Illumination optical system for endoscope

An illumination optical system for an endoscope includes two light guides disposed in an insertion tube in a first direction to sandwich a center of the insertion tube therebetween; an observation window on a tip end face of the insertion tube; two concave lens parts having negative powers sandwiching the observation window at positions facing end faces of two light guides on the tip end face of the insertion tube. The end face of each of the two light guides has a smaller width in the first direction than a width in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; each of the two concave lens parts has a larger negative power in the first direction than a negative power thereof in the second direction; and of illumination light which has propagated through each of the two concave lens parts after being emitted from each of the two light guides.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an illumination optical system used for an endoscope.

BACKGROUND ART

An endoscope configured such that a light-distribution window through which illumination light for illuminating an observation target area is emitted and an observation window through which the illumination light reflected from the observation target area is received are provided at a tip portion of an insertion tube of the endoscope is known. The insertion tube of the endoscope of this type is formed in a shape of an elastic tube, and a light guide for introducing the illumination light to the tip portion is provided in the inside of the insertion tube. In the observation window, an objective lens is provided, and object light reflected from the observation target area is received by an image pickup device, such as a CCD (Charge Coupled Device), via the objective lens. The object light received by the image pickup device is subjected to signal processing and is displayed as a picked up image on a monitor. As a result, an operator of the endoscope becomes able to operate the endoscope while observing the image displayed on the monitor.

In general, as a monitor on which an image is displayed, a monitor having a laterally long aspect ratio, such as 4:3 or 16:9, is used. Therefore, if an aspect ratio of an emitted light distribution of illumination light emitted from the light guide does not coincide with the aspect ratio of the monitor, it becomes impossible to use the whole monitor screen effectively or the brightness of the image decreases because an area not displayed on the monitor is illuminated.

Japanese Patent Provisional Publication No, 2009-207529A (hereafter, referred to as patent document 1) describes an endoscope capable of obtaining a bright image. The endoscope described in patent document 1 includes a ring-shaped light guide in an insertion tube of the endoscope and is provided with a transparent cap at a tip portion of the insertion tube. The illumination light emitted from the light guide propagates through the inside of the cap, and is emitted from the tip portion. Around the periphery of the cap, an inclined surface is formed, and the inclined surface functions as a convex lens. Therefore, the illumination light which has propagated through the inside of the cap and passed through the inclined surface is emitted from the tip portion in a converged state. As a result, it becomes possible to prevent the illumination light from being scattered.

Japanese Patent Publication No. 4704386 (hereafter, referred to as patent document 2) describes an endoscope which includes a light guide having an exit end face of which cross sectional shape has different lengths between a left and right direction and a longitudinal direction (i.e., an elliptical shape). At a tip portion of an insertion tube of the endoscope of patent document 2, a transparent cap is provided. At a position of the transparent cap corresponding to the exit end face of the light guide, a light scattering part which is formed in a recessed shape to scatter transmitted illumination light is provided. The light scattering part has different lengths between a left and right direction and a longitudinal direction in conformity with the cross sectional shape of the exit end face of the light guide, and has the negative refractive power which varies depending on the length. Therefore, it is possible to change the degree of scattering of the illumination light between the left and right direction and the longitudinal direction, and thereby it becomes possible to bring the intensity distribution of the illumination light close to the aspect ratio of the monitor.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

Since in the endoscope described in patent document 1, a ring-shaped fiber is used as the light guide, the intensity distribution of the emitted illumination light becomes a circular shape or a ring shape having a ratio of 1:1 between the left and right direction and the longitudinal direction. Therefore, when a monitor having a laterally long aspect ratio is used, the amount of illumination light at the left and right ends on the screen becomes small or areas outside the screen in the longitudinal direction may be illuminated uselessly. In this case, the illumination light cannot be used effectively. Further, since the ring-shaped fiber is used, the diameter of the tip portion of the insertion tube is determined depending on the shape of the fiber, and therefore it is difficult to decrease the diameter of the tip portion.

Since the endoscope described in patent document 2 is provided with, at the tip portion of the insertion tube, the light scattering part having power which is different between the longitudinal direction and the left and right direction, it is possible to bring the intensity distribution of the emitted illumination light close to the aspect ratio of the monitor. However, there is a problem that, for the light guides disposed on the left and right sides with respect to the center of the insertion tube, the refractive power of the light scattering part in the longitudinal direction is extremely small relative to the refractive power in the left and right direction and therefore almost no scattering effect is obtained in the longitudinal direction because the light scattering part is formed in a ring shape which is coaxial with the center of the tip portion. The scattering effect of the light scattering part is determined by the curvature of a surface of a lens shape and the refractive index of the light scattering part, and therefore there is a case where the adequate light scattering effect cannot be achieved. Further, there is a case where the illumination light which has been scattered by the light scattering part and has propagated through the inside of the cap is reflected by an exit end face of the cap, and the scattering effect and the amount of emitted light is decreased.

The present invention is made in view of the above described circumstances. That is, the object of the present invention is to provide an illumination optical system for an endoscope configured such that a diameter of an insertion tube is made small, the scattering effect of illumination light is enhanced, and thereby the intensity distribution of emitted illumination light is made consistent with the aspect ratio of a monitor and an observation area defined through an observation window.

