive unit 42a that drives the narrow band light source 42 of the second light source unit 26 to control the light amount of the narrow band light emitted from the narrow band light source 42. This is for making the light quantity ratio between the white light and the narrowband light in the combined light combined by the combining member 46 constant.
In other words, the light quantity control unit 40 changes during use from the measured value of the light quantity of each surface sequential light measured by the light quantity measurement sensor 54, and the xenon light source 36 of the first light source part 24 that has changed due to deterioration over time. The amount of white light and the amount of narrowband light of the narrowband light source 42 of the second light source unit 26 are obtained, and the narrowband light source 42 is controlled by controlling the drive unit 42a of the narrowband light source 42 so that the ratio is constant. The amount of narrowband light emitted from the light source is adjusted to a predetermined amount.

  For example, the light amount control unit 40 determines the light amount of the RGB color components (RGB plane sequential light) of the white light separated by the R1 filter unit 47r1, the G1 filter unit 47g1, and the B1 filter unit 47b1 of the first filter set of the rotary filter 47. A measured value of the amount of white light of the xenon light source 36 is obtained from the actually measured value, and the GB narrowband component of the narrowband light separated by the G2 filter unit 47g2 and the B2 filter unit 47b2 of the second filter set of the rotary filter 47 ( The measured value of the combined light of the white light of the xenon light source 36 and the narrow-band light of the narrow-band light source 42 is obtained from the actually measured value of the light amount of the GB surface sequential light), and the obtained white light amount and combined light The measurement value of the light quantity of the narrow band light is obtained from the measurement value of the light quantity, and the light quantity ratio between the white light and the narrow band light is equalized from the obtained measurement value of the light quantity of the white light of the xenon light source 36. The target value of the light amount of narrow-band light necessary for determined, so that the target value of the amount of light from the measured values of the narrow-band light, it is possible to control the driving unit 42a.

In the illustrated example, each surface sequential light (each color component of the combined light) color-separated by the rotary filter 47 is reflected by the first shutter 52 toward the light quantity measurement sensor 54 and received by the light quantity measurement sensor 54. The light quantity of the separated light is measured, and the measured value of the light quantity of the white light of the xenon light source 36 and the light of the narrow band light of the narrow band light source 42 is obtained from the measured value of the light quantity of each surface sequential light. Without limitation, at least one of the first filter set and the second filter unit of the rotary filter 47 is further provided with a transparent filter unit that transmits white light and combined light as it is, for example, a light shielding filter unit 47Cut of the second filter set. May be directly measured by the light amount measurement sensor 54 at least one of the light amount of white light and the light amount of combined light.
In this case, the rotation of the rotary filter 47 and the driving of the first shutter are synchronized, and the transparent filter portion and the first shutter of the rotary filter 47 are in sync with white light and the combined image signal during the transfer period of the captured image signal in the image sensor 22. It must be inserted into the optical path of wave light.

In this way, even when both the light quantity of white light and the light quantity of the combined light are actually measured directly by the light quantity measurement sensor 54, the measurement value of the light quantity of the narrow band light is measured by the light quantity measurement sensor 54. Although it is necessary to obtain from the measured values of the light amounts of the white light and the combined light, the present invention is not limited to this, and the light amount of the narrow band light may be actually measured directly by the light amount measurement sensor 54.
That is, as indicated by a one-dot chain line in FIG. 2, the second shutter 56 is provided between the xenon light source 36 of the first light source unit 24 and the multiplexing member 46, and the first shutter is used when measuring the amount of combined light. 52 and the second shutter 56 are simultaneously inserted into the optical path of white light and the optical path of combined light, respectively, and the white light is blocked, and only the narrow band light is guided to the light quantity measuring sensor 54, and instead of the light quantity of the combined light. In addition, the light amount of only the narrow band light may be directly measured.
The endoscope light source device of the present invention is basically configured as described above.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the white light and the narrowband light emitted from the xenon light source 36 and the narrowband light source 42 of the light source device 14 are combined into a multiplexing member 46, a rotating filter 47, a condensing lens and a rod integrator 50. After being converted into each surface sequential light (white light and combined light color components) having a uniform in-plane light quantity distribution, the incidence of the optical fiber 20 of the endoscope 12 connected by the connector portion from the rod integrator 50 is performed. Incident on the end face.
The optical fiber 38 is a multimode fiber. For example, a thin fiber cable having a core diameter of 105 μm, a cladding diameter of 125 μm, and a diameter of φ0.3 to 0.5 mm including a protective layer serving as an outer skin can be used.

