Systems, methods, and devices for providing illumination in an endoscopic imaging environment
The disclosure relates to an endoscopic light source that includes a first emitter. The first emitter may emit light of a first wavelength at a dichroic mirror which reflects the light of the first wavelength to a plurality of optical fibers. The endoscopic light source further comprises a second emitter. The second emitter may emit light of a second wavelength at a second dichroic mirror which reflects the light of the second wavelength to the plurality of optical fibers. In one embodiment, the first dichroic mirror may be transparent to the light of the second wavelength, allowing the light of the second wavelength to pass through the first dichroic mirror.
1. An endoscopic light source, comprising:
a first emitter which emits light of a first wavelength into a waveguide comprising a plurality of optical fibers at a first angle;
a second emitter which emits light of a second wavelength into the plurality of optical fibers of the waveguide at a second angle; and
a third emitter which emits light of a third wavelength into the waveguide comprising the plurality of optical fibers at a third angle;
wherein the first angle is different from the second angle and the third angle is different from the second angle and the first angle; and
wherein the first emitter and the second emitter are oriented at the first angle and the second angle, respectively, relative to a surface of a collection region of the waveguide such that the first emitter and the second emitter provide a same or similar intensity of light to each fiber of the plurality of optical fibers of the waveguide.
2. The endoscopic light source of claim 1 , wherein one or more of the first angle and the second angle are offset from perpendicular to the plurality of optical fibers of the waveguide.
3. The endoscopic light source of claim 2 , wherein the first angle and the second angle are offset from perpendicular to the plurality of optical fibers of the waveguide.
4. The endoscopic light source of claim 1 , further comprising:
an intervening optical component disposed between the waveguide and the first and second emitters,
wherein the intervening optical component mixes the light of the first wavelength with the light of the second wavelength before the lights enter the waveguide.
5. The endoscopic light source of claim 4 , wherein the intervening optical component includes a diffuser or a mixing rod.
6. The endoscopic light source of claim 4 , wherein the plurality of optical fibers includes a plurality of plastic optical fibers and wherein the intervening optical component includes a plurality of glass fibers.
7. The endoscopic light source of claim 1 , wherein one or more of the first angle, the second angle, and the third angle are offset from perpendicular to the waveguide.
8. The endoscopic light source of claim 1 , wherein two or more of the first angle, the second angle, and the third angle are offset from perpendicular to the waveguide.
9. The endoscopic light source of claim 1 , wherein the first angle, the second angle, and the third angle are offset from perpendicular to the waveguide.
10. The endoscopic light source of claim 1 , further comprising:
an intervening optical component disposed between the waveguide and the first, second, and third emitters,
wherein the optical element mixes the light of the first wavelength with the light of the second wavelength and the light of the third wavelength before the lights enter the waveguide.
11. The endoscopic light source of claim 10 , wherein the intervening optical component includes a diffuser or a mixing rod.
12. The endoscopic light source of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of optical fibers includes a plurality of plastic optical fibers and wherein the intervening optical component includes a plurality of glass fibers.
13. The endoscopic light source of claim 1 , wherein the first emitter includes a first laser emitter and the second emitter includes a second laser emitter and the third emitter includes a third laser emitter.
14. The endoscopic light source of claim 13 , wherein one of the first emitter, the second emitter, and the third emitter emits a red light and wherein one of the first emitter, the second emitter, and the third emitter emits a green light, and wherein one of the first emitter, the second emitter, and the third emitter emits a blue light.
15. The endoscopic light source of claim 1 , wherein the first angle is larger than the second angle with respect to the waveguide comprising the plurality of optical fibers.
16. The endoscopic light source of claim 1 , wherein the first angle is measured as an angle between light emitted by the first emitter and an axis perpendicular to a collection region of the waveguide, and
wherein the second angle is measured as an angle between light emitted by the second emitter and the axis perpendicular to a collection region of the waveguide.