Abstract: A medical endoscope with sealed housing and receiving an electrically powered and/or controlled system, further comprising an installed light guide sealed against the ambience and fitted with electric/light (E/L) transducers at one end, is characterized in that a light/electricity (L/E) transducer is mounted at the other end of the light guide, one of the light guide ends being mounted inside the housing and the associated transducer being electrically connected to the electrical system.

Abstract: A battery-powered light source in which the relative position to a control section of an endoscope is changed to switch an illumination lamp to an ON state or OFF state includes a light source main body containing a battery for supplying electric power for turning on the illumination lamp, a plurality of switch positions provided in a range in which the relative position between the light source main body and the control section of the endoscope is changed, and a click mechanical portion provided at at least one of the switch positions, for maintaining the relative position between the light source main body and the control section of the endoscope in a predetermined state and switching the illumination lamp to a predetermined state while maintaining the state of the relative position.

Abstract: A light source device for endoscopes capable of preventing an incident end-face of a lightguide from generating heat due to infrared light emitted from a light source, and capable of radiating sufficient ultraviolet light and visible light. A light source emits at least ultraviolet light, visible light and infrared light. A condenser lens condenses the light emitted from the light source at the incident end-face of a light guide. A wavelength control filter and another selected filter are arranged between the light source and the condenser lens. Each optical axis of the light source, the wavelength control filter, the selected filter, the condenser lens, and the lightguide is linearly aligned, thereby providing a simplified alignment operation in manufacturing processes.

Abstract: An endoscopic catheter adapted for insertion into body cavities, comprising a distal catheter portion and an illumination device (40) which is adapted to illuminate an area around the distal catheter portion with electromagnetic radiation, and an image recording unit (60) which is adapted to record an image of the electromagnetic radiation reflected by the area around the distal catheter portion and pass it to the proximal end of the catheter (10), and an image reproduction unit (62) which is connected to the proximal end of the catheter (10) and adapted to reproduce an image of the recorded electromagnetic radiation, characterized in that the catheter (10) is adapted controllably for insertion into blood vessels, in particular blood vessels, and adapted to reproduce an image of the electromagnetic radiation reflected by the area around the distal catheter portion, with a wavelength for which blood has a high transparency.

Abstract: An endoscope comprising a shaft comprises an imaging system arranged in the shaft and an illuminating system which allows light emitted by a light source to emerge at the distal end of shaft, wherein the light source comprises at least one light emitting diode. The light source comprises at least two light emitting diodes which emit light in different spectral ranges, and the light of the at least two light emitting diodes emerges spectrally additively mixed from the illuminating system.

Abstract: An endoscope assembly is disclosed having a housing adapted to be manipulated by medical personnel, such as a surgeon. An elongated lens tube has one end secured to the housing while an elongated stage is removably secured to the housing so that the stage encompasses and is coaxial with the tube. The stage together with the lens tube are adapted for insertion into the cavity of a body. A lens assembly provided within the lens tube relays the optical image from the free end of the stage to the housing. A lens assembly within the housing, furthermore, varies the magnification of the image between macroscopic magnification and microscopic magnification in which tissue may be examined on a cellular level. For macroscopic magnification, white light is transmitted through the lens tube as well as reflected back from the target tissue through the lens tube and to the housing. For microscopic examination, laser radiation is utilized in lieu of the white light illumination.

Abstract: A TV observation system for endoscopes has an illumination system including a light source for emitting light to illuminate an object and a light transmitting section for transmitting the light from the light source to the distal end of an endoscope.

Abstract: In a life span meter system for a lamp, such as a xenon lamp, used in an electronic endoscope, a counter numerically estimates a lit-time of the lamp as a numerical data whenever the lamp is turned ON. A memory stores the numerical data as a total numerical data of the lit-time of the lamp whenever the lamp is turned OFF. A determiner determines whether the total numerical data reaches a numerical life-span data which is numerically estimated from a life span of the lamp. An indicator indicates that the lamp should be exchanged with a new lamp when it is determined by the determiner that the total numerical lit-time data exceeds the numerical life-span data.

