U.S. patent application number 11/594667 was filed with the patent office on 2007-03-08 for capsule type endoscope.
Invention is credited to Mitsujiro Konno, Hirohiko Matsuzawa, Tatsuya Orihara, Takeshi Yokoi.
Application Number | 20070055105 11/594667 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34636954 |
Filed Date | 2007-03-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070055105 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Matsuzawa; Hirohiko ; et
al. |
March 8, 2007 |
Capsule type endoscope
Abstract
A capsule type endoscope includes an illumination device, an
imaging device, and a transparent cover covering the illumination
device and the imaging device. The imaging device has an objective
optical system and an image sensor. When the objective optical
system satisfies Condition (1) described below and a white cylinder
with a reflectance of 90%, satisfying Condition (3) described
below, is observed, illuminance of the imaging surface of the image
sensor satisfies Condition (2) described below, in a state where a
longitudinal center axis of a capsule coincides with the center
axis of the white cylinder with a reflectance of 90%.
.omega..gtoreq.50.degree. (1) T.sub.1.times.0.5.ltoreq.T.sub.2 (2)
D=1.2.times..PHI. (3) where .omega. is a half of a field angle of
the objective optical system, T.sub.1 is the maximum illuminance in
an area on the imaging surface of the image sensor corresponding to
a field region of the objective optical system, T.sub.2 is
illuminance at a position on the imaging surface of the image
sensor corresponding to a half of the maximum image height of the
objective optical system, D is the inside diameter of the white
cylinder, and .PHI. is the outside diameter of the capsule type
endoscope.
Inventors: |
Matsuzawa; Hirohiko;
(Tokyo-to, JP) ; Yokoi; Takeshi; (Tokyo-to,
JP) ; Orihara; Tatsuya; (Tokyo-to, JP) ;
Konno; Mitsujiro; (Tokyo-to, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
KENYON & KENYON LLP
ONE BROADWAY
NEW YORK
NY
10004
US
|
Family ID: |
34636954 |
Appl. No.: |
11/594667 |
Filed: |
November 7, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
10929477 |
Aug 31, 2004 |
7153259 |
|
|
11594667 |
Nov 7, 2006 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
600/176 ;
600/160 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61B 1/00096 20130101;
A61B 1/0638 20130101; A61B 1/042 20130101; A61B 1/063 20130101;
A61B 1/00101 20130101; A61B 1/0684 20130101; A61B 1/041 20130101;
A61B 1/0607 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
600/176 ;
600/160 |
International
Class: |
A61B 1/06 20060101
A61B001/06 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 1, 2003 |
JP |
2003-309342 |
Sep 4, 2003 |
JP |
2003-313188 |
Aug 27, 2004 |
JP |
2004-247853 |
Claims
1-5. (canceled)
6. A capsule type endoscope comprising: illumination means for
illuminating an object; imaging means for imaging the object; and a
transparent cover for covering the illumination means and imaging
means, wherein the imaging means includes an objective optical
system and an image sensor, and when the objective optical system
satisfies Condition (1) described below, an illumination
distribution of a surface of a spherical object placed ahead of the
objective optical system satisfies Condition (4) described below:
.omega..gtoreq.50.degree. (1)
R(.theta.).ltoreq.R(O).times.cos.sup.2(.theta.) (4) where .omega.
is a half of a field angle of the objective optical system,
R(.theta.) is illuminance of an object surface relative to a field
angle .theta..degree. of the objective optical system, and R(O) is
illuminance of the object surface crossing an optical axis of the
objective optical system.
7. (canceled)
8. A capsule endoscope having an observation apparatus, the capsule
type endoscope comprising: illumination means for illuminating an
object; imaging means for imaging the object; a transparent cover
for covering the illumination means and the imaging means; and
means for radio-transmitting an imaging signal from the imaging
means, the observation apparatus comprising: receiving means for
receiving the imaging signal; an image processing circuit defining
an image in accordance with the imaging signal from the receiving
means; and an image display device displaying an image signal from
the image processing circuit as an image, wherein the imaging means
includes an objective optical system and an image sensor, and when
the objective optical system satisfies Condition (1) described
below and a center axis of a white cylinder having an inner wall
with a preset reflectance relative to white light and satisfying
Condition (6) described below is made to coincide with a
longitudinal center axis of the capsule type endoscope to observe
the inner wall of the white cylinder, an intensity distribution of
image signals ranging from a center of the image displayed on the
image display device to a periphery satisfies Condition (5)
described below: .omega..gtoreq.50.degree. (1)
T.sub.3.times.0.5.ltoreq.T.sub.4 (5)
(0.025.times..alpha.).sup.1/4.times..PHI.=D (6) where .omega. is a
half of a field angle of the objective optical system, T.sub.3 is a
maximum value of an intensity of an image signal measured in the
range from the center of the image to the periphery, T.sub.4 is a
value of the intensity of the image signal corresponding to a half
of a field angle of the objective optical system, .alpha. is the
reflectance (%) of the inner wall of the white cylinder, D is an
inside diameter (mm) of the white cylinder, and .PHI. is an outside
diameter (mm) of the capsule type endoscope.
9. A capsule type endoscope comprising: illumination means for
illuminating an object; imaging means for imaging the object; and a
transparent cover for covering the illumination means and the
imaging means, wherein the imaging means includes an objective
optical system and an image sensor, and when the objective optical
system satisfies Condition (1) described below and a white cylinder
having an inner wall with a preset reflectance relative to white
light and satisfying Condition (6) described below is observed,
illuminance of an imaging surface of the image sensor in a state
where a longitudinal center axis of the capsule type endoscope
coincides with a center axis of the white cylinder satisfies
Condition (2) described below: .omega..gtoreq.50.degree. (1)
T.sub.1.times.0.5.ltoreq.T.sub.2 (2)
(0.025.times..alpha.).sup.1/4.times..PHI.=D (6) where .omega. is a
half of a field angle of the objective optical system, T.sub.1 is a
maximum illuminance in an area on the imaging surface of the image
sensor corresponding to a field region of the objective optical
system, T.sub.2 is illuminance at a position on the imaging surface
of the image sensor corresponding to a half a maximum image height
of the objective optical system, .alpha. is the reflectance (%) of
the inner wall of the white cylinder, D is an inside diameter (mm)
of the white cylinder, and .PHI. is an outside diameter (mm) of the
capsule type endoscope.
10. A method of examining a capsule type endoscope, comprising the
steps of: making a center axis of a cylinder having an inner wall
with a preset reflectance relative to white light and satisfying
Condition (6) described below coincide with a longitudinal center
axis of the capsule type endoscope:
(0.025.times..alpha.).sup.1/4.times..PHI.=D (6) where .alpha. is
the reflectance (%) of the inner wall of the white cylinder, D is
an inside diameter (mm) of the white cylinder, and .PHI. is an
outside diameter (mm) of the capsule type endoscope; illuminating
the inner wall of the cylinder by illumination means of the capsule
type endoscope to image the inner wall of the cylinder by imaging
means; displaying an image formed by the capsule type endoscope on
a display device; and measuring an intensity distribution of image
signals ranging from a center of the image to a periphery.
Description
[0001] The contents of Application Nos. 2003-309342 filed on Sep.
1, 2003; 2003-313188 filed on Sep. 4, 2003; and 2004-247853 filed
on Aug. 27, 2004, in Japan, are incorporated by this reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] This invention relates to a capsule type endoscope, and in
particular, to a capsule type endoscope used to examine the part of
a cylindrical structure such as the small intestine.
[0004] 2. Description of Related Art
[0005] Recently, in endoscopy, capsule type endoscopes have come to
be used in the field of medicine. Such an endoscope does not
require an insertion tube, is provided with a transparent cover at
its distal end, and is configured into a capsule shape so that when
a patient swallows the capsule type endoscope, pain that formerly
has been experienced by the insertion of the insertion tube section
can be relieved.
[0006] In a common endoscope, for example, in order to form images
inside the stomach in a wide range and to search a lesion, an
illumination optical system is constructed so that the region of a
visual field to be imaged is made wide as far as possible, an
illumination region of illumination light illuminating this region
to be imaged is made large as far as possible, and the illuminance
of the entire imaging area becomes uniform. Such wide-angle
illumination optical systems are disclosed, for example, in
Japanese Patent Kokai Nos. Hei 10-239586, Hei 6-148519, and
2000-193894.
[0007] In order to find the lesion as easily as possible, a capsule
type endoscope that, in addition to a function of carrying out an
ordinary observation through a color image, for example, is capable
of irradiating a living tissue with excitation light to observe
fluorescence from the living tissue is proposed. Such a capsule
type endoscope is disclosed, for example, in PCT WO 02/36007. An
example of a technique for making observations on both an ordinary
color image and a particular image represented by a fluorescent
image is disclosed in PCT WO 03/11103.
[0008] In one of the observations of the particular image used
together with the ordinary color image in order to find the lesion
as easily as possible, there is a technique referred to as narrow
band imaging (hereinafter abbreviated to NBI) in which the living
tissue is irradiated with narrow-band light and reflected light
from the living tissue is imaged and observed. Its feature is as
described below. For example, short-wavelength light, such as blue
light, has a small penetration depth into a living body.
Consequently, when short-wavelength, narrow-band light is used in
the NBI, this short-wavelength light, containing only information
about the surface of the living tissue, is reflected, and thus an
observation image specializing the surface of the living tissue can
be obtained. On the other hand, when light of a large penetration
depth into the living body, such as red light, is used in the NBI,
this long-wavelength light, containing information on the deep part
of the living tissue, is reflected, and thus a state of the deep
part of the living tissue can be imaged. In the NBI, for example,
it is possible to clearly depict the capillary of the surface of a
mucous membrane without spraying pigment on the surface of the
living body or injecting a contrast medium, such as indocyanine
green (ICG), around a tumor produced in the living tissue. Thus, in
the capsule type endoscope, a combination of the observation of the
ordinary color image with the NBI contributes to the improvements
of accuracy of the detection of Barrett's esophagus and glandular
cancer in early stages; the identification of differentiation, an
invasion area, and a penetration depth of cancer detected at early
stages; assistance to a pit pattern diagnosis of the tumor of the
large intestine; and a stage diagnosis of a inflammatory intestinal
disease. When the NBI is combined with a high-magnification
endoscopic observation, a further effect is brought about.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The capsule type endoscope according to the present
invention comprises an illumination means for illuminating an
object, an imaging means for imaging the object, and a transparent
cover for covering the illumination means and the imaging means.
