ENDOSCOPE APPARATUS

• US 20110118547A1
• Filed: 11/18/2010
• Published: 05/19/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: ERIKAWA, AKIHIKO
• Application Number:
  US12/949,085
• Publication Number:
  US 20110118547A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/108
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00188 with focusing or zooming features
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/043 for fluorescence imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/045 Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/063 for monochromatic or narrow-band illumination
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0638 providing two or more wavelengths
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0653 with wavelength conversion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0655 Control therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0669 at proximal end of an endoscope
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/07 using light-conductive means, e.g. optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00057 Light
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/37 Surgical systems with images on a monitor during operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/063 comprising light transmitting means, e.g. optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0601 Apparatus for use inside the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/062 Photodynamic therapy, i.e. excitation of an agent
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/067 using laser light

Abstract

An endoscope apparatus includes first and second light sources, an endoscope leading end portion, an irradiation window, an observation window, a light irradiation unit and an emission angle changing unit. The first light source outputs laser light for diagnosis. The second light source outputs laser light for therapy. The laser light for therapy is different in spectrum from the laser for diagnosis. The irradiation window and the observation window are provided in the endoscope leading end portion. The light irradiation unit emits the laser light for diagnosis and the laser light for therapy to the object through the irradiation window. The emission angle changing unit changes an emission angle at which the laser light for therapy is emitted through the irradiation window to be smaller than an emission angle at which the laser light for diagnosis is emitted. The object to be examined is observed through the observation window.

Claims

1. An endoscope apparatus comprising:

a first light source that outputs laser light for diagnosis for use in photodynamic diagnosis;

a second light source that outputs laser light for therapy for use in photodynamic therapy, wherein the laser light for therapy is different in spectrum from the laser for diagnosis;

an endoscope leading end portion to be inserted into an object to be examined;

an irradiation window provided in the endoscope leading end portion;

an observation window provided in the endoscope leading end portion;

a light irradiation unit that emits the laser light for diagnosis and the laser light for therapy to the object to be examined through the irradiation window; and

an emission angle changing unit that changes an emission angle at which the laser light for therapy is emitted through the irradiation window to be smaller than an emission angle at which the laser light for diagnosis is emitted, wherein

the object to be examined is observed through the observation window.

2. The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the light irradiation unit includes

a combining unit that combines the laser light for therapy and the laser light for diagnosis, and

an optical fiber that transmits the combined laser light to the endoscope leading end portion.

3. The endoscope apparatus according to claim 2, wherein

the optical fiber includes a double-structured clad having

a core,

a first clad that covers an outer side of the core, and

a second clad that covers an outer side of the first clad and is different in refractive index from the first clad,

the laser light for therapy is transmitted in the core,

the laser light for diagnosis is transmitted in the core and the first clad, and

the transmitted laser light for therapy and the transmitted light for diagnosis are emitted at the different emission angles from a light emission end of the optical fiber.

4. The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the emission angling change unit includes an optical lens member that is disposed on at least one of a light path of the laser light for diagnosis and a light path of the laser light for therapy.

5. The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a light source for white illumination that supplies white light to the light irradiation unit.

6. The endoscope apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising:

a light source for white illumination that supplies white light to the light irradiation unit.

7. The endoscope apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising:

a light source for white illumination that supplies white light to the light irradiation unit.

8. The endoscope apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising:

a light source for white illumination that supplies white light to the light irradiation unit.

9. The endoscope apparatus according to claim 5, wherein

the irradiation window of the endoscope leading end portion includes

a first irradiation window through which the laser light for diagnosis and the laser light for therapy are emitted, and

a second irradiation window through which the white light is emitted.

10. The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a light source for white light illumination that outputs laser light for white light illumination; and

a wavelength conversion member, wherein

the irradiation window of the endoscope leading end portion includes

a first irradiation window through which the laser light for diagnosis and the laser light for therapy are emitted, and

a second irradiation window through which the white light is emitted,

the wavelength conversion member is dispose on an inner side of the second irradiation window,

the wavelength conversion member wavelength-converts a part of the laser light for white light illumination output by the light source for white light illumination,

the wavelength-converted light and the laser light for white illumination generate white light, and

the generated white light is supplied to the light irradiation unit.

11. The endoscope apparatus according to claim 10, wherein

the light source for white illumination includes plural light sources for white illumination,

the light output by the light source for white illumination are combined and supplied to the light irradiation unit.

12. The endoscope apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising:

an imaging device that images the object to be examined through the observation window, and

a light source control unit that controls emission timings of the laser light for diagnosis, the laser light for therapy and the white light in synchronous with an imaging timing of the imaging device.

13. The endoscope apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising:

an imaging device that images the object to be examined through the observation window, and

a light source control unit that controls emission timings of the laser light for diagnosis, the laser light for therapy and the white light in synchronous with an imaging timing of the imaging device.

14. The endoscope apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising:

an imaging device that images the object to be examined through the observation window, and

a light source control unit that controls emission timings of the laser light for diagnosis, the laser light for therapy and the white light in synchronous with an imaging timing of the imaging device.

15. The endoscope apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising:

an imaging device that images the object to be examined through the observation window, and

a light source control unit that controls emission timings of the laser light for diagnosis, the laser light for therapy and the white light in synchronous with an imaging timing of the imaging device.

16. The endoscope apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising:

an imaging device that images the object to be examined through the observation window, and

a light source control unit that controls emission timings of the laser light for diagnosis, the laser light for therapy and the white light in synchronous with an imaging timing of the imaging device.

17. The endoscope apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising:

an imaging device that images the object to be examined through the observation window, and

a light source control unit that controls emission timings of the laser light for diagnosis, the laser light for therapy and the white light in synchronous with an imaging timing of the imaging device.

18. The endoscope apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising:

an imaging device that images the object to be examined through the observation window, and

a light source control unit that controls emission timings of the laser light for diagnosis, the laser light for therapy and the white light in synchronous with an imaging timing of the imaging device.

19. The endoscope apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising:

an imaging device that images the object to be examined through the observation window, and

a light source control unit that controls emission timings of the laser light for diagnosis, the laser light for therapy and the white light in synchronous with an imaging timing of the imaging device.