Abstract: A surgical microscope apparatus incorporating a frame portion placed on a floor, a microscope body for stereoscopically observing a portion to be operated, an arm portion supported by the frame portion and arranged to suspend the microscope body, and an endoscope for observing a blind spot for a stereoscopic observation field of view. The frame portion has a light source unit for generating light for illuminating a portion observed with the endoscope and a camera control unit for processing an observed image of an observed portion obtained by the endoscope. A light guide fiber extending from the light source unit to the microscope body and capable of supplying light to the endoscope, and a camera cable for transmitting the image observed with the endoscope to the camera control unit extend in the arm portion. The microscope body is provided with an end of the light guide fiber for connecting the endoscope and a camera head connected to the camera cable.

Abstract: An objective lens is substantially telecentric toward the image side, and provided with an ultraviolet cut coating on its rearmost surface. An imaging plane of a CCD is arranged near a position where an image of an object is formed through the objective lens. An ultraviolet and infrared cut filter is interposed between the objective lens and the CCD. The cut coating and the cut filter have a total transmittance of 0.1% or lower for ultraviolet light.

Abstract: A lighting device, particularly suited for medical examination purposes and suited to be attached to a medical examination device such as a vaginal speculum, includes a power source and a flexible, preferably malleable arm extending from the power source with a nondirectional light source at its end. The arm has a small diameter allowing it to be used with medical instruments without blocking the viewing area provided by such instruments and allowing it to be inserted through tubes commonly used in medical, dental, or veterinary procedures. For medical, dental, or veterinary use, the outside temperature of the light source is controlled to keep such temperature below a temperature that would damage living tissue.

Abstract: An endoscope system has a lamp 22 that emits illumination light with which an object is illuminated, and a power supply 24 that supplies power with which the lamp is lit. Furthermore, the endoscope system includes a condition detecting unit and a notifying unit. The condition detecting unit is provided to or near the lamp 22 and detects a predetermined condition relevant to the lamp. The notifying unit notifies an operator of the state of the lamp according to a result of detection performed by the condition detecting unit. The condition detecting unit is a temperature detector 27 or a power detector 51. The temperature detector 27 detects whether the temperature at or near the lamp is equal to or larger than a predetermined value. The power detector 51 detects whether current or voltage supplied or applied from the power supply to the lamp is equal to or smaller than a predetermined value.

Abstract: A light transmitting part is formed on a second rotary shutter to intermittently transmit excitation light emitted from an excitation light source, which has a circumferential length substantially equal to a half of the entire periphery of the second rotary shutter in order to extend the period during which excitation light is emitted through a light distribution lens. As a living tissue is irradiated with excitation light, it generates autofluorescence. Although the autofluorescence is weak, a CCD can convert the image of the object under examination formed from the autofluorescence into a fluorescence video signal of a sufficient intensity level because excitation light is irradiated for an extended period of time. The obtained fluorescence video signal does not need to be amplified to an undesirable extent and hence can be processed with a high S/N to provide an appropriate diagnostic video signal that is free from noise.

Abstract: A lighting apparatus for an endoscope, includes: a light source for emitting light which is transmitted to a distal end of the endoscope via a light guide of the endoscope; a consumption recording device for recording the consumed light-emission time of the light source; and an indicating device for indicating information on the remaining life of the light source in accordance with data recorded in the consumption recording device; wherein the light source, the consumption recording device and the indicating device are provided in one unit.

Abstract: A system and method for imaging tissue autofluorescence through a video endoscope is described, comprising a light source capable of providing both ultraviolet light capable of inducing tissue autofluorescence and visible light which induces little or no autofluorescence, an optical system to deliver both wavelength bands to the tissue with the same apparent spatial and angular intensity distribution, a means for digitally acquiring the resulting, visible fluorescence and visible reflectance images using a single imaging detector at the distal tip of the endoscope and a means for digitally processing said images to generate a final, false-color image for display which indicates regions of tissue dysplasia. This system can either be added on to an existing video endoscope or integrated into its structure. The combined system can be electronically switched between normal white light imaging and fluorescence imaging.

