Light scanning probe apparatus using light of low coherence

• US 6,888,119 B2
• Filed: 01/06/2004
• Issued: 05/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Original Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Inventors: Matsui, Raifu, Kaneko, Mamoru, Horii, Akihiro, Ishihara, Yasushige, Iizuka, Shuhei
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Que T.
• Application Number:
  US10/753,129
• Publication Number:
  US 20040140425A1
• Time in Patent Office: 483 Days
• Field of Search: 250/201.3, 250/239, 250/235, 250/306, 250/307, 250/363.02, 600/160, 600/170, 600/175, 600/176, 600/476, 600/459
• US Class Current: 250/201.3
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00087 Tools A61B17/00234 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00089 Hoods
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00096 Optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00101 the distal tip features being detachable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00172 with means for scanning
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/018 for receiving instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/042 characterised by a proximal camera, e.g. a CCD camera
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0062 Arrangements for scanning
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0066 Optical coherence imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6852 Catheters
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 15/00 Nanotechnology for interacting, sensing or actuating, e.g. quantum dots as markers in protein assays or molecular motors
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/2407 Optical details

Abstract

A flexible shaft driven to rotate is inserted through a transparent sheath having pliability. By a fiber inserted through the inside thereof, low-coherence light is guided and is made to exit to a living-body tissue side which is an observation target through a lens and a prism forming an exit and entrance portion at the tip portion. Subsequently, the light reflected on the living-body tissue side is guided in order to produce an image. In that case, a positioning member for keeping the exit and entrance portion and the living-body tissue at a proper distance is formed at the tip portion of the sheath or the tip portion of an endoscope through which an optical probe is inserted and, therefore, a stable tomogram image can be produced.

Claims

1. A positioning unit provided at the tip of an endoscope used together with an optical scanning probe which is inserted through a forceps channel of the endoscope and which includes an exit portion for making scanning light exit in order to produce a tomogram of a test part,

comprising a scanning light passage hole for passing the scanning light exiting from the exit portion to the position corresponding to the exit portion of the optical scanning probe when the optical scanning probe is protruded by a predetermined amount from the tip of the endoscope in the longitudinal direction of the endoscope.

2. The positioning unit according to claim 1, wherein a light beam exiting from the optical scanning probe and the test part intersect at a predetermined angle, and the exit portion and the light passage hole are kept at a predetermined interval.

3. The positioning unit according to claim 2, wherein the endoscope comprises the first channel for inserting the optical scanning probe and the second channel for inserting an endo-therapy product, and the tip opening of the second channel is located on the extended line of the scanning position of the light beam.

4. The positioning unit according to claim 2, wherein the positioning unit comprises a hollow hood in order to protrude the optical scanning probe in the lumen thereof, and the light transmission hole is composed of a side surface hole opened at the side surface of the hood in the longitudinal axis direction.

5. The positioning unit according to claim 3, wherein the positioning unit comprises a hollow hood in order to protrude the optical scanning probe in the lumen thereof, and the light transmission hole is composed of a side surface hole opened at the side surface of the hood in the longitudinal axis direction.

7. The endoscope device according to claim 5, wherein marking which indicates the position of the positioning unit located in an observation view of the endoscope in displayed field of view of the endoscope is provided.

6. An endoscope device comprising an optical scanning probe which is inserted through a forceps channel of an endoscope and which includes an exit portion for making scanning light exit in order to produce a tomogram of a test part and a positioning unit provided at the tip of the endoscope,

wherein marking which indicates the scanning position of the scanning light by the optical scanning probe in displayed field of view of the endoscope is provided.

8. An optical scanning probe device comprising:

an optical scanning probe which is inserted through a forceps channel of an endoscope and which includes an exit portion for making scanning light exit in order to produce a tomogram of a test part based on low coherence interference; and

a positioning unit which is provided at the tip of the endoscope and which includes a scanning light passage hole for passing the scanning light exiting from the exit portion to the position corresponding to the exit portion of the optical scanning probe when the optical scanning probe is protruded by a predetermined amount from the tip of the endoscope in the longitudinal direction of the endoscope.