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 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: A driving force transmission mechanism for an endoscope includes an insertion portion, an operation portion, an electric motor, an output member, a rotation transmission member, an inside plane, a first plane, a second plane and a third plane configured to come into contact with a proximal end of the output member when at least part of the second plane comes into contact with the inside plane to thereby restrict the rotation transmission member from moving toward the distal end side in the axial direction with respect to the output member.

Abstract: An endoscope system includes an insertion section, a first active bending section, a second active bending section, a position-information acquiring section, a first control section, a second control section, and a third control section. The first control section controls, based on a detection result of the position-information acquiring section, a first driving section of the first active bending section such that a first end portion of a first tubular section of the first active bending section moves away from a center point. The first control section controls a second driving section of the second active bending section such that a second end portion of a second tubular section of the second active bending section approaches the center point. The third control section controls the first driving section such that force in a direction of bending the first tubular section in a first bending operation acts on the first end portion.

Abstract: A vent control valve for an endoscope includes a shaft body including a pin fixing portion, and a vent hole including a long hole with an opening provided in one end surface, and a long hole communication hole configured to cause an outside and an inside of the long hole to communicate with each other, a tubular member including a shaft body hole configured to house the shaft body, and a cam groove in which the cam pin is disposed, a rotational member including a tubular member hole where the tubular member is disposed, a cam pin groove where the cam pin is disposed, and a plurality of engaging holes, and a cylindrical housing member including an attaching portion fixedly provided in a casing through-hole, and a housing hole communicating with the internal space.

Abstract: Provided is an objective optical system including: a first spherical lens and a second spherical lens that are arrayed in this order from an object; and at least one of a first optical medium and a second optical medium, wherein the first optical medium is a solid or liquid disposed at an object side of the first spherical lens and is in close contact with a surface on the object side of the first spherical lens, over an entire optical path; and the second optical medium is a solid or liquid disposed at an opposite side of the second spherical lens from the object and is in close contact with a surface on the opposite side of the second spherical lens from the object, over the entire optical path.

Abstract: A stereoscopic vision endoscope objective optical system includes, in order from an object side, a first lens group having a negative refractive power, a second lens group having a positive refractive power, and a rear-side lens group having a positive refractive power. The rear-side lens group includes a first rear group and a second rear group. The first lens group and the second lens group are disposed so that an optical axis of the second lens group coincides with an optical axis of the first lens group. The optical axis of the first lens group is located between an optical axis of the first rear group and an optical axis of the second rear group. Each of the first rear group and the second rear group includes a first sub group, an aperture stop, and a second sub group, and the first sub group includes a negative lens.

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: A high-frequency generator connects an electrosurgical instrument, including an electrical output connection point for an electrosurgical instrument, a power supply, which is at least indirectly connected to the output connection point, and a power controller for controlling the electrical output power output via the output connection point. The power controller is designed to begin the output of an electrical output power when an output energy balance amount is greater than an output energy limit value and to end the output of the electrical output power when the output energy balance amount falls below a minimum value.

Abstract: A bending operation mechanism of an endoscope including: a first pulley configured to pull a first wire by being rotated in a first rotation direction; a second pulley, which is coaxial with the first pulley, configured to pull a second wire by being rotated in a second rotation direction opposite to the first rotation direction; and a rotation shaft member including a first protrusion that engages only with the first engagement portion of the first pulley when the rotation shaft member is rotated in the first rotation direction from a neutral position when a bending portion is not bent and a second protrusion that engages only with the second engagement portion of the second pulley when the rotation shaft member is rotated in the second rotation direction from the neutral position.

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: An image pickup unit includes: an image pickup substrate including a first principal surface and a second principal surface, a light receiving circuit being formed on the first principal surface and a through wiring being placed on an inner surface of a via hole including an opening in the second principal surface; a solder resist film placed around the via hole on the second principal surface and in the via hole in a range from a bottom face to a level not reaching the second principal surface; and a bonding terminal which is made of solder, covers a surface of the solder resist film placed in the via hole, and is bonded to the through wiring on an outer edge of the opening in the via hole, the through wiring being not covered with the solder resist film.

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 full-thickness resection method for a gastrointestinal tract includes forming a pair of first markings in surrounding tissue on both sides of a lesion to sandwich the lesion therebetween; performing a full-thickness resection to a portion including the lesion; identifying a pair of suture locations in the vicinity of the pair of first markings; and suturing the pair of first suture locations.

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: A treatment system that includes a pair of jaws and a heater resistor provided on one jaw of the pair of jaws that generates heat by energization. The system also includes a heating device that controls a current to set a resistance value of the heater resistor to a target resistance value. The heating device includes a double bridge circuit allowing current to flow between the heating device and the heater resister when detecting, by the detection resister, a difference between the resistance value of the heater resistor and the predetermined target resistance value. The heating device including a power supply voltage generator that generates a power supply voltage to be applied to the heater resistor and the double bridge circuit, a controller that modulates the generated power supply voltage, and a heater resistance detector that detects an AC component from the current flowing through the detection resistor.

