Abstract: A vent assembly configured to maintain predetermined positive and negative pressure differentials between gas within a compartment and the environment, such as a compartment defining an interior of an endoscope is provided. The vent assembly includes a first housing having an upper vent and a lower vent coupled to the compartment. A piston is movable from a closed position to a first position, and from the closed position to a second position. In the closed position the piston blocks the upper and lower vents. A positive pressure differential moves the piston so as to open the vent to allow gas to escape from the compartment. A negative pressure differential draws the piston from the closed position to a second position to allow gas to enter the compartment.

Abstract: A plurality of kinds of illumination light are emitted while being switched according to a specific light emission pattern. A plurality of observation images, which are obtained from image pickup of an object to be observed illuminated with each illumination light, are acquired. Control to display the plurality of observation images on a display unit while switching the plurality of observation images according to a specific display pattern is performed. The specific light emission pattern is fixed and the specific display pattern is changeable.

Abstract: TNE provides the opportunity to make the care of children with EoE and other gastrointestinal or aerodigestive conditions safer, more efficient, and less costly while simultaneously advancing our understanding of the pathophysiology and natural course of this condition. A pediatric endoscope was developed to facilitate TNE in children with EoE. The pediatric endoscope (combined gastroscope, bronchoscope, laryngoscope) includes a 3-4 mm flexible, fiber optic endoscope that allows HD TV viewing with the head of a pediatric bronchoscope that allows four way tip deflection, a scope stiffening apparatus to minimize the endoscopes flexibility when needed, a foot and hand activation to allow air/water insufflation and image/video capture, a light source, 2 mm biopsy channel.

Abstract: An endoscopic device includes a single-use cannula configured for insertion through a cervix into a uterus, a camera secured to a distal end region of the single-use cannula for acquiring images of the uterus, a connection hub secured to a proximal end region of the cannula, a reusable display configured to present the images acquired by the camera and that is securable to the connection hub, and a handle secured to the connection hub. The handle is pivotable between a first position in which the handle is stowed along the connection hub and arranged to prevent attachment of the reusable display to the connection hub and a second position in which the handle is deployed to an orientation that is antiparallel to the connection hub and arranged to permit attachment of the reusable display to the connection hub.

Abstract: An endoscope includes an insertion portion, a raising base, an operation portion, a long member configured to cause the raising base to operate, a moving mechanism configured to allow the long member to be inserted through an inside, and move in an axial direction along the long member, a fixing tool that is attachable and detachable to and from the moving mechanism, and is configured to fix the moving mechanism and the long member by being attached to the moving mechanism, and an urging member that is disposed to contact the moving mechanism and the fixing tool, is set in a direction to separate the moving mechanism and the fixing tool from each other, is configured to push the moving mechanism by bringing the fixing tool close to the moving mechanism, and has an urging force with a strength that moves the moving mechanism to a predetermined position.

Abstract: An arrangement for sterile handling of a non-sterile endoscope in a sterile environment. The arrangement includes a sterile endoscope sheath, and the non-sterile endoscope. The sterile endoscope sheath has an optical element arranged at a distal end of the sterile endoscope sheath. The non-sterile endoscope has an endoscope shaft with an optical element arranged at a distal end of the endoscope shaft.

Abstract: An imaging device for use with an endoscope, the imaging device comprising: a lens arrangement operable to receive light from a scene captured by the endoscope and to form an image of the scene using the received light; an image sensor operable to capture the image of the scene formed by the lens arrangement; a birefringent device positioned along an optical path between the endoscope and the image sensor, wherein the birefringent device comprises birefringent material arranged in a plurality of concentric rings, and wherein the birefringent material of each of the concentric rings is configured such that the polarisation directions of an ordinary ray and an extraordinary ray of light from the scene which travels through the birefringent material are different for at least two of the plurality of concentric rings; and an image processor operable to process the captured image to generate an output image.

Abstract: An image processing unit includes a shake amount calculation section and a static image-storage control section, and the shake amount calculation section includes a shake amount-calculation processing section and an algorithm switching section. The algorithm switching section applies an algorithm varying for each image, and selects images of which the shake amounts calculated by the shake amount-calculation processing section are small. A first image and a second image, which are selected as the images of which the shake amounts are small, are stored in a static image-storage unit. A display control unit displays static images for storage.

Abstract: A flexible tube insertion apparatus includes a flexible tube having flexibility and configured to be inserted into an object to be inserted, one or more external force detectors disposed on the flexible tube and configured to detect a force of an external force applied to the flexible tube when the flexible tube is twisted in at least one direction, and a providing device configured to provide twisting information regarding a twisting direction of the flexible tube for releasing a loop section formed in the flexible tube, according to a direction in which the flexible tube is twisted and the detected force of the external force.

Abstract: An endoscope apparatus includes a color image pickup device, a light source device configured to simultaneously illuminate the subject with light in a first wavelength band having a spectral characteristic of a narrow band having a peak in a range from a wavelength of 585 nm to a wavelength of 615 nm and light in a second wavelength band having a spectral characteristic for making, among a red signal, a green signal, and a blue signal, a pixel value of the red signal smallest, and a processor configured to assign either one of the red signal generated by return light from the subject illuminated with the light in the first wavelength band and the green signal or the blue signal generated by return light from the subject illuminated with the light in the second wavelength band to each of output channels corresponding to the respective colors in a display device.