Abstract: In an endoscope system including: a light emission unit emits laser light as illumination light or excitation light; a light guide unit guides the illumination light or the excitation light to an object; and an image pickup unit picks up a normal image formed with reflection light generated by reflection of the illumination light from the object or a fluorescence image emitted from the object in response to the excitation light. The laser light is multiaxial-mode laser light, or the light emission unit includes a plurality of laser-light sources which emit single-axial-mode laser beams having different wavelengths or phases. Alternatively, a vibration unit which vibrates the light guide unit is provided, or a high-frequency signal is superimposed on a driving current of the light emission unit, so that the wavelength of the laser light is shifted among a plurality of values.

Abstract: A fluorescent endoscope apparatus that displays as an image the autofluorescent light emitted from a target subject upon the irradiation thereof with an excitation light, wherein the scope means is improved and the size of the apparatus is made compact. An image obtaining unit, an illumination unit, and an excitation/reference-light unit are mounted adjacently on a rack located at a position remote from a scope means. The image obtaining unit, the illumination unit, and the excitation/reference-light unit are connected to the scope means by an image fiber, an illuminating-light guide, and an excitation/reference-light guide, respectively, Further, by making the length of the image fiber and the excitation/reference-light light guide longer than that of the illuminating-light light guide, the range in which the scope means is can be moved is limited only by the illuminating-light light guide.

Abstract: A light source for use with a scope is provided. The scope includes a body having a proximal end and a distal end, a light input port disposed on the body, a light output port disposed on the body and disposed distally of the light input port and a light transmission channel extending between the light input port and the light output port. The light source includes a housing including a light output port and a light source disposed within the housing. The housing is adapted to mount to the body of the scope to provide light to the scope.

Abstract: White light that was emitted from a white light source and converged through a condenser lens enters a light guide with a maximum incidence angle &agr;. Since excitation light emitted from an excitation light source is adjusted by the adjustment optical system for its beam diameter, it enters the light guide with a maximum incidence angle &bgr; (&bgr;<&agr;) after being converged by the condenser lens. Then, a motion mechanism displaces a second lens in an adjustment optical system in the direction of the optical axis to vary the beam diameter and the maximum incidence angle &bgr; of the excitation light, whereby a divergence angle of the excitation light emitted through a light distribution lens is made to correspond to the divergence angle of the visible light.

Abstract: Light emitted from a light source is converted into ultraviolet-and-blue light, green light, and red light, in that order, by a first wheel. When a second wheel inserts a transparent member 251 into the optical path, the ultraviolet-and-blue light, the green light, and the red light enter a light guide. On the other hand, when the second wheel inserts a fluorescence observation filter into the optical path, ultraviolet-and-blue light is converted to ultraviolet light and then enters the light guide, while the green light is blocked and the red light enters the light guide.

Abstract: An video endoscope system has, as main components, a video endoscope equipped with a light guide, a light source device for supplying illumination light and exciting light to the light guide, and an endoscope processor to process image signals and to control the light source device. The light source device is composed of a white light source for generating a collimated beam of white light, an ultraviolet light source for generating a collimated light beam having wavelengths in the ultraviolet region, and a UV reflection filter for transmitting white light while reflecting ultraviolet light, as main components. In the optical system for the light source device, the UV reflection filter is arranged at an angle of 45 degrees to both the collimated beam of white light and the collimated light beam having wavelengths in the ultraviolet region that intersect each other orthogonally.

Abstract: A micro-endoscopic system employs a pulsed xenon light source and novel image collection optics with a fine diameter optical probe for an endoscope. Very bright pulses of light emitted by a xenon flash tube increase the intensity of light incident on the light transmitting optics, allowing a reduction in size of the optical components, resulting in a corresponding reduction in the size of the optical probe. A novel segmented glass image guide directs the reflected light to a sensor array. Segmentation of the image guide avoids the birefringence problems associated with fine diameter glass optical structures. Conventional optical fiber imaging and light delivery apparatus may also be used in conjunction with the pulsed xenon light source.

