JPS63135122A - Light source apparatus for endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a light source device for an endoscope, which is provided with means for controlling the amount of irradiation energy for illumination light irradiated onto a body surface.

[Prior art 1] In recent years, endoscopes have been developed that allow observation of the respiratory area and other parts of the body by inserting an elongated insertion section without requiring an incision, and can perform therapeutic treatment using treatment instruments as necessary. It has become widely used.

By the way, observation using a conventional endoscope utilizes an image formed by reflected light from the tissue surface under epi-illumination that irradiates the tissue surface with visible light.

Utilizing the property of infrared light to pass through living tissue, by performing illumination observation using infrared light with an endoscope, it becomes possible to observe the inside of tissue, which was previously not possible with visible light.

[Problems to be solved by the invention] However, general endoscopes use epi-illumination, and the light reflected from the tissue surface is stronger than the light reflected from inside the tissue, making it difficult to observe the inside of the tissue. there were.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned points, and an object of the present invention is to provide a light source device for an endoscope that can detect ilJ inside a tissue surface and is highly safe.

[Means and effects for solving the problem] In the present invention, an endoscope that is inserted into the body and has a light receiving means that is sensitive to at least infrared light is provided outside the body and that contains at least infrared light on the body surface. An irradiation means for irradiating with light, a means for detecting the amount of energy irradiated from the irradiation means, and a control means for controlling the amount of energy irradiated onto the body surface in accordance with an output signal of the detection means. , it is possible to observe the inside of the tissue using infrared light, etc., and
Safety is ensured by preventing the risk of excessively raising body temperature due to infrared light.

[Example] Hereinafter, the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.

1 and 2 relate to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of the first embodiment, and FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the first embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 1, the electronic endoscope M1 has an elongated insertion section 2, which can be inserted into a body cavity 4 of a human body 3 through the oral cavity or the like. A solid-state imaging device (hereinafter referred to as SID) 5, such as a COD, which is sensitive to infrared light, is incorporated into the distal end side of the insertion portion 2 as an image transporting means. Further, a light guide (not shown) that transmits illumination light and emits it from the distal end surface is inserted into the insertion portion 2. Above 5ID
The signal photoelectrically converted in step 5 is input to a video processor 7, which converts the SID signal into a television signal so that it can be displayed on a monitor 8.

By the way, the light source %Ar1111 of the first embodiment includes a light source 12 that is disposed outside the body and irradiates the body surface with light in a wavelength range including infrared light, and a level sense that takes in the output signal of 5ID5 and detects the signal level. It consists of a circuit 13 and a controller 14 (irradiation!it) that controls the irradiation amount (or irradiation energy amount) of the light source 12 based on the detection signal of the level sense circuit 13.

The body surface is irradiated with light including infrared light by the light source 12, and the light transmitted through the body surface is imaged by 5105 housed at the tip of the insertion section 2 inserted into the body cavity 4.

The output signal of this 5ID5 is input to a video processor 7, converted into a video signal and displayed on a monitor 8, and is also input to a level sense circuit 13, where the magnitude of the signal level is detected. This detected signal is the radiation dose controller 1
4, and when the irradiance OAm of the light source 12 exceeds a predetermined level, the irradiation amount is controlled to protect the human body 3 from danger due to excessive infrared light irradiation.

