Abstract: A clip device includes a tube and a clip having a first arm portion and a second arm portion, and an engagement mechanism including a stepped connector and a hooking structure, and configured to connect to the clip. The stepped connector includes an engaging region connecting two side regions, a width of the engaging region of the stepped connector is smaller than a width of a first of the two side regions of the stepped connector. The hooking structure includes two lateral surfaces connected by a hook surface, and a surface of the engaging region of the stepped connector engages with the hook surface of the hooking structure and each of the two side regions of the stepped connector are adjacent to respective one of the two lateral surfaces of the hooking structure.

Abstract: A method of endoscopically approaching a duodenum includes: inserting an endoscope into a duodenum of a subject through stomach; inserting a venting device into the stomach; and deflating the stomach by removing air from the stomach through the venting device.

Abstract: Insertion equipment includes an insertion section, a distal end member provided at a distal end of the insertion section, and a tube configured to supply a fluid to the distal end member. In the distal end member, the fluid passes through a first flow channel extending in a distal end direction, passes through a second flow channel in a direction different from the distal end direction, is divided, is discharged through a first opening in a distal end surface, and part of the fluid is discharged through one or more second openings in an outer circumferential surface of the distal end member in a radial direction or a proximal end direction.

Abstract: In an imaging system, a camera unit and a control unit are connected via a source voltage line and an image signal line. The camera unit includes: a pixel array configured to generate an accumulation signal and a reset signal; a source voltage measuring circuit configured to output a voltage value (VDDA) indicating a second source voltage in the pixel array; a reference voltage generating circuit configured to generate a reference voltage (VBGR); a plurality of AD conversion devices; and a signal transmitting unit. The control unit includes: a source voltage supply device configured to supply a first source voltage (Vout) to the source voltage line; and a signal receiving device configured to receive the image signal and the result of the second AD conversion.

Abstract: A clip device for gripping biological tissue of a patient includes a clip having a first arm and second arm closeable by operation of a wire that is reciprocally moveable in a longitudinal channel of a sheath; and a bendable member at a distal end region of the sheath. The bendable member can be an integral portion of the sheath or a separate structure. The bendable member is configured to allow a distal end of a clip to rotate or swing toward a proximal end region of the sheath of the device, which orients the clip relative to the sheath to facilitate grasping of tissue even when the approach of the clip is tangential to the tissue, e.g., at an angle (?) less than 90. The bendable member can be configured to allow a distal end of a clip to rotate or swing toward a proximal end region of a sheath and form an angle of up to at least about 45 degrees, such up to about 60 degrees or up to about 90 degrees, or higher.

Abstract: An imaging system includes a camera device and a control device connected to each other by a power source line, a video signal line, and a ground line. An image sensor of the camera device receives, as a distal end voltage, a power source voltage output from the control device to the power source line. An output circuit of the camera device outputs a digital signal indicating a value of the distal end voltage to the video signal line. A calculation circuit of the control device calculates a resistance value of the power source line based on a value of the power source voltage, the value of the distal end voltage indicated by the digital signal, a current value of the power source line, a resistance value of the ground line, and a current value of the ground line.

Abstract: A bending tube includes a first tubular member including a first tubular opening and a second tubular member including a second tubular opening. The first tubular member includes a first end portion, a first hole, and a projection on a surface of the first end portion around a periphery of a first end of the first hole. The second tubular member includes a second end portion, a second hole, and a turning shaft projecting from a periphery of a first end of the second hole. The first end portion overlaps the second end portion and the turning shaft is seated in the first hole to connect the first tubular member to the second tubular member. The projection on the surface of the first end portion contacts a surface of the second end portion.

Abstract: An electronic component holding member includes a first base material including an electronic component, a first resin molded product, and first metal patterns in which a signal pattern and a grounding pattern are formed on a non-planar surface, a second base material including a second resin molded product, and a second metal pattern formed on a non-planar surface so as to overlap at least part of the first metal patterns, and grounding wiring configured to connect the grounding pattern and the second metal pattern.

Abstract: An image pickup unit for endoscope includes a first barrel having first hardness, a second barrel having second hardness in which an optical member is internally provided, the second barrel being held in a hole of the first barrel to be movable, a film having third hardness formed on one of an inner surface of the hole and an outer surface of the second barrel, a magnet provided in the second barrel, and a coil provided in the first barrel and configured to generate a magnetic field that acts on the magnet. The second barrel has a magnet or is composed by a magnetic material. The second barrel slides in the first barrel according to energization to the coil. The third hardness is lower than the first hardness and the second hardness.

Abstract: A stent device including a stent cover having differing porosity ratio is disclosed. The stent covers the stent body comprising of stent wires and stent cells enclosed by the stent wires. The stent cover differs in porosity ratio for areas covering the stent wires and the areas covering the stent cells. The porosity ratio for areas covering the stent wires may have a higher porosity rate in order to promote endothelialization of the stent device. A bilayer stent cover differing in porosity ratio may be used to cover the stent body, as well as stent cover not covering the entirety of the stent body.