Abstract: A device for controlling an amount of light of a lighting unit for use in an endoscope, used to view an image of an object. The device includes a light shield for shielding light generated by a light source and transmitted to the endoscope. A stepping motor drives the light shield for a series of predetermined time intervals. Brightness of the image is detected during each of the time intervals and pulses are generated during each of the time intervals. A desired brightness of the image is input. The number of pulses generated is determined in accordance with the input desired brightness of the image. The pulses generated are used to drive the stepping motor in each of the plurality of time intervals.

Abstract: A light source apparatus is used in a video endoscope system having a charge coupled device (CCD) image sensor and a monitor. The light source apparatus provides illumination to a scene to be imaged by the CCD image sensor and displayed on the monitor. The light source apparatus includes a discharge lamp serving as a light source. The lamp is subject to progressive degradation during use so that its output light intensity achievable with a given level of input current gradually decreases through its lifetime. The current supplied to the lamp is controlled using a feedback control technique so as to maintain the output light intensity of the lamp at a substantially fixed, desired intensity level. In order to allow the operator to timely replace the discharge lamp with a new one, the input current to the discharge lamp is detected and compared to a threshold level. The threshold level may be selected to a level corresponding to the rated power of the lamp designated by the manufacturer.

Abstract: A light source arrangement for a battery-powered light source unit of an endoscope comprises an optically transparent base board, a single light emitting element such as a bare LED arranged at the center of and in close proximity to the back of the transparent base board or a plurality of light emitting elements such as bare LEDs arranged in close proximity to the back of the transparent base board at regular angular intervals and regular distances from the center of the transparent base board, and a reflector disposed behind the transparent base board so as to reflect light emanating backward from the light emitting element or elements toward the transparent base board.

Abstract: The present invention is a unit for eliminating the fluctuation of luminous energy reduction by keeping the response time of a shading mechanism constant even if a diaphragm opening degree differs when reading every pixel by setting a shading period. This unit is provided with a shading mask having a quadrangular or V-shaped opening and moves a shading shutter in the horizontal direction perpendicular to the vertically moving direction of a diaphragm plate. Therefore, a shading period is set in accordance with the constant response time of the shading shutter and the rate of luminous energy reduction becomes constant. Moreover, a high-quality static image having a stable brightness can be obtained by reading the signal of every pixel obtained by a CCD through one-time exposure while using the shading period and then pixel-mixing signals. Furthermore, it is possible to use the Archimedean spiral for the outer periphery of the diaphragm plate or the shading shutter.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for obtaining in vivo images. The system contains an imaging system and an ultra low power radio frequency transmitter for transmitting signals from the CMOS imaging camera to a receiving system located outside a patient. The imaging system includes at least one CMOS imaging camera, at least one illumination source for illuminating an in vivo site and an optical system for imaging the in vivo site onto the CMOS imaging camera.

Abstract: A fiber optic endoscope which uses a bundle of coherent fiber to convey both an optical image in one direction and illumination light in the other direction. A fraction of the optical fibers are used for the illumination, and others of the fibers are used for the image. Notched fibers can be used for the illumination.

Abstract: A light source having a lamp for generating light generates a lamp on signal at an output terminal thereof when the lamp is lit. A lamp life meter is connected to the light source for detecting the time that the lamp has been lit. The lamp life meter includes a housing having at least one contact terminal adapted to be coupled to the output terminal of the light source, a clock generator located in the housing and generating clock signals, a counter located in the housing and counting the clock signals whenever the clock on signal indicates that the lamp is on and a display mounted in the housing for displaying an indication of the time the lamp has been turned on.

Abstract: A device for controlling an amount of light of a lighting unit for use in an endoscope that is used to view an image of an object. A light shielding system shields light generated by a light source and transmitted to the endoscope and a stepping motor drives the light shielding system for a plurality of predetermined time intervals. A system detects a brightness of the image during each of the plurality of predetermined time intervals and an input system inputs one of a plurality of desired brightnesses of the image. A generating system generates a predetermined number of pulses during each of the plurality of predetermined time intervals, the predetermined number of pulses being transmitted to the stepping motor and a system determines an angular position of the light shielding system.

