WO1999063384A1 - Systeme de transmission de lumiere pour dispositif endoscopique - Google Patents

Systeme de transmission de lumiere pour dispositif endoscopique Download PDF

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Publication number
WO1999063384A1
WO1999063384A1 PCT/EP1999/003741 EP9903741W WO9963384A1 WO 1999063384 A1 WO1999063384 A1 WO 1999063384A1 EP 9903741 W EP9903741 W EP 9903741W WO 9963384 A1 WO9963384 A1 WO 9963384A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
light
light guide
transmission system
angle
coupling point
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/EP1999/003741
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Jürgen RUDISCHHAUSER
Ulrich Kehr
Original Assignee
Karl Storz Gmbh & Co. Kg
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Karl Storz Gmbh & Co. Kg filed Critical Karl Storz Gmbh & Co. Kg
Priority to DE29923528U priority Critical patent/DE29923528U1/de
Publication of WO1999063384A1 publication Critical patent/WO1999063384A1/fr

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B1/00—Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopes; Illuminating arrangements therefor
    • A61B1/00112—Connection or coupling means
    • A61B1/00117—Optical cables in or with an endoscope
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B1/00—Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopes; Illuminating arrangements therefor
    • A61B1/00112—Connection or coupling means
    • A61B1/00121—Connectors, fasteners and adapters, e.g. on the endoscope handle
    • A61B1/00126—Connectors, fasteners and adapters, e.g. on the endoscope handle optical, e.g. for light supply cables
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B1/00—Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopes; Illuminating arrangements therefor
    • A61B1/06—Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopes; Illuminating arrangements therefor with illuminating arrangements
    • A61B1/07—Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopes; Illuminating arrangements therefor with illuminating arrangements using light-conductive means, e.g. optical fibres
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B23/00—Telescopes, e.g. binoculars; Periscopes; Instruments for viewing the inside of hollow bodies; Viewfinders; Optical aiming or sighting devices
    • G02B23/24—Instruments or systems for viewing the inside of hollow bodies, e.g. fibrescopes
    • G02B23/2407—Optical details
    • G02B23/2461—Illumination
    • G02B23/2469—Illumination using optical fibres

