Illumination Device For Generating Light And Supplying The Light To An Observation Device Used In Endoscopy Or Microscopy

• US 20090154192A1
• Filed: 12/17/2008
• Published: 06/18/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Storz Endoskop Produktions GmbH (Karl Storz Se & Co. Kg)
• Original Assignee: Storz Endoskop Produktions GmbH (Karl Storz Se & Co. Kg)
• Inventors: Krattiger, Beat
• Granted Patent: US 8,167,470 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/574
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0669 at proximal end of an endoscope
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0684 using light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/07 using light-conductive means, e.g. optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/128 provided with means for regulating temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/2469 using optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4249 comprising arrays of active devices and fibres
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4298 coupling with non-coherent light sources and/or radiation detectors, e.g. lamps, incandescent bulbs, scintillation chambers

Abstract

An illumination device for generating light and supplying the light to an observation device used in endoscopy or microscopy comprises a light source having at least one LED and at least one optical waveguide to guide the light emitted by the light source. The proximal end of the optical waveguide is arranged on a side of the light source which faces the optical waveguide. The illumination device furthermore comprises a cooling device to dissipate heat generated by the light source, which cooling device has at least one first cooling element for dissipating the heat generated by the light source, which cooling element is arranged on a side of the light source which faces away from the proximal end of the optical waveguide. The cooling device has a second cooling element for dissipating the heat generated by the light source, which second cooling element is arranged on the side of the light source which faces the proximal end of the optical waveguide. The at least one optical waveguide passes through the second cooling element.

Claims

1. An illumination device for generating light and supplying said light to an observation device used in endoscopy or microscopy, comprising

a light source having at least one LED,

at least one optical waveguide having a proximal end and a distal end, said proximal end being arranged on a side of said light source which faces said optical waveguide,

a cooling device to dissipate heat generated by said light source, wherein said cooling device has

at least one first cooling element for dissipating heat generated by said light source, said at least one first cooling element being arranged on a side of said light source which faces away from said proximal end of said optical waveguide, and

a second cooling element for dissipating heat generated by said light source, said second cooling element being arranged on a side of said light source which faces said proximal end of said optical waveguide, said at least one optical waveguide passing through said second cooling element.

2. The illumination device of claim 1, wherein said at least one optical waveguide is an optical waveguide of a plurality of optical waveguides, wherein said optical waveguides of said plurality of optical waveguides pass through said second cooling element, wherein said optical waveguides are arranged at a distance from one another in a region of said second cooling element.

3. The illumination device of claim 1, wherein said at least one optical waveguide is arranged in regions of said light source, which emit a high light emission intensity.

4. The illumination device of claim 1, wherein said at least one optical waveguide is arranged in first regions of said light source, which first regions emit a high light emission intensity, and in second regions of said light source, which second regions emit a low or average light emission intensity, wherein said at least one optical waveguide arranged in said first regions emitting a high light emission intensity is able to be connected to a proximal end of a light conducting cable or to an observation device.

5. The illumination device of claim 1, wherein said at least one optical waveguide is designed as at least one of optical fibres, liquid optical waveguides, solid light conducting elements without an inner structure, in a region of said second cooling element.

6. The illumination device of claim 1, wherein said second cooling element comprises, at least along part of a side of said second cooling element which faces said light source, a heat defusion element for dissipating heat generated by said light source into said second cooling element.

7. The illumination device of claim 1, wherein said at least one optical waveguide has a heat absorption element which dissipates heat of said at least one optical waveguide and which is inserted into said at least one optical waveguide on said proximal end of said at least one optical waveguide.

8. The illumination device of claim 1, wherein said at least one optical waveguide has an approximately quadrilateral cross-section.

9. The illumination device of claim 1, wherein said first cooling element and said second cooling element are connected with one another in a thermally conducting fashion.

10. The illumination device of claim 1, wherein said proximal end of said at least one optical waveguide is arranged directly on said light source.

11. The illumination device of claim 1, wherein said proximal end of said at least one optical waveguide is arranged at a short distance from said light source.

12. The illumination device of claim 1, wherein an optical contact element is arranged between said proximal end of said at least one optical waveguide and said light source.

13. The illumination device of claim 1, wherein said light source, at least in part, has a light modulation layer on a side which faces said proximal end of said at least one optical waveguide for modulating a property of light emitted by said light source.

14. The illumination device of claim 13, wherein said at least one optical waveguide is arranged in regions of said light source, which regions emit a high light emission intensity and wherein said light modulation layer is arranged in said regions which emit a high light emission intensity.

15. The illumination device of claim 13, wherein said light modulation layer is thermally conducting.

16. The illumination device of claim 13, wherein said light modulation layer comprises a thermally conducting coating.

17. The illumination device of claim 1, wherein said distal end of said optical waveguide has an antireflection coating.

18. The illumination device of claim 2, wherein distal ends of said plurality of optical waveguides are fused together.

19. The illumination device of claim 1, wherein a transparent coupling elastomer is inserted between said distal end of said at least one optical waveguide and a proximal end of a light conducting cable or an observation device.

20. The illumination device of claim 1, wherein said light source comprises a plurality of LEDs.