# US 7,609,440 B2 · In-vivo examination apparatus

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- Number: US 7,609,440 B2
- Document ID: US7609440B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 11/667,338
- Filed: 2005-11-09
- Published: 2009-03-12
- Granted: 2009-10-27
- Earliest claimed: 2004-11-10
- Assignees: Olympus Corporation
- Inventors: Yoshihisa Tanikawa; Yoshihiro Kawano
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7609440B2

## CPC

- G02B 21/0028: {specially adapted for specific applications, e.g. for endoscopes, ophthalmoscopes, attachments to conventional microscopes}
- G02B 21/082: {for incident illumination only}
- G02B 21/361: {Optical details, e.g. image relay to the camera or image sensor (G02B21/364 takes precedence; illumination details G02B21/06 and subgroups)}
- G02B 21/362: {Mechanical details, e.g. mountings for the camera or image sensor, housings (G02B21/364 takes precedence)}
- G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS

## Abstract

When carrying out in vivo examination of a living organism, the behavior in the interior thereof is continuously observed with clear images. Provided is an in-vivo examination apparatus 1 comprising an optical unit 4 including a light source 2 and an image acquisition device 3; and an observation head 5, which is disposed with a gap with respect to the optical unit 4 and which is fixed to a living organism A, wherein the optical unit 4 includes a first collimator optical system 7 for converting light from the light source 2 into collimated light L1 and introducing it into the observation head 5 and an image-forming optical system 9 for focusing return light from the observation head 5 to form an image at the image-acquisition device 3, and wherein the observation optical head 5 includes a second collimator optical system 15 for focusing the collimated light L1 incident from the optical unit 4 to irradiate an examination target site B in the living organism A, as well as for converting return light from the living organism into collimated light L2 and introducing it into the optical unit 4.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An in-vivo examination apparatus comprising:
an optical unit including a light source and an image acquisition device; and
an observation head, which is disposed with a gap with respect to the optical unit and which is fixed to a living organism,
wherein the optical unit includes a first collimator optical system for converting light from the light source into collimated light and introducing the collimated light into the observation head and an image-forming optical system for focusing return light from the observation head to form an image at the image-acquisition device, and
wherein the observation optical head includes a second collimator optical system for focusing the collimated light introduced from the optical unit to irradiate an examination target site in the living organism, as well as for converting return light from the living organism into collimated light and introducing the collimated light into the optical unit.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

An in-vivo examination apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image-forming optical system is formed of an fθ lens.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

An in-vivo examination apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the optical unit and the observation head are connected by an optical fiber bundle.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

An in-vivo examination apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the optical unit and the observation head are connected by an optical fiber bundle.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

An in-vivo examination apparatus according to one of claim 1, wherein fixing means for fixing the observation head to the living organism is provided in the observation head.

### Claim 6

An in-vivo examination apparatus comprising:
a light source;
a scanning unit for two-dimensionally scanning light from the light source;
an observation head, fixed to a living organism, for irradiating the living organism with the light scanned by the scanning unit and receiving return light from the living organism; and
a light detector for detecting the return light received by the observation head,
wherein scanning unit includes a first collimator optical system for converting the scanned light into collimated light and introducing the collimated light into the observation head, and
wherein the observation head includes a second collimator optical system for focusing the collimated light introduced from the scanning unit to form an image at an examination target site in the living organism, as well as for converting the return light from the living organism into collimated light and introducing the collimated light into the scanning unit.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

An in-vivo examination apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the observation head and the scanning unit are connected by an optical fiber bundle.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

An in-vivo examination apparatus according to claim 6, wherein fixing means for fixing the observation head to the living organism is provided in the observation head.