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目的.従来の自家蛍光測定では励起光源が大型なこと,励起光と自家蛍光が十分に分離できないことが課題になっていた.窒化ガリウム(GaN)を用いた紫外線半導体レーザダイオード(UV-LD)は小型であり,かつLIFE(lung imaging fluorescence endoscope)システムに用いられているヘリウムカドミウム(He-Cd)レーザよりも短波長の光を生じさせるため,励起光源による干渉のない計測が簡便に行えると考えられる.そこでUV-LDを利用してヒト気管支の自家蛍光特性を評価した.また,従来型の励起光源であるHe-Cdレーザと比較を行った.対象と方法.ヒト気管支(13例)の切除標本に対してUV-LDを用いて自家蛍光のスペクトル特性を測定した.次に,自家蛍光スペクトルと病理組織学的に評価した気管支組織との対応について検討を行った.結果.UV-LDを用いた測定では,He-Cdレーザやキセノンランプを励起光源として用いた場合と同様の自家蛍光特性が得られることが明らかになった.さらに正常気管支組織からは緑色の蛍光のみならず青色(483nm)の蛍光も明瞭に確認された.ヒト気管支の自家蛍光像を観察したところ,弾性線維の多く存在する部位より強い蛍光が確認された.結論.UV-LDを用いることにより青色領域から赤色領域までの広スペクトル範囲における自家蛍光特性解析が簡便に行えることが明らかになった.
Purpose. The GaN-based ultraviolet laser diode (UV-LD), which has recently became commercially available, was used to study the autofluorescence (AF) of human bronchial tissue. The conventional AF measurement system uses a large excitation light source, and the measured data have problems associated with the intermixing of the excitation source and the AF signal. The wavelength of the UV-LD is much shorter than that of the He-Cd laser which is employed for the LIFE system, and the AF measurement is performed without interference of the excitation light using the UV-LD. AF data were compared with those obtained using the He-Cd laser. Method. The spectroscopic analysis of the AF was performed for 13 resected specimens of the human bronchus using the UV-LD. The relationship between the origin of the AF signal and the histopathological structure was also studied. Result. The AF characteristics were similar to those obtained using the He-Cd laser or the xenon lamp. Blue AF, the peak wavelength of which was at around 483 nm was additionally observed from normal tissues. The spatial distribution of the AF signal intensity revealed that a strong AF signal obtained from the region where the high density of the elastin was confirmed. Conclusion. The AF measurement in a wide wavelength region can be easily performed by using the UV-LD as the excitation light source.