The imaging means includes an objective optical system and an image
sensor. When the objective optical system satisfies Condition (1)
described below and a white cylinder with a reflectance of 90%,
satisfying Condition (3) described below, is observed, illuminance
of the imaging surface of the image sensor satisfies Condition (2)
described below, in a state where a longitudinal center axis of a
capsule coincides with the center axis of the white cylinder with a
reflectance of 90%. .omega..gtoreq.50.degree. (1)
T.sub.1.times.0.5.ltoreq.T.sub.2 (2) D=1.2.times..PHI. (3) where
.omega. is a half of a field angle of the objective optical system,
T.sub.1 is the maximum illuminance in an area on the imaging
surface of the image sensor corresponding to a field region of the
objective optical system, T.sub.2 is illuminance at a position on
the imaging surface of the image sensor corresponding to a half of
the maximum image height of the objective optical system, D is the
inside diameter of the white cylinder, and .PHI. is the outside
diameter of the capsule type endoscope.
[0010] In the capsule type endoscope of the present invention, it
is desirable that the objective optical system is constructed so
that when a uniform surface illuminant is observed, the illuminance
of the imaging surface of the image sensor at the half of the
maximum image height is less than 50% of the maximum illuminance of
the imaging surface of the image sensor within the field
region.
[0011] In the capsule type endoscope of the present invention, it
is desirable that the objective optical system includes at least
one aspherical lens.
[0012] In the capsule type endoscope of the present invention, it
is desirable that the objective optical system has a light-blocking
member cutting off marginal rays.
[0013] In the capsule type endoscope of the present invention, it
is desirable that the illumination means is constructed with a
plurality of LEDs arranged so that their center axes are inclined
with respect to the optical axis of the objective optical
system.
[0014] In the capsule type endoscope of the present invention, it
is desirable that an illumination distribution of the surface of a
spherical object placed ahead of the objective optical system
satisfies the following condition:
R(.theta.).ltoreq.R(O).times.cos.sup.2(.theta.) (4) where R
(.theta.) is illuminance of an object surface relative to a field
angle .theta..degree. of the objective optical system and R (O) is
illuminance of the object surface crossing the optical axis of the
objective optical system.
[0015] These and other features and advantages of the present
invention will become apparent from the following detailed
description of the preferred embodiments when taken in conjunction
with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] FIG. 1A is a sectional view showing schematically the
structure, exhibited along the optical axis, of the capsule type
endoscope of a first embodiment in the present invention;
[0017] FIG. 1B is an explanatory view showing the arrangements of
the objective optical system and the illumination optical
system;
[0018] FIG. 2 is a conceptual view showing the construction of a
capsule type endoscope system displaying an image, using the
capsule type endoscope of the first embodiment;
[0019] FIG. 3 is a graph showing the distribution of the intensity
of illumination light plotted against an angle of emergence in the
capsule type endoscope of the first embodiment;
[0020] FIG. 4A is a sectional view showing the arrangement,
developed along the optical axis, of the objective optical system
in the capsule type endoscope of the first embodiment;
[0021] FIG. 4B is a diagram showing the aberration characteristic
of distortion in the objective optical system;
[0022] FIG. 5 is a graph showing the characteristic of illuminance
plotted against the field angle of the objective optical system
when a uniform surface illuminant is observed;
[0023] FIG. 6 is a graph showing the characteristic of illuminance
of the surface of the image sensor plotted against the field angle
of the objective optical system when the inner wall of the white
cylinder is imaged in the capsule type endoscope of the first
embodiment;
[0024] FIG. 7 is a schematic view showing a tubular structure used
in the first embodiment in a state where the longitudinal center
axis of the capsule coincides with the center axis of the tubular
structure;
[0025] FIG. 8A is a sectional view showing the arrangement,
developed along the optical axis, of an objective optical system
used in a conventional endoscope;
[0026] FIG. 8B is a diagram showing the aberration characteristic
of distortion in the objective optical system;
[0027] FIG. 9 is a graph showing the illuminance characteristic of
the objective optical system of FIG. 8A when the uniform surface
illuminant is observed;
[0028] FIG. 10 is a graph showing the illuminance characteristic on
the imaging surface of the image sensor when the objective optical
system of FIG. 8A is used in the capsule type endoscope to image
the inner wall of the white cylinder;
[0029] FIG. 11 is a sectional view showing the arrangement,
developed along the optical axis, of the objective optical system
in the capsule type endoscope of a second embodiment of the present
invention;
[0030] FIG. 12 is a graph showing the characteristic of illuminance
plotted against the field angle of the objective optical system
when the uniform surface illuminant is observed;
[0031] FIG. 13 is a graph showing the characteristic of illuminance
of the imaging surface of the image sensor plotted against the
field angle of the objective optical system when the inner wall of
the white cylinder is imaged in the capsule type endoscope of the
second embodiment;
[0032] FIG. 14 is a sectional view showing schematically the
structure, exhibited along the optical axis, of the capsule type
endoscope of a third embodiment in the present invention;
[0033] FIG. 15 is a graph showing the distribution of the intensity
of illumination light plotted against the angle of emergence of
light of the illumination means in the capsule type endoscope of
the third embodiment;
[0034] FIG. 16 is a sectional view showing the arrangement,
developed along the optical axis, of the objective optical system
in the capsule type endoscope of the third embodiment;
[0035] FIG. 17 is a graph showing the distribution characteristic
of illuminance of the imaging surface of the image sensor plotted
against the field angle of the objective optical system when the
inner wall of the white cylinder is imaged in the capsule type
endoscope of the third embodiment;
[0036] FIG. 18 is a graph conceptually showing the illuminance of
the imaging surface when the white cylinder is imaged, plotted
against the field angle of the objective optical system;
[0037] FIG. 19 is a diagram showing the illuminance distribution of
the surface of the spherical object located 50 mm in front of the
most object-side surface of the objective optical system in the
capsule type endoscope of the third embodiment;
[0038] FIG. 20 is a view showing the positional relationship
between the spherical object and the capsule type endoscope;
[0039] FIG. 21 is an enlarged view showing the distal end of the
capsule type endoscope of a fourth embodiment in the present
invention;
[0040] FIG. 22 is a sectional view showing the arrangement of
illumination sections of the fourth embodiment;
[0041] FIG. 23 is a sectional view showing a modified example of
the arrangement of the illumination sections of the fourth
embodiment;
[0042] FIG. 24 is a sectional view showing the relationship between
the observation field of the objective optical system and the
illumination region of LEDs, enlarging the distal end of the
capsule type endoscope of a fifth embodiment in the present
invention;
[0043] FIG. 25 is a view showing the arrangement of the
illumination means of the capsule type endoscope, viewed from the
object side, in the case where a transparent cover is removed in
the fifth embodiment;
[0044] FIGS. 26A, 26B, and 26C are diagrams showing transmission
characteristics of band-pass filters;
[0045] FIG. 27 is an enlarged sectional view showing the distal end
of the capsule type endoscope of a sixth embodiment in the present
invention;
[0046] FIG. 28 is an enlarged sectional view showing the distal end
of the capsule type endoscope of a modified example of the sixth
embodiment;
[0047] FIG. 29 is a sectional view showing the exterior structure
of the capsule type endoscope of a seventh embodiment in the
present invention;
[0048] FIGS. 30A and 30B are views showing states where a
light-emitting portion emitting white light is turned on and
another light-emitting portion emitting narrow-band light is turned
off, respectively;
[0049] FIGS. 31A and 31B are views showing the structures of the
light-emitting portions;
[0050] FIG. 32 is a view showing the arrangement of individual
light-emitting portions;
[0051] FIG. 33 is an explanatory view showing an example of a
capsule type endoscope for observing the inner wall of the
alimentary canal;
[0052] FIG. 34 is a view showing an example of image display on a
monitor screen;
[0053] FIG. 35 is a view showing another example of image display
on the monitor screen;
[0054] FIGS. 36A, 36B, 36C, and 36D are views showing other
examples of image display on the monitor screen;
[0055] FIG. 37 is a diagram showing the spectral intensity
characteristic of illumination light of a white LED used in the
illumination section of the capsule type endoscope of an eighth
embodiment in the present invention;
[0056] FIGS. 38A and 38B are views showing the structures of an
illumination section and an imaging section, respectively, used in
the capsule type endoscope of the eighth embodiment;
[0057] FIG. 39 is a front view showing an illumination substrate
and an imaging section of the capsule type endoscope of a ninth
embodiment in the present invention;
[0058] FIG. 40 is a sectional view taken along line A-O-B in FIG.
39; and
[0059] FIG. 41 is a view showing an example of the imaging section
used in the capsule type endoscope of the ninth embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0060] Before undertaking the description of the embodiments, the
function and effect of the present invention will be explained.
[0061] When the objective optical system, as in the capsule type
endoscope of the present invention, is constructed so that the
objective optical system satisfies Condition (1) and the white
cylinder with a reflectance of 90%, satisfying Condition (3), is
observed, the illuminance of the imaging surface of the image
sensor satisfies Condition (2) in a state where the longitudinal
center axis of the capsule coincides with the center axis of the
white cylinder with a reflectance of 90%, a favorable brightness
distribution can be obtained even in the case where the part of the
cylindrical structure, such as the small intestine, is observed and
examined.
[0062] The capsule type endoscope according to the present
invention is assumed as the one mounting an imaging optical system
that has a wide field angle. Thus, it is necessary that the half
field angle co satisfies Condition (1).
[0063] If Condition (1) is not satisfied and .omega.<50.degree.,
the field region will be narrowed when the part of the inner wall
of a tubular organ, such as the small intestine, is examined. This
constitutes an obstacle to the observation and examination.
Condition (1) is satisfied and thereby a good field region is
obtained without offering any obstacle against the observation and
examination.
[0064] It is desirable to satisfy a condition,
.omega..gtoreq.60.degree., because even when the living tissue has
a fold-shaped, rough structure, the observation and examination can
be carried out without missing a portion casting the shadow of the
fold.
[0065] Condition (2) in the capsule type endoscope of the present
invention is provided to obtain a good brightness distribution in
the whole range of the visual field without producing halation on
an image periphery with respect to the capsule type endoscope of
the wide field angle mentioned above.
[0066] In the observation carried out by using the capsule type
endoscope, a state of the production of halation depends on the
reflectance of the living body and the positional relationship
between the object and the capsule, but when the object is made
close to the capsule in the visual field of the objective optical
system, the halation is liable to occur. Such states are roughly
divided into the following two cases. One of them is a case where
the inner wall of the tubular organ comes in close contact with the
periphery of the capsule. Tubular organs, such as esophagus and
intestines, make up 80% of the alimentary canal that is a chief
observation object of the capsule type endoscope. Where air is not
fed into these organs, the organs contract so that tubes are
practically blocked by inner walls. Consequently, the capsule often
comes in close contact with the inner wall of the tubular organ,
and a distance between the capsule and the object is reduced so
that the halation is liable to occur on the periphery of the visual
field of the objective optical system. Illumination light emitted
from the illumination means, after being reflected by the object,
is incident on the objective optical system and is collected on the
light-receiving surface of the image sensor to form the illuminance
distribution in an effective imaging range of the light-receiving
surface. In this case, illuminance of a portion corresponding to
the periphery of the visual field on the light-receiving surface
exceeds an allowable intensity of the image sensor, and in the
entire peripheral area of an image displayed on a display device
such as a monitor, the image cannot be normally reproduced. The
other is a case where a part of the periphery of the capsule comes
in close contact with the inner wall of the organ that has a
relatively wide space, such as the stomach. In this case, on one
side of the visual field, a distance between the objective optical
system and the object is diminished, while on the opposite side
thereof, the distance is increased. Hence, the halation is produced
on a part of the periphery of the image. In either case, the
illuminance of the light-receiving surface of the image sensor is
unevenly distributed on the periphery of the visual field. In such
a state, the halation is liable to be produced.