A more specific configuration of this first embodiment is shown in FIG. The signal imaged by the 5ID 5 housed in the distal end of the insertion section 2 is input to the video circuit 15 in the video processor 7,
Converts the ID5 signal to a television signal. Incidentally, the video processor 7 includes a control circuit 16 for timing the 5ID 5 and the video circuit 15. Further, the output of a level sense circuit 13 which is housed in, for example, the video processor 7 and which takes in the output signal of the 5ID 5 and detects the level of the output signal is input to the 4 controller 14. The irradiation amount controller 14 controls on/off a power source 18 that supplies power to a light source lamp 18 for infrared light emission in the light source 8, for example, in response to the output signal of the level sense circuit 13, thereby controlling the amount of light generated by the light source lamp 17 on the body surface. Controls the amount of radiation emitted toward the target. The controller 14 also controls the rotation angle of a diaphragm 19 placed in front of the optical path of the light source lamp 17 (via a motor, not shown, etc.), so that the amount of irradiation directed toward the body surface by the light source lamp 17 can be controlled. If so. The irradiation amount can be controlled by turning on and off the power source 18 or by using the diaphragm 19 by switching the irradiation amount using a switch or the like.
This is so that you can take control of it. The rear end of the light guide 20 inserted into the insertion section 2 is connected to a light source device (not shown) so that illumination light for observing the inside of the body cavity is supplied. Illumination using this light guide 20 is stopped when illumination from outside the body is performed. The rest of the structure is the same as that described with reference to FIG. 1 above.

In this first embodiment, light containing a large amount of infrared light emitted by the light source lamp 17 is irradiated onto the body surface, passes through the tissue forming the body wall, and reaches 5ID5. This light is photoelectrically converted in 5105, input to the video processor 7, converted into a television signal in the video circuit 15, and displayed as an image on the monitor 8.

The output signal of this 5ID5 is also input to the level sense circuit 13, and the signal level is integrated and converted into an amount of energy administered to the human body. If this dosage level is sufficiently lower than a preset danger level, the controller 14 will not control the illumination fJJm by the light source 12, but if it gets close, it will temporarily stop the light emission of the light source 12 or block the light. The energy administration to the human body 3 is stopped to ensure safety.

When the electronic endoscope 1 with 5ID5 at the tip is inserted into the human body, energy p4. It is determined by tp=f(S). The time-integrated value of this is the energy ffl (W>, so W = l
f(S) di. On the other hand, the temperature T on the surface of the human body rises due to the administration of energy, and this temperature ]' is related to energy suspension and is expressed as T=F (W). Therefore, by measuring the temperature T of the body surface and the brightness level S, T can be expressed as a function of S. The level sense circuit 13 performs the above calculations. For example, if the judgment level is T-40 ('C), experimentally 40 ('C) =
From F(W)=F(J″:f(s)dt), the value of time t and level S at this time can be obtained.Set this as the danger level, and f′:f(s)dt When the level reaches a dangerous level, the light source 12 is turned off by the level sensing circuit 13 via the controller 14.

According to the first embodiment, it is possible to reliably prevent the body surface from being irradiated with excessive infrared light, causing the body temperature to rise and becoming dangerous.

Incidentally, instead of temporarily stopping the light emission of the light source 12, the energy administered to the human body 3 may be controlled by reducing the amount of emitted light for a certain period of time via the diaphragm 19.

According to this first embodiment, since the energy administration to the human body 3 within a certain period of time can be controlled so as not to exceed a dangerous level,
Observations using external illumination can be performed stably.

FIG. 3 shows a light source 21 in a second embodiment of the invention.

The light source 21 includes a power supply section 22 controlled by the controller 14, an infrared emitting lamp 23 lit by the power supply section 22, a visible light cut filter 24 that cuts visible light and passes infrared light, and 5ID5. It gets hard and gets hot 1
It is composed of a heat ray cut filter 25 that cuts infrared light of 1000 nm or more. The rest is the same as the first embodiment shown in FIG. 2 above.

The characteristics of the visible light cut filter 24 are shown in FIG.
The characteristics of the heat ray cut filter 25 are shown in FIG. 5, and the characteristics of a combination of two of these filters are shown in FIG. The transmission characteristics shown in Fig. 6 allow only light of 700 to 1000 ns+ to pass through, for example, so the transmission is better even with the same amount of light than when transmitting illumination with visible light (400 to 700 nm), so it is efficient.
1 extra energy! is not given to the human body. Also, 11
Light of 000 nm or more is not sensitive to 5ID5, is not useful for image formation, and is in the infrared range, so it has a high rate of conversion into heat and has a strong thermal effect on the human body, so it is cut in this embodiment.

