JP2941622B2 - Wide-angle lighting device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an illuminating device used in an observation device such as an endoscope, and more particularly to a illuminating device having a large illuminating angle, capable of obtaining uniform illuminance, and reducing and simplifying an illuminating portion. The present invention relates to a wide-angle lighting device capable of performing the following.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, according to an observation apparatus using an optical fiber, such as an endoscope, which is widely used in the field of medical treatment, it is possible to start observation of minute parts in a living body and to narrow the inside of a duct or the like. Departments,
It is possible to easily obtain image information of a place where humans cannot access, such as a radioactively contaminated area, and it is expected to be applied to remote control based on the image information and to minimally invasive surgery.
In general, such an observation apparatus includes an observation unit including an image receiving element such as a CCD camera that detects image information through an image fiber or directly, and an illumination device that supplies light to a part to be observed. It is roughly composed of

Heretofore, as an illumination device used in such an observation device, an illumination device of a type in which light from an external light source is radiated to an observation site through an optical fiber has been used.
However, according to this method, there is a problem that a region to be irradiated with light is restricted by an emission angle of light from the optical fiber, and when a part to be observed deviates from the region, the light is not irradiated and observation becomes impossible. . Therefore, as a wide-angle illumination device for observing at a wider angle of view than the exit angle from the optical fiber,
A device in which a bulb is attached to the tip of the observation device, a device in which light emitted from an optical fiber is widened by a lens, and the like have been used.

[0004]

However, in a wide-angle irradiation device using a light bulb, the size of the observation device becomes large due to the large size of the illumination device itself, and a camera such as a camera arranged in the vicinity thereof because the light bulb generates heat. There is a problem in the use for medical applications in particular that there is a possibility of adversely affecting the observation portion and the site to be observed, and furthermore there is a risk that the light bulb may be broken. On the other hand, in a wide-angle illumination device using a lens, the structure of the distal end of an endoscope or the like becomes complicated and the diameter increases.If the lens is widened too wide, the density of the optical fiber irradiated per unit area decreases. There are problems that the illuminance may be insufficient and that the cost is increased due to the use of expensive microlenses.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an irradiating device used in an observation device such as an endoscope, which has a wide irradiating angle, can obtain a uniform illuminance, and has a reduced irradiating portion diameter and simplification. An object of the present invention is to provide a wide-angle lighting device that can be implemented.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This problem is caused by the observation unit.
Arrange multiple light guides on the outer peripheral side, and
The tip of the guide in the direction of the observation section or in the direction opposite to the observation section.
Bend, bend more than once, or
Of the light guide toward the tip of the light guide.
Taper to expose these parts to the outside.
This can be solved by a wide-angle lighting device that emits leaked light .

Hereinafter, the wide-angle lighting device of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to specific examples.

FIG. 1 is a view showing one embodiment of a wide-angle lighting device according to the first aspect. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes an observation device main body, and a wide-angle illumination device of the present invention, which includes 16 light guides 3, is provided on an outer peripheral side surface of an observation unit 2. Each of the light guides 3 constituting the wide-angle illumination device is constituted by a bundle of a plurality of optical fibers, and a tip end portion 4 of the light guide 3 is connected to the observation section 2.
Curved in the direction , this curved part is exposed to the outside
doing. FIG. 2 shows one of the light guides 3 in an enlarged manner. The tip 4 of the light guide 3
Has a curved portion 5 which is curved downward in the drawing, that is, in the direction of the observation portion, and the distal end surface 6 is polished. The light guide 3 extends to an external light source (not shown), and light is supplied into the light guide 3 from the external light source.

Light supplied from an external light source is transmitted through the light guide 3 and reaches the distal end portion 4. Part of the light further passes through the light guide 3 and is emitted from the distal end face 6. The irradiation range of the output light 10 is limited by the output angle of the optical fiber forming the light guide 3. On the other hand, another part of the light that has reached the tip 4
Since the bending portion 5 is provided on the outside, the leakage occurs in the outer peripheral direction of the bending portion 5. The irradiation range of the leaked light 11 is determined by the intensity of light transmitted through the light guide 3 and the curvature of the bending portion 5. So that blind spots cannot be formed in the entire irradiation range. Therefore, the range in which light is radiated by this wide-angle lighting device is the light guide 3
And the irradiation range of the leaked light 11.

The above description merely shows one embodiment of the wide-angle illumination device of the present invention described in claim 1, and various modifications are possible. For example, in the above description, the sixteen light guides 3 are evenly arranged on the outer peripheral surface of the observation unit 2, but the number of light guides is at least more than this, and is appropriately selected so that necessary light can be supplied. Is done. In addition, for example, the light guide may be arranged on only one side of the observation unit, and only a part of the observation target may be selectively irradiated with light. However, in any case, the tip of the light guide is curved toward the observation unit. Furthermore, in this light guide, the curvature and the like are not particularly limited as long as light leaks at the curved portion.

FIG. 3 is a view showing an example of a light guide constituting a wide-angle illumination device according to the present invention. This example
Is different from the previous example in that a curved portion 5 that is curved upward in the drawing, that is, in the direction opposite to the observation portion, is provided at the distal end portion 4 of the light guide 3 . The light guide 3 includes a bundle of a plurality of optical fibers, and light supplied from an external light source (not shown) is transmitted through the light guide.
The light is emitted from the distal end face 6 of the light guide 3 and leaks from the curved portion 5. Therefore, the range of light irradiation by the wide-angle illumination device of the present invention including such a light guide 3 includes an irradiation range of light emitted from the end face 6 of the light guide 3 and an irradiation range of leakage light at the curved portion 5. Is added. However, what illuminates the observation section side is mainly leakage light from the curved section.

