WO2013179860A1 - 光結合器および共焦点観察システム - Google Patents
光結合器および共焦点観察システム Download PDFInfo
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- 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
- A61B1/00163—Optical arrangements
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- 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
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- 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
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- 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
- A61B1/00163—Optical arrangements
- A61B1/00172—Optical arrangements with means for scanning
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- 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
- A61B1/04—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 combined with photographic or television appliances
- A61B1/043—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 combined with photographic or television appliances for fluorescence imaging
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- 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
- A61B1/063—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 for monochromatic or narrow-band illumination
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- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
- G01N21/00—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of optical means, i.e. using sub-millimetre waves, infrared, visible or ultraviolet light
- G01N21/62—Systems in which the material investigated is excited whereby it emits light or causes a change in wavelength of the incident light
- G01N21/63—Systems in which the material investigated is excited whereby it emits light or causes a change in wavelength of the incident light optically excited
- G01N21/64—Fluorescence; Phosphorescence
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- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
- G01N21/00—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of optical means, i.e. using sub-millimetre waves, infrared, visible or ultraviolet light
- G01N21/62—Systems in which the material investigated is excited whereby it emits light or causes a change in wavelength of the incident light
- G01N21/63—Systems in which the material investigated is excited whereby it emits light or causes a change in wavelength of the incident light optically excited
- G01N21/64—Fluorescence; Phosphorescence
- G01N21/645—Specially adapted constructive features of fluorimeters
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- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B21/00—Microscopes
- G02B21/0004—Microscopes specially adapted for specific applications
- G02B21/002—Scanning microscopes
- G02B21/0024—Confocal scanning microscopes (CSOMs) or confocal "macroscopes"; Accessories which are not restricted to use with CSOMs, e.g. sample holders
- G02B21/0028—Confocal scanning microscopes (CSOMs) or confocal "macroscopes"; Accessories which are not restricted to use with CSOMs, e.g. sample holders specially adapted for specific applications, e.g. for endoscopes, ophthalmoscopes, attachments to conventional microscopes
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- G02B21/00—Microscopes
- G02B21/0004—Microscopes specially adapted for specific applications
- G02B21/002—Scanning microscopes
- G02B21/0024—Confocal scanning microscopes (CSOMs) or confocal "macroscopes"; Accessories which are not restricted to use with CSOMs, e.g. sample holders
- G02B21/0052—Optical details of the image generation
- G02B21/0076—Optical details of the image generation arrangements using fluorescence or luminescence
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- 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
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- 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
- G02B23/26—Instruments or systems for viewing the inside of hollow bodies, e.g. fibrescopes using light guides
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- G—PHYSICS
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- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
- G02B6/10—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings of the optical waveguide type
- G02B6/12—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings of the optical waveguide type of the integrated circuit kind
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- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
- G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
- G02B6/26—Optical coupling means
- G02B6/28—Optical coupling means having data bus means, i.e. plural waveguides interconnected and providing an inherently bidirectional system by mixing and splitting signals
- G02B6/293—Optical coupling means having data bus means, i.e. plural waveguides interconnected and providing an inherently bidirectional system by mixing and splitting signals with wavelength selective means
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- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
- G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
- G02B6/26—Optical coupling means
- G02B6/28—Optical coupling means having data bus means, i.e. plural waveguides interconnected and providing an inherently bidirectional system by mixing and splitting signals
- G02B6/293—Optical coupling means having data bus means, i.e. plural waveguides interconnected and providing an inherently bidirectional system by mixing and splitting signals with wavelength selective means
- G02B6/29379—Optical coupling means having data bus means, i.e. plural waveguides interconnected and providing an inherently bidirectional system by mixing and splitting signals with wavelength selective means characterised by the function or use of the complete device
- G02B6/2938—Optical coupling means having data bus means, i.e. plural waveguides interconnected and providing an inherently bidirectional system by mixing and splitting signals with wavelength selective means characterised by the function or use of the complete device for multiplexing or demultiplexing, i.e. combining or separating wavelengths, e.g. 1xN, NxM
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- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
- G01N21/00—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of optical means, i.e. using sub-millimetre waves, infrared, visible or ultraviolet light
- G01N21/62—Systems in which the material investigated is excited whereby it emits light or causes a change in wavelength of the incident light
- G01N21/63—Systems in which the material investigated is excited whereby it emits light or causes a change in wavelength of the incident light optically excited
- G01N21/64—Fluorescence; Phosphorescence
- G01N2021/6417—Spectrofluorimetric devices
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- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
- G01N21/00—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of optical means, i.e. using sub-millimetre waves, infrared, visible or ultraviolet light
- G01N21/62—Systems in which the material investigated is excited whereby it emits light or causes a change in wavelength of the incident light
- G01N21/63—Systems in which the material investigated is excited whereby it emits light or causes a change in wavelength of the incident light optically excited
- G01N21/64—Fluorescence; Phosphorescence
- G01N21/645—Specially adapted constructive features of fluorimeters
- G01N2021/6484—Optical fibres
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- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
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- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
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- G01N2201/00—Features of devices classified in G01N21/00
- G01N2201/08—Optical fibres; light guides
Definitions
- the present invention relates to an optical coupler using an optical coupler, and further relates to a confocal observation system using the optical coupler.