[0067] When the imaging optical system of the wide field angle is
used to image the interior of the tubular space, the density of the
image ranging from the middle of the visual field to the periphery
appears to be higher than that of the image ranging from the center
of the visual image to the middle. This is characteristic of
aberration produced in the objective optical system of the wide
field angle and becomes pronounced as an image height on the
imaging surface exceeds 1/2 and approaches its maximum. Thus, for
example, when the imaging optical system mentioned above is used to
image a light source that has a uniform luminance distribution and
is equidistant from the range from the center of the visual field
to the periphery, the illuminance of the light-receiving surface of
the image sensor becomes progressively high in going from the
center of the visual field to the periphery. In a tubular object,
since the distance between the imaging optical system and the
object is diminished in going to the periphery of the visual field,
unevenness of the illuminance distribution of the light-receiving
surface of the image sensor becomes pronounced on the periphery of
the visual field and the halation is liable to be produced.
[0068] Here, in the present invention, in order to reproduce an
observation state of the tubular organ described above, a
cylindrical fixture with proper reflectance is provided in the
inner wall and is fixed so that the center axis of the cylinder
coincides with the longitudinal center axis of the capsule. In this
case, the inside diameter D of the cylinder is found by the outside
diameter .PHI., the reflectance of the living tissue, and the
reflectance of the inner wall of the cylinder. For example, in the
case where the inner wall, like that of the small intestine, is
constructed with a myriad of projection tissues and in addition,
its surface is covered with mucus, the reflectance by the living
tissue is seriously affected by the attenuation of light due to
absorption and scattering on a tissue surface. Furthermore, in the
observation of the tubular organ by the capsule type endoscope,
there is the need to consider the distribution of light of the
illumination means and an angle of incidence of illumination light
on the living tissue. When the amount of light incident on the
tissue surface is assumed as 1, the amount of light reflected by
the living tissue and incident on the imaging optical system is
reduced to approximately 0.4. In the present invention, therefore,
the reflectance of the living tissue is assumed as 40%. In this
case, the inside diameter of the white cylinder that has the inner
wall with a preset reflectance relative to white light is found by
the following equation: (0.025.times..alpha.).sup.1/4.times..PHI.=D
(6) where .alpha. is the reflectance (%) of the inner wall of the
white cylinder, D is the inside diameter (mm) of the white
cylinder, and .PHI. is the outside diameter (mm) of the capsule
type endoscope.
[0069] For example, when the inner wall of the cylinder is designed
to have a reflectance of 90% relative to white light, the inside
diameter D of the cylinder is expressed like Condition (3). With
the capsule type endoscope fixed to the cylindrical fixture, the
inner wall of the cylinder is illuminated by the illumination means
of the capsule type endoscope and the inner wall of the cylinder is
imaged by an imaging optical system of a wider field angle. In this
case, the illuminance of the light-receiving surface of the image
sensor is distributed so as to satisfy Condition (2), and thereby
the capsule type endoscope in which halation on the periphery of
the image is not produced and the visual field can be observed with
good brightness can be realized.
[0070] In the capsule type endoscope, an imaging signal from the
image sensor is transmitted to an image processing circuit by a
radio device through a receiving device located away from the
capsule, and after being transformed into an image signal, is
displayed as an image on the display device such as the monitor. In
the manufacturing process of the capsule type endoscope, therefore,
when whether the illuminance distribution of the light-receiving
surface of the image sensor satisfies Condition (2) is examined,
the intensity of the image signal output to the display device is
measured in the range from the center of the image to the periphery
and the intensity distribution of the image signal is depicted to
determine whether the following condition is satisfied from the
profile of the intensity distribution. Whereby, equivalent
evaluation is possible. T.sub.3.times.0.5.ltoreq.T.sub.4 (5) where
T.sub.3 is the maximum value of the intensity of the image signal
measured in the range from the center of the image to the periphery
and T.sub.4 is the value of the intensity of the image signal
corresponding to a half of the field angle of the objective optical
system.
[0071] FIG. 18 shows the illuminance of the imaging surface when
the white cylinder is imaged, plotted against the field angle. In
this figure, Type A indicates an example of an ordinary endoscope
optical system, and Types B and C indicate examples of optical
systems in which the capsule type endoscope of the present
invention is used.
[0072] In the observation of the cylindrical object, when the field
angle becomes wide, a distance to the object to be observed is
reduced and thus the intensity of reflected light from the object
is increased. Hence, at a wide field angle, when the illuminance of
the light-receiving surface of the image sensor is set so as to
lower on the periphery of the visual field, the brightness of the
image becomes uniform, which is favorable for observations and
diagnoses. Specifically, when the illuminance distribution of the
light-receiving surface of the image sensor is normalized by the
maximum value of the illuminance, the illuminance at the position
of the light-receiving surface corresponding to a half of the
maximum image height is set so as to increase, and thereby the
illuminance of the image at the maximum height can be lowered.
[0073] In Type A, the image illuminance is high on the periphery of
the visual field and the illuminance of the light-receiving surface
corresponding to a half of the maximum image height is as low as
about 0.3. Consequently, halation is produced on the periphery of
the visual field, and the center and the vicinity thereof become
dark.
[0074] In Type B or C, besides the fact that the illuminance of the
light-receiving surface on the periphery of the visual field is
high, the image illuminance corresponding to a half of the maximum
image height is as high as about 0.51 or 0.65. In the capsule type
endoscope, therefore, halation is not produced on the periphery of
the visual field and a good image can be obtained in the whole
range of the visual field.
[0075] Also, a difference between Type B and Type C is that Type B
fulfils Condition (2) by considering the placement of a field stop
of the imaging optical system, while Type C satisfies Condition (2)
by controlling distortion in the imaging optical system.
[0076] In the capsule type endoscope of the present invention, it
is desirable to satisfy a condition,
T.sub.1.times.0.6.ltoreq.T.sub.2, well over Condition (2), because
the brightness distribution of the center and periphery of the
image becomes favorable and the observation and examination of the
cylindrical structure are facilitated.
[0077] In the capsule type endoscope of the present invention, it
is desirable that the amount of production of distortion in the
imaging optical system is controlled as a standard so that the
illuminance of the light-receiving surface of the image sensor
corresponding to a half of the maximum image height in imaging a
uniform surface illuminant is less than 50% of the maximum
illuminance of the imaging surface of the image sensor within the
field region. By setting the amount of production of distortion in
the imaging optical system as mentioned above, it is possible to
construct the imaging optical system suitable for the capsule type
endoscope in which halation is not produced on the periphery of the
visual field and a good image can be obtained in the whole range of
the visual field.
[0078] At least one of surfaces of lenses constituting the imaging
optical system is configured as an aspherical surface, and thereby
the effect that the amount of production of distortion can be
easily controlled is brought about. Furthermore, since the focal
length of the imaging optical system is reduced and the depth of
field can be increased, the imaging optical system in which an
enlargement observation of the object is also possible can be
constructed.
[0079] Instead of controlling distortion in the imaging optical
system, a light beam passing through the imaging optical system and
imaged on the periphery of the visual field is controlled by the
field stop. Whereby, the illuminance of the light-receiving surface
of the image sensor can also be adjusted so that it is properly
distributed. With the image of the inner wall of the tubular object
formed by the imaging optical system in which the amount of
production of distortion is controlled, accommodation relative to
the middle and periphery of the visual field may be impaired.
According to the aspect of the present invention, however, it is
possible to construct the capsule type endoscope in which natural
accommodation is obtained, halation is not produced on the
periphery of the visual field, and a good image can be secured in
the whole range of the visual field. In addition, since the field
stop blocks marginal rays to adjust the brightness of the
periphery, there is no need to make a complicated lens arrangement
for controlling the amount of marginal light, and lens fabrication
can be facilitated. Even when an ND filter designed to attenuate
the intensity of the light beam on the periphery of the visual
field is placed instead of the field stop, the same effect can be
obtained.
[0080] In the capsule type endoscope of the present invention, it
is possible to prevent halation from occurring on the periphery of
the visual field by considering the illumination means.
Specifically, as shown in FIG. 20, when an object equidistant from
the range from the center of the visual field to the periphery
(which is thought of as spherical in shape at some distance away
from the imaging optical system) in front of the imaging optical
system is illuminated by the illumination means, the illuminance
distribution of the object surface satisfies Condition (4), and
thereby the illuminance of the object can be prevented from
increasing on the periphery of the visual field of the imaging
optical system.
[0081] Consequently, it is possible to construct the capsule type
endoscope in which halation is not produced on the periphery of the
visual field and a good image can be obtained in the whole range of
the visual field.
[0082] In a combination of the observation of the ordinary color
image with the NBI, an illumination means producing white light and
an illumination means producing the narrow-band light become
necessary. In order to produce the narrow-band light, provision is
made to place a band-pass filter in front of the light emergence
surface of the illumination means producing white light or to use
an element producing monochromatic light that has a narrow-band
wavelength component, such as an LED or LD. FIGS. 26A, 26B, and 26C
show examples of transmission characteristics of band-pass filters.