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a light transmission system for an endoscopic arrangement, with at least one first light guide that supplies light from a light source, and with at least one second light guide downstream of the first light guide, a coupling point being present between a light exit surface of the first light guide and a light entry surface of the second light guide is, at which the light from the first light guide is coupled into the second light guide, the coupling point being designed such that those light beams emerging from the first light guide which are axially parallel in the first light guide, in the second light guide at an angle ⁇ with respect to its longitudinal axis run tilted.
  • a light transmission system is known from US 3,874,783.
  • a light transmission system of the type mentioned at the outset for an endoscopic arrangement generally comprises a first light guide in the form of a flexible light guide cable which can be connected at one end to a light source which couples light into the first light guide.
  • the other end of the light guide cable can be connected to an endoscope, in the shaft of which a second light guide is arranged.
  • the first and the second light guide are generally each formed from an optical fiber bundle.
  • a coupling point is thus present between the first light guide and the second light guide, at which the light from the first light guide is coupled into the second light guide.
  • the coupling point is arranged on a housing of the endoscope, on which the connection for the light guide cable is provided.
  • a light transmission system of the type mentioned at the outset can also have more than two light guides, for example if a plurality of light guide cables are connected in series in order to obtain an overall longer light guide cable, wherein in in such a case, there are several coupling points corresponding to the number of light guides.
  • the light emerging from the second light guide for illuminating an illumination field has a light intensity or brightness distribution which rapidly decreases from the center of the illumination field to the edge and is therefore narrow. This is due to the fact that the light sources generally used have a radiation characteristic in which the light intensity decreases with increasing radiation angle.
  • Another reason for the uneven intensity distribution of the light emerging from the first and then from the second light guide is that, with a larger angle of incidence, light rays incident from the light source into the first light guide more frequently at the outer surface of the light guide or at the interfaces of the individual optical fibers, if the light guide is made up of optical fibers, be totally reflected, and cover a longer light path than rays incident at a small angle or parallel to the axis, and thus are more strongly attenuated when transmitted through the first light guide due to higher reflection and absorption losses.
  • a different material is used for the first light guide than for the second light guide, for example because of the longer length with less attenuation, which can also result in a narrow brightness distribution in the first light guide.
  • a more uniform and broader brightness distribution in the illumination field to be illuminated with the light transmission system is desirable, ie one from the center to the edge essentially the same, or at least not significantly decreasing, light intensity distribution.
  • fiber cones between the first light guide and the second light guide which consist of a bundle of glass fibers, the diameter of which decreases from its light entry surface to the light exit surface, were frequently used to achieve this goal.
  • this has the disadvantage that the cross section of the luminous area decreases, that the light exit area becomes very small and therefore hot, which can lead to undesired injuries when using such a light transmission system for illuminating operating areas.
  • Another disadvantage is that the light losses are high. It has also been found that the edge of the illumination area cannot be illuminated as brightly as desired with such a fiber cone.
  • No. 4,294,511 describes an optical system for connecting light guides for endoscopes, in which a lens system is arranged between the first light guide and the second light guide, the light exit surface of the first light guide being in the vicinity of the proximal focal point of the lens system and the light entry surface of the second light guide is arranged in the vicinity of the distal focal point of the lens system, the diameter of the light exit surface of the first light guide being larger than the light entry surface of the second light guide.
  • This arrangement is intended to generate a more favorable intensity distribution of the light emitted onto the illumination field.
  • such an arrangement has the disadvantage that it is technically very complicated and complex.
  • this known arrangement also if the disadvantage is that the cross section of the second light guide is reduced compared to the first light guide.
  • the light transmission system known from the above-mentioned US 3,874,783 has a coupling point which is designed such that the light exit surface of the first light guide is beveled and the light entry surface of the second light guide, which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the second light guide, to the beveled light exit surface of the first light guide is coupled. It is thereby achieved that in the individual optical fibers of the first light guide, light rays propagating parallel to the axis in the optical fibers of the second light guide no longer run parallel to their longitudinal axis, but are tilted at an angle.
  • the invention is therefore based on the object of developing a light transmission system of the type mentioned in such a way that a broader, more uniform light distribution in the lighting field is achieved in as many cases as possible, even if a different light source or a different length of the light guide is selected.
  • this object is achieved with regard to the light transmission system mentioned at the outset in that the coupling point is designed such that the angle ⁇ can be variably adjusted.