- Optical couplers are known as passive optical devices that demultiplex and multiplex light.
- optical couplers are also used in confocal endoscope systems and the like in recent years.
- a 2 ⁇ 2 port having a first port and a second port on the input side (output side) and a third port and a fourth port on the output side (input side)
- WDM Widelength Division Multiplexing
- the excitation light emitted from the laser light source enters the first port and exits from the third port, and the fluorescence of the subject by the emitted excitation light enters the third port, It is configured to be guided to the light receiving unit through the second port.
- the excitation light having a wavelength of 488 nm incident from the first port is demultiplexed at a ratio of 90:10 to the third port and the fourth port, and is incident from the third port. It is designed so that light having a fluorescence peak wavelength of 515 nm is demultiplexed at a ratio of 0: 100 to the first port and the second port.
- the transmittance when light entering from one input port is output from the output port changes sinusoidally with respect to the wavelength, and is complementary at the straight port and the cross port. (180 degrees out of phase). Therefore, in order to efficiently guide the excitation light to the scanning fiber side and to demultiplex the fluorescence mainly to the light receiving unit side, the peak of the transmittance to one port is preferably as much as possible. It is necessary to match the peak of transmittance to the other port to the peak wavelength of the fluorescence.
- An object of the present invention is to efficiently acquire an optical signal over a wider bandwidth using a WDM optical coupler.
- the optical coupler of the present invention is positioned as a cross port when the first port and the second port are used as an input end, and as a straight port when the second port is used as an input end.
- a first WDM optical coupler including a port, a fifth port, a sixth port, and a straight port when the fifth port is an input end, and a cross port when the sixth port is an input end
- a second WDM optical coupler including a seventh port that is positioned as a cross port when the fifth port is an input end and an eighth port that is positioned as a straight port when the sixth port is an input end.
- the fourth port of the first WDM optical coupler and the fifth port of the second WDM optical coupler are optically connected, and the second port of the first WDM optical coupler and the second WD Eighth port type optical coupler is characterized in that it is optically connected.
- the light having the first peak wavelength incident on the first port is emitted from the seventh port via the fourth and fifth ports
- Light that includes a second peak wavelength that is longer than the first peak wavelength that is incident on the seventh port is transmitted from the sixth port directly or via the fifth, fourth, second, and eighth ports to the sixth port. It preferably has a transmittance characteristic such that it is emitted from
- the transmittance cycle between the straight ports of the first WDM optical coupler and between the cross ports is twice the cycle of the transmittance between the straight ports of the second WDM optical coupler and between the cross ports.
- the peak wavelength of the transmittance between the cross ports of the second WDM optical coupler is preferably substantially equal to the second peak wavelength
- the transmittance between the cross ports of the first WDM optical coupler is, for example, It is preferably 80% or more with respect to the first peak wavelength.
