Abstract: There is provided herein a circuit board assembly for a tip section of a multi-camera endoscope comprising a camera circuit board configured to carry at least one front-pointing camera and at least one side-pointing camera, a flexible illuminator circuit board comprising at least one foldable panel and configured to carry at least one front illuminator for essentially illuminating the field of view (FOV) of the front-pointing camera and at least one side illuminator for essentially illuminating the FOV of the side-pointing camera.

Abstract: An observation unit can be stably held in a state where the observation unit is mounted on a distal portion, and can be easily removed without interfering with a connection pipe. A mounting hole for mounting an observation unit on a distal end body which constitutes a distal portion is formed. The mounting hole is formed with a first holding portion into which the distal portion of the lens barrel is inserted, a second holding portion into which a prism holder is inserted, and a releasing portion having a space larger than the external diameter of the lens barrel between the first and second holding portions.

Abstract: A virtual field of view of a virtual endoscope, which is positioned at a position corresponding to a detected position of an endoscope in a 3D medical image, is determined based on a position of a structure of interest, the corresponding position and a posture of the endoscope, and an angle of view of the endoscope, such that the position of the structure of interest is contained within the virtual field of view and the virtual field of view has continuity with the field of view of the endoscope. From the 3D medical image inputted, a virtual endoscopic image having the determined virtual field of view with the view point thereof being the corresponding position of the endoscope is generated. The generated virtual endoscopic image is displayed on a WS display.

Abstract: Repositionable imaging system and method for creating a 3D image of a closed cavity of a patient's anatomy containing the imaging system, estimating characteristics of motion of the system within the cavity, and determining a metric dimension characterizing the cavity without the use of mechanical measurement. The system may include tracking device located externally with respect to the cavity to determine a scale measurement of the system's motion and the structure of the cavity. The system's computer processor is configured to determine triangulated features of the cavity and recover motion scale data with the use of data received from the tracking device. A specific imaging system includes an endoscope (equipped with an electrical coil and complemented with an external electromagnetic tracker).

Abstract: In a special observation mode, an oxygen saturation frame period, a normal frame period, and a vessel pattern frame period are repeatedly performed. A brightness detector detects the brightness of a latest frame image of an oxygen saturation video image, being a key video image. The intensity of light to be applied in the next oxygen saturation frame period is determined from the detected brightness. From the determined light intensity and a light intensity ratio among frames, the intensity of light to be applied in the next normal frame period and the next vessel pattern frame period is calculated. The exposure time of the next oxygen saturation frame period is determined from the detected brightness. From the determined exposure time and an exposure time ratio among frames, the exposure time of the next normal frame period and the next vessel pattern frame period is determined.

Abstract: A device and method for viewing a body lumen are provided. An assembly of a capsule endoscope and an endoscope is inserted into a body lumen. The capsule endoscope is positioned within the body lumen at a predetermined distance from the endoscope, and images are obtained from opposite sides of a desired location in the body lumen. In vivo procedures may be performed, while images of the procedure are obtained from opposite sides of the procedure location.

Abstract: A light source apparatus is designed in accordance with an object, and following elements and phosphors are disposed in a casing, a first light emitting element that emits a light in a first irradiation mode, which is selected so that a light emission band has a portion that overlaps a first-specific-band, a first phosphor selected so as to include the first-specific-band in an excitation band and include a second-specific-band in a fluorescence-emission-band, a second phosphor selected so that an excitation intensity compared with the first phosphor is low in the first-specific-band, and high in a second-fluorescence-excitation-band at a short wavelength side in a second-irradiation-band and a fluorescence-emission-band includes the second-irradiation-band other than the second-fluorescence-excitation-band, and a second light emitting element that emits a light in a second irradiation mode, which is selected so that a light emission band is included in the second-fluorescence-excitation-band.

Abstract: The present invention concerns an endoscope for minimally invasive surgery, especially for use within a surgical robotic system, which comprises a main support device (4), which basically extends over the entire length of the endoscope from the outside to the interior of the body, and which comprises at its distal end at least one illumination unit (15, 16) and two imaging devices (12a, 13a, 14a, 12b, 13b, 14b; 12c), wherein each of the imaging devices (12a, 13a, 14a, 12b, 13b, 14b; 12c) is basically arranged in such a way that it can be rotated to the outside on the same level as the main support device (4), a trocar (1), by means of which the endoscope can enter the body, and an additional support device (3), which is provided at the trocar (1) and/or the main support device (4), wherein the additional support device (3) comprises at its distal end an additional imaging device (8, 9, 10, 11), which can be rotated from the additional support device (3) to the outside and wherein the additional imaging device

Abstract: An ultrasound imaging system has a 3D location system and a data store for recording locations within a patient. Navigation to target locations is facilitated by providing graphical elements superposed on a 2-dimensional image. The size and/or color of the graphical elements are controlled in real time based on distance of the target location(s) from a current image plane. This provides intuitive visual feedback and can be achieved with low computational requirements.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for characterizing a region of interest (ROI) including measuring position and orientation data within the ROI; and generating a geometric data set to include one or more of: length, bifurcation location, angle and curvature characteristics of the ROI. Also, sequentially taking an image of a tool within the ROI; comparing tool dimensions with ROI dimensions; and estimating diameter, length, take-off angle, and/or tortuosity characteristics based on the comparisons.

