Abstract: An observation device is provided with an image acquisition unit comprising at least one image sensor, an image display unit, that is arranged for displaying image data that is provided by the image acquisition unit, an image processing unit for image processing procedures, and a control unit comprising a multi-axis input module. The image acquisition unit is configured to provide recorded images having a predefined recording pixel quantity. The image display unit is configured to display display images having a predefined display pixel quantity, wherein the recording pixel quantity is equal to or greater than the display pixel quantity. Image pixels of the display pixel quantity are obtained from the recording pixel quantity. Subsets of the recording pixel quantity are selected to form the display pixel quantity. Image acquisition parameters and display parameters are controlled by the input module.

Abstract: A cooling device is provided having a heat source arranged on a support element, the support element arranged on a rigid heat barrier element and the heat barrier element arranged on a housing such that the support element, the heat barrier element and the housing form a mechanically rigid unit, the heat barrier element having a low heat conductivity, wherein a heat conducting element, arranged between the housing and the support element, bears against a first surface of the support element with a second surface and faces a fourth surface of the housing with a third surface, wherein the heat conducting element has a high heat conductivity, the second surface is at an angle to the third surface, and the heat conducting element is formed separately from the support element and the housing.

Abstract: An apparatus for heat dissipation is provided comprising a heat source, a heat sink and a heat conducting element, wherein the heat conducting element conducts heat energy from the heat source to the heat sink along a heat conducting path, and wherein the heat conducting element is arranged in such a way on the heat source and the heat sink and is configured to physically change in such a way with increasing temperature of the heat conducting element that a) a first cross-sectional area between the heat source and the heat conducting element and/or a second cross-sectional area between the heat conducting element of the heat sink increases, and/or b) a length of the heat conducting path shortens. Further, a video endoscope having such an apparatus and a use of such an apparatus are disclosed.

Abstract: The invention concerns a handle for a video endoscope including a housing and an interface portion rotatably supported relative to the housing where the interface portion includes a first connector element at its distal end section that is connectable to a second connector element of an associated elongate shaft of the video endoscope. Thereby a detachable, rotatable electrical and/or mechanical connection between the handle and the associated shaft is achieved. The coupling includes an electrical connection assembly arranged at an exterior of the interface portion forming an electrical connection to a stationary electric component of the handle. The handle includes a mechanical rotation stop for a rotation of the interface portion relative to the housing such that a rotation range is limited and damage to the electrical connection assembly is prevented.

Abstract: The invention concerns a handle for a video endoscope for medical or industrial applications, comprising a housing and an interface portion, where the interface portion includes a first connector element at its distal end connected to an electric transmission element that is connectable to a connector element of an associated elongate shaft to form a detachable electrical and/or mechanical connection between the handle and the associated shaft. The includes an electrical connection assembly arranged at an exterior of the interface portion forming an electrical connection between the electric transmission element and a stationary electric and/or electronic component of the handle. The handle also includes at least a first bearing for rotatably supporting the interface portion in and/or at the housing, such that when the shaft and handle are connected the shaft is rotatable via the rotatably supported interface portion relative to the housing of the handle.

Abstract: A video endoscope that includes a handle with a housing and an interface portion rotatably mounted relative to the housing, and an elongate shaft with one or more electronic image sensors, wherein a proximal end section of the shaft is detachably connected to the interface portion of the handle, where the interface portion includes a first connector element electrically connected to an electric transmission element of the interface portion and the shaft includes a second connector element electrically connected to the one or more electronic image sensors, the first and second connector elements co-operating to form a detachable electrical connection, and where the handle includes an electrical connection assembly arranged at an exterior of the interface portion forming an electrical connection to at least one stationary electric and/or electronic component of the handle in a multiplicity of rotational positions of the interface portion relative to the housing.

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 apparatus for capturing a stereo image includes a first objective for producing a first image, a second eye objective for producing a second eye image, a first viewing direction device rotatable about a first axis assigned the first objective, and a second viewing direction device rotatable about a second axis assigned the second objective. The viewing direction of the apparatus is rotatable by simultaneous rotation of the first and second viewing direction devices. The first objective or part is movable in a translational fashion. A cam mechanism is provided and embodied to couple a rotation of the first viewing direction device to a translational movement of the first objective or part.

Abstract: An apparatus for capturing a stereo image includes a first objective for producing a first image, a second eye objective for producing a second eye image, a first viewing direction device rotatable about a first axis assigned the first objective, and a second viewing direction device rotatable about a second axis assigned the second objective. The viewing direction of the apparatus is rotatable by simultaneous rotation of the first and second viewing direction devices. The first objective or part is movable in a translational fashion. A cam mechanism is provided and embodied to couple a rotation of the first viewing direction device to a translational movement of the first objective or part.

Abstract: An observation device is provided with an image acquisition unit comprising at least one image sensor, an image display unit, that is arranged for displaying image data that is provided by the image acquisition unit, an image processing unit for image processing procedures, and a control unit comprising a multi-axis input module. The image acquisition unit is configured to provide recorded images having a predefined recording pixel quantity. The image display unit is configured to display images having a predefined display pixel quantity, wherein the recording pixel quantity is equal to or greater than the display pixel quantity. Image pixels of the display pixel quantity are obtained from the recording pixel quantity. Subsets of the recording pixel quantity are selected to form the display pixel quantity. Image acquisition parameters and display parameters are controlled by the input module.

