JP3917278B2 - Biological fluorescence diagnostic equipment - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a living body fluorescence diagnostic apparatus for diagnosing early cancer or the like by fluorescence observation using an endoscope.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Fluorescence diagnosis using an endoscope is performed using the fact that a living body emits fluorescence when light (excitation light) in a specific wavelength region is irradiated.
[0003]
An endoscope used for performing such a fluorescence diagnosis is a method in which an observation image obtained by an objective optical system arranged at the distal end of an insertion portion is transferred to an eyepiece portion by an image guide fiber bundle inserted into the insertion portion. It is the same as that for normal observation which transmits and observes.
[0004]
Then, after amplifying the light intensity of the fluorescence observation image that passed through the eyepiece and the normal image imaging television camera that captures the normal observation image that passed through the eyepiece of the endoscope by the image intensifier An ultra-high sensitivity television camera for imaging fluorescent images is provided, and light passing through the eyepiece is guided to one of the imaging surfaces of the two television cameras by an optical path switching member provided slidably. Can be switched to.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, when the optical path switching member is slid as described above to switch the optical path, the optical path switching member rattles and the switching operation is not performed smoothly, or the configuration of the optical path switching unit becomes large and the apparatus is large and heavy. Tended to be.
[0006]
Therefore, the present invention can smoothly switch the optical path of the observation image passing through the eyepiece of the endoscope between the normal image capturing television camera and the fluorescent image capturing ultra-sensitive television camera, and further reducing the size of the apparatus. An object of the present invention is to provide a living body fluorescence diagnostic apparatus that can be reduced in weight.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, a living body fluorescence diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention includes a normal image capturing television camera for capturing a normal observation image passing through an eyepiece of an endoscope, and the eyepiece. Ultra-high-sensitivity television camera for fluorescent image capturing for amplifying the intensity of the light of the fluorescence observation image that passed through, and the light passing through the eyepiece on any imaging surface of the two television cameras In a living body fluorescence diagnostic apparatus provided with a slidable frame for switching whether to guide or not, the light passing through the eyepiece is applied to the slidable frame in one of the two television cameras. A reflection member for reflecting toward the television camera is accommodated, and a hole is formed for allowing the reflection member to pass toward the other television camera.
[0008]
An optical member may be attached in the hole, the other television camera is an ultra-sensitive television camera for fluorescent image capturing, and the optical member is only light in a fluorescent wavelength region emitted from a living body. May be a filter for observing fluorescence.
[0009]
The fluorescence observation filter may be detachable in the hole, and no other optical member may be provided between the eyepiece and the reflecting member.
[0010]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 9 schematically shows the overall configuration of a living body fluorescence diagnostic apparatus, in which 1 is an endoscope insertion portion, and 2 is an operation portion connected to the proximal end of the insertion portion 1.
[0011]
An objective optical system 4 for forming an image of a subject on the incident end face of the image guide fiber bundle 5 is built in the distal end of the insertion portion 1. The image guide fiber bundle 5 passes through the operation unit 2 from the insertion unit 1 and the exit end surface thereof reaches the eyepiece unit 3. The eyepiece 3 includes an eyepiece optical system 6 for magnifying and observing the exit end face of the image guide fiber bundle 5.
[0012]
Accordingly, an image of the subject in front of the distal end of the insertion portion 1 is formed by the objective optical system 4, and the image is transmitted to the eyepiece 3 by the image guide fiber bundle 5, and the normal / fluorescent light is transmitted to the eyepiece 3. When the dual-use television camera unit 20 is not connected, the observation image can be observed with the naked eye through the eyepiece optical system 6.
[0013]
The light guide fiber bundle 7 for transmitting the illumination light for illuminating the subject is arranged with the exit end parallel to the objective optical system 4, and passes through the light guide connecting pipe 8 from the insertion part 1 and the operation part 2, The incident end is disposed on a connector 9 that is detachable from the light source device 10.
