Loading patent…

Back to results

US 6,747,281 B2Granted

Flourescent—light image display method and apparatus therefor

AssigneeFuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.

InventorsTomonari Sendai, Kazuhiro Tsujita, Yukihiko Nakajima

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Download PDF Find prior artPrior art Similar

Abstract Drawings Claims Description

Abstract

According to a method of and apparatus for displaying as an autofluorescent-light image emitted from a target subject upon the irradiation thereof by a excitation light, even for cases in which a malfunction of the apparatus occurs that prevents an operator from obtaining a desired image, a standard-image is displayed so as to enable an operator to safely and expediently remove the insertion portion of the endoscope from the body of a patient, whereby the safety of the patient can be ensured. When an irregularity in the temperature of one of the light sources, the operation of one of the drive apparatus, or other cause of an operational irregularity occurring in of one of the light sources is detected by the semiconductor-laser temperature detecting means, the reference-light source temperature detecting means, or the emission-output detecting means, in response to a detection signal thereof, the standard-image display mode is switched to automatically.

Claims22

Dependent claims

Claim 1A method of displaying a fluorescent-light image comprising irradiating a target area with an illuminating light and a excitation light emitted from a excitation light emitting means and a reference-light emitted from a reference-light emitting means and which have been guided to said target area · 204 wordsNo dependents Claim 2A method of displaying a fluorescent-light image comprising irradiating a target area with an illuminating light and a excitation light that has been emitted from a excitation light emitting means and guided to said target area · 181 wordsNo dependents Claim 3A method of displaying a fluorescent-light image comprising irradiating a target area with an illuminating light and a excitation light emitted from a excitation light emitting means and a reference-light emitted from a reference-light emitting means and which have been guided to said target area · 217 wordsNo dependents Claim 4An apparatus for displaying a fluorescent-light image · 261 words6 dependent Claim 5An apparatus for displaying a fluorescent-light image · 219 words9 dependent Claim 6An apparatus for displaying a fluorescent-light image · 256 words6 dependent Claim 7An apparatus for displaying a fluorescent-light image · 353 words6 dependent Claim 8An apparatus for displaying a fluorescent-light image · 392 wordsNo dependents Claim 18An apparatus for displaying a fluorescent-light image · 256 words2 dependent Claim 21An apparatus for displaying a fluorescent-light image · 231 wordsNo dependents Claim 22An apparatus for displaying a fluorescent-light image · 222 wordsNo dependents

A method of displaying a fluorescent-light image comprising

irradiating a target area with an illuminating light and a excitation light emitted from a excitation light emitting means and a reference-light emitted from a reference-light emitting means and which have been guided to said target area,
obtaining, by use of a single image obtaining means provided with separate image obtaining portions for obtaining a fluorescent-light image, a standard-image, and a reflected-light image, respectively, a fluorescent-light image formed of the fluorescent-light emitted from the target area upon the irradiation thereof by the excitation light, a standard-image formed of the reflected-light reflected from the target area upon the irradiation thereof by the illuminating light, and a reflected-light image formed of the reflected-light reflected from the target area upon the irradiation thereof by the reference-light, and
displaying a fluorescent-light image based on the obtained fluorescent-light image and the obtained reflected-light image and a standard-image based on the obtained standard-image, further comprising
detecting that an operational irregularity has occurred in at least one of the excitation light and reference-light emitting means, and in response to a detection signal thereof,
emitting the illuminating-light,
switching the image obtaining means to a standard-image obtaining mode,
obtaining the standard-image, and
displaying the standard-image.

5 more elements

A method of displaying a fluorescent-light image comprising

irradiating a target area with an illuminating light and a excitation light that has been emitted from a excitation light emitting means and guided to said target area,
obtaining, by use of a single image obtaining means provided with separate image obtaining portions for obtaining a fluorescent-light image and a standard-image, respectively a fluorescent-light image formed of the fluorescent-light emitted from the target area upon the irradiation thereof by the excitation light and a standard-image formed of the reflected-light reflected from the target area upon the irradiation thereof by the illuminating light, and
displaying a fluorescent-light image based on the obtained fluorescent-light image and a standard-image based on the obtained standard-image, further comprising
detecting that an operational irregularity has occurred in any one of the image obtaining portions, and in response to a detection signal thereof,
emitting the illuminating-light,
obtaining, by use of the image obtaining portion that is not operating irregularly, a standard-image formed of the reflected-light reflected form the target area upon irradiation thereof by said illuminating-light, and
displaying the standard-image.

