# US 10,863,896 B2 · Endoscope system and fluorescence imaging method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,863,896 B2 - Document ID: US10863896B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/702,074 - Filed: 2017-09-12 - Published: 2018-03-15 - Granted: 2020-12-15 - Earliest claimed: 2016-09-13 - Assignees: Panasonic I-Pro Sensing Solutions Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Panasonic I-Pro Sensing Solutions Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Naoto Matsuo; Haruhiko Kohno; Nobuhiro Tsuchihashi - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10863896B2 ## CPC - A61B 1/046: {for infrared imaging} - A61B 1/00009: {of image signals during a use of endoscope} - A61B 1/00045: {Display arrangement} - A61B 1/00186: {with imaging filters} - A61B 1/043: {for fluorescence imaging} - A61B 1/0638: {providing two or more wavelengths} - A61B 1/0646: {with illumination filters} - A61B 1/0653: {with wavelength conversion} - A61B 1/07: using light-conductive means, e.g. optical fibres - A61B 5/0071: {by measuring fluorescence emission} - A61B 5/0086: {using infrared radiation} - A61B 5/7225: {Details of analogue processing, e.g. isolation amplifier, gain or sensitivity adjustment, filtering, baseline or drift compensation (input circuits for detecting, measuring, or recording bioelectric or biomagnetic signals A61B5/30; specific diagnostic methods using bioelectric or biomagnetic signals A61B5/316)} - H04N 23/56: provided with illuminating means - H04N 23/555: {for picking-up images in sites, inaccessible due to their dimensions or hazardous conditions, e.g. endoscopes or borescopes} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract An endoscope system includes a non-visible light source configured to emit first excitation light and second excitation light onto a target, an image sensor configured to generate an image including the target excited by at least one of the first excitation light and the second excitation light to emit fluorescence, and an output device configured to output the image. The first excitation light has a half width of not more than 10 nm and a first wavelength of a non-visible light band. The second excitation light has a half width of not more than 10 nm and a second wavelength of the non-visible light band being different from the first wavelength. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An endoscope system, comprising: a non-visible light source configured to emit first excitation light and second excitation light onto a target in which a fluorescent chemical having a wavelength band being capable of emitting fluorescence has been given, the first excitation light having a half width of not more than 10 nm and a first wavelength of a non-visible light band, the second excitation light having a half width of not more than 10 nm and a second wavelength of the non-visible light band being different from the first wavelength, a difference between the first wavelength and the second wavelength being at least 20 nm, each of the first wavelength and the second wavelength being within a first range of 750 nm to 810 nm; an image sensor configured to generate an image including the target excited by at least one of the first excitation light and the second excitation light such that fluorescence of the fluorescent chemical is emitted; an optical filter that is disposed on an incidence side of the image sensor and that is configured to shield the first excitation light and the second excitation light, wherein the optical filter has a characteristic that transmittance of the optical filter is not higher than 0.1% with respect to the wavelengths of light throughout a second range of 690 nm to 810 nm, the optical filter providing for transmittance of light at least throughout a third range from 380 nm to 690 nm and a fourth range including 830 nm; and an output configured to output the image. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The endoscope system according to claim 1, wherein: the non-visible light source has a first light source configured to emit the first excitation light and a second light source configured to emit the second excitation light. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The endoscope system according to claim 1, wherein: the non-visible light source is a laser diode. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The endoscope system according to claim 1, wherein: ICG (IndoCyamine Green) is used to cause fluorescence emission in the target. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The endoscope system according to claim 1, wherein: the image sensor is disposed at a distal end portion of an endoscope. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The endoscope system according to claim 5, wherein: a length of a diagonal of the image sensor having a square shape is equal to or smaller than 10 mm. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The endoscope system according to claim 1, further comprising: a visible light source configured to emit visible light onto the target, wherein: the image sensor is configured to generate a first image including the target by first photoelectric conversion using the visible light, and is configured to generate a second image including the target by second photoelectric conversion using non-visible light that is derived from fluorescence emission of the target excited by at least one of the first excitation light and the second excitation light. ### Claim 8 A fluorescence imaging method in an endoscope system, the fluorescence imaging method comprising: emitting first excitation light and second excitation light onto a target in which a fluorescent chemical having a wavelength band being capable of emitting fluorescence has been given, the first excitation light having a half width of not more than 10 nm and a first wavelength of a non-visible light band, the second excitation light having a half width of not more than 10 nm and a second wavelength of the non-visible light band being different from the first wavelength, a difference between the first wavelength and the second wavelength being at least 20 nm, each of the first wavelength and the second wavelength being within a first range of 750 nm to 810 nm; shielding the first excitation light and the second excitation light via an optical filter having a characteristic that transmittance of the optical filter is not higher than 0.1% with respect to the wavelengths of light throughout a second range of 690 nm to 810 nm, the optical filter providing for transmittance of light at least throughout a third range from 380 nm to 690 nm and a fourth range including 830 nm; generating an image including the target that is excited by at least one of the first excitation light and the second excitation light such that fluorescence of the fluorescent chemical is emitted; and outputting the image.