Magnifying image pickup unit for an endoscope, an endoscope for in vivo cellular observation that uses it, and an endoscopic, in vivo cellular observation method

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 . An endoscope observation system comprising: 
 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 is larger than 1; and    an image pickup element that detects said magnified image;    wherein    said illumination optical system is provided with a wavelength selection means for, when 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 , preventing the wavelength band T 1  from illuminating the object.    
   
   
       2 . The endoscope observation system according to  claim 1 , wherein the wavelength band T 1  is within the range: 600 nm≦T 1 ≦700 nm.  
   
   
       3 - 10 . (canceled)  
   
   
       11 . An endoscopic, in vivo cellular observation method in which, using the endoscope observation system according to  claim 1 , 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 ) applying a substance having blue or red wavelength band absorption to cells of living tissue to be imaged so as to enhance the contrast of cell nuclei versus other cell portions using a difference in absorbency of said substance by the cell nuclei versus the other cell portions;    (b) illuminating, when dividing the absorption wavelength band into two wavelength bands, T 1  and T 2 , the cells with illumination light wherein the wavelength band T 1  is cut off, where T 1  is wavelength band among T 1  and T 2  that is closer to the green wavelength range;    (c) displaying several cell nuclei captured in the field of view; and    (d) determining said ratio so as to diagnose the presence/absence of abnormal cells in the field of view.    
   
   
       12 . (canceled)  
   
   
       13 . The endoscopic, in vivo cellular observation method according to  claim 11 , wherein: 
 the endoscope that is used has an objective optical system with a numerical aperture on the object side of 0.3 or larger.    
   
   
       14 - 15 . (canceled)  
   
   
       16 . An endoscope observation system comprising: 
 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 is larger than 1; and    an image pickup element that detects said magnified image;    wherein    said illumination optical system is provided with a wavelength selection filter which, when 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 , prevents the wavelength band T 1  from illuminating the object.