[0014]
A light source lamp 11 using a xenon lamp is disposed in the light source device 10, and illumination light emitted from the light source lamp 11 converges and enters the light guide fiber bundle 7 and is emitted from the light guide fiber bundle 7. The subject is illuminated by the illumination light emitted from the end.
[0015]
In the illumination optical path between the incident end of the light guide fiber bundle 7 and the light source lamp 11, an excitation light filter 12 having a characteristic of transmitting only light in a wavelength region of 420 nm to 480 nm is detachably disposed by a solenoid 13. Has been. The excitation light filter 12 is retracted from the illumination optical path during normal observation, and is inserted into the illumination optical path during fluorescence observation.
[0016]
A normal / fluorescent television camera unit 20 can be detachably connected to the eyepiece 3. As the connecting mechanism 21 between the eyepiece 3 and the normal / fluorescent television camera unit 20, various known mechanisms for attaching an eyepiece of a bayonet or other endoscope can be used, and the optical axis of the eyepiece optical system 6 is adjusted. It is good to make it attach to a center so that rotation is possible.
[0017]
The normal / fluorescent television camera unit 20 captures a normal image capturing television lamella 30 for capturing a normal observation image passing through the eyepiece optical system 6 and a fluorescence observation image passing through the eyepiece optical system 6. For this purpose, a super-sensitive television camera 40 for capturing fluorescent images is built in, and is configured as an integral unit as a whole.
[0018]
With such a configuration, by attaching and detaching the eyepiece 3 of the endoscope to the normal / fluorescent TV camera unit 20, both TVs of the normal image capturing TV camera 30 and the fluorescent image capturing ultra-high sensitivity TV camera 40 are provided. It will be attached to and detached from the camera at the same time.
[0019]
Reference numerals 31 and 32 denote a solid-state imaging device and an imaging lens of the normal image capturing television camera 30, and reference numerals 41 and 42 denote a solid-state imaging device and an imaging lens of the fluorescent image imaging ultra-high sensitivity television camera 40.
[0020]
The ultrahigh sensitivity television camera 40 for capturing fluorescent images incorporates an image intensifier 43 (I · I) for greatly amplifying the intensity of light passing through the eyepiece optical system 6. Reference numeral 44 denotes an imaging lens for forming an observation image that has passed through the eyepiece optical system 6 on the incident surface of the image intensifier 43.
[0021]
Inside the front end portion of the normal / fluorescent television camera unit 20 is disposed an optical path switching unit 50 for switching the light passing through the eyepiece optical system 6 to which imaging surface of the two television cameras 30, 40. Has been. Note that no optical components such as a lens are disposed between the eyepiece unit 3 and the optical path switching unit 50. This is preferable because the optical path length to the optical path switching unit 50 is shortened.
[0022]
Here, the optical path switching optical member of the optical path switching unit 50 has a reflecting surface inclined by 45 ° with respect to the optical axis of the eyepiece optical system 6 and moves in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis of the eyepiece optical system 6. A possible roof prism 55 is used. However, not only the roof prism 55 but various optical members having a reflecting surface can be used.
[0023]
The roof prism 55 is arranged so that it can be arbitrarily slid by the operation rod 56. Note that the operating rod 56 is actually arranged in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface, and the roof prism 55 is slid in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface, but is shown along the paper surface for convenience of illustration. .
[0024]
As a result, when the roof prism 55 is on the optical axis of the eyepiece optical system 6 as shown in FIG. 9, the observation image that has passed through the eyepiece optical system 6 is reflected laterally by the roof prism 55 and is used for normal image capturing. An image is formed on the surface of the solid-state imaging device 31 of the television camera 30.
[0025]
A light shielding plate 51 is disposed on the back of the roof prism 55, and light leaking from the eyepiece 3 toward the optical path switching unit 50 toward the fluorescent image capturing ultra-high sensitivity television camera 40 is shielded by the light shielding plate 51. Thus, no light is transmitted to the ultra-high sensitivity television camera 40 for fluorescent image capturing.
