Illumination – Light fiber – rod – or pipe – Medical
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-03
2001-07-17
O'Shea, Sandra (Department: 2875)
Illumination
Light fiber, rod, or pipe
Medical
C600S160000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06260994
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a light source for an endoscope, and, in particular, to a light source arrangement for a battery-powered light source unit for an endoscope.
2. Description of Related Art
Typically, light source units are used to illuminate the inside of an organ of a human body while the inside of the organ is observed by, for example, an electronic endoscope. Such a light source unit is equipped with a lamp such as a halogen lamp and a xenon lamp as a light source. Light from the lamp is introduced into a light guide of the electronic endoscope to an illumination window and applied to a location to be observed and video displayed.
The light source, e.g. the halogen lamp and the xenon lamp, is energized by commercial power supply because it consumes electric power to somewhat significant extent. In view of less electric power consumption as well as miniaturization and lightening for portability, it is desired for the light source unit to use a battery-powered light source arrangement. In the field of electronic endoscope and information processing machines, miniaturization and electric power reduction of the battery-powered light source unit are advanced in regard to electronic circuits and, on the other hand, make very slow progress in regard to light source units due to utilization of a halogen lamp or a xenon lamp which ensures a somewhat great amount of light.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a light source arrangement for a battery-powered light source unit for an endoscope which realizes miniaturization and electric power reduction of the battery-powered light source unit.
The foregoing object of the invention is accomplished by providing a light source arrangement for a battery-powered light source unit of an endoscope which has an illumination system. The light source arrangement comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes arranged in, for example, a substantially ordinary matrix and supported on a base disposed at one end of a generally cylindrically-shaped housing, light guide means for guiding light emanating from the light emitting diodes forward, and a focusing lens disposed on another end of the generally cylindrically-shaped housing for focusing the light at a specified point of the illumination system of the endoscope.
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the light guide means comprises a reflective surface formed on an inner wall of the generally cylindrically-shaped housing. The light guide means may comprise a reflector formed with a concave reflective surface, such as a parabolic surface, disposed at the one end of the generally cylindrically shaped housing. In this case, the light emitting diodes are preferably placed approximately in a plane where one of focal points of the parabolic surface.
According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the light guide means may comprise a reflector formed with the same number of concavities as the light emitting diodes and disposed at the one end of the generally cylindrically-shaped housing, each concavity having a reflective surface and being formed with a bore extending from its apex for receiving the light emitting diode therein. A micro-lens array having the same number of micro-lenses as the light emitting diodes may be further installed so as to cover the reflector formed with reflective cavities with each micro-lens aligned with the light emitting diode.
According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, bare LEDs may be employed. In this arrangement, the light guide means comprises a micro-lens array integrally formed with the same number of micro-lenses as the bare light emitting diodes. The bare light emitting diode are arranged in, for example, an ordinary matrix between the base and the micro-lens array with each micro-lens aligned with the bare light emitting diode.
The light source arrangement of the invention in which the utilization is made of light emitting diodes which consume only small electric power and are energized by a battery can collects small amounts of light emanating from the respective light emitting diodes together by the light guide means so as thereby to provide a large amount of light and guide them to the focusing lens. The light source arrangement can enhance less electric power consumption and miniaturization and lightening for portability of the battery-powered light source unit.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4622584 (1986-11-01), Nagasaki
patent: 5430475 (1994-07-01), Goto
patent: 5471023 (1995-11-01), Kaizu
patent: 6110106 (2000-08-01), MacKinnon
patent: 63-33879 (1988-02-01), None
Matsumoto Seiji
Nakano Etsuo
Sato Suwao
Fuji Photo Optical Co., Ltd.
O'Shea Sandra
Sawhney Hargobind S.
Young & Thompson
LandOfFree
Battery-powered light source arrangement for endoscope does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Battery-powered light source arrangement for endoscope, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Battery-powered light source arrangement for endoscope will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2493220