It is desirable that the band width of illumination light used in
the NBI is 30 nm or less in half-width. In the case where the
living tissue is irradiated with such narrow-band light and
reflected light from the living tissue is imaged, brightness is
much lower than the case where white light is used for
illumination. As such, in the capsule type endoscope in which two
images, the ordinary color image and the NBI image, are formed by
one imaging means, it is necessary to consider correction for the
difference in brightness between the two images. When the
light-receiving sensitivity of the image sensor is set to be
suitable for forming the ordinary color image, it is desirable that
the brightness ratio of each illumination means is adjusted so that
the brightness of the NBI image is at least 20% of that of the
ordinary color image. Thus, in the present invention, a cylindrical
fixture with proper reflectance is provided in the inner wall, and
the brightness is measured and adjustment is made, with the fixture
fixed so that the center axis of the cylinder coincides with the
longitudinal center axis of the capsule. In consideration of the
attenuation of light due to absorption and scattering on the tissue
surface and of the distribution of light of the illumination means
and an angle at which illumination light is incident on the living
tissue, when the amount of light incident on the tissue surface
where the living tissue is irradiated with narrow-band light is
assumes as 1, the amount of light reflected by the living tissue
and incident on the imaging optical system is reduced to
approximately 0.05. As such, the reflectance of the living tissue
illuminated with the narrow-band light is assumed as 5%. In this
case, the inside diameter D of the white cylinder that has the
inner wall with a preset reflectance .alpha. relative to white
light is found by the following equation:
(0.2.times..alpha.).sup.1/4.times..PHI.=D (7)
[0083] For example, when the inner wall of the cylinder is designed
to have a reflectance of 90% with respect to the white light, the
inside diameter D of the cylinder is expressed as the following
equation: D=2.times..PHI. (8)
[0084] With the capsule type endoscope fixed to the cylindrical
fixture, the inner wall of the cylinder is illuminated by the
illumination means with narrow-band light provided in the capsule
type endoscope, and the inner wall of the cylinder is imaged by the
imaging optical system. Similarly, the inner wall of the cylinder
is illuminated by the illumination means producing white light
provided in the capsule type endoscope, and the inner wall of the
cylinder is imaged by the imaging optical system. In this case, the
capsule type endoscope that is capable of observing the two images,
the ordinary color image and the NBI image, with favorable
brightness when the illumination intensity of the narrow-band light
is adjusted so that the maximum illuminance in the area of the
imaging surface of the image sensor corresponding to the field
region of the objective optical system satisfies the following
condition: T.sub.c.times.1.6.ltoreq.T.sub.m (9) where T.sub.c, is
the maximum illuminance in the area of the imaging surface of the
image sensor corresponding to the field region of the imaging means
when the inner wall of the white cylinder is illuminated by the
illumination means producing white light and T.sub.m is the maximum
illuminance in the area of the imaging surface of the image sensor
corresponding to the field region of the imaging means when the
inner wall of the white cylinder is illuminated by the illumination
means producing narrow-band light.
[0085] In the capsule type endoscope, the imaging signal from the
image sensor is transmitted to the image processing circuit by the
radio device through the receiving device located away from the
capsule, and after being transformed into the image signal, is
displayed as an image on the display device such as the monitor. In
the manufacturing process of the capsule type endoscope, therefore,
when whether the illuminance distribution of the light-receiving
surface of the image sensor where the inner wall is illuminated by
individual illumination means satisfies Condition (9) is examined,
the intensities of the image signals output to the display device
are measured in the range from the center of the image to the
periphery and the values of the maximum intensities of the image
signals are extracted to determine whether the following condition
is satisfied. Whereby, equivalent evaluation is possible.
S.sub.c.times.1.6.ltoreq.S.sub.m (10) where S.sub.c is the maximum
value of the intensity of the image signal obtained through
measurement ranging from the center of the image formed by the
imaging means to the periphery where the inner wall of the white
cylinder is illuminated by the illumination means producing white
light and S.sub.m is the maximum value of the intensity of the
image signal obtained through measurement ranging from the center
of the image formed by the imaging means to the periphery where the
inner wall of the white cylinder is illuminated by the illumination
means producing narrow-band light.
[0086] In accordance with the drawing, the embodiments of the
present invention will be explained below.
First Embodiment
[0087] FIG. 1A shows the structure, exhibited along the optical
axis, of the capsule type endoscope of the first embodiment in the
present invention. FIG. 1B shows the arrangement of the objective
optical system and the illumination optical system.
[0088] FIG. 2 shows the construction of a capsule type endoscope
system displaying an image, using the capsule type endoscope of the
first embodiment. FIG. 3 shows the distribution of the intensity of
illumination light plotted against an angle of emergence in the
capsule type endoscope of the first embodiment. FIG. 4A shows the
arrangement, developed along the optical axis, of the objective
optical system in the capsule type endoscope of the first
embodiment. FIG. 4B shows the aberration characteristic of
distortion in the objective optical system of FIG. 4A. FIG. 5 shows
the characteristic of illuminance plotted against the field angle
of the objective optical system when a uniform surface illuminant
is observed. FIG. 6 shows the characteristic of illuminance of the
surface of the image sensor plotted against the field angle of the
objective optical system when the inner wall of the white cylinder
is imaged in the capsule type endoscope of the first embodiment.
FIG. 7 shows a tubular structure (the white cylinder) used in the
first embodiment in a state where the longitudinal center axis of
the capsule coincides with the center axis of the tubular structure
(the white cylinder).
[0089] FIG. 8A shows the arrangement, developed along the optical
axis, of an objective optical system used in a conventional
endoscope. FIG. 8B shows the aberration characteristic of
distortion in the objective optical system. FIG. 9 shows the
illuminance characteristic of the objective optical system of FIG.
8A when the uniform surface illuminant is observed. FIG. 10 shows
the illuminance characteristic of the imaging surface of the image
sensor when the objective optical system of FIG. 8A is used in the
capsule type endoscope to image the inner wall of the white
cylinder.
[0090] In a capsule type endoscope 43 of the first embodiment, as
show in FIG. 1A, a transparent cover 3 made from resin-based
transparent material through pressure molding is provided at the
most object-side position. Inside the transparent cover 3. an
objective optical system 1 is placed in a state where it is fixed
to a lens frame 37 for the objective optical system. The objective
optical system 1, as shown in FIG. 1B, is surrounded with four chip
LEDs 2 constituting the illumination means through the lens frame
37. At the position of the image plane of the objective optical
system 1, as shown in FIG. 1A, a CMOS chip 38 constructed as the
image sensor is located, and in order from behind the chip, an
electric substrate 40, two button batteries 39 for supplying the
CMOS and the LEDs with electricity, and an antenna unit 41 for
transmitting a captured image to an image display system 25 placed
outside the living body, illustrated in FIG. 2. The outer wall of
the capsule type endoscope 43 is hermetically sealed by the
transparent cover 3 and an outer cover 42.
[0091] The image display system 25, as illustrated in FIG. 2, is
designed to have a personal computer 24 that is capable of
processing the image signal and a monitor 23 displaying the
image.
[0092] Also, as the image sensor, a CCD chip may be used instead of
the CMOS chip 38.
[0093] The chip LEDs 2 constituting the illumination means are not
limited to four in number and may have any of numbers of two, six,
and eight, for instance.
[0094] The image signal transmitted by radio from the antenna unit
41 of FIG. 1A, as shown in FIG. 2, is received by an antenna unit
22 provided outside the body of a patient and after being processed
by the personal computer 24, is displayed as an image on the
monitor 23.
[0095] The objective optical system, as shown in FIG. 4A, includes,
in order from the object side, a plane-parallel plate 1.sub.1, a
plano-convex lens 1.sub.2 whose object-side surface is flat and
whose image-side surface is convex, a plano-convex lens 1.sub.3
whose object-side surface is flat and whose image-side surface is
convex, and a plano-convex lens 1.sub.4 whose object-side surface
is convex and whose image-side surface is flat. The convex surface
of the plano-convex lens 1.sub.3 is configured as an aspherical
surface. An aperture stop S is interposed between the
plane-parallel plate 1.sub.1 and the plano-convex lens 1.sub.2.
[0096] Subsequently, numerical data of the objective optical system
constituting the capsule type endoscope of the first embodiment are
shown below.
[0097] In the numerical data, f denotes a focal length; F, an
F-number; IH, the image height of the image sensor; OBJ, an object
distance; and .omega., an angle of view at the maximum image height
in the objective optical system.
[0098] Also, when Z is taken as the coordinate in the direction of
the optical axis, y is taken as the coordinate normal to the
optical axis, and the direction of travel of light is positive, an
aspherical configuration Z (y) is expressed by the following
equation: Z .function. ( y ) = ( 1 / R ) y 2 1 + { 1 - ( k + 1 ) (
1 / R ) 2 y 2 } + A2 y 2 + A4 y 4 + + An y n ##EQU1## where R is
the radius of curvature of the lens, k is a conic constant, A2 is
the second order aspherical coefficient, A4 is the fourth order
aspherical coefficient, and An is the nth order aspherical
coefficient. It is necessary that the lens configuration, which is
symmetrical about the optical axis, is constructed by the orders of
even numbers.
[0099] These symbols are also used in the embodiments to be
described later. TABLE-US-00001 Numerical data 1 f = 1.000, F =
2.706, IH = 1.179, OBJ = 15.000, 2.omega. = 119.96 Radius Face- of
to-face Refractive Abbe's Face number curvature spacing index
number k 0 INF 15.0000 1 1 INF 0.5797 1.51633 64.50 2 (Stop) INF
0.9697 1.72916 54.68 3 -1.4844 0.1932 1 4 INF 1.0771 1.56348 60.69
5 (Aspherical) -0.7176 0.1932 1 -1.8791 6 3.1282 0.6803 1.51633
64.15 7 INF 0 1 8 (Imaging surface)
[0100] The fifth surface is an aspherical surface configured by the
aspherical equation of the conic constant only. Also, INF means
that the curvature is infinite (the surface is flat).
[0101] Illumination light with the light intensity distribution of
FIG. 3, which is reflected by a side surface 50 of the cylindrical
structure of the white cylinder shown in FIG. 7, passes through the
objective optical system 1 of the first embodiment and is imaged on
the imaging surface of the image sensor 38. In this case, when the
inner wall of the cylinder is designed to have a reflectance of 90%
relative to white light, the inside diameter D of the cylinder, the
inside diameter D of the cylinder against the capsule with an
outside diameter of 13 mm is 15.6 mm.
[0102] Also, in the capsule type endoscope of the first embodiment,
an aspherical lens is used in the objective optical system, and as
shown in FIG. 4B, the amount of production of distortion at the
maximum image height is kept to 35% or less, thereby controlling
the amount of light on the periphery of the visual field.
[0103] When the center axis of the white cylinder is made to
coincide with the longitudinal center axis of the capsule,
reflected light from the inner wall of the cylinder illuminated by
the illumination means 2 of the capsule type endoscope, imaged on
the imaging surface of the image sensor 38 through the objective
optical system 1, possesses the illuminance distribution
characteristic such as that shown in FIG. 6. Application of this to
Conditions (1) and (2) gives .omega.=60.degree.
T.sub.1:T.sub.2=1:0.65 It is seen from this that the capsule type
endoscope of the first embodiment satisfies Conditions (1) and (2).
According to the capsule type endoscope of the first embodiment
that satisfies conditions (1) and (2), a wide field region is
provided, and when the cylindrical structure is observed, a
favorable brightness distribution is obtained on the imaging
surface of the image sensor 38 and it is avoidable to produce
halation on the periphery of the visual field.
[0104] The signal of the image formed on the imaging surface of the
image sensor 38, as mentioned above, is transmitted through the
antenna unit 41, is received by an antenna unit 22, and after being
processed by the personal computer 24, is displayed as an image on
the monitor 23.
[0105] Also, the signal transmitted by the personal computer 24
from the antenna unit 41 is processed, for example, by .gamma.
correction, but in the first embodiment, correction is merely made
by a reverse .gamma. characteristic and brightness is not
particularly adjusted. Consequently, the signal intensity
distribution of the image displayed on the monitor 23 and the
illuminance distribution of the imaging surface of the image sensor
38 have the same distribution profile. Thus, the intensity of the
image signal output to the monitor is measured from the center of
the image to the periphery to depict the intensity distribution of
the image signal, and thereby the illuminance distribution of the
imaging surface can be easily confirmed.