- the transmittance between the straight ports of the second WDM optical coupler reaches a peak at the first peak wavelength together with the transmittance between the cross ports of the first WDM optical coupler, and then between the straight ports of the first WDM optical coupler. It is preferable to reach the next peak together with the transmittance.
- the transmittance characteristics of the first WDM optical coupler and the second WDM optical coupler are the same.
- the peak wavelength of the transmittance between the cross ports of the first and second WDM optical couplers substantially coincides with the second peak wavelength, and the transmittance between the straight ports of the first and second WDM optical couplers.
- the band of 50% or more and less than 100% preferably includes the first peak wavelength.
- the first WDM optical coupler includes a third port positioned as a straight port when the first port is used as an input terminal, for example, and the third port is terminated, for example.
- a confocal observation system of the present invention is a confocal observation system including the optical coupler, and the confocal observation system includes a light source that emits light having a first peak wavelength, and a photodetector.
- the first port of the 1WDM optical coupler is optically connected to the light source
- the sixth port of the second WDM optical coupler is optically connected to the photodetector
- the light source is observed through the seventh port of the second WDM optical coupler.
- the object is irradiated with the light, and the photodetector acquires return light having a second peak wavelength longer than the first peak wavelength from the observation object through the seventh port of the second WDM optical coupler. Yes.
- the confocal observation system preferably includes scanning means for scanning the observation target with light having the first peak wavelength that has passed through the seventh port of the second WDM optical coupler in order to perform focus observation.
- the light emitted from is used as excitation light, and the light acquired from the observation object is fluorescence by the excitation light.
- the scanning confocal endoscope of the present invention is characterized by including the above-described confocal observation system.
- an optical signal can be efficiently acquired over a wider bandwidth using a WDM optical coupler.
- mold optical coupler which comprises the optical coupler of 1st Embodiment, and the spectral distribution of excitation light and fluorescence.
- FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a confocal observation system using the optical coupler of the first embodiment of the present invention.
- the confocal observation system 10 is, for example, a scanning confocal endoscope, and the light (for example, excitation light) from the light source 11 is passed through the optical coupler 12, the optical connector 13, and the SFE scanner 14.
- the subject S is irradiated from the tip.
- Reflected light (for example, fluorescence) from the subject S passes through the SFE scanner 14, the optical connector 13, and the optical coupler 12, and a light receiving unit (light detector) 15 such as a photomultiplier tube (PMT) in which an excitation light cut filter is disposed in the previous stage. Is detected.
- a signal from the light receiving unit 15 is sent to the signal processing unit 16, and an image of the subject S generated by the signal processing unit 16 is displayed on the monitor 17.
- FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the optical transmission system 20 of the present embodiment.
- the optical coupler 12 of the present embodiment is configured by combining a first WDM optical coupler 18 and a second WDM optical coupler 19, and the first and second WDM optical couplers 18 and 19 have, for example, two inputs and two outputs.
- a (2 ⁇ 2) WDM optical coupler is used.
- the optical connector 13 is omitted.
- the first WDM optical coupler 18 includes first to fourth ports.
- the third port is positioned as a straight port when the first port is an input end, and is positioned as a cross port when the second port is an input end.
- the fourth port is positioned as a cross port when the first port is an input end, and is positioned as a straight port when the second port is an input end.
- the second WDM optical coupler 19 includes fifth to eighth ports.
- the seventh port is positioned as a straight port when the fifth port is an input end, and is positioned as a cross port when the sixth port is an input end.
- the eighth port is configured as a cross port when the fifth port is an input end, and is positioned as a straight port when the sixth port is an input end.
- the fourth port P4 of the first WDM optical coupler 18 is optically connected to the fifth port P5 of the second WDM optical coupler 19, and the second port P2 of the first WDM optical coupler 18 is connected to the second WDM optical coupler 19.
- the eighth port P8 is optically connected.
- the third port P3 of the first WDM optical coupler 18 is terminated.
- the first and second WDM optical couplers 18 and 19 function as one optical coupler 12 having the first port P1, the sixth port P6, and the seventh port P7 as input / output ports by being configured as described above. .
- the optical connection between the ports is performed by fusion, for example.