According to the second embodiment, the illumination effect due to transmitted light is not deteriorated, and unnecessary energy is prevented from being administered to the human body, allowing safe observation using external illumination.

FIG. 7 shows the configuration of a light source device 31 according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

The light emitting section 32 is provided next to the fan motor 33 and is supplied with power from the power supply section 22 . The fan motor 33 is connected to a fan control section 34 and is controlled on and off. Further, a temperature measurement signal from a temperature sensor 35 is input to the fan control section 34, and the fan motor 33 is turned on and off based on this temperature measurement signal. This temperature sensor 35 is connected to the light emitting section 3
2, the illumination light can be brought into close contact with, for example, the body surface of a human body 3 that is irradiated with the illumination light.

When illumination light is applied to the human body 3 by the light emitting section 32, the temperature of the surface of the human body increases due to the energy. This increased temperature is detected by the humidity sensor 35, and if the temperature becomes hot, the fan 1IlII11 section 34 turns on the fan motor 33 to send cool air to the body surface to lower the surface temperature. When the temperature returns to normal, the fan 1111611 section 34 turns off the fan motor 33 and stops blowing air.

According to this third embodiment, when a large amount of energy is administered to the human body 3, the observation can be continued safely by cooling the human body.

In addition, even if the fan motor 33 is operated and cooling air is radiated by the fan 33A, if the temperature measurement signal level becomes close to a dangerous level, the power of the power supply section 22 is turned off to further improve safety. It may be possible to secure it.

FIG. 8 shows a light source device 41 according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

The light emitting section 32 is connected to the power supply section 22, and the power supply section 22 is turned on and off by a timer 42 that calculates the power-on time Vi.

When the power supply unit 22 is turned on, the light emitting unit 32 lights up, and
The time is accumulated in the timer 42. When the lighting time continues for a long time and reaches a time that is considered to have an adverse effect on the human body, a timer 42 is activated to turn off the power and turn off the light emitting section 32.

According to this fourth embodiment, it is possible to suppress the amount of energy administered to the human body below a certain value, to prevent burns, and to enable safe observation.

FIG. 9 shows the configuration of a light source device 51 according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

The light emitting section 32 is connected to the power supply section 22 and is supplied with power. This power supply section 22 is connected to a detection/notification circuit 52,
This detection/notification circuit 52 turns on and off the power supplied to the light emitting section 32 to control light emission or extinguishment. A temperature measurement signal from a temperature sensor 35 that measures the temperature of the human body 3 is input to this detection/notification circuit 52.
The warning buzzer 53 and warning lamp 5 are activated by this temperature measurement signal.
I am trying to run 4.

In the fifth embodiment configured in this way, the power supply section 2
2, the light emitting section 32 lights up and irradiates the human body with light. The temperature sensor 35 detects thirst marks on the human body and the detection/notification circuit 5
Transmit information to 2. When the temperature rises above a certain value, the detection/notification circuit 52 turns off the power supply section 22 and turns off the light emitting section 3.
2 is turned off, and a warning buzzer 53 and a warning lamp 54 are activated at the same time.

According to this fifth embodiment, if the energy administered to the human body exceeds a certain amount, the power is automatically turned off, and at the same time, a warning sound and warning light are issued, allowing observation without causing burns. The effect of becoming .

FIG. 10 shows a light source device M61 according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

The light emitting unit 32 emits light when power for light emission is supplied from the power supply unit 22. A temperature signal from a temperature sensor 35 that detects the temperature of the human body is input to a detection circuit 62, and an output signal from this detection circuit 62 is input to a timing controller 63.

Based on the signal input from the detection circuit 62, the timing controller 63 turns on the power supply section 22 so as to intermittent the power supplied to the light emitting section 32 when the body temperature is high.

In addition to controlling off, this on/off timing signal is also output to the video processor 64 to turn on/off in synchronization with image display.