Abstract: An observation device is provided with an image acquisition unit comprising at least one image sensor, an image display unit, that is arranged for displaying image data that is provided by the image acquisition unit, an image processing unit for image processing procedures, and a control unit comprising a multi-axis input module. The image acquisition unit is configured to provide recorded images having a predefined recording pixel quantity. The image display unit is configured to display display images having a predefined display pixel quantity, wherein the recording pixel quantity is equal to or greater than the display pixel quantity. Image pixels of the display pixel quantity are obtained from the recording pixel quantity. Subsets of the recording pixel quantity are selected to form the display pixel quantity. Image acquisition parameters and display parameters are controlled by the input module.

Abstract: An endoscope or exoscope having a shaft and at least one objective and at least one electronic image recorder for recording an image of an object field, wherein the objective and image recorder are arranged in a distal end region of the endoscope or exoscope, and includes at least one cable, routed within the endoscope or exoscope, for supply of and/or image transmission from the electronic image recorder, wherein the electronic image recorder includes an optical unit, which is rotatable about a first axis of rotation identical or approximately parallel to a direction of view of the scope, and on which the cable is connected and can be wound on a circumferential surface of the optical unit, and wherein the distal end region includes a cavity, in which storage for holding a section of the cable is held.

Abstract: An imaging system includes an imaging scope, a controller, a camera, and a processor. The imaging scope is selectively rotatable about a longitudinal axis relative to a horizon plane. The imaging scope has at least three optical channels, each including a respective objective that captures light. The objectives are positioned such that respective viewing direction axes of the optical channels extend at least substantially parallel to one another. The controller activates a pair of optical channels that is at least as parallel relative to the horizon plane as any other pair of optical channels. The camera generates a first image representative of light captured by a first optical channel of the activated pair of optical channels, and a second image representative of light captured by a second optical channel of the activated pair of optical channels. The processor generates a 3D image using the first and second images.

Abstract: A sterile sleeve for a medical viewing instrument, in particular for an endoscope, exoscope or surgical microscope, designed to enclose at least one heat-emitting component of the medical viewing instrument, has an air inlet, an air outlet, and means for conveying and/or guiding an air stream from the air inlet through the sterile sleeve to the air outlet in order to carry off the heat emitted by the at least one heat-emitting component. The invention also relates to a method for operating a medical viewing instrument, in particular an endoscope, exoscope or surgical microscope.

Abstract: A medical instrument includes a hermetically tight sheath, a heat source, a surface area thermally coupled to the heat source, a rotor arranged outside the hermetically tight sheath and serving to generate a flow of fluid at the surface, a magnet at the rotor, and means for generating a variable magnetic field in order to move the rotor. The means for generating a variable magnetic field is arranged inside the hermetically tight sheath.

Abstract: A device for recording an image of an object field on a human or animal body from outside of the body including a shaft and an observation optical system, arranged at a distal end of the shaft, for recording the image of the object field, wherein the observation optical system is embodied as a stereo optical system including an electronic image recorder for recording a stereo image of the object field and wherein the device includes an optical unit, which includes the observation optical system and is rotatable about a first axis of rotation approximately parallel to a direction of view of the observation optical system.

Abstract: An imaging system includes an imaging scope, a controller, a camera, and a processor. The imaging scope is selectively rotatable about a longitudinal axis relative to a horizon plane. The imaging scope has at least three optical channels, each including a respective objective that captures light. The objectives are positioned such that respective viewing direction axes of the optical channels extend at least substantially parallel to one another. The controller activates a pair of optical channels that is at least as parallel relative to the horizon plane as any other pair of optical channels. The camera generates a first image representative of light captured by a first optical channel of the activated pair of optical channels, and a second image representative of light captured by a second optical channel of the activated pair of optical channels. The processor generates a 3D image using the first and second images.

Abstract: An image relaying device comprises a shaft, an objective lens at a distal end of the shaft, an optically transparent window region in a proximal end region of the image relaying device, an optical system in the shaft, the optical system relaying an image produced by the objective lens to the proximal end region in a way that the relayed image can be captured through the window region. The optical system's optical axis at the window region is orthogonal or substantially orthogonal to the optical system's optical axis in the shaft. An optical instrument makes use of a plurality of these image relaying devices and a corresponding plurality of image sensors where the optical path length of each image relaying device may be independently adjusted to correct for optical inconsistencies in the elements of each relaying device.

Abstract: An endoscope has a tubular shaft whose interior contains components, in particular lenses, spacers, diaphragms, prisms and filters of an optical system, said components being at least partially surrounded by a support piece made of shrunk material. It is proposed that the components be surrounded by a transparent and tube-sleeve-shaped shrunk material which has been shrunk before the components are introduced into the tubular shaft.

Abstract: An endoscope has a tubular shaft whose interior contains components, in particular lenses, spacers, diaphragms, prisms and filters of an optical system, said components being at least partially surrounded by a support piece made of shrunk material. It is proposed that the components be surrounded by a transparent and tube-sleeve-shaped shrunk material which has been shrunk before the components are introduced into the tubular shaft.