Abstract: An optical coupling having a coupling part and a mating coupling part which are detachably connected to one another is provided, a connection element being arranged on the coupling part and a fitting mating connection element being arranged on the mating coupling part. These connection elements together form a common optical channel, and the mating connection element is arranged with play in the mating coupling part and without play in the coupling part.

Abstract: For improved imaging in a visualization system (1) having two image sensors (2a, 2b), which are spaced apart from one another axially with respect to a longitudinal axis (27) of the visualization system (1) and sensorially acquire a respective imaging beam path (4a, 4b), which is generated by an assigned imaging optical unit (31) upstream of a deflection prism (3), it is provided that a structural height of the prism (3) be made suboptimal, in order to thus be able to alleviate imaging errors upon use of a wavelength-selective first mirror surface (8) of the prism (3). Moreover, it is alternatively or additionally provided that two optical channels (16a) and (16b) be formed by the imaging optical unit (31), through which the image sensors (2a) and (2b), preferably in different wavelength ranges, can each acquire images of an object (37) observed using the visualization system (1) from different perspectives.

Abstract: A method and a visualization system for displaying image data are provided, which, based on a set of different sequences, which are already predefined and stored in a memory, of visualization modes following one another in a specific order, always only provides a limited subselection of overall visualization modes usable using the visualization system for selection to a user, so that the user can change back and forth quickly and efficiently with the aid of an input between the visualization modes which are best suitable for the present application of the visualization system.

Abstract: A coupling device (9) for light guides (8), including a light entrance (11) and a light-guide space (12) aligned at the light entrance (11), and including a clamping device with a first roller pair (20) with two opposing rollers (21; 32), between which an inserted light guide (8) can be clamped. The coupling device (9) has a second roller pair (26) with two opposing rollers (21), and the second roller pair (26) is arranged closer to the light entrance (11) than the first roller pair (20).

Abstract: A flexible endoscope for insertion into the human body includes a flexible section arranged in a distal end region of the endoscope. The endoscope further includes a tip segment distally adjoining the flexible section, the tip segment being controllable by at least one tension cord. A skeleton is formed in a flexible controllable section with guide elements that are movable relative to one another, each of which guides at least one tension cord laterally.

Abstract: To improve the accuracy and the speed of an autofocus method, using which a present best focal plane (13) may be found in an automated manner, which enables a best possible image quality for an object (3), which is located at a specific working distance (11) to an optical imaging system (1), it is provided that at least one parameter used during a z-scan (17) be adapted in an automated manner as a function of a presently set optical zoom level and/or a current estimated value of the working distance (11). During the z-scan (17), a present location of a focal plane (12) of the optical imaging system (1) is displaced within a scanning range (14) along an optical z-axis (8) of the imaging system (1), wherein the individual focal planes (12) are each evaluated to identify the best focal plane (13) among them.

Abstract: A sensor array (1) for recording a color image in the visible spectrum (8) and hyperspectral information that is spatially linked with the color image, wherein the sensor array (1) includes an image sensor (2) composed of a plurality of photocells (3), wherein respectively a color filter (4) is fixedly assigned to at least one portion of the photocells (3), wherein each photocell (3) is assigned to a subcell (5) and each subcell (5) is assigned to a supercell (6). Each subcell (5) has at least one additional filter of a channel, and all the channels together cover at least the entire visible spectrum (8), and the characteristic wavelengths (9) of the individual filters belonging to a channel in each case differ from one another between the subcells (5) of a supercell (6).

Abstract: An endoscope arrangement (1) including a camera head (2) with at least one distal image sensor (4) and an image-processing unit (3) which is connected to the camera head (2) via a connecting line (14). The connecting line (14) has at least one optical line (15) for transmitting image information. The connecting line (14) additionally has an electrical line (16) for serially transmitting electrical signals, it being possible to transmit electrical control signals bidirectionally via this electrical line.

Abstract: To improve the use properties of a visualization and/or illumination system (1), with which an object can be illuminated with non-visible illumination light (2) during a medical intervention, some of the illumination light (2) transported by the system (1) is branched off and guided to a converter (3), which picks up, in particular detects or absorbs, the illumination light (2) and subsequently converts it into an indication signal (4) that is perceivable by humans and outputs this indication signal (4). Using the indication signal (4), a user can thus quickly and easily check whether or not the illumination light (2) is currently being emitted by the system (1).

Abstract: For the miniaturization of an investigation instrument (1), which includes a sensor (3), which is arranged in the interior of a long shaft (2) and is electrically contact-connected by a connection (8), it is provided that a flexible bending section (10) is configured on the connection (8), and is thus connected with a contact-connection section (9), which is contact-connected with contacts (4) of the sensor (3) on the reverse side such that, firstly, the entire connection (8) is arranged in the shadow of the image sensor (3) and, secondly, the bending section (10) originates from the contact-connection section (9) within a field (5) which is subtended by the reverse-side contacts (4) of the sensor (3).

