JP5733163B2 - Probe manufacturing method - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a probe for an optical system for receiving the measuring light emitted from the measurement target site is irradiated with excitation light to the measurement target part of the living body tissue measuring the measuring light .

Observation and diagnosis of a body lumen using an electronic endoscope is a diagnostic method that is currently widely used. This diagnostic method has an advantage that the burden on the subject is small because it is not necessary to excise the lesion because the body tissue is directly observed. On the other hand, such a method for directly observing a body lumen is considered to be less accurate and accurate than pathological examination after biopsy, and efforts to improve imaging image quality are continuously made. .
Recently, in addition to the so-called videoscope, diagnostic devices utilizing various optical principles and ultrasonic diagnostic devices have been proposed, and some of them have been put into practical use. Also in these fields, in order to improve the diagnostic accuracy, a new measurement principle is introduced or a plurality of measurement principles are combined.
In particular, it is known that information that cannot be obtained simply by looking at an image of a tissue can be obtained by observing and measuring fluorescence emitted from the tissue or fluorescence from a fluorescent material applied to the tissue. A fluorescence image endoscope system has also been proposed in which a fluorescence image is acquired and displayed so as to overlap a normal visible image. Such a system is highly promising because it leads to early detection of malignant tumors.
There is also known a method for determining the state of a tissue by acquiring fluorescence intensity information without forming a fluorescence image. Some of these methods acquire fluorescence without using an image sensor mounted on an electronic endoscope.

  There are diagnostic probes for performing such fluorescent diagnosis, that is, probes which are in the body via the forceps channel of the endoscope, or which are integrated with the endoscope. In the fluorescence observation probes described in Patent Documents 1 and 2, they are introduced into the body by being inserted into the forceps channel of the endoscope.

In addition to fluorescence spectroscopy, for example, Raman spectroscopy can be used as a spectroscopy for obtaining information on tissues in the body using a probe.
A feature common to both is that, at the time of measurement, a biological tissue is irradiated with a relatively narrow band of excitation light, and measurement light such as fluorescence and Raman scattered light appearing in a wavelength region different from the excitation light is received. In such measurement, it is necessary to separate high-intensity excitation light and low-intensity measurement light and detect only the measurement light. For this purpose, measurement light and excitation light are generally separated using an optical filter. At this time, as shown in Patent Document 3, the optical filter is not incorporated in the probe itself but in an attached device, and the measurement light guided by the probe is often optically separated at a later stage of the probe. .
However, in this configuration, when the excitation light is high intensity, fluorescence and Raman scattered light are generated from the optical fiber in the probe. Since an optical fiber having a length of, for example, several meters is used, there is a problem that fluorescence or Raman scattered light generated by the optical fiber becomes equal to or stronger than that from a living body.
As one countermeasure against this problem, for example, as shown in Patent Document 4, it is effective to install optical filters having different transmission bands in front of the exit end of the excitation optical fiber and in front of the entrance end of the receiving optical fiber. is there.
By transmitting the excitation light through an optical filter installed in front of the exit end of the excitation optical fiber, and blocking the light in the band other than the excitation light including fluorescence and Raman scattered light, Irradiation of the biological tissue with Raman scattered light can be avoided.
Also, the excitation light is blocked by an optical filter installed in front of the incident end face of the receiving optical fiber, and light in a band other than the excitation light including fluorescence and Raman scattered light is transmitted, so that a part of the excitation light is transmitted to the receiving optical fiber. Is incident and fluorescence or Raman scattered light is prevented from being generated in the fiber.
Only one of such optical filters may be installed as necessary.
In the probe described in Patent Literature 4, a plurality of receiving optical fibers are arranged so as to surround the periphery of the excitation optical fiber in a concentric manner. Therefore, the optical filter installed in front of the incident end face of the receiving optical fiber is formed in an annular shape, and the optical filter installed in front of the exit end face of the excitation optical fiber is stored in the hollow portion at the center of the annular shape. It has a small cross-sectional area.