To achieve the above described object, according to an aspect of the invention, there is provided an illumination optical system for an endoscope provided in an elastic insertion tube of an endoscope, comprising: two light guides disposed in the insertion tube to be arranged in a first direction to sandwich a center of the insertion tube therebetween; an observation window disposed on a tip end face of a tip portion of the insertion tube; two concave lens parts having negative powers, the two concave lens parts being disposed to sandwich the observation window at positions facing end faces of the two light guides on the tip end face of the insertion tube. In this configuration, on the tip end face of the tip portion of the insertion tube, the end face of each of the two light guides has a smaller width in the first direction than a width thereof in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. Each of the two concave lens parts has a larger negative power in the first direction than a negative power thereof in the second direction. Of illumination light which has propagated through each of the two concave lens parts after being emitted from each of the two light guides, an optical path of light which has propagated through a center of each of the two light guides and has been emitted from a center of each end face of each of the two light guides is inclined outward in the first direction with respect to an axis direction of the insertion tube.

With this configuration, the illumination light emitted from the light guides are scattered by the concave lens parts. Since the scattering effect in the first direction is larger than that in the second direction and the exit direction of the illumination light is inclined toward the first direction, the intensity distribution of the emitted illumination light spreads in the first direction. As a result, a wide area can be illuminated with the illumination light, and the wide area can be observed through the observation window. Since the intensity distribution of the illumination light spreads in the direst direction, it becomes possible to bring the aspect ratio of the illumination light be consistent with the aspect ratio is a monitor having a laterally long aspect ratio when an image of the area observed through the observation window is displayed on the monitor. Consequently, the illumination light can be used effectively. That is, according to the above described configuration of the illumination optical system, the diameter of the insertion tube is made small, the scattering effect of illumination light is enhanced, and thereby the intensity distribution of emitted illumination light is made consistent with the aspect ratio of a monitor and the observation area defined through the observation window.

The illumination optical system for an endoscope may further comprise a cap having a circular outer shape and made of transparent material for letting the illumination light pass therethrough, and the cap is provided on a front of the end faces of the two light guides. In this case, each of the two concave parts is formed by forming a recessed part on a surface of the cap facing the end faces of the two light guides.

With this configuration, the concave lens part can be formed by a simple structure and at a low cost.

Optical axes of the two concave lens parts may be decentered from optical axes of the two light guides, respectively.

With this configuration, the exit angle of the illumination light emitted from the light guides can be increased by the concave lens part, and by decentering the concave lens part with respect to the light guide, the exit direction of the illumination light can be changed. Therefore, the intensity distribution of the emitted illumination light can be adjusted by the concave lens part and the decentering, and thereby it becomes possible to more easily make the aspect ratio of the intensity distribution of the illumination light be consistent with the aspect ratio of the used monitor.

When w (unit: mm) represents a width of each of the end faces of the two light guides in the first direction, r (unit: mm) represents a curvature radius of each of the two concave lens parts in the first direction, s (unit: mm) represents a decentering amount of the optical axis of each of the two concave lens parts toward a center of the insertion tube with respect to the optical axis of corresponding one of the two light guides, and ndrepresents a refractive index at d-line of material of the cap, the illumination optical system may satisfy a condition:
2×10−3<(nd×w×s2)/r<13×10−3.

With this configuration, it becomes possible to increase the scattering effect by the concave lens part, and to decrease the ratio of illumination light which is totally reflected from a boundary of the cap and is confined in the cap. As a result, the amount of emitted light can be increased.

When w (unit: mm) represents a width of each of the end faces of the two light guides in the first direction, d (unit: mm) represents a distance, in the first direction passing through a center of the tip end face of the insertion tube, between an outer edge of the cap and a point on an edge of one of the two concave lens parts nearest to the outer edge of the cap, r (unit: mm) represents a curvature radius of each of the two concave lens parts in the first direction, s (unit: mm) represents a decentering amount of the optical axis of each of the two concave lens parts toward a center of the insertion tube with respect to the optical axis of corresponding one of the two light guides, and n d represents a refractive index at d-line of material of the cap, the illumination optical system may satisfy a condition:
15×10−6<(nd×w×d×s3)/r<200×10−6.

With this configuration, it becomes possible to increase the scattering effect by the concave lens part, and to decrease the ratio of illumination light which is totally reflected from a boundary of the cap and is confined in the cap. As a result, the amount of emitted light can be increased.

The cap may be formed such that an outer diameter of the cap becomes smaller toward a tip of the insertion tube.

With this configuration, resistance which the insertion tube receives from an inner wall of a body cavity when the insertion tube is inserted into the body cavity can be suppressed, and thereby it becomes possible to easily insert the insertion tube in the body cavity.

On the tip end face of the tip portion of the insertion tube, each of the end faces of the two light guides may be inclined such that each of the end faces of the two light guides becomes lower toward a center of the insertion tube.

With this configuration, since the illumination light is emitted while being refracted outward in the first direction, a laterally long intensity distribution can be achieved as the intensity distribution of the emitted illumination light.

Each of the two light may be disposed in the insertion tube such that, in the tip portion of the insertion tube, each of the two light guides is bent to deviate from a center of the insertion tube toward a tip of the insertion tube. On the tip end face of the tip portion of the insertion tube, the end faces of the two light guides may be inclined to be perpendicular to axis directions of the two light guides, respectively, in such a matter that each of the end faces of the two light guides becomes higher toward the center of the insertion tube.

