Medical light source device and medical observation system

Abstract

[Object] To provide a medical light source device and a medical observation system capable of switching a light source while suppressing an increase in size and complication of a device. [Solution] A medical light source device according to the present disclosure includes: a plurality of light sources; and a light source switching section that holds an end section of a light guide that transmits light, and is capable of disposing the end section on one of optical paths of light emitted by the plurality of light sources.

1 . A medical light source device comprising:
 a plurality of light sources including a first light source, a second light source, and a third light source;   a first mirror to direct light emitted by the second light source to an end of a light guide; and   a second mirror that is movable and, when inserted into an optical path of the first light source, directs light emitted by the third light source to the end of the light guide.   
     
     
         2 . The medical light source device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first light source emits white light. 
     
     
         3 . The medical light source device according to  claim 1 , wherein the second light source emits near infrared light. 
     
     
         4 . The medical light source device according to  claim 1 , wherein the third light source emits ultraviolet light. 
     
     
         5 . The medical light source device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first mirror is movable in and out of an optical path of the first light source. 
     
     
         6 . The medical light source device according to  claim 1 , wherein the second mirror is a dichroic mirror. 
     
     
         7 . The medical light source device according to  claim 1 , wherein the second mirror rotatable around a rotation axis to be inserted into and removed from the optical path of the third light source. 
     
     
         8 . The medical light source device according to  claim 1 , wherein the second light source and the third light source face each other. 
     
     
         9 . The medical light source device according to  claim 1 , wherein, on condition that the first light source emits light, the second mirror is removed from the optical path of the first light source. 
     
     
         10 . The medical light source device according to  claim 1 , wherein the second mirror transmits a portion of light emitted by the first light source. 
     
     
         11 . The medical light source device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first, second, and third light sources have different power supplies. 
     
     
         12 . The medical light source device according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a control circuitry that selects one of the plurality of light sources; and   a power supply circuitry that supplies electric power to only one of the plurality of light sources, which is the selected one of the plurality of light sources selected by the control circuit.   
     
     
         13 . The medical light source device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a collimator lens for each of the plurality of light sources. 
     
     
         14 . A medical observation system comprising:
 camera that captures an enlarged image of a minute area of an object and generates an imaging signal;   a light guide that transmits illumination light to the camera; and   a medical light source device including:   a plurality of light sources including a first light source, a second light source, and a third light source;   a first mirror to direct light emitted by the second light source to an end of the light guide; and   a second mirror that is movable and, when inserted into an optical path of the first light source, directs light emitted by the third light source to the end of the light guide.   
     
     
         15 . The medical observation system according to  claim 14 , wherein the first mirror is movable in and out of an optical path of the second light source. 
     
     
         16 . The medical observation system according to  claim 14 , wherein, the second mirror transmits a portion of light emitted by the first light source. 
     
     
         17 . A method for directing light onto a light guide for use with a medical observation system, the method comprising:
 directing light output from at least one of a first light source, a second light source, and a third light source to an end of a light guide;   on condition that light from the second light source is be directed to the end of the light guide, inserting a first mirror into an optical path of the first light source; and   on condition that light from the third light source is be directed to the end of the light guide, inserting a second mirror into an optical path of the first light source.   
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the second mirror transmits a portion of light emitted by the first light source. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 17 , further comprising:
 supplying power only to a selected one of the first light source, the second light source, and the third light source.   
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein, on condition that the first light source emits light, removing the second mirror from the optical path of the first light source.