Stereo endoscope

A stereo endoscope apparatus comprising:

• an elongated insertion portion;
• first and second optical guide means inserted into said insertion portion, and through which an optical image can be transmitted;
• a lens system for imaging the optical image at each front end surface of said first and second optical guides disposed at the front end of said insertion portion;
• light output means for outputting illuminating light to the other end surfaces of said first and second optical guides;
• ocular optical system means for introducing said optical image transmitted to the other end surfaces of said first and second optical guides into two ocular openings for observing said optical image;
• and
• illuminating/observing control means for introducing said optical image transmitted through either of said optical guide means to said ocular opening which corresponds to said optical guide means when said illuminating light is supplied to the other one of said first or second optical guide means.

A stereo endoscope system comprising:

• an endoscope having an elongated insertion portion, a plurality of optical guide means inserted into said insertion portion through each of which an optical image can be transmitted, and a lens system for imaging an optical image at a first end surface of each said optical guide means at the front end of said insertion portion;
• light emitting means for supplying illumination light to the other end of a selected one of any of said optical guide means, said light being output from said first end surface for illuminating a subject;
• imaging means for making visible an optical image of the subject transmitted to the other end surface of each said optical guide means other than that illuminating said subject;
• illuminating/imaging control means for controlling said light emitting means and introducing said transmitted optical image from said.

A stereo endoscope system comprising:

• an endoscope having an elongated insertion portion, first and second optical guide means inserted into said insertion portion, and through which an optical image can be transmitted, a lens system for imaging the optical image at each front end surface of said first and second optical guides disposed at the front end of said insertion portion;
• light output means which can be fitted to one end portions of said first and second optical guides of said endoscope, and which supplies illuminating light to said end portions;
• light output means for outputting illuminating light to the other end surfaces of said first and second optical guides;
• imaging means for imaging said optical image transmitted to the other end surfaces of said first and second optical guides;
• illuminating/imaging control means for introducing said optical image transmitted through one of said optical guide means to said imaging means when said illuminating light output from said light output means is supplied to the other one of said first or second optical guide means;
• signal processing means for generating image signals by signal-processing the signals which have been optically converted by said imaging means;
• and
• monitor means for color-displaying said image signals output by said signal processing means.