Endoscope Insertion Portion

• US 20080167529A1
• Filed: 02/28/2006
• Published: 07/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Original Assignee: Olympus Medical Systems Corporation (Olympus Corporation)
• Inventors: Otawara, Takashi
• Granted Patent: US 7,998,064 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/168
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00091 Nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00096 Optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00188 with focusing or zooming features
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/015 Control of fluid supply or evacuation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/05 characterised by the image sensor, e.g. camera, being in the distal end portion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0638 providing two or more wavelengths
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0655 Control therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/07 using light-conductive means, e.g. optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/6456 Spatial resolved fluorescence measurements; Imaging

Abstract

An endoscope insertion portion of the invention comprises: a distal end portion; first image pickup means for obtaining a first observation image, the first image pickup means being disposed to the distal end portion; second image pickup means for obtaining a second observation image, the second image pickup means being disposed to the distal end portion; a first object optical system for condensing photographing light incident on the first image pickup means, the first object optical system being located in the distal end portion; a second object optical system for condensing photographing light incident on the second image pickup means, the second object optical system being located in the distal end portion; and a plurality of illumination optical systems for irradiating light to a subject, the plurality of illumination optical systems being located in the distal end portion in a manner sandwiching each of the first object optical system and the second object optical system. The endoscope insertion portion thus can show enough of good observation performance by distributing a plurality of image pickup means with necessary amount of illumination light.

Claims

1. An endoscope insertion portion comprising:

a distal end portion;

first image pickup means for obtaining a first observation image, the first image pickup means being disposed to the distal end portion;

second image pickup means for obtaining a second observation image, the second image pickup means being disposed to the distal end portion;

a first object optical system for condensing photographing light incident on the first image pickup means, the first object optical system being located in the distal end portion;

a second object optical system for condensing photographing light incident on the second image pickup means, the second object optical system being located in the distal end portion; and

a plurality of illumination optical systems for irradiating light to a subject, the plurality of illumination optical systems being located in the distal end portion in a manner sandwiching each of the first object optical system and the second object optical system.

2. The endoscope insertion portion according to claim 1, wherein

the plurality of illumination optical systems are three illumination optical systems formed of a first illumination optical system, a second illumination optical system, and a third illumination optical system, and

the first and second illumination optical systems are located in a manner sandwiching the first object optical system, and the first and third illumination optical systems are located in a manner sandwiching the second illumination optical system, on the distal end portion.

3. The endoscope insertion portion according to claim 2, wherein respective centers of the first object optical system and the second object optical system are located in a contour area that is surrounded by outer circumferences of the first illumination optical system, the second illumination optical system, and the third illumination optical system.

4. The endoscope insertion portion according to claim 1, wherein the first image pickup means obtains a normal light observation image as a first observation image, and the second image pickup means obtains a special light observation image as a second observation image.

5. The endoscope insertion portion according to claim 4, wherein the plurality of illumination optical systems are each located in the distal end portion in a manner sandwiching at least the second object optical system for obtaining the special light observation image.

6. The endoscope insertion portion according to claim 5, wherein the special light observation image is a fluorescent light observation image.

7. The endoscope insertion portion according to claim 1, wherein one of the first and second object optical systems has a magnification higher than that of the other.

8. The endoscope insertion portion according to claim 2, wherein the first image pickup means obtains a normal light observation image as a first observation image, and the second image pickup means obtains a special light observation image as a second observation image.

9. The endoscope insertion portion according to claim 3, wherein the first image pickup means obtains a normal light observation image as a first observation image, and the second image pickup means obtains a special light observation image as a second observation image.

10. The endoscope insertion portion according to claim 8, wherein the plurality of illumination optical systems are each located in the distal end portion in a manner sandwiching at least the second object optical system for obtaining the special light observation image.

11. The endoscope insertion portion according to claim 9, wherein the plurality of illumination optical systems are each located in the distal end portion in a manner sandwiching at least the second object optical system for obtaining the special light observation image.

12. The endoscope insertion portion according to claim 10, wherein the special light observation image is a fluorescent light observation image.

13. The endoscope insertion portion according to claim 11, wherein the special light observation image is a fluorescent light observation image.

14. The endoscope insertion portion according to claim 2, wherein one of the first and second object optical systems has a magnification higher than that of the other.

15. The endoscope insertion portion according to claim 3, wherein one of the first and second object optical systems has a magnification higher than that of the other.

16. The endoscope insertion portion according to claim 4, wherein one of the first and second object optical systems has a magnification higher than that of the other.

17. The endoscope insertion portion according to claim 5, wherein one of the first and second object optical systems has a magnification higher than that of the other.

18. The endoscope insertion portion according to claim 6, wherein one of the first and second object optical systems has a magnification higher than that of the other.