With this configuration, since the illumination light emitted from the end face of the light guide is emitted outward in the first direction, a laterally long intensity distribution can be achieved as the intensity distribution of the emitted illumination light.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, an illumination optical system for an endoscope according to an embodiment of the invention is described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1illustrates an outer appearance of an endoscope100having an illumination optical system151according to the embodiment. The endoscope100includes a tube-like insertion tube101covered with an elastic sheath. At a tip of the insertion tube101, a tip portion102covered with a resin housing having rigidity is provided. A bending part disposed on the front side of the tip portion102of the insertion tube101is formed to be freely bent through remote operation (specifically, a rotation operation to a bending operation knob105) from an operation unit104coupled to the proximal end of the insertion tube102. This bending mechanism is a known mechanism installed in a general endoscope, and is configured such that a bending part103is bent by drawing of operation wires in conjunction with the rotation operation to the bending operation knob105. In accordance with change of the direction of the tip portion102in response to a bending motion by the above described operations, an imaging area of the endoscope100moves.

The illumination optical system151is an optical system for illuminating an observation target area and for obtaining an image of the observation target area. As described in detail below, the illumination optical system151includes optical components (e.g., a cap3, convex lenses8A and8B) disposed in the tip portion102, and light guides4A and4B provided to extend in the endoscope100. To obtain an image of the observation target area, object light from the observation target area is converged on a light-receiving surface of an image pickup device7in the tip portion102(seeFIG. 2). The endoscope100according to the embodiment is designed, for example, on the assumption of observation for nose and throat. Therefore, the illumination optical system151is designed on the assumption that the angle of field of the illumination optical system151is approximately 80 degrees to 100 degrees and the diameter thereof is extremely small. A connection part106of the endoscope100is connected to an external device (not shown). The external device includes a light source, and illumination light for illuminating an observation target area in a wide field of view is supplied to the endoscope100. Further, the external device receives a signal outputted from the image pickup device of the endoscope100, executes signal processing and image processing, and then displays an image corresponding to the processed signal on a monitor (not shown).

FIGS. 2A and 2Brespectively illustrate a plan view and a cross sectional view of the insertion tube101of the endoscope100according to the embodiment.

On a tip end face10of the tip portion102, two light-distribution windows1A and1B and an observation window2are provided. Further, on the tip end face10of the tip portion102, a transparent cap3is provided to cover the light-distribution windows1A and1B. InFIG. 2A, the cap3is omitted for the sake of simplicity. The two light-distribution windows1A and1B are provided to sandwich the observation window2in x-axis direction. The two light-distribution windows1A and1B are optically connected to the external device via light guides4A and4B, respectively, provided in the inside of the insertion tube101. The illumination light emitted from the light source of the external device propagates through the light guides4A and4B and is emitted from the light-distribution windows1A and1B to illuminate the observation target area in a body cavity. The illumination light reflected from the observation target area after emitted from the light-distribution windows1A and1B is received as object light through the observation window2. A cross section of each of the light-distribution windows1A and1B in the xy plane is formed such that the length in y-axis direction is longer than the length in x-axis direction, and specifically is formed in a shape of a crescent as shown inFIG. 2A.

The observation window2includes an objective lens6and an image pickup device7held by a cylindrical holding member5. The image pickup device7is connected to the external device via a signal line (not shown) provided in the insertion tube101. The object light which has been received through the observation window2and is converged on the image pickup device7is converted into an electric signal by the image pickup device7, and the electric signal is transmitted to the external device via the signal line. As the image pickup device7, a CCD (Change Coupled Device) image sensor or a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) image sensor may be used. As the monitor, a laterally long monitor of which aspect ratio of a displaying area is, for example, 4:3 or 16:9 is used.

As shown inFIG. 2B, the observation window2is provided at a tip part of the holding member5to project toward the tip direction (the positive side in z-axis direction) with respect a surface on which the light-distribution windows1A and1B are provided. The holding member5is made of material which does not let light pass therethrough so that the illumination light emitted from the light-distribution windows1A and1B is prevented from entering the observation windows2without illuminating the observation target area. That is, the holding member5prevents occurrence of stray light and also prevents deterioration of the image quality.

The cap3provided at the tip portion102of the insertion tube101is formed in a ring-shape to cover the tip end face10of the tip portion102and not to interfere with the observation window2. This structure is provided for the purpose of preventing the illumination light entered the cap3from being reflected from a boundary of the cap3and entering the observation window2without illuminating the observation target area (i.e., stray light). As material of the cap3, resin or glass for letting the illumination light pass therethrough may be used; however, materials of the cap3are not limited to these examples.

At positions on the lower surface of the cap3(on the negative side in z-axis direction) corresponding to the two light-distribution windows1A and1B, concave lens parts8A and8B are formed. Each of the concave lens parts8A and8B is formed by forming a recessed part on the cap3and has a negative refractive power. The cross sectional shape of each of the concave lens parts8A and8B of the cap3in the xy plane is formed such that the length in y-axis direction is larger than the length in x-axis direction (e.g., a crescent or an elliptical shape). Therefore, each of the concave lens parts8A and8B has larger negative power in x-axis direction than the negative power in y-axis direction (i.e., each of the concave lens parts8A and8B has a smaller curvature radius of the recession in x-axis direction than that in y-axis direction). The cross section of each of the concave lens parts8A and8B in each of the xz plane and the yz plane is a spherical surface, and each of the concave lens parts8A and8B functions as an aspherical concave lens of which curvature differ between the cross sections. With this functional aspect, the illumination light which has emitted from the light-distribution windows1A and1B after propagating through the light guides4A and4B and has propagated through the concave lens parts8A and8B is scattered, and the intensity distribution of the scattered light becomes a laterally long distribution which is expanded in x-axis direction.