[0106] On the other hand, in a comparative example where the size
of the capsule type endoscope and the illumination optical system
are the same as in the above condition and only the objective
optical system is used as the conventional objective optical system
shown in FIG. 8A, its aberration characteristic, as illustrated in
FIG. 8B, has strong distortion at the maximum image height
identical with the case of FIG. 4B. As a result, in the illuminance
characteristic on the imaging surface of the image sensor 38 where
the inner wall of the white cylinder is observed, as shown in FIG.
9, the periphery is so bright that halation is liable to occur on
the periphery of the visual field and a favorable observation image
cannot be obtained.
[0107] Application to Conditions (1) and (2) gives
.omega.=60.degree. T.sub.1:T.sub.2=1:0.32 It is thus seen that the
capsule type endoscope fails to satisfy Condition (2). In the
capsule type endoscope of a comparative example that fails to
satisfy Condition (2), besides the fact that halation is liable to
occur on the periphery of the visual field, the center portion of
the image becomes dark, and when the cylindrical structure is
observed, a favorable brightness distribution is not obtained.
Second Embodiment
[0108] FIG. 11 shows the arrangement, developed along the optical
axis, of the objective optical system in the capsule type endoscope
of the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 12 is a
graph showing the characteristic of illuminance plotted against the
field angle of the objective optical system when the uniform
surface illuminant is observed. FIG. 13 is a graph showing the
characteristic of illuminance of the imaging surface of the image
sensor plotted against the field angle of the objective optical
system when the inner wall of the white cylinder is imaged in the
capsule type endoscope of the second embodiment.
[0109] In the second embodiment, the size of the capsule type
endoscope and the illumination optical system are the same as in
the first embodiment. Only the objective optical system, which uses
the arrangement shown in FIG. 11, is different from that of the
first embodiment.
[0110] The objective optical system 1 includes, in order from the
object side, the plane-parallel plate 1.sub.1, the plano-convex
lens 1.sub.2 whose object-side surface is flat and whose image-side
surface is convex, and a plano-convex lens 1.sub.3' whose
object-side surface is convex and whose image-side surface is flat.
The aperture stop S is interposed between the plane-parallel plate
1.sub.1 and the plano-convex lens 1.sub.2. A flare stop is also
interposed between the plano-convex lens 1.sub.2 and the
plano-convex lens 1.sub.3'.
[0111] Subsequently, numerical data of the objective optical system
constituting the capsule type endoscope of the second embodiment as
shown below. TABLE-US-00002 Numerical data 2 f = 1.2331, F = 4.473,
IH = 1.179, OBJ = 11.9731, 2.omega. = 119.96 Re- Radius of
Face-to-face fractive Abbe's Face number curvature spacing index
number k 0 INF 11.9731 1 1 INF 0.3862 1.51633 64.15 2 (Stop) INF
0.8690 1.51633 64.15 3 -0.8536 -0.0984 1 4 (F stop) INF 0.3107 1
1.08 5 2.1841 0.8111 1.51633 64.15 6 INF 0.6571 1 7 (Imaging
surface)
[0112] Illumination light with the light intensity distribution of
FIG. 12, which is reflected by the inner surface 50 of the white
cylinder shown in FIG. 7, passes through the objective optical
system 1 of the second embodiment and is imaged on the imaging
surface of the image sensor 38. At this time, in the objective
optical system 1 of the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 11,
marginal light is blocked through the flare stop S' interposed as a
light-blocking member between the first convex lens 1.sub.2 and the
second convex lens 1.sub.3'', and the brightness distribution of
the imaging surface of the image sensor 38 is controlled.
[0113] Reflected light imaged on the imaging surface of the image
sensor 38 possesses the illuminance characteristic such as that
shown in FIG. 12. Application of this to Conditions (1) and (2)
gives .omega.=60.degree. T.sub.1:T.sub.2=1:0.54 From this, it is
seen that the capsule type endoscope of the second embodiment
satisfies Conditions (1) and (2). According to the capsule type
endoscope of the second embodiment that satisfies Conditions (1)
and (2), a wide field region is provided, and when the cylindrical
structure is observed, halation can be prevented from occurring on
the periphery of the visual field and the brightness distribution
suitable for the observation of the inner wall of the cylinder
relative to the imaging surface of the image sensor 38 is
obtained.
[0114] For the placement of the light-blocking member blocking
marginal rays, when it is located in the proximity of the image
plane, the proportion of blocking of a light beam on the periphery
of the visual field is changed according to fabrication and
assembly errors of the light-blocking member, and there is the
possibility that the phenomenon, called "vegnetting", which becomes
rapidly dark on the periphery of the image is prominent. It is thus
desirable that the light-blocking member is located in proximity of
the exit pupil.
[0115] Also, in the second embodiment, the flare stop is used as
the light-blocking means, but even in the use of the light-blocking
means for marginal light applying the mechanical frame of a space
tube or chamfering and black ink on the lens periphery, the same
effect is brought about. Even when an ND filter designed to
attenuate the intensity of the light beam on the periphery of the
visual field is placed, the same effect is secured.
[0116] In the objective optical system 1 of the second embodiment,
although each of the first convex lens 1.sub.2 and the second
convex lens 1.sub.3' is configured as an aspherical lens, either
the first convex lens 1.sub.2 or the second convex lens 1.sub.3'
may be configured as the aspherical lens.
[0117] In the lens arrangement, two convex lenses are used, but a
single aspherical lens may be used.
Third Embodiment
[0118] FIG. 14 shows the structure, exhibited along the optical
axis, of the capsule type endoscope of the third embodiment in the
present invention. FIG. 15 is a graph showing the distribution of
the intensity of illumination light plotted against the angle of
emergence of light of the illumination means in the capsule type
endoscope of the third embodiment. FIG. 16 shows the arrangement,
developed along the optical axis, of the objective optical system
in the capsule type endoscope of the third embodiment. FIG. 17 is a
graph showing the distribution characteristic of illuminance of the
imaging surface of the image sensor plotted against the field angle
of the objective optical system when the inner wall of the white
cylinder is imaged in the capsule type endoscope of the third
embodiment.
[0119] The capsule type endoscope of the third embodiment, as shown
in FIG. 14, is such that the center axis of the illumination means
2 provided in the capsule type endoscope is inclined at some angle
with respect to the optical axis of the objective optical system
1.
[0120] As mentioned above, the center axis of the illumination
means 2 is inclined with respect to the optical axis of the
objective optical system, and thereby when a spherical object
located, for example, about 50 mm in front of the objective optical
system is illuminated, it becomes possible to adjust the
illuminance distribution of the object surface so as to satisfy
Condition (4). Whereby, when such a spherical object is imaged, it
is possible to correct a phenomenon attributable to the aberration
characteristic of the objective optical system of a wide field
angle that the illuminance of the imaging surface of the image
sensor increases progressively in going from the center of the
visual field to the periphery, and thus it is also possible to
control the illuminance distribution characteristic of the surface
of the image sensor where the inner wall of the cylinder is imaged.
The illuminance distribution of the imaging surface of the image
sensor against the field angle of the objective optical system,
controlled by considering the illumination means as mentioned
above, is capable of assuming the distribution profile equivalent
to the illuminance distribution of each of Types B and C in FIG.
18, obtained when the objective optical system is considered.
[0121] Also, the considerations of the illumination means and the
objective optical system, described above, may be together
taken.
[0122] The objective optical system 1 of the third embodiment
includes, in order from the object side, a plano-convex lens
1.sub.1' whose object-side surface is flat and whose image-side
surface is convex, a plano-convex lens 1.sub.2' whose object-side
surface is convex and whose image-side surface is flat, and a
plane-parallel plate 1.sub.3''.
[0123] Subsequently, numerical data of the objective optical system
constituting the capsule type endoscope of the third embodiment as
shown below. TABLE-US-00003 Numerical data 3 f = 1.558, F = 3.829,
IH = 1.179, OBJ = 14.339, 2.omega. = 100.19 Radius of Face-to-face
Refractive Face number curvature spacing index Abbe's number 0 INF
14.3390 1 1 INF 1.0156 1.88300 40.76 2 -2.3916 0.4570 1 3 2.6938
1.2694 1.88300 40.76 4 INF 1.0156 1.61090 50.20 5 (Imaging
surface)
[0124] Illumination light with the light intensity distribution of
FIG. 15, which is reflected by the inner surface 50 of the white
cylinder shown in FIG. 7, passes through the objective optical
system 1 of the third embodiment and is imaged on the imaging
surface of the image sensor 38. In this case, the center axis of
the illumination means 2 is inclined at an angle of nearly
25.degree. with the optical axis of the objective optical system 1,
and the illuminance distribution of the surface of the spherical
object located 50 mm in front of the most object-side surface of
the objective optical system 1 practically assumes the profile
shown in FIG. 19. From this, it is seen that Condition (4) is
satisfied.
[0125] Reflected light imaged on the imaging surface of the image
sensor 38 possesses the illuminance characteristic such as that
shown in FIG. 17. Application of this to Conditions (1) and (2)
gives .omega.=50.1.degree. T.sub.1:T.sub.2=1:0.51
[0126] From this, it is seen that the capsule type endoscope of the
third embodiment satisfies Conditions (1), (2), and (4). According
to the capsule type endoscope of the third embodiment, a wide field
region is provided, and when the cylindrical structure is observed,
halation can be prevented from occurring on the periphery of the
visual field and the brightness distribution suitable for the
observation of the inner wall of the cylinder relative to the
imaging surface of the image sensor 38 is obtained.
[0127] Also, in the capsule type endoscope of the third embodiment,
the illumination means is considered so that the center axis of the
illumination means is inclined with respect to the optical axis of
the objective optical system. However, even when an optical element
controlling the distribution of light is located immediately behind
the illumination means so that the distribution of illumination
light is controlled, the same effect is brought about.
[0128] The capsule type endoscope may be designed so that a
light-blocking member or a member attenuating the intensity of
illumination light is located immediately behind the illumination
means and part of illumination light emitted form the illumination
means is blocked or attenuated, thereby controlling the
distribution of illumination light.
[0129] The capsule type endoscope may also be designed so that a
plurality of LEDs, each having a narrow-angle light distribution,
are used as a light source and an angle made by the objective
optical system with the center axis of each LED is adjusted,
thereby controlling the distribution of illumination light.
[0130] The components of the capsule type endoscopes of the above
embodiments may be partially combined. It is needless to say that
such a combined capsule type endoscope comes into the category of
the capsule type endoscope of the present invention.
Fourth Embodiment
[0131] This embodiment, as shown in FIG. 21, is constructed so that
the lens configuration of an objective optical system 123 is
considered to carry out observations in a field region as wide as
at least 140.degree..
[0132] In accordance with FIG. 21, the structure of the distal end
of a capsule type endoscope 103 will be described in detail below.
