Patent ID: 6099466
Filing Date: 2000-08-08
Classification: A61B,H04N

Abstract:
A fluorescence diagnosis endoscope system for observing living tissue, said system comprising:a single light source for illuminating the living tissue, said single light source emitting light having a plurality of wavelength ranges, said light comprising visible light and an excitation light;a filter unit, arranged between said single light source and the living tissue, that periodically filters said light from said single light source, said filter unit comprising at least one blue, at least one red, and at least one green filters, said blue filters blocking light that does not have a wavelength between 400-500 nm, such that said at least one blue filter is the sole source of light that causes the living tissue to fluoresce and emit fluorescent light;a first optical unit at the tip of an electronic endoscope, said first optical unit comprising a first optical system and a first imaging element for receiving light reflected from the living tissue by light passing through said green, blue, and red filters to illuminate the living tissue and generating first image signals;a second optical unit provided at the tip of the electronic endoscope for receiving said fluorescent light and generating second image signals, said second optical unit comprising a second imaging element, a second optical system, and a fluorescence filter provided in front of said second imaging element, the fluorescence filter preventing transmission of light having the same wavelength as the excitation light;an image processor for processing said first image signals and said second image signals, in accordance with the periodical filtering of light by said filter unit, to form a color image of the living tissue and a fluorescence image of the living tissue, respectively; andan output device for outputting said color image and said fluorescence image.