4 more elements

A method of displaying a fluorescent-light image comprising

irradiating a target area with an illuminating light and a excitation light emitted from a excitation light emitting means and a reference-light emitted from a reference-light emitting means and which have been guided to said target area,
obtaining, by use of a single image obtaining means provided with separate image obtaining portions for obtaining a fluorescent-light image, a standard-image, and a reflected-light image, respectively, a fluorescent-light image formed of the fluorescent-light emitted from the target area upon the irradiation thereof by the excitation light, a standard-image formed of the reflected-light reflected from the target area upon the irradiation thereof by the illuminating light, and a reflected-light image formed of the reflected-light reflected from the target area upon the irradiation thereof by the reference-light, and
displaying a fluorescent-light image based on the obtained fluorescent-light image and the obtained reflected-light image and a standard-image based on the obtained standard-image, further comprising
detecting that an operational irregularity has occurred in any one of the image obtaining portions, and in response to a detection signal thereof,
emitting the illuminating-light,
obtaining, by use of an image obtaining portion that is not operating irregularly, a standard-image formed of the reflected-light reflected form the target area upon irradiation thereof by said illuminating-light, and
displaying the standard-image.

4 more elements

An apparatus for displaying a fluorescent-light image, comprising

excitation light emitting means for emitting a excitation light,
illuminating-light emitting means for emitting an illuminating-light,
reference-light emitting means for emitting a reference-light,
light guiding means for guiding the excitation light, the illuminating-light, and the reference-light to a target area,
a single image obtaining means provided with separate image obtaining portions for obtaining a fluorescent-light image formed of the fluorescent-light emitted from the target area upon the irradiation thereof by the excitation light, a standard-image formed of the reflected-light reflected from the target area upon the irradiation thereof by the illuminating light, and a reflected-light image formed of the reflected-light reflected from the target area upon the irradiation thereof by the reference-light, respectively,
display means for displaying a fluorescent-light image based on the on the obtained fluorescent-light image and the obtained reflected-light image and a standard-image based on the obtained standard-image,
an image display controlling means for controlling the excitation light emitting means, the illuminating-light emitting means, the reference-light emitting means, the image obtaining means, and the display means, further comprising
emission output irregularity detecting means for detecting that an operational irregularity has occurred in at least one from among the excitation light emitting means and the reference-light emitting means, and
a standard-image display controlling means for causing, in response to a detection signal from said emission output irregularity detecting means, the illuminating-light to be emitted from the illuminating-light emitting means, the image obtaining means to switch to a standard-image obtaining mode, and the display means to switch to the standard-image display mode.

6 more elements

An apparatus for displaying a fluorescent-light image, comprising

excitation light emitting means for emitting a excitation light,
illuminating-light emitting means for emitting an illuminating-light,
light guiding means for guiding the excitation light and the illuminating-light to a target area,
a single image obtaining means provided with separate image obtaining portions for obtaining a fluorescent-light image formed of the fluorescent-light emitted from the target area upon the irradiation thereof by the excitation light and a standard-image formed of the reflected-light reflected from the target area upon the irradiation thereof by the illuminating light, respectively,
display means for displaying a fluorescent-light image based on the on the obtained fluorescent-light image and a standard-image based on the obtained standard-image, an image display controlling means for controlling the excitation light emitting means, the illuminating-light emitting means, the image obtaining means, and the display means, further comprising
image-obtainment irregularity detecting means for detecting that an operational irregularity has occurred in any one of the image obtaining portions, and
a standard-image display controlling means for causing, in response to a detection signal from said image-obtainment irregularity detecting means, the illuminating-light to be emitted from the illuminating-light emitting means, the image obtaining means to switch to the image obtaining portion that is not operating irregularly, and the display means to switch to the standard-image display mode.

