Abstract: A medical camera system includes a video medical scope defining an enclosed space within a distal portion and a proximal portion that a user can attach and detach to each other. The two portions both have an interface for coupling to each other allowing radio frequency communications across a patient isolation barrier having improvements to avoid interfering with surrounding equipment. Power transfer elements provide for power transfer across the patient isolation barrier.

Abstract: A system and method includes operations and steps for obtaining a moving endoscopic image. An optical device stream is received from an optical device by data processing hardware. The data processing hardware identify image frames of the image stream, each including a plurality of rows of pixels. The data processing hardware determines a row exposure value for each of the rows of pixels in each frame, and identifies a defective image frame having at least one overexposed row and a reference frame having a replacement row corresponding to the overexposed row. The data processing hardware modifies the defective image frame by replacing the overexposed row with the corresponding replacement row of the reference frame.

Abstract: A video imaging system is provided. The video imaging system is configured to maintain a video image displayed on a display unit in a predetermined orientation based upon a use. The video imaging system includes an endoscope, a camera head unit, a camera control unit configured to determine a focal distance, and a display control unit. The display control unit is configured to process the focal distance to determine a use. The use is processed by the display control unit so as to maintain the video image in the predetermined orientation. The contextual information may be focal distance, image data or endoscopic orientation.

Abstract: An imaging system includes an imaging scope, a camera, an image processor, and a system controller. The imaging scope is configured to illuminate an object and capture light reflected from the object. The camera has a light sensor with a light-sensitive surface configured to receive the captured light from the imaging scope, and generate a digital image representative of the captured light. The image processor is configured to receive the digital image from the camera, and use at least one of a random sample consensus (RANSAC) technique and a Hough Transform technique to (i) identify a boundary between an active portion and an inactive portion of the digital image and (ii) generate boundary data indicative of a characteristic of the boundary. The system controller is configured to receive the boundary data from the image processor, and use the boundary data to select and/or adjust a setting of the imaging system.

Abstract: An imaging system includes a light source for emitting first light and second light and an image sensor for capturing first image data and second image data in response to the first and second lights. Data processing hardware performs operations that include determining a first light value associated with an amount of light captured by the image sensor in response to the first light and applying a color map to each first light value to generate first light selected color values. The operations also include weighting a first light chroma value with a second light chroma value to generate weighted chroma values and combining luma values of each pixel of the second image data to the weighted chroma values. The operations also include generating RGB values based on the luma values of the second image data and the weighted chroma values and transmitting the RGB values to the display.

Abstract: A camera configured to maintain an image in a preferred orientation when the camera is passed from one user to another is provided. The camera detects a spatial orientation of the camera in at least a first position. The camera detects a vector information generated when the camera is passed from one user to another. The camera processes the spatial orientation and vector information so as to retain the image in a preferred orientation.

Abstract: Scopes such as medical imaging camera head devices and methods are provided using light captured by an endoscope system or other medical scope or borescope. At least one polarizing optical element manipulates the polarization properties of image light. The manipulated image light is focused on an image sensor including polarizers for each pixel. Multiple images are produced based sets of pixels having the same orientation of polarizer. The resulting images are combined with high dynamic range techniques.

Abstract: A system and method includes operations and steps for obtaining a moving endoscopic image. An optical device stream is received from an optical device by data processing hardware. The data processing hardware identify image frames of the image stream, each including a plurality of rows of pixels. The data processing hardware determines a row exposure value for each of the rows of pixels in each frame, and identifies a defective image frame having at least one overexposed row and a reference frame having a replacement row corresponding to the overexposed row. The data processing hardware modifies the defective image frame by replacing the overexposed row with the corresponding replacement row of the reference frame.

Abstract: The invention proceeds from an endoscope device (10) for an endoscope with at least one working channel (15), which has a tubular working channel sheath (18) that delimits a working channel volume (16) of the working channel (15), the working channel sheath (18) having at least one sheath layer (25) which comprises at least one plastic material, and having at least one further sheath layer (30) which comprises at least one further plastic material, which is different than the plastic material of the one sheath layer (25). It is proposed that the one sheath layer (25) should have a constant layer thickness along the principal extent of the working channel (15), and that the further sheath layer (30) should have a variable layer thickness in portions along the principal extent of the working channel (15).

Abstract: Medical imaging camera head devices and methods are provided using light captured by an endoscope system or other medical scope or borescope. Afocal light from the scope is manipulated and split by a beamsplitter. At least one polarizing optical element manipulates the polarization properties of one or both of the beams. The resulting first and second beams are passed through focusing optics to different image sensor areas to produce images with different intensity. The resulting images are combined with high dynamic range techniques.

