Abstract: Disclosed is a method for making a composite material, which is of particular use in wound treatment. The composite material has a hydrophilic polyurethane foam material with a first polyurethane polymer; a hydrophilic fiber material having a second polymer, wherein said second polymer is not a polyurethane polymer and wherein said fiber material is capable of absorbing and retaining a fluid. The first polymer is covalently bonded to the second polymer.

Abstract: Freeform, additive manufacturing equipment, processes and products, including residential, commercial and other buildings. A movable extruder places extrudate that solidifies in open space to create “scaffolding” or “skeletons” of buildings and other products. Elongated extrudate elements are fused to each other or connected by other means to form a cellular structure. Filler material such as polymeric insulating foam may simultaneously or thereafter be placed within the cellular structure to contribute desired strength, rigidity, insulative, barrier or other properties. Finish materials may also be applied.

Abstract: An additive manufacturing system includes a high power laser to form a laser beam directed against a light valve. An active light valve cooling system is arranged to remove heat from the light valve and a heat exchanger is connected to the active light valve cooling system. A heat exchange fluid is circulated through the active light valve cooling system and the heat exchanger.

Abstract: A method for laminating glass sheets is disclosed. A sandwich structure sheet moving in a heating furnace on rollers is heated by two-sided hot air blasting which is carried out by several successive blowing aperture sections, and, to reduce or prevent the formation of air bubbles in finished laminated glass, the heating of the rear end of the sandwich structure sheet is prevented by cutting off the hot air blasting of at least one blowing aperture section when the rear edge of the sandwich structure sheet approaches the blowing aperture section. An apparatus for laminating glass sheets is also disclosed, comprising a heating furnace, a pair of press rolls and means for establishing location data on the sandwich structure sheet. The heating furnace is provided with a roller track, a blower, a heating resistor, an air distribution conduit, and several successive blowing boxes with closing means.

Abstract: A machine for disassembling a lens mold assembly including a first mold part, a second mold part, and a molded-lens sandwiched therebetween. The machine includes a centering unit to center the lens mold assembly. The machine includes a disassembling module having a mold engagement mechanism to engage the first and second mold parts to clamp and move the lens mold assembly. The disassembling module includes a molded-lens holder mechanism having at least two clamping members to clamp the molded-lens of the lens mold assembly. The machine includes an alignment guidance module to detect relative positions between the molded lens of the lens mold assembly and the molded-lens holder mechanism to align the molded lens for clamping by the molded-lens holder mechanism. The mold engagement mechanism is configured to hold the first and second mold parts individually and to separate the first and second mold parts from the molded lens.

Abstract: An illumination module includes a light emitting unit, an optical lens with positive refractive power, and a concave mirror. At least one of an object-side surface and an image-side surface of the optical lens is an asymmetrical surface, and the light emitting unit is provided at an object side of the optical lens. The concave mirror is provided at an image side of the optical lens, and the concave mirror acts as an optical path folding element. Light emitted by the light emitting unit passes through the optical lens and is reflected by the concave mirror to be a parallel light ray.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a material layer includes a first step S101 of arranging first particles P1 in a pattern on a base material 11 and a second step S102 of arranging second particles in regions in which the first particles P1 are not arranged on the base material 11. The second step S102 includes a step of rubbing bearing materials S2 that carry the second particles P2 against the base material 11 on which the first particles P1 are arranged.

Abstract: Various embodiments for providing removable, pluggable and disposable opto-electronic modules for illumination and imaging for endoscopy or borescopy are provided for use with portable display devices. Generally, various medical or industrial devices can include one or more solid state or other compact electro-optic illuminating elements located thereon. Additionally, such opto-electronic modules may include illuminating optics, imaging optics, and/or image capture devices. The illuminating elements may have different wavelengths and can be time-synchronized with an image sensor to illuminate an object for imaging or detecting purpose or other conditioning purpose. The removable opto-electronic modules may be plugged onto the exterior surface of another medical device, deployably coupled to the distal end of the device, or otherwise disposed on the device.

Abstract: In a minimally invasive surgical system, an image capture unit includes a prism assembly and sensor assembly. The prism assembly includes a beam splitter, while the sensor assembly includes coplanar image capture sensors. Each of the coplanar image capture sensors has a common front end optical structure, e.g., the optical structure distal to the image capture unit is the same for each of the sensors. A controller enhances images acquired by the coplanar image capture sensors. The enhanced images may include (a) visible images with enhanced feature definition, in which a particular feature in the scene is emphasized to the operator of minimally invasive surgical system; (b) images having increased image apparent resolution; (c) images having increased dynamic range; (d) images displayed in a way based on a pixel color component vector having three or more color components; and (e) images having extended depth of field.

