JP5468845B2 - Medical equipment - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a medical device for observing a tissue in a body of a subject with light emitted from a light source device, and more particularly to a medical device capable of performing normal light observation and special light observation.

  In medical endoscopes, an observation target site is a tissue inside a living body, and thus an illumination device that illuminates the inside of the body is necessary. In a general endoscope apparatus, illumination light from a light source device that is an external device of an endoscope is emitted from a distal end portion of an insertion portion via a light guide to illuminate an observation target tissue.

On the other hand, in a portable endoscope, a small light source device having a dry battery or the like as a power source is attached to the operation unit. For this reason, the portable endoscope is easy to carry and can be used where there is no power source.
Here, as observation with an endoscope, normal light observation using white light is usually performed, but various special light observations using the wavelength characteristics of irradiation light have also been performed.

For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2006-166940 discloses an endoscope illumination device that performs special light observation using a light source having four light-emitting diodes each having a narrow-band light emission characteristic.
On the other hand, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2006-87764 discloses an endoscope light source device in which light from a plurality of LEDs is bundled and the wavelength of generated light can be changed.

  Since special light observation requires a plurality of light sources that generate light of different wavelengths, portability (size, weight, etc.) is not impaired in a portable endoscope in which the light source device is disposed in the operation unit. Therefore, it is not easy to enable special light observation in addition to normal light observation. In addition, in a small light source device, it may not be easy to ensure the amount of light necessary for observation.

JP 2006-166940 A JP 200687764 A

  An object of this invention is to provide the medical device excellent in the portability which can observe special light.

The medical device of the present invention includes a white light source that generates white light for normal light observation and special light observation, a narrow band light source that generates narrow band light for the special light observation, and an optical path of the white light. in a detachably, emitted from the white light the white light source is generated, a filter for cutting other than light of a wavelength of the narrow band light, and the white light the white light source for generating said narrow-band light and guiding means for the light guide to parts, in the normal light observation, the white light only by occurs and performs control to escape the filter from the optical path of the white light, in the special light observation, the white A control unit that generates light and the narrow-band light and performs control to insert the filter into the optical path of the white light .

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the medical device excellent in the portability which can observe special light can be provided.

1 is an external view of an endoscope according to a first embodiment. FIG. It is a lineblock diagram of the endoscope of a 1st embodiment. It is explanatory drawing of a random light guide. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the filter unit of the light source device of 1st Embodiment, (A) is the figure seen from the optical path direction, (B) is the figure seen from the horizontal direction parallel to an optical path. is there. It is an example of the emission spectrum of white LED. It is an example of the permeation | transmission characteristic of a filter. It is an example of the spectrum of the narrow-band light which the light source device of the endoscope of 1st Embodiment generate | occur | produces. It is an example of the permeation | transmission characteristic of a filter. It is an example of the spectrum of the narrow-band light which the light source device of the endoscope of the modification of 1st Embodiment generate | occur | produces. It is a block diagram of the endoscope of 2nd Embodiment. It is an example of the emission spectrum of LED. It is an example of the permeation | transmission characteristic of a filter. It is an example of the spectrum of the narrow-band light which the light source device of the endoscope of 2nd Embodiment generate | occur | produces. It is a block diagram of the endoscope of 3rd Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing of a composite light guide. It is explanatory drawing seen from the horizontal direction for demonstrating the structure of the emission part of the endoscope of 3rd Embodiment. It is a block diagram of the endoscope of 4th Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing seen from the horizontal direction for demonstrating the relationship between LED and a light guide. It is a lineblock diagram of an endoscope of an embodiment.

<First Embodiment>
As shown in FIG. 1, a portable endoscope 1 that is a medical device according to a first embodiment of the present invention includes an endoscope body 10 and a light source device 20. The endoscope main body 10 has an elongated insertion portion 13 and an operation portion 11. At the distal end portion 14 of the insertion portion 13, a CCD 15 that is an imaging means and an emission portion 16 that emits illumination light are disposed. The light source device 20 is detachably disposed on the operation unit 11. That is, the connector 21 </ b> A of the light source device 20 and the connector 21 </ b> B of the operation unit 11 constitute the connection unit 21. Illumination light from the light source device 20 is guided to the emission unit 16 by a light guide 17 (see FIG. 2) which is a light guide unit that passes through the insertion unit 13.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the light source device 20 includes a light source substrate 22, a control unit 27, a power source 28, a filter 23, and light guides 24, 25, and 26. A phosphor type white light emitting diode (hereinafter referred to as “white LED”) 22A as a white light source and a blue light emitting diode (hereinafter referred to as “blue LED”) 22B as a narrow band light source are mounted on the light source substrate 22. ing. The phosphor-type white LED 22A generates white light having a continuous spectrum over the entire visible light range.

