Abstract: An endoscope apparatus has an illuminating unit that performs illumination with a first light once and performs illumination with a second light a plurality of times within a predetermined time period, an image pickup unit that outputs a first image pickup signal based on the illumination with the first light and a second image pickup signal based on the illumination with the second light, a clipping processing unit that clips the first and the second image pickup signals, a brightness calculating unit that calculates a first brightness, a composite ratio calculating unit that calculates a composite ratio according to a brightness target value and the first brightness, a composite processing unit that combines the first and the second image pickup signals according to the composite ratio, and a setting unit that sets a clip level according to the composite ratio.

Abstract: A catheter with an imaging assembly is disclosed. The catheter is used with a console for viewing and/or storing images obtained from the catheter. The catheter may be a feeding tube assembly. The imaging assembly on the feeding tube assembly allows a user to confirm placement of the feeding tube assembly in the patient's alimentary canal.

Abstract: Waypoints for a steerable medical device are stored as the steerable medical device is moved within a patient. The stored waypoints are an ordered sequence of locations. The ordered sequence of locations defines a safe path within the patient for moving an articulatable portion of the steerable medical device. The articulatable portion of the steerable medical device is constrained to follow the safe path as the articulatable portion moves within the patient. For example, the articulatable portion of the steerable medical device is constrained to remain within a boundary region enclosing the safe path as the articulatable portion of the steerable medical device follows the safe path.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for efficient purging from an imaging hood are described which facilitate the visualization of tissue regions through a clear fluid. Such a system may include an imaging hood having one or more layers covering the distal opening and defines one or more apertures which control the infusion and controlled retention of the clearing fluid into the hood. In this manner, the amount of clearing fluid may be limited and the clarity of the imaging of the underlying tissue through the fluid within the hood may be maintained for relatively longer periods of time by inhibiting, delaying, or preventing the infusion of surrounding blood into the viewing field. The aperture size may be controlled to decrease or increase through selective inflation of the membrane or other mechanisms.

Abstract: A capsule endoscope includes a capsule casing and interior components housed therein whose total specific gravity is set such that the capsule casing floats in liquid introduced into a subject. The capsule endoscope also includes a gravity center position setting unit that sets a position of center of gravity of the capsule casing at a decentered position so that the capsule casing is stabilized in the liquid introduced into the subject without rotating except for rotation about an axis in a direction of the center of gravity; and an imager that takes an in-vivo image in a body cavity with an imaging field being set so that a surface of the liquid is out of view when the capsule casing floats in the liquid introduced into the subject in a stabilized posture.

Abstract: An in-vivo imaging device and method for performing spectral analysis include inserting the in-vivo device into a patient's lumen, illuminating the tissue lumen and collecting the light scattered and reflected from the tissue. The device may comprise at least six illumination sources for illuminating the tissue. At least two of the six illumination sources illuminate at a different wavelength in the blue spectral region, at least two illuminate at a different wavelength in the green spectral region, and at least two illuminate at a different wavelength in the red spectral region. The illumination sources are adapted to illuminate in groups of three, wherein each group of three illumination sources comprises one illumination source that illuminates in the blue spectral region, one in the green spectral region, and one in the red spectral region. Each group of three illumination sources illuminates simultaneously.

Abstract: An imaging system having an imaging assembly having an imaging device for generating imaging signals corresponding to images of anatomy of a patient disclosed. The imaging assembly, which may be a component of a feeding tube assembly, transmits the imaging signals generated to a console, which presents images generated corresponding to the imaging signals on a display. A reference menu is presented on the display including menu items, which correspond to reference materials including photographs, video recordings, audio recordings, diagrams, animations, and/or text. Each of the materials provides information about anatomy, patient preparation, imaging catheter preparation, imaging catheter placement, imaging catheter operation, imaging catheter features, console preparation, console operation, console features, system operation, system features, and/or contact information.

Abstract: An endoscope pipe with a central, elongated observation window on the distal end, whereby several light outlet openings for fiberoptic end surfaces are positioned close to the observation window for illuminating the angle area observed through the observation window and the light outlet openings are positioned asymmetrically in relation to the longitudinal extension of the observation window and/or the fiberoptic end surfaces are held in the light outlet openings in such a way that light is beamed from the fiberoptic end surfaces into the angle area in various directions.

Abstract: The present invention is a telescopic drive device of a device for holding a surgical instrument. The telescopic drive device includes a support; a first telescopic stage carried by the support; a first telescopic stage carried by the support, the first telescopic stage being able to perform a first motion with respect to the support; a second telescopic stage, which is able to perform a second motion with respect to the first telescopic stage; and a drive system, which is operable to drive the first and second motions. The first telescopic element performs the first motion and the second telescopic element simultaneously performs the second motion. The telescopic drive is operable to support a further device and to move the further device such that the movement is centered around a point or wherein each of the telescopic elements is arcuate.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for facilitating insertion of an endotracheal tube and/or for verifying the position of the endotracheal tube within an airway of a patient with respect to an anatomical landmark of a patient are disclosed. Systems, methods, and devices for facilitating removal of debris from the distal airways of a patient under direct visualization are also disclosed.