In this embodiment, the cross sectional shape of each of the concave lens parts8A and8B of the cap3and the light-distribution windows1A and1B is formed in a shape of a crescent in the xy plane so that an area of the tip end face10of the tip portion102can be used effectively; however, the present invention is not limited to such a configuration. For example, as the cross sectional shape of each of the concave lens parts8A and8B in the xy plane, an elliptical shape where the outer diameter in y-axis direction is larger than the outer diameter in x-axis direction or a rectangular shape may be used.

In the embodiment, for the purpose of easing manufacturing, the cross section of each of the concave lens parts8A and8bin the xz plane and the yz plane is formed in a spherical shape; however, the present invention is not limited to such a configuration. For example, the cross sectional shape of each of the concave lens parts8A and8B in the xz plane and the yz plane may be formed in an aspherical shape, and in this case the same advantageous effects of those of the above described embodiment can be achieved. By employing aspherical surface design, the degree of freedom of light distribution can be enhanced.

The cross section of each of the concave lens parts8A and8B according to the embodiment in the xz plane and the yz plane has a spherical shape, and the surface of each of the concave lens parts8A and8B is formed to be a toroidal surface of which central symmetric axis is substantially parallel with x-axis; however, the present invention is not limited to such a configuration. For example, the surface of each of the concave lens parts8A and8B may be configured to be a toroidal surface of which center symmetric axis is inclined with respect to x-axis in the xz plane. Alternatively, the surface of each of the concave lens parts8A and8B may be formed to be an anamorphic surface having different curvatures between x-axis direction and y-axis direction. In these examples, the same advantageous effects as those of the above described embodiment can be achieved.

Optical axes OC of the concave lens parts8A and8B of the cap3are shifted respectively from optical axes OL of the light-distribution windows1A and1B and the light guides4A and4B, and the concave lens parts8A and8B are disposed to be slightly shifted respectively toward the center of the tip end face10. As a result, the light distribution windows1A and1B are disposed on the outside relative to the concave lens parts8A and8B, respectively, and therefore the illumination light which has passed through the concave lens parts8A and8B is emitted while being inclined toward the negative side of x-axis and the positive side of x axis, respectively, in comparison with the case where the concave lens parts8A and8B are not decentered. As a result, the scattering effect in x-axis direction by the concave lens parts8A and8B becomes larger in comparison with the case where the concave lens parts8A and8B are not decentered.

The illumination light which has been emitted from the light-distribution windows1A and1B and is scattered from the concave lens parts8A and8B is emitted from a lateral surface12or an upper surface11(the positive side in z-axis direction) of the cap3after propagating through the cap3. The intensity distribution of the emitted illumination light becomes a laterally long distribution elongated in x-axis direction. In this embodiment, each of the concave lens parts8A and8B of the cap3has a larger refractive power in x-axis direction, and the concave lens parts8A and8B are decentered from the light-distribution windows1A and1B, respectively. Therefore, the degree of scattering effect of the illumination light is larger in x-axis direction, and when a monitor having a laterally long displaying area is used, the intensity distribution of the illumination light can be made consistent with the aspect ratio of the monitor. As a result, it becomes possible to prevent decrease of the use efficacy of the illumination light due to the fact that an area not displayed on the monitor is illuminated, and thereby it becomes possible to obtain an image having a high brightness over the entire display area.

InFIG. 2B, the lateral surface12of the cap3is formed to be perpendicular to the tip end face10of the insertion tube101; however, as shown inFIG. 2Cthe lateral surface12may be formed to have an inclined surface9so that the cap3becomes thinner toward the tip side (the positive side in z-axis direction). As a result, it becomes possible to easily insert the insertion tube101into a body cavity while decreasing resistance which the cap3receives from a body cavity wall. The upper surface11and the lateral surface12of the cap3may not be connected nonconsecutively, but may be connected consecutively via a curved surface R as shown inFIG. 2D. By connecting the lateral surface12and the upper surface11of the cap3via the curved surface R, it becomes possible to decrease resistance received from the body cavity wall when the insertion tube101is inserted in the body cavity.

The angle of emission of the illumination light emitted from the lateral surface12of the cap3becomes smaller than the angle of emission of the illumination light emitted from the upper surface11of the cap3.FIG. 3illustrates a situation where light rays L1and L2of which propagating directions in the cap3are in parallel with each other and are refracted by the upper surface11and the lateral surface12, respectively. The light rays L1and L2are incident on the upper surface11and the lateral surface12respectively, and exit therefrom as light rays L1′ and L2′. Although each of the light rays L1and L2is refracted by the boundary of the cap3, the light ray L1is refracted such that the exit angle (the angle between the exit light ray and the axis (the optical axis, z-axis) of the endoscope) of the refracted light ray L1′ becomes wider (i.e., the angle between the proceeding direction and the optical axis becomes larger) relative to the proceeding direction of the light ray L1, and the light ray L2is refracted such that the exit angle of the refracted light ray L2′ becomes narrower (i.e., the angle between the proceeding direction and the optical axis becomes smaller) relative to the proceeding direction of the light ray L2. For this reason, in an illumination optical system of a conventional endoscope, it is necessary to decrease the ratio of the illumination light being emitted from the lateral surface12of the cap3, and thereby it becomes necessary to increase the outer diameter of the cap3. By contrast, according to the embodiment, the scattering effect of the illumination light is large, and thereby it becomes possible to widen the exit angle of the illumination light emitted from the lateral surface12of the cap3. Therefore, it is not necessary to increase the outer diameter of the cap3, and it is possible to make the tip portion102of the insertion tube101slender. As a result, it becomes possible to easily insert the insertion tube101in a body cavity.

