# US 2010/0168588 A1 · Endoscope system for fluorescent observation

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- Number: US 2010/0168588 A1
- Document ID: US20100168588A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 12/721,604
- Filed: 2010-03-11
- Published: 2010-07-01
- Earliest claimed: 2003-06-17
- Assignees: Olympus Corporation
- Inventors: Shinya MATSUMOTO; Akira Hasegawa
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20100168588A1

## CPC

- A61B 1/041: {Capsule endoscopes for imaging}
- 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 1/0655: {Control therefor}
- A61B 1/0669: {at proximal end of an endoscope}
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)

## Abstract

An endoscope system is disclosed for detecting fluorescent light emitted in the near-infrared region by a plurality of fluorescent labeling materials introduced into a living tissue. An illumination system generates illumination light in the wavelength range 600 nm-2000 nm which serves as excitation light for the plurality of fluorescent labeling materials, and a detection system that can separately detect different ones of the plurality of fluorescent light emissions that are emitted at different wavelengths from among the plurality of fluorescent labeling materials is provided. The endoscope system may include a conventional-type endoscope having an insertion section, or a capsule endoscope that wirelessly transmits image data. By superimposing the image data obtained using reflected light in the visible region and fluorescent light emitted by the fluorescent labeling materials, improved diagnostic capabilities are provided.

## Claims

### Claim at position 1

1-30. (canceled)

### Claim 31

An endoscope system for detecting fluorescences emitted by a plurality of fluorescent labeling materials introduced into living tissue, comprising:
an illumination system; and
an observation system;
wherein
the illumination system generates an excitation light for the fluorescent labeling materials;
the observation system includes an objective optical system, an excitation light cut-off filter, a wavelength tunable filter and a detector;
the wavelength tunable filter is formed as an etalon that includes a plurality of transparent substrates arranged so as to form a gap between said transparent substrates, the surfaces of the substrates that face each other across the gap have semi-transparent films, at least two of which have a spectral transmittance and the following conditions are satisfied:
T1≧80% and
T2≦35%,
where
T1 is the average transmittance in the wavelength region of 400 nm≦λ≦650 nm, and
T2 is a transmittance in the wavelength band having a lower boundary that is 50 nm shorter than the peak transmittance wavelength of the shortest fluorescence wavelength, and an upper boundary that is 50 nm longer than the peak transmittance wavelength of the longest fluorescence wavelength.

### Claim 32

An endoscope for detecting fluorescence emitted by a plurality of fluorescent labeling materials introduced into living tissue, comprising:
an illumination unit; and
an observation unit;
wherein
the illumination unit generates near-infrared illumination light that includes a wavelength band for excitation of the fluorescent labeling materials;
the observation unit includes an objective optical system, an excitation light blocking filter, a wavelength tunable filter, and a detector;
the combination of the excitation light blocking filter and the wavelength tunable filter passes light in the visible region, and has a passband in the infrared region which allows the fluorescence emitted from the fluorescent labeling material that is under observation to pass through;
and
the spectral transmittance of said combination satisfies the following conditions:
T3≧60%
T4≦0.01%
T5≧65%
5 nm≦d5≦35 nm
where
T3 is the average transmittance within the visible wavelength range of 400 nm≦λ≦650 nm,
T4 is the transmittance for the wavelengths within a range 20 nm above and 20 nm below the wavelength range of the excitation light generated by the illumination unit,
T5 is the transmittance at the peak transmittance wavelength for an infrared passband,
d5 is the infrared passband's full width as measured at 50% of the peak transmittance, and
λ is the wavelength of light incident onto the wavelength tunable filter.

### Claim 33

(canceled)

### Claim 34 (depends on 31)

The endoscope system according to claim 31, wherein the etalon includes at least three semi-transparent base substrates.

### Claim 35 (depends on 32)

The endoscope system according to claim 32, wherein the wavelength tunable filter includes at least three semi-transparent base substrates.

### Claim at position 7

36-43. (canceled)