Abstract: Radiation is captured without fail, and a sharp image of a region where radiation is generated is acquired. A capsule medical device (3) includes an excitation light source (7) that generates excitation light for irradiating an inner wall (4) of a body cavity, a CCD (9), having variable sensitivity, that captures fluorescence generated at the inner wall (4) of the body cavity by the excitation light emitted from the excitation light source (7) to acquire a two-dimensional fluorescence image, and a control unit (35) that performs control so as to reduce the sensitivity of the CCD (9) when the fluorescence intensity in at least part of the fluorescence image acquired by the CCD (9) exceeds a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: Apparatus (10) is provided, including an elongate carrier (24), configured to be advanced through an esophagus (20) of a subject. An anchor member (30) is coupled to a distal end of the carrier, and configured to be mounted in a stomach (32) of the subject in a vicinity of a lower esophageal sphincter (LES) (34) of the subject. An imaging capsule (26) is configured to move with respect to the carrier when the anchor member is in the vicinity of the LES. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Visual-assisted guidance of an ultra-thin flexible endoscope to a predetermined region of interest within a lung during a bronchoscopy procedure. The region may be an opacity-identified by non-invasive imaging methods, such as high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) or as a malignant lung mass that was diagnosed in a previous examination. An embedded position sensor on the flexible endoscope indicates the position of the distal tip of the probe in a Cartesian coordinate system during the procedure. A visual display is continually updated, showing the present position and orientation of the marker in a 3-D graphical airway model generated from image reconstruction. The visual display also includes windows depicting a virtual fly-through perspective and real-time video images acquired at the head of the endoscope, which can be stored as data, with an audio or textual account.

Abstract: A medical apparatus is detachably connected with a disposable medical device to be inserted into a subject, and performs a specified treatment. The medical apparatus includes an alteration unit that performs an alteration process of altering the medical device, and a control unit that causes the alteration unit to perform the alteration process at the end of the treatment by the medical apparatus.

Abstract: An electronic endoscope apparatus includes: a CCD; a temperature sensor that detects a temperature of a distal end portion; a correlated double sampling section provided in a body portion, the correlated double sampling section extracting a signal component from an image signal outputted from the CCD; a timing generator that generates a sample-and-hold signal for making the correlated double sampling section operate and a drive pulse signal for driving the CCD; and a CPU that adjusts a timing of the sample-and-hold signal or the drive pulse signal generated by the timing generator, based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes systems and methods that utilize a multi-lumen tube with an integral visualization apparatus, such as a camera. The multi-lumen tracheal tube system may include a camera apparatus that is positioned to facilitate left or right bronchial intubation. In addition, the camera apparatus may be a unitary assembly that functions to hold and position the camera relative to the tube and provides an acceptable profile for comfortable intubation. The camera apparatus may include additional components, such as integral light sources and flushing or cleaning devices to remove any buildup from the camera or optical components.

Abstract: An endoscope apparatus and image processing method of an endoscope apparatus are provided. In one respect, an endoscope apparatus includes an illumination unit for selectively providing light in a plurality of wavelength bands and white light, a sensing unit for receiving light reflected from a body cavity, and an image processing unit for generating additional synthesized images.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus, including a pattern projecting device that projects a pattern onto a wall of a body cavity, the pattern including at least a first section and a second section. The apparatus also includes an illumination device that directs an illumination light onto the wall of the body cavity and an imaging device that, while in a first orientation directed to the first section of the pattern projected onto the wall, acquires a first image of the first section, and while in a second orientation directed to the second section of the pattern projected onto the wall, acquires a second image of the second section. The apparatus further includes a processor controlling the pattern projecting device and the illumination device such that the imaging device acquires the first and the second images during the use of the illumination light, and stitching the first image to the second image.

Abstract: The medical image processing device comprises a detection part, a storage part, an image generation part, and a display-control part. The detection part detects positions and directions of an endoscope. The storage part stores medical image data showing tubular tissues generated by a medical imaging device different from the endoscope. The image generation part generates virtual endoscopic image data showing the internal portion of the tubular tissues based on the medical image data having a position that is a predetermined distance away from the position of the endoscope as a viewpoint. The display-control part receives endoscopic image data showing the internal portion of the tubular tissues generated by the endoscope and displays an endoscopic image based on the endoscopic image data and a virtual endoscopic image based on the virtual endoscopic image data on a display part.

Abstract: Provided is an in-vivo image capturing system including a capsule casing, an analyzing unit, and a warning unit. The capsule casing is insertable into a body of a subject from an oral cavity and it includes an imaging optical system which may obtain images only in one end direction. The analyzing unit analyzes the image components within the oral cavity obtained by the imaging optical system. The warning unit issues a warning to a user about the direction of the capsule casing based on the analytical result by the analyzing unit.