  As will be described later, the white light generated by the white LED 22A is used not only for normal light observation but also for narrowband light observation in which white light having a wavelength component of 530 to 550 nm is special light observation. Narrow band light of 390 to 445 nm generated by the blue LED 22B is used for narrow band light observation. That is, narrowband light composed of the first narrowband light of 390 to 445 nm and the second narrowband light of 530 to 550 nm is used for narrowband light observation in the endoscope 1 of the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the light guides 24, 25, and 26 constitute a random light guide having a light mixing function of not only guiding light but also mixing light while guiding light. That is, a large number of optical fiber strands are divided into two light guides 24 and 25 on the incident side (left side in the drawing), but are randomly bundled as one light guide 26 on the emission side (right side in the drawing). . In FIG. 3, in order to explain the structure of the random light guide, the strands of the light guide 24 are schematically displayed in white and the strands of the light guide 25 are displayed in black.

  As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the filter 23 is disposed in a filter unit 23A that can rotate around a central axis RC. The filter unit 23A can be disposed on the optical path LP by rotating the filter unit 23A. The cavity 23B may be a transparent filter that does not affect incident light. On the other hand, the filter 23 cuts light other than the narrow band wavelength of 530 to 550 nm. That is, white light generated by the white LED 22A passes through the filter 23 and becomes second narrowband light having a wavelength of 530 to 550 nm. The filter unit 23A is not limited to the rotary type, and may be a slide type.

In addition, in the display of the wavelength range in this specification, it has shown with the half value width. That is, the filter 23 that cuts light other than the narrow-band wavelength of 530 to 550 nm is not limited to the one having a rectangular transmission characteristic as shown in FIG. 6 and has a transmittance of 50% or more with respect to the maximum transmittance. The wavelength range should just be 530-550 nm. Moreover, as shown in FIG. 7, the wavelength range of each narrow-band light generated by the light source may be in the range of 390 to 445 nm showing an intensity of 50% or more with respect to the maximum intensity.
In addition, narrow band light is light having a narrow band wavelength in contrast to white light, and there is no particular limitation on the number of peaks or half width of the intensity spectrum as long as it can be used for special light observation. The light in the wavelength range described in the embodiment is preferable.

  The power source 28 is, for example, a battery that supplies power to the light source substrate 22 and the like, and the control unit 27 controls the light source substrate 22 and the filter 23 and the like as will be described later. The operation unit 11 of the endoscope body 10 is provided with a processing unit 18 that processes an image signal from the CCD 15 and outputs an image signal to the monitor 30.

  The light generated by the light source device 20 is guided to the emitting portion 16 of the distal end portion 14 through the light guide 17 disposed in the operation portion 11 and the insertion portion 13. The light emitted from the light guide 26 may be condensed by a condenser lens (not shown) or the like and then guided to the light guide 17. By condensing, the diameter of the light guide 17 can be made smaller than that of the light guide 26, so that the insertion portion 13 can be made thinner.

  As shown in FIG. 5, in the endoscope 1, in the case of normal light observation, only the white LED 22A of the light source device 20 is lit by the control of the control unit 27, and the filter 23 is removed from the optical path LP. The emitting unit 16 irradiates the tissue 41 in the living body 40 from the emitting unit 16 with white light W having a continuous spectrum over the entire visible light range. Then, the reflected light is imaged by the CCD 15, processed into a video signal by the processing unit 18, and a normal light image is displayed on the monitor 30.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 6, the filter 23 has a transmission characteristic that cuts light other than the second narrowband light of 530 to 550 nm. Therefore, in the case of narrow-band light observation, as shown in FIG. 7, the white LED 22A and the blue LED 22B of the light source device 20 are lit by the control of the control unit 27, and the filter 23 is disposed in the optical path LP. The emission unit 16 emits narrowband light including the first narrowband light (390 to 445 nm) and the second narrowband light (530 to 550 nm) from the emission unit 16. That is, the first narrow-band light B generated by the blue LED 22B and the second narrow-band light among the white light W generated by the white LED 22A are transmitted from the emitting unit 16 through the light guide 17 into the living body 40. The tissue 41 is irradiated. The reflected light is picked up by the CCD 15, processed into a video signal by the processing unit 18, and a narrowband light image is displayed on the monitor 30.

