Abstract: A device for image analysis and/or cleaning of a window arranged at the distal end of an endoscope includes: an image capture device having an optical window for illuminating an object space using an illumination device, a cleaning module including a fluid channel and a nozzle for cleaning and/or drying the optical window by means of a fluid; and a control unit. The control unit analyzes captured image data and, based on a deterioration in the image quality of the captured image data, outputs control instructions for activating image optimization to the cleaning module either automatically or manually so as to activate a fluid pulse for cleaning and/or drying the at least one optical window.

Abstract: A method and a control system for image analysis and optimization of at least one image acquired at the distal end of an endoscope includes the following steps: acquiring image data by means of an image acquisition device of an endoscope; receiving the image data by a control unit, pre-analyzing at least a subset of the image data of one or more consecutive images by a control unit to determine at least one image structure; determining a quality value by means of a training data-based, preferably self-learning, module by comparing the at least one determined image structure with image structures of a reference database stored in a memory unit, and on the basis of the determined quality value, manually or automatically outputting control instructions from the control unit to a unit for activating image optimization.

Abstract: A computing device includes an image embeddings generating module configured to generate a data array as an image embedding for each image received; a clustering module configured to determine, a plurality of clustering parameter values within the images based on the generated image embeddings; an evaluation module configured to construct a trajectory in a parameter space, wherein one dimension of the parameter space represents the plurality of clustering parameter values and another dimension of the parameter space is based on the number of clusters determined by the clustering module; wherein the evaluation module is further configured to determine a measure of the parameter space between the origin of the parameter space and the trajectory; and a user interface configured to to indicate changes and/or effects of the user input on/in the measure.

Abstract: An image capture apparatus for capturing an image of an object of medical interest in reemitted and/or reflected illumination light, for capturing an image of the object in fluorescence light generated by protoporphyrin, and for capturing an image in fluorescence light generated by indocyanine green. The apparatus includes an image sensor for capturing blue, green and red light, another image sensor for capturing fluorescence light from protoporphyrin and indocyanine green, and a beam splitter for guiding light from the object that has a wavelength shorter than a predetermined threshold wavelength ?0 to the first image sensor, and for guiding light from the object that has a wavelength longer than the predetermined threshold wavelength ?0 to the second image sensor. A filter arranged upstream of the second image sensor partially, extensively or completely suppresses light at a wavelength suitable for exciting fluorescence of indocyanine green. A corresponding method is also presented.

Abstract: A steering mechanism for a surgical instrument having a shaft. The steering mechanism is disposed on the shaft and the shaft includes a bending mechanism. The steering mechanism has two motor-driven drives configured to spatially align a swash plate which controls the distal bending mechanism. The first drive has a first drive shaft driven by a first motor and is operatively connected to a first traction pulley of a first drive wheel via a first traction mechanism. The second drive has a second drive shaft driven by a second motor and is operatively connected to a second traction pulley of a second drive wheel via a second traction mechanism. The first and second drive wheels each a bevel wheel rim, wherein the swash plate is located between the two drive wheels, and the bevel wheel rims being positioned facing each other on the axis of rotation.

Abstract: An exemplary embodiment relates to an input unit (10) for operating a medical instrument (12) with a hollow shaft (14) extending along a longitudinal axis (L) for receiving guide wires (20), with a tool (16) arranged on the distal side of the shaft (14), extending along an extension axis (E) and a control unit (18) arranged proximally on the shaft (14) for handling the tool (16) by means of the guide wires (20), comprising first input means (22) for continuous, pivoting and rotation-true, preferably uninterrupted and/or absolute, conversion of an ergonomically limited user input, in particular a natural user movement of movable first operating means, into an adjustment movement of the tool (16) in a first handling mode, in order to pivot the tool (16) by means of the control unit (18) relative to the longitudinal axis (L) in a limited way and/or to rotate about the extension axis (E) in a limited way.

Abstract: A deflection control mechanism for a steerable flexible endoscope, the endoscope having an elongate flexible shaft comprising a steerable section that is deflectable by movement of at least one elongate control element, comprises a support structure, a drive wheel rotatably supported in or on the support structure, and a hand wheel rotationally coupled to the drive wheel, wherein the deflection control mechanism includes a brake stator element rotationally coupled to the support structure and a brake rotor element rotationally coupled to the drive wheel, and wherein a first one of the brake stator and brake rotor elements comprises an elastically deformable lip and the other one of the brake stator and brake rotor elements comprises a friction surface, the elastically deformable lip being arranged for being pressed against the friction surface by axial displacement of the brake stator element relative to the brake rotor element.

Abstract: An elongated shaft for a medical instrument includes an end section that is angled relative to a longitudinal central axis of the shaft by means of a joint mechanism, and a tool is arranged on the end section which can be angled. Multiple guiding elements are guided through the interior of the shaft in the longitudinal direction and connects a drive to the joint mechanism. The shaft has an outer tube or an inner tube and an elongated profiled guide between the outer tube for guiding the guiding elements. The profiled guide includes a first contact point for contacting the outer tube or the inner tube such that a guide channel or multiple guide channels is/are formed in the longitudinal direction between the outer tube and the profiled guide or between the profiled guide and the inner tube for guiding a guiding element or multiple guiding elements.