- the light source 11 is connected to the first port P1 of the optical coupler 12, and the light receiving unit 15 and the SFE scanner 14 are connected to the sixth port P6 and the seventh port P7, respectively.
- the scanning confocal endoscope 10 of the present embodiment performs, for example, fluorescence observation of a living body.
- the light source 11 a laser light source or an LED light source that emits excitation light that causes fluorescence of an observation target or a reagent is used. .
- Excitation light from the light source 11 is input to the optical coupler 12 from the first port P1 and supplied to the SFE scanner 14 from the seventh port P7.
- Excitation light supplied to the SFE scanner 14 is irradiated from the distal end of the endoscope insertion section toward an observation target to which a reagent is administered, for example, through a scanning fiber (not shown).
- Fluorescence emitted from the surface of the observation object by the excitation light is input from the seventh port P7 to the optical coupler 12 through the scanning fiber of the SFE scanner 14, and is guided from the sixth port P6 to the light receiving unit 15.
- the excitation light is, for example, laser light in the vicinity of 480 nm, and the light acquired from the observation target is, for example, fluorescence in the 500 to 600 nm band having a peak at 515 nm due to the excitation light.
- the excitation light is, for example, laser light in the vicinity of 555 nm
- the light acquired from the observation object is, for example, fluorescence in the 540 to 650 nm (700 nm) band having a peak at 585 nm due to the excitation light.
- FIG. 9 shows the spectrum distribution at this time (corresponding to the fluorescence of rhodamine B).
- the horizontal axis represents wavelength (nm) and the vertical axis represents an arbitrary unit (au) of light intensity.
- the scanning fiber of the SFE scanner 14 is composed of, for example, a single optical fiber, and a scanning mechanism (not shown) using a piezoelectric element or the like is provided near the tip of the scanning fiber.
- the scanning fiber irradiates excitation light while its own tip is bent up and down and left and right by a scanning mechanism, and obtains an object to be observed by acquiring the one that is focused on the tip out of the fluorescence that is return light.
- the acquired fluorescence is detected by the light receiving unit 15 and synthesized by the subsequent signal processing unit 16. Thereby, a two-dimensional image of the observation object is acquired.
- an excitation light cut filter is disposed in front of the light receiving unit 15. The excitation light cut filter effectively removes the excitation light component that causes noise in the light receiving unit 15.
- the transmittance characteristics of the optical coupler 12 of the first embodiment and the operational effects in the optical coupler 12 will be described.
- the first and second WDM optical couplers 18 and 19 those having the same transmittance characteristic or branching ratio characteristic are used.
- FIG. 3 shows the transmittance characteristics of the first WDM optical coupler 18 and the second WDM optical coupler 19 having the same transmittance characteristics used in the first embodiment alone, and the excitation light and fluorescence spectra in the present embodiment. Distribution is shown.
- the horizontal axis indicates the wavelength of light (nm)
- the left vertical axis indicates the light transmittance (%)
- the right vertical axis indicates the arbitrary unit (au) of the light intensity.
- a curve S1 indicates the transmittance (%) between the straight ports of the first WDM optical coupler 18 and the second WDM optical coupler 19, and a curve C1 indicates the transmittance (%) between the cross ports.
- the straight line L1 is the spectrum of the excitation light from the light source 11 input to the optical coupler 12, and the peak value is shown as 100 (au).
- Curve L2 is the spectrum of the fluorescence input to the optical coupler 12, and the peak value is shown as 100 (au).
- the transmittances S1 and C1 have complementary sine waveforms whose sum is 100%, and one is 180 ° out of phase with the other.
- the transmittance characteristics of the first and second WDM optical couplers 18 and 19 of the present embodiment are set as follows. That is, for the fluorescence spectrum distribution L2, the peak wavelength of the transmittance C1 between the crossports is set to substantially match the peak wavelength of the spectrum distribution L2, and for the excitation light spectrum L1, it is straight.
- a band of 50% or more and less than 100% of the transmittance S1 between ports is set so as to include the spectrum L1 (peak wavelength of excitation light).
- the transmittance S1 between the straight ports is more preferably 50% with respect to the peak wavelength L1 of the excitation light.
