Abstract: The holding device of the endoscope allows suspension of the tissue while it is held and fixed securely. Use of holding device with large distal ends will not damage tissue and allows holding and suspension of a large area. A needle pierces at least the proper muscularis, thereby forming a large protrusion including the proper muscularis of the stomach and the esophagus as artificial valve to prevent reflux effectively. The holding device, formed extending out of the distal end of the endoscope, can touch the tissue easily under observation of the endoscope. Treatment is simple, and takes a shorter time.

Abstract: A focusing apparatus includes a filter unit for performing frequency filtering processing on an image pickup signal, and a focus position detecting unit for detecting a focus position based on the contrast value of the image pickup signal having undergone the frequency filtering processing by the filter unit. The filter unit has a first filter for normal position detection, and a second filter for infinity position detection having a frequency characteristic different from that of the first filter, and selects the first filter or the second filter.

Abstract: A camera is provided that includes a dust-proofing member that has a substantially circular or polygonal plate-shape and that includes a transparent portion at an area having at least a predetermined length in a radial direction from the center thereof, and that is opposed to the front of an optical device at a predetermined interval. A member for vibration is arranged at a peripheral portion of the dust-proofing member and applies vibrations to the dust-proofing member. A sealing structure is arranged outside a peripheral portion of the optical device or an adjacent portion thereof, and forms a substantially sealed space portion including an air gap portion formed by opposing the optical device and the dust-proofing member, and sealing the space portion at a peripheral side of the optical device and the dust-proofing member.

Abstract: A tissue-piercing device includes two piercing members, and an operation section to which a proximal end of each of the piercing members is connected. Each of the piercing members includes a flexible outer sheath, a slidable inner sheath which is slidably inserted in the outer sheath, and a slidable needle which is inserted in the inner sheath. A switch portion is provided for switching between an operation mode in which a piercing action by the two piercing members is performed in a single operation, and an operation mode in which piercing actions by the two piercing members are performed in respective separate operations. The switch portion includes a sheath-coupling member to couple and decouple the two slidable inner sheaths. The switch portion may include a needle-coupling member to couple and decouple the two slidable needles.

Abstract: A short-time exposure image data and a long-time exposure image data of the same object to be photographed are stored to SE memory and LE memory and then transferred to CPU, motion thereof being detected at a motion detecting section on the basis of the two image data; if no motion is detected, a wide dynamic range, synthesized image as synthesized at a synthesizing circuit on the basis of image data read out from the two memories and compressed is outputted through a selector controlled by CPU. If a motion is detected, the long-time exposure image data read out from the LE memory and processed at a signal processing circuit is outputted through the selector.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus for a microscope comprises light receiving means having a plurality of light receiving segments arranged two-dimensionally for receiving an observed image on the microscope, extracting means for extracting light receiving outputs in a predetermined level range from the light receiving outputs of the respective light receiving segments of the light receiving means, exposure calculating means for performing an exposure calculation based on an average value of the light receiving outputs extracted from the extracting means, exposure control means for performing exposure control of the light receiving means in accordance with an exposure time calculated by the exposure calculation means, and image acquiring means for acquiring a taken image corresponding to the observed image from the light receiving outputs of the light receiving segments after the exposure control.

Abstract: An image data file management system according to the present invention includes a plurality of inspection sections which acquire an image of a subject and acquire various kinds of inspection results by performing image processing with respect to image data of the subject, and an image server which stores respective sets of the image data acquired by the respective inspection sections in association with information of the subject.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an optical deflecting device capable of suppressing undesirable vibrations of an optical deflecting element such as a mirror and allowing a plurality of optical deflecting elements to be easily arranged. The optical deflecting device is characterized in that the device has: a moving body 21 having at least two optical deflecting elements 1,31 held to face each other; supporting means having a first supporting member 32 pivot-connected to the moving body 21 between the two optical deflecting elements 1,31, so as to support the moving body 21 to a stationary body 22 such that the moving body 21 is tiltable around at least a first axis; and first driving means 26, 27, 41, 43 for driving the moving body 21 around the first axis.

Abstract: A dot code is printed on a sheet of paper by using a first printing plate and a first ink. Immediately thereafter, a code coat is formed by printing to cover the dot code, by using a second printing plate and a second ink having a property of not affecting the operation of reading the code.

Abstract: A camera is provided that includes a dust-proofing member which has a transparent portion through which a visible light component is transmitted among beams incident from a photographing lens and which absorbs an infrared component, opposed to the front of an image pick-up device at a predetermined interval. A member for vibration is arranged at a peripheral portion of the dust-proofing member, and applies vibrations to the dust-proofing member. And a sealing structure portion is arranged at a portion formed by opposing the image pick-up device and the dust-proofing member, for sealing a space portion that is substantially sealed at peripheral portions of the image pick-up device and the dust-proofing member.

