Brightness-controlled endoscope illumination system
AssigneeOlympus Winter & Ibe GmbH
InventorsAndreas Mückner, Jens Peter Wulfsberg
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An illumination system for endoscopes having a light source of which the brightness is controlled by a control unit. A hook-up cable containing a bundle of optic fibers is provided to transmit the light from the light source to a light guide situated in the endoscope and extending to a distal end of the endoscope. At least one fiber of the bundle of fibers is optically coupled at one end near the light source with a light sensor. The light sensor cooperates with the control unit to control the brightness of the light source.
Claims4
An illumination system for an endoscope (1) that is fitted with a light source (3), a brightness of said light source is controlled by a control unit (23), a hook-up cable (2) containing a bundle of optic fibers is provided to transmit the light from the light source (3) to a light guide (9) installed in then endoscope (1) and running to a distal end (10) of the endoscope, wherein at least one fiber (20) of the bundle of fibers (13) is optically coupled at end near the light source (20) with a light sensor (25, 30), said light sensor being operable, in cooperation with the control unit (23), to control the brightness of the light source.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.