  • the advantage is achieved that by changing the angle ß the desired uniform broad light distribution can be set in the lighting field. Even if the light transmission system is used with different light sources, different emission characteristics of the light sources can be compensated for by changing the angle ⁇ in order to achieve the broader and more uniform light distribution. Even if one and the same light source is used, the design of the coupling point according to the invention has the advantage that the user can choose between bright illumination of the center of the illumination field, by choosing the angle ß small, and wide, uniform light distribution, depending on his needs, by the angle ß is enlarged.
  • a light distribution can be set by varying the angle ⁇ , which is brighter towards the edge than in the center.
  • varying the angle ⁇ unequal distributions of the light distribution in the illumination field based on different lengths of the first light guide or the second light guide can also be compensated for.
  • the angle ⁇ is adjustable depending on the width of the light intensity distribution in the first light guide. It has been found that the choice of the most favorable angle ⁇ for achieving the broadest possible uniform light distribution depends on the width of the light intensity distribution, so that the optimum angle ⁇ can be set by the measure mentioned.
  • angle ⁇ can be set to a value which is approximately equal to the width of the light intensity distribution in the first light guide at the point of half the maximum of the light intensity.
  • the coupling point is designed so that the angle ⁇ can be set to the aforementioned value, a particularly uniform and broad light distribution in the illumination field is achieved. If the angle ß is chosen to be smaller than the aforementioned value, the light distribution is only slightly broadened, and if the angle ß is significantly larger than the width of the light distribution, an annular light distribution with central darkening is produced.
  • the angle ⁇ can be set in a range from 0 ° to approximately 50 °, preferably from 0 ° to 30 °.
  • This angle range has been found to be particularly favorable in tests of the light transmission system according to the invention in order to achieve a uniform, broad light distribution.
  • the angle ⁇ is variably adjustable in that the light exit surface of the first light guide can be variably tilted relative to the light entry surface of the second light guide.
  • This measure has the advantage that the change in the angle ⁇ is particularly easy to accomplish by simply tilting the two opposite ends of the two light guides against each other.
  • light guides can be used, the light entry or exit surfaces of which run perpendicular to the optical fiber bundles of the light guides.
  • the coupling point has a connecting element for connecting the first light guide to the second light guide, the connecting element being designed in two parts in an articulated manner, a first connecting part the end of the first light guide on the light exit side and a second connecting part the end of the second light entry side Receives light guide, and wherein the first and second parts are tiltable against each other about a pivot axis.
  • This measure has the advantage that, on the one hand, a technically and structurally simple possibility is created in order to tilt the two light guides against one another and thereby vary the angle ⁇ .
  • a mechanically secure connection that protects the opposite sensitive ends of the light guide is created.
  • first connecting part and the second connecting part are in at least two Tilt positions lockable, which are assigned two different values of the angle ß.
  • the advantage here is that at least two different values of the angle ß can be set, for example a 0 ° position in which the two light guides are not tilted against each other, and a position which corresponds to the aforementioned value of the angle ß which achieves a broad and uniform light distribution.
  • the second connecting part can be rotated relative to the first connecting part about an axis of rotation running transversely to the pivot axis, independently of the set tilting position.
  • the advantage here is that an additional degree of freedom of the coupling point is created, which also allows a change in the angle ⁇ , for example in the case of beveled light entrance and exit faces. This also improves the manageability of the light guides.
  • the light exit surface of the first light guide and / or the light entry surface of the second light guide is chamfered.
  • the second light guide can be arranged in a straight line extension of the first light guide without tilting, and in this aligned position a non-zero angle ⁇ is already set, the value of the angle ⁇ in this position being determined by the bevel angle is determined.
  • This value can be predetermined so that there is already a relatively uniform light distribution and this can be further optimized by slightly tilting the light guide.
  • the same effect is achieved if the light entry surface of the second light guide is chamfered or both the light exit surface of the first light guide and the light entry surface of the second light guide are chamfered.
  • the surfaces mentioned can be chamfered, for example, by appropriate grinding.
  • the light exit surface of the first light guide and / or the light entry surface of the second light guide is conical.
  • This measure also has the aforementioned advantage that there is already a presetting of the angle ⁇ without tilting the two light guides relative to one another.
  • the coupling point has at least one optically deflecting element which is arranged between the light exit surface of the first light guide and the light entry surface of the second light guide.
  • optically deflecting element effecting a presetting of the angle ⁇ .
  • Prismatic elements are sufficient as optically distracting elements. These elements do not have to have a focusing effect as in the prior art. It is preferred if the optically deflecting element is a glass wedge, a glass pyramid, a glass cone or a similar body.
  • optically deflecting element is adjustable in position.
