INFRARED ENDOSCOPE AND METHOD OF DETECTION OF EARLY PATHOLOGY BY IMAGE OF EXAMINED TISSUES Russian patent published in 1999 - IPC

FIELD: medicine, particularly, medical endoscopes; may be used in detection of early pathology of internal organs. SUBSTANCE: infrared endoscope has endoscopic probe with illuminator attached to one end of probe and optical infrared converter attached to the probe other end. Optical infrared converter is connected to unit of indication and analysis of converter. Optical infrared converter is in the form of microcircuit with optical inlet; and indication and analysis unit is in the form of board or separate unit. Illuminator possesses radiation characteristics allowing formation of three monochromatic rays with at least one of which being in infrared spectrum. Method of detection of early pathology of internal organs is realized as follows. Introduced into patient place of expected pathology is infrared endoscope (in the form of gastro-, broncho-, laparo- or cystoscope or others) and examined tissue is radiated for 1/30 s with successively supplied three monochromatic rays of different spectrums. One of such rays is ray with wave length found in infrared spectrum; the second ray, in infrared or visible region of spectrum, the third ray, in infrared, visible or ultraviolet region of spectrum. Thus, three monochromatic pictures are obtained which are superposed on one another to form colored picture of image of pathology boundaries. Pathology boundaries are measured. The invention may found wide application in criminalistics for detection of counterfeits of artistic values, in particular, pictures, prints, sketches, etc, and also in aviation for detection of defects in the form of fatigue microcracks and cavities in nozzle vanes and rotor blades of turbines of gas turbine engines during maintenance diagnostics of aircraft power plants and engines, etc. EFFECT: higher confidence of detection of early stage of internal organ pathology. 2 cl, 1 dwg