Abstract: A short-time exposure image data and a long-time exposure image data of the same object to be photographed are stored to SE memory and LE memory and then transferred to CPU, motion thereof being detected at a motion detecting section on the basis of the two image data; if no motion is detected, a wide dynamic range, synthesized image as synthesized at a synthesizing circuit on the basis of image data read out from the two memories and compressed is outputted through a selector controlled by CPU. If a motion is detected, the long-time exposure image data read out from the LE memory and processed at a signal processing circuit is outputted through the selector.

Abstract: A data structure of a stereo image file recorded on a recording medium which is readable by a computer to be applied to an image processing apparatus includes first monocular image data; second monocular image data having parallax with respect to the first monocular image data; and stereo data containing information regarding the data structure of the stereo image file, the stereo data including (i) information indicating whether or not the image file is a stereo image file, and (ii) information regarding arrangement of monocular image data items included in the image file.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a photographing condition estimation unit for estimating a photographing condition of the input image based on photometric information and focal information. A Y/C separation unit separates the input image into a luminance signal and a color difference signal; a luminance correction unit extracts an edge from the luminance signal and corrects the luminance signal by a gradation conversion curve; a color difference correction unit corrects the color difference signal based on luminance signals obtained before and after the gradation correction and a theoretical limit characteristic of color reproduction; a skin color correction unit performs skin color correction depending on the photographing condition; and a Y/C synthesis unit synthesizes the luminance signal and the color difference signal obtained after the correction. Gradation correction is performed on the input image such that appropriate hue and saturation are achieved while emphasizing a main object.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method of irradiating a specimen which is laid on a substrate and which includes a cell with a laser beam to remove an unnecessary specimen portion other than a cell portion from the substrate, next inserting the cell portion into one opening in a cylindrical member to dispose the cylindrical member onto the substrate, next injecting a stripping agent into a container formed by the substrate and cylindrical member to strip the cell portion from the substrate, and sampling the cell portion which floats in the stripping agent.

Abstract: A printer apparatus for effecting printing based on image data of a captured image includes an imaging condition detection unit for detecting an imaging condition of the captured image, a pre-print process unit for performing a pre-print process for the image data of the captured image in accordance with the imaging condition, and a print unit for effecting printing based on the image data processed by the pre-print process unit.

Abstract: A photographic lens system for forming an object image is placed in the lens barrel of an electronic camera. In a camera body, a beam splitter for forming branched optical paths and an image sensing element for photoelectrically converting the formed object image are arranged. An optical filter attached to a filter cap is inserted between the beam splitter and the image sensing element. The filter cap intimately contacts with the perimeter of the exit surface of the beam splitter and the perimeter of the image sensing surface of the image sensing element, thereby forming closed spaces, between the optical filter and the beam splitter and between the optical filter and the image sensing element, which allow incident light to pass through.

Abstract: A color image processing apparatus reproduces color data of a subject at higher accuracy by estimating the spectral reflectance of the subject from the color chip basis function vn(?) which can expand the spectral reflectances of all color chips of the reference chart and the expansion coefficients B of the color chips. The color image processing apparatus uses an image processing device to which a subject shooting signal Q shot by the color image input device and a reference chart shooting signal G taken from a plurality of color chips each having a spectral reflectance, is known.

Abstract: An electronic imaging device is provided which includes a first lens group which takes in a luminous flux from a subject along a first optical axis, an optical axis conversion member which bends the luminous flux along a second optical axis which intersects with the first optical axis, a second lens which images the bent luminous flux to an imaging element, and an optical amount adjustment unit provided between the second lens group and the optical axis conversion member. An AF motor, a driving unit which drives the optical amount adjustment unit, and a zoom motor are each selectively arranged at one of four spaces formed by a first plane defined by the optical amount adjustment unit and a second plane defined by the first and second optical axes. The AF motor, the driving unit, and the zoom motor may all be arranged at one side of the second plane.

Abstract: A confocal microscope apparatus includes a disk scanner for scanning a specimen with a laser beam, and camera main body for photographing a still image. An exposure time calculation circuit is arranged to generates an exposure time signal for the camera main body. A rotation sensor, a scan track start point/end point determination circuit, and a rotation period calculation circuit are arranged to generate a rotational period signal for the disk scanner. A comparator compares the exposure time signal with the rotational period signal, so that a motor controller and a motor driver control rotation of a motor of the disk scanner by a comparison output from the comparator.

Abstract: A binarizing section generates binarized data from an image signal of a dot code on an information recording medium read by a code reading section. The binarizing section has a reference dot detection section, a dot area measuring section, a threshold value modifying section and a threshold value determining section. The reference dot detection section binarizes the image signal with a predetermined threshold value prior to generating binarized data to detect a reference dot from a binarized code image. The dot area measuring section measures the area of the reference dot detected by the reference dot detection section. The threshold value modifying section modifies the threshold value for binarization in such a manner that the area measured by the dot area measuring section approaches a predetermined target value. The threshold value determining section binarizes the image signal with the threshold value modified by the threshold value modifying section.