Patent ID: 7455638

Claim:
An endoscope apparatus comprising: an insertion section to be inserted into a space to be inspected; a light emitting device for emitting excitation light; a fluorescent member for emitting illumination light obtained by mixing the excitation light and fluorescent light excited by the excitation light into the space to be inspected from the tip end of the insertion section; an optical sensor for detecting return light, which is a part of the illumination light; a light guide for light detection provided with one end facing the fluorescent member and the other end facing the optical sensor for transmitting the return light emitted from the fluorescent member to the optical sensor; a wavelength limiting member provided between the other end of the light guide for light detection and the optical sensor for limiting the wavelength of the return light; and a light detection portion for detecting intensity of the return light detected at the optical sensor, wherein the wavelength limiting member comprises a first wavelength limiting member for transmitting only the fluorescent light out of the return light toward the optical sensor and a second wavelength limiting member for transmitting only the excitation light out of the return light toward the optical sensor.