Illumination balancing and solid state narrow band imaging utilizing fiber bundle design and assembly techniques in endoscopes

Abstract

A semiconductor-based light source device for an endoscope that provides for a even power distribution and / or color distribution of light. The semiconductor-based light source device includes a plurality of semiconductor light sources and a plurality of fiber bundles, in which the respective fiber bundles are each segregated into a plurality of fiber sub-bundles for directing substantially the same amount of illumination from a respective semiconductor light source to each of a corresponding plurality of illumination windows disposed at a distal end of the endoscope. By providing such a semiconductor-based light source device, in which the respective semiconductor light sources are operative to adjust the intensity and / or color or wavelength of the light emitted by the respective semiconductor light sources, a desired color temperature and / or color balance for illumination of tissue and / or other matter under examination by the endoscope can be achieved.

Description

technical field [0001] The present application relates generally to light source devices, and more particularly to semiconductor-based light source devices for endoscopic equipment that provide a more uniform power distribution and / or color distribution of light and allow the use of target wavelength to enhance the visibility of features of interest. Background technique [0002] It is known that endoscopes use semiconductor light sources to illuminate the interior of hollow organs and / or body cavities in the human body. For example, such an endoscope can be used to examine the inside of the small intestine during a colonoscopy, the large intestine during a colonoscopy, the upper airway during a rhinoscopy, and the lower bowel during a bronchoscopy. The interior of the respiratory tract, etc. A conventional endoscopic device may include two separate fiber bundles and two semiconductor light sources such as light emitting diodes (LEDs) coupled to the two separate fiber bund...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

[0003] However, the conventional endoscopic devices discussed above may have drawbacks in that the light provided at the distal end of the endoscopic device may not be well matched in terms of power output and / or color output since the two LEDs providing the corresponding illumination may not be well matched in terms of power output and / or color output. Two separate illuminations can lead to uneven illumination and / or unintentional coloring of tissues and / or other substances during examination with endoscopic equipment

However, such an additional operation of testing LEDs during endoscope manufacturing would undesirably increase the final cost of the endoscope

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