Abstract: A medical device includes an insertion tube, having a proximal end and a distal end, which is configured for insertion into a body cavity of a subject. An optical assembly is contained in the distal end and configured to form an image of a target region in the body cavity. A working channel passes through the insertion tube and is configured to convey a fluid from the proximal to the distal end. The working channel has a segment adjacent to the distal end that is narrowed so as to cause the fluid to exit the working channel into the target region in a diverging cone.

Abstract: An electronic imaging device (27) includes an optical objective (28) for collecting optical radiation from an object, the objective having an optical axis, and an image sensor (24), including a matrix of optical detectors arranged in a plane that is substantially non-perpendicular to the optical axis, the image sensor having a lateral dimension in the plane. A turning mirror (38) has an optical surface that is positioned so as to reflect the radiation collected by the objective in order to form a focused image in the plane of the image sensor, while a maximum distance from the optical surface to the plane of the image sensor is substantially less than the lateral dimension of the image sensor.

Abstract: A method of navigating a cavity of a subject employing images from a previous navigation is provided. In a first endoscopic examination, a set of schemas and at least one bookmark are saved in a data storage device. Each schema includes at least a still image in a cavity and a direction of a distal end. At least one bookmark is defined as at least one schema at a point of interest. In a second endoscopic examination, still images during navigation of an endoscope are compared with still images in the set of schemas to find a match, and use the information derived from the match to determine the location and the orientation of the distal end. An endoscopic system for effecting this method and a non-transitory machine-readable storage medium embodying a program for operating such an endoscopic system are also provided.

Abstract: Two-array color imaging systems, image processing systems and related principles are disclosed. For example, a pixel from a first single-array color image sensor and a pixel from a second single-array color image sensor can define a pair of pixels. One pixel of the pair is configured to detect luminance information and the other pixel is configured to detect chrominance information. A plurality of such pixel pairs can be illuminated by an image and, in response to such illumination, emit one or more electrical output signals carrying the luminance and chrominance information. The output signals can be transformed into a displayable image. Related computing environments are also disclosed.

Abstract: A medical device includes an insertion tube, having a proximal end and a distal end, which is configured for insertion into a body cavity of a subject. An optical assembly is contained in the distal end and configured to form an image of a target region in the body cavity. A working channel passes through the insertion tube and is configured to convey a fluid from the proximal to the distal end. The working channel has a segment adjacent to the distal end that is narrowed so as to cause the fluid to exit the working channel into the target region in a diverging cone.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system for viewing through blood in situ including a flexible catheter for insertion into a blood vessel, an optical assembly positioned at the distal end of the catheter, a working channel, and a control unit for regulating the opacity level of blood in the blood vessel around the distal end of the catheter and controllably injecting quantities of fluid into the blood vessel in the vicinity of the optical assembly. A local controller located at the distal end of the catheter may control functions of the optical assembly while coordinating signals and power with the control unit. Some possible embodiments, may include an inflatable stent balloon.

Abstract: An apparatus, system and method for providing an image enhancing effect for a photographic image of a target region within an intravascular environment. The image enhancing effects may be a physical process based upon the nature of the detected light or based upon different aspects of expected light reflection behavior, for example, by running predefined image reconstruction algorithms. The apparatus has a plurality of different embodiments, each of which reduces the ambient “noise” detected along with the light reflected from the target region in order to increase the signal/noise ratio, thereby to enhance the quality of the image produced.

Abstract: Apparatus for performing a medical procedure includes an invasive probe having opposite distal and proximal ends. The probe includes a transmitter, which is arranged to transmit an energy field, and a receiver, which is arranged to receive the energy field, wherein the transmitter and the receiver are disposed at the opposite ends of the probe. A control unit is adapted to determine an orientation of the distal end relative to the proximal end responsively to the energy field received by the receiver.

Abstract: A medical wireless imaging device comprises an image sensor, a transmitter, a receiving device, and a plurality of light sources. The transmitter transmits data through a wireless communication link to a processing device. The receiving device wirelessly receives control data from a control unit. Each light source is configured to be individually controlled according to the control data. A reference image is stored for each light source. Intensities of each light source are calculated based on a reference image and on an input image.