  • the position adjustability includes both translational adjustments and angle adjustments.
  • optical fibers of the first light guide and / or optical fibers of the second light guide are tilted in the area of the coupling point with respect to an axis of symmetry of the first or second light guide.
  • This measure represents a further advantageous possibility of achieving an intensity distribution of the light in the second light guide that is changed compared to the first light guide, without tilting, which leads to a higher brightness of the edge of the illumination field.
  • the first light guide and / or the second light guide in the area of the coupling point is divided into at least two partial strands which are tilted against one another.
  • the advantage here is that a particularly uniform light distribution can be achieved by tilting the two partial strands relative to one another, which can also be variable, and by possibly additionally tilting the second compared to the first light guide.
  • the narrower air gap reduces the light losses in the coupling point.
  • the first light guide is designed as a light guide cable and the second light guide is at least partially arranged in a shaft of an endoscope, the coupling point being arranged in the region of a connection of the light guide cable to the endoscope.
  • the light transmission system according to the invention can thus advantageously be used in an endoscopic system, the light emerging from the endoscope illuminating an illumination field within the observation space with a uniform brightness distribution due to the configuration of the coupling point according to the invention.
  • the endoscope is designed for medical or technical applications. Further advantages result from the following description and the attached drawing.
  • FIG. 1 shows a light transmission system for an endoscopic arrangement in a schematic, partially sectioned, overall view
  • FIG. 3 shows the coupling point of the light transmission system in FIG. 1 according to the present invention in two partial images
  • FIG. 4 shows a single optical fiber to explain the effect of the coupling point in FIG. 3;
  • Fig. 5a shows a single optical fiber to explain the effect of the coupling point in FIG. 3;
  • Fig. 9 shows another embodiment for the configuration of the coupling point.
  • FIG. 1 and 2 show a light transmission system provided with the general reference number 10 for an endoscopic arrangement.
  • the light transmission system 10 has a first light guide 12, which is connected at one end to a light source 14.
  • the light guide 12 is designed in the form of a flexible light guide cable, which is constructed from an optical fiber bundle 16 and a sheath 18 surrounding it.
  • the light transmission system 10 also has a second light guide 20, which is arranged downstream of the first light guide 12.
  • the second light guide 20 is arranged in an endoscope 22.
  • the second light guide is constructed from an optical fiber bundle 24 which is guided through a shaft 26 of the endoscope 22 from a distal end 28 of the endoscope 22 into a housing 30 and from there into a connection 32 which is provided on the housing 30.
  • the endoscope 22 also has an eyepiece 34.
  • the first light guide 12 is optically connected to the second light guide 20 via a coupling point 36 such that light received and supplied by the first light guide 12 by the light source 14 at the coupling point 36 from a light exit surface 38 of the first light guide 12 into a light entry surface 40 of the second Optical fiber 20 is coupled.
  • the light exit surface 38 and the light entry surface 40 are formed by end surfaces of the optical fiber bundle 16 and the optical fiber bundle 24, respectively.
  • a connecting element 44 serves to fix the first light guide 12 to the endoscope 22.
  • Light generated by the light source 14 is guided via the first light guide 12 and the second light guide 20 to the distal end 28 of the endoscope 22, where it emerges at an aperture angle ⁇ for illuminating an illumination field 42, which in the present case is the width of the light distribution at the point represents half the maximum of the light intensity or brightness.
  • the diameter of the optical fiber bundle 16 is approximately equal to the diameter of the optical fiber bundle 24.
  • the connecting element 44 will now be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 2.
  • the connecting element 44 has a first connecting part 200 which receives the end of the first light guide 12, more precisely the optical fiber bundle 16, on the light exit side.
  • a second connecting part 202 receives the light entry end of the second light guide 20, more precisely its optical fiber bundle 24, which extends into the connection 32.
  • the connecting part 202 is plugged onto the connection 32 in FIG. 1 and secured there, but can be removed from the connection 32.
  • the special feature of the connecting element 44 of the coupling point 36 is that the connecting part 202 can be tilted relative to the connecting part 200, specifically about a pivot axis 204, via which the connecting part 202 is articulatedly connected to the connecting part 200.
  • 2a shows an operating state of the connecting element 44, in which the connecting part 202 and the connecting part 200 have a position in which the optical fiber bundle 16 and the optical fiber bundle 24 are in a linear extension to one another, ie form an angle of 0 ° with one another.
  • 2b) shows a position in which the connecting part 202 is tilted relative to the connecting part 200 such that the optical fiber bundle and the optical fiber bundle 24 form an angle ß with one another, the meaning of which will be described in more detail below.
  • the connecting parts 202 and 200 can be locked in these tilted positions, for which purpose a ring 206 is arranged at the proximal end of the connecting element 44 and is biased into its distal end position by a spring 208.
  • a distal sleeve-like extension 210 of the ring 206 engages in complementary recesses at the proximal end of the connecting part 202, a recess being provided for the position in FIG. 2a) and a recess for the position in FIG. 2b).
