Abstract: Method for advancing a colonoscope within a colon of the body of a patient, the method including the procedures of acquiring a stereoscopic image pair of a region of the interior of the colon, identifying topographical features in the stereoscopic image pair, determining the depth of each of the topographical features in the stereoscopic image pair, and indicating the appropriate direction to advance the colonoscope, the direction being toward at least a selected one of the topographical features with greater depth than others of the topographical features.

Abstract: A light source device includes a first light source, a second light source having an emission wavelength that is different from the first light source, and a phosphor that is disposed to be distant from the first light source and the second light source and absorbs light in a predetermined excitation wavelength band to emit fluorescence. The phosphor is disposed on an emission light optical path that is shared by the first light source and the second light source. The emission wavelength of the first light source is in the predetermined excitation wavelength band. The emission wavelength of the second light source is outside of the predetermined excitation wavelength band.

Abstract: In a sensor system and a corresponding method for image capture of an object, an imaging sensor is arranged in a recording area of an optical sensor, the recording area being defined for the object, in such a way as to be essentially stationary relative to said object. By means of an evaluation unit, relative movements between the imaging sensor and the object can be derived from the recorded image data of the optical sensor, and a three-dimensional object image can be reconstructed from the imaging data as a function of the relative movements. When determining the relative movements, it is in particular possible as well to detect relative movements caused by the object's own motion which can be taken into account when reconstructing the object image. As a result, a high image quality of the object image is achieved.

Abstract: A flexible endoscope having a wide-angle lens that has 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 at least spanning the longitudinal axis and an angle greater than ninety degrees to the longitudinal axis. The endoscope includes an imager comprising an imaging surface area that receives at least a portion of endoscopic image transmitted by the wide-angle lens system and produces output signals corresponding to the endoscopic image field and image forming circuitry that receives the output signal and produces an image signal. The wide-angle lens endoscope has a flexible distal end or tip.

Abstract: An endoscope system 100 is provided with an optical fiber cable 31 and an electrical cable 32a that transmit pixel information output by a light receiving part 28, an image processor 42 that generates an image based on the pixel information transmitted from the optical fiber cable 31 or the pixel information transmitted from the electrical cable 32a, and a control unit 55 that controls a display unit 71 to display the image generated by the image processor 42, determines whether or not a transmission abnormality is present in the optical fiber cable 31, and selects, as pixel information as a target to be processed by the image processor 42, one of the pixel information transmitted from the optical fiber cable 31 and the pixel information transmitted from the electrical cable 32a depending on a presence of the transmission abnormality in the optical fiber cable 31.

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: A position information estimation system includes: a body-insertable apparatus that is inserted into a subject and moves through an inside of the subject; a receiving unit that receives information from the body-insertable apparatus; and an information processor that performs processes on the information acquired from the receiving unit. The receiving unit includes an acquisition antenna that includes a plurality of receiving antennas and acquires information from the body-insertable apparatus.

Abstract: An endoscope according to the present invention includes: an elongated insertion portion inserted in an examination object; an LED which is provided in a distal end portion of the insertion portion and is driven by supply of electric power; an image pickup portion which is provided in the distal end portion on a rear end side in the insertion direction than the LED, and which picks up an image of the examination object; a power supply line for power supply, a distal end in an insertion direction of which is positioned in the distal end portion on a rear end side in the insertion direction than the image pickup portion, and which is inserted in the insertion portion.

Abstract: A seal is provided for effectively inhibiting the egress of fluids from the working channel of an endoscope when an elongate device having a region with a non-circular cross-sectional shape is disposed therein. The seal has a body portion with a proximal end adapted for insertion of the elongate device, a distal end adapted for connection to the proximal end of the endoscope, and a wall defining a lumen adapted to receive the elongate device and to provide access to the working channel of the endoscope. The seal includes a sealing element for sealing the region of the elongate device with a non-circular cross-sectional shape. The sealing element conforms to the profile of the non-circular region.

Abstract: An imaging system can include a base unit and one or more imaging units. The base unit can include a main interface that has a plurality of main electrical connectors and one or more main mechanical connectors. A mechanical system is located in the base unit. Each imaging unit can include an elongate support member having a proximal end, a proximal section, a bendable section, and a distal end. Also, an imaging interface that couples with the main interface can be included on the proximal end of the elongate support member. The imaging interface includes a plurality of imaging electrical connectors that correspond and connect with the main electrical connectors of the main interface and includes one or more imaging mechanical connectors that correspond and connect with main mechanical connectors of the main interface. Mechanical actuators can bend the bendable section under control from the base unit.

Abstract: A normal light CCD 11 is driven via a normal light CCD control section 25 by a timing signal from a timing circuit section 29 of a video processor 20. At the same time, a fluorescence CCD 12 is driven via a fluorescence CCD control section 26. Then, an image pickup signal according to an RGB frame sequential method from the normal light CCD 11 is processed by a normal light image video circuit section 27 and a normal color image is created while an image pickup signal from the fluorescence CCD 12 is processed by a fluorescence image video circuit section 28, and an image pickup signal of a subject excited by blue illumination light and transmitted through a fluorescence transmitting filter 13 is extracted to create a fluorescence image of the subject.

