Electronic endoscope

• US 6,331,156 B1
• Filed: 06/08/2000
• Issued: 12/18/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Richard Wolf GmbH (Richard & Annemarie Wolf- Stiftung)
• Original Assignee: Richard Wolf GmbH (Richard & Annemarie Wolf- Stiftung)
• Inventors: Voegele, Michael, Haefele, Ulrich
• Primary Examiner(s): MULCAHY, JOHN M
• Application Number:
  US09/589,846
• Time in Patent Office: 558 Days
• Field of Search: 600/178, 600/179, 600/182, 362/555, 362/574, 348/68
• US Class Current: 600/179
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00124 electrical, e.g. electrical plug-and-socket connection
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/045 Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0638 providing two or more wavelengths
• 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 5/0084 for introduction into the body, e.g. by catheters A61B5/1459 takes precedence

Abstract

An electronic endoscope with a picture sensor located at its distal end and with several illumination units (LEDs) integrated in the endoscope, for producing illumination light irradiated at the distal endoscope end. The illumination units are arranged as a linear and axial array of LEDs in a space, of an enveloping tube, connecting proximally to the picture sensor. To the LEDs there are allocated fiber-optics into which the light irradiated by the LEDs may be coupled. The fiber-optics run up to the distal endoscope end and here are grouped together to a bundle.

Claims

1. An electronic endoscope with a picture sensor located at its distal end and with several illumination units (LEDs) integrated in the endoscope, for producing illumination light irradiated at the distal endoscope end, wherein the illumination units are arranged as a linear and axial array of LEDs in a space, of an enveloping tube, connecting proximally to the picture sensor, wherein to the LEDs there are allocated fiber-optics into which the light irradiated by the LEDs may be coupled and wherein the fiber-optics run up to the distal endoscope end and here are grouped together to a bundle.

2. An endoscope according to claim 1, characterized in that the LEDs emit white light.

3. An endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the LEDs emit white and monochromatic light.

4. An endoscope according to claim 3, wherein the fiber-optic bundle at the distal end simultaneously emits white and monochromatic light for the spectral correction of the irradiated white light.

5. An endoscope according to claim 3, wherein there are provided means for the spectral change-over of the light irradiated from the fiber-optic bundle at the distal end.

6. An endoscope according to claim 5, wherein there are provided means for changing over the color temperature of the light.

7. An endoscope according to claim 6, wherein the change-over means are set up for changing over an LED group comprising n white LEDs and m monochromatic LEDs and a second group comprising i white LEDs and k monochromatic LEDs.

8. An endoscope according to claim 5, wherein the change-over means change over the LEDs.

9. An endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the array of LEDs contains a first group of LEDs irradiating white light and a second group of LEDs irradiating monochromatic light.

10. An endoscope according to claim 1, wherein between each LED and the associated fiber-optic there is arranged an optical system.

11. An endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the light produced by each LED after reflection at a reflector is coupled into the associated fiber-optic.

12. An endoscope according to claim 11, wherein the reflector is formed as a hollow mirror with an elliptical cross section.

13. An endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the array of all LEDs is arranged on a common circuit board such that the light irradiation of all LEDs lies radially in one direction.

14. An endoscope according to claim 13, wherein only fiber optics from every second LED are guided firstly radially outwards and then within an enveloping tube to the distal end.

15. An endoscope according to claim 14, wherein every even-numbered LED emits white light and every odd-numbered LED monochromatic light and wherein a change-over means for the axial displacement of the common circuit board is set up such that into the fiber-optic in a first position of the circuit board there is coupled only white light from the even-numbered LEDs and in a second position of the circuit board there is coupled only monochromatic light from the odd-numbered LEDs.

16. An endoscope according to claim 13, characterized in that the fiber-optics of each LED are guided firstly radially outwards and then within an enveloping tube to the distal end.

17. An endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the supply voltage for the LEDs is derived from the operating voltage of the picture sensor.