Abstract: A removable and replaceable sheath may be coupled to a medical instrument used during a procedure, and may enable one or more functional features of the medical instrument while maintaining a sterile barrier between the instrument itself and the treatment site. The sheath may be replaced prior to a subsequent use, and sterilization of the medical instrument is not required due to the sterile barrier. Sheaths may include an embedded memory that stores procedure configurations and procedure results, longitudinal channels for delivering power or irrigation, optical elements for providing procedure specific endoscopic views, and other features. One sheath may be fitted to an endoscope for imaging and tissue ablation. Another sheath includes a balloon usable during sinuplasty procedures. Yet another sheath may be fitted to a sonic ablation instrument to provide improved transmission of sonic power to tissue.

Abstract: An imaging device (010, 10, 110) comprises a first optical system (020, 20, 120) at a distal end of the imaging device, a second optical system (080, 80, 180) towards the proximal end of the imaging device, and a sensor (074, 74, 174) at the proximal end of the imaging device. The first and second optical systems and the sensor are aligned along a common longitudinal axis. The first optical system is or comprises one or more reflective and/or refractive optical components (24, 124; 22, 122) symmetrically and/or coaxially arranged with respect to the longitudinal axis, and the second optical system comprises one or more reflective and/or refractive optical components (24, 124; 22, 122) for focussing incident light towards the sensor. A calibration system (200) and method for calibrating such an imaging device, and a method of processing image data obtained from such an imaging device are also provided.

Abstract: There is provided an image processing apparatus that analyzes a pathology image obtained by imaging an analysis object including a setting device for calculating an amount of a luminance difference characteristic as an amount of characteristic of each pixel of a pathology image, and for setting a cellular tissue region in the pathology image, based on the amount of the luminance difference characteristic, using a cellular tissue detector that has studied in advance. The cellular tissue detector may have studied in advance by statistical learning that uses an image corresponding to a cellular tissue.

Abstract: An image converter receives image data of an object and performs a kind of image conversion on the image data to generate converted image data for display. A measurement section measures at least one spatial characteristic of the object based on: the converted image data, and optical data, which relates to optical characteristics of an optical system through which the image data of the object has been obtained, and which is made to correspond to the kind of image conversion performed by the image converter. Alternatively, a measurement section measures at least one spatial characteristic of the object by relating, based on the kind of image conversion, coordinates of the converted image data to coordinates of the image data of the object before the image conversion, and by measuring the at least one spatial characteristic based on the coordinates of the image data of the object before the image conversion.

Abstract: In a workflow management method and apparatus, one or more computers are programmed to receive an original sequence, such as a scan sequence which controls a diagnostic scanner to perform an imaging procedure. An available time span within which to perform the original sequence is also received. The available time span is compared with a duration of the original scan sequence. If the original scan sequence duration is longer than the available time span, one or more alterable subsequences of the original sequence are shortened to create an adjusted scan sequence that fits into the available time span.

Abstract: A system for controlling the communication of medical imaging data is disclosed generally comprising a computer, a plurality of sources of medical imaging data and a plurality of destinations of medical imaging data in communication with the computer, and a touchscreen for simultaneously displaying a plurality of source icons and a plurality of destination icons controlled by the computer. The source icons correspond to the plurality of sources to allow a user to select a particular source of imaging data, and the destination icons correspond to the plurality of destinations to allow the user to select at least one particular destination for the imaging data. In certain embodiments, the touchscreen includes a display window for displaying medical images generated from the imaging data supplied by the presently selected source. In some embodiments, the touchscreen includes a set of controls associated with the presently selected source.

Abstract: A color filter array pattern for use in a solid-state imager comprising red sensitive elements located at every other array position, with alternating blue sensitive and green sensitive elements located at the remaining array positions, is disclosed. Since red color is sampled most frequently, the color filter may be part of an in vivo camera system for imaging internal human body organs and tissues.

Abstract: The invention provides an endoscope inserting direction detecting apparatus and method with which the direction of a lumen can be determined reliably despite a simple configuration. The endoscope inserting direction detecting apparatus includes a pixel sampling unit that samples a stated pixel value from each of domains constituting an endoscopic image received by an image input/output control circuit; a shape-of-range estimating unit that estimates the shape of a range within the endoscopic image according to the continuity of the distribution of the pixels indicating the stated pixel value; and an inserting direction determining unit that determines an inserting direction within a body cavity, in which an endoscope should be further inserted, on the basis of the estimated shape. The inserting direction is displayed together with the endoscopic image.

Abstract: An image processing device for an endoscope, wherein a wavelength band filter for shielding at least a part of the blue wavelength band is disposed in front of an image pickup element built into the endoscope, for image processing the signal output by said image pickup element includes means for generating color image signals whilst switching between a normal-light image mode using white light and a fluorescence image mode including fluorescence information and adjusting means for adjusting the gain of a prescribed color signal of said color image signals.

Abstract: A method and system for accurately visualizing and measuring endoscopic images includes mapping a three-dimensional structure to a two-dimensional area, based on a plurality of endoscopic images of the structure. The method involves outlining the boundary of the region of interest in each image prior to performing a transformation into a planar image. The planar images are then stacked to form a complete planar image of the 3-D region of interest. A measurement of the area can then be performed on the enclosed outlined boundary.

Abstract: An endoscopic apparatus and method allow for robust autofocusing operation regardless of contrast characteristics of the environment. The endoscopic apparatus and method can focus on a field stop edge and store default information of the apparatus focused on the edge. Later, if the endoscope fails to focus on an internal target object during the course of normal operation, the endoscope recalls the default information from memory to focus the lens on the edge of the field stop. Thus, internal structural objects in front of the endoscopic apparatus are brought into reasonable focus for visualization.

