Abstract: The invention relates to an internal body observation device which includes an ordinary observation light source, an ordinary observation irradiation optical system, a special observation light source, a special observation irradiation optical system, an observation optical system for transmitting the light from an observation target, a detection means configured to detect the light transmitted from the observation optical system as a detection signal, and a processing unit for separating the detection signal in the respective light sources and making the detection signal into images, wherein the light from any one of the ordinary observation light source and the special observation light source is modulated, and the modulated light can be radiated to the observation target together with the light from the other light source, and the detection signal detected by the detection means is separated by the processing unit based on the frequency of the modulation.

Abstract: There is provided herein a tip section of a multi-viewing element endoscope, the tip section comprising: two or more side-pointing viewing elements positioned at or in proximity to a distal end of said tip section, wherein each of said two or more side-pointing viewing elements having a discrete illuminator associated therewith, wherein the field of view provided by the two or more side-pointing viewing elements covers a front and side views; a working channel configured for insertion of a surgical tool; and a pathway fluid injector for inflating and/or cleaning a body cavity into which the endoscope is inserted.

Abstract: A medical system includes a catheter and a vision probe that can be removed from the catheter and replaced with a medical probe. The vision probe can thus be used to steer and pose the catheter, and then be removed and replaced with the medical probe when a medical task such as a lung biopsy is performed. A sensor system in the catheter at least partly measures a pose of the catheter, and control logic controls actuation of the catheter to maintain the desired working configuration when the medical probe is used. A small diameter catheter can thus provide vision and biopsy functionality.

Abstract: A protective sleeve for an endoscope having an endoscope tube is provided. The protective sleeve of certain embodiments can include a tubular main body for holding a distal section of the endoscope tube. The main body has an open proximal end and a cover glass at the distal end. The cover glass has a spherically curved, concave inside, a spherically curved, convex outside and a constant thickness.

Abstract: An endoscope with adjustable viewing angle includes one of a number of light outlet devices on the distal end of the endoscope, such that the light outlet devices are configured and positioned to conduct illuminating light emerging from different light outlet devices into at least partly different solid angles, several lightwave conductors to conduct illuminating light to the light outlet devices and a light splitting device for controllably switching illuminating light into one or more of the number of lightwave conductors.

Abstract: An imaging part of an electronic visualized catheter including, an object lens system, and a solid state imaging element which is positioned to receive light output from the object lens system and which photoelectrically converts the light output from the object lens system into an electric signal, wherein an output lens face of the object lens system is planar, and the output lens face is joined to a light receiving surface of the solid state imaging element.

Abstract: An endoscope includes a first breakable portion provided between a part of an outer peripheral surface of a distal rigid section main body and a second inner peripheral surface, and including a fragile portion which is formed in a concaved-shape and which is more easy to break than any other part of the outer peripheral surface except for thereof. The endoscope includes a second breakable portion provided between a first inner peripheral surface and the second inner peripheral surface, and a third breakable portion provided between the first inner peripheral surface and a part of the outer peripheral surface of the distal rigid section main body, which differs from the fragile portion.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are various systems and methods for facilitating control of a tool or tools. The systems can allow a user to control multiple degrees of freedom. One such system allows a user to control multiple degrees of freedom of two tools simultaneously. Another such system allows a user to control multiple degrees of freedom with a single hand. Frames and rails for supporting and/or constraining movement of a tool or tools are also described herein.