Abstract: The present invention relates, generally, to controlling a steerable instrument having an elongate body. More particularly, the present invention relates to a system and method for sensing the shape of a steerable instrument and controlling the steerable instrument in response to a control signal from a user input device and a shape signal corresponding to the sensed shape of at least a portion of the steerable instrument. The present invention also relates to a system for sensing the shape of a flexible instrument with an optical shape sensor.

Abstract: The application relates to an ingestible capsule and method for in vivo imaging and/or treatment of one or more diseased areas of interest within the gastrointestinal tract of an animal or human being.

Abstract: In a minimally invasive surgical system, an image capture unit includes a prism assembly and sensor assembly. The prism assembly includes a beam splitter, while the sensor assembly includes coplanar image capture sensors. Each of the coplanar image capture sensors has a common front end optical structure, e.g., the optical structure distal to the image capture unit is the same for each of the sensors. A controller enhances images acquired by the coplanar image capture sensors. The enhanced images may include (a) visible images with enhanced feature definition, in which a particular feature in the scene is emphasized to the operator of minimally invasive surgical system; (b) images having increased image apparent resolution; (c) images having increased dynamic range; (d) images displayed in a way based on a pixel color component vector having three or more color components; and (e) images having extended depth of field.

Abstract: An image sensor for a capsule type endoscope in which an image data is processed in frame units, the image sensor having analog and digital circuits, the image sensor includes a frame-puncturing unit for interrupting a power supply to the analog circuit at a predetermined frame among a plurality of frames. The image sensor may include a start delay unit for delaying a power supply to the analog circuit for a desired time.

Abstract: An encapsulated endoscope system in accordance with the present invention comprises: an encapsulated endoscope that rotates to develop a thrust; a controller that moves the encapsulated endoscope in an intended direction of advancement; an imaging unit incorporated in the encapsulated endoscope; and an image processing unit that receives image data sent from the imaging unit, and produces an image, which results from rotation of the received image data, according to the rotational phase of the encapsulated endoscope.

Abstract: To provide an endoscope system that includes a light source, an insertion part to be inserted into a living organism for guiding a illumination light emitted from the light source and a light returned from the living organism, a deflection optical system for outwardly directing the illumination light in a radius direction of the insertion part and for introducing a light inwardly returned from the living organism in the radius direction into the insertion part, a part for capturing the returned light, a part for detecting an insertion speed of the insertion part, a part for adjusting a frame rate for the image capturing of the image capturing part based on the detected insertion speed, an image forming part for arranging acquired images at a pitch based on the insertion speed to form an image of the inside of the living organism, and a part for displaying the formed image.

Abstract: In an imaging device for capturing an image by applying illuminating light emitted from a light source to a part to be observed through a light exit window and receiving light coming from the part to be observed when the illuminating light is applied, a light exit window cleaning unit discharges a liquid toward the light exit window to clean the light exit window in response to an instruction to start application of the illuminating light.

Abstract: A body-insertable apparatus includes a light-receiving unit that includes light-receiving elements each having a receiving wavelength spectrum; light-emitting units including a near ultraviolet light source and including a yellow light source; a selection unit that can select, from among the light-emitting units, light-emitting units corresponding respectively to the near ultraviolet and the yellow light sources; an image creating unit creating a normal-light image or creating a special-light image; a transmitting unit transmitting the normal-light image or the created special-light image; and a control unit controlling driving of the light-receiving elements in accordance with selection performed by the selection unit.

Abstract: In a minimally invasive surgical system, an image capture unit includes a prism assembly and sensor assembly. The prism assembly includes a beam splitter, while the sensor assembly includes coplanar image capture sensors. Each of the coplanar image capture sensors has a common front end optical structure, e.g., the optical structure distal to the image capture unit is the same for each of the sensors. A controller enhances images acquired by the coplanar image capture sensors. The enhanced images may include (a) visible images with enhanced feature definition, in which a particular feature in the scene is emphasized to the operator of minimally invasive surgical system; (b) images having increased image apparent resolution; (c) images having increased dynamic range; (d) images displayed in a way based on a pixel color component vector having three or more color components; and (e) images having extended depth of field.

Abstract: A light source device emits normal illumination light and special illumination light interchangeably at a charge-storage time of an imaging device. A DRP is reconfigurable between a normal image producing circuit and a special image producing circuit. A CPU instructs the reconfiguration of the DRP when detecting that a vertical synchronization signal from a drive circuit falls to zero level. The DRP gains an access to a configuration memory to load circuit information of the normal or special image producing circuit. According to the circuit information loaded, the DRP changes functions and interconnection of processor elements.

Abstract: An endoscopic imaging catheter is configured for insertion, optionally via a longitudinal channel of an endoscopic insertion tube. The endoscopic imaging catheter includes reflecting and optical elements and an imaging element. The reflecting element reflects onto the imaging element through the optical element side and rear views of at least a portion, or the entire 360° view of a wall encircling an intrabody lumen around the axis of said the longitudinal channel.