- FIG. 4 shows the transmittance characteristics of light from the first port P1 to the seventh port P7 (P1-P7) of the optical coupler 12 coupled with the first WDM optical coupler 18 and the second WDM optical coupler 19, and the seventh port.
- the light transmittance characteristics from P7 to the sixth port P6 (P7-P6) are shown.
- the horizontal axis indicates the wavelength of light (nm), and the left vertical axis indicates the light transmittance (%).
- FIG. 4 shows spectral distributions L1 and L2 of excitation light and fluorescence, and an arbitrary unit (au) of light intensity is shown on the right vertical axis.
- the eighth port of the light input from the fifth port P5 to the second WDM optical coupler 19 is used.
- the light demultiplexed to P8 is input again to the first WDM optical coupler 18 through the second port P2.
- part of the light demultiplexed to the fifth port P5 is the second port P2 of the first WDM optical coupler 18 and the second WDM optical coupler.
- the signal is input again to the second WDM optical coupler 19 through the 19th eighth port P8.
- the transmittance for the excitation light guided to the SFE scanner 14 from the first port P1 through the seventh port P7 is stabilized at about 40%. Focusing on the fluorescence input from the seventh port P7, the fluorescence component (fluorescence 1) in the band near the peak is output directly from the seventh port P7 to the sixth port P6. Also, most of the fluorescence component (fluorescence 2) demultiplexed to the fifth port P5 is re-input to the second WDM optical coupler 19 through the loop between the second port P2 and the eighth port P8, and the sixth port P6. Is output. As a result, as shown in FIG. 3, the light receiving unit 15 can acquire not only the peak wavelength band of the fluorescent component without leakage but also a wider band than when the WDM optical coupler is used alone. it can.
- the first embodiment of the present invention it is possible to efficiently detect the fluorescence 2 that could not be obtained in the past, and the optical signal can be widened using a WDM optical coupler. It becomes possible to acquire efficiently over this.
- optical transmission system according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
- the optical transmission system of the second embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment except that WDM optical couplers having different transmittance characteristics are used for the first WDM optical coupler and the second WDM optical coupler of the optical coupler 12. is there. Therefore, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof is omitted.
- FIG. 5 and 6 are graphs showing the transmittance characteristics of the first WDM optical coupler 18 and the second WDM optical coupler 19 in the second embodiment, and the spectral distributions L1 and L2 of excitation light and fluorescence, respectively.
- the curve S2 in FIG. 5 is the transmittance (%) between the straight ports (P1-P3, P4-P2) of the first WDM optical coupler 18, and the curve C2 is between the cross ports (P1-P4) of the first WDM optical coupler 18.
- 6 represents the transmittance (%) between the straight ports (P5-P7, P8-P6) of the second WDM optical coupler 19, and the curve C3 represents the second WDM optical coupler 19.
- FIG. 7 shows the curves in FIGS. 5 and 6 in the same graph.
- shaft in each graph shows is the same as that of FIG.
- the cross port (P1-P1) is used to guide the pumping light input from the first port P1 to the fourth port P4 as much as possible.
- the transmittance C2 is selected as the transmittance between P4).
- the transmittance S2 is selected.
- the branching rate between the ports P1 and P3 of the excitation light is 0 to 20% (that is, the branching rate between the ports P1 and P4 is 100 to 80%). At this time, the reflection component of the excitation light is hardly guided to the second port P2 even if it is input from the fourth port P4.
- the straight port (as shown in FIG. 6) guides the pumping light input from the fifth port P5 to the seventh port P7 as much as possible.
- the transmittance S3 is selected as the transmittance between P5 and P7).
- the fluorescence 1 that is the fluorescence peak vicinity band component input from the SFE scanner 14 to the seventh port P7 is guided to the sixth port P6 without loss.
- the transmittance C3 between the crossports (P7-P6) is selected.
- the branching rate between the ports P5 and P7 of the excitation light is 100 to 80% (that is, the branching rate between the ports P5 and P8 is 0 to 20%).