In the capsule type endoscope 103, as shown in the figure, a second
lens frame 122 is fitted into the rear end side of a first lens
frame 120. The objective optical system 123 includes, in order form
the object side, a first lens 141, a second lens 142, and a third
lens 143.
[0133] In the first lens frame 120, the first lens 141 is supported
by and fixed to an enlarged portion 120a of the inside diameter of
the frame, while behind the first lens 141, the second lens 142 is
supported by and fixed to a reduced portion smaller in the inside
diameter of the frame than the enlarged portion 120a. On the other
hand, an aperture stop 145, the third lens 143, and a flare-proof
stop 146, arranged in this order from the object side, are
supported by and fixed to the second lens frame 122, and behind
these, a cover glass 125 of an image sensor is fitted into the
second lens frame 122 and is cemented and fixed to an imaging
substrate 121 by a light-blocking adhesive 144.
[0134] The second lens frame 122 is fitted into the rear end side
of the first lens frame 120 and is cemented to and fixed to first
lens frame 120 by an adhesive 147 after the first lens frame 120
and the second lens frame 122 are relatively moved for focus
adjustment. In this way, an imaging section 148 is constructed. In
addition, on the peripheral side of the first lens frame 120, an
illumination substrate 126 is placed to abut a surface 120b
perpendicular to the enlarged portion 120a.
[0135] A transparent cover 117 is fitted into a sheath section 116
of the capsule and is cemented and fixed thereto in a watertight
fashion by a watertight adhesive. The fitting portion that the
transparent cover 117 is fitted into the sheath section 116 of the
capsule is provided with a snap section 149 configured to mutually
have concavities and convexities, and the watertight adhesive is
applied to clearance between them. Also, the transparent cover 117
is provided with an abutting surface 117 so that the illumination
substrate 126 abuts it.
[0136] Here, in the fourth embodiment, the first lens 141 is
configured to be larger than the outside diameter of each lens
located behind the first lens 141 and to have a convex surface
facing the object side. An outside diameter D1 of the first lens
141 is such as to satisfy the relation, D1>D2.gtoreq.D3, with
respect to an outside diameter D2 of the second lens 142 and the
outside diameter D3 of the third lens 143. The first lens 141 is
configured into a meniscus shape with a convex surface facing the
object side and has negative refracting power. Whereby, the first
lens 141, in contrast with the conventional lens, is capable of
capture light from a wide range so that this light can be imaged on
the imaging surface of a CMOS imager 124 through the second lens
142 and the third lens 143.
[0137] The second lens 142 is configured into a plano-concave shape
and is placed so that a light beam on the periphery of the visual
field is not eclipsed and is incident on the aperture stop 145.
[0138] In the fourth embodiment, an arrangement is made such that a
top surface 137a of each of illumination sections 137 is made to
nearly coincide with, or is located behind, a top surface 141a of
the first lens frame 120. More specifically, the top surface 137a
of the illumination section 137 is located so that a distance H2
from a top surface 117b of the transparent cover 117 to the top
surface 137a of the illumination section 137 and a distance H1 from
the top surface 117a of the transparent cover 117 to the top
surface 141a of the first lens frame 120 satisfy the relation,
H2.gtoreq.H1.
[0139] FIG. 22 shows the arrangement of the illumination sections
137. The illumination sections 137 are arranged symmetrically about
the longitudinal center axis of the capsule in such a way that they
surround the first lens frame 120. White LEDs 151 are adopted as
light-emitting elements. Also, in FIG. 22, reference numeral 152
designates connecting electrodes provided on the illumination
substrate 126, which are electrically connected to the illumination
sections 137.
[0140] FIG. 23 shows a modified example of the arrangement of the
illumination sections. In this example, an illumination section is
annularly configured. In an annular illumination section 137A of
FIG. 23, the white LEDs 151 are arranged concentrically with
respect to the longitudinal center axis of the capsule. In this
case, the annular illumination section 137A, because of its narrow
space, can be provided with many white LEDs 151, and thus even the
periphery of the visual field can be illuminated with bright light.
In the fourth embodiment, 12 white LEDs 151 are arranged. Single
illumination regions of a plurality of white LEDs 151 overlap and
thereby a composite illumination region is constructed. The
observation region of the capsule type endoscope 103 is contained
in the composite illumination region, and light reflected from an
object located in the observation region that has a wide angle of
140.degree. or more is captured by the first lens 141 of the
objective optical system 123 and is imaged by the CMOS imager
124.
[0141] Some of the white LEDs 151 may be combined with one of
band-pass filters shown in FIGS. 26A-26C to provide illumination
for NBI. In this case, a cylindrical fixture with proper
reflectance is provided in the inner wall and is fixed so that the
center axis of the cylinder coincides with the longitudinal center
axis of the capsule, and brightness is measured. Whereby, the
numbers of LEDs emitting white light and narrow-band light for NBI
can be set to reach the optimal proportion. For example, in the
capsule type endoscope of the fourth embodiment whose outside
diameter .PHI. is 13 mm, when the inner wall of the cylindrical
fixture is designed to have a reflectance of 90% with respect to
white light, the inside diameter D of the cylindrical fixture is
calculated at 23 mm from Condition (8). Thus, in a state where the
capsule type endoscope is fixed to the cylindrical fixture that has
the inner wall surface in which the inside diameter is set to 23 mm
and the reflectance relative to white light is designed to be 90%,
the inner wall surface is illuminated by the LEDs emitting
narrow-band light, provided in the capsule type endoscope, and the
image of the inner wall surface is formed by the imaging means.
Similarly, the inner wall surface is illuminated by the LEDs
emitting white light, provided in the capsule type endoscope, and
the image of the inner wall surface is formed by the imaging means.
In this case, the intensities of the image signals output to the
display device are measured in the range from the center of the
image to the periphery and the maximum intensity values S.sub.c and
S.sub.m of the image signals are extracted. The numbers of
individual LEDs are adjusted so that Condition (10) is satisfied.
Of 12 LEDs in the fourth embodiment, therefore, 4 LEDs emit white
light and 8 LEDs emit narrow-band light for NBI.
Fifth Embodiment
[0142] FIG. 24 shows the relationship between the observation field
of the objective optical system and the illumination region of
LEDs, enlarging the distal end of the capsule type endoscope of the
fifth embodiment in the present invention. FIG. 25 shows the
arrangement of the illumination means of the capsule type
endoscope, viewed from the object side, in the case where a
transparent cover is removed in the fifth embodiment.
[0143] In the fourth embodiment mentioned above, the first lens 141
of the objective optical system 123 is spaced away from the
transparent cover 117, but the fifth embodiment is constructed so
that the first lens 141 of the objective optical system 123 comes
in close contact with the transparent cover 11. Since other
features of the structure are the same as in the fourth embodiment,
their explanation is omitted and like numerals are used for like
members.
[0144] In the fifth embodiment, as in the fourth embodiment, the
first lens 141 of the objective optical system 123 is configured to
be larger than the outside diameter of each of the second and third
lenses 142 and 143 located behind the first lens 141 and to have a
convex surface facing the object side. These lenses and the cover
glass 125 of the CMOS imager 124 are supported by and fixed to a
lens frame 160, constituting an imaging section 148B. The first
lens 141 of the objective optical system 123 approaches the
transparent cover 117 and is brought into close contact therewith.
Whereby, the overall length of the capsule is reduced and
compactness is achieved. In the fifth embodiment, illumination
sections 137B is different in arrangement. Each of the illumination
sections 137B, as shown in FIG. 25, is provided with a tilting base
161 on the front side of an illumination substrate 126B configured
into a doughnut shape so that the white LED 151 makes a preset
angle with the optical axis of the objective optical system 123,
not shown. Also, each illumination section 137B is connected to an
LED driving circuit through a connecting terminal 162. By such a
structure, it is possible to provide illumination with a desired
light distribution characteristic relative to the observation field
of the objective optical system 123. Like the fourth embodiment,
some of the white LEDs 151 may be combined with one of band-pass
filters shown in FIGS. 26A-26C to provide illumination for NBI. For
example, a band-pass filter selectively transmitting light in a
blue region, such as that shown in FIG. 26A, is used, and thereby
it is possible to clearly depict the structure of capillary tubes
distributed on the surface layer of the living tissue. Furthermore,
by a combination with the imaging section in which a close-up image
of the object is enlarged with a magnification of about
70-500.times. and can be displayed on the screen of a display
device such as a monitor, it is possible to clearly depict the pit
pattern of a lesion such as a tumor produced in the living
tissue.
[0145] It is considered that the interior of the tubular organ,
such as the small intestine, through which the capsule type
endoscope travels, shrinks to obstruct the visual field of the
capsule type endoscope. The capsule type endoscope travels in such
a way as to push aside the inner wall of the tubular organ due to
its vermicular motion. As shown in FIG. 24, therefore, the
object-side surface of the transparent cover 117 tends to be in
close contact with the inner wall of the tubular organ in the
proximity of the peripheral boundary of the visual field. Thus,
when the resolution of the imaging section 148B including the
objective optical system 123 and the image sensor 124, such as the
CMOS imager, is set so as to become highest in the proximity of the
object-side surface of the transparent cover 117, the magnified
image of the living tissue can be acquired. Specifically, in FIG.
24, it is desirable that the resolution at an object distance P1,
taken along the optical axis, from the most object-side surface of
the objective optical system 123 to the object-side surface of the
transparent cover 117 coming in contact with the inner wall of the
tubular organ is at least 5 lines/mm. At an object distance P2 in
the proximity of the far point of the depth of field of the
objective optical system 123, it is desirable that the resolution
is at least 1 line/mm.
[0146] Here, the resolution of an ordinary imaging unit is defined
as described below. Pairs of white and black lines placed in front
of the objective optical system are imaged by the imaging unit in
such a way that the white and black lines are arranged in a
horizontal direction on the imaging surface of the solid-state
image sensor, and are displayed on a monitor through a circuit
system processing an image signal transmitted from the solid-state
image sensor. In this case, when the maximum value and the minimum
value of the intensity distribution of the white and black lines
are denoted by Imax and Imin, a contrast I of the pairs of white
and black lines on the monitor is found from
I=(Imax-Imin)/(Imax+Imin) The resolution is defined as the
reciprocal of the width of the pairs of white and black lines where
the contrast I is 10%.
[0147] Thus, "a resolution of at least 5 lines/mm" and "a
resolution of at least 1 line/mm" described above indicate that the
contrast of the pairs of white and black lines with widths of 0.2
mm or less and 0.5 mm or less, respectively, is 10% or less. When
the resolution of the imaging unit is at least 5 lines/mm at the
object distance P1, the living tissue located in the proximity of
the object-side surface of the transparent cover can be magnified
and observed on the screen of the monitor. When the resolution of
the imaging unit is at least 1 line/mm at the object distance P2,
the lesion, such as the tumor, produced on the inner wall surface
of the tubular organ is easily found.