In the sixth embodiment configured in this way, the temperature sensor 35
If the temperature measurement signal level is low and does not exceed a preset temperature level, the output of the detection circuit 62 is LOW as shown in FIG. It is continuously lit (indicated by ON in FIG. 11(a)) by supplying power.

When the temperature of the human body rises due to the irradiation energy from the light emitting unit 32 and the detection value of the temperature sensor 35 becomes high, and exceeds the set level, the output of the detection circuit 62 becomes HIGH as shown in FIG. 11(b). , timing controller 63
send a signal to. Then, the timing controller 63 controls the power supply unit 22 to emit light intermittently in synchronization with the video processor 64. This intermittent lighting reduces the energy irradiated to the human body, so when the human body temperature decreases, continuous lighting is resumed.

According to the sixth embodiment, even when the human body temperature rises, observation can be continued with intermittent illumination, and safe observation without causing burns is possible.

Note that it is also possible to form other embodiments by partially combining the above embodiments. For example, as in the first embodiment, 5I
In addition to detecting with the output signal of D5, the temperature of the body surface may be directly measured with the temperature sensor 35 as in the third embodiment, and either output may be used to operate and discharge the body.

In addition, endoscopes inserted into the body are not limited to electronic endoscopes,
An optical endoscope using an image guide may be used, and a television camera or the like sensitive to infrared light may be attached to the hand side of the image guide.

(In this case, the image guide is formed of a fiber bundle that transmits infrared light.) [Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, the external irradiation means transmits infrared light from outside the body toward the body surface. A means for detecting the amount of energy irradiated to the living body with respect to the irradiation light for illumination is provided,
Since the illumination tJJm can be controlled by the output signal of this detection means, endoscopic observation can be performed safely.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 and 2 relate to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of the first embodiment, FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of the first embodiment,
FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram showing the light source in the second embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 4 is a characteristic diagram showing the transmission characteristics of the visible light cut filter used in the second embodiment, and FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the transmission characteristics of the visible light cut filter used in the second embodiment. A characteristic diagram showing the transmission characteristics of the heat ray cut filter used, FIG. 6 is a characteristic diagram showing the transmission characteristics when two visible light cut filters and a heat ray cut filter are used, and FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the transmission characteristics of the third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram showing a light source device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a configuration diagram showing a light source device according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a configuration diagram showing a light source device according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of the operation in the sixth embodiment of the present invention. 1... Electronic endoscope 3... Human body, 5... Solid-state image sensor (SID) 7... Video processor 8... Monitor 11...
Light source device 12...Light source 13...Level sense circuit 14...Controller 15...Video circuit Fig. 3 Fig. 4 Fig. 5 Fig. 6 Fig. 1 nm+ Fig. 7 Fig. 8 Fig. 9 Fig. 11 Tewa Cune City Masahiro 1 (self-R) January 12, 1985 Director General of the Patent Office Kunito Ogawa 1, Indication of Case Patent Application No. 283268 of 1985
No. 2, Title of the invention Endoscope light source device 3, Relationship with the case of the person making the amendment Patent applicant representative Satoshi Shimoyama Drawings “Figure 2” and “Figure 7” 7. Contents of the amendment Attached sheet street
,/. """NH:', - 1, on the 17th line of the 5th page of the specification, "...Light source 8
” should be corrected to “...to the light source”. 2. On the 18th line of the 5th page of the specification, "...light source lamp 18..." is replaced with "...light source lamp 17..."
..." will be corrected. Figure 2 Figure 7

Claims (1)

[Claims] A light emitting means installed outside the body and irradiating illumination light having at least an infrared light component toward the body surface, for an endoscope inserted into the body and provided with an imaging means sensitive to at least infrared light. , characterized in that it is provided with a detection means for detecting the amount of energy irradiated onto the body surface from the light emitting means, and a control means for controlling the amount of energy irradiated onto the body surface in accordance with an output signal of the detection means. Light source device for endoscopes.