- the peak of the fluorescence input from the seventh port P7 is selected so as to substantially coincide with the peak of the transmittance C3 between the cross ports (P7-P6) of the second WDM optical coupler 19. At this time, the reflection component of the excitation light is hardly guided to the sixth port P6 even if it is input from the seventh port P7.
- the periods of the transmittances S ⁇ b> 2 and C ⁇ b> 2 between the straight ports and the cross ports of the first WDM optical coupler 18 are the same as those of the second WDM optical coupler 19. It is set to a value (for example, an integer of 2 or more) that is approximately twice or more the cycle of the transmittances S3 and C3 between the straight ports and between the cross ports. In the present embodiment, a double is assumed.
- FIG. 8 shows the transmittance characteristics of light from the first port P1 to the seventh port P7 (P1-P7) and the seventh port P7 to the sixth port P6 (P7-P6) of the optical coupler 12 of the second embodiment.
- the horizontal axis indicates the light wavelength (nm), and the left vertical axis indicates the light transmittance (%).
- FIG. 8 also shows excitation light and fluorescence spectral distributions L1 and L2, and the right vertical axis shows an arbitrary unit (au) of light intensity.
- the transmittance between the ports has the relationship shown in FIG. Specifically, the transmittance C2 between the cross ports of the first WDM type optical coupler 18 and the transmittance S3 between the straight ports of the second WDM type optical coupler 19 reach a peak in the vicinity of 480 nm which is the peak wavelength of the pumping light. Become. Further, the peak at which the transmittance S3 reaches next after the vicinity of 480 nm is substantially the same wavelength region as that of the straight port S2 of the first WDM optical coupler 18 (in the present embodiment, the vicinity of 540 nm).
- the transmittance between the ports P1 and P7 of the optical coupler 12 is a curve T3, and the transmittance between the ports P7 and P6 is a curve T4. That is, in the second embodiment, the transmittance T3 between the ports P1 and P7 exhibits a narrowband transmittance distribution having a high transmittance only in the vicinity of the peak wavelength of the excitation light. Further, as described above, the transmittance T3 between the ports P7 and P6 extends over a wide band substantially including the entire fluorescence band by making the peak of the transmittance S3 and the peak of the transmittance S2 approximately coincide with each other in a predetermined wavelength range. Exhibit a transmittance distribution showing a high transmittance.
- the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained, the transmittance distribution in a narrow band with respect to the irradiation light, and the wide band with respect to the return light.
- An optical coupler having a transmittance distribution can be configured.
- laser light having an emission line spectrum is described as an example of irradiation light (excitation light).
- excitation light light having a narrow-band continuous spectrum distribution using an LED or the like is irradiated with light (excitation light). It can also be applied when used as light.
- the explanation has been made by taking fluorescence as an example of the return light, but the return light is not limited to the fluorescence. That is, the present invention can also be applied to a case where light having a peak wavelength ⁇ 1 is used as irradiation light and reflected light having a peak wavelength ⁇ 2 ( ⁇ ⁇ 1) is detected as return light.
- the transmittance between the straight port and the cross port of two WDM optical couplers is selected according to the peak wavelengths ⁇ 1 and ⁇ 2 of the irradiation light and return light, the return light can be efficiently transmitted over a wide band. Can be obtained.
- the optical transmission system of the present invention can be used for other uses such as a microscope in addition to an endoscope.
- the scanning confocal endoscope the observation object is scanned by moving the fiber.
- the scanning confocal endoscope is used for a microscope or the like, the scanning can be performed by moving the sample side.
- a 2 ⁇ 2 WDM optical coupler is used, but a 2-input, 1-output coupler can be used as the first WDM optical coupler, and the number of input / output ports is as follows. It is not limited to this embodiment.
