Abstract: A steerable probe with a deflectable tip. In one embodiment, the probe may include a cannula having a proximal end and a distal end and extending along a length therebetween, an exterior surface, an interior surface defining a lumen, an elongate flexible section extending along a first portion of the length and having a section proximal end and a section distal end. A pull wire for deflecting the flexible section in a first direction in a preferred bending plane may be substantially embedded in the cannula between the interior surface and the exterior surface and extending from the section proximal end to the section distal end. The pull wire may be secured to the cannula adjacent to the section distal end and freely passing through the section proximal end. Two longitudinal strengthening members may be embedded in and extend along the flexible section generally opposite each other about the preferred bending plane.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for electronically processing video signals representing images of an object or scene so that details of some portion or all of the object or scene are enhanced in the video display reproduction of the images. Video image signals from a video camera are processed to derive digital color-representative signals and a digital luminance signal, and the luminance signal is filtered to remove higher spatial frequency components. The resulting low pass digital data is subtracted from the original luminance image data, leaving digital data representing the high-pass image components. The high-pass image digital data is passed to an amplification stage where all or only selected pixels are amplified by a factor that varies as a function of the low-pass data value of those pixels and by the location of the pixels within the image. This enables different degrees of enhancement of the light and dark areas of the image.

Abstract: An improved focusing coupler device for coupling the image capturing portion of an endoscope to a video camera is disclosed. The coupler device includes a housing having an elongate internal chamber defining an optical pathway for connecting the optical image paths of the endoscope and the camera, first and second windows closing off the opposite ends of the chamber, a lens transport assembly disposed in the chamber for relative movement between the ends of the chamber, the lens transport assembly comprising a lens carrier that defines a longitudinal series of rack gear teeth and is movable between the opposite ends of the chamber, and at least one focusing lens mounted to the lens carrier in coaxial alignment with the longitudinal axis of the chamber.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for correcting for optical misalignment of the dual (left and right) images produced by a stereo electronic endoscope, or of the corresponding dual images produced by coupling electronic imaging devices to each of two monocular teaching ports of a stereo optical endoscope. The stereo image alignment technique comprises electronically capturing the video image data of the dual images, and subsequently processing that data electronically to correct for optical alignment errors. The method involves digitizing the electronic data and digitally performing the equivalent of vertical image shift, and/or image size change, and/or image rotation as required to correct for any visual image misalignment.

Abstract: An endoscope is provided that comprises an imaging device such as a micro-size video camera supported by a novel device-steering shaft assembly. The shaft assembly comprises a malleable or rigid shaft, an imaging device carrier releasably and pivotally supporting the imaging device at one end of the shaft, and operating means including a flexible operating cable and cable moving means attached to the opposite end of the shaft for moving said cable and thereby pivoting the imaging device carrier relative to the shaft so as to alter the viewing angle of the supported imaging device. Using a malleable shaft offers the advantage that the shaft is manually reformable into various configurations to facilitate access to different surgical sites, with the shaft having the ability to remain in each selected configuration until manually reformed into another configuration. Alternatively, the imaging device may be permanently attached to the device carrier.

Abstract: An endoscope apparatus includes a handle assembly and an outer tube having a distal end and a proximal end, the latter being fixed to the handle assembly. The outer tube is provided with a groove in an outermost surface of the outer tube and extending lengthwise of the outer tube. The apparatus further includes an irrigation tube for disposal in the groove for conducting fluid in a direction from the proximal end to the distal end.

Abstract: An endoscope is provided that comprises a micro-size video camera, a flexible cable attached to the camera comprising fiber optical means for transmitting light to illuminate the site viewed by the camera and electrical conductors for transmitting electronic signals generated by the camera in response to images viewed by the camera, and a malleable or rigid shaft detachably connected to and supporting said camera and said cable. The rigid shaft may be straight or may be preformed in a selected curved configuration. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, a malleable shaft is permanently attached to said camera. Using a malleable shaft offers the advantage that the shaft is manually manipulable into various configurations to facilitate access to different surgical sites, with the shaft having the ability to remain in each selected configuration until manually reformed into another configuration.

Abstract: An endoscope comprises inner and outer tubes, the inner metal tube containing electrical an objective unit components including a solid state video imaging unit. An electrically insulative sleeve is disposed around the inner tube for electrically isolating the inner tube and electrical components from the outer tube. In a preferred embodiment, an electrically insulative ring is disposed between a major portion of the inner tube and distal end portion of the inner tube to electrically isolate the inner tube distal end portion from the inner tube major portion and the electrical components. Thus, those endoscope components which are likely to contact a patient, i.e., the outer tube and the inner tube distal end portion, are electrically isolated from the inner tube and the electrical components therein, thereby preventing injurious electrical current flow to the patient.

Abstract: A device carries first and second units in aligned end-to-end disposition at a distal end of a shaft and provides structure for moving the second of the units into position alongside the first of the units. The device comprises a base portion to which a proximal end of the shaft is fixed, the first unit being fixed to a distal end of the shaft. A rod extends lengthwise through the shaft and a portion of the first unit, and is off-set from an axis of the shaft and fixed to the second unit removed from an axis of the second unit.

Abstract: An endoscope includes a hollow tube having a proximal end and a distal end, a window disposed in an aperture of the distal end of the tube, a lens disposed proximate the window in the distal end of the tube and a photodetector disposed proximate the objective lens in the distal end of the tube.

