# US 10,122,975 B2 · Endoscope and endoscope system

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- Number: US 10,122,975 B2
- Document ID: US10122975B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/480,849
- Filed: 2017-04-06
- Published: 2017-11-23
- Granted: 2018-11-06
- Earliest claimed: 2016-05-19
- Assignees: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Yota Hashimoto; Haruyasu Katahira; Yuuichi Takenaga
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10122975B2

## CPC

- H04N 23/16: Optical arrangements associated therewith, e.g. for beam-splitting or for colour correction
- A61B 1/00096: {Optical elements}
- A61B 1/00186: {with imaging filters}
- A61B 1/042: {characterised by a proximal camera, e.g. a CCD camera}
- A61B 1/043: {for fluorescence imaging}
- A61B 1/046: {for infrared imaging}
- A61B 1/051: {Details of CCD assembly}
- A61B 5/0071: {by measuring fluorescence emission}
- A61B 5/0086: {using infrared radiation}
- G02B 23/04: for the purpose of beam splitting or combining, e.g. fitted with eyepieces for more than one observer (G02B23/10 takes precedence)
- G02B 23/2453: {of the proximal end}
- G02B 27/1013: {for colour or multispectral image sensors, e.g. splitting an image into monochromatic image components on respective sensors (spectral imaging systems G01J)}
- G02B 27/143: {using macroscopically faceted or segmented reflective surfaces}
- G02B 27/145: {having sequential partially reflecting surfaces}
- G02B 27/146: {with a tree or branched structure}
- H04N 23/11: for generating image signals from visible and infrared light wavelengths
- H04N 23/55: Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof
- H04N 25/11: Arrangement of colour filter arrays [CFA]; Filter mosaics
- H04N 25/131: including elements passing infrared wavelengths
- H04N 25/135: {based on four or more different wavelength filter elements}
- A61B 5/0077: {Devices for viewing the surface of the body, e.g. camera, magnifying lens}
- A61B 5/6847: {mounted on an invasive device}
- A61B 2505/05: Surgical care
- A61B 2562/0233: Special features of optical sensors or probes classified in A61B5/00
- A61B 2576/00: Medical imaging apparatus involving image processing or analysis (A61B1/00009, A61B6/52 and A61B8/52 take precedence)
- G16H 30/40: for processing medical images, e.g. editing
- H04N 23/555: {for picking-up images in sites, inaccessible due to their dimensions or hazardous conditions, e.g. endoscopes or borescopes}
- H04N 2209/048: having several pick-up sensors
- H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G16H: HEALTHCARE INFORMATICS, i.e. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE HANDLING OR PROCESSING OF MEDICAL OR HEALTHCARE DATA

## Abstract

An endoscope includes a four color separation prism having a first color separation prism, a second color separation prism, a third color separation prism, and a fourth color separation prism which respectively separate light incident from an affected area into a blue, red and green color components, and an IR component, first, second, third and fourth color image sensors, and a signal output. The first color separation prism, the second color separation prism, the third color separation prism, and the fourth color separation prism are sequentially disposed from an object side when receiving the light incident from the affected area. The first color image sensor is disposed opposite to the second color image sensor and the third color image sensor across an incident ray which is incident vertically to an object side incident surface of the first color separation prism.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An endoscope comprising:
a four color separation prism that includes a first color separation prism, a second color separation prism, a third color separation prism, and a fourth color separation prism which respectively separate light incident from an affected area into a first color component, a second color component, a third color component, and a fourth color component which are any one of a blue color component, a red color component, a green color component, and an IR component;
a first color image sensor that is installed in the first color separation prism, and that converts the separated first color component into an electric signal;
a second color image sensor that is installed in the second color separation prism, and that converts the separated second color component into an electric signal;
a third color image sensor that is installed in the third color separation prism, and that converts the separated third color component into an electric signal;
a fourth color image sensor that is installed in the fourth color separation prism, and that converts the separated fourth color component into an electric signal; and
a signal output that outputs a color image signal and an IR signal from the respectively converted electric signals,
wherein the first color separation prism, the second color separation prism, the third color separation prism, and the fourth color separation prism are sequentially disposed from an object side when receiving the light incident from the affected area,
wherein the first color image sensor is disposed opposite to the second color image sensor and the third color image sensor across an incident ray which is incident vertically to an object side incident surface of the first color separation prism, and
wherein a first angle formed between the object side incident surface of the first color separation prism and a reflective surface of the first color separation prism is greater than a second angle formed between the object side incident surface of the first color separation prism and a reflective surface of the second color separation prism.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The endoscope of claim 1,
wherein the first color separation prism is an IR separation prism, and
wherein the first color image sensor is an IR image sensor.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The endoscope of claim 2,
wherein the second color separation prism is a blue color separation prism, and
wherein the second color image sensor is a blue color image sensor.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The endoscope of claim 2,
wherein the fourth color separation prism is a green color separation prism, and
wherein the fourth color image sensor is a green color image sensor.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The endoscope of claim 1,
wherein the four color separation prism, the first color image sensor, the second color image sensor, the third color image sensor, and the fourth color image sensor are accommodated in a camera head gripped by a user when in use.