The upper surface11and the lateral surface12are not provided with special structures like the concave lens parts8A and8B formed on the lower surface of the cap3, but have smooth surfaces. However, the present invention is not limited to such a configuration. For example, in order to suppress Fresnel reflection at the boundary of the upper surface11and the lateral surface12of the cap3and thereby to increase the emission light amount, a diffraction grating or a fine structure may be provided. Material having a high reflectivity (e.g., white coating or a metal mirror) may be provided at the boundary between the cap3and the holding member5which holds the objective lens6or in a portion on the lower surface of the cap3other than the areas where the concave lens parts8A and8B are formed. With this configuration, it becomes possible to suppress the absorption of the illumination light by the surface of the insertion tube101or the holding member5, and thereby it becomes possible to increase the amount of illumination light emitted to the observation target area.

Since the function of scattering the illumination light and making the intensity distribution laterally long by the concave lens parts8A and8B can be realized by forming recessed parts on the lower surface of the cap3, increase of costs and complication of the configuration of the endoscope100can be suppressed.

Hereafter, examples of the illumination optical system151for an endoscope according to the embodiment of the invention are described.

As described above, the insertion tube101of the endoscope according to the embodiment of the invention includes the light guides4A and4B each having the cross sectional shape formed such that the diameter in y-axis direction is longer than the diameter in x-axis direction, and the concave lens parts8A and8B having negative powers. By decentering the optical axes OC of the concave lens parts8A and8B to the center side of the tip portion102in x-axis direction with respect to the optical axes OL of the light guides4A and4B, the scattering effect of the emitted light in x-axis direction is increased. Regarding the scattering effect, ray tracing simulation was carried out for the emitted light while changing the material and shape of the cap3and the light-distribution windows1A and1B (light guides4A and4B).

Execution conditions of the simulation are explained with reference toFIG. 4. In the simulation, the widths w of the light-distribution windows1A and1B in x-axis direction, the refractive index ndat d-line of the cap3, the curvature radius r in x-axis direction of the recessed parts of the concave lens parts8A and8B having negative powers, the distance d in x-axis direction from the outer edge in x-axis direction of each of the concave lens parts8A and8B to the periphery of the cap3, the shift amount (decentering amount) s of the optical axes OC of the concave lens parts8A and8B with respect to the optical axes OL of the light guides4A and4B, and the inclined angle q of the lateral surface12of the cap3are changed as simulation parameters, and the scattering effect of the concave lens parts8A and8B is calculated. When the center O of the tip end face10of the tip portion102is defined as an origin of a coordinate, the width w represents the width in the x-axis direction passing through the center O. That is, when each of the light-distribution windows1A and1B is formed in a crescent shape, the width w becomes the maximum width of the light-distribution windows in x-axis direction. Further, the distance d represents the distance on x-axis. Furthermore, as described above, in order to obtain a wide emission angle, it is desirable to decrease the ratio of the illumination light emitted from the lateral surface12of the cap3. Therefore, it is preferable that the thickness of the cap3in z-axis direction is small; however, if the thickness of the cap3in z-axis direction is too small, the manufacturing becomes difficult. In this simulation, the thickness of the cap3in z-axis direction is defined as 0.5 mm for all the simulation conditions in consideration of easiness of manufacturing. The decentering amount is defined as positive when the optical axes OC of the concave lens parts8A and8B are decentered to the center side (inner side) of the tip portion102with respect to the optical axes OL of the light guides4A and4B. As the exit angle of the illumination light emitted from the light-distribution windows1A and1B after propagating through the light guides4A and4B, 0 degree and 30 degrees are used for the calculation.

Table 1 shows the calculation conditions for the simulation. In Table 1, the parameters for the calculation conditions and the calculation results of the function f1and the function f2indicating the scattering effect of the concave lens parts8A and8B are shown. The functions f1and f2are expressions for quantifying the scattering effects of the concave lens parts8A and8B, and are expressed by the following expressions (1) and (2).

Regarding the function f1, as the refractive index ndbecomes large, the angle of refraction of the illumination light at the boundary of the concave lens parts8A and8B becomes large and thereby the scattering effect of the concave lens parts8A and8B becomes large. Further, as the decentering amount s becomes large in the positive direction, the degree of inclination toward the outside of the exiting direction of light which has propagated through the concave lens parts8A and8B becomes large, and thereby the scattering effect toward the outside becomes large. Further, as the negative power of the concave lens parts8A and8B becomes large (i.e., as the curvature radius r of the recessed part becomes small), the scattering effect becomes large. Power of a concave lens becomes larger from the lens center toward the outside. Therefore, as the width w of the light-distribution window becomes large, the ratio of the illumination light passing through the outer portion of the concave lens where power is large becomes large, and thereby the scattering effect becomes large. Thus, the function f1represents the degree of the scattering effect of the concave lens parts8A and8B toward the outside. To highlight the contribution of the decentering to the scattering effect, the decentering amount s is squared and is introduced to the expressions.