JP 2010-104391 A JP 2010-88929 A JP-A-2005-305182 Japanese Patent No. 4588324

The probe described above is easy to manufacture for the purpose of further reducing the diameter from the viewpoint of reducing the burden on the patient and making the probe disposable for the purpose of preventing infection without degrading the measurement performance. Improvement is expected to be required in the future.
As shown in Patent Document 4, when an optical filter having a different transmission band is composed of a ring-shaped member and a member that fits in the hollow portion, a hole having a small diameter is formed with high accuracy to form the hollow portion. Manufacturing a filter that fits in the hollow part with high precision, and requires precise installation on the end face of the optical fiber. There is a possibility that it may become an obstacle to diameter and disposable.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems in the prior art, and includes an optical system for irradiating a measurement target region of biological tissue with excitation light and receiving measurement light emitted from the measurement target region. a probe for measuring the measuring light includes, and to provide a production method advantageous probes in improving the diameter reduction and manufacturability.

The invention according to claim 1 for solving the above-described problem includes an optical system for irradiating the measurement target site of the living tissue with the excitation light and receiving the measurement light emitted from the measurement target site. A probe for measuring measurement light,
As the optical system,
A lump of optical fiber bundles with one end face disposed at the tip of the probe;
An optical filter installed on the one end surface of the optical fiber bundle,
A first optical fiber system constituting an excitation light guide that guides the excitation light is constituted by a part of the optical fibers constituting the optical fiber bundle,
A second optical fiber system that constitutes a light receiving light guide that receives and guides the measurement light is constituted by another part of the optical fibers that constitute the optical fiber bundle,
Said optical filter, said emitting end face of the first optical fiber system and / or installed in the light-receiving end face of the second optical fiber system, a method for producing a pulp lobes made different optical transmission characteristics of these end faces ,
A filter installation step of installing the optical filter on the one end surface of the optical fiber bundle;
After the filter installation step, all or part of the optical fibers included in the optical fiber bundle are identified by the presence or difference of light emitted from each optical fiber at the other end surface when light is incident on the one end surface. A distribution step of distributing the first optical fiber system and the second optical fiber system;
At the end including the other end surface of the optical fiber bundle, the first optical fiber system and the second optical fiber system distributed by the distributing step are separated, and the probe base end connecting portion to the optical device A connection end preparation step for configuring a connection end of the first optical fiber system and a connection end of the second optical fiber system, and
Is a method of manufacturing a probe .

According to a second aspect of the invention, using an image guide fiber bundle as the optical fiber bundle, in the connection end preparation step, holding either one of the first optical fiber system and the second optical fiber system loaf either, while maintaining both the in each lump is a method for producing a probe according to claim 1, characterized in that the separation of the first optical fiber system and said second optical fiber system.

According to a third aspect of the invention, using a light guide fiber bundle as the optical fiber bundle, in the connection end preparation step, to separate the optical fibers one by one at the end portion including a second end surface, said first 2. The probe manufacturing method according to claim 1 , wherein the optical fiber system is separated from the second optical fiber system. 3.

In the probe according to the manufacturing method of the present invention, it is sufficient to construct at least one optical fiber bundle in which an optical filter is installed on one end surface by vapor deposition, sputtering, etc., and by applying the manufacturing method of the present invention, optical After installation of the filter, the light is discriminated by the presence or absence of light emitted from the other end surface when light is incident on the one end surface, and is distributed to the first optical fiber system and the second optical fiber system. Therefore, there is no need for a high level of placement accuracy, optical filter formation accuracy, and installation accuracy, which facilitates manufacturing and promotes reduction in diameter and disposability.