  • the connecting part 202 also has a catch 212 for locking the connecting element 44 to the connection 32 of the endoscope 22. Between the tilt positions shown in FIGS. 2a) and 2b), all intermediate tilt positions between 0 ° and approximately 50 ° can be set.
  • connecting part 200 is about 360 ° relative to an axis of rotation 214 which extends transversely to the pivot axis 204 the connecting part 200 rotatable, as indicated by an arrow 216.
  • the coupling point 36 of the light transmission system 10 in FIGS. 1 and 2 is shown in isolation in FIG. 3 in the lower partial image without the connecting element 44.
  • the first light guide 12 is shown in a tilted position and the second light guide 20 is shown at a greater distance from one another as in FIG. 2 for illustration.
  • light rays 46 emerging from the light exit surface 38 of the first light guide 12 have an intensity distribution, which is illustrated in FIG. 3 by an envelope 48.
  • the intensity distribution according to the envelope 48 is shown, for example, in the form of a club with an axis of symmetry 50.
  • the axis of symmetry 50 of the envelope 48 forms with the normal of the light entry surface 40 of the second light guide 20 the set angle ⁇ in FIG. 2b), which is different from zero.
  • the axis of symmetry 50 of the intensity distribution of the light beams emerging from the first light guide 12 is thus tilted against the light entry surface 40 of the second light guide 20.
  • the light beams 46 with the intensity distribution inclined according to the tilted axis of symmetry 50 are coupled into the light entry surface 40 of the second light guide, the light beams with the highest intensity emerging in the direction of the axis of symmetry 50 from the first light guide 12 are coupled obliquely into the second light guide 20.
  • weaker edge rays 52 and 54 are coupled into the second light guide 20 at a smaller angle of incidence.
  • an intensity distribution of light beams 56 emerging from the second light guide 20 is produced according to an envelope 58, which 3, is approximately heart-shaped.
  • the intensity distribution described by the envelope 58 has an annular intensity maximum at approximately the same angle ⁇ with respect to an axis of symmetry 62 of the intensity distribution described by the envelope 48.
  • the intensity distribution according to the envelope 58 is wider and more uniform, which at the same time means a brighter illumination of the edge of the illumination field 42 in FIG. 1 and thus a uniform illumination of the illumination field 42 in FIG. 1.
  • the depth of a central depression 60 of the intensity distribution described by the envelope 58 depends on the angle ⁇ of the tilting of the light beams, such that the depth of the depression 60 increases with increasing angle ⁇ .
  • the light beams 49a emerging from the first light guide 12 with maximum intensity are more often totally reflected in the second light guide 20 and cover a longer light path than the edge beams 52 or 54 and are accordingly more strongly attenuated.
  • the attenuation losses of the light beams 49a thus already compensate for the depression 60.
  • the coupling point 36 is now designed so that the attenuation losses Compensate depression 60 of the intensity distribution according to the envelope 58, which is additionally achieved via the variable adjustability of the angle ⁇ by tilting the connecting part 200 relative to the connecting part 202.
  • the adjustability of the angle ⁇ takes place as a function of the width of the light distribution according to the envelope 48 of the first light guide 12. It has been found that a particularly uniform light distribution of the light emerging from the second light guide 20 is achieved according to the envelope 58 when the angle ß is set approximately the same or in the order of the width of the light distribution of the light emerging from the first light guide 12 at the point of half the maximum of the light intensity. With very small values of the angle ⁇ , for example in the range from 0 ° to 10 °, the light distribution of the light emerging from the second light guide 20 is narrower, approximately equal to that of the light emerging from the first light guide 12.
  • the depression 60 in the light distribution of the light emerging from the second light guide 20 becomes even lower, i.e. the center of the illumination field 42 is darker than the edge of the illumination field 42.
  • a particularly uniform and broad light distribution of the light emerging from the second light guide 20 is achieved if values between approximately 15 ° and approximately 30 ° are set for the angle ⁇ . However, this also depends on the light source 14 used and the length of the light guide 12 or the length of the light guide 20.
  • the intensity distribution according to the envelope 58 is rotationally symmetrical, with respect to the axis of symmetry 62.
  • a single optical fiber 64 is shown (in the following consideration, the refraction of the light rays when entering the optical fiber 64 is not taken into account).
  • That group of light rays, of which a light ray 66 is shown by way of example and which are incident at an angle ⁇ in a plane 68 which contains the axis of symmetry 70 of the optical fiber 64, are totally and totally reflected several times (by dash-dotted lines) on the outer surface of the optical fiber 64 Line indicated), the light beam 66 'reflected on the outer surface still lying in the plane 68 after each reflection. This is based on the fact that a normal 72 also lies in this plane 68 at the point of impact of the light beam 66 on the outer surface of the optical fiber 64.
  • All other groups of light beams, of which a light beam 74 is shown, which enter the optical fiber 64 in planes which are parallel to, but do not coincide with, the plane 68 become out of their plane with each reflection on the outer surface of the optical fiber 64 reflected out (shown with dashed lines), since the respective normals 76 form an angle with the plane 68. While the angle ⁇ is retained with each total reflection, the azimuth angle ⁇ of the reflected light beam 74 ′ changes with respect to an x-axis 78 with every total reflection.
