Abstract: A scanning beam assembly comprising: a beam generator to generate a beam of radiation, an oscillating reflector configured to deflect the beam at varying angles of excursion to yield a scanned beam that scans a field of view, an optical detector that detects light reflected from the field of view, the detector including at least one of an adjustable gain and adjustable sensitivity, and a controller programmable to control the gain and/or sensitivity of the detector.

Abstract: A scanning beam assembly comprising: a beam generator to generate a beam of radiation, and two or more oscillating reflectors configured to deflect the beam in sequence, each reflector being driven to contribute an incremental deflection of the beam so as to achieve a desired scanning beam waveform, at least one oscillating reflector aligned to receive the beam from the beam generator and deflect the beam to a second oscillating reflector, each oscillating reflector operating in a sinusoidal mode having a frequency and amplitude, and a controller for controlling the phase and/or frequency and/or amplitude of the oscillation of the reflectors so as to provide a desired scanning beam waveform.

Abstract: A scanning beam assembly includes a beam generator to generate a beam of radiation; at least one reflector configured to deflect the beam across a field of view; and a plurality of multi-mode optical fibers for receiving radiation reflected from the field of view, wherein the optical fibers have end surfaces that face in at least two different directions, or wherein the optical fibers are configured to receive scattered radiation from an angular field of view larger than that determined by their individual numerical apertures.

Abstract: A medical instrument includes a flexible sheath and an end effector. The sheath has a distal end. The end effector is attached to the sheath proximate the distal end and is insertable into a patient. The end effector includes opposing and retroflexed first and second jaws and includes at least one medical-treatment electrode supported by the second jaw. At least one of the first and second jaws is rotatable. In one implementation, the at-least-one medical-treatment electrode is operatively connectable to a medical radio-frequency (RF) generator. In one application, the end effector is insertable into the esophagus of a patient. In one employment, the first and second jaws are adapted to grasp a working end of a flexible tube of an endoscope.

Abstract: A method is described of inserting guide wires into a lumen, for example into the human gastrointestinal tract. A guide wire structure is employed which comprises at least two guide wires each having a leading end portion which terminates in a leading end, the guide wires being connected to one another by a junction at or adjacent their leading ends, the guide wires have a first position in which the leading end portions are substantially parallel to one another, a second position in which the leading end portions are curved, and a third position in which at least one of the leading end portions forms a loop. The guide wire structure is steered through the gastrointestinal tract by selectively advancing or retracting a single guide wire or advancing more than one guide wire simultaneously, according to the path which is required to be followed.

Abstract: A first medical instrument includes a medical catheter, a rotatable member, an injection needle, and at least one medical-treatment electrode supported by the rotatable member. The medical catheter has a distal end. The rotatable member is connected to the medical catheter and is rotatable with respect to the medical catheter. The injection needle is movable to extend from, and to retract within, the distal end of the medical catheter. A second endoscope adjunct includes a medical catheter, a rotatable member, and at least one medical-treatment electrode supported by the rotatable member. The medical catheter has a distal end and has a lumen adapted to receive the injection needle. The rotatable member is connected to the medical catheter is rotatable with respect to the medical catheter.

Abstract: A medical device having a laminate elongate hollow member is disclosed. The laminate member provides torsional stiffness for controlling positioning of the distal end of the device, and provides bending flexibility for assisting in insertion of the device in the patient's esophagus or other body lumen.

Abstract: A system and method are provided to monitor informational resources, such as websites. A plurality of host units support one or more informational resources accessible over a network, such as the Internet. A plurality of monitoring units located on a distributed computer system are coordinated to access the network and monitor the informational resources to determine if they are accessible and to evaluate their performance. Preferably, a central control unit manages the monitoring units.