[0011] In the wide-angle lighting device according to the second aspect of the present invention constituted by such a light guide, the number and arrangement of the light guide are not particularly limited, and can be appropriately changed as needed. However, the curvature of the curved portion is set such that a required amount and intensity of leaked light can be obtained, and all the light guides are curved in the opposite direction to the observation portion.

FIG. 4 is a view showing an example of a light guide constituting a wide-angle illumination device according to the present invention. The distal end portion 4 of the light guide 3 is provided with a bent portion 20 that is bent substantially at right angles to the longitudinal direction of the light guide 3, and the bent light guide 3 is further bent at the distal end side. The light guide 3 is bent at a substantially right angle, and the distal end face 6 is open toward the longitudinal direction of the light guide 3. Other parts
The minutes are the same as in the first example. The light guide 3 includes a bundle of a plurality of optical fibers, and light supplied from an external light source (not shown) is transmitted through the light guide, emitted from the distal end face 6 of the light guide 3, and
Leaked from. Therefore, the range of light irradiation by the wide-angle illumination device of the present invention including such a light guide 3 includes an irradiation range of light emitted from the end face 6 of the light guide 3 and an irradiation range of leakage light at the bent portion 20. Is added.

In the wide-angle lighting device according to the present invention, the number of light guides, the arrangement, the curvature of the bent portion, and the like are not particularly limited.
It can be changed as needed. Further, in the above description, the light guide is bent twice, but the number of times of bending may be two or more, and the light is widely irradiated by the leakage light at the bent portion and the light emitted from the end face of the light guide tip. I just need. However, it is preferable that the number of times of bending is at least two times, and the end face of the light guide be oriented in the same direction as the visual field of the observation unit.

[0014] Figure 5 is a diagram showing an example of a light guide forming a wide-angle illumination device of the present invention described in claim 4. The light guide 3 has a tapered shape at its distal end 4 whose diameter decreases toward the distal end of the light guide. Other parts are the same as in the first example. The light guide 3 is composed of a bundle of a plurality of optical fibers. Light supplied from an external light source (not shown) is transmitted through the light guide and emitted from the distal end face 6 of the light guide 3.
In the tapered portion 40 provided at the distal end portion 4 of the light guide 3, light leaks toward the outer peripheral direction. Therefore, the range of light irradiation by the wide-angle lighting device of the present invention including such a light guide 3 is limited to the light guide 3.
Irradiation range of the light emitted from the tip end face 6 of the
This is the sum of the irradiation range of leakage light from zero.

[0015] In the wide-angle illumination device of the present invention described in claim 4 configured in such a light guide, the light guide number, not particularly limited as is such arrangement can be varied as necessary. Also, this light guide 3
The curvature and length of the tapered portion 40 can also be set depending on the required light amount, light irradiation range, and the like.

In order to manufacture the light guide which forms the wide-angle lighting device of the present invention as described above, for example, the light guide is heated, plastically deformed, subjected to bending or stretching, and formed into a desired shape. A light guide may be obtained.

The wide-angle illumination device according to the present invention has been described above with reference to the embodiments. However, the present invention reduces the light irradiation range which has been limited by the exit angle of the light guide, and actively reduces the light leakage from the light guide. The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment as long as it is a wide-angle lighting device that can be used for wide-angle irradiation by using the device.

[0018]

According to the wide-angle lighting device of the present invention, since the light leaking from a curved portion, a bent portion, a tapered portion, or the like provided at the front end portion of the light guide is used, even if the light guide itself has a small exit angle, the wide angle illumination device can be used. Lighting at an angle becomes possible. Also,
The light guide can be manufactured by simply performing simple processing such as bending or stretching on the tip portion thereof, and since no light bulb or lens is required, material costs and manufacturing costs can be reduced. Furthermore, since the wide-angle lighting device of the present invention has a simplified structure, it is possible to reduce the diameter of the entire observation device using the lighting device, improve the usability, and safely apply it to the medical field.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a view showing one embodiment of a wide-angle lighting device according to claim 1.

FIG. 2 is a view showing a light guide constituting the wide-angle lighting device according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a view showing a light guide constituting a wide-angle lighting device according to claim 2;

FIG. 4 is a view showing a light guide constituting a wide-angle lighting device according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a view showing a light guide constituting a wide-angle lighting device according to a fourth embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Observation device main body, 2 ... Observation part, 3 ... Light guide, 4
... tip part, 5 ... bending part, 6 ... tip end face, 20 ... bending part,
40 ... Tapered part

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-4-122838 (JP, A) JP-A-62-19807 (JP, A) JP-A 62-135103 (JP, U) JP-A 58- 7361 (JP, Y2) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) G02B 6/00 G02B 6/04 F21V 8/00

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] A plurality of light guides are provided on an outer peripheral side surface of an observation unit.
The light guide is located near the tip of the light guide.
Side, and this curved part is exposed to the outside,
Wide angle lighting device according to claim Rukoto pointing out the leakage light. 2. A plurality of light guides on an outer peripheral side surface of an observation unit.
The light guide is located near the tip of the light guide.
Is bent in the opposite direction to
A wide-angle lighting device that is exposed and emits leaked light . 3. A plurality of light guides on an outer peripheral side surface of the observation unit.
Are provided, and the area near the tip of these light guides is
It is bent upward, and this bent portion is exposed to the outside,
A wide-angle lighting device for emitting leaked light. 4. A plurality of light guides on an outer peripheral side surface of the observation unit.
The light guide is located near the tip of these light guides.
The tapered shape reduces the diameter toward the tip of the guide.
This tapered part is exposed to the outside and emits leaked light
A wide-angle lighting device.