4 more elements

An apparatus for displaying a fluorescent-light image, comprising

excitation light emitting means for emitting a excitation light,
illuminating-light emitting means for emitting an illuminating-light,
reference-light emitting means for emitting a reference-light,
light guiding means for guiding the excitation light, the illuminating-light, and the reference-light to a target area,
a single image obtaining means provided with separate image obtaining portions for obtaining a fluorescent-light image formed of the fluorescent-light emitted from the target area upon the irradiation thereof by the excitation light, a standard-image formed of the reflected-light reflected from the target area upon the irradiation thereof by the illuminating light, and a reflected-light image formed of the reflected-light reflected from the target area upon the irradiation thereof by the reference-light, respectively,
display means for displaying a fluorescent-light image based on the on the obtained fluorescent-light image and the obtained reflected-light image and a standard-image based on the obtained standard-image,
an image display controlling means for controlling the excitation light emitting means, the illuminating-light emitting means, the reference-light emitting means, the image obtaining means, and the display means, further comprising
image-obtainment irregularity detecting means for detecting that an operational irregularity has occurred in any one of the image obtaining portions, and
a standard-image display controlling means for causing, in response to a detection signal from said image-obtainment irregularity detecting means, the illuminating-light to be emitted from the illuminating-light emitting means, the image obtaining means to switch to an image obtaining portion that is not operating irregularly, and the display means to switch to the standard-image display mode.

6 more elements

An apparatus for displaying a fluorescent-light image, comprising

excitation light emitting means for emitting a excitation light,
illuminating-light emitting means for emitting an illuminating-light,
light guiding means for guiding the excitation light and the illuminating-light to a target area,
a single image obtaining means provided with separate image obtaining portions for obtaining a fluorescent-light image formed of the fluorescent-light emitted from the target area upon the irradiation thereof by the excitation light and a standard-image formed of the reflected-light reflected from the target area upon the irradiation thereof by the illuminating light, respectively,
display means for displaying a fluorescent-light image based on the on the obtained fluorescent-light image and a standard-image based on the obtained standard-image,
an image display controlling means for controlling the excitation light emitting means, the illuminating-light emitting means, the image obtaining means, and the display means,
a excitation light emission control line, an illuminating-light emission control line, an image obtainment control line, and a display control line, for electrically connecting the excitation light emitting means, the illuminating light-emitting means, the image obtaining means, and the display means, respectively, to the image display controlling means, wherein
the illuminating-light means emits the illuminating-light in response to the control signal of the illuminating-light emission control line being in the OFF state,
the image obtaining means switches to a standard-image obtaining mode in response to the control signal of the image obtainment control line being in the OFF state,
the display means switches to the standard-image obtaining mode in response to the control signal of the display control line being in the OFF state, further comprising
a disconnection detecting means for detecting that at least one control line from among the illuminating-light emission control line, the image obtainment control line, and the display control line is disconnected, and
a standard-image display controlling means for causing, in response to a detection signal from said disconnection detecting means, the control signal of the control line of from among the illuminating-light emission control line, the image obtainment emission control line, and the display control line that have not been disconnected to be in the OFF state.

9 more elements

An apparatus for displaying a fluorescent-light image, comprising

excitation light emitting means for emitting a excitation light,
illuminating-light emitting means for emitting an illuminating-light,
reference-light emitting means for emitting a reference-light,
light guiding means for guiding the excitation light, the illuminating-light, and the reference-light to a target area,
a single image obtaining means provided with separate image obtaining portions for obtaining a fluorescent-light image formed of the fluorescent-light emitted from the target area upon the irradiation thereof by the excitation light, a standard-image formed of the reflected-light reflected from the target area upon the irradiation thereof by the illuminating light, and a reflected-light image formed of the reflected-light reflected from the target area upon the irradiation thereof by the reference-light, respectively,
display means for displaying a fluorescent-light image based on the on the obtained fluorescent-light image and the obtained reflected-light image and a standard-image based on the obtained standard-image,
an image display controlling means for controlling the excitation light emitting means, the illuminating-light emitting means, the reference-light emitting means, the image obtaining means, and the display means, further comprising
a excitation light emission control line, an illuminating-light emission control line, an image obtainment control line, and a display control line, for electrically connecting the excitation light emitting means, the illuminating light-emitting means, the image obtaining means, and the display means, respectively, to the image display controlling means, wherein
the illuminating-light means emits the illuminating-light in response to the control signal of the illuminating-light emission control line being in the OFF state,
the image obtaining means switches to a standard-image obtaining mode in response to the control signal of the image obtainment control line being in the OFF state,
the display means switches to the standard-image obtaining mode in response to the control signal of the display control line being in the OFF state, further comprising
a disconnection detecting means for detecting that at least one control line from among the illuminating-light emission control line, the image obtainment control line, and the display control line is disconnected, and
a standard-image display controlling means for causing, in response to a detection signal from said disconnection detecting means, the control signal of the control line of from among the illuminating-light emission control line, the image obtainment emission control line, and the display control line that have not been short-circuited to be in the OFF state.