In this way, the surface sequential light generated by the light source device 14 is propagated through the optical fiber 38 of the endoscope 12 and irradiated from the irradiation port 28A at the distal end portion of the endoscope 12 toward the observation region of the subject. . Then, the return light from the observation region irradiated with the illumination light is imaged on the light receiving surface of the image sensor 22 through the light receiving unit 28B, and the image pickup device 22 images the observation region.
An image signal of a captured image output from the image sensor 22 after imaging is input to the image processing system 38 of the processor 16 through the scope cable 23.
Next, the image signal of the picked-up image picked up by the image pickup device 22 in this way is subjected to image processing by a signal processing system including the image processing system 38 of the processor 16 and output to a monitor 30 or a recording device (not shown), and the user It is used for observation.
The signal processing system of the endoscope system 10 includes a signal processing system of the endoscope 12, a signal processing system of the light source 14, and a signal processing system of the processor 16 including the image processing system 38.

The signal processing system of the endoscope 12 is a signal processing system of an image signal of a captured image from the image sensor 22 after imaging, and is correlated double sampling (CDS) or automatic gain control (AGC) to the captured image signal that is an analog signal. The analog image signal subjected to sampling and gain control is converted into a digital image signal. The A / D converted digital image signal is input to the image processing system 38 of the processor 16 via the connector unit.
Further, as described above, the signal processing system of the light source unit 14 processes the measurement value of the light quantity by the light quantity measurement sensor 54, the measurement value of the white light quantity of the xenon light source 36, and the light quantity of the narrow band light of the narrow band light source 42. A light amount control unit 40 that performs calculation of the measured value of the narrow band light source 42, on / off control of the narrow band light source 42, and light amount control of the narrow band light source 42 according to the measurement values of the light amounts of white light and narrow band light. The light quantity control unit 40 may perform on / off control and light quantity control of the xenon light source 36.

  The signal processing system image processing system 38 of the processor 16 performs preprocessing such as gamma correction, color correction processing, and noise removal on the digital image signal input from the endoscope 12 to the processor 16, and then performs the normal light mode. , A normal observation image process suitable for the preprocessed digital image signal by the surface sequential light of the white light of the xenon light source 36, and a display image for displaying the normal observation image as a soft copy image on the monitor 30 or the like Converted into a signal or a display image signal to be output as a hard copy image by a recording apparatus, and pre-processed digital by frame sequential light of combined light of white light of the xenon light source 36 and narrow band light of the narrow band light source 42 Display image for performing special light observation image processing suitable for the image signal and displaying the special light observation image as a soft copy image on the monitor 30 or the like No., or to convert the recording apparatus to a display image signal for outputting as a hard copy image.

In the above-described example, the white light and the narrow light calculated based on the actual measurement values of the surface sequential light of the white light measured by the light quantity measurement sensor 54 and the surface sequential light of the combined light of the white light and the narrow band light. Although the light amount control unit 40 controls the light amount of the narrow band light source 42 according to the measured value of the light amount of the band light, the narrow band light source 42 is fed back and the narrow band light source 42 is feedback controlled. Is not limited to this, and is imaged by the imaging element 22 of the endoscope 12 in accordance with the measurement values of the light amounts of the white light and the narrow band light based on the measurement by the light amount measurement sensor 54, and is sent from the endoscope 12 to the processor 16. The digital image signal may be fed back by correcting the input digital image signal in the image processing system 38 of the processor 16.
The correction processing of the digital image signal according to the measurement values of the white light and the narrow band light based on the measurement of the light quantity measurement sensor 54 in the image processing system 38 includes the measurement values of the white light and the narrow band light, From the target value of the light intensity ratio between the white light and the narrow band light that should be controlled constantly, the light quantity of the narrow band light that should be originally calculated is calculated, and the measured value of the light quantity of the narrow band light is calculated. The digital image signal corresponding to the measurement values of the light amounts of the white light and the narrow band light is corrected so as to become the target value of the light amount.
The endoscope system of the present invention is basically configured as described above.