Abstract: A device for controlling an amount of light of a lighting unit for use in an endoscope, used to view an image of an object. The device includes a plurality of light shields for shielding light generated by a light source and transmitted to the endoscope. A plurality of stepping motors drive the light shield for a series of predetermined time intervals. Brightness of the image is detected during each of the time intervals and pulses are generated during each of the time intervals. The number of pulses generated is determined in accordance with a difference between the brightness of the image detected during each of the time intervals and a desired brightness of the image. The pulses generated are used to control the drive of the plurality of stepping motors in each of the plurality of time intervals.

Abstract: Excitation light for normal light observation with wavelengths in the visible spectrum, which is output from a lamp, and excitation light with wavelengths in the infrared spectrum for exciting a fluorescent substance characteristic of being accumulated readily in a lesion are irradiated simultaneously to a living tissue, to which the fluorescent substance has been administered, through an endoscope. Fluorescence components are separated from light stemming from the living tissue by means of a separator such as a dichroic mirror, introduced to a first imaging device, and then imaged. Light components with wavelengths in the visible spectrum are introduced to a second imaging device and then imaged. Signals representing the images are subjected to signal processing, whereby a video signal is produced. For better diagnosis, two images are displayed while, for example, one of the images is superimposed on the other.

Abstract: A control device for a living body including an input device having a launcher for launching light into the living body from at least one light incident position on a surface of the living body, a collector for collecting light obtained by causing the light incident from the light incident position to pass through the living body, at at least one light detection position on the surface of the living body, a detector for detecting an intensity of the transmitted light collected by the collector, an operator for determining a type of output signal, based on the intensity of the transmitted light, which has been detected by the detector and pre-stored reference data and for outputting a signal indicative thereof. External equipment is provided for using the signal outputted as an input signal and for executing a functional operation according to a type of the input signal.

Abstract: A portable endoscope system having an illuminating light guide for transmitting light for illuminating an object, and an illuminating light supply unit for supplying illuminating light to the illuminating light guide. The entrance end portion of the illuminating light guide is disposed in an endoscope control part. The portable endoscope system includes a device for detachably connecting together the illuminating light supply unit and the control part, and a device for sealing a joint between the illuminating light supply unit and the control part. The illuminating light supply unit includes a movable contact positioned to contact an electrode of a battery and separable from the battery, and a spring biasing the battery in a direction opposite to a direction in which the movable contact member is moved for separation from the battery.

Abstract: A device for controlling an amount of light of a lighting unit for use in an endoscope, used to view an image of an object. The device includes a light shield system for shielding light generated by a light source and transmitted to the endoscope. A stepping motor drives the light shield for a series of predetermined time intervals. Brightness of the image is detected during each of the time intervals and pulses are generated during each of the time intervals. One of a plurality of brightness ranges is set in accord with desired brightness of image. A determination is made as to whether the detected brightness is within one of the ranges. The pulses generated are used to drive the stepping motor in each of the plurality of time intervals.

Abstract: The present invention is an electronic endoscope apparatus that can appropriately compensate for the lack of light quantity caused by a delayed response from a shielding mechanism in using the all-pixel reading system to form a high-quality image. In this apparatus, for a moving image, a pixel mix signal is read out from a CCD to reproduce motions faithfully. For a still image, to improve the image quality, a shielding period set by the shielding plate is used to read out all the pixels obtained by the CCD during a single exposure in order to form a pixel mix signal using a mixing circuit. A lamp characteristic memory stores table data indicating the characteristic between the lamp voltage of the current lamp and the quantity of outgoing light so that based on this data, a lamp voltage higher than in moving images is supplied to the lamp during the exposure for still-image formation.

Abstract: A rigid endoscope includes a jacket tube with an optical system and, parallel to the optical axis of the optical system, a first glass fiber bundle which emits a beam to illuminate an object to be examined. A second optical illumination system is directed at the object being examined. The second light exit of the second optical illumination system is recessed from the first light exit of the optical system by a distance greater than a diameter of the jacket tube. The light exit axis at the second light exit of the second optical illumination system is offset laterally relative to the image axis at the distal end of the optical system by an amount such that because of the resultant parallax and the shadow formation and unequal light distribution thus attained, the vividness of the image impression for three dimensional objects is increased.