  • the azimuth angle ⁇ is the angle between the x-axis 78 and the normal to that plane is formed by the axis of symmetry 70 and the light beam parallel to the emerging light beam 74 'and intersecting the axis of symmetry 70 in the light exit surface. Seen over the entirety of the light beams 74, there is thus an averaging over the angle cp, from which the Rotational symmetry of the intensity distribution according to the envelope 58 results.
  • FIG. 5 shows further exemplary embodiments for coupling points between a first light guide and a second light guide, by means of which uniform illumination of the lighting area 42 in FIG. 1 is achieved.
  • a direction of light is indicated by an arrow 79.
  • 5a shows a coupling point 80 between a first light guide 82 and a second light guide 84, the first light guide 82 being tilted in the area of the coupling point 80 with respect to the second light guide 84, that is to say as is the case with the coupling point 36 is.
  • 5b) shows a first light guide 86 is tilted in the area of a coupling point 88 with respect to a second light guide 90, a light exit surface 92 being chamfered, while a light entry surface 94 of the second light guide 90 is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the second light guide 90.
  • 5c) shows the opposite case to FIG. 5b), in which a light entry surface 96 of a second light guide 98 is chamfered.
  • a first light guide 100 has a beveled light exit surface 102 and a second light guide 106 has a beveled light entry surface 108, while the first light guide 100 and the second light guide 106 are tilted towards one another when the light exit surface 102 and light entry surface 108 are located opposite one another.
  • the angle ⁇ can be adjusted by greater or lesser tilt, with an increasing tilt of the light guide causes an increasing tilt of the light beams in the second light guide.
  • the tilting can in turn be brought about by an articulated connection of the first light guide to the second light guide.
  • FIG. 6 shows a further group of exemplary embodiments in which a first light guide and a second light guide in the area of a coupling point between the two are not tilted against one another, but the second light guide is arranged in a straight extension behind the first light guide.
  • FIG. 6a shows a coupling point 110 between a first light guide 112 and a second light guide 114, the coupling point 110 being designed such that a light entry surface 116 of the second light guide 114 is chamfered, while a light exit surface 118 of the first light guide 112 is formed at right angles .
  • a light exit surface 120 of a first light guide 122 and a light entry surface 124 of a second light guide 126 are conical.
  • the first light guide 122 from FIG. 6b) is coupled to a second light guide 128, which has a light entry surface 130 running perpendicular to its longitudinal axis.
  • the first light guide 112 from FIG. 6a) is coupled to the second light guide 126 from FIG. 6b).
  • FIG. 7 shows a further group of exemplary embodiments in which optical fibers are tilted in the region of a coupling point between a first light guide and a second light guide.
  • a first light guide 132 is coupled to a second light guide 134 at a coupling point 136.
  • Optical fibers 138 of the second light guide 134 are tilted with respect to a light exit surface 140 of the first light guide 132 in the area of the coupling point 136 in that the optical fibers 138 are placed around a core 142.
  • the optical fibers 138 have a direction in the region of their end opposite the light exit surface 140 which is tilted with respect to the normal of the light exit surface 140.
  • 7b) shows the opposite case, namely that optical fibers 144 of a first light guide 146 are tilted relative to a light entry surface 148 of a second light guide 150.
  • 7c) shows a coupling between the first light guide 146 in FIG. 7b) and the second light guide 134 in FIG. 7a).
  • FIG. 8 shows a further group of exemplary embodiments of a coupling point which have an optically deflecting element which are arranged between a light exit surface of the first light guide and a light entry surface of the second light guide.
  • a coupling point 152 between a first light guide 154 and a second light guide 156 has an optically deflecting element 158 in the form of a glass wedge 160.
  • the first light guide 154 and the second light guide 156 are aligned in a line, a light exit surface 162 and a light entry surface 164 being arranged parallel to one another.
  • the first light guide 154 and the second light guide 156 could also be displaced relative to one another in order to to reduce losses.
  • the glass wedge 160 acts as a prism and thus likewise tilts the axis of symmetry of the envelope curve of the light rays emerging from the light exit surface 162 with respect to the light entry surface of the second light guide 156.
  • FIG. 8b shows a double cone 166 as the optically deflecting element and in FIG. 8c) a glass body 168 with a conical configuration of its surface on one side.
  • a position adjustment which can also be an angular adjustment, can additionally be provided for the optically deflecting element, whereby an adjustment of the angle ⁇ can be achieved by adjusting the position of the optically deflecting element To be able to adjust the brightness distribution of the illumination of the lighting area 42 according to the requirements.
  • This can be provided as an alternative or in addition to a tilting of the light guides relative to one another.
  • FIG. 9 shows a coupling point 169 between a first light guide 170 and a second light guide 172, the first light guide 170 being divided into a first partial line 174 and a second partial line 176, the first partial line 174 being opposite the second one Partial strand 176 is tilted in such a way that the light exit surfaces 178 and 180 of the first light guide 170 are inclined relative to one another and with respect to a light entry surface 182 of the second light guide 172.
  • the angle ⁇ can also be varied.
  • coupling points mentioned above can be combined with one another in order to achieve the desired brightness distribution in the lighting area 42. Furthermore, several such coupling points can be provided in the light transmission system in order to correct the intensity distribution of the light in the transmission path.

