Endoscope system
US6527708B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 29, 2000 |
| Grant date | Mar 4, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 9, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61B1/0623
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An endoscope system capable of obtaining a normal light image and/or fluorescent light image is further provided with an a low-coherent light source arranged on a proximal end side of one of first and second light guides. A scanning unit is provided to cause the low-coherent light beam emerged from a tip of the first light guide to scan on the object. The low-coherent light reflected by the object is directed to the first light guide by the scanning unit as detecting light. A mirror is provided to reflect the low-coherent light beam emerged from a tip of the second light guide. A detector is arranged on a proximal end side of the other of the first and second light guides to detect interference fringe pattern generated by interference between the detecting light and the reference light. By changing a length of an optical path, via the first light guide, from the coupler to the object relative to a length, via the second light guide, of an optical path from the coupler to the mirror, a tomogram of the object can be captured.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.