[0026]
When the roof prism 55 is moved to the side and retracted from the optical axis of the eyepiece optical system 6, an observation image that has passed through the eyepiece optical system 6 is displayed on the image intensifier 43 of the ultrahigh sensitivity television camera 40 for fluorescent image capturing. An image is formed on the image receiving surface, and after the light intensity is amplified by the image intensifier 43, the image is formed on the surface of the solid-state imaging device 41.
[0027]
At that time, the light shielding plate 51 is also retracted together with the roof prism 55, and a fluorescence observation filter 45 described later is inserted in the front portion of the fluorescence image forming lens 44 in place of the roof prism 55.
[0028]
The fluorescence observation filter 45 has a characteristic of transmitting only light in a wavelength region of, for example, 480 nm to 520 nm. Therefore, only light in the wavelength region of 480 nm to 520 nm in the observation image is incident on the ultra-high sensitivity television camera 40 for imaging fluorescent images.
[0029]
When the living tissue is irradiated with light having a wavelength region of 420 nm to 480 nm that passes through the excitation light filter 12, the normal tissue emits autofluorescence in the wavelength region of 480 nm to 600 nm, and the cancer tissue does not emit fluorescence.
[0030]
Therefore, in a state where the excitation light filter 12 is inserted in the illumination optical path, only the fluorescence emitted from the normal tissue of the subject enters the image intensifier 43 and is amplified.
[0031]
In this embodiment, there is one TV monitor 80, and it is determined whether the video signal output from the normal image capturing TV camera 30 or the fluorescent image capturing ultra-high sensitivity TV camera 40 is sent to the TV monitor 80. It can be switched by the selector 81. Reference numerals 82 and 83 denote control devices for controlling the TV cameras 30 and 40.
[0032]
Reference numeral 90 denotes a control unit incorporating a microprocessor, which outputs a control signal for controlling the operation of each unit such as the image intensifier 43, the line selector 81, and the solenoid 13 in conjunction with the switching operation of the optical path switching unit 50. To do. Reference numeral 60 denotes a detector (microswitch) for detecting the switching state of the optical path switching unit 50, and a detection signal based on ON / OFF is sent to the control unit 90.
[0033]
As a result, during normal observation, as shown in FIG. 9, the excitation light filter 12 is withdrawn from the illumination light path in the light source device 10, the subject is illuminated with normal illumination light, and the observed image is captured as a normal image. The image is taken by the television camera 30.
[0034]
On the normal / fluorescent television camera unit 20 side, the line selector 81 is switched to the normal image capturing television camera 30 side. Therefore, a normal observation image of light in the entire wavelength region of visible light is displayed on the television monitor 80 by the video signal output from the solid-state imaging device 31 of the normal image capturing television camera 30.
[0035]
Therefore, when the eyepiece 3 is connected to the normal / fluorescent television camera unit 20 and the optical path switching unit 50 is switched and the roof prism 55 is retracted to the side, the solenoid 13 uses the same for the excitation light. The filter 12 is inserted into the illumination optical path, and the line selector 81 is switched to the fluorescent image imaging ultra-high sensitivity television camera 40 side.
[0036]
At this time, as shown in the timing chart of FIG. 10, the excitation light filter 12 is connected to the illumination optical path before the light passing through the eyepiece 3 enters the fluorescent image capturing ultra-high sensitivity television camera 40 side. Controlled to be inserted inside. Therefore, the observation light obtained with the normal illumination light that does not pass through the excitation light filter 12 does not reach the fluorescent image imaging ultra-high sensitivity television camera 40 side.
[0037]
In this way, the subject is illuminated with illumination light having a wavelength region of 420 nm to 480 nm that passes through the excitation light filter 12, and the observation image enters the image intensifier 43 through the fluorescence observation filter 45.
[0038]
Accordingly, only the light in the wavelength region of 480 nm to 520 nm that passes through the fluorescence observation filter 45 enters the image intensifier 43 of the ultra-sensitive television camera 40 for imaging fluorescent images, and only the fluorescence emitted from the subject is imaged. A fluorescence observation image that is incident on the intensifier 43 and whose light intensity is amplified is picked up by the solid-state image pickup device 41 and displayed on the television monitor 80.