Next, an operation of the endoscope system having the endoscope light source device of the present invention will be described.
As described above, the light source device 14 includes the xenon (Xe) light source 36 that is used for both the normal light mode and the special light mode, and the special light source 42 that uses a blue-violet laser light source (405LD) or a blue LED in the special light mode. As a light source. The light emission from each of the light sources 36 and 42 is individually controlled by the light source control unit 40, and the light emitted from the xenon (Xe) light source 36 (white light) and the light emitted from the special light source 42 (narrowband light). The amount of light emitted from the special light source 42 (narrow band light) can be changed so that the light amount ratio is constant.

  In the normal light mode, the white light emitted from the xenon (Xe) light source 36 becomes parallel light by the reflector 34, passes through the multiplexing member 46, and is one of the filters of the first filter group of the rotary filter 47. The light passes through (R1 filter unit 47r1, G1 filter unit 47g1, B1 filter unit 47b1), becomes surface-sequential light, enters the condenser lens 48, is condensed by the condenser lens 48, and enters the rod integrator 50.

On the other hand, in the special light mode, the white light emitted from the xenon (Xe) light source 36 becomes parallel light by the reflector 34, while the narrow-band light emitted from the special light source 42 is whitened by the collimator lens 44. The parallel light is shaped to have the same size as the parallel light.
Next, in the multiplexing member 46, the white parallel light is transmitted through the multiplexing member 46, while the narrow-band parallel light shaped to the same size is reflected by the multiplexing member 46 and transmitted through the white parallel light. Combined to become combined light.
Further, the combined light passes through one of the filters of the second filter set (G2 filter unit 47g2 and B2 filter unit 47b2) of the rotary filter 47, becomes surface-sequential light, enters the condenser lens 48, and is collected. The light is condensed by the optical lens 48 and enters the rod integrator 50.

In both the normal light mode and the special light mode, the light incident on the rod integrator 50 is repeatedly reflected in the rod integrator 50, and the light quantity distribution in the exit end face becomes uniform during emission.
That is, in both the normal light mode and the special light mode, the light passing through the rod integrator 50 has a uniform light amount distribution, is input to the optical fiber 20, and is transmitted to the connector unit. The light transmitted to the connector portion is propagated to the distal end portion of the endoscope 12 by the optical fiber 20 constituting the illumination optical system.

As described above, the white light in the normal light mode or the combined light in the special light mode is irradiated from the irradiation port 28A at the distal end portion of the endoscope 12 toward the observation region of the subject. Then, the return light from the observation region irradiated with the illumination light is imaged on the light receiving surface of the image sensor 22 through the light receiving unit 28B, and the image pickup device 22 images the observation region.
An image signal of a captured image output from the image sensor 22 after imaging is input to the image processing system 28 of the processor 16 through the scope cable 41.
Next, the image signal of the captured image captured by the image sensor 22 is subjected to image processing by a signal processing system including the image processing system 28 of the processor 16, output to the monitor 30 and the recording device, and used for user observation. The

On the other hand, when the light source device 14 is calibrated, the operation method (light source control) of the endoscope light source device of the present invention is performed as follows.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of an operation (light source control) method of the endoscope light source device of the present invention.
First, in the light source device 14, the first shutter 52 emits from the xenon light source 36 between the condenser lens 48 and the rod integrator 50 during calibration, preferably during the transfer period of the captured image signal in the image sensor 22. Then, the light is inserted into the optical path of the white light or the surface sequential light of the combined light of the white light and the narrow band light emitted from the special light source 42 (step S10).
Next, in the normal light mode, the surface sequential light of the white light is reflected by the reflection mirror 52a of the first shutter 52 in the special light mode, and the surface sequential light of the combined light of the white light and the narrow band light is reflected. The light quantity measurement sensor 54 is incident, and the light quantity measurement sensor 54 measures the light quantity of the surface sequential light of the combined light of the white light and the narrow band light (step S12).

Next, in the light quantity control unit 40, the measured value of the light quantity of the white light and the narrow band light is obtained from the actual measurement value of the surface sequential light of the combined light of the white light and the narrow band light measured by the light quantity measurement sensor 54. Calculated (step S14).
Next, the light amount control unit 40 controls the drive unit 42a of the narrow band light source 42 so as to make the light amount ratio of the white light and the narrow band light constant from the measurement value of the light amount of the white light and the narrow band light, The amount of narrowband light emitted from the narrowband light source 42 is adjusted (step S16).
In this way, the light amount of the narrow band light can be controlled according to the light amount of the combined light measured by the light amount measurement sensor 54.