It is a mimetic diagram showing an outline of a system to which a probe concerning one embodiment of the present invention is applied. It is a perspective view of the front-end | tip part of the endoscope in which the probe which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention was penetrated. It is a front-end | tip part longitudinal cross-sectional view of the probe which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing of the optical fiber bundle of an example applied to the probe of this invention. It is sectional drawing of the optical fiber bundle of another example applied to the probe of this invention. FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view showing a main manufacturing process of a probe when two optical filters are separated by a linear boundary according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a schematic perspective view showing a main manufacturing process of a probe when two optical filters are divided into a circular boundary and an outer boundary according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The following is one embodiment of the present invention and does not limit the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the base end of the probe 1 of this embodiment is connected to the base unit 2. The base unit 2 includes a light source for generating excitation light applied to a measurement target site of a living body, a spectroscope for detecting light emitted from the measurement target site as a measurement light by excitation light irradiation, and the like. The detector etc. which become are provided.
On the other hand, the endoscope main body 3 is connected to an endoscope processor 4 for controlling each part such as a camera unit and illumination built in the endoscope main body and exchanging data with these respective parts. The endoscope main body 3 includes an insertion portion 3a into the body and an operation portion 3b for performing a bending operation or the like of the insertion portion 3a. The endoscope body 3 is formed with a channel 3c that communicates from an insertion port provided in the operation unit 3b to an opening on the distal end surface of the insertion unit 3a. The probe 1 is inserted into the channel 3c, and as shown in FIG. 2, the tip of the probe 1 is disposed so as to be able to advance and retreat with respect to the tip of the endoscope.
As shown in FIG. 2, at the distal end portion of the insertion portion 3a of the endoscope body 3, a camera portion 3d composed of an imaging element, an objective lens, etc., a light guide 3e serving as a light emitting portion for endoscope illumination, gas An air / water supply nozzle 3f for injecting a fluid such as a liquid and a tip opening of the channel 3c are provided, and the tip of the probe 1 extends from the channel 3c as necessary.
However, the form of the endoscope described above and the form in which the probe 1 is inserted through the channel 3c of the endoscope are only specific examples for explanation. In particular, the form guided into the body of the probe 1 may be a form inserted through the channel 3c of the endoscope or a form inserted alone into the body. Even if the configuration of the probe 1 is integrated with the endoscope main body 3, the present invention can be implemented.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the probe 1 includes a condensing lens system (condensing lens 11), optical filters 13 and 14, and an optical fiber bundle 15 inside the probe tube 9. The first optical fiber system 10 is constituted by a part of the optical fibers constituting the optical fiber bundle 15. The second optical fiber system 12 is constituted by another part of the optical fibers constituting the optical fiber bundle 15.

As shown in FIG. 3, one end surface of the optical fiber bundle 15 is disposed at the tip of the probe.
The first optical fiber system 10 is provided so that the base end is connected to or close to the excitation light output surface of the light source of the base unit 2, and the tip extends to the probe tip as shown in FIG. An excitation light guide for guiding light is configured.
The condensing lens system is a lens or a lens group having a positive power that collects the measurement light emitted from the measurement target region and irradiated with the excitation light emitted from the first optical fiber system 10.
The second optical fiber system 12 has a proximal end connected to the input end to the detector of the base unit 2 and a distal end extending to the probe distal end as shown in FIG. A light receiving light guide path that receives and guides light is configured.

  The condensing lens system is composed of one or a plurality of lenses. In the case of one, it is the condensing lens 11, and when it is composed of a plurality of lenses, the optical fiber systems 10, 12 are the most. A lens arranged at a close position is referred to as a condenser lens 11. Although only one condenser lens 11 is illustrated in FIG. 3, another lens constituting the condenser lens system may be disposed on the opposite side of the condenser lens 11 with respect to the optical fiber systems 10 and 12. The tip of the first optical fiber system 10 facing the condenser lens 11 is an emission end, and the tip of the second optical fiber system 12 facing the condenser lens 11 is a light receiving end.

  Excitation light from the light source of the base unit 2 is guided to the tip of the probe 1 by the first optical fiber system 10. The excitation light emitted from the emission end of the first optical fiber system 10 is collected by the condenser lens system, emitted from the probe 1, and irradiated onto the measurement target site on the surface of the living tissue. Fluorescence is generated according to the lesion state by the excitation light irradiated to the measurement target site. The measurement light from the measurement target site including the generated fluorescence and the reflected light on the surface of the living tissue is incident on the probe 1, collected by the condenser lens system, and incident on the light receiving end of the second optical fiber system 12. Further, the measurement light is guided by the second optical fiber system 12.

The measurement light guided by the second optical fiber system 12 is input to the detector of the base unit 2. Fluorescence is broadly defined as an object irradiated with X-rays, ultraviolet rays, or visible light absorbs its energy, excites electrons, and releases excess energy as electromagnetic waves when it returns to the ground state. To do. Here, since fluorescence having a wavelength different from the wavelength is generated as the return light by the excitation light, it is received as measurement light and guided to the detector of the base unit 2 via the second optical fiber system 12. By analyzing the spectral distribution, the lesion state to be measured is detected.
Instead of measuring fluorescence, Raman scattered light generated due to excitation light may be received and measured.

