ENDOSCOPE WITH BUILT-IN OXIMETER

• US 3,690,769 A
• Filed: 12/07/1970
• Issued: 09/12/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/1969
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Toshiyuki Mori
• Original Assignee: Toshiyuki Mori
• Inventors: Mori, Toshiyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Wibert, Ronald L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): McGraw, V. P.
• Application Number:
  US05/095,479
• Time in Patent Office: 645 Days
• Field of Search: 356/39-41,219
• US Class Current: 356/41
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00082 Balloons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00096 Optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00165 with light-conductive means, e.g. fibre optics A61B1/07 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0238 Optical sensor arrangements for performing transmission measurements on body tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1459 invasive, e.g. introduced into the body by a catheter A61B5/1464 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/8507 Probe photometers, i.e. with optical measuring part dipped into fluid sample
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 31/222 for investigating moisture content

Abstract

An endoscope is provided with an inflatable, transparent bag enveloping the objective in the forward end portion and capable of being inflated by air from the control housing. The light reflected from the patient'"'"''"'"'s blood through the bag into the objective and transmitted by a bundle of optical fibers to the control housing is analyzed for its content of red and infrared radiation as a measure of the oxygenation of the blood, the analysis apparatus being connected either to the eyepiece in the control housing or to a separate outlet receiving a portion of the image forming light through a beam splitter so that visual inspection of an internal organ can be performed alternatingly or simultaneously with the oximetric analysis.

Claims

1. An oximeter comprising, in combination:

a. an elongated flexible tube having an open front end and a rear end;

b. two light conducting optical systems extending longitudinally in said tube and having respective front and rear end portions adjacent the corresponding ends of said tube;

c. a light source communicating with the rear end portion of one of said systems, whereby light from said source may be radiated from the front end portion of said one system through said open front end;

d. an objective in said front end in optical alignment with the front end portion of the other system;

e. an eyepiece in said rear end in optical alignment with the rear end portion of said other system;

f. a bag of pliable, transparent material secured to said front end;

g. inflating means on said rear end communicating with said bag for inflating the same to a position in which said objective is enclosed by the inflated bag;

h. detecting means for detecting light received by said rear end portion of said other system and for generating a signal indicative of the intensity of the detected light; and

i. filter means for limiting the detected light to selected wave lengths in the red and infrared parts of the spectrum.

2. An oximeter as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a galvanometer, and beam splitter means interposed between said rear end portion of said other system, said eyepiece, and said detecting means for dividing the light received by said rear end portion, and for transmitting respective parts of the divided light to said eyepiece and to said detecting means, said detecting means including a photoelectric element connected to said galvanometer.

3. An oximeter as set forth in claim 1, wherein said inflating means include a source of gas on said rear end, and an air conducting tube extending in said elongated flexible tube from said rear end to said bag.