Abstract: A method for producing a laryngoscope blade and a laryngoscope blade including a base blade and a tube which is arranged at least in part on an outer face of the base blade, extends approximately in a longitudinal direction of the base blade and is firmly connected to the base blade, wherein the tube, at its side facing toward the base blade, has at least in part a longitudinally extending corrugation which, with the outer face of the base blade, forms a longitudinally extending cavity, wherein the tube is connected to the base blade by a respective soldering seam in the lateral edge regions of the corrugation.

Abstract: The invention concerns an optical system, and a video endoscope therefor, with at least one electronic active pixel image sensor with a progressive offset micro-lens array, and a lens system with a plurality of lenses in order to receive image light from an object field and direct it to the image sensor. The optical system has at least one interference filter coating located within the optical system, such that the angle of incidence of the image light on the filter coating is minimized, minimizing thereby the filtration characteristics of the coating that are angularly dependent. This minimization improves the reliability of fluorescence imaging with short optical systems. The location for the filter coating may be on a curved surface, such as a lens, or on a properly positioned flat element within the optical system.

Abstract: A steering gear for a surgical instrument includes an angling mechanism which can be controlled by a spatially adjustable wobble plate. The steering gear has a first and a second drive wheel with a respective associated motor, and the second drive wheel is arranged offset by 180° relative to the first drive wheel on an axis of rotation in common with the first drive wheel and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The wobble plate is mounted between the first drive wheel and the second drive wheel in a steering ring. A retaining bracket rotatably about the common axis of rotation of the drive wheels, wherein the steering ring is mounted in the retaining bracket an rotatable about the axis of rotation of the third gear wheel, such that the engagement between the third gear wheel and the drive wheels is secured.

Abstract: A device for capturing an image of an object of medical interest in remitted or reflected illumination light and for capturing an image of the object in fluorescent light generated by Cy5.5 and/or SGM-101 and for capturing an image in fluorescent light generated OTL38 and/or indocyanine green (ICG). The device includes an image sensor for detecting blue, green and red light, another image sensor for detecting fluorescent light of Cy5.5 and/or SGM-101 and OTL38 and/or ICG, a beam splitter guiding light having a wavelength smaller than a predetermined cutoff wavelength to the first sensor and guiding light having a wavelength greater than the predetermined cutoff wavelength to the second sensor, and filters upstream of the second sensor for partially, substantially or completely suppressing light having a wavelength exciting Cy5.5 and/or SGM-101 and for partially, substantially or completely suppressing light having a wavelength suitable for exciting fluorescence of OTL38 and/or ICG.

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: An optical filter system and a video endoscope therefor are disclosed. The optical filter system is arranged in a distal end section of a shaft. At least one image sensor for receiving image light is positioned in the distal end section. The optical filter system contains an optical filter and an objective lens system with a three or more lenses to collect image light and to pass it to the image sensor. The filter has transmission characteristics that vary relative to the radial distance from its center and is located between the first lens and the second lens of the objective lens system. Used in conjunction with fluorescence imaging, emission radiation collected by the image sensor is substantially free of excitation radiation. Additionally, a display system clearly delineating the regions with reliable fluorescence and/or visible light is also disclosed.

Abstract: An endoscope (10) includes an endoscope shaft (13), with a distal shaft portion (20), a central shaft portion (30) and a proximal shaft portion (40), and a light admission face (11) at the distal shaft portion (20). A cross section of the central shaft portion (30) is smaller than the cross section of the distal shaft portion (20) and smaller than the cross section of the proximal shaft portion (40).

Abstract: A device for performing a function in a medical facility is provided, together with a data management system including such a device as well as to a related method for providing data. The device includes: an input interface configured to receive a query for data; a functional unit configured to perform a function of the device; a data recorder configured to record, periodically or continuously, data pertaining to the function of the device; a data processor configured to select, based on the query, a portion of the recorded data; and an output interface configured to output an output signal providing the selected portion of the recorded data in response to the query.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for creating application-specific data for training artificial intelligence-based object recognition, comprising the creation of a command file for execution on a processor for the purpose of creating an image data record using at least one configuration file, the creation of at least one configuration file describing a scene to be simulated, the transfer of the command file and the configuration file to and the execution of these files on the processor for the purpose of creating the image data record and an annotation file associated with the image data record, and the storage of the image data record together with the annotation file.

Abstract: A handpiece according to the invention for a flexible endoscope or a flexible endoscopic instrument which comprises a shaft with a shaft portion that can be set at an angle by means of at least one Bowden cable has a control element for actuating a pull element of the at least one Bowden cable, wherein the handpiece comprises at least one clamping plate which has at least one clamping slit and/or at least one clamping groove for clamping a Bowden cable sheath of the at least one Bowden cable. The invention also relates to a flexible endoscope and a flexible endoscopic instrument and also to a method for assembling a flexible endoscope or a flexible endoscopic instrument.