Abstract: An electronic assembly (and related methods of manufacture and use), comprising: a non-conducting substrate, which has front and back sides and comprises through-wires molded into the substrate so as to pass through the substrate from the front side to the back side; and an integrated circuit device, which is fixed to the front side of the substrate and electrically connected to the through wires at the front side of the substrate. In certain embodiments, the integrated circuit device may be an image sensor. In one possible embodiment, the assembly is used as a compact camera that is associated with a surgical instrument used in open surgery.

Abstract: Systems and methods for use in performing an open surgical procedure on a body of a patient using a working element of a surgical instrument that has a shaft connected proximally to the working element; and capturing an image of an area of the body using a camera that is connected to the shaft.

Abstract: Methods and systems for producing a 3D image representation of an in vivo object that include illuminating the object with at least two separate illumination sources included in a wireless imaging device, the first of the at least two illumination sources for illuminating said object from a first side of the object and the second of the at least two illumination sources for illuminating said object from a second side of the object; obtaining at least a first image and a second image of the object, whereby the first image is obtained using a first illumination source, and the second image is obtained using the second illumination source; comparing between photometry measurements of reflected light intensity in the at least first and second images; and constructing a 3D image representation of the object from the at least first and second images, based on said comparison.

Abstract: An electronic imaging apparatus (and related methods of manufacture and use), comprising: a chassis, having an open cylindrical groove formed therein; an image sensor assembly mounted in the chassis, the image sensor assembly comprising an electronic image sensor; a plurality of lenses, which are fitted into the groove in respective positions so as to form an image on the image sensor; and a cover, which closes over the image sensor assembly and the lenses in the chassis. The imaging system is particularly suitable as a compact imaging systems for use on instruments for open surgery.

Abstract: A method for imaging includes defining a set of one or more color correction parameters having values that vary over a predefined color space. For each of the pixels in an input image, the location of the respective input color is determined in the color space, and a value of the one or more color correction parameters is selected responsively to the location. The respective input color is modified using the selected value so as to produce a corrected output color of the pixel in an output image.

Abstract: A method for assembling an endoscope that includes an imaging subassembly inside an insertion tube having distal and proximal ends. The method includes coupling the imaging subassembly to a plurality of wires, which have respective first and second ends, by fixing the first ends of the wires to the imaging subassembly. A connector is coupled to the wires by fixing the second ends of the wires to the connector. After coupling the imaging subassembly and the connector to the wires, the imaging subassembly is installed in the insertion tube by passing the connector through the insertion tube from the distal end of the insertion tube to the proximal end. After passing the connector through the insertion tube, the connector is inserted in a receptacle.

Abstract: An endoscope having restricted dimensions and comprising at least one image gatherer, at least one image distorter and at least one image sensor shaped to fit within said limited dimensions, and wherein said image distorter is operable to distort an image received from said image gatherer so that the image is sensible at said shaped image sensor.

Abstract: A method for viewing through blood in situ comprising injecting a controlled amount of fluid into blood in the immediate region in front of an invasive optical assembly, temporarily changing the optical characteristics of the blood in said immediate region, and thereby improving visibility through said blood.

Abstract: An invasive imaging apparatus comprising: a flexible catheter with a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end being shaped for insertion into a blood vessel along a guide wire thereby to reach remote places in the vasculature or other organs, an optical assembly positioned at the distal end of the catheter comprising an image sensor positioned non-perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the catheter and an illumination sensor, at least one illumination source for illuminating an immediate region beyond the distal end of the catheter, and at least one working channel running from the proximal to the distal end of the catheter.

Abstract: An endoscope having restricted dimensions and comprising at least one image gatherer, at least one image distorter and at least one image sensor shaped to fit within said limited dimensions, and wherein said image distorter is operable to distort an image received from said image gatherer so that the image is sensible at said shaped image sensor.