The optical filters 13 and 14 are installed on one end surface of the optical fiber bundle 15.
The optical filter 13 is an excitation light transmission filter that transmits excitation light and blocks light in a band other than the excitation light. The optical filter 13 is interposed in the optical path between the emission end of the first optical fiber system 10 and the condenser lens 11. Light emitted from the emission end of the first optical fiber system 10 enters the optical filter 13.
Therefore, the fluorescence and Raman scattered light generated in the first optical fiber system 10 can be converted into the living body by transmitting the excitation light through the optical filter 13 and blocking light in a band other than the excitation light including fluorescence and Raman scattered light. Irradiation of the tissue can be avoided.

The optical filter 14 is an excitation light blocking filter that blocks excitation light and transmits light in a band other than the excitation light. The optical filter 14 is interposed in the optical path between the condenser lens 11 and the light receiving end of the second optical fiber system 12. The light that has passed through the optical filter 14 enters the light receiving end of the second optical fiber system 12.
Accordingly, the excitation light is blocked by the optical filter 14, and light including fluorescence and Raman scattered light in a band other than the excitation light is transmitted, so that part of the excitation light is incident on the second optical fiber system 12 and the second light is transmitted. It is possible to avoid generation of fluorescence or Raman scattered light in the optical fiber system 12.

Regardless of the above description, it is optional whether or not the condenser lens system (the condenser lens 11) is provided.
Further, the purpose of the optical filter is not limited to what has been described above or to any purpose. In order to make the optical transmission characteristics of the emission end face of the first optical fiber system 10 different from that of the light receiving end face of the second optical fiber system 12, an optical filter is installed on at least one of the end faces of the fiber systems 10, 12. It only has to be.

As the optical fiber bundle 15, one having a plurality of optical fibers consolidated in a single shape and having a cross-sectional structure shown in FIG. 4 or FIG. 5 is known.
In the optical fiber bundle 15 </ b> A shown in FIG. 4, a plurality of optical fibers (element wires) 20 are arranged in a resin material (for example, polyethylene) 23, i.e., a resin material in a gap between the plurality of optical fibers (element wires) 20. 23 is filled and hardened in a single shape.
In the optical fiber bundle 15B shown in FIG. 5, a plurality of optical fibers (element wires) 20 are arranged in a tube-shaped coating material (for example, polyethylene) 24, and the plurality of optical fibers (element wires) 20 are in contact with each other. By fixing, it is solidified into one.
In FIG. 4, 21 is a core and 22 is a clad.

The optical fiber bundle 15 can be applied to the image guide fiber bundle or light guide fiber bundle.
In the image guide fiber bundle is to keep the image to be input and output optical fiber disposed at one end surface is kept at the other end face.
In the light guide fiber bundle, since the light guiding applications such as illumination light, an optical fiber disposed at one end face, not necessarily it is maintained in the other end face, and the optical fiber positioned at one end face, at the other end surface There is no fixed relationship with the optical fiber arrangement.

Next, a method for manufacturing the probe 1 will be described.
FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view showing a main manufacturing process when the two optical filters 13 and 14 are separated by a linear boundary. FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view showing a main manufacturing process when the two optical filters 13 and 14 are divided into the inside and the outside of the circular boundary. However, the planar shapes of the optical filters 13 and 14 are arbitrary, and these are merely examples. Therefore, the same reference numerals are used in FIGS. 6 and 7 regardless of the difference in shape.

(Filter installation process)
First, the filter installation process is performed.
In the filter installation process, as shown in FIG. 6 (b) or FIG. 7 (b), the optical filters 13 and 14 are placed on one end surface 31 of the optical fiber bundle 15 shown in FIG. 6 (a) or FIG. 7 (a). Install.
As a method for that purpose, there is a method in which small optical filters 13 and 14 are arranged on one end surface 31 and fixed by adhesion, welding or the like.
Alternatively, the optical filters 13 and 14 are formed by growing a material to be the optical filter 13 and a material to be the optical filter 14 on the one end surface 31 by vapor deposition or sputtering.

