Fluorescent image obtaining apparatus
First Claim
1. A fluorescent-light image obtaining apparatus comprisingexcitation light emitting means for projecting excitation light onto a target tissue, andilluminating light emitting means for projecting illuminating light onto the target tissue, andfluorescent-light image obtaining means for obtaining a fluorescent-light image formed of the fluorescent-light emitted from the target tissue upon irradiation thereof by the excitation light, anda normal-image obtaining means for obtaining a normal-image formed of the illuminating light reflected from the target tissue upon irradiation thereof by the illuminating light, further comprisinga contact detecting means for detecting that the distal end of excitation light emitting means has come into contact with the target tissue, andan excitation light emission controlling means for controlling, in response to the detection signal of said contact detecting means, the output of the excitation light emitted from the excitation light emitting means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A fluorescent-light image obtaining apparatus for obtaining an autofluorescent-light image emitted from a target tissue irradiated by an excitation light, wherein the safety of the patient is ensured against injury from exposure to excessive excitation light when the distance between the output end of the excitation light projector and the target tissue is short. A contact detector detects that the end of the excitation light projector of the endoscope is in contact with the target tissue. Then, an excitation light output controller receives a signal indicating that the end of the excitation light projector is in contact with the target tissue. In response to this signal, the excitation light output controller stops the emission of the excitation light, or reduces the intensity of the emitted excitation light to a safe intensity for the patient even while the end of the excitation light projector and the target tissue are in contact.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A fluorescent-light image obtaining apparatus comprising
excitation light emitting means for projecting excitation light onto a target tissue, and illuminating light emitting means for projecting illuminating light onto the target tissue, and fluorescent-light image obtaining means for obtaining a fluorescent-light image formed of the fluorescent-light emitted from the target tissue upon irradiation thereof by the excitation light, and a normal-image obtaining means for obtaining a normal-image formed of the illuminating light reflected from the target tissue upon irradiation thereof by the illuminating light, further comprising a contact detecting means for detecting that the distal end of excitation light emitting means has come into contact with the target tissue, and an excitation light emission controlling means for controlling, in response to the detection signal of said contact detecting means, the output of the excitation light emitted from the excitation light emitting means.
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5. A fluorescent-light image obtaining apparatus comprising
excitation light emitting means for projecting excitation light onto a target tissue, and illuminating light emitting means for projecting illuminating light onto the target tissue, and fluorescent-light image obtaining means for obtaining a fluorescent-light image formed of the fluorescent-light emitted from the target tissue upon irradiation thereof by the excitation light, and a normal-image obtaining means for obtaining a normal-image formed of the illuminating light reflected from the target tissue upon irradiation thereof by the illuminating light, further comprising a distance parameter detecting means for detecting a parameter correlating the distance between the distal end of excitation light emitting means and the target tissue, and an excitation light emission controlling means for controlling, based on the parameter detected by the distance parameter detecting means, the output of the excitation light emitted from the excitation light emitting means.
Specification