Abstract: A capsule-type endoscope includes a capsule, an objective optical system, an image pickup element, and at least one illumination light source having a light-emitting surface, and a transparent cover. In several embodiments of the capsule-type endoscope according to the present invention, an inner surface of the transparent cover is spherical within a field of view of the objective optical system so as to have a center of curvature, the center of curvature is offset from the optical axis of the objective optical system, and a specified condition is satisfied so as to avoid flare in the objective optical system caused when light from the one (or more) illumination light source(s) enters the entrance pupil of the objective optical system. In another embodiment, the inner surface of the transparent cover has the shape of an ellipsoid. Observation methods using the capsule-type endoscope are also disclosed.

Abstract: An endoscope having an insertion portion including a bending portion, an actuator that extends or contracts according to application of a driving voltage and that bends the bending portion, a bending instruction operation portion for outputting, to the actuator, an instruction signal of a bending direction and a bending amount so that the bending portion performs a bending action by an arbitrary amount from a reference direction in which the bending portion is not bent to an arbitrary direction, and a control portion for performing control to apply the actuator with a driving voltage to cause the actuator to extend or contract in a predetermined direction and by a predetermined amount so that the bending portion performs a returning action in the reference direction when detecting the instruction signal outputted by the bending instruction operation portion for returning the bending portion to the reference direction.

Abstract: A medical instrument comprising a flexible, filamentous shaft slideably disposed in a sheath, the instrument including an electronic imaging system comprising an image sensor carried on a distal end portion of the instrument. The shaft may be used as a guidewire for a complementary guided device, or it may be used to carry a functional element for performing a procedure at a target site in a patient's body. In other embodiments, the present invention contemplates a flexible sheath, preferably having a simple tubular construction, with an electronic imaging system at its distal end. The sheath is adapted to slideably receive a shaft, preferably a filamentous shaft, that closely fits the sheath. The shaft carries functional element at its distal end. The instruments according to the present invention may include one or more filaments along their length for deflecting an insertable portion of the instrument.

Abstract: In a medical control system, when motors are in a stopped state according to the determination based on an amount of change in an instruction value, the disturbance characteristics is set at high sensitivity in order to keep the detection capability of a disturbance observer section in an enhanced state during a period to the drive start time of the motors, and when the motors are brought into an operating state, a gain of a controller is returned to a normal setting value to maintain the excellent follow-up characteristics.

Abstract: The inventive subject matter is generally directed to an illumination system for staged illumination in an endoscopic procedure. The inventive system generally includes an illumination apparatus supporting a light source that is configured for removable assembly with an endoscope. The assembly is configured for insertion into a natural or artificial passageway in a body. The illumination apparatus has one or more light sources providing a first, relatively high level of illumination suitable for imaging a first, relatively large target area, either alone or in combination with a light source for the endoscope, and after removal of the illumination apparatus from the assembly, the endoscope provides a second relatively lower level of illumination suitable for imaging a relatively small target area.

Abstract: An in vivo imaging device having a flexible circuit board, for example, a one-sheet flexible circuit board. The flexible circuit board may enable folding components attached to the flexible circuit board according to a predefined angle.

Abstract: Apparatus including an optical system (20) for use in an endoscope is provided. The optical system has distal and proximal ends, and includes an image sensor (32), positioned at the proximal end of the optical system. The optical system also includes an optical member (34) having distal (36) and proximal ends, and shaped so as to define: (a) a lateral surface, at least a distal portion of which is curved, configured to provide omnidirectional lateral viewing, (b) a distal indentation (44) in the distal end of the optical member, and (c) a proximal indentation (48) in the proximal end of the optical member. The optical system also includes a convex mirror (40), coupled to the distal end of the optical member, and shaped so as define an opening through which the distal indentation passes. A distal lens (52) is positioned distal to the mirror. The optical member, the mirror, and the distal lens have respective rotational shapes about a common rotation axis.

Abstract: An intraductal insertion device includes a thrust generating section installed at an insertion portion. The thrust generating section is made up of a flexible shaft adapted to rotate clockwise or counterclockwise around a shaft axis. The thrust generating section is configured by winding the shaft axis of the flexible shaft around an axis of the insertion portion in an insertion direction.

Abstract: An endoscope main body constituting an endoscope in a state in which an elongated detachable observation optical system is attached to the endoscope main body, and in a proximal end of an insertion section of the endoscope main body, a branch member is disposed. The branch member is provided so that a first extended section and a second extended section are branched from each other and thereby first and second operating sections are separately arranged. Furthermore, the branch member has an opening as an inlet which guides an imaging module in a distal end of the observation optical system to a hard portion of the insertion section.

Abstract: The present invention provides a capsule type medical apparatus that can receive, in a subject, an external signal transmitted from an outside of the subject and transmitted via a conductor existing in the subject, including: a cover member that is formed of a dielectric and covers components of the capsule type medical apparatus; a plurality of electrodes that are formed of conductors, are provided in tight contact with an inner wall side of the cover member, and receive the external signal; an inductor circuit that is connected in series to each of the plurality of electrodes, and has an inductance value set to configure a resonant circuit having a frequency substantially equal to a carrier frequency of the external signal as a resonant frequency; and a signal receiving circuit to which the external signal received by the plurality of electrodes and a potential difference of the external signal are inputted.

