Measuring device for an endoscope for readjusting a maximum luminosity

1 . An endoscope apparatus comprising:

a measuring device adapted to be mountable on an endoscope head of the endoscope apparatus for determining a characteristic parameter of an endoscope lighting of the endoscope apparatus,

wherein the endoscope lighting comprises at least one optical element through which light passes, and

wherein the measuring device comprises a light detector adapted to determine the characteristic parameter, wherein

the endoscope head comprises a light exit area through which the endoscope lighting outputs a light amount of a light emitted from a light source, the light emitted from the light source having a luminosity up to a preset maximum luminosity, and

the characteristic parameter is based on a light amount incident on the light detector; and

a processor adapted to readjust the preset maximum luminosity based on the determined characteristic parameter, wherein

a light amount emitted from the at least one optical element and incident on the light detector illuminates a section on the light detector, and

an area of the section is larger than or equal to a cross-sectional area of the at least one optical element, and

the light detector is further adapted to measure a light emitting area of the at least one optical element and to determine a ratio of the light-emitting area of the at least one optical element to a non-light-emitting area of the at least one optical element.

2 . The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the light source

is integrated in the endoscope apparatus or

is adapted to be connected to the endoscope apparatus.

3 . The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the processor is further adapted to readjust the preset maximum luminosity such that a luminosity of the light amount of the light emitted from the light source is equal to or less than a predefined luminosity threshold.

4 . The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the endoscope lighting comprises a light guide as the at least one optical element, the light guide being adapted to guide the light of the light source to the endoscope head where the light amount is emitted from the light exit area.

5 . The endoscope apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein

the endoscope lighting comprises an expanding optics and/or a light exit window as a further optical element, the light exit area being formed by the expanding optics or, insofar as the endoscope lighting comprises the light exit window as the further optical element, the light exit window.

6 . The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the light detector is an imaging sensor system, and

the at least one optical element comprises a first optical element and a second optical element, and the section of the light detector illuminated by the incident light amount comprises a first section and a second section, wherein a first part of the light amount emitted via the first optical element illuminates the first section of the light detector and a second part of the light amount emitted via the second optical element illuminates the second section of the light detector, the first and second sections not overlapping each other.

7 . The endoscope apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the processor is further adapted to

distinguish between the first optical element and the second optical element based on a distinction of characteristic parameters obtained from the first section and the second section, and

individually readjust the preset maximum luminosity for the first optical element and the second optical element.

8 . The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the measuring device further comprises a telecentric lens arranged such that the light amount of the light emitted from the light source, after passing through the light exit area, passes through the telecentric lens and is incident on the light detector which is arranged in the measuring device.

9 . The endoscope apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein

the light detector is an imaging sensor system that is further adapted to determine image data based on the light amount incident on the imaging sensor system as a characteristic parameter.

10 . The endoscope apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein

the imaging sensor system captures at least one image of an end portion of the at least one optical element in a light-emitting state, and,

the processor is further adapted to derive, based on the at least one image, as image information

a fraction of a light-emitting area of the end portion compared to a total area of the end portion, and/or

insofar as the endoscope apparatus comprises a light guide as the at least one optical element, the light guide being adapted to guide the light of the light source to the endoscope head where a light amount is emitted from the light exit area, and the light guide comprises a plurality of optical fibers,

a degradation degree of the plurality of optical fibers, and/or

a number of defective and/or non-defective optical fibers of the plurality of optical fibers, and/or,

insofar as the light exit area is covered with a light exit window,

the processor is further adapted to derive, based on the at least one image, as image information,

an impairment degree of the light exit window in the form of at least one of a contamination, a scratch, or a haze.

11 . The endoscope apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein

the processor is further adapted to perform the readjusting of the preset maximum luminosity if

the degradation degree exceeds a preset threshold of the degradation degree, and/or

insofar as the endoscope apparatus comprises a light guide as the at least one optical element, the light guide being adapted to guide the light of the light source to the endoscope head where the light amount is emitted from the light exit area, and the light guide comprises a plurality of optical fibers,

the number of defective optical fibers exceeds a preset threshold of said number.

12 . The endoscope apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein,

the processor is further adapted to prevent the readjusting of the preset maximum luminosity if the impairment degree of the light exit window exceeds a preset threshold of the impairment degree.

13 . The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the measuring device further comprises an Ulbricht sphere having a diffusely reflecting inner surface, which is adapted to diffusely reflect a light amount before impinging on the light detector, the light detector being a photosensor.

14 . The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the measuring device further comprises a diffuser adapted to opaquely diffuse the light amount before impinging on the light detector, the light detector being a photosensor.

15 . The endoscope apparatus according to claim 14 ,

wherein the measuring device further comprises a dark field light detector adapted to determine a dark field characteristic parameter that corresponds to a dark field light amount of the light amount of the light emitted from the light source, wherein the dark field light amount is diffused at a light exit window covering the light exit area and impinges on the dark field light detector, wherein

the dark field light detector is arranged in the dark field of the light exit window, and

the processor is further adapted to, at least based on the determined characteristic parameter or the determined dark field characteristic parameter, at least

readjust the preset maximum luminosity or

output information on a reflectance of the light exit window.

16 . The endoscope apparatus according to claim 15 , wherein

the processor is further adapted to prevent the readjusting of the preset maximum luminosity if the reflectance exceeds a predetermined threshold of the reflectance.

17 . The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the light detector is further adapted to determine a plurality of characteristic parameters at different points in time, and

the processor is further adapted to derive degradation information based on the plurality of characteristic parameters and to readjust the preset maximum luminosity based on the degradation information.

18 . The endoscope apparatus according to claim 15 , wherein

the light detector is further adapted to determine a plurality of dark field characteristic parameters at different points in time, and

the processor is further adapted to derive dark field degradation information based on the plurality of dark field characteristic parameters and to readjust the preset maximum luminosity based on the dark field degradation information.

19 . The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the processor is further adapted to terminate the readjusting and/or determine to at least replace the at least one optical element, the light exit area or the light source when the readjusting of the preset maximum luminosity reaches a replacement indication state.