The function f2is provided by adding effect of the outer diameter of the cap3to the function f1. The illumination light which is incident on the upper surface11of the cap3after propagating through the cap3is refracted by the upper surface11of the cap3such that the exit angle is increased. On the other hand, the illumination light which is incident on the lateral surface12of the cap3is refracted such that the exit angle is decreased. As a result, as the distance d from the outer edge of each of the concave lens parts8A and B in x-axis direction to the periphery of the cap3becomes large, the ratio of the illumination light being emitted from the lateral surface12of the cap3decreases, and the scattering effect becomes large. When the distance d is small, the ratio of the illumination light being emitted from the lateral surface12of the cap3increases, and thereby the scattering effect decreases. Therefore, in order to increase the scattering effect, it is necessary to increase the decentering amount. For this reason, the degree of the scattering effect considering the outer diameter of the cap3can be represented by the function f2obtained by multiplying the function f1by the distance d and the decentering amount s.

The parameters of the examples 1 to 6 are selected so that the functions f1and f2satisfy the following conditions (3) and (4).
2×10−3<f1<13×10−3(3)
15×10−6<f2<200×10−6(4)

Each of the conditions (3) and (4) represents a condition for providing the concave lens parts8A and8B with the desirable scattering effect as the illumination optical system151for an endoscope.

When the function f1gets larger than or equal to the upper limit of the condition (3), the scattering effect of the concave lens parts8A and8B becomes too large and therefore the light which has been emitted from the light-distribution windows1A and1B and scattered by the concave lens parts8A and8B becomes easy to enter the lateral surface12of the cap3. As described above with reference toFIG. 3, the exit angle of the light emitted from the lateral surface of the cap3become smaller than that of the light emitted from the upper surface11of the cap3. Therefore, it is not preferable that the function f1gets larger than or equal to the upper limit of the condition (3). When the function f1gents smaller than or equal to the lower limit of the condition (3), the concave lens parts8A and8B come short of scattering effect. Since in this case the light emitted from the cap3is not sufficiently scattered, it is not desirable that the function f1gets smaller than or equal to the lower limit. On the other hand, when the function f1satisfies the condition (3), the scattering effect of the concave lens parts8A and8B becomes large, and thereby it becomes possible to suppress the amount of light entering the lateral surface12of the cap3.

The condition (4) has the same significance as that of the condition (3). However, since as described above the function f2has the effect of the outer diameter of the cap3, a desirable condition considering the outer diameter of the cap3can be obtained from the condition (4). As a result, even when the outer diameter of the cap3is changed in accordance with the outer diameter of the insertion tube101of the used endoscope100, a desirable condition for the concave lens parts8A and8B can be obtained.

Simulation results are explained for each calculation condition with reference to the drawings.FIG. 5illustrates an example of the light ray of the illumination light emitted from the light-distribution windows1A and1B after propagating through the light guides4A and4B.FIG. 5Aillustrates the case of the exit angle of the illumination light of 0 degree, andFIG. 5Billustrates the case of the exit angle of the illumination light of 30 degrees. Although the exit angle of the illumination light emitted from the light-distribution windows1A and1B varies depending on the thickness of the light guides4A and4B and the connection condition between the light source and the light guides4A and4B, in general the exit angle of approximately 30 to 40 degrees is used for an endoscope. In the calculation described below, explanations are made by using the simulation results in the case of the exit angles of 0 degree and 30 degrees in consideration of easy understand of the scattering effect according to the embodiment of the invention. The light ray illustrated in regard to the calculation result is a light ray emitted from the outermost position on x-axis in an area of each of the light-distribution windows11A and11B. In the following, the explanation is made only for this light ray. This is because as the exit position from the light-distribution windows11A and11B gets closer to the outer side, the light becomes easy to enter the lateral surface12of the cap3, the exit angle of the emitted light from the cap3tends to become small, and thereby the scattering effect by the concave lens parts8A and8B appears directly. In the simulation, the observation window3, the holding member5and the objective lens6are not considered for convenience of explanation.

FIG. 6illustrates simulation results of the exit light according to the example 1. FIG.6A illustrates the case of the decentering amount s of zero, andFIG. 6Billustrates the case where the concave lenses8A and8B are decentered. The exit angle of the illumination light emitted from the light-distribution window1A is 0 degree, and the exit angle of the illumination light emitted from the light-distribution window1B is 30 degrees. When the exit angle is 0 degree, the exit angle of the illumination light is increased by the concave lens parts8A and8B regardless of presence/absence of the decentering. However, the exit angle in the case where the concave lens parts8A and8B are decentered is larger, and the scattering effect in the case where the concave lens parts8A and8B are decentered is larger. In the case of the exit angle of 30 degrees, the exit light from the light-distribution window1B is totally reflected from the lateral surface12and the upper surface11of the cap in the inside of the cap3and thereby the illumination light cannot be picked up from the cap3when the decentering does not exist. On the other hand, when the decentering exists, the illumination light can be picked up from the cap3through the lateral surface12. Thus, by decentering the concave lens parts8A and8B to satisfy the conditions (3) and (4), it becomes possible to enhance the scattering effect of the concave lens parts8A and8B and thereby it becomes possible to enhance the amount of illumination light.