[0039]
FIG. 8 shows the normal / fluorescent television camera unit 20 in an actual use state. The ordinary / fluorescent television camera unit 20 is suspended from the universal joint 16 provided at the tip of the support stand 15. Has been lowered.
[0040]
The frame 22 and the cover 23 of the normal / fluorescent television camera unit 20 are each formed in a U-shaped cross section, and both form a cubic box. On the outer surfaces of the left and right sides of the cover 23, grips for gripping when moving are attached.
[0041]
The heavy ultra-high sensitivity television camera 40 for capturing a fluorescent image is directly fixed to the frame 22 by a fixing screw (not shown), and does not need to be moved for optical adjustment. As a result, the entire apparatus can be reduced in size and weight.
[0042]
Reference numeral 43a denotes an image forming surface (image receiving surface of the image intensifier 43) formed by the fluorescent image forming lens 44. The optical path switching unit 50 and its periphery will be described below with reference to FIG.
[0043]
In FIG. 1, the roof prism 55 is on an extension line of the optical axis of the eyepiece optical system 6, and an observation image that has passed through the eyepiece optical system 6 is reflected laterally by the reflection surface 55 a of the roof prism 55, so It is front sectional drawing of the state image-formed on 30 image-receiving surfaces.
[0044]
The support frame 52 that supports the optical path switching unit 50 has one end side screwed and fixed to the frame body of the ultra-high sensitivity television camera 40 for imaging fluorescent images, and the other end side connected to the plate member 54 fixed to the frame 22. It is fixed with screws.
[0045]
The prism frames 53 a and 53 b to which the roof prism 55 is attached are slidably supported inside the support frame 52. A groove 52a having a U-shaped cross section is formed in the support frame 52 horizontally (in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. 1), and the prism frames 53a and 53b slide along the groove 52a. However, details of the structure of this part will be described later.
[0046]
The normal image capturing television camera 30 is inserted into and fixed to a support cylinder 36, and the support cylinder 36 is fixed to a holder 35 fixed to the frame 22, and the normal image forming lens 32 has an optical axis. Are arranged in a state orthogonal to the optical axes of the eyepiece optical system 6 and the fluorescence image forming lens 32. The holder 35 is formed with a foot 35a screwed to the frame 22 as a separate body, but it may be formed integrally.
[0047]
Then, by loosening the set screw 37 screwed into the support cylinder 36, the normal image capturing television camera 30 can be moved in the optical axis direction of the normal image imaging lens 32 to adjust the focus.
[0048]
Further, there is a gap (for example, a gap of about 1 mm in diameter) between the inner diameter of the holder 35 and the outer diameter of the support cylinder 36. Therefore, by adjusting the set screw 38 that is screwed into the holder 35 from three or four directions, the television camera 30 for normal image pickup is finely moved in the direction orthogonal to the optical axis, and the eccentricity with the normal image forming lens 32 is adjusted. Adjustments can be made to adjust the position of the image formed on the image receiving surface of the normal image capturing television camera 30.
[0049]
As described above, since the normal image capturing television camera 30 is light in weight, the normal image capturing television camera 30 itself is finely moved to perform optical adjustment on the normal image imaging lens 32.
[0050]
As described above, the normal image forming lens 32 is fixed to the frame 22, and the optical adjustment is performed by finely moving the light-weight normal image capturing television camera 30 with respect to the frame 22. Work can be simplified.
[0051]
The lens frame 33 to which the normal image imaging lens 32 is attached is orthogonal to the extension line of the optical axis of the eyepiece lens 6, and the normal image imaging television on the side of the optical axis of the normal image imaging lens 32 is provided. It is screwed and fixed to the support frame 52 in a state where it faces the camera 30.