Abstract: A video imaging system is provided. The video imaging system is configured to maintain a video image displayed on a display unit in a predetermined orientation based upon a use. The video imaging system includes an endoscope, a camera head unit, a camera control unit configured to determine a focal distance, and a display control unit. The display control unit is configured to process the focal distance to determine a use. The use is processed by the display control unit so as to maintain the video image in the predetermined orientation. The contextual information may be focal distance, image data or endoscopic orientation.

Abstract: A camera configured to maintain an image in a preferred orientation when the camera is passed from one user to another is provided. The camera detects a spatial orientation of the camera in at least a first position. The camera detects a vector information generated when the camera is passed from one user to another. The camera processes the spatial orientation and vector information so as to retain the image in a preferred orientation.

Abstract: Medical imaging camera head devices and methods are provided using light captured by an endoscope system or other medical scope or borescope. Afocal light from the scope is manipulated and split. The resulting first and second beams are passed through focusing optics to a single sensor. To take better advantage of the available number image sensor pixels, the beam may pass through lens elements (or prisms) to generate an anamorphic aspect ratio prior to being split, increasing the resolution of the image in one dimension. The afocal anamorphic beam is then split, and both images are focused on the image sensor. The anamorphism is compensated for in image processing, permitting higher resolution in one dimension along the image sensor. The manipulation of the beams prior to being split (and in some cases after or while being split) can take several forms, each offering distinct advantages over existing systems.

Abstract: A system for operating surgical imaging devices using configurable processing resources of a virtual camera control unit connected to a network includes an allocation manager for allocating processing resources, a primary imaging device, a secondary imaging device, a feature module, and a load balance module. The load balance module adjusts one or more settings of one or more features of the primary and secondary imaging devices based on the available processing resources and the desired settings of the one or more features.

Abstract: A fluorescence imaging system is configured to generate a video image onto a display. The system includes a light source for emitting infrared light and white light, an infrared image sensor for capturing infrared image data, and a white light image sensor for capturing white light image data. Data processing hardware performs operations that include filtering the infrared image data with a first digital finite impulse response (FIR) filter configured to produce a magnitude response of zero at a horizontal Nyquist frequency and a vertical Nyquist frequency. The operations also include filtering the infrared image data with a second digital FIR filter configured with a phase response to spatially align the white light image data with the infrared image data. The operations also include combining the white light image data and the infrared image data into combined image data and transmitting the combined image data to the display.

Abstract: An enhanced fluorescence imaging system includes a light source for emitting non-visible and visible light and an image sensor for capturing non-visible and visible light image data. Data processing hardware performs operations that include determining a non-visible value associated with an amount of non-visible light captured by the image sensor and applying a color map to each non-visible value to generate non-visible light selected color values. The operations also include weighting a visible light chroma value with a non-visible chroma value to generate weighted chroma values and combining luma values of each pixel of the visible light image data to the weighted chroma values. The operations also include generating RGB values based on the luma values of the visible light image data and the weighted chroma values and transmitting the RGB values to the display.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for improved control feedback of medical scopes. Buttons on a scope include both touch sensors and button press sensors. The touch sensors activate independently of a button press when a mere touch is applied to the button, causing a function indication to be displayed, preferably on the scope video display, showing which function will activate if the button is pressed. Touch indications may also be displayed identifying the button that is pressed. The buttons may be reconfigured along with the function and touch indications. Such a feedback scheme allows improved operation and safety as the operator does not need to look away from the display to identify a button to be pressed.

Abstract: Scopes such as medical imaging camera head devices and methods are provided using light captured by an endoscope system or other medical scope or borescope. At least one polarizing optical element manipulates the polarization properties of image light. The manipulated image light is focused on an image sensor including polarizers for each pixel. Multiple images are produced based sets of pixels having the same orientation of polarizer. The resulting images are combined with high dynamic range techniques.

Abstract: A system, method, scope device, and camera control module device for a video endoscopy system, to enable scopes to operate with a rolling shutter-type image sensor. With selected pulsing of a strobe light, subset image data from adjacent rolling-shutter frames is selected, gain compensated for missing light and combined into a new single video frame.

Abstract: A fluorescence imaging system is configured to generate a video image onto a display. The system includes a light source for emitting infrared light and white light, an infrared image sensor for capturing infrared image data, and a white light image sensor for capturing white light image data. Data processing hardware performs operations that include filtering the infrared image data with a first digital finite impulse response (FIR) filter configured to produce a magnitude response of zero at a horizontal Nyquist frequency and a vertical Nyquist frequency. The operations also include filtering the infrared image data with a second digital FIR filter configured with a phase response to spatially align the white light image data with the infrared image data. The operations also include combining the white light image data and the infrared image data into combined image data and transmitting the combined image data to the display.