Abstract: An endoscopic image pickup device includes a sheath functioning as insertion section which is inserted in a body cavity, a camera head body which is coupled to a proximal end portion of the sheath in a direction perpendicular to an axis of the sheath, is rotatable about the axis of the sheath as a rotational axis, and has a center of gravity below the rotational axis, and a remote control section which is provided at a position with an extension below the camera head body. With this structure, even if an endoscope is rotated about the axis of the sheath of the endoscope, the camera head body is always kept in a constant attitude by its own weight. In addition, blurring of an image can be prevented at a time of capturing a still image by the operation of the remote control section.

Abstract: A medical robotic system includes an entry guide with articulatable instruments extending out of its distal end, an entry guide manipulator providing controllable four degrees-of-freedom movement of the entry guide, and a controller configured to limit joint velocities in the entry guide manipulator so as to prevent movement of tips of the articulatable instruments from exceeding a maximum allowable linear velocity when the entry guide manipulator is being used to move the entry guide.

Abstract: A medical robotic system includes an entry guide with articulatable instruments extending out of its distal end, an entry guide manipulator providing controllable four degrees-of-freedom movement of the entry guide, and a controller configured to limit joint velocities in the entry guide manipulator so as to prevent movement of tips of the articulatable instruments from exceeding a maximum allowable linear velocity when the entry guide manipulator is being used to move the entry guide.

Abstract: The invention provides lenses at low cost, which form an illumination optical system for endoscopes that has high efficiency and achieves improved light distribution. The illumination optical system for endoscopes is used in opposition to a light beam exit end 1 of a transmission means F for light emitted from a light source, and comprises, as viewed from the light beam exit end 1, a lens group 10 having positive power and an optical member 20 subsequent thereto which has a spherical surface 20a that functions as a lens, has a radius of curvature R, and satisfies the following condition: 1.48?S/?R2?4??(1) where R is the radius of curvature of the spherical surface, in mm, and S is a surface area of the spherical surface, in mm2.

Abstract: Provided are a capsule-type image photographing apparatus and endoscopy using the same. The apparatus includes a shell unit having a globular shape and a main body unit capable of freely rotating in the shell unit. The main body unit includes an image photographing system, a wireless transmitter, a battery, a counterweight for determining the center of gravity of the main body unit, and an encapsulant for fixing the image photographing system, the wireless transmitter, the battery, and the counterweight. The apparatus may be a long-distance capsule-type image photographing apparatus or a short-distance capsule-type image photographing apparatus depending on the position of the counterweight. By use of the long- and short-distance capsule-type image photographing apparatuses, the interior of the tested person's body can be effectively photographed.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to receive, with a high sensitivity, a radio signal transmitted within a short time before a capsule endoscope reaches the stomach of a subject and acquire, in a satisfactory state, information on the interior of the subject such as image data picked up by the capsule endoscope. The receiving apparatus according to the invention includes a plurality of receiving antennas including a specified receiving antenna for receiving a radio signal from a capsule endoscope before the stomach is reached, a switching controller, an arrival determining unit and a mode switching unit. The switching controller performs a control operation for switching to and maintaining the receiving antenna in an initial mode or a control operation for switching to the receiving antennas in a normal mode. The arrival determining unit determines whether the capsule endoscope has reached the stomach or not.

Abstract: A liquid cooled endoscopy unit having plurality of LED light source units integrated into the proximal end of the arthroscope. The LED light source is cooled by the sterile conventional irrigation fluid circulating inside a cooling chamber located in the body of the arthroscope and conveniently capable on demand of emitting UV light for fluorescein endoscopy. The inventive device conveniently incorporate and contains all tubing and power supply cables for the camera and LED light source in a single tubing.

Abstract: An endoscope apparatus includes: a plurality of connection portions to which an endoscope can be connected, respectively, wherein a priority setting portion sets a connection priority of the plurality of connection portions, a drive portion supplies a drive signal to one endoscope and a control portion that controls so that the drive portion supplies the drive signal to any one endoscope only based on the connection priority. The endoscope apparatus further includes an identification portion that identifies the kind of endoscope based on a resistance value of a specific resistance that differs according to a kind of the endoscope that is arranged in the endoscope, and that is detected by cancelling a contact resistance in the connection portion.

Abstract: A stereo-endoscope is provided having a hollow shank with two axially parallel optical channels, which channels run through the hollow shank and respectively form at least a section of an image path to respective oculars of a binocular observation device arranged on the proximal end of the hollow shank. Moreover, the stereo-endoscope includes a camera connection, and one of the optical channels also forms at least one section of an image path to the camera connection.