[0052]
On the other hand, the lens frame 49 to which the fluorescent image forming lens 44 is attached is fixed to the support frame 52 via the support cylinder 46, and the set screw 48 that is screwed to the support cylinder 46 is loosened to thereby loosen the lens. Focus adjustment can be performed by moving the frame 49 in the optical axis direction.
[0053]
Further, there is a gap (a gap of about 1 mm in diameter) between the outer diameter of the support cylinder 46 and the inner diameter of the support frame 52 surrounding the support cylinder 46. Therefore, by adjusting the set screw 47 screwed into the support frame 52 from three or four directions, the fluorescent image forming lens 44 is finely moved in the direction perpendicular to the optical axis, and the ultra-sensitive television camera for capturing the fluorescent image is obtained. The position of the image formed on the image receiving surface of the ultra high sensitivity television camera 40 for fluorescent image capturing can be adjusted by adjusting the eccentricity of the 40 image receiving surfaces 43a.
[0054]
As described above, since the ultra-high sensitivity television camera 40 for capturing fluorescent images is heavy, it is fixed to the frame 22 so as not to move, and optical adjustment is performed by finely moving the fluorescent image forming lens 44 side.
[0055]
The light shielding plate 51 is disposed between the back surface of the reflecting surface 55a of the roof prism 55 and the fluorescent image forming lens 44, and is integrally fixed to the prism frames 53a and 53b.
[0056]
As a result, when the roof prism 55 is in the optical path, light that enters the optical path switching unit 50 from the eyepiece 3 and leaks to the fluorescent image forming lens 44 side is blocked by the light shielding plate 51, and the fluorescent image is captured. No light goes through the ultra-high sensitivity TV camera 40 for use.
[0057]
2 shows a II-II section in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a plan view of the optical path switching unit 50. As shown in FIG. The prism frame is formed by connecting two members 53a and 53b with screws, and a roof prism 55 is fitted into a space inside the prism frame and is fixed by a set screw.
[0058]
As shown in FIG. 1, the prism frames 53a and 53b are slidably fitted into grooves 52a formed in the support frame 52 (the cross-sectional shape of the support frame 52 is U-shaped by the grooves 52a). The opening portion of the groove 52a is closed by a lid 57 fixed to the support frame 52 with screws.
[0059]
As a result, the prism frames 53a and 53b are slidable in a horizontal direction (vertical direction in FIG. 2) perpendicular to both optical axes of the normal image forming lens 32 and the fluorescent image forming lens 44.
[0060]
A knob 56a is attached to the tip of the operation rod 56 that is screwed into the prism frame 53b. The prism frames 53a and 53b can be freely reciprocated by grasping the knob 56a.
[0061]
In this way, the prism frames 53a and 53b slide in a direction orthogonal to the optical axes of the imaging lenses 32 and 44, and the roof prism 55 moves in that direction. By adopting such a configuration, the optical path length of the optical path switching unit 50 can be shortened compared to moving the prism or the like in the optical axis direction of the TV camera. As a result, the normal / fluorescent TV camera unit 20 is used. Can be made compact, and light loss in the optical path switching unit 50 is reduced, so that a good image quality can be obtained.
[0062]
In the prism frame 53 b, a through hole 69 is formed in a direction parallel to the optical axis of the eyepiece 3 in a state of being completely partitioned from the space in which the roof prism 55 is accommodated. A fluorescence observation filter 45 is attached.
[0063]
Side wall plates 58 serving as stoppers for preventing the prism frames 53a and 53b from jumping out from both ends of movement are attached to both side portions of the support frame 52, and when the prism frames 53a and 53b collide with the side wall plates 58. An impact absorbing rubber sheet 59 for reducing the impact is sandwiched between the support frame 52 and the side wall plate 58. The shock absorbing member is not limited to the rubber sheet, and various members such as a spring material may be used and may be disposed on the support frame 52 side.
[0064]
A micro switch 60 is attached to the support frame 52, and a swash plate 61 for turning the micro switch 60 on and off is attached to the prism frame 53a.
