Endoscope

• US 4,998,973 A
• Filed: 06/15/1988
• Issued: 03/12/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Toshiba Corporation
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Kikuchi, Katsuya
• Primary Examiner(s): Grieb, William H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HARRISON, JESSICA
• Application Number:
  US07/206,844
• Time in Patent Office: 1,000 Days
• Field of Search: 128/4, 128/6, 128/633, 128/634, 358/98, 382/6, 356/41, 364/413.09
• US Class Current: 600/109
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00009 of image signals during a use of endoscope
• 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 1/0646 with illumination filters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0655 Control therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0261 using optical means, e.g. infrared light
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14542 for measuring blood gases A61B5/14551 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1459 invasive, e.g. introduced into the body by a catheter A61B5/1464 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 600/921 Manipulating image characteristics

Abstract

An endoscope including a light source for generating light beams having difference wavelengths to an object in an internal organ such as the stomach and the intestines of a subject, in which picture signals are picked up by a pickup device such as an optoelectronic device from the object radiated with the light beams, in which correction signals such as reference picture signals for correcting sensitivities of the light source and the pickup device depending on the different wavelengths of the light beams are picked up by the pickup device from a reference member such as a reference white plate radiated with the same light beams, and in which a bloodstream amount and an oxygen saturation rate are operated from the picture signals and the correction signals. The bloodstream amount and the oxygen saturation rate may be displayed on a display. The correction signals may be picked up outside the body of the subject.

Claims

1. An endoscope, comprising:

means for generating light beams of different wavelengths toward an object;

pickup means for picking up picture signals from the object by using the light beams, and also picking up correction signals from a reference member by using the light beams; and

calculation means for calculating a bloodstream amount I_HB and an oxygen saturation rate Iso₂ from the picture signals and the correction signals according to formulas (1), (2) and (3) below, ##EQU11## wherein Eλ

i and Eλ

j are the picture signals and Erλ

i and Erλ

j are reference picture signals as the correction signals, wherein λ

i and λ

j are wavelengths and wherein i and j are integers 1, 2, 3, 4, . . .

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">I.sub.HB =200 Δ

A.sub.14 . . . (2) ##EQU12##

2. The endoscope of claim 1, further comprising display means for displaying at least one of the bloodstream amount and the oxygen saturation rate obtained by the calculation means.

3. The endoscope of claim 1, wherein the pickup means includes an optoelectronic device for picking up the picture signals and the the reference picture signals as the correction signals from the object and the reference member, respectively, irradiated with the light beams.

4. The endoscope of claim 1, wherein the reference member is a reference white plate.

5. The endoscope of claim 1, wherein the light beam generating means includes a filter device having a transparent filter member for passing a white light and at least two other filter members for passing light having different wavelengths, a light source for generating the white light to be passed through the filter device, respectively and means for selecting one of the transparent filter member and the two other filter members.

6. The endoscope of claim 1, wherein the light beam generating means includes a light source for generating a white light, a variable wavelength light beam generator for generating at least two other light beams having different wavelengths, and means for selecting one of the white light and the two other light beams.

7. The endoscope of claim 1, wherein the light beam generating means includes a light source for generating a white light, at least two light beam generators for generating light beams having different wavelengths, and means for selecting one of the white light and the two other light beams.

8. An endoscope, comprising:

means for generating light beams of different wavelengths toward an object;

pickup means for picking up picture signals from the object by using the light beam, and also picking up correction signals from a reference member by using the light beams; and

calculation means for calculating a bloodstream amount I_HB and an oxygen saturation rate I_SO2 from the picture signals and the correction signals according to formulas (1), (2) and (3),

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">Δ

A.sub.ij =logEλ

j-logEλ

i+bi . . . (1)

wherein Eλ

i and Eλ

j are the picture signals and λ

i and λ

j are wavelengths and wherein bi is a constant and i and j are integers 1, 2, 3, 4, . . .

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">I.sub.HB =200·

Δ

A.sub.14 . . . (2) ##EQU13##

9. The endoscope of claim 8, further comprising display means for displaying at least one of the bloodstream amount and the oxygen saturation rate obtained by the calculation means.

10. The endoscope of claim 8, wherein the pickup means includes an optoelectronic device for picking up the picture signals and reference picture signals as the correction signals from the object and the reference member, respectively, irradiated with the light beams.

11. The endoscope of claim 8, wherein the reference member is a reference white plate.

12. The endoscope of claim 8, wherein the light beam generating means includes a filter device having a transparent filter member for passing a white light and at least two other filter members for passing the light beams having the different wavelengths, respectively, a light source for generating the white light to be passed through the filter device, and means for selecting one of the transparent filter member and the two other filter members.

13. The endoscope of claim 8, wherein the light beam generating means includes a light source for generating a white light, a variable wavelength light beam generator for generating at least two other light beams having different wavelengths, and means for selecting one of the white light and the two other light beams.

14. The endoscope of claim 8, wherein the light beam generating means includes a light source for generating a white light, at least two light beam generators for generating light beams having different wavelengths, and means for selecting one of the white light and the two other light beams.