Patent ID: 7077804
Filing Date: 2006-07-18
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A light source apparatus for an endoscope, comprising: a main light source; a light guide member whose incident end face is opposed to the main light source to guide light incident thereon to an emission end face thereof; an auxiliary light source that is activated to emit light when no light is emitted from the main light source, and that is supported to move between a stand-by position in which the auxiliary light source is located out of a main light path between the main light source and an incident end face of the light guide member and an operative position in which the auxiliary light source is located in the main light path and is opposed to the incident end face of the light guide member when the main light source is inoperative; and an auxiliary light source emission controller that drives the auxiliary light source at one of a continuous emission mode to emit light of a predetermined intensity and an intermittent emission mode to emit light of an intensity higher than the predetermined intensity, wherein the auxiliary light source comprises a light emitting diode (LED), and said auxiliary light source emission controller drives the light emitting diode at a constant current smaller than an absolute maximum rated value of a forward current of the light emitting diode when the continuous emission is performed, and drives the light emitting diode at a pulse current of which a crest value is higher than the absolute maximum rated value of the forward current when the intermittent emission is performed.