Endoscope system
US6477403B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 8, 2000 |
| Grant date | Nov 5, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 29, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61B1/05
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An endoscope system is provided with first and second light guides, which are optically coupled by an optical coupler. A low-coherent light source is provided, and the light emitted therefrom is incident on the first or second light guide. Further provided is a scanning unit that causes the light beam emerged from the first light guide to scan on a predetermined surface of the object. The light beam reflected by the object is directed, by the scanning unit, to the first light guide as a detection light beam. A light beam emerged from the second light guide is reflected by a reflector and returned to the second light guide as a reference beam. By varying the optical path length of the reference beam relative to that of the detection beam, two beams interfere. A signal processing system generates OCT image based on the signal detected by a light detecting device which receives the interfering beams.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.