Abstract: A medical device, configured for insertion into a body, may include an elongate member extending from a proximal end to a distal end, where the distal end may be configured to be positioned inside the body. The medical device may also include an imaging device positioned at the distal end. The medical device may further include a plurality of light sources positioned at the distal end, wherein a characteristic of light delivered through a first light source may be controlled independent of the characteristic of light delivered through a second light source.

Abstract: An endoscope apparatus includes an elongated tube, a imaging unit in the elongated tube, and a cable structure, including plural signal lines, having first and second ends, the first end being connected to the imaging unit. A cable connector is connected with the second end, and couplable with a socket connector connectively. The cable connector includes a circuit board having a width in a manner passable through the elongated tube in an axial direction. A conductive land is formed on the circuit board, and coupled to the second end. A terminal pattern is formed on the circuit board, for connective coupling by reception in the socket connector. An advancing tip is formed on a front side of the circuit board in the axial direction, for initially advancing upon entry of the circuit board in the elongated tube, to enable the conductive land and the terminal pattern to pass safely.

Abstract: The current invention relates to an endoscope having a distal end being arranged to be inserted into a body cavity of a patient to be examined and a proximal end which is arranged to be held by the user of the endoscope. The endoscope further comprises a control handle arranged at the proximal end of the endoscope and an insertion portion arranged at the distal end of the control handle. The insertion portion comprises a camera housing arranged at the distal end of the insertion portion, said camera housing being a molded component comprising an outer surface, a camera device embedded in the material of the camera housing, and a light source embedded in the material of the camera housing.

Abstract: An electromechanical drive system with drop-in capability allows manipulation of the majority of existing endoscopes. The invention does not require retrofitting of existing endoscopes and maintains the current clinical workflow. The drive system can be controlled through a human/machine interface, which could consist of a variety of different input devices, including a joystick, keyboard, or game controller.

Abstract: The invention relates to an imaging system and a method for three-dimensional imaging of the interior of an object. The imaging system comprises illumination means (10), detection means (11) and reconstruction means. The illumination means is adapted to illuminate the interior of the object with light, wherein the illumination means (10) is capable of generating different spatial light intensity distributions on the interior of the object. The detection means (11) is adapted to detect the different spatial light intensity distributions, and the reconstruction means is adapted to reconstruct a three-dimensional image from the detected different spatial light intensity distributions. The invention relates further to an optical fiber system comprising a transfer mechanism to transfer the optical fiber system from a first condition, in which optical fibers diverge from each other, to a second condition, in which optical fibers are parallel to each other, and vice versa.

Abstract: Endoscope assemblies, biopsy caps, and methods for making and using the same. An example endoscope assembly may include an endoscope having a channel formed therein and a port that provides access to the channel. A cap may be coupled to the port. The cap may include a base having a securing member for securing the cap to the port, an outer shell, a locking member coupled to the outer shell, an inner seal member, and a central opening that extends to the channel. The inner seal member may include a plurality of flaps.

Abstract: The current invention relates to a method for making a camera housing of an endoscope having a camera housing arranged at the distal end of the insertion portion, said camera housing being a molded component comprising an outer surface, a camera device embedded in the material of the camera housing, a light source embedded in the material of the camera housing, an opening at the distal end of the camera housing, and a channel in fluid communication with said opening. The endoscope further comprises a tube which provides fluid communication between the channel in the camera housing to the proximal end of the endoscope. The endoscope further comprises a bending portion arranged at the distal end of the insertion portion and at the proximal end of the camera housing and where the most distal portion of the bending portion is embedded in the material of the camera housing.

Abstract: A surgical system performs a surgical procedure on a patient with manipulators and an endoscope. The surgical system has a display unit for simultaneously displaying a plurality of items of information including an endoscopic image captured by the endoscope, and a wireless image processor for transmitting information to the display unit and processing the plurality of items of information to be displayed by the display unit. The information about the endoscopic image is transmitted from the endoscope to the wireless image processor through a link including at least a portion based on wireless communications.

Abstract: An endoscope with a wide angle lens that comprises an optical axis that is angularly offset from a longitudinal axis of the endoscope such that the optical axis resides at an angle greater than zero degrees to the longitudinal axis. The wide angle lens system simultaneously gathers an endoscopic image field, the endoscopic image field at least spanning the longitudinal axis and an angle greater than ninety degrees to the longitudinal axis. The endoscope includes a transmission system with a lens system having f-sin(theta) distortion or substantially f-sin(theta) distortion that distributes the angle of incidence of the light rays gathered from the endoscopic field of view on to the image surface area in order to even out the information density across the surface area of the imager.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for off-axis visualization are described herein. An endoluminal tissue manipulation assembly is disclosed which provides for a stable endoluminal platform and which also provides for effective triangulation of tools. Such an apparatus may comprise an optionally shape-lockable elongate body defining a longitudinal axis and adapted for endoluminal advancement in a patient body, at least one articulatable visualization lumen disposed near or at a distal region of the elongate body, the at least one articulating visualization lumen being adapted to articulate off-axis relative to a longitudinal axis of the elongate body, and at least one articulatable tool arm member disposed near or at the distal region of the elongate body, the at least one articulatable tool arm member being adapted to articulate off-axis and manipulate a tissue region of interest.