# US 11,442,014 B2 · Spectroscopic analysis apparatus

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- Number: US 11,442,014 B2
- Document ID: US11442014B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/173,332
- Filed: 2021-02-11
- Published: 2021-06-24
- Granted: 2022-09-13
- Earliest claimed: 2018-09-28
- Assignees: Olympus Corporation
- Applicants: Olympus Corporation
- Inventors: Shoichi Kaneko; Akira Sato; Chikashi Ota
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11442014B2

## CPC

- G01N 21/645: {Specially adapted constructive features of fluorimeters}
- A61B 1/00: Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopes (examination of body cavities or body tracts using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves A61B8/12; endoscopic instruments for taking cell samples or for biopsy A61B10/04); Illuminating arrangements therefor (for the eyes A61B3/00)
- A61B 10/00: Instruments for taking body samples for diagnostic purposes (for taking samples of blood A61B5/15); Other methods or instruments for diagnosis, e.g. for vaccination diagnosis, sex determination or ovulation-period determination; Throat striking implements
- G01M 11/00: Testing of optical apparatus; Testing structures by optical methods not otherwise provided for
- G01N 21/65: Raman scattering
- G01N 2021/6484: {Optical fibres}
- G01N 2201/0846: Fibre interface with sample, e.g. for spatial resolution
- G01N 2201/088: Using a sensor fibre
- G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q)
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- G01M: TESTING STATIC OR DYNAMIC BALANCE OF MACHINES OR STRUCTURES; TESTING OF STRUCTURES OR APPARATUS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

## Abstract

Provided is a spectroscopic analysis apparatus including: an optical probe; and a spectroscopic analysis portion to which the optical probe is attached. The optical probe includes an optical fiber that guides illumination light coming from a light source and signal light coming from an observation target and an optical member that is disposed at least at a distal end of the optical fiber. The spectroscopic analysis portion includes an information separation portion that generates wavelength dependent characteristics by optically dispersing the signal light and that separates, from information about the signal light, information about first return light returning from the optical member and information about second return light returning from the optical fiber, a problem determining portion that determines a problem occurring at the optical probe based on the separated first return light and second return light, and a notification portion that notifies information about the determined problem.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A spectroscopic analysis apparatus comprising:
an optical probe; and
a spectroscopic analysis portion to which the optical probe is attached in an attachable/detachable manner by means of a connector,
wherein the optical probe comprises:
an optical fiber configured to guide illumination light coming from a light source and signal light coming from an observation target; and
an optical member disposed at least at a distal end of the optical fiber, and
wherein the spectroscopic analysis portion comprises a processor comprising hardware, the processor being configured to:
generate wavelength dependent characteristics by optically dispersing the signal light and to separate, from information about the signal light, information about first return light returning from the optical member and second return light returning from the optical fiber;
determine a problem occurring at the optical probe on the basis of the separated first return light and the second return light; and
control a display to notify information about the determined problem;
wherein the processor determines the problem on the basis of a sum of the intensity of the first return light and the intensity of the second return light and a ratio of the intensity of the first return light and the intensity of the second return light.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A spectroscopic analysis apparatus according to claim 1, wherein problems occurring in a plurality of the optical fibers of the optical probe are determined by utilizing two or more wavelengths of a spectrum of the first return light returning from the optical member at the distal end of the optical fibers.

### Claim 3

A spectroscopic analysis apparatus comprising:
an optical probe; and
a spectroscopic analysis portion to which the optical probe is attached in an attachable/detachable manner by means of a connector,
wherein the optical probe comprises:
an optical fiber configured to guide illumination light coming from a light source and signal light coming from an observation target; and
optical members disposed at a distal end and a proximal end of the optical fiber, and
wherein the spectroscopic analysis portion comprises a processor comprising hardware, the processor being configured to:
generate wavelength dependent characteristics by optically dispersing the signal light and to separate, from information about the signal light, information about first return light returning from the optical member at the distal end and second return light returning from the optical member at the proximal end;
determine a problem occurring at the optical probe on the basis of the separated first return light and the second return light; and
control a display to notify information about the determined problem;
wherein the processor determines the problem on the basis of a sum of the intensity of the first return light and the intensity of the second return light and a ratio of the intensity of the first return light and the intensity of the second return light.

### Claim 4

A spectroscopic analysis apparatus comprising:
an optical probe; and
a spectroscopic analysis portion to which the optical probe is attached in an attachable/detachable manner by means of a connector,
wherein the optical probe comprises:
an optical fiber configured to guide illumination light coming from a light source and signal light coming from an observation target; and
optical members disposed at a distal end and a proximal end of the optical fiber, and
wherein the spectroscopic analysis portion comprises a processor comprising hardware, the processor being configured to:
generate wavelength dependent characteristics by optically dispersing the signal light and to separate, from information about the signal light, information about first return light returning from the optical member at the distal end and second return light returning from the optical member at the proximal end;
determine a problem occurring at the optical probe on the basis of the separated first return light and the second return light; and
control a display to notify information about the determined problem;
wherein problems occurring in a plurality of the optical fibers of the optical probe are determined by utilizing two or more wavelengths of a spectrum of the first return light returning from the optical member at the distal end of the optical fibers.