### Claim 6

An endoscope comprising:
a four color separation prism that includes a blue color separation prism, a red color separation prism, and a green color separation prism which respectively separate light incident from an affected area into a blue color component, a red color component, and a green color component, and an IR separation prism which separates the light incident from the affected area into an IR component;
a blue color image sensor that is installed in the blue color separation prism, and that converts the separated blue color component into an electric signal;
a red color image sensor that is installed in the red color separation prism, and that converts the separated red color component into an electric signal;
a green color image sensor that is installed in the green color separation prism, and that converts the separated green color component into an electric signal;
an IR image sensor that is installed in the IR separation prism, and that converts the separated IR component into an electric signal; and
a lens that focuses the light incident from the affected area onto an imaging surface of the respective image sensors,
wherein the IR separation prism is located closer to an object side than the blue color separation prism, the red color separation prism, and the green color separation prism when receiving the light incident from the affected area, and allows light having the blue color component, the red color component, and the green color component to be transmitted therethrough, and
wherein an optical distance from a flange surface of the lens to the imaging surface of the respective image sensors is 17.526 mm.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The endoscope of claim 6,
wherein a maximum value of spectral sensitivity obtained by the IR separation prism and the IR image sensor is equal to or greater than 40% of a maximum value of the spectral sensitivity in a wavelength band of three primary color light.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The endoscope of claim 7,
wherein in the IR image sensor, sensor sensitivity in a wavelength band of 830 nm is equal to or greater than 50% of sensor sensitivity in a wavelength band of 510 nm.

### Claim 9

A four color separation endoscope prism comprising:
a first color separation prism, a second color separation prism, a third color separation prism, and a fourth color separation prism which respectively separate light incident from an affected area into a first color component, a second color component, a third color component, and a fourth color component which are any one of a blue color component, a red color component, a green color component, and an IR component,
wherein the first color separation prism, the second color separation prism, the third color separation prism, and the fourth color separation prism are sequentially disposed from an object side when receiving the light incident from the affected area,
wherein a light emission surface of the first color separation prism is disposed opposite to a light emission surface of the second color separation prism and a light emission surface of the third color separation prism across an incident ray which is incident vertically to an object side incident surface of the first color separation prism, and
wherein a first angle formed between the object side incident surface of the first color separation prism and a reflective surface of the first color separation prism is greater than a second angle formed between the object side incident surface of the first color separation prism and a reflective surface of the second color separation prism.

### Claim 10

An image display method comprising:
separating, by a four color separation prism of an endoscope, light incident from an affected area into four color components,
the four color separation prism including a first color separation prism, a second color separation prism, a third color separation prism, and a fourth color separation, and
the four color components including a first color component, a second color component, a third color component, and a fourth color component which are any one of a blue color component, a red color component, a green color component, and an IR component;
converting, by a first color image sensor that is installed in the first color separation prism, the separated first color component into an electric signal;
converting, by a second color image sensor that is installed in the second color separation prism, the separated second color component into an electric signal;
converting, by a third color image sensor that is installed in the third color separation prism, the separated third color component into an electric signal;
converting, by a fourth color image sensor that is installed in the fourth color separation prism, the separated fourth color component into an electric signal; and
outputting, by a signal output, a color image signal and an IR signal from the respectively converted electric signals,
wherein the first color separation prism, the second color separation prism, the third color separation prism, and the fourth color separation prism are sequentially disposed from an object side when receiving the light incident from the affected area,
wherein the first color image sensor is disposed opposite to the second color image sensor and the third color image sensor across an incident ray which is incident vertically to an object side incident surface of the first color separation prism, and
wherein a first angle formed between the object side incident surface of the first color separation prism and a reflective surface of the first color separation prism is greater than a second angle formed between the object side incident surface of the first color separation prism and a reflective surface of the second color separation prism.