Abstract: An endoscope apparatus includes an identification unit provided in each of a plurality of optical adaptors, an MMA connected in parallel to the identification unit, an MMA drive circuit that is provided in a main body portion and applies a drive signal for driving the MMA through a pair of conductive wires, a sine-wave generation circuit that is provided in the main body portion and applies an alternating signal to the identification unit through a pair of conductive wires in a state where any one of the plurality of optical adaptors is mounted at a distal end portion, and CPU that is provided in the main body portion and measures an input impedance of the pair of conductive wires at a frequency of the alternating current signal to perform individual identification of the optical adaptor mounted at the distal end portion based on a measurement result.

Abstract: A video endoscope, in particular a video mediastinoscope, comprises an elongate rigid shaft and a handle detachably attached to a proximal end section of the shaft, wherein the shaft comprises an optics shaft comprising an imaging optics and an electronic image sensor, wherein the optics shaft and a plug connector housing arranged at a proximal end of the optics shaft form a hermetically sealed unit enclosing the imaging optics and the image sensor, and wherein the handle comprises a handle housing in which an electronics unit is accommodated, wherein the electronics unit is hermetically sealed. The invention also relates to a method for configuring a video endoscope.

Abstract: An imaging instrument comprises an elongate flexible shaft, a camera disposed at a distal end of the elongate flexible shaft, and a housing coupled to a proximal end of the elongate flexible shaft. The instrument also includes a light emitting diode (LED) within the housing and a heat dissipation system in thermal communication with the LED to transfer heat produced by the LED away from the housing.

Abstract: An endoscope comprises a light splitting device for transmitting a first illuminating light and reflecting a second illuminating light emitted by a light source. The first illuminating light passes through a first color filter transmitting a first color. The second illuminating light passes through the second color filter transmitting a second color. The first color is different from the second color. The light splitting device combines a first incident light of the first color and a second incident light of the second color. The first incident light of the first color and the second incident light of the second color pass through an imaging lens and form images of the first color and the second color on an image sensor, respectively. A CFA (color filter array) comprising a plurality of first CFA components of the first color and a plurality of second CFA component of the second color covering the image sensor.

Abstract: An articulated tip part for an endoscope having a number of hingedly connected segments including a distal end segment and a second segment, wherein adjacent segments are interconnected by at least one hinge member, whereby the tip part can be bent by means of the hingedly connected segments, wherein the distal end segment comprises a first steering wire guide for accommodating and guiding a steering wire, and wherein the second segment comprises an insertion guide with an entry in an outer circumferential surface of the second segment and an exit aligned with an entry into the first steering wire guide, whereby an end of a steering wire can be guided into the entry of the first steering wire guide via the insertion guide.

Abstract: An optical module is configured being provided with: a first case fixed to an implementation surface of an implementation substrate to cover an LD and an LD driver; a first filler filled in the first case to seal the LD and the LD driver; a second case fixed to the implementation surface of the implementation substrate to cover the first case in a state of not adhering to the first case; a third case accommodating the implementation substrate and the second case inside; and a second filler filled in the third case to seal the implementation substrate and the second case.

Abstract: A monitor device for a medical visualisation system including a visualisation device having an image sensor configured to generate image data indicative of a view, the monitor device including a display; a graphical user interface; and a power unit including a rechargeable battery and a power connection to connect an external power supply, the monitor device being operable to receive the image data as the image data is being generated by the image sensor, wherein the monitor device displays within a first portion of the graphical user interface a live representation of the image data, and wherein the monitor device displays a battery indicator indicative of a remaining charge of the rechargeable battery, wherein the battery indicator indicates an expected remaining battery time if the visualisation device is not connected and a measured power consumption if the visualisation device is connected.

Abstract: A video endoscope including an elongate shaft having a distal end and a proximal end; a tubular sleeve arranged in the shaft so as to be rotatable about a longitudinal axis of the shaft; a connector arranged at the proximal end of the shaft; an objective arranged at the distal end of the shaft; at least one image sensor arranged in the shaft so as to be proximal to the objective, the at least one image sensor being surrounded by the tubular sleeve; a flexible signal line connecting the at least one image sensor to the connector; and a fastener for detachable fastening the flexible signal line.

Abstract: An endoscope apparatus includes: an insertion portion having a distal end portion; an optical path switching unit configured to switch an optical path so that only one of a first subject image and a second subject image is imaged on an image forming area, the second subject image being an image of a subject formed by light emitted from a second objective optical system disposed at the distal end portion and having an optical magnification higher than that of the first objective optical system; an imaging element configured to generate an image acquired by picking up the first subject image and the second subject image formed in the image forming area; and an endoscope processing unit configured to control switching of the optical path based on an input zoom magnification and apply image processing to the image generated by the imaging element.

Abstract: A light source device configured to irradiate an object with visible light and excitation light, an imaging device including a first substrate on which a plurality of first photoelectric conversion elements configured to detect a visible light within reflected light from the object are formed, a second substrate on which a plurality of second photoelectric conversion elements configured to detect light of an infrared region within the reflected light transmitted through the first substrate are formed, and an interlayer filter configured to attenuate the light of the visible region transmitted through the first substrate, and a setting device configured to set a light emission intensity of the visible light radiated by the light source device so that first photoelectric conversion elements is able to detect the visible light and a detection value of light detected by second photoelectric conversion element become less than or equal to a predetermined value.