IP Library Granted Patent US 7,871,373
Granted Patent B2
US 7,871,373 · App. 11/568,906 · Granted Jan 18, 2011

Endoscope device

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,871,373
App. No.
11/568,906
Granted
Jan 18, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

This endoscope device is provided with: a laser light source that emits light having a specific wavelength; a diffusion optical component that diffuses light emitted from the laser light source and irradiates it onto an endoscopic examination subject at a distal end portion of an insertion portion; an adaptor that has a fluorescent substance that uses light from the laser light source as excitation light to emit light having a different wavelength, and is mounted on the distal end portion of the insertion portion such that it is able to be freely attached or removed; and a diffusion prevention component that is placed between the fluorescent substance of the adaptor and the diffusion optical component, and that prevents diffusion of light irradiated from the diffusion optical component.

Claims (18)

1. An endoscope device comprising:

a laser light source that emits light having a specific wavelength;

a light guide that guides light produced by the laser light source;

a diffusion lens that diffuses light emitted from the light guide and irradiates the diffused light onto an endoscopic examination subject at an end portion of an insertion portion;

an adaptor that has a fluorescent substance that uses light from the light guide as excitation light and emits light having a different wavelength, and is configured to be removably mounted on the end portion of the insertion portion; and

a diffusion prevention component between the fluorescent substance of the adaptor and the diffusion lens, configured to prevent diffusion of light irradiated from the diffusion lens.

2. The endoscope device according to claim 1 , wherein the diffusion prevention component is mounted integrally on the adaptor.

3. The endoscope device according to claim 1 , wherein the adaptor is able to be mounted on or removed from the insertion portion using a screw fitting portion that is provided between the distal end portion of the insertion portion and the adaptor.

4. The endoscope device according to claim 1 , wherein the diffusion prevention component is a cylindrical component and a mirror surface is provided on an inner circumference of the diffusion prevention component, and light from the laser light source passes through an inner side of the diffusion prevention component.

5. The endoscope device according to claim 1 , wherein the diffusion prevention component is a transparent solid component whose inner circumferential surface reflects light.

6. The endoscope device according to claim 1 , wherein the diffusion prevention component is a transparent solid component having a core and cladding, and an inner surface of an outer circumference of the core reflects light.

7. The endoscope device according to claim 1 , wherein the diffusion prevention component is a condensing lens.

8. The endoscope device according to claim 1 , wherein the light emitted by the laser light source is light having a wavelength of 450 nm or less.

9. The endoscope device according to claim 1 , wherein the laser light source is a laser diode.

10. The endoscope device according to claim 1 , wherein the fluorescent substance receives the excitation light and emits light that includes a wavelength of 400 nm to 650 nm.

11. The endoscope device according to claim 1 , wherein the adaptor changes light irradiated from the diffusion lens into white light, as a result of being fitted onto the distal end of the insertion portion.

12. The endoscope device according to claim 1 , wherein the fluorescent substance receives excitation light and emits light having a wavelength of 600 nm or more.

13. The endoscope device according to claim 1 , wherein the fluorescent substance receives excitation light and emits light having a different wavelength from the excitation light that is 450 nm or less.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 25, 2023
From: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
To: EVIDENT CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 062492/0267 →
CHANGE OF ADDRESS Recorded Jun 27, 2016
From: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
To: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 039344/0502 →