Abstract: To improve the image quality and color authenticity of a white light image (5), which is sensorially acquired in the context of multispectral imaging, different sub-spectra (2) of a light spectrum (1) used for imaging are sensorially acquired either spatially separately or chronologically separately from one another and in the computation of the white light image (5), a secondary spectrum (4) of these sub-spectra (2) is taken into consideration which is acquired separately (chronologically or spatially) from a main spectrum (3) of the light spectrum (1). This approach offers the advantage that an additional spectral component (6), which is based on the separately acquired secondary spectrum (4), can thus be injected as needed into the white light image (5) or extracted therefrom, to thus achieve the desired improved image quality.

Abstract: In order to reduce costs for endoscopic examinations and to enable new operating concepts, an image recording arrangement is provided in which an adapter that enables bi-directional communication between a camera control unit and an image generation unit which has an image sensor. A standardized data interface is configured between the camera control unit and the adapter. The adapter is defined for use with a specific type of image generation unit. Accordingly, the adapter has a communication apparatus which translates control and adjustment commands transmitted by the camera control unit into a format processable by the image generation unit and provides image data from the image sensor in a format processable by the camera control unit.

Abstract: A camera controller (1) with an image data stream input (2) and an image data stream output (4), wherein a first image data stream path (3) and a second image data stream path (5) are formed. An image processing unit (6) is arranged in the second image data stream path (5). A switching unit (7) is controlled by a comparison unit (8). The comparison unit (8) compares a first checking data stream (9), which was diverted from an image data stream (1) upstream of the image processing unit (6), and a second checking data stream (10), which was diverted from the image data stream downstream of the image processing unit (6). The image data stream paths are switched via the switching unit (7) if the deviation of the second checking data stream (9) from the first checking data stream (10) exceeds a threshold value.

Abstract: In a stereoscopic image recording method (34), it is provided to transform depth information (13) with respect to an image pair (40) of a stereoscopic image (24) based on an alignment angle (23) in order to generate an aligned stereoscopic image (29), the transformed depth information (26) being used in order to generate a complementary image (27) of the stereoscopic image (40) in a computer-aided manner.

Abstract: To simplify the use of a functional scope of a medical image recording system, for example an endoscopy system, a method is proposed in which an image processing unit of the image recording system recognizes predefined image recording situations on the basis of an image sequence recorded using an image sensor of the image recording system and in response thereto proposes an adaptation to a user that results in an improved display and/or an improved recording of the image sequence in the respective recognized image recording situation. The adaptation can relate here to an algorithm, using which the image sequence is processed after the recording, and/or an image recording method currently used to generate the image sequence.

Abstract: An endoscope (1) with a shaft (2), a grip (3) connected to the shaft (2) at a proximal end region of the shaft (2), and a viewing region (4) formed in a distal end region of the shaft (2) by optical elements. The shaft (2) has at least one proximity sensor (5), of which the measuring region lies at least outside the viewing region (4), preferably in such a way that the measuring region of the proximity sensor (5) covers at least the distance of the lateral region of the distal end region. The endoscope has an evaluation device (6) which is configured to generate a warning signal when a definable distance threshold value is undershot.

Abstract: An electrical feedthrough (1) is provided for improving the thermal properties and the electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) and also for simplified production of a medical instrument (7), in which electrical feedthrough individual contact pins (4), which are guided through a glass body (2) in a housing (20) of the instrument (7), are electrically connected to one another by a pluggable plug element (5), preferably in the form of a sheet metal part. Here, the plug element (5) firstly provides high thermal and electrical conductivity and secondly provides a shielding area that effectively prevents the input coupling of electromagnetic radiation. Preferably, the plug element (5) is formed in such a way that it independently develops a holding force for securing itself to the contact pins (4).

Abstract: An endoscope assembly has an endoscope, having an optical waveguide and having an image guide, wherein the image guide is configured to be uninterrupted up to its proximal end and has an image guide interface at its proximal end for optical connection to an image capturing unit, an illumination unit having a light source and having an optical waveguide interface for optical connection of the light source to an optical waveguide, and an image capturing unit having an image sensor and having an image guide interface for optical connection of the image sensor to an image guide.

Abstract: For simplified, less computationally intensive, image recording of different spectral signal components using a plurality of color channels of a single image sensor, a targeted adjustment of a sensitivity of at least one of the color channels in relation to another one of the color channels of the image sensor is provided for a spectral separation of this reduced or adjusted color channel from the other color channel so that at least one certain spectral range (i.e., in particular a part of a first spectral range captured using the other color channel) is no longer detectable using the color channel that has been adjusted in terms of its sensitivity. This adjusted color channel becomes spectrally blind in the spectral range and can consequently spectrally selectively detect a further spectral range (specifically a second spectral range deviating from the first spectral range). The second spectral range may include a fluorescence wavelength.

Abstract: In order to improve imaging, in particular for low light intensities, an image recording device, in particular formed as an endoscope, is proposed, which comprises a single photon sensitive detector (SPSD) in addition to an image sensor, which uses photodiodes as light-sensitive cells, in order to respectively detect light from a common object area. With the help of the SPSD, additional image information can be obtained from the object area, to improve the image data recorded with the image sensor or to enhance it with additional image information, in particular with regard to a further spectral range, which is captured with the SPSD.