Endoscopic, in vivo cellular observation methods

Abstract

An endoscope observation system for in vivo cellular observation is disclosed that includes an illumination optical system having a light source for supplying illumination light to an object, an objective optical system that forms a magnified image of the object such that the absolute value of the image scale factor exceeds unity, and an image pickup unit that detects the magnified image. The illumination optical system is provided with a wavelength selection means for dividing, among the blue, green, and red wavelength ranges in the illumination light from the light source, either the blue wavelength range or the red wavelength range into two wavelength bands T 1 and T 2 , with the wavelength band T 1 being nearer the green wavelength range than is the wavelength band T 2 , and light in the wavelength band T 1 is prevented from illuminating the object. An in vivo cellular observation method is also disclosed using an endoscope.

1 - 7 . (canceled)  
   
   
       8 . An endoscopic, in vivo cellular observation method in which, based on magnified images of living tissue, the number of cell nuclei captured in the field of view is used to evaluate the cell size, or the distance between cell nuclei captured in the field of view is used to evaluate the population density of the nuclei, for diagnosis of abnormal cells, said method comprising the following steps: 
 (a) introducing a coloring agent having blue or red wavelength absorption into cells of living tissue to be imaged so as to enhance the contrast of cell nuclei using the difference in the retention rate of the coloring agent between the nuclei and the other portions of the cells;    (b) illuminating the cells with light having the absorption wavelength; and    (c) displaying several tens to several hundreds of cell nuclei captured in the field of view so as to facilitate said diagnosis.    
   
   
       9 . An endoscopic, in vivo cellular observation method comprising the following steps: 
 (a) applying a blue or red wavelength band absorption substance to cells of living tissue to be imaged;    (b) illuminating, when dividing the absorption wavelength band into two wavelength bands T 1  and T 2 , the cells with the illumination light of which the wavelength band T 1  closer to the green wavelength range is cut off, thereby enhancing the contrast of cell nuclei using the difference in light absorption for the wavelength band T 2  between the cell nuclei and other portions of the cells; and    (c) displaying several tens to several hundreds of cell nuclei captured in the field of view for the purpose of evaluating the likelihood that the in vivo cells are cancerous.    
   
   
       10 . An endoscopic, in vivo cellular observation method in which, based on magnified images of living tissue, the ratio of the area of the cell nuclei divided by the area within the cell walls in the field of view is evaluated for diagnosis of abnormal cells, said endoscopic, in vivo cellular observation method comprising the following steps, performed in the order indicated: 
 (a) introducing a coloring agent having blue or red wavelength absorption into cells of living tissue to be imaged so that the contrast of cell nuclei will be enhanced due to a difference in retention rate of the coloring agent in the cell nuclei versus other portions of the cells;    (b) illuminating the cells with light having the absorption wavelength;    (c) displaying several cell nuclei captured in the field of view for the purpose of evaluating the likelihood that the in vivo cells are cancerous.    
   
   
       11 . (canceled)  
   
   
       12 . The endoscopic, in vivo cellular observation method according to  claim 10 , wherein: 
 the endoscope that is used has an objective optical system with a numerical aperture on the object side of 0.3 or larger.    
   
   
       13 - 16 . (canceled)