Abstract: An image pickup unit includes: an image pickup optical system including an optical axis; an image pickup device; a first electric substrate on which the image pickup device is mounted; a second electric substrate formed integrally with the first electric substrate and configured to surround peripheries of the image pickup optical system and the image pickup device and extend in a direction along the optical axis, the second electric substrate including a housing space for housing the image pickup optical system and the image pickup device, a part of the second electric substrate being formed in an arc shape when viewed in a cross section in a vertical direction with respect to the optical axis; and a conductive circuit connecting the first and second electric substrates, and provided from a first surface exposed outside of the second electric substrate to a second surface in the housing space.

Abstract: An imaging unit includes: an illumination unit that includes an illumination optical system; a first holding frame configured to hold the illumination unit; an imaging-unit main body that includes an imager, and an observation optical system configured to form the subject image on the imager; and a second holding frame configured to hold the imaging-unit main body. A first abutting portion configured to abut on the second holding frame in a radial direction of the first holding frame is arranged on an outer surface of the first holding frame.

Abstract: Provided is an image processing apparatus including a processor. The processor is configured to: reconstruct, by employing a plurality of time-series images acquired by an endoscope, three-dimensional information of an imaging subject containing relative dimensions; calculate, on the basis of focus information of each of the plurality of images, scale information for converting the relative dimensions of the three-dimensional information to absolute dimensions; convert, by employing the scale information, the relative dimensions to the absolute dimensions; and output three-dimensional information containing the absolute dimensions.

Abstract: An endoscope reprocessor includes: a cleaning tank in which an endoscope is placed; an endoscope connecting unit configured to be connected to a channel of the endoscope; a top cover configured to cover an upper part of the cleaning tank; a first ejection unit configured to eject a cleaning solution toward an inner surface of the top cover; a first pump connected to the first ejection unit; and a control unit provided with a processor configured to feed a liquid to the channel of the endoscope by controlling the first pump, in which the processor acquires a type of the endoscope, controls the first pump during cleaning according to the type of the endoscope, and causes the cleaning solution to be delivered from the first ejection unit.

Abstract: A method for closing a wound in a tubular organ using a suture thread introduced into the tubular organ, includes: inflating the tubular organ by supplying gas into the tubular organ; resecting a lesion while the tubular organ is inflated, so that the wound is formed; deflating the tubular organ by discharging gas from the tubular organ; passing the suture thread through a tissue around the wound; and gathering the tissue around the wound by pulling the suture thread passing through the tissue while the tubular organ is deflated.

Abstract: An endoscope system includes an insertion section, an imager, and a control device including a processor that processes a signal from the imager. The insertion section is inserted into a lumen as an object. The imager is monocular and is provided in the insertion section to capture an image of the object. The processor acquires actual size determination information for determining an actual size of at least a portion of the lumen. The processor calculates a three-dimensional structure of the lumen based on the captured image. The processor also calculates three-dimensional structure size information for determining an actual size of at least a portion of the three-dimensional structure by calibrating the three-dimensional structure of the lumen based on the actual size determination information. The processor also outputs specific portion size information representing an actual size of a specific portion of the three-dimensional structure, based on the three-dimensional structure size information.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a processor. The processor is configured to acquire image information from an endoscope during observation of an inside of a subject, generate an organ model from the acquired image information, identify an unobserved region that is not observed by the endoscope in the organ model, estimate a top and a bottom and an azimuth of an image pickup visual field of the endoscope with respect to the organ model, set a display direction of the organ model based on the top and the bottom and the azimuth of the image pickup visual field, and output the organ model to the monitor, the organ model being associated with the identified unobserved region.

Abstract: An image processing device includes a processor. The processor acquires shape information about a variable shape of a manipulator. The processor displays on a display a CG image of a manipulator model as viewed from a virtual camera in an object space, based on the shape information. The processor executes a rotation process of rotating a viewing direction of the virtual camera by a rotation angle according to the shape information.

Abstract: A channel replacement method to replace a first channel of an endoscope, the first channel including a first distal end and a first rear end, the channel replacement method including: sealing a flow path of the first channel by arranging a first plug at the first distal end and arranging a second plug at the first rear end, and withdrawing the first channel from inside the endoscope.

Abstract: An endoscope fluid control system, includes: a water suction pump and a water suction pressure gauge connected to a water suction conduit; a memory configured to record correlation data for each type of endoscope, the correlation data indicating a correlation between a pressure value indicated by the water suction pressure gauge and an output value of the water suction pump; and a processor configured to: specify correlation data corresponding to a type; and monitor an operation of the water suction pump based on the specified correlation data.