FIG. 7illustrates simulation results of emitted light according to the example 2.FIG. 8illustrates simulation results of emitted light according to the example 3. Each ofFIGS. 7A and 8Aillustrates the case where, of the parameters of examples 2 and 3, the decentering amount s is set for zero, and each ofFIGS. 7B and 8Billustrates the case where, of the parameters of examples 2 and 3, the concave pens part8A is decentered. The illumination light is emitted at the exit angle of 30 degrees from the light-distribution window1A. When the decentering does not exist, the light emitted from the light-distribution window1A is totally reflected by the lateral surface12and the upper surface11in the cap3and therefore is not picked up from the cap3to the outside. On the other hand, when the decentering exists, the illumination light having a large exit angle can be picked up from the lateral surface12of the cap3. Thus, according to the examples 2 and 3, by decentering the concave lens parts8A and8B, the scattering effect is enhanced and the amount of illumination light is increased.

FIG. 9illustrates simulation results of emitted light according to the example 4.FIG. 10illustrates simulation results of emitted light according to the example 5.FIG. 11illustrates simulation results of emitted light according to the example 6. In the example 4, the inclined surface9having the inclination angle of 11.3 degrees is provided as the lateral surface12of the cap3. Each ofFIGS. 9A, 10A and 11Aillustrates the simulation result when, of the parameters of the examples 4 to 6, the decentering amount s is set for zero. Each ofFIGS. 9B, 10B and 11Billustrates the simulation result when the concave lens part8A is decentered. The illumination light is emitted from the light distribution window1A at the exit angle of 30 degrees. Regardless of presence/absence of the decentering, the exit angle of the illumination light is increased by the concave lens part8A, and the exit angle is larger and therefore the scattering effect is larger when the decentering exists in comparison with the case when the decentering does not exist. Thus, according to the examples 4 to 6, by decentering the concave lens parts, the scattering effect is enhanced.

Hereafter, an illumination optical system451according to reference examples 1 to 3 shown in Table 1 is explained. In the reference examples 1 to 3, the illumination light which has propagated through a light guide34provided in a tip portion402of the endoscope is emitted from a light-distribution window31(seeFIG. 12). The emitted illumination light propagates through a cap33and emitted from a lateral surface42or an upper surface41(the positive side in z-axis direction) of the cap33. In a portion on the lower surface (the negative side in z-axis direction) of the cap33facing the light-distribution window31, a concave lens part38is formed. Parameters user for simulation for the reference examples 1 to 3 are the same as those used for the examples 1 to 6 shown inFIG. 4. The reference examples 1 to 3 do not satisfy the conditions (3) and (4). In the reference example 1, the function f1is smaller than the lower limit of the condition (3), and the function f2is smaller than the lower limit of the condition (4). In each of the reference examples 2 and 3, the function f1is larger than the upper limit of the condition (3), and the function f2is larger than the upper limit of the condition (4).

FIG. 12illustrates the simulation result of the emitted light according to the reference example 1.FIG. 12Aillustrates the simulation result when, of the parameters of the reference example 1, the decentering amount s is set for zero.FIG. 12Billustrates the simulation result when the concave lens part38is decentered. The illumination light is emitted from the light distribution window31at the exit angle of 30 degrees. Since the functions f1and f2are smaller than the lower limits of the conditions (3) and (4), respectively, the scattering effect is small. By comparing the reference example 1 (FIG. 12) with the example 4 (FIG. 9) where the inclined surface9is provided as the lateral surface12of the cap3and the exit angle of the illumination light is 30 degrees, it is understood that increase of the scattering effect by the decentering in the reference example 1 is smaller than that in the example 4.

FIG. 13illustrates simulation results of emitted light according to the reference example 2.FIG. 14illustrates simulation results of emitted light according to reference example 3. Each ofFIGS. 13A and 14Aillustrates the simulation result when, of the parameters of the reference examples 2 and 3, the decentering amount s is set for zero. Each ofFIGS. 13B and 14Billustrates the simulation result when the illumination light is emitted at the exit angle of zero degree. In each of the reference examples 2 and 3, the exit angle is increased when the decentering does not exist. On the other hand, when the decentering exists in each of the reference examples 2 and 3, the functions f1and f2are larger than the upper limits of the conditions (3) and (4), respectively. Therefore, the scattering effect is excessive. In the reference example 2, the emitted light is totally reflected by the lateral surface12and the upper surface11of the cap33, and therefore cannot be picked up from the cap33to the outside. Further, in the reference example 3, the illumination light of which exit angle has increased by the concave lens par38is decreased by the lateral surface12of the cap3. Therefore, the scattering effect cannot be obtained.

As described above, in the examples 1 to 6 where the functions f1and f2satisfy the conditions (3) and (4), respectively, the concave lens parts8A and8B have appropriate scattering effect, and therefore the scattering effect of the illumination light and the intensity of the emitted light are enhanced. On the other hand, in the reference examples 1 to 3 which does not satisfy the conditions (3) and (4), the scattering effect of the concave lens part38is excessive or short, and therefore the amount of light emitted from the lateral surface of the cap33increases and the emitted light becomes hard to be scattered or the emitted light is totally reflected by the lateral surface of the upper surface in the cap33and therefore the effect of picking up the illumination light to the outside of the cap33decreases.

Hereafter, an illumination optical system according to a first variation of the embodiment of the invention is described.