[0065]
With such a configuration, when the prism frames 53a and 53b are slid, the intermediate state shown in FIG. 4 (the state during the transition from the normal observation to the fluorescence observation) is obtained, and the ultra-sensitive television camera 40 for fluorescent image capturing is provided. Before the light enters, the micro switch 60 is turned on by the swash plate 61 and the signal is sent to the control unit 90.
[0066]
Then, as shown in FIG. 5 showing the state in which the sliding of the prism frames 53a and 53b is completed, the roof prism 55 and the fluorescence observation filter 45 are inserted into the optical path from the eyepiece 3, and the reverse operation is performed. For example, the reverse operation is performed.
[0067]
Then, the signal output from the micro switch 60 is used as a trigger to perform control such as insertion / removal of the excitation light filter 12 to / from the illumination optical path and switching of the image displayed on the television monitor 80.
[0068]
At this time, as shown in FIG. 10, the light passing through the eyepiece 3 is incident on the fluorescence observation filter 45 (in other words, the through hole of the prism frame 53b to which the fluorescence observation filter 45 is attached). The excitation light filter 12 is controlled to be inserted into the illumination light path (before light passing through the eyepiece 3 enters 69).
[0069]
In FIG. 6, the fluorescence observation filter 45 is on the extension line of the optical axis of the eyepiece optical system 6, and the observation image passing through the eyepiece optical system 6 is the image intensifier 43 of the ultra-sensitive television camera 40 for fluorescent image capturing. FIG. 6 is a front cross-sectional view (a cross-sectional view taken along VI-VI in FIG. 5) in a state where an image is formed on the image receiving surface 43a. 51a is a hole formed in the light shielding plate 51, and the light shielding plate 51 is formed with a hole only in this portion.
[0070]
As shown in FIG. 6, the fluorescence observation filter 45 is fixed in the through hole 69 of the prism frame 53 b by a holding nut 65. Therefore, by inserting a tool into the through hole 69 from the side to which the eyepiece 3 is connected and loosening the holding nut 65, the fluorescence observation filter 45 is replaced, and the fluorescence observation filter 45 having the characteristics according to the purpose of use is replaced. Selectable can be used.
[0071]
FIG. 7 is a partial front sectional view for explaining a mechanism for sliding the prism frames 53a and 53b in the groove 52a of the support frame 52 so as not to rattle.
The prism frames 53a and 53b are pressed against the lower surface and the right side surface of the groove 52a of the support frame 52 by the plurality of ball plungers 70, 71, and 72 from the upper direction and the left direction together with the light shielding plate 51. .
[0072]
Each of the ball plungers 70, 71, 72 is in the form of a screw rod having a male thread formed on the outer surface, and a ball bearing provided in a slightly protruding manner in the tip of the ball plunger is formed by a compression coil spring housed inside. It is configured to be set in a state of being elastically biased toward the front side.
[0073]
Accordingly, the prism frames 53a and 53b are pressed against the lower surface and the right surface of the groove 52a in the support frame 52 by the urging force of the compression springs of the ball plungers 70, 71, and 72, and the positional deviation and backlash are reduced. Can be smoothly moved in the support frame 52 along the groove 52a under a very small resistance caused by the ball bearing. At that time, the inclination of the prism frames 53a and 53b, the fluctuation of the optical path length, etc. Does not occur.
[0074]
As shown in FIG. 3, one ball plunger 70 arranged on the upper side of the roof prism 55 is arranged at each of the four corners of a square having a size surrounding the fluorescent image forming lens 44 when viewed from above, and the prisms are arranged. The frames 53a and 53b are pressed evenly. However, the ball plunger 70 may be provided at only two locations on the diagonal line.
[0075]
The four ball plungers 70 are arranged outside the diameter of the through hole 69 to which the fluorescence observation filter 45 is attached. As a result, in the entire range in which the prism frames 53a and 53b slide, the four ball plungers 70 are not separated from the upper surfaces of the prism frames 53a and 53b, so that the prism frames 53a and 53b do not rattle during sliding.