[0148] With respect to illumination light for NBI, it is desirable
that the living tissue located in the proximity of the object-side
surface of the transparent cover is efficiently illuminated. In
this case, there is no need to make the illumination region of
illumination light for NBI nearly coincide with that of white
light, and it is only necessary that, as shown in FIG. 24, the
imaging section 148B and the arrangement of individual LEDs are
determined so that the illumination region of white light includes
the field region of the objective optical system 123 and the
illumination region of illumination light for NBI is included in
both the illumination region of white light and the field region of
the objective optical system 123. Here, the illumination region is
defined as described below. As shown in FIG. 20, the spherical
object is placed in front of the objective optical system and is
illuminated by the illumination means. When the illuminance of the
surface of the object is measured to find the illuminance
distribution, 10% of the illuminance value at the position of the
surface of the object crossing the optical axis of the objective
optical system is thought of as a boundary value and a
corresponding region is defined as the illumination region.
Sixth Embodiment
[0149] FIG. 27 shows the distal end of the capsule type endoscope
of the sixth embodiment. In this embodiment, the shape of the
transparent cover is changed, but since other features of the
structure are the same as in the fourth embodiment, their
explanation is omitted and like numerals are used for like
members.
[0150] As shown in FIG. 27, in a transparent cover 117c, its part
has a hemispherical projection. This hemispherical projection is
placed so that the first lens 141 of the objective optical system
123 constituting the imaging section 148 is covered and the center
of the entrance pupil of the objective optical system 123 nearly
coincides with that of curvature of the hemispherical projection.
By projecting the top of the objective optical system as mentioned
above, the following advantage is derived. The visual field of the
objective optical system 123 is not obstructed by structures placed
around the imaging section 148, and the observation field with an
angle of 180.degree. can be ensured. In the sixth embodiment, since
the imaging section 148 is constructed with the objective optical
system having the observation field with an angle of 210.degree.,
the backward view of the object becomes possible and it is
avoidable to overlook the lesion in observing the inner wall of the
tubular organ.
[0151] When the capsule travels through the inner wall of the
tubular organ, as shown in FIG. 27, the inner wall is pushed upward
by the shoulder of a transparent cover 171, and the surface of the
living tissue is not brought into close contact with the projection
of the transparent cover 171. Consequently, even on the periphery
of the observation field, a proper distance between the projection
of the transparent cover 171 and the living tissue can be ensured
in order to make the observation. The capsule type endoscope of the
present invention is such as to first capture and observe a lesion
part in front of the observation field while traveling in the
tubular organ, and then to observe this lesion part from backward.
Hence, the information of the lesion part is collected from a
plurality of images produced during the above process and is
analyzed, and new images devoting attention to lesion parts, such
as stereoscopic images and contour images, can be produced.
Whereby, it is possible to make an information analysis useful for
diagnosis, such as the profile analysis of the lesion part or the
analysis of a distribution state.
[0152] The object-side surface of the transparent cover 171 is
configured so that a portion connecting the projection and the
shoulder is inclined from the center axis of the capsule toward the
periphery. An illumination section 137c is placed opposite to this
portion and thereby is constructed so that illumination light
emitted from the light emergence surface of the white LED 151 is
refracted by the inclined surface mentioned above and is spread to
the periphery of the observation field. The inside surface of the
transparent cover 171 can be designed so that a portion through
which illumination light passes is configured into a concave shape
or is replaced with a member diffusing the illumination light.
[0153] It is needless to say that the capsule type endoscope of the
present invention can be designed to satisfy individual conditions
described above.
[0154] FIG. 28 shows a modified example of the distal end of the
capsule type endoscope in the sixth embodiment. In the modified
example of the sixth embodiment also, the shape of the transparent
cover is essential for the present invention. Since other features
of the structure are the same as in the fourth embodiment, their
explanation is omitted and like numerals are used for like members.
This embodiment is constructed so that the shape of the transparent
cover placed within the observation field of the objective optical
system is different from that of the transparent cover outside the
observation field. In FIG. 28, the transparent cover comes in
contact with the surface of the living tissue located on the lower
side and the transparent cover corresponding to a portion placed
within the observation field of the objective optical system is
configured into the shape of a curved surface. On the other hand,
the transparent cover comes in contact with the surface of the
living tissue located on the upper side and the transparent cover
corresponding to a portion outside the observation field of the
objective optical system is configured by combining a flat surface
with a curved surface. The flat surface of the transparent cover is
located perpendicular to the longitudinal center axis of the
capsule and the illumination means is provided opposite to this
surface. Also, an insertion port can be provided in order to insert
a treatment tool from the interior toward the exterior.
Seventh Embodiment
[0155] FIG. 29 shows the interior structure of the capsule type
endoscope of the seventh embodiment. As shown in this figure, in a
capsule type endoscope 203, an outer case 216 that is cylindrical
and is rounded in its rear end section and a hemispherical
transparent cover 217 are connected and fixed to each other in a
watertight fashion, and the interior is enclosed by a seal member
218. In the enclosed capsule vessel, built-in members described
below are incorporated. Also, the outer case 216 is formed of
synthetic resin, such as polysulfone or polyurethane, and the
transparent cover 217 is formed of polycarbonate, cycloolefin
polymer, or PMMA (polymethyl methacrylate).
[0156] An objective frame 221 is fitted into, and fixed to, an
illumination substrate 220 located opposite to the transparent
cover 217. In the objective frame 221, an objective optical system
222 including a first lens 222a and a second lens 222b is
arranged.
[0157] At the image-forming position of the objective optical
system 222, for example, a CMOS imager 223 is placed as the imaging
means. The CMOS imager 223 is mounted in front of an imaging
substrate 224 placed behind the illumination substrate 220. In the
CMOS imager 223, its imaging surface is protected by a cover glass
225.
[0158] The imaging substrate 224 is constructed integrally with the
CMOS imager 223 and the cover glass 225, and a drive control
section 226 is provided on the back side of the substrate 224 so as
to receive a signal from a transmitting and receiving unit provided
outside the capsule to drive the CMOS imager 223 and to perform
signal processing and control processing with respect to an imaging
signal output from the CMOS imager 223. Also, the CMOS imager 223
and the cover glass 225 constitute an imaging section 227, together
with the objective optical system 222 and the objective lens frame
221.
[0159] On the front side of the illumination substrate 220,
illumination sections 228 are mounted symmetrically about the
imaging section 227. Also, in the figure, O' represents the center
axis (the direction of an angle of emergence of 0.degree.) of the
light emergence surface of each of the illumination sections 228
and IA represents the illumination region of each illumination
section 228. A power source section 231 supplying the working power
to individual parts is provided behind the imaging substrate 224,
and a radio transmission section 232 for radio transmission to the
exterior of the capsule is provided on the back side of the power
source section 231.
[0160] In the power source section 231, two button-type batteries
231a are arranged as housed power sources supplying the working
power in such a way that they are laminated in the axial direction
of the capsule vessel. The working power of the batteries 231a can
be electrically connected to a power source substrate 231b.
[0161] The power source substrate 231b is provided with an internal
switch 231c including, for example, a bias magnet and a lead switch
so that the on-off operation of the working power supplied from the
batteries 231a is performed. On the front side of the power source
substrate 231b, a recording section 233 for recording image data
derived from the CMOS imager is provided.
[0162] The power source substrate 231b is connected to the imaging
substrate 224 and a radio substrate 232a constituting the radio
transmission section 232 through a connecting flexible substrate
234. The imaging substrate 224 is connected to the illumination
substrate 220 through the connecting flexible substrate 234.
[0163] In the radio transmission section 232, the radio substrate
232a is provided with a radio antenna 232b. The radio substrate
232a has a radio transmission circuit, not shown, in which the
control signal from an electric wave received by the radio antenna
232b is demodulated and output to each circuit and, for example,
each of information signals of image data is modulated by the
carrier wave of a preset frequency and is transmitted as the wave
from the radio antenna 232b.
[0164] The illumination substrate 220 is equipped with a chip part
220a that constitutes an LED driving circuit, not shown, driving
the light-emitting portion of the illumination section 228 so as to
intermittently emit flash light, on the back surface of the
substrate 220.
[0165] When the internal switch 231c of the power source substrate
231b is in an on state, the working power from the batteries 231a
is supplied from the power source substrate 231b through the
connecting flexible substrates 234 to the imaging substrate 224 and
the radio substrate 232a and further to the illumination substrate
220.
[0166] In the radio transmission section 232, the radio antenna
232b receives the wave from the exterior of the capsule, and the
radio transmission circuit is demodulated to output the control
signals to the drive control section 226 of the imaging substrate
224 and the LED driving circuit of the illumination substrate
220.
[0167] The LED driving circuit is such as to intermittently emit
flash light from the light-emitting surface of the illumination
section 228. The drive control section 226 drives the CMOS imager
223 synchronously with this to capture the image of the object
formed by the objective optical system 222.
[0168] The drive control section 226 serves to record image data
obtained by processing the imaging signal from the CMOS imager 223
into the recording section 233. When the image data recorded into
the recording section 233 reach a preset amount, the drive control
section 226 reads out the image data from the recording section 233
to output the data to the radio transmission circuit of the radio
transmission section 232. The radio transmission circuit of the
radio transmission section 232 is such as to modulate the image
data and to transmit the data as the wave from the radio antenna
232b. Also, the drive control section 226 may be designed so that
the image data are not recorded into the recording section 233, but
are output and transmitted directly to the radio transmission
circuit.
[0169] The transmitting and receiving unit provided outside the
capsule receives a signal transmitted from the capsule type
endoscope 203 and stores the image data. In addition, the
transmitting and receiving unit is connected to the personal
computer so that stored image data are read out by the control of
the personal computer and the image is displayed on the display
screen of the display device.
[0170] The seventh embodiment is constructed so that the
light-emitting portion emitting white light and another
light-emitting portion emitting the narrow-band light are provided
in the illumination section 228, from which light is emitted in
turn, and reflected light from parts illuminated with light from
individual light-emitting portions is imaged in turn by the imaging
section 227.
[0171] Specifically, as illustrated in FIGS. 30A and 30B, each of
the illumination sections 228 is provided with a light-emitting
portion 241 emitting white light and another light-emitting portion
242 emitting narrow-band light so that the illumination sections
228 surround the imaging section 227 with respect to the
longitudinal center axis of the capsule. Also, FIGS. 30A and 30B
are sectional views taken along line Y-Y of the capsule type
endoscope in FIG. 29. FIG. 30A shows a state where the
light-emitting portion 241 emitting white light is turned on and
another light-emitting portion 242 emitting narrow-band light is
turned off. At this time, in the capsule type endoscope, an
ordinary color image is acquired. FIG. 30B shows a state where the
light-emitting portion 241 emitting white light is turned off and
another light-emitting portion 242 emitting narrow-band light is
turned on. At this time, in the capsule type endoscope, the NBI
image is acquired.
[0172] In the light-emitting portion 241, for example, a white LED
emitting white light is used. On the other hand, the light-emitting
portion 242 is designed as shown in FIG. 31A or 31B.
