Patent ID: 6413210
Filing Date: 2002-07-02
Classification: A61B,H05B

Abstract:
A life span meter system for a light source used in an electronic endoscope, comprising:a counter that numerically determines a lit-time of said light source as a numerical lit-time data when said light source is turned ON; a memory that stores said numerical lit-time data as a total numerical lit-time data of said lit-time of said light source when said light source is turned OFF; a determiner that determines whether said total numerical lit-time data reaches a numerical life span data numerically determined from an expected life span of said light source; an indicator that indicates said light source should be exchanged with a new light source when it is determined by said determiner that said total numerical lit-time data exceeds said numerical life span data; and a detector that detects an exchange of said light source with said new light source, said detector comprising a light source exchanging signal generating circuit incorporated in a light source mounting mechanism in which said light source is detachably and exchangeably mounted, said light source exchanging signal generating circuit being configured so as to output a light source exchanging signal, indicating that said exchange of said light source with a new light source has been performed, when a mounting of said new light source in said light source mounting mechanism is completed and when said electronic endoscope is electrically energized, wherein said numerical life-span data is numerically determined from said expected life span of said light source when said exchange of said light source with said new light source is detected by said detector.