Abstract: A female urethroscope includes a detachable, disposable semi-flexible sheath for insertion into a female's urethra. The sheath is provided with plurality of channels. One of the channels may receive an endoscope for optical examination of an operative site within the urethra. The remaining channels may be used for suction, drainage, or irrigation of the operative site. The disposable sheath provides a significant improvement in the efficiency and sterility of internal surgical procedures, and is specifically sized and configured for comfortable use in the female's urethra. Further, the urethroscope includes an inflation medium for applying pressure to, and relieving such pressure from, the interior walls of the female's urethra. In a particular embodiment for use as a female urethroscope, the urethroscope has a tube-shaped member having an insertion portion dimensioned for comfortable insertion into a female patient's urethra.

Abstract: An optical surgical device includes a detachable, disposable semi-flexible sheath for insertion into a patient's body. The sheath is provided with plurality of channels. One of the channels receives an endoscope for optical examination of an operative site within the patient. The remaining channels may be used for suction, drainage or irrigation of the operative site. The disposable sheath provides a significant improvement in the efficiency and sterility of internal surgical procedures.

Abstract: A control system is provided for an endoscope of the type having an objective lens, a movable zoom lens, a movable solid state imaging device for picking up the image formed by said objective lens and transferred by said zoom lens, means for generating a visual display of the image seen by the objective lens, and control means for moving the zoom lens and the imaging device so as to assure that for each position occupied by the zoom lens the imaging device is positioned so that the its image-receiving surface is in the focal plane of the zoom lens. The system allows independent manual control of the zoom lens and imaging device by manually actuatable switches.

Abstract: A device carries first and second units in aligned end-to-end disposition at a distal end of a shaft and provides structure for moving the second of the units into position alongside the first of the units. The device comprises a base portion to which a proximal end of the shaft is fixed, the first unit being fixed to the distal end of the shaft. A rod extends lengthwise through the shaft and a portion of the first unit, and is off-set from an axis of the shaft and fixed to the second unit removed from an axis of the second unit. Mounted on the base portion is structure for effecting rotational movement of the rod to effect rotational movement of the second unit to a position removed from alignment with the first unit, and for effecting axial movement of the rod to effect axial movement of the second unit into the position alongside the first unit.

Abstract: A medical video endoscope system for allowing high-resolution three-dimensional images to be viewed has a stereoscopic endoscope for converting optical images of an object to left and right video image signals. An electronic processor module controls the stereoscopic endoscope and processes the left and right video image signals into time-multiplexed signals representative of high-resolution three-dimensional images having stereoscopic depth. The time-multiplexed signals are provided to a monitor which displays high-resolution video images based on the signals. A viewing device is provided which allows a viewer to see high-resolution three-dimensional video images having stereoscopic depth on the monitor. A rigid sheath assembly with an angled distal tip can be placed over a barrel of the endoscope and rotated with respect thereto in order to change the viewing direction of the stereoscopic endoscope.

Abstract: A surgical retractor assembly includes an elongated base bar, a first leg extending from the base bar and substantially normal thereto, a first gripper disposed on the first leg, a second leg mounted at a proximal end thereof on the base bar and extending parallel to the first leg, the second leg proximal end being coupled to and movable along the base bar, and a second rib gripper disposed on the second leg. A U-shaped flexible rail is mounted proximate first and second ends thereof, respectively, on the first and second legs, with a bend portion of the rail extending proximate the base bar. An accessory support member is mounted on the rail and is slidably movable thereon, the accessory support member being adapted to retain an accessory device such that an operative end of the accessory device is disposed generally between the first and second legs.

Abstract: A position-indicating video display system is provided for an endoscope of the type having an objective lens, a movable zoom lens, a movable solid state imaging device for picking up the image formed by said objective lens and transferred by said zoom lens, means for generating a visual display of the image seen by the objective lens, and control means for moving the zoom lens and the imaging device so as to assure that for each position occupied by the zoom lens the imaging device is positioned so that the its image-receiving surface is in the focal plane of the zoom lens. The position-indicating video display system comprises means for generating first and second movable markers indicative of the instantaneous positions of the zoom lens and the solid state imaging device along the optical axis, and additional limit markers indicative of the maximum and minimum limits of the travel paths of the zoom lens and the solid state imaging device.

Abstract: A fog-free endoscope comprises an elongated tube defining an optical path extending from a distal end of the endoscope. A front window is fixed to the endoscope distal end, and heating means is disposed in the endoscope proximate the window to provide heat to the window to maintain the window in a fog-free condition.

Abstract: A position-indicating video display system is provided for an endoscope of the type having an objective lens, a movable zoom lens, a movable solid state imaging device for picking up the image formed by said objective lens and transferred by said zoom lens, means for generating a visual display of the image seen by the objective lens, and control means for moving the zoom lens and the imaging device so as to assure that for each position occupied by the zoom lens the imaging device is positioned so that the its image-receiving surface is in the focal plane of the zoom lens. The position-indicating video display system comprises means for generating first and second movable markers indicative of the instantaneous positions of the zoom lens and the solid state imaging device along the optical axis, and additional limit markers indicative of the maximum and minimum limits of the travel paths of the zoom lens and the solid state imaging device.