(Distribution process)
Next, a distribution step is performed.
In the distribution step, the presence or absence of light emitted from each optical fiber on the other end surface 33 when the optical filters 13 and 14 shown in FIG. 6B or FIG. Alternatively, all or part of the optical fibers included in the optical fiber bundle 15 are distributed to the first optical fiber system 10 and the second optical fiber system 12 by being identified by the difference.
Due to the optical filters 13 and 14, the transmission characteristic on the one end surface 32 of the optical fiber bundle 15 has a distribution on the one end surface 32. Therefore, when light of a specific wavelength is introduced from the end face 32 on the filter installation side, light is visible from some fibers on the other end face 33, and light is not seen from other fibers. Depending on the presence or absence of incident light, the optical fiber in which one optical filter 13 is installed can be distinguished from the optical fiber in which the other optical filter 14 is installed. Thus, the optical fiber in which one optical filter 13 is installed is distributed to the first optical fiber system 10, and the optical fiber in which the other optical filter 14 is installed is distributed to the second optical fiber system 12. .
In addition, when the shape accuracy and installation accuracy of the optical filter are low, it may occur that neither optical filter is installed in some optical fibers of the optical fiber bundle 15 or both optical filters are installed. In this case, the optical fiber is not distributed to the first optical fiber system 10 or the second optical fiber system 12.

There are several possible identification methods.
In the case where only one of the optical filters 13 and 14 is installed, the optical filter installs an optical fiber that emits light from the other end surface 33 by entering light blocked by the installed optical filter. An optical fiber that is not provided and an optical fiber that does not emit light from the other end surface 33 can be distinguished from an optical fiber provided with an optical filter.
In the case where both of the optical filters 13 and 14 are installed, light (for example, the above-described excitation light) that can pass through one optical filter and is blocked by the other optical filter is incident, so that light is transmitted from the other end surface 33. An optical fiber with emission can be distinguished from an optical fiber in which the one optical filter is installed, and an optical fiber without light emission from the other end surface 33 from an optical fiber in which the other optical filter is installed. When excitation light is incident, an optical fiber in which the optical filter 13 is installed is an optical fiber that emits light from the other end face 33, and an optical fiber in which the optical filter 14 is installed is an optical fiber that is not emitted from the other end face 33 Can be identified.
Further, under conditions where light is emitted from both sides, the characteristics such as the intensity and wavelength distribution of the emitted light are different, and therefore, it can be identified by the difference of the emitted light. However, it is needless to say that, as a condition that the light is reliably incident, it is more distinguishable and easy to identify if the condition is such that light can be identified by the presence or absence of light.

(Connection end manufacturing process)
Next, a connection end manufacturing step is performed.
In the connection end manufacturing step, as shown in FIG. 6 (c) or FIG. 7 (c), the first optical fiber system 10 distributed in the distribution step and the end portion 34 including the other end surface 33 of the optical fiber bundle 15 The second optical fiber system 12 is separated from each other, and the connection end of the first optical fiber system 10 and the connection end of the second optical fiber system 12 are configured at the connection portion of the probe base end to the optical device.
Separation of the optical fiber distributed to the first optical fiber system 10 and the optical fiber distributed to the second optical fiber system 12 at the end 34 is cut by a blade such as a cutting blade, a laser cutter or a water jet process. The method of performing is mentioned. In the case where an optical fiber damaged by cutting is generated, the optical fiber damaged by cutting is previously set as an optical fiber that is not distributed to the first optical fiber system 10 and the second optical fiber system 12 in the distribution step. Such an optical fiber can be overlapped with an optical fiber that is not distributed to any one of the optical fiber systems 10 and 12 because of the shape accuracy and installation accuracy of the optical filter described above. do not do.
Separation is performed so as to branch into branches as shown in FIG. 6 (c) or FIG. 7 (c).

When using the image guide fiber bundle as an optical fiber bundle 15, and at the other end surface 33 shown in FIG. 6 before separating operation (b) or FIG. 7 (b), the distributed to the first optical fiber system 10 optical fibers, The optical fiber distributed to the second optical fiber system 12 is not mixed. Therefore, in this connection end manufacturing step, either one of the first optical fiber system 10 and the second optical fiber system 12 is held in a lump, or both are held in a lump, and the first optical fiber system 10 and It is possible to separate the second optical fiber system 12 and do so.
When using the light guide fiber bundle as an optical fiber bundle 15, and at the other end surface 33 shown in FIG. 6 before separating operation (b) or FIG. 7 (b), the distributed to the first optical fiber system 10 optical fibers, There is a high possibility that the optical fiber distributed to the second optical fiber system 12 is mixed. Therefore, in this connection end manufacturing step, the first optical fiber system 10 and the second optical fiber system 12 are separated by separating the optical fibers one by one at the end 34 including the other end surface 33 and sorting them. .
The optical fiber bundle to be used may be any optical fiber bundle. However, when the number of fibers in the bundle is large, it may be preferable to select an image guide optical fiber bundle in consideration of material cost and manufacturing effort. The image guide optical fiber bundle has a large number of fibers for transmitting an image.
Therefore, optical fiber elements number of the light guide fiber bundle to be applied is preferably 64 or less. Furthermore, two systems of the first optical fiber system 10 and the second optical fiber system 12 are required, and there is a possibility that an optical fiber that is not distributed to the first optical fiber system 10 and the second optical fiber system 12 is generated as described above. because there is, optical fiber elements number of the light guide fiber bundle to be applied is preferably from 7 a 64.