  Since narrowband light emitted in narrowband light observation is easily absorbed by hemoglobin in the blood, highlighting of capillaries and fine patterns on the surface of the mucosa is realized. That is, in order to observe blood vessels with high contrast, focusing on the use of light that combines (1) strong absorption by blood and (2) strong reflection and scattering at the mucosal surface layer, capillaries on the mucosal surface layer The first narrow-band light is used for observation, and the second narrow-band light is used to emphasize the contrast between the deep blood vessel observation in the deep portion and the capillaries on the mucosal surface layer. In particular, an image with good contrast can be obtained by using irradiation light that does not include light having a wavelength between the first narrowband light and the second narrowband light.

  Narrow-band light observation can be used as an alternative method of spraying pigments widely used for detailed diagnosis of the esophagus region or observation of the pit pattern (gland duct structure) of the large intestine. In addition, inspection efficiency can be improved by reducing inspection time and unnecessary biopsy by narrow-band light observation.

  The light source device 20 of the endoscope 1 according to the present embodiment uses the light generated by the white LED 22A not only for normal light observation but also as second narrowband light for special light observation. For this reason, the light source device 20 can generate narrow-band light having a sufficient amount of light for special light observation while being small and lightweight that can be disposed in the operation unit 11. That is, the portable endoscope 1 is a medical device that has a light source capable of special light observation and has excellent portability.

  Further, since the endoscope 1 electrically controls normal light observation and narrow-band light observation by turning on the LEDs, it is easy to switch observation modes. In addition, since there is no complicated mechanism for switching to narrow-band light observation, the light source device 20 is small. Furthermore, the endoscope 1 can obtain a sufficient amount of light with low power consumption with little loss of light in light guiding and mixing.

  As described above, the light source device of the present invention includes a white light source that generates white light for normal light observation and special light observation, and a narrow band light source that generates narrow band light for the special light observation. And a filter that cuts the white light generated by the white light source other than the light having the wavelength of the narrow-band light, and is detachable from the operation unit of the portable endoscope.

  If it is not necessary to remove the light source device from the endoscope body, the light guide 26 may be extended to the emitting portion 16. In this case, the light guide 26 also has the function of the light guide 17.

<Modification of the first embodiment>
The light source device 20 of the endoscope 1 according to the first embodiment includes a white LED 22A, a blue LED 22B that generates first narrowband light (390 to 445 nm), and a second of white light generated by the white LED 22A. The filter 23 which passes only narrow-band light (530-550 nm) was comprised. On the other hand, the white LED 22A, the green light emitting diode (hereinafter referred to as “green LED”) 22C that generates green light G having a wavelength of 530 to 550 nm as the second narrowband light, and the white light W generated by the white LED 22A. Even in the endoscope of the modification of the first embodiment including the light source device including the filter that passes only the first narrow-band light (390 to 445 nm), the endoscope of the first embodiment Has the same effect as the mirror 1. FIG. 8 shows the transmission characteristics of the filter, and FIG. 9 shows the spectrum of narrowband light generated by the light source device of the endoscope having the above configuration.

<Second Embodiment>
Next, an endoscope 1B according to a second embodiment will be described. Since the endoscope 1B of the present embodiment is similar to the endoscope 1 of the first embodiment, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the light source device 20B of the endoscope 1B according to the present embodiment includes a light source substrate 22E, a filter 23C, and a rod lens 29 that is a light mixing unit. On the light source substrate 22E, a blue LED 22B that generates first narrowband light (390 to 445 nm) and a green LED 22C that generates second narrowband light (530 to 550 nm) are disposed. FIG. 11 shows the spectra of the lights W, B, and G generated by the white LED 22A, the blue LED 22B, and the green LED 22C.

  As shown in FIG. 12, the filter 23C cuts light other than the first narrow-band light and light other than the second narrow-band light from the white light generated by the white LED 22A. Note that the filter 23C is disposed in a rotary filter unit (not shown) having a hollow portion in the same manner as the filter 23 of the first embodiment.

