| 摘要 |
PURPOSE:To obtain a wide dynamic range during use and to display an image of a high grade on a monitor by disposing a thermoelectric element for electronic cooling near the exit end of a light guide where the temp. is highest and forcibly cooling said end thereby decreasing the temp. at the front end of an endoscope. CONSTITUTION:The thermoelectric element for electronic cooling, for example, a Peltier element 20 is disposed at the exit end of the light guide 3, i.e., near a light source to eliminate the radiation heat of the illuminating light radiated from the light guide 3 and to prevent overheating of a solid-state image pickup device 7. One end of a heat pipe 21 is further disposed to the radiation side of the Peltier element 20. The flexible heat pipe 21 is used and the other end thereof is extended in an outside cylinder 1 toward an operation part. The radiation heat of the illuminating light radiated from the light guide 3 is then absorbed away by the Peltier element 20 and the heat radiated from the radiation side of the Peltier element 20 is propagated through the heat pipe 21 in the cylinder 1 and is radiated to the outside in the operation part. The temp. at the front end of the endoscope is maintained at the prescribed low temp. during the use.
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