Solid state continuous white light source
First Claim
1. An endoscope illumination system, comprising:
- a first LED light source which emits light of a first color;
a rod positioned to receive the light of the first color, wherein the rod comprises a luminescent material which absorbs the light of the first color and, in response, emits by fluorescence, fluorescent light of a fluorescent color different than the first color;
a second LED light source which emits second light of a second color different than the fluorescent color;
a third LED light which emits third light of a third color different than the fluorescent color and different than the second color;
a fourth LED light which emits fourth light of a fourth color different than the fluorescent color and different than the second color;
a laser light source which emits coherent light;
a plurality of dichroic elements which combine the fluorescent light, the second light, the third light, the fourth light, and the coherent light into a single coaxial beam of output light; and
an output adapter operative to receive a light guide and couple the beam of output light into said light guide.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A solid state illumination system is provided as a replacement for conventional arc light, metal halide and Xenon white-light sources for applications in life sciences including, microscopy, fluorescence microscopy, and endoscopy. The solid state illumination system generates high quality white light output from LED light sources. The white light output is continuous in the visible spectrum from 380 nm to 650 nm and is suitable for imaging all the most common fluorophores and fluorescent proteins. In embodiments, an LED light pipe engine is used to generate a portion of the spectral content of the white light output. In alternative embodiments the solid state illumination system produces light output of a selectable color.
219 Citations
25 Claims
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1. An endoscope illumination system, comprising:
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a first LED light source which emits light of a first color; a rod positioned to receive the light of the first color, wherein the rod comprises a luminescent material which absorbs the light of the first color and, in response, emits by fluorescence, fluorescent light of a fluorescent color different than the first color; a second LED light source which emits second light of a second color different than the fluorescent color; a third LED light which emits third light of a third color different than the fluorescent color and different than the second color; a fourth LED light which emits fourth light of a fourth color different than the fluorescent color and different than the second color; a laser light source which emits coherent light; a plurality of dichroic elements which combine the fluorescent light, the second light, the third light, the fourth light, and the coherent light into a single coaxial beam of output light; and an output adapter operative to receive a light guide and couple the beam of output light into said light guide. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 21, 22)
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11. An endoscope illumination system, comprising:
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a first LED light source which emits blue light; a rod positioned to receive the blue light, wherein the rod comprises a luminescent material which absorbs the blue light and, in response, emits by fluorescence, green-yellow light; a second LED light source which emits blue light; a third LED light source which emits cyan light; a fourth LED light source which emits red light; a laser light source which emits coherent light; a plurality of dichroic elements which combine the green-yellow light, blue light, cyan light, red light, and coherent light into a single coaxial beam of output light; and an output adapter operative to receive a light guide and couple the beam of output light into said light guide. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 24)
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20. An endoscope illumination system, comprising:
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a first LED light source which emits blue light; a rod positioned to receive the blue light, wherein the rod comprises a luminescent material which absorbs the blue light and, in response, emits by fluorescence, green-yellow light; a second LED light source which emits blue light; a third LED light source which emits cyan light; a fourth LED light source which emits red light; a laser light source which emits coherent light wherein the coherent light is NIR coherent light; a plurality of dichroic elements which combine the green-yellow light, blue light, cyan light, red light, and coherent light into a single coaxial beam of output light; and an output adapter operative to receive a light guide and couple the beam of output light into said light guide. - View Dependent Claims (25)
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23. The endoscope of illumination system 22 wherein said safety flap is spring loaded and has a first position which does not block the single coaxial beam of output light when said light guide is received in said output adapter and has a second position which blocks the single coaxial beam of output light when said light guide is removed from said output adapted.
Specification