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  • Endoscopes (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un système de transmission de lumière (10) destiné à un dispositif endoscopique. Ce système comprend au moins un guide de lumière (12), qui conduit la lumière émise par une source lumineuse (14), et au moins un second guide de lumière (20), monté en aval du premier guide de lumière (12). Entre une surface de sortie de lumière (38) du premier guide de lumière (12) et une surface d'entrée de lumière (40) du second guide de lumière (20) se trouve un point de couplage (36) au niveau duquel la lumière provenant du premier guide de lumière (12) est injectée dans le second guide de lumière (20). Le point de couplage (36) est conçu de telle sorte que les rayons lumineux qui sortent du premier guide de lumière (12) et suivent, dans le premier guide de lumière (12), un chemin parallèle à l'axe de celui-ci, suivent, dans le second guide de lumière (14), un chemin incliné à un angle (β) par rapport à l'axe longitudinal de celui-ci. Il est proposé que le point de couplage (36) soit constitué de façon telle que l'angle (β) puisse être réglé de façon variable.
PCT/EP1999/003741 1998-05-30 1999-05-29 Systeme de transmission de lumiere pour dispositif endoscopique WO1999063384A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE29923528U DE29923528U1 (de) 1998-05-30 1999-05-29 Lichtübertragungssystem für eine endoskopische Anordnung