  In the operation method of the endoscope system 10, instead of controlling the light amount of the narrow band light according to the light amount of the combined light measured by the light amount measurement sensor 54 in the light amount control unit 40, or narrow band light. In addition to the control of the amount of light, the measured values of the amounts of white light and narrow band light calculated by the light amount control unit 40 are sent to the image processing unit system 38 of the processor 16, and the image processing unit system 38 measures the measured values. You may make it correct | amend the image signal of the captured image imaged with the image pick-up element 22 according to the light quantity of the wave light.

  In the above-described example, a dichroic mirror is used as the multiplexing member 46, but the present invention is not limited to this, and includes a transmission part that transmits white light and a reflection part that reflects at least narrowband light. A multiplexing member that combines white light and narrowband light to generate combined light can also be used.

  In the above embodiment, the rotary filter 47 is used to generate the surface sequential light of the white light and the combined light, the generated surface sequential light is irradiated to the imaging target, and the return light from the imaging target is monochrome. Although the image pickup device (sensor) 22 is configured to perform frame-sequential imaging, the present invention is not limited to this, and a simultaneous imaging using a color imaging device is performed without using the rotary filter 47. It is good also as a structure.

  As mentioned above, although the embodiment about the light source device for endoscope of the present invention, its operating method, and the endoscope system and its operating method was explained in detail, the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, and is the gist of the present invention. It goes without saying that various improvements or changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

  For example, an endoscope light source device drives a first light source unit that emits white illumination light, a narrow-band light source that emits narrow-band light in a narrower wavelength band than the white illumination light, and the narrow-band light source A second light source unit including a driving unit, a condensing lens for condensing the combined light combined by the combining member and entering the light guide of the endoscope, and the combining member A light amount measuring unit that measures the light amount of the combined light, and the second light source unit that adjusts the light amount of the narrowband light according to the light amount of the combined light measured by the light amount measuring unit. And a light amount control means for controlling the drive unit.

  Here, the endoscope light source device further includes a first shutter that is disposed in an optical path of the combined light downstream of the combining member and blocks the optical path of the combined light, and the first shutter is A reflection mirror is provided on the upstream surface of the optical path of the combined light, and the light amount control unit is disposed at a position deviated from the optical path of the combined light, and measures the light amount of the combined light reflected by the reflection mirror It may be what you do.

The endoscope light source device further includes a first shutter disposed in an optical path of the combined light downstream of the combining member, and blocking the optical path of the combined light, and the light amount control means. Moving means that is placed upstream of the one shutter from the optical path of the multiplexed light in synchronization with the closing operation of the first shutter and that exits the optical path of the combined light in synchronization with the opening operation of the first shutter. The light amount control means may measure the light amount of the combined light during the closing operation of the first shutter.
The condensing lens is disposed on the downstream side of the combining member, the first shutter is disposed between the condensing lens and the light guide of the endoscope, and the light amount control unit includes: The light quantity of the combined light condensed by the condenser lens may be measured.

The endoscope light source device further includes a color filter that acts on an optical path of the combined light downstream from the combining member to separate the combined light into a plurality of different predetermined wavelength band components, The light amount control means may measure the light amount of each predetermined wavelength component for each of the plurality of predetermined wavelength region components of the combined light separated by the color filter.
The multiplexing member may reflect the white illumination light emitted from the first light source unit and transmit at least the narrowband light emitted from the second light source unit. It may be a dichroic mirror.

  In addition, the endoscope system includes a first light source unit that emits white illumination light, a second light source unit that emits narrowband light having a narrower wavelength band than the white illumination light, the white illumination light, and the narrow light source. A light source device for an endoscope, comprising: a multiplexing member that combines band light and generates combined light; and a light amount measuring unit that measures the amount of light of the combined light combined by the combining member; A light guide for guiding the combined light emitted from the endoscope light source device to irradiate the imaging target, and the imaging target obtained when the combined light is irradiated to the imaging target through the light guide An endoscope including an imaging device that captures the return light from the imaging device, and a captured image signal that is captured by the imaging device of the endoscope and is input from the imaging device, and the received captured image signal is predetermined An image processing unit for performing image processing of And further includes a light amount control means for controlling the light amount of the narrow-band light emitted from the second light source unit according to the light amount of the combined light measured by the light amount measuring means, or the image In the processing unit, the captured image signal obtained by the imaging element may be corrected in accordance with the light amount of the combined light measured by the light amount measuring unit.