  The light guides 24, 25, 25 B guide the light generated by the respective LEDs to the rod lens 29. The rod lens 29 is a light mixing unit that uniformizes light incident from one end surface and emits the light from the other end surface. As shown in FIG. 10, it is preferable that the incident surface (left of the drawing) of the rod lens 29 is inclined with respect to the optical path because the light mixing efficiency is good. As the light mixing means, a dichroic prism, a dichroic mirror, a liquid light guide, ground glass, or the like may be used.

  In the case of normal light observation in the endoscope 1B, only the white LED 22A of the light source device 20B is turned on by the control of the control unit 27, and the filter 23C is removed from the optical path LP. Light W is irradiated. On the other hand, in the case of narrow band light observation, the white LED 22A, the blue LED 22B, and the green LED 22C of the light source device 20 are lit by the control of the control unit 27, and the filter 23C is disposed in the optical path LP. 16, narrow-band light composed of first narrow-band light B (390 to 445 nm) and second narrow-band light G (530 to 550 nm) is emitted from the emitting unit 16.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 13, the narrowband light emitted from the emitting unit 16 is generated by the first narrowband light B and the second narrowband light G generated by the blue LED 22B and the green LED 22C, and the white LED 22A. The light Mix is obtained by superimposing the first narrowband light component and the second narrowband light component of the white light W.

  In the endoscope 1B, white light generated by the white LED 22A is used not only for normal light observation but also as first narrowband light and second narrowband light for narrowband light observation. Therefore, the light source device 20B of the endoscope 1B is capable of generating a narrow band light with a strong light amount while being small and light.

  Note that, from the viewpoint of spectrum balance of emitted light during narrowband light observation, only one of the first narrowband light and the second narrowband light among the white light generated by the white LED 22A may be used. Good. In that case, the light source device includes a filter that cuts light other than one of the first narrowband light and the second narrowband light. The light source device includes a filter that cuts light other than the first narrowband light, a filter that cuts light other than the second narrowband light, and a filter other than the first narrowband light and the second narrowband light. It may be a structure which has a filter which cuts light, and can arrange a required filter on an optical path. In addition, filters having different absorption coefficients for the first narrowband light and absorption coefficients for the second narrowband light may be used.

  As described above, the endoscope 1B according to the present embodiment can generate a narrow band light having a stronger light amount in addition to the effects of the endoscope 1 according to the first embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 10, in the light source device 20B, the light guide 25B that guides the light generated by the green LED 22C is mixed by making it longer than the light guide 25 that guides the light generated by the blue LED 22B. The spectral balance of light is adjusted. That is, since blue light is more easily attenuated during light guiding through the light guide than green light, the light guide 25B is longer than the light guide 25 in order to attenuate green light in accordance with the attenuation amount of blue light. That is, in the endoscope 1B having a plurality of light guides that guide light of different wavelengths, the spectral balance of the irradiation light can be adjusted by adjusting the length of each light guide.

  Further, the light guide has a different attenuation factor with respect to the wavelength of the light guided by the material or the like. Therefore, in the endoscope 1B, a plurality of different types of light guides corresponding to the wavelength of the light to be guided may be used. For example, a light guide that guides short wavelength light uses a light guide that has a small attenuation factor in the short wavelength region, but a light guide that guides long wavelength light uses a short wavelength region if the attenuation factor in the long wavelength region is small. For example, an inexpensive plastic fiber having a large attenuation factor may be used.

  The endoscope 1B in which the light source device 20B can be attached to and detached from the operation unit 11 is highly convenient because a light source device can be attached according to the observation purpose. For example, when further reduction in size and weight is required, the light source device 20B may be replaced with the light source device 20 of the first embodiment. Furthermore, when only normal light observation is performed, a light source device having only a white LED as a light source can be used.

  A rod lens 29 that is a light mixing means may be disposed at the distal end portion 14. That is, the light guided by the three light guides 24, 25, and 25B to the tip portion 14 may be mixed at the tip portion. Further, a filter 23C may be disposed at the tip portion 14.

<Third Embodiment>
Next, an endoscope 1C according to a third embodiment will be described. Since the endoscope 1C according to the present embodiment is similar to the endoscope 1B according to the second embodiment, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 14, the light source device 20C of the endoscope 1C according to the present embodiment does not include a light mixing unit such as a random light guide or a rod lens. As shown in FIG. 15, the light guide 26 </ b> C includes a strand of the light guide 25 that guides the first narrowband light from the blue LED 22 </ b> B and a light guide that guides the second narrowband light from the green LED 22 </ b> C. The light guide 25C is bundled with the 25B strands, while the light guide 24 strands for guiding the light from the white LED 22A are bundled in a donut shape, and the light guide 25C is formed at the center of the light guide 25C. It is arranged.