10 more elements

An apparatus for displaying a fluorescent-light image, comprising

excitation light emitting means for emitting a excitation light,
illuminating-light emitting means for emitting an illuminating-light,
light guiding means for guiding the excitation light and the illuminating-light to a target area,
a single image obtaining means provided with separate image obtaining portions for obtaining a fluorescent-light image formed of the fluorescent-light emitted from the target area upon the irradiation thereof by the excitation light and a standard-image formed of the reflected-light reflected from the target area upon the irradiation thereof by the illuminating light, respectively,
display means for displaying a fluorescent-light image based on the obtained fluorescent-light image and a standard-image based on the obtained standard-image,
an image display controlling means for controlling the excitation light emitting means, the illuminating-light emitting means, the image obtaining means, and the display means, further comprising
excitation light irregularity detecting means for detecting that an operational irregularity has occurred in the excitation light emitting means,
a standard-image display controlling means for causing, in response to a detection signal from said excitation light irregularity detecting means, the illuminating-light to be emitted from the illuminating-light emitting means, the image obtaining means to switch to a standard-image obtaining mode, and the display means to switch to the standard-image display mode, and
input means for causing the illuminating-light to be emitted, the image obtaining means to be switched to the standard-image obtaining mode, and the display means to be switched to the standard-image displaying mode when an operational irregularity occurs in the image display controlling means.

6 more elements

An apparatus for displaying a fluorescent-light image, comprising

excitation light emitting means for emitting a excitation light,
illuminating-light emitting means for emitting an illuminating-light,
light guiding means for guiding the excitation light and the illuminating-light to a target area,
a single image obtaining means provided with separate image obtaining portions for obtaining a fluorescent-light image formed of the fluorescent-light emitted from the target area upon the irradiation thereof by the excitation light and a standard-image formed of the reflected-light reflected from the target area upon the irradiation thereof by the illuminating light, respectively,
display means for displaying a fluorescent-light image based on the obtained fluorescent-light image and a standard-image based on the obtained standard-image,
an image display controlling means for controlling the excitation light emitting means, the illuminating-light emitting means, the image obtaining means, and the display means, further comprising
excitation light irregularity detecting means for detecting that an operational irregularity has occurred in the excitation light emitting means, and
a standard-image display controlling means for causing, in response to a detection signal from said excitation light irregularity detecting means, the illuminating-light to be emitted from the illuminating-light emitting means, the image obtaining means to switch to a standard-image obtaining mode, and the display means to switch to the standard-image display mode,
wherein the display means is provided with two display apparatuses that display a fluorescent-light image and a standard-image, respectively.

6 more elements

An apparatus for displaying a fluorescent-light image, comprising

excitation light emitting means for emitting a excitation light,
illuminating-light emitting means for emitting an illuminating-light,
light guiding means for guiding the excitation light and the illuminating-light to a target area,
a single image obtaining means provided with separate image obtaining portions for obtaining a fluorescent-light image formed of the fluorescent-light emitted from the target area upon the irradiation thereof by the excitation light and a standard-image formed of the reflected-light reflected from the target area upon the irradiation thereof by the illuminating light, respectively,
display means for displaying a fluorescent-light image based on the obtained fluorescent-light image and a standard-image based on the obtained standard-image,
an image display controlling means for controlling the excitation light emitting means, the illuminating-light emitting means, the image obtaining means, and the display means, further comprising
excitation light irregularity detecting means for detecting that an operational irregularity has occurred in the excitation light emitting means, and
a standard-image display controlling means for causing, in response to a detection signal from said excitation light regularity detecting means, the illuminating-light to be emitted from the illuminating-light emitting means, the image obtaining means to switch to a standard-image obtaining mode, and the display means to switch to the standard-image display mode,
wherein the excitation light source is a GaN semiconductor laser.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 09/919,853Filed 2 Aug 2001
Priority: JP 2000-2342252 Aug 2000
Published: US 2002/0014595 A17 Feb 2002
Granted: 8 Jun 2004
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification11 codes

A61B 1/0646
With illuminating arrangements: with illumination filters
A61B 1/00009
Characterised by electronic signal processing: of image signals during a use of endoscope
A61B 1/0005
Display arrangement: combining images e.g. side-by-side, superimposed or tiled
A61B 1/00186
Optical arrangements: with imaging filters

Family

US 2002/0014595 A1Pre-grant publication · published 7 Feb 2002
US 6,747,281 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

Timeline

Citations

Open elsewhere

USPTO full text and PDF
Patent Center file history
USPTO assignment records
Espacenet
Google Patents