Abstract: An insertion apparatus includes: a base member, a rotary shaft, and a driven member including a hole. A plurality of concave portions are formed on the rotary shaft, and a pair of side wall surfaces which form each of the plurality of concave portions are disposed so as to intersect with each other at a right angle or at an obtuse angle.

Abstract: An endoscope includes an insertion portion, an operation portion, a power transmission unit, a power relay unit, a power generation unit configured to apply power to the power relay unit in a second power transmission shaft direction which is non-parallel to a first power transmission shaft direction, an elastic member configured to perform either one of urging the power relay unit against the power generation unit or urging the power generation unit against the power relay unit, and a cable configured to extend from the operation portion in the second power transmission shaft direction which is a direction different from a longitudinal direction, wherein the power generation device is attached such that the power generation device is disposed to extend in an extending direction of the cable after being mounted.

Abstract: A medical system including: a trocar configured to provide an artificial access to a body cavity of a patient; a medical instrument configured to be inserted through the trocar and into the body cavity of the patient for performing a medical function in the body cavity of the patient; and a controller configured to: determine whether the medical instrument is inserted into the trocar; and enable the performing of the medical function by the medical instrument only if the medical instrument is determined to be inserted into the trocar.

Abstract: An endoscope includes: an insertion portion configured to be inserted into a subject; and a channel fixing portion disposed on an outer periphery of the insertion portion and configured such that a part or all of a long channel tube is fixed in a state of being embedded in a distal end portion of the insertion portion.

Abstract: A surgical handheld devices are essentially made up of a device body or main body and of a tubular shaft. In the production of known surgical devices, the tubular shafts are welded to the device bodies. A large number of very complex work steps are necessary for this purpose. On account of the high quality demands placed on surgical handheld devices in respect of mechanical stability and sterility, the weld seam has to meet the most stringent requirements. The invention makes available a method for producing a surgical handheld device, which can be used particularly easily and reliably. This is achieved by the fact that at least one device body and at least one tubular shaft of a surgical handheld device are connected to each other with form-fit engagement by hydroforming.

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 module includes: a lens unit including a first principal surface and a second principal surface; an image pickup unit including a third principal surface and a fourth principal surface on which an external electrode is disposed; a wiring board including a hole and a bonding electrode disposed on a bottom surface of the hole; a solder that bonds the bonding electrode and the external electrode; a rigid member that defines a spacing between the fourth principal surface and the bottom surface; and a second resin disposed between the fourth principal surface and the bottom surface.

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: 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: 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: 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, including: at least one outer shaft tube, at least one inner shaft tube disposed within the at least one outer shaft tube; a window distally hermetically sealing one of the inner shaft tube or the outer shaft tube, a heater disposed proximate to the window between the at least one outer shaft tube and the at least one inner shaft tube, a temperature sensor disposed embedded in a potting compound proximate to the window, and an encasement filled with the potting compound, the encasement at least partially surrounding the temperature sensor.

Abstract: An ultrasound endoscope comprises an operation portion, an insertion portion coupled to the operation portion, a distal end portion coupled to the insertion portion and including a projecting portion and a distal end body portion, a balloon channel disposed inside the insertion portion and extending from the operation portion to the rigid distal end portion, and a balloon mounting portion between the projecting portion and the distal end body portion. The balloon channel includes a bending portion in the rigid distal end portion and a balloon outlet that is formed at the bending portion and connected to the balloon mounting portion. A cross section of the bending portion includes a first bending angle and a second bending angle, and the first bending angle is smaller than the second bending angle.

Abstract: An electrosurgical generator supplies, during operation, a high-frequency alternating current to an electrosurgical instrument for plasma cutting of body tissue. The electrosurgical generator has outputs for connecting an electrosurgical instrument to supply an electrosurgical instrument connected to the outputs with a high-frequency alternating current, and for determining the impedance of a load connected to the outputs. The electrosurgical generator features impedance and voltage measuring units as well as an output voltage control unit. The output voltage control unit is designed to control the AC output voltage depending on a maximum output voltage value that is set during operation depending on an output value of the impedance measuring unit and/or depending on an output value of the voltage measuring unit, such that the maximum output voltage value predefines a lower AC output voltage during a vaporization phase than during an ignition phase occurring subsequently to the vaporization phase.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus for endoscope includes an image sensor, a ferrule which is a rectangular parallelepiped having a front surface, a rear surface, and four side surfaces and includes insertion holes and trenches parallel to the insertion holes on respective two side surfaces orthogonal to each other among