That is, the light guide 26C is a composite light guide created by inserting a cylindrical light guide 25C in which a light guide 25 and a light guide 25B are bundled into a central cavity portion of a light guide 24 having a donut shape at one end. . In FIG. 15, a region 26 </ b> C <b> 1 is configured by a strand of the light guide 25, a region 26 </ b> C <b> 2 is configured by a strand of the light guide 25 </ b> B, and a region 26 </ b> C <b> 3 is configured by a strand of the light guide 24.
In FIG. 15 and the like, the light guide 25C is arranged so that the area 26C1 and the area 26C2 are divided into two in the vertical direction at the center of the cross section of the light guide 26C. It is not necessary that the strands of the respective light guides be arranged with deviation even in the left-right direction or the circumferential direction.

That is, unlike the random light guide shown in FIG. 3, in the light guide 26C of the endoscope 1C, the central upper region 26C1 guides blue light, the central lower region 26C2 guides green light, and the peripheral region. 26C3 guides white light. Then, as shown in FIG. 16, each light incident on the light guide 17 through the connection portion 21 is guided to the tip portion 14 while maintaining the same relative positional relationship up to the tip portion 14. Therefore, also at the end of the light guide 17, the central upper region 17A1 emits blue light that is the first narrowband light, and the central lower region 17A2 emits green light that is the second narrowband light, The peripheral portion 17A3 region emits white light.
That is, the first narrow-band light is guided through one area 17A1 that divides the central portion of the light guide 17 into two parts, and the second narrow-band light is another one that divides the central part of the light guide 17 into two parts. Light that is guided through the region 17A2 and generated by the white light source is guided through a donut-shaped peripheral portion 17A3 that surrounds the central portion of the light guide 17.

  And as shown in FIG. 16, as for the illumination lens 16C arrange | positioned at the radiation | emission part 16 of the endoscope main body 10C, the center part wall surface 16C1 is given the sand grain process by a sandblast process, and becomes ground glass. For this reason, the blue light emitted from the upper area 17A1 in the center of the light guide 17 and the green light emitted from the lower area 17A2 in the center are scattered and mixed. For this reason, uniform illumination is possible with the endoscope 1C. The peripheral side surface 16C2 of the illumination lens 16C is not subjected to a graining process, because the light generated by the white LED 22A does not need to be mixed in normal light observation or special light observation. is there.

  The endoscope 1C according to the present embodiment has the same effects as the endoscope 1B according to the second embodiment, and is capable of uniform illumination in normal light observation and special light observation while having a simpler configuration. It is.

  Instead of using the grained illumination lens 16C, a light mixing means such as a rod lens may be disposed at the tip portion 14, or the rod lens or the like and further grained illumination lens 16C. May be used.

<Fourth embodiment>
Next, an endoscope 1D according to a fourth embodiment will be described. Since the endoscope 1D of the present embodiment is similar to the endoscope 1 of the first embodiment, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted. The endoscope 1D of the present embodiment can perform fluorescence observation as special light observation in addition to normal light observation.

As fluorescence observation, there is a case where light emission of an administered fluorescent substance that accumulates at a specific lesion site or the like is observed as described later. In the endoscope 1D, auto-fluorescence imaging (AFI) will be described. . In the autofluorescence observation, narrow-band light (excitation light) of 390 to 470 nm is irradiated to the tissue in order to observe autofluorescence from a fluorescent substance existing in a living tissue such as collagen. The autofluorescence observation uses the characteristic that the autofluorescence generated by the excitation light is attenuated in the tumor tissue as compared with the normal tissue.
Since the intensity of fluorescence is weaker than that of normal reflected light, the endoscope 1D is a second filter that cuts light having a wavelength of irradiation light (excitation light) before the CCD 15 during fluorescence observation. A filter 15A is disposed.

