Patent ID: 8573824

Claim:
An illumination optical unit for an endoscope comprising: an optical fiber that guides a laser beam supplied from a laser beam source to a distal end of the optical fiber and emits the guided laser beam from the distal end; a fluorescent body that is excited by the laser beam emitted from the optical fiber to emit florescent light and that forms white light consisting of the fluorescent light and the laser beam; a holding member that holds the fluorescent body, has a fluorescent body holding portion opened on a distal end side, and a through hole that is continuous from a proximal end of the fluorescent body holding portion and allows the optical fiber to be inserted therethrough, and is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape; a sleeve member that has an inner peripheral face fitted to an outer peripheral face of the holding member and has a distal end and a proximal end opened; and a protective cover that is held by the sleeve member, covers the distal end side of the fluorescent body, and transmits the fluorescent light and the laser beam, wherein the optical fiber is made to protrude from the proximal ends of the holding member and the sleeve member, the distal end side of the fluorescent body is sealed by bonding the sleeve member and the protective cover, and a proximal end side of the fluorescent body is sealed by bonding the sleeve member and the holding member.