Abstract: The present invention is an electronic-endoscope light quantity controlling apparatus that can reduce costs by simplifying a configuration for setting a shielding period in executing an all-pixel reading system. This apparatus uses diaphragm controlling circuit to control a diaphragm so as to maintain the brightness of an image at a predetermined value. It completely closes the diaphragm to set the shielding period and uses this period to form a still image based on the all-pixel reading method. For a moving image, it forms an image signal using a pixel mix reading system at the output of an image pickup device. That is, for a still image, during the shielding period set by the diaphragm, odd-line signals are read out from all pixels obtained by a CCD during a single exposure within a {fraction (1/60)}-second period, and during the next period, even-line signals are read out from these pixels. Subsequently, a mixing circuit pixel-mixes these line signals into a field signal to form a high-quality still image.

Abstract: A device for controlling an amount of light of a lighting unit for use in an endoscope, used to view an image of an object. The device includes a light shield for shielding light generated by a light source and transmitted to the endoscope. A stepping motor drives the light shield for a series of predetermined time intervals. Brightness of the image is detected during each of the time intervals and a predetermined number of pulses are generated during each of the time intervals. An angular position of the light shielding system is determined and the phase of excitation of the motor is varied in response to the angular position. The pulses generated are used to drive the stepping motor in each of the plurality of time intervals.

Abstract: The endoscopic light source apparatus has an illuminating light converging mechanism (20) in which a lightguide connector (3) to be connected displaces a condenser lens (22) in a direction parallel to the optical axis of illuminating light so that irrespective of the length of the lightguide connector (3), the illuminating light entrance end face (4a) of the lightguide connector (3) is located near the position in which the rays of illuminating light converge, and a filter inserting and retracting mechanism (30) which moves in operative association with the illuminating light converging mechanism (20) such that a light attenuating filter (31) is inserted into or retracted from the rays of illuminating light depending upon the length of the lightguide connector (3).

Abstract: A fiberoptically illuminated appliance is disclosed. The appliance includes a light source and an elongate fiberoptic cable, which is operably engaged to the light source and which conducts light from the light source therethrough. A translucent appliance is operated in a conventional manner to perform a primary predetermined function, which function is exclusive of lighting. The appliance includes a continuous light conducting pathway that is uninterrupted by air and a light-emitting surface formed on the periphery of the appliance and communicably connected to the light-conducting pathway. The cable and the appliance are communicably interengaged. Light is directed from the cable through the continuous light-conducting pathway to the light-emitting surface, from which surface light is projected to illuminate the primary predetermined function.

Abstract: An endoscope apparatus includes an endoscope having a light guide fiber for guiding illumination light and a battery-powered light source detachably mounted on the endoscope. A lamp in the light source is switched between a turned-on state and a turned-off state by changing a relative position between the battery-powered light source and the endoscope while the battery-powered light source is mounted on the endoscope. With this arrangement, it can be easily discerned whether the lamp is turned on or off from a glance at the outside appearance of the endoscope apparatus.

Abstract: A device for controlling an amount of light of a lighting unit for use in an endoscope, used to view an image of an object. The device includes a light shield for shielding light generated by a light source and transmitted to the endoscope. A stepping motor drives the light shield for a series of predetermined time intervals. Brightness of the image is detected during each of the time intervals and pulses are generated during each of the time intervals motor hunting is detected. The number of pulses generated is determined in response to detection of hunting and when hunting is detected the number of pulses is reduced. The pulses generated are used to drive the stepping motor in each of the plurality of time intervals.