That is, as shown in FIG. 17, the light source device 20D of the endoscope 1D according to the present embodiment includes a light source substrate 22G, a filter 23D, and random light guides including light guides 24, 25, and 26D. On the light source substrate 22G, a white LED 22A and a blue LED 22F that generates a narrowband light of 390 to 470 nm are disposed. The filter 23D is a first filter that cuts light other than the narrow-band light of 390 to 470 nm from the white light generated by the white LED 22A.
On the other hand, the CCD 15 is disposed in the operation unit 11D of the endoscope body 10D. The reflected light including the fluorescence guided to the operation unit 11D through the light receiving lens 15C and the image guide fiber 15B at the distal end portion 14 is light other than the fluorescence wavelength by the filter 15A as the second filter, in other words, irradiation light. The light of the same wavelength is cut. For this reason, even if it is weak fluorescence, CCD15 becomes detectable with high sensitivity.

  In the case of normal light observation, the endoscope 1D turns on only the white LED 22A of the light source device 20D under the control of the control unit 27, and the filter 23D is removed from the optical path LP. Is irradiated. Then, the reflected light is guided to the CCD 15 via the light receiving lens 15C and the image guide fiber 15B, and the image pickup signal of the CCD 15 is processed into a video signal by the processing unit 18, and a normal light image is displayed on the monitor 30. At this time, the filter 15A is removed from the optical path. That is, the filter 15A is disposed in a rotary filter unit (not shown) having a hollow portion, like the filter 23D.

On the other hand, in the case of fluorescence observation, the white LED 22A and the blue LED 22F of the light source device 20D are turned on by the control of the control unit 27, and the filter 23D and the filter 15A are arranged in the optical path LP. Then, narrow band light (390 to 470 nm) is emitted from the emission part 16. The reflected light is guided to the light receiving surface of the CCD 15 via the light receiving lens 15C, the image guide fiber 15B, and the filter 15A. Here, light other than fluorescence is cut by the filter 15A. For this reason, when the image pickup signal of the CCD 15 is processed into a video signal by the processing unit 18, a fluorescent image is displayed on the monitor 30.
The narrowband light for fluorescence observation emitted from the emission unit 16 of the endoscope 1D includes narrowband light generated by the blue LED 22F and light obtained by narrowing the whiteband generated by the white LED 22A by the filter 23D. Is the light Mix superimposed.

  In the endoscope 1D, white light generated by the white LED 22A is used not only as normal light observation but also as narrowband excitation light for fluorescence observation. For this reason, the light source device 20D of the endoscope 1D can generate a narrow band light with a strong light amount while being small and light.

  As described above, the endoscope of the present embodiment is a portable endoscope that can perform normal light observation and fluorescence observation, and a distal end portion that observes tissue inside a subject. An imaging unit disposed in the light source, a light source device, an operation unit in which the light source device is detachably disposed, and guides light generated by the light source device from the operation unit to the emission unit of the tip portion. One light guide and a second filter for cutting light having a wavelength of irradiation light disposed on the front surface of the imaging unit. However, the light source device includes a white light source having a phosphor-type white light emitting diode that generates white light, a narrow band light source having a blue light emitting diode that generates narrow band light, and the white light generated by the white light source. And a first filter that cuts light other than the wavelength of the narrow band light.

  Although the endoscope 1D using the image guide fiber 15B has been described, an endoscope in which the filter 15A and the CCD 15 are disposed at the distal end portion 14 may be used. As the light source, a laser diode (LD) or the like may be used instead of the LED.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 18, it is preferable that the incident end portion of the light guide 25 that guides the light generated by the blue LED 22F on the light source substrate 22G is not perpendicular to the longitudinal direction but has a predetermined angle θ. That is, it is preferable that the light guide 25 is attached obliquely with respect to the blue LED 22F. Since the light source device 20D having the above-described structure can reduce the force applied to the light guide 25, failure is unlikely to occur.

  The endoscope of the present invention is not limited to the special light observation described above, and can be applied to other special light observations. For example, the endoscope may be provided with a light source device for infrared light observation (IRI: Infra Red Imaging) or photodynamic observation (PDD: Photo-Dynamic Diagnosis). Here, infrared light observation consists of injecting indocyanine green, which easily absorbs infrared light, into a first narrowband light of 790 to 820 nm and a second narrowband light of 905 to 970 nm. This is an observation method that highlights blood vessels or blood flow information in the deep mucosa, which is difficult to be visually recognized by human eyes, by irradiating narrow-band light. Alternatively, photodynamic observation is a method of observing fluorescence by accumulating a photosensitive substance such as a porphyrin derivative in a lesion to be treated, and further generating active oxygen when the photosensitive substance transitions from an excited state to a ground state. Cells can also be denatured and necrotic by impairing intracellular respiration.