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE1998124436 DE19824436A1 (de) 1998-05-30 1998-05-30 Lichtübertragungssystem für eine endoskopische Anordnung
DE19824436.3 1998-05-30

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1999063384A1 true WO1999063384A1 (fr) 1999-12-09

Family

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/EP1999/003741 WO1999063384A1 (fr) 1998-05-30 1999-05-29 Systeme de transmission de lumiere pour dispositif endoscopique

Country Status (2)

Country Link
DE (2) DE19824436A1 (fr)
WO (1) WO1999063384A1 (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1168034A2 (fr) * 2000-06-29 2002-01-02 Leica Microsystems Wetzlar GmbH Appareil d'illumination et appareil de mesure de coordonnées illuminé

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE102015101427A1 (de) * 2015-01-30 2016-08-04 Olympus Winter & Ibe Gmbh Endoskopoptik und Endoskop mit einer Endoskopoptik

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DE2634370A1 (de) * 1975-08-02 1977-02-17 Pilkington Perkin Elmer Ltd Vorrichtung zum bilden eines optischen gelenks
DE3202080A1 (de) * 1981-01-26 1982-10-21 Olympus Optical Co., Ltd., Tokyo "beleuchtungssystem fuer endoskope"
US4747660A (en) * 1983-08-12 1988-05-31 Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. Light transmitter
US5754719A (en) * 1996-11-22 1998-05-19 Cogent Light Technologies, Inc. Method for coupling light from single fiberoptic to a multi-fiber bundle with enhanced field uniformity and better coupling efficiency

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US3874783A (en) * 1972-08-02 1975-04-01 American Optical Corp Numerical aperture expansion in fiber optic devices
US4154502A (en) * 1978-02-01 1979-05-15 American Optical Corporation Dynamic image enhancer for fiberscopes
DD242105A1 (de) * 1985-11-01 1987-01-14 Zeiss Jena Veb Carl Beleuchtungseinrichtung fuer mikroskope und projektoren
DE3704162A1 (de) * 1986-03-04 1987-09-10 Wolf Gmbh Richard Vorrichtung zum anschliessen eines endoskops oder technoskops mit lichtleit-faserbuendel an ein lichtleitkabel und verfahren zu deren herstellung
US5133035A (en) * 1989-11-14 1992-07-21 Hicks John W Multifiber endoscope with multiple scanning modes to produce an image free of fixed pattern noise

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2634370A1 (de) * 1975-08-02 1977-02-17 Pilkington Perkin Elmer Ltd Vorrichtung zum bilden eines optischen gelenks
DE3202080A1 (de) * 1981-01-26 1982-10-21 Olympus Optical Co., Ltd., Tokyo "beleuchtungssystem fuer endoskope"
US4747660A (en) * 1983-08-12 1988-05-31 Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. Light transmitter
US5754719A (en) * 1996-11-22 1998-05-19 Cogent Light Technologies, Inc. Method for coupling light from single fiberoptic to a multi-fiber bundle with enhanced field uniformity and better coupling efficiency

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1168034A2 (fr) * 2000-06-29 2002-01-02 Leica Microsystems Wetzlar GmbH Appareil d'illumination et appareil de mesure de coordonnées illuminé
EP1168034A3 (fr) * 2000-06-29 2004-05-12 Leica Microsystems Wetzlar GmbH Appareil d'illumination et appareil de mesure de coordonnées illuminé
US6975409B2 (en) 2000-06-29 2005-12-13 Leica Microsystems Semiconductor Gmbh Illumination device; and coordinate measuring instrument having an illumination device
US7209243B2 (en) 2000-06-29 2007-04-24 Leica Microsystems Semiconductor Gmbh Illumination device, and coordinate measuring instrument having an illumination device

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE19824436A1 (de) 2000-01-05
DE29923528U1 (de) 2001-02-01

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