FIG. 15is a cross sectional view of a tip portion202of an endoscope having an illumination optical system251according to the first variation. The tip portion202of the endoscope shown inFIG. 15has the same configuration as that of the tip portion102of the endoscope100shown inFIG. 2excepting that disposition of the light-distribution windows in the tip portion202is different from that of the tip102and the shape of the lower surface of a cap3A is changed in conformity with the disposition of the light-distribution windows. The illumination optical system251includes optical components (the cap3A, concave lens parts8A and8B, and etc.) disposed in the tip portion202, and the light guides4A and4B provided to extend in the endoscope100.

In the embodiment shown inFIG. 2, the light-distribution windows1A and1B are disposed to be parallel with the upper surface11of the cap3, and the optical axes OL of the light guides4A and4B are perpendicular to the light distribution windows1A and1B. By contrast, the light-distribution windows1C and1D according to the first variation are disposed to be inclined such that the light-distribution windows1C and1D become lower at a point closer to the observation window2from the periphery of the tip portion202in x-axis direction. Further, the surface of each of the light-distribution windows1C and1D is not perpendicular to the optical axes OL of the light guides4A and4B. Further, the lower surface of the cap3A is formed to be inclined to be consistent with the light-distribution windows1C and1D disposed obliquely. Further, the concave lens parts8A and8B are formed on the obliquely formed lower surface of the cap3at positions corresponding to the light-distribution windows1C and1D. There is no necessity to decenter the optical axes OC of the concave les parts8A and8B with respect to the optical axes OL of the light guides4A and4B.

As described above, by disposing the light-distribution windows1C and1D to be inclined with respect to the optical axes of the light guides4A and4B, the illumination light which has propagated through the light guides4A and4B is emitted while being broadened outward in x-axis direction by the refraction at the light-distribution windows1C and1D in comparison with the case where the light-distribution windows are disposed in the longitudinal direction. Accordingly, the scattering effect can be enhanced.

The optical exes of the concave lens parts8A and8B may be decentered toward the center of the tip portion202with respect to the optical axes of the light guides4A and4B. As a result, the illumination light which has passed through the concave lens parts8A and8B can be emitted to be broadened outward in x-axis direction. Therefore, the scattering effect can be enhanced further in comparison with the case where the decentering does not exist.

The optical axes of the concave lens parts8A and8B may be decentered to the center of the tip portion202with respect to the optical axes of the light guides4A and4B. In this case, it is possible to let the illumination light which has passed through the concave lens parts8A and8B be widened toward the outside in x-axis direction. Therefore, the scattering effect can be enhanced in comparison with the case where the decentering does not exist.

Hereafter, a second variation of an illumination optical system for an endoscope is described.

FIG. 16is a cross sectional view of a tip portion302of an endoscope having an illumination optical system351according to the second variation of the embodiment. The tip portion302of the endoscope shown inFIG. 16has the same configuration as that of the tip portion102of the endoscope100shown inFIG. 2excepting that disposition of light-distribution window1E and1F in the tip portion302is different from that of the tip portion102, the shape of the lower surface of a cap3B is changed in conformity with the disposition of the light-distribution windows1E and1F, and the disposition of the light guides4A and4B in the tip portion302is different from that in the tip portion102. The illumination optical system351includes optical components (the cap3B, concave lens parts8A and8B, and etc.) disposed in the tip portion302, and the light guides4A and4B provided to extend in the endoscope100.

In the embodiment shown inFIG. 2, the optical axes OL of the light guides4A and4B are parallel with the axis direction (z-axis direction) of the tip portion102and the insertion tube101of the endoscope100. By contrast, in the second variation shown inFIG. 16, the light guides4A and4B are parallel with the insertion tube101, but are disposed to spread out toward the tip side (to the positive side in z-axis direction) in the region of the tip portion302of the insertion tube101. The light-distribution windows1E and1F are disposed to be perpendicular to the optical axes of the light guides4A and4B in the tip portion302. That is, the light-distribution windows1E and1F are obliquely disposed so that the light-distribution windows1E and1F becomes higher at a point closer to the observation window2with respect to the outer periphery of the tip portion302in x-axis direction. Further, the lower surface of the cap3B is also inclined to be consistent with the inclined light-distribution windows1E and1F. The concave lens parts8A and8B are formed on the obliquely formed lower surface of the cap3B at positions corresponding to the light-distribution windows1E and1F. In the tip portion302, the optical axes of the light guides4A and4B are not parallel with the z-axis, but are inclined toward the positive and negative sides in x-axis direction to deviate from the center of the tip portion302toward the positive side in z-axis direction.

As described above, since the light guides4A and4B are disposed such that the optical axes thereof spread out outward, the illumination light which has propagated through the light guides4A and4B are emitted from the light-distribution windows to spread out outward in x-axis direction in comparison with the case where in the tip portion the light guides4A and4B are disposed to be parallel with the axis direction (z-axis direction) of the tip portion302. As a result, the scattering effect can be enhanced.

Further, when the optical axes of the concave lens parts8A and8B are defined to be parallel with the optical axes of the light guides4A and4B, the optical axes of the concave lens parts8A and8B may be decentered toward the center of the tip portion302with respect to the optical axes of the light guides4A and4B in the tip portion302. As a result, it becomes possible to let the illumination light which has propagated through the concave lens parts8A and8B exit while spreading out in x-axis direction. Consequently, the scattering effect can be further enhanced.

The foregoing is explanation about the embodiment of the present invention; however, the present invention is not limited to the above described embodiment, but can be varied within the scope of the invention.