  In addition, an operating method of the endoscope light source device includes a first light source unit that emits white illumination light and a second light source unit that emits narrowband light having a narrower wavelength band than the white illumination light. An operation method for controlling the amount of combined light combined by the combining member of the light source device for endoscope, wherein the amount of combined light combined by the combining member is measured and measured. The amount of the narrow band light may be controlled according to the amount of the combined light.

  The operation method of the endoscope system includes: a first light source unit that emits white illumination light; a second light source unit that emits narrow band light having a narrower wavelength band than the white illumination light; and the white illumination light. An endoscope light source device comprising: and a multiplexing member that generates a combined light by combining the narrowband light, and guiding the combined light emitted from the endoscope light source device An endoscope comprising: a light guide for irradiating the object to be imaged; and an image pickup device for imaging return light from the object to be imaged obtained by irradiating the object to be imaged with the combined light through the light guide; An endoscope system control comprising: an image processing unit that receives an imaged image signal that is imaged by the imaging element of an endoscope and that is input from the imaging element, and that performs predetermined image processing on the received imaged image signal A method comprising: a light source device for an endoscope; The amount of the combined light combined by the combining member is measured, and the amount of the narrowband light emitted from the second light source unit is controlled according to the measured amount of the combined light. Alternatively, the image processing unit may correct the captured image signal obtained by the imaging device in accordance with the measured amount of the combined light.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Endoscope system 12 Endoscope 14 Light source device 16 Processor 18 Input / output part 20 Optical fiber 22 Imaging element 24 1st light source part 26 2nd light source part 30 Display part (monitor)
32 Input unit 34 Reflector 36 Xenon light source 38 Image processing system 40 Light amount control unit 42 Special light source 42a Drive unit 44 Collimator lens 46 Combined member 47 Rotating filter 48 Condensing lens 50 Rod integrator 52 First shutter 52a Reflective mirror 54 Light amount measurement Part

Claims (18)

