Patent · US Expired

Endoscope system using normal light and fluorescence

US7226412B2 · kind B2 · utility

14Cited by
7References
15Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 25, 2004
Grant dateJun 5, 2007
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 19, 2025

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61B5/0084
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An endoscope system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention includes an endoscope with a monochrome image pickup device for capturing reflected light and fluorescence from the body cavity, an excitation light cut filter which is installed in front of the image pickup device for shielding excitation light, and an endoscope ID which includes information on the type of the endoscope. A light source unit includes a first switching filter that irradiates light including excitation light for a fluorescent image mode and a filter for generating continuous light for a normal-light image mode. The filters switch based between the fluorescent image mode and the normal-light image mode. A second switching filter with a limiting filter that limits certain wavelengths of excitation light of the first switching filter is provided. The limiting filters are switched according to the endoscope ID or observation state in the fluorescence mode. The excitation light cut filter shields excitation light generated by the first and second filters.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.