Abstract: An endoscopic device of the present invention comprises: an endoscope having an image pickup unit that outputs a picked up an image of a subject as an image pickup signal; an image pickup signal amplification unit; a light source unit; a light intensity control unit that controls an amount of light; a spectral unit that penetrates light in a band based on predetermined characteristics; a brightness control unit that controls a brightness of an image displayed on a display unit; and a mode switching unit that switches a first mode for emitting first illumination light and a second mode for emitting second illumination light having a band narrower than the first illumination light, wherein the brightness control unit controls the light intensity control unit and then controls the image pickup signal amplification unit in the second mode.

Abstract: An adapter-type endoscope includes a distal end adapter and an insertion portion. The distal end adapter includes a light-emitting device substrate and an adapter-side electrical connection portion. The insertion portion includes a distal end portion to which the distal end adapter is detachably mounted, and has an insertion portion-side electrical connection portion connected to an adapter-side electrical connection portion, and a dual-purpose wire for power supply and heat release serving as both a heat releasing wire and a power source wire. The adapter-side electrical connection portion includes an electrical connection portion main body serving as both an electrical connection portion and a heat conducting portion and whose distal end surface closely contacts the light-emitting device substrate.

Abstract: Various embodiments for providing solid state illumination for endoscopy or borescopy are provided. Generally, various medical or industrial devices can include one or more solid state or other compact electro-optic illuminating devices located thereon. The solid state or compact electro-optic illuminating device can include, but is not limited to, a light emitting diode (LED), laser diode (LD), or other Infrared (IR) or Ultraviolet (UV) source. Solid state sources of various wavelengths may be used to illuminate an object for imaging or detecting purpose or otherwise conditioning purpose. The solid state illuminating device may be placed on the exterior surface of the device, inside the device, deployably coupled to the distal end of the device, or otherwise disposed on the device.

Abstract: An endoscope apparatus according to an aspect of the invention comprises an imaging unit, a detection unit, a process unit, and a measurement unit. The imaging unit comprises an imaging device and generates a first image having two fields by imaging a subject by performing interlaced driving for the imaging device. The detection unit detects the amount of shake of the first image. The process unit generates a second image from the first image based on the amount of shake. The measurement unit measures the subject based on the second image.

Abstract: An endoscope system of the invention includes: a first endoscope capable of picking up an image of a subject; a first illuminating section capable of emitting first illuminating light; a second endoscope capable of picking up an image of the subject illuminated by the first light from a direction different from the first endoscope; a second illuminating section capable of emitting second illuminating light; a video signal processing section for generating a video signal based on a signal picked-up by the second endoscope; a display section for displaying an image of the subject obtained by the video signal processing section; an emphasis instructing section for instructing an emphasis on an image obtained based on the first light; and an emphasis control section for controlling to emphasize the subject image obtained based on the first light according to an operation of the emphasis instructing section.

Abstract: The position of an antenna incorporated in a capsule-type endoscope 3 that moves in a body is estimated using a plurality of antennae, and where the distance dij between two positions Pti and P(t?1)j estimated at adjacent times falls within a predetermined value, pieces of information for these positions are related to each other and stored in a memory as connection information. Subsequently, processing for searching for a route from the connection information stored in the memory and calculating a track is performed.

Abstract: A system for minimizing leakage of fluid distending media by the sides of the endoscopic instrument in endoscopic procedures such as arthroscopy, hysteroscopy or laparoscopy. A double-wall flexible tubular sheath having walls containing pressurized fluid is mounted over an endoscopic instrument. The double-wall flexible tubular sheath moves in and out of a natural opening of a tissue cavity or through an incision made in the cavity wall.

Abstract: A capsule medical apparatus includes a capsule exterior member and a sensor that can detect the change of an atmospheric physical quantity caused outside the exterior member in the non-contact state, and performs, based on the temporary change in atmospheric physical quantity detected by the sensor, at least one of first control for switching operation from the ON-state of energy supply to the electric circuit from the battery to the OFF-state of the energy supply and of second control for switching operation from the OFF-state of the power supply to the ON-state of the power supply, and holds the state of energy supply switched by the control until another change of atmospheric physical quantity is detected.

Abstract: An endoscope system of the present invention has a video processor and a light source device, and an endoscope can be connected thereto. And a control portion of the light source device detects connection with the endoscope and the video processor, detects connection with the video processor and the light source device and detects the type of the endoscope by an endoscope detection portion. And when non-connection of the endoscope and the video processor is detected, or non-connection of the video processor and the light source device is detected, the control portion controls so that the light amount of illumination light supplied from the light source device to the endoscope becomes a predetermined light amount according the detected type of the endoscope.

Abstract: A capsule endoscope system includes a contact detector that detects contact with an inner wall of a lumen in the subject; a magnet which is equipped in the capsule endoscope; a magnetic field generating device that is provided at a position, which is fixed with respect to the magnet, and generates a guidance magnetic field to apply to the magnet from the outside of the subject; and a magnetic field generation controller that performs control for guidance in a direction in which the capsule endoscope moves, which is the direction of the axis of the lumen, and performs guidance control for separating the capsule endoscope from the inner wall of the lumen based on a result of detection by the contact detector.