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Abstract
Description
10 共焦点観察システム
11 光源
12 光結合器
14 SFEスキャナ
15 受光部(光検出器)
18 第1WDM型光カプラ
19 第2WDM型光カプラ
Claims (14)
- 第1ポートおよび第2ポートと、前記第1ポートを入力端とした場合にクロスポートとして位置し、前記第2ポートを入力端とした場合にストレートポートとして位置する第4ポートとを備える第1WDM型光カプラと、
第5ポートおよび第6ポートと、前記第5ポートを入力端とした場合にストレートポートとして位置し、前記第6ポートを入力端とした場合にクロスポートとして位置する第7ポートと、前記第5ポートを入力端とする場合にクロスポートとして位置し、前記第6ポートを入力端とする場合にストレートポートとして位置する第8ポートとを備える第2WDM型光カプラとを備え、
前記第1WDM型光カプラの第4ポートと前記第2WDM型光カプラの第5ポートが光学的に接続され、前記第1WDM型光カプラの第2ポートと前記第2WDM型光カプラの第8ポートが光学的に接続される
ことを特徴とする光結合器。 - 前記第1WDM型光カプラと前記第2WDM型光カプラは、互いに、
第1ポートに入射した第1のピーク波長をもつ光は、第4、第5の各ポートを介して第7ポートから射出され、
第7ポートに入射した第1のピーク波長よりも長い第2のピーク波長を含む光は、直接第6ポートから、または第5、第4、第2、第8の各ポートを介して第6ポートから射出されるような透過率特性を有することを特徴とする請求項1に記載の光結合器。 - 前記第1WDM型光カプラのストレートポート間、クロスポート間の透過率の周期が前記第2WDM型光カプラのストレートポート間、クロスポート間の透過率の周期の2倍であることを特徴とする請求項2に記載の光結合器。
- 前記第2WDM型光カプラのクロスポート間の透過率のピーク波長が、前記第2ピーク波長に実質的に一致することを特徴とする請求項3に記載の光結合器。
- 前記第1WDM型光カプラのクロスポート間の透過率が、前記第1のピーク波長に対して80%以上であることを特徴とする請求項3または請求項4に記載の光結合器。
- 前記第2WDM型光カプラのストレートポート間の透過率は、前記第1WDM型光カプラのクロスポート間の透過率とともに前記第1のピーク波長においてピークを迎えた後、該第1WDM型光カプラのストレートポート間の透過率とともに次のピークを迎えることを特徴とする請求項3から請求項5の何れかに記載の光結合器。
- 前記第1WDM型光カプラと前記第2WDM型光カプラの透過率特性が同一であることを特徴とする請求項2に記載の光結合器。
- 前記第1および第2WDM型光カプラのクロスポート間の透過率のピーク波長が、前記第2ピーク波長に略一致することを特徴とする請求項7に記載の光結合器。
- 前記第1および第2WDM型光カプラのストレートポート間の透過率の50%以上、100%未満の帯域が、前記第1ピーク波長を含むことを特徴とする請求項7または請求項8に記載の光結合器。
- 前記第1WDM型光カプラは、前記第1ポートを入力端とした場合にストレートポートとして位置する第3ポートを備え、該第3ポートが終端処理されることを特徴とする請求項1から請求項9の何れか一項に記載の光結合器。
- 請求項1から請求項10の何れか一項に記載の光結合器を備える共焦点観察システムであって、
前記共焦点観察システムは、第1ピーク波長を有する光を照射する光源と、光検出器とを備え、
前記第1WDM型光カプラの第1ポートは前記光源に光学的に接続され、
前記第2WDM型光カプラの第6ポートは前記光検出器に光学的に接続され、
前記光源は前記第2WDM型光カプラの第7ポートを通して観察対象物に前記光を照射し、
前記光検出器は前記観察対象物からの前記第1ピーク波長よりも長い第2ピーク波長を有する戻り光を前記第2WDM型光カプラの前記第7ポートを通して取得することを特徴とする共焦点観察システム。 - 共焦点観察を行うために、前記第2WDM型光カプラの前記第7ポートを通した前記第1ピーク波長を有する光を前記観察対象上で走査させる走査手段を備えることを特徴とする請求項11の何れか一項に記載の共焦点観察システム。
- 前記光源から照射される光が励起光として用いられ、前記観察対象物から取得される光が前記励起光による蛍光であることを特徴とする請求項11または請求項12の何れか一項に記載の共焦点観察システム。
- 請求項11~13の何れか一項に記載の共焦点観察システムを備えることを特徴とする走査型共焦点内視鏡。
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