[0076]
The ball plungers 70, 71, 72 on the left side surface are arranged one at each of the four corners of the square, but may be provided at only two locations on the diagonal line. At least one (two in this embodiment) of the ball plungers 71 is a slope A formed on the outer wall surface of the prism frame 53a diagonally downward to the right (in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface). The prism frame 53a is pressed obliquely downward to the right.
[0077]
Accordingly, the prism frames 53a and 53b are surely pressed against the lower surface and the right side surface of the groove 52a formed in the support frame 52, and rattling, misalignment, inclination, and the like do not occur.
[0078]
Further, the other one ball plunger 72 on the left side surface is disposed so that the tip engages with a click recess 73 formed in the prism frame 53a. As shown in FIG. 2, a pair of click dents 73 is formed on the prism frame 53a with a space therebetween.
[0079]
As a result, the tip of the ball plunger 72 is clicked when the optical path from the eyepiece 3 is correctly switched between the normal image capturing television camera 30 side and the fluorescent image capturing ultra-high sensitivity television camera 40 side. A click feeling is obtained by fitting into the depression 73, and the surgeon can sense it.
[0080]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, the slidable frame body accommodates the reflection member that reflects the light passing through the eyepiece toward one of the two television cameras, and passes toward the other television camera. Since the frame body can secure a receiving portion facing the fixing portion in a wide area when sliding, the optical path of the observation image passing through the eyepiece of the endoscope can be secured. Thus, it is possible to smoothly switch between the normal image capturing television camera and the fluorescent image capturing ultra-sensitive television camera without occurrence of rattling or the like.
[0081]
And by attaching an optical member in the hole formed in the frame and not providing another optical member between the eyepiece part and the reflecting member, the optical path length can be shortened, It can be reduced in size and weight.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a front sectional view of a normal observation state of an optical path switching unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a bottom cross-sectional view taken along a II-II cross section in a normal observation state of an optical path switching unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a plan view of a normal observation state of an optical path switching unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a bottom cross-sectional view showing a state in the middle of switching the optical path of the optical path switching unit according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a bottom cross-sectional view of the optical path switching unit in the fluorescence observation state according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a front sectional view taken along the VI-VI section of the fluorescence observation state of the optical path switching unit according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a front sectional view of a mechanism for supporting the prism frame of the optical path switching unit according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a front sectional view of a normal / fluorescent television camera unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a block diagram schematically showing the overall configuration of a biological fluorescence diagnostic apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 10 is a timing chart illustrating a part of control contents in the control unit according to the embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
3 Eyepiece
20 Normal / fluorescent TV camera unit
30 TV camera for normal image capture
40 Ultra-high sensitivity TV camera for fluorescent image capturing
45 Filters for fluorescence observation
50 Optical path switching part
52 Support frame
52a Groove
53a, 53b Prism frame (frame)
55 Dach Prism
55a Reflective surface
65 Fixing nut
69 Through hole

Claims (4)

In order to perform imaging by amplifying the intensity of the light of the fluorescence observation image passing through the eyepiece and the normal image capturing television camera for capturing a normal observation image passing through the eyepiece of the endoscope A living body provided with an ultra-sensitive television camera for imaging fluorescent images and a slidable frame for switching to which imaging surface of the two television cameras light passing through the eyepiece is to be guided In fluorescence diagnostic equipment,
The slidable frame contains a reflecting member for reflecting the light that has passed through the eyepiece toward one of the two television cameras and toward the other television camera. A fluorescence diagnostic apparatus for living organisms, wherein a hole for passage is formed , and an optical member is attached in the hole . 2. The living body according to claim 1, wherein the other television camera is an ultra-high sensitivity television camera for capturing fluorescent images, and the optical member is a fluorescence observation filter that allows passage of only light in a fluorescent wavelength region emitted from the living body. Fluorescence diagnostic device. The living body fluorescence diagnostic apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the fluorescence observation filter is detachable in the hole. The living body fluorescence diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, 2 or 3 , wherein no other optical member is provided between the eyepiece and the reflecting member.

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