Abstract: A correction for dark current is performed in comparatively accurate fashion. To accomplish this, emissions of both ordinary light and excitation light are turned off when a changeover is made between a ordinary-light observation mode, in which internal tissue is imaged by illuminating it with ordinary light, and an excitation-light observation mode, in which internal tissue is imaged by illuminating it with excitation light. A dark-current correction is performed using data (dark-current data) obtained by imaging the internal tissue while no light is illuminating the internal tissue.

Abstract: An endoscopic video system for correcting a video image of an object to be studied has a processing unit controlling an electronic image recorder which has a multiplicity of image elements, each generating an output signal upon illuminating a known test object. The processing unit has a learning mode of operation, wherein it determines and records a correction value corresponding to a difference between an output signal of the known test object and a generated one by each of the image elements, and a recording mode, wherein an output signal generated by each image element upon illuminating an object to be studied is adjusted at the correction value.

Abstract: A self-tuning crystal notch filter suitable for rejecting a carrier signal in a receiver channel of a receiver of an ultrasound imaging system. The crystal notch filter has a resonant frequency which is electronically tuned. Tuning is done under software control without operator intervention. The software instructs a channel other than the one being tuned to transmit into the transducer. The receive channel being tuned amplifies the received signal and then passes the amplified signal through the notch filter and the TGC amplifier to the corresponding digital signal processing (DSP) circuit via an analog-to-digital converter. The software reads the amplitude of the digital receive signal output from the DSP circuit. By programming a D/A converter incorporated in the notch filter, a value can be found that minimizes the amplitude of the signal output by the DSP circuit, i.e., maximizes the amount of carrier signal being rejected. This value is then used during subsequent imaging data acquisition.

Abstract: A viewing scope and related apparatus for producing high quality color images with low levels of object illumination. A light source illuminates the object with a timed, patterned sequence of light at different wavelengths. Light reflected from an object transfers through the viewing scope to an image intensifier and video camera for producing a video signal. A video processor synchronized to the light source converts the video signal into discrete image frames corresponding to the light reflected at each discrete wavelength. An image memory retains each frame for conversion into a color video signal that produces a color display of the object being viewed.

Abstract: A virtual surgery system or virtual testing system provides a simulation or test based on image data. A simulator combined with a real exam requires simulation tasks by a test taker. Additionally, a surgical procedure may be simulated using image data of a patient in devices simulating the physical instruments a surgeon uses in performing the actual procedure, for example. The user input device, such as a mouse, three dimensional mouse, joystick, seven dimensional joystick, fall size simulator, etc., can be used in a virtual simulation to move through the image data while the user looks at the data and interaction of the input device with the image data on a display screen. Force feedback can be provided based on based on physical constraint models (of the anatomy, for example), or based on edge and collision detection between the virtual scope or virtual tool used by the operator and walls or edges of the image data in the image space.

Abstract: A field sequential image pickup apparatus which prevents misregistration in color pictures with respect to a visible freeze image and improves the S/N of an infrared image with respect to a movement of an object of observation. R (red), G (green), B (blue) and infrared light beams are sequentially projected from a color disk provided with filters for visible light and a filter for infrared light, and a CCD sequentially generates R, G, B picture signals and infrared picture signals. A movement detection circuit detects a movement in the object from the picture signals. When there is a movement, a freeze operation is inhibited with respect to a visible image, while executing it when there is no movement. With respect to an infrared image, a noise reducing operation is suppressed when there is a movement, while fully executing it when there is no movement.

Abstract: An endoscope apparatus has an endoscope having an image guide (103) for guiding first and second image light components which have a parallax and can be separated from each other, a memory for storing a predetermined coefficient (a) on the basis of the shape, length, and the like of the image guide, and CCDs for converting the first and second image light components into first and second image signals (A, B). The apparatus performs image processing for generating first and second image data (L, R) by performing proportional distribution processing of the first and second image signals in accordance with the predetermined coefficient.

Abstract: An endoscope system includes a movement detector for detecting an operator's movement, a signal processor for processing a signal the detector detects, and a control for controlling drive which drives a medical device according to an output signal of the signal processor. The endoscope system bends a bending section of an endoscope serving as a medical device according to the operator's movement, and thus orients the observation field of view to a direction the operator intends or controls the movement of a treatment adapter serving as a medical device. The endoscope system includes a superimposing means for superimposing an image associated with the operator's movement onto an image acquired by an imaging device associated with the endoscope system.

Abstract: An endoscopic viewing system for maintaining a surgeon's normal sense of kinesthesia during endoscopic surgery regardless of the orientation of the endoscope vis-a-vis the surgeon.

Abstract: A computer system receives two dimensional image data of a heart or other organ to be simulated in three dimensions. It also receives chemical composition data of the heart or other organ, and chemical composition data other parts of the body. These data are put in the computer memory. Then a "Voxel View.TM." or three dimensional volume rendering program forms images of the organ to be studied. For example, with the heart it generates images of the atria and ventricle. Diagnostic data obtained from a patient conveniently with electrical measurement signals including an electrocardiagram, electromyogram, electroencephalogram, and other diagnostic measured electrical signals obtained from a patient are fed into the system and are placed in computer memory. Arthroscopic and/or laproscopic data obtained from a lens located inside the body of portions of organs of the body of the patient may be inputted as diagnostic data and processed with a "PowerScene.TM." program.