[0173] A light-emitting portion 242A shown in FIG. 31A is
constructed so that one of the band-pass filters having
transmission characteristics such as those shown in FIGS. 26A-26C
is provided on the front surface of a white LED 241A. It may be
constructed so that a band-pass filter having the transmission
characteristic, a half-width d.ltoreq.30 nm, is provided on the
front surface of an LED emitting monochromatic light. A
light-emitting portion 242B shown in FIG. 31B is constructed with a
semiconductor laser element producing laser light with a band width
of 30 nm or less.
[0174] The light-emitting portions 242 (242A and 242B) emitting
narrow-band light, shown in FIGS. 31A and 31B, are such as to
produce, for example, red light (485-515 nm), green light (430-460
nm), and blue light (400-430 nm).
[0175] The light-emitting portions 241 and 242, for example, as
shown in FIG. 32, are designed so that the light-emitting portions
for W (white), R (red), G (green), and B (blue) are arranged on the
illumination substrate 220. In the arrangement example of FIG. 32,
R (red), G (green), and B (blue) of the light-emitting portions 242
emitting narrow-band light are alternately arranged with respect to
W (white) of the light-emitting portions 241 emitting white light
to use four light-emitting portions for W (white), one
light-emitting portions for R (red), one light-emitting portions
for G (green), and two light-emitting portions for B (blue). Also,
combinations of these light-emitting portions are arbitrarily set,
according to the purpose of observation. The light-emitting
portions 241 and 242 are separately controlled by the LED driving
circuit, according to the purpose of observation.
[0176] The seventh embodiment is such that individual
light-emitting portions are alternately arranged in a concentric
manner as shown in FIGS. 30A and 30B, and thereby the illumination
regions of narrow-band light and white light become nearly equal.
When observations are carried out with the capsule type endoscope
203 traveling through the interior of the alimentary canal, it is
necessary to find a lesion, to specify a correct position and
region of the lesion, and to diagnose whether the lesion is benign
or malignant while a part to be observed is within the limit of the
depth of field of the objective optical system 222. The seventh
embodiment is thus set so that each of the white light and the
narrow-band light is emitted at least twice before the part to be
observed passes the limit of the depth of field of the objective
optical system 222. In this case, it is desirable that the white
light and the narrow-band light are alternately emitted. For
example, when narrow-band light in the blue region is used for
observation, the distribution of the capillary on the surface layer
of the living tissue can be depicted. In the lesion part such as a
tumor, since the distribution of the capillary on the surface layer
of the living tissue suffers specific degeneration, the observation
with narrow-band light and the observation of the ordinary color
image with white color are combined to observe the lesion, and
thereby it becomes possible to accurately find a lesion that may be
overlooked with only the observation of the color image.
[0177] FIG. 33 shows an example of a capsule type endoscope for
observing the inner wall of the alimentary canal. In this figure,
devices surrounded by a dotted line constitute an image display
system 325 provided outside the body of a patient. Although a
corresponding figure is omitted for convenience, a patient 341
wears clothing considered so that the position of a capsule type
endoscope 340 traveling inside the alimentary canal 321 is
controlled from outside this body by a technique such as
electromagnetic induction. An image signal radio-transmitted from a
transmission unit housed in the capsule type endoscope 340 is
received by a reception device 322 provided outside the body of the
patient. The reception device 322 is connected to a personal
computer 324 that is capable of processing the image signal so that
an image processed by the personal computer 324 is displayed
through a monitor 323. FIG. 34 shows a display example of a monitor
image. As shown in FIG. 34, in the display screen of a display
section 209, a display area 251 for the color image is provided in
the region of a left-side middle portion, and a display area 252
for an observation image with narrow-band light is provided in a
right-side upper portion. In addition, below the display area 252,
an information display area 253 is provided to display information
such as internal passage time and an internal position of the
capsule type endoscope.
[0178] The display screen of the display section 209, for example,
as shown in FIG. 35, may be constructed so that the display areas
251 and 252 are arranged on the left and right sides.
[0179] Further, the display screen of the display section 209, for
example, as shown in FIGS. 36A-36D, may also be constructed so that
the color image and the observation image with narrow-band light
are alternately displayed.
[0180] By an image analysis circuit housed in the personal computer
324, information, such as the region, stage, and degree of
malignance of the lesion, may be extracted from the observation
image with narrow-band light so that the observation image is
superimposed on the color image to place a false marking, or color
hierarchical display is made according to the stage or level of
malignance of the lesion.
Eighth Embodiment
[0181] FIG. 37 shows the optical characteristic of a white LED used
in the capsule type endoscope of the eighth embodiment. FIGS. 38A
and 38B show the white LED having the optical characteristic of
FIG. 37 and an imaging section provided with a transmission
wavelength selective filter, respectively.
[0182] In the eighth embodiment, an imaging section 227B is
provided with a transmission wavelength selective filter 243B
selectively transmitting preset narrow-band light. Since other
features of the structure are the same as in the seventh
embodiment, their explanation is omitted and like numerals are used
for like members. The eighth embodiment is designed to provide the
illumination section 228 with a plurality of white LEDs, each
having the optical characteristic such as that shown in FIG.
37.
[0183] Each of the white LEDs has a peak value at a wavelength of
nearly 415 mn. In the color image observation with white light, the
transmission wavelength selective filter 243B provided to the
imaging section 227B is constructed to transmit reflected light
from a part illuminated by the white LED. On the other hand, in the
NBI observation with narrow-band light, the transmission wavelength
selective filter 243B provided to the imaging section 227B is
constructed to transmit only specific narrow-band light, of the
reflected light from the part illuminated by the white LED. In this
case also, it is desirable that the half-width d of the narrow-bang
light satisfies the condition, d.ltoreq.30 nm.
[0184] The transmission wavelength selective filter 243B mounted on
the top side of the imaging section 227B is constructed so that the
transmission wavelength can be changed by the application of
voltage or electric current or by the action of electro-magnetic
force. For example, various devices can be used, one of which is
constructed so that the on-off operation is performed with respect
to the applied current, like a liquid crystal element, to thereby
change the light transmission characteristic of the liquid crystal,
and another is such that air space produced between substrates
arranged in parallel is changed and thereby the interference action
of light is utilized to change the light transmission
characteristic.
[0185] An optical element in which wavelength separation is
performed by the diffraction action of light, such as a hologram
film, may be placed in the imaging section 227B so that an image is
separated and acquired in accordance with wavelength.
[0186] A white LED 241B emits flash light through the LED driving
circuit at intervals of 1-15 frames/second so that the transmission
wavelength selective filter 243B changes the applied current,
synchronously with the emission of flash light from the white LED
241B, through the drive control section 226. Whereby, the capsule
type endoscope of the eighth embodiment is capable of bringing
about the same effect as in the seventh embodiment.
Ninth Embodiment
[0187] FIG. 39 shows an illumination substrate and an imaging
section of the capsule type endoscope of the ninth embodiment. FIG.
40 is a sectional view taken along line A-O-B in FIG. 39. This
embodiment is constructed so that a monochromatic LED is used as
each of light-emitting portions 242 emitting narrow-band light, and
a fluorescent body is provided in front of the monochromatic LED as
each of the light-emitting portions 241 emitting white light to
emit the white light. Since other features of the structure are the
same as in the seventh embodiment, their explanation is omitted and
like numerals are used for like members.
[0188] Specifically, as shown in FIG. 39, the capsule type
endoscope is constructed with illumination sections 228C that
include monochromatic LEDs 261 provided around the imaging section
227 and white LEDs 262 designed so that fluorescent bodies are
provided in front of the monochromatic LEDs 261 to emit white
light.
[0189] Each of the illumination sections 228C, as shown in FIG. 40,
is provided with the white LED 262 constructed so that, for
example, a blue LED 263 is placed as the monochromatic LED 261 on
the illumination substrate 220 and a fluorescent body 264 is
provided on the front side of the blue LED 263 to emit white
light.
[0190] The imaging section 227 may also include objective units
350A and 350B constituting a twin lens reflex type. The objective
unit 350A has an observation field angle of at least 100.degree. to
form the image of the living tissue on an imaging surface 351B of
an image sensor unit 351. The objective unit 350B has an
observation magnification that a close-up image of the object can
be magnified two-hundredfold and displayed on the display screen of
the monitor, for instance, and thus it is possible to clearly
depict the pit pattern of the lesion, such as a tumor, produced in
the living tissue. The observation field angle of the objective
unit 350B is set to less than 60.degree. and is provided so that it
is included in the observation field of the objective unit 350A. In
the objective unit 350B, a magnified image of the living tissue in
the observation field is formed on the imaging surface 351B of the
image sensor unit 351. Also, the imaging surface 351B of the image
sensor unit 351 is protected with a cover glass 351A.
[0191] According to the capsule type endoscope of the ninth
embodiment, a remarkable part is determined on the basis of the
image formed by the objective unit 350A having a wide-angle
observation field and is magnified and imaged by the objective unit
350B, and thereby the feature of the remarkable part can be
correctly held. In this case, the NBI image is acquired by the
illumination of the monochromatic LED 261 and information required
for the diagnosis of the part can be extracted. For example, when
further detailed information is acquired on a part thought of as a
lesion (which is referred to as a noticeable part) captured in the
visual field of the objective unit 350A, the noticeable part is
captured between the position of the far point in the depth of
field of the objective unit 350A and the position of the middle
point and the position of the capsule type endoscope is controlled
so that the part is within the visual field of the objective unit
350B. In this case, the function of automatically performing the
operation that the noticeable part is automatically tracked and
introduced into the visual field of the objective unit 350B can
also be imparted to the control circuit of the capsule type
endoscope, housed in the personal computer. In the capsule type
endoscope system provided with such a function, automatic tracking
target is indicated in accordance with the operation such that an
observer views the observation image displayed on the monitor and
at the same time, superimposes a cursor displayed on the same image
screen on the noticeable part of the observation image. Whereby, an
automatic tracking function may be started. The capsule type
endoscope may also be set so that when the noticeable part and the
visual field of the objective unit 350B overlap on the monitor in
automatic tracking, the white LEDs 262 are turned off and the
monochromatic LEDs 261 are turned on.
[0192] Also, the present invention is not limited to only the
embodiments mentioned above, but can be variously modified without
departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. For
example, instead of using the CMOS imager, the imaging means may,
of course, use a CCD imager. The number and arrangement of LEDs can
be properly changed, and annular LEDs may also be used. The present
invention may apply the capsule type endoscope that is provided
with a plurality of imaging means and objective optical systems or
is inserted through the anus and is sent back to the cecum to carry
out the examination.
[0193] According to the capsule type endoscope of the present
invention, as mentioned above, when the part of the cylindrical
structure, such as the small intestine, is examined, favorable
brightness can be obtained without causing the defect, such as
halation, on the image periphery. In addition, the accuracy of
diagnosis can be improved by a combination of the NBI image
observation with the ordinary color image observation.
* * * * *