Abstract: An endoscope includes: an operation portion provided on a proximal end side of an insertion portion; one pair of pulling members extending from a bending portion; a pulley rotated by a motor; rotating bodies that are elastically deformable and arranged on the pulley; a suspension frame to which the pulling members are fixed; a manipulator provided to project from the operation portion, the manipulator being capable of applying an amount of force of pulling a part of a pulling member on the insertion portion side using a frictional resistance generated as a result of, upon a tilting operation being performed, the pulling member being pulled to reduce a diameter of the corresponding rotating body and the rotating body being thereby brought into contact with the pulley; and a force amount adjustment section capable of changing the amount of force of pulling by making an adjustment of a friction generation state.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for space-optimized visualization catheters are provided. Some embodiments utilize complimentary metal-oxide-semi-conductor (“CMOS”) technology integrated into a CMOS camera train holder system that may be a stand-alone component for use with a visualization catheter, such as a baby endoscope, or may be fabricated/extruded as a part of the catheter itself. Some embodiments of apparatuses, methods, and equivalents thereto provide better direct visual feedback to the medical personnel performing the procedure while providing a similarly-sized outer diameter visualization catheter device having an increased space therein for additional lumens and equipment or by reducing the overall outer diameter of the visualization catheter.

Abstract: An endoscope apparatus for endoscopic treatment is disclosed. The apparatus comprises an endoscopic insertion tube comprising an outer surface including an outer rail formed longitudinally thereon and extending along a portion of the insertion tube. The outer rail has a predetermined shape. The insertion tube comprises an inner channel formed therethrough. An endoscope apparatus for endoscopic treatment is disclosed. The apparatus comprises an endoscopic insertion tube without a working channel and an outer surface including at least one outer rail formed longitudinally thereon and extending along a portion of the insertion tube. The outer rail has a first predetermined shape. At least one medical device includes an outer wall having at least one mounting unit formed thereon along a portion of the length of the outer wall. The mounting unit has a second predetermined shape cooperable with the first predetermined shape.

Abstract: A bending operation apparatus for an endoscope includes a bending operation knob, a first movable disk, a second movable disk, a cam member, a fixed disk, an annular member, and a step portion that is provided at the annular member and comes into contact with a base portion of the cam member as the cam member is pivoted in another direction to cause the second movable disk to move from a second position to a first position.

Abstract: An image pickup system of the present invention has a light emitting section that emits a first illuminating light and a second illuminating light to an object, an image pickup section that picks up an image of a first return light and an image of a second return light, and outputs the images as image pickup signals respectively, an image generating section that generates a first image and a second image respectively based on the image pickup signals, a differential value calculating section that calculates a first differential value corresponding to the first image and a second differential value corresponding to the second image respectively, a calculation section that performs calculation processing by using the first differential value and the second differential value, and a region discriminating section that discriminates between regions in the object by applying threshold processing to a calculation result of the calculation section.

Abstract: An endoscope includes an active bending portion provided in an insertion portion and bendable according to a bending operation, the active bending portion including bending pieces adjacent to each other and pivotably connected together via a plurality of rotation shafts, the rotation shafts being located at positions differing by 90° in a circumferential direction J of the bending pieces, and a passive bending portion provided closer to the proximal end side than the active bending portion and passively bendable when an external force is applied thereto, the passive bending portion including bending pieces adjacent to each other and pivotably connected together via a plurality of rotation shafts, the rotation shafts being located at positions differing by 60° in the circumferential direction J.

Abstract: An endoscope includes: an insertion portion to be inserted into a subject; an operation section provided at a proximal end of the insertion portion; a first light source section provided inside the operation section, the first light source section generating first light as broadband light having a broadband wavelength characteristic; a light guiding section that guides the first light emitted from the first light source section; a second light source section provided on a distal end side of the insertion portion, the second light source section generating second light; and an optical element provided on the distal end side of the insertion portion, the optical element combining the first light and the second light and emitting the resulting light from an illuminating window.

Abstract: An endoscope apparatus includes a transparent member that is provided at a distal end of an insertion portion of an endoscope and opposed to an image pickup optical system, a transducer that is attached to an inner surface of the transparent member, a diffraction grating that is provided on an outer surface of the transparent member, and converts an ultrasound vibration f from the transducer into a surface acoustic wave ? which propagates on the outer surface of the transparent member, and absorption portions that are provided at an outer peripheral portion of the transparent member, and deflect the propagated surface acoustic wave ? to a surface different from the outer surface to absorb the surface acoustic wave.