  Further, the present invention provides a so-called videoscope type endoscope having a CCD at the distal end shown in the first embodiment, and a so-called hybrid scope type having a CCD in the operation part shown in the fourth embodiment. The present invention can be applied to various medical devices such as a camera head type that can be attached to an endoscope or a rigid endoscope.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 19, an imaging signal output from the CCD 15 may be transmitted via the wireless transmission unit 31. That is, a method may be used in which an imaging signal from the wireless transmission unit 31 of the endoscope 10E is received by the wireless reception unit 32, processed by the processing unit 18, and an image signal is output to the monitor 30. Since the wireless transmission unit 31 is smaller and lighter and consumes less power than the processing unit 18, the endoscope 10E configured as described above can reduce the size and weight of the operation unit 11E and can be driven for a long time. Of course, the imaging signal may be transmitted by wire instead of the wireless transmission unit 31 and the wireless reception unit 32. An endoscope that transmits signals by wire can be further downsized than the endoscope 10E. Furthermore, in an endoscope that transmits an imaging signal to the outside by wire, it is possible to supply power to the light source device of the endoscope by using a wired power supply line different from the imaging signal line.

  As described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 1B-1D ... Endoscope, 10, 10C, 10D ... Endoscope main body, 11 ... Operation part, 13 ... Insertion part, 14 ... Tip part, 15 ... CCD, 15A ... Filter, 15B ... Image guide fiber, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 15C ... Light-receiving lens, 16 ... Emitting part, 16C ... Illumination lens, 17 ... Light guide, 18 ... Processing part, 20, 20B-20D ... Light source device, 21 ... Connection part, 21A, 21B ... Connector, 22, 22E, 22G ... Light source substrate, 23 ... Filter, 23A ... Filter unit, 23B ... Cavity, 23, 23C, 23D ... Filter, 24, 25, 26 ... Light guide, 27 ... Control part, 28 ... Power supply, 29 ... Rod lens, 30 ... monitor, 31 ... radio transmission unit, 32 ... radio reception unit, 40 ... in vivo, 41 ... tissue

Claims (8)

A white light source that generates white light for normal light observation and special light observation;
A narrow band light source for generating narrow band light for the special light observation;
A filter that can be inserted into and removed from the optical path of the white light, and cuts light other than the light of the wavelength of the narrowband light from the white light generated by the white light source;
A light guide means for guiding the white light generated by the white light source and the narrow-band light to an emission part;
In the normal light observation, the white light only by occurs and performs control to escape the filter from the optical path of the white light, in the special light observation, to generate said white light and the narrow-band light And a controller that performs control to insert the filter into the optical path of the white light;
A medical device characterized by comprising: The narrowband light consists of a first narrowband light and a second narrowband light,
The narrowband light source generates at least the first narrowband light;
2. The filter cuts light other than the second narrowband light, or cuts light other than the first narrowband light and the second narrowband light. Medical device as described in.   The medical device according to claim 2, wherein the white light source and the narrow-band light source each include a light emitting diode.   The medical device according to claim 3, wherein the narrow-band light source includes at least one of a blue light-emitting diode and a green light-emitting diode, and the white light source includes a phosphor-type white light-emitting diode.   The light guide means includes the light generated by the white light source and the narrow light to an emission unit including an illumination lens having a light mixing region that mixes the light generated by the white light source and the light generated by the narrow-band light source. The medical device according to claim 1, which guides light generated by a band light source.   The narrowband light source generates first narrowband light and second narrowband light,
  The first narrow-band light generated by the narrow-band light source is guided to the light mixing region through one region obtained by dividing the central portion of the light guide means into two, and the first light generated by the narrow-band light source is generated. Two narrow-band lights are guided to the light mixing region through another region obtained by dividing the central portion of the light guide unit into two, and the light generated by the white light source is the center of the light guide unit. The medical device according to claim 5, wherein the medical device is guided to a peripheral portion of the light mixing region through a peripheral portion surrounding the portion.   The medical device according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the light mixing region is a grained region. And the white light source, and the narrow-band light source, the filter and is, according to claims 5, characterized in that the detachable on the operation unit of the portable endoscope to any one of claims 7 Medical equipment.

Images