  A connector 1 a (see FIG. 1) is provided at the proximal end of the probe 1. The connector 1a is a connection part to an optical device such as the base unit 2 described above. Terminals 33a and 33b of the separated branch portions shown in FIG. 6 (c) or FIG. 7 (c) are respectively disposed on the connection terminals of the connector 1a. Thus, the connection end of the first optical fiber system 10 and the connection end of the second optical fiber system 12 are configured. In the present embodiment, by connecting the connector 1a to the base unit 2, the second optical fiber system 12 is arranged to input the guided light to the detector of the base unit 2, and the first optical fiber system 10 is arranged such that excitation light from the light source of the base unit 2 is input.

  In the probe of the present embodiment described above, it is sufficient to configure at least one optical fiber bundle in which an optical filter is installed on one end surface by vapor deposition, sputtering, etc., and by applying the manufacturing method of the present embodiment, After the optical filter is installed, it is identified by the presence or absence of light emitted from the other end surface 33 when light is incident on the one end surface 32, and distributed to the first optical fiber system 10 and the second optical fiber system 12. Therefore, the arrangement accuracy of the optical fiber, the formation accuracy and the installation accuracy of the optical filter are not required at a high level, and the manufacturing is facilitated, and there is an effect that it is possible to promote the reduction in the diameter and the disposable.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Probe 2 Base unit 3 Endoscope body 4 Endoscope processor 9 Probe tube 10 1st optical fiber system (excitation light emission system)
11 Condenser lens 12 Second optical fiber system (measurement light receiving system)
13, 14 Optical filter 15 Optical fiber bundle 20 Optical fiber

Claims (3)

A probe for measuring the measurement light by irradiating the measurement target site of the living tissue with the excitation light and including an optical system for receiving the measurement light emitted from the measurement target site,
As the optical system,
A lump of optical fiber bundles with one end face disposed at the tip of the probe;
An optical filter installed on the one end surface of the optical fiber bundle,
A first optical fiber system constituting an excitation light guide that guides the excitation light is constituted by a part of the optical fibers constituting the optical fiber bundle,
A second optical fiber system that constitutes a light receiving light guide that receives and guides the measurement light is constituted by another part of the optical fibers that constitute the optical fiber bundle,
Said optical filter, said emitting end face of the first optical fiber system and / or installed in the light-receiving end face of the second optical fiber system, a method for producing a pulp lobes made different optical transmission characteristics of these end faces ,
A filter installation step of installing the optical filter on the one end surface of the optical fiber bundle;
After the filter installation step, all or part of the optical fibers included in the optical fiber bundle are identified by the presence or difference of light emitted from each optical fiber at the other end surface when light is incident on the one end surface. A distribution step of distributing the first optical fiber system and the second optical fiber system;
At the end including the other end surface of the optical fiber bundle, the first optical fiber system and the second optical fiber system distributed by the distributing step are separated, and the probe base end connecting portion to the optical device A connection end preparation step for configuring a connection end of the first optical fiber system and a connection end of the second optical fiber system, and
A method for manufacturing a probe comprising: Using the image guide fiber bundle as the optical fiber bundle, wherein the connection end manufacturing process, either one of said first optical fiber system and the second optical fiber system or to hold the loaf, both to each lump while maintaining manufacturing method of probe according to claim 1, characterized in that the separation of the first optical fiber system and said second optical fiber system. Using the light guide fiber bundle as the optical fiber bundle, in the connection end preparation step, said separated into one single optical fiber at the end portion including the other end surface, and said first optical fiber system the second 2. The probe manufacturing method according to claim 1 , wherein the probe is separated from the optical fiber system.

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