A first light source that emits white illumination light;
A second light source unit including a narrow-band light source that emits narrow-band light having a narrower wavelength band than the white illumination light, and a drive unit that drives the narrow-band light source;
A condensing lens for condensing the combined light in which the white illumination light and the narrowband light are combined and entering the light guide of an endoscope;
A light amount measuring means for measuring the light amount of the combined light;
A light amount control means for controlling the drive unit of the second light source unit so as to adjust the light amount of the narrow-band light according to the light amount of the combined light measured by the light amount measuring means. Endoscope light source device.   The light quantity control means drives the second light source unit according to the light quantity of the combined light measured by the light quantity measurement means so that the light quantity ratio between the white illumination light and the narrow band light is constant. The endoscope light source device according to claim 1, wherein the endoscope light source device is controlled. And a first shutter disposed in the optical path of the combined light and blocking the optical path of the combined light,
The first shutter includes a reflection mirror on an upstream surface of the optical path of the combined light,
The endoscope light source device according to claim 1, wherein the light amount measuring unit is disposed at a position out of an optical path of the combined light and measures the light amount of the combined light reflected by the reflection mirror. Further, a first shutter disposed in the optical path of the combined light and blocking the optical path of the combined light, and the light amount measuring means are arranged on the upstream side of the optical path of the combined light from the first shutter. Moving means that synchronizes with the closing operation, and moves out of the optical path of the combined light in synchronization with the opening operation of the first shutter;
The endoscope light source device according to claim 1, wherein the light amount measuring unit measures the light amount of the combined light during the closing operation of the first shutter. The condenser lens is disposed in an optical path of the combined light;
The first shutter is disposed between the condenser lens and the light guide of the endoscope,
5. The endoscope light source device according to claim 3, wherein the light amount measuring unit measures a light amount of the combined light condensed by the condenser lens. And a color filter that acts on an optical path of the combined light and separates the combined light into a plurality of different predetermined wavelength band components,
The endoscope for an endoscope according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the light amount measuring unit measures a light amount of each predetermined wavelength component for each of the plurality of predetermined wavelength region components of the combined light separated by the color filter. Light source device.   The color filter is included in a first filter group that separates the combined light into a red component, a green component, and a blue component of white illumination light, and a green narrow band of a narrower wavelength range than the green component. The endoscope light source device according to claim 6, further comprising: a second filter set that is included in a wavelength range of the component and the blue component and separates into a blue narrowband component of a narrower wavelength range.   8. The endoscope light source device according to claim 7, wherein the color filter is a rotary filter in which the first filter set is disposed outside and the second filter set is disposed inside.   The light amount measuring unit is configured to transfer a picked-up image signal of an image pickup device that picks up return light from the photographing target obtained when the combined light is irradiated onto the photographing target through the light guide of the endoscope. The light source device for endoscopes according to any one of claims 1 to 8, which measures a light amount of the combined light.   The light amount measuring means is obtained when each predetermined wavelength component is irradiated to the imaging target for each of the plurality of predetermined wavelength region components of the combined light separated by the color filter through the light guide of the endoscope. 9. The endoscope according to claim 6, wherein the amount of the combined light is measured during a transfer period of a captured image signal of each predetermined wavelength component of an imaging element that captures the return light from the imaging target. Light source device.   The light source device for an endoscope according to claim 9, wherein the imaging element is a frame transfer type CCD.   The endoscope light source device according to claim 1, wherein the second light source is a semiconductor light source.   The endoscope light source device according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the first light source is a discharge tube. A first light source that emits white illumination light;
A second light source that emits narrowband light having a narrower wavelength band than the white illumination light;
An endoscope light source device comprising: a light amount measuring unit that measures a light amount of the combined light in which the white illumination light and the narrowband light are combined;
A light guide for guiding the combined light emitted from the endoscope light source device to irradiate the imaging target, and the imaging target obtained when the combined light is irradiated to the imaging target through the light guide An endoscope provided with an imaging device for imaging the return light from
An image processing unit that receives the captured image signal that is captured by the imaging element of the endoscope and that is input from the imaging element, and that performs predetermined image processing on the received captured image signal;
The image processing unit further includes a light amount control unit that controls a light amount of the narrowband light emitted from the second light source unit according to a light amount of the combined light measured by the light amount measuring unit. The endoscope system according to claim 1, wherein the photographic image signal obtained by the imaging device is corrected in accordance with a light amount of the combined light measured by the light amount measuring unit.   The endoscope system according to claim 14, wherein the endoscope light source device is the endoscope light source device according to any one of claims 1 to 13.   The light amount control unit controls the light amount of the narrowband light emitted from the second light source unit according to the light amount of the combined light measured by the light amount measurement unit, and the image processing unit includes: The endoscope system according to claim 14 or 15, wherein the captured image signal obtained by the imaging device is corrected in accordance with a light amount of the combined light measured by the light amount measuring unit. A first light source that emits white illumination light;
A second light source unit that emits narrowband light having a narrower wavelength band than the white illumination light, and controls the amount of combined light obtained by combining the white illumination light and the narrowband light. A method of operating a mirror light source device,
A method of operating an endoscope light source device, comprising: measuring a light amount of the combined light; and controlling the light amount of the narrowband light according to the measured light amount of the combined light. A first light source unit that emits white illumination light; and a second light source unit that emits narrowband light having a narrower wavelength band than the white illumination light, and the white illumination light and the narrowband light are combined. A light source device for an endoscope that emits waved combined light; and
A light guide for guiding the combined light emitted from the endoscope light source device to irradiate the imaging target, and the imaging target obtained when the combined light is irradiated to the imaging target through the light guide An endoscope provided with an image sensor that images the return light from
An endoscope system comprising: an image processing unit that receives an imaged image signal that is imaged by the imaging element of the endoscope and that is input from the imaging element, and that performs predetermined image processing on the received imaged image signal. An operating method,
The light amount of the combined light emitted from the endoscope light source device is measured, and the light amount of the narrowband light emitted from the second light source unit is controlled according to the measured light amount of the combined light. Alternatively, the image processing unit corrects the photographed image signal obtained by the imaging device in accordance with the measured amount of the combined light, and operates the endoscope system.

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