Illumination Balance in Endoscopes and Solid-State Narrowband Imaging and Assembly Using Fiber Bundle Design

Abstract

Semiconductor-based light source arrangement for endoscopes for power and / or color distribution of light. A semiconductor-based light source arrangement comprising a plurality of semiconductor light sources and a plurality of fiber bundles, wherein each fiber bundle is separated into a plurality of fiber sub-bundles for directing substantially the same amount of illumination from each semiconductor light source to the arrangement Each of a respective plurality of illumination windows at the distal end of the endoscope. By providing such a semiconductor-based light source in which each semiconductor light source is operated to adjust the brightness and / or color or wavelength of light emitted by each semiconductor light source, it is possible to obtain an and / or desired color temperature and / or color balance for lighting of other substances.

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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