Abstract: A fiber optic cable (124) for supplying light to an endoscope (22) from a light source (28). The cable, in addition to including an optically transmissive core (50), includes two conductors (62) that are not in direct electrical contact with each other. Contacts (140, 146) integral with a plug (130) attached to one end of the cable connect the conductors to circuitry internal to the light source. The conductors extend to a switch (384) in a second plug (132) which is closed when a sensor (387) closes the switch to establish an electrical connection between the conductors. The sensor closes the switch when the second plug is connected to an endoscope. The circuit internal to the light source monitors the change in voltage across the conductors to determine if the connection is established. When the connection is not established, the light source places itself in a standby mode reducing the amount of emitted light energy, thus minimizing heating of the light cable, and the second, distal plug.

Abstract: A fluorescence diagnosis endoscope system used to observe human tissue is provided. The system has a light source for illuminating the human tissue with normal light and excitation light having a certain wavelength range. The human tissue fluoresces in response to illumination with the excitation light. The system further has a pair of image receiving elements for outputting image signals corresponding to received optical images. A filter which transmits only light produced by the fluoresced human tissue is provided in front of one image receiving element. The image signals output by the image receiving elements are selectively processed and transmitted to a display.

Abstract: A light source device for endoscopes includes a light source for emitting white light containing the components of light belonging to a visible region and wavelength bands other than the visible region; at least, a rotary color separating filter on a field sequential system; and an infrared cutoff filter for blocking light in an infrared region, of a wavelength band of the white light. When the rotary color separating filter is disposed in an optical path from the light source to a light guide, an interference filter in which an interference film is applied to a transparent base plate is placed in the optical path. This arrangement obviates the defect of burning the entrance end of the light guide or of breaking the infrared cutoff filter.

Abstract: An illumination beam director for use with a diagnostic instrument having an optical lens system including a camera aperture for observing along an optical viewing axis passing through the camera aperture, and an illuminator including an illuminator aperture for projecting illumination along a first illumination axis passing through the illumination aperture. The light beam director includes a pair of opposed redirecting surfaces which receive the light from the illuminator along a first illumination axis and redirect the light onto a second illumination axis, wherein the second illumination axis is closer to the optical axis than is the first illumination axis to overcome shadowing effects on the viewing axis.

Abstract: An observation apparatus comprises an illuminating system for illuminating a material-to-be-observed, an elongated image transmitting member for fetching an image of the material-to-be-observed, and an image pickup device for picking up the image of the material-to-be-observed, which has been transmitted by the image transmitting member. The illuminating system is constituted such that illumination light having entered from an output end face of the image transmitting member into the image transmitting member may be irradiated to the material-to-be-observed through propagation inside of the image transmitting member. The slender portion containing the image transmitting member can thereby be made very thin and constituted as a cheap releasable unit, and a site to be observed can be illuminated accurately and efficiently.

Abstract: A light source device for an endoscope is capable of selecting a reading method between a method utilizing a light shading period and a method doing without a light shading period. It is possible to adopt both the new reading method and the conventional reading method. A rotary shutter is composed of, for example, a disk with a light passing portion for securing a light source path and a light shading portion formed on the outer peripheral portion, and a DC motor rotates and stops the rotary shutter. When the electronic endoscope apparatus to which the light source device is applied is of an all-pixels reading type, the rotation mode in which light is output during a predetermined light shading period at intervals of 1/30 sec is set. When the light source device is applied to a conventional electronic endoscope apparatus, for example, of a pixel mixture signal reading type system, the stop mode in which the illuminating light is not shaded is set.

Abstract: An illumination system for endoscopes includes a light source device having an arc discharge lamp and a light source optical system; a light guide cable; and a rigid endoscope provided with a light guide on a scope side and an objective optical system, using lenses as a relay optical system. The light source optical system projects the light-emitting section of the arc discharge lamp on the entrance face of the light guide cable at a magnification of approximately 1.times., and the light guide cable satisfies the following conditions:0.25.times.Mg1.sup.1/2 <DL/DS<0.5.times.Mg1.sup.1/20.8<Mg1.times.(DC/DL)<1.2where DS is the outside diameter of a scope, DC is the diameter of the light guide cable, DLis the diameter of the light guide on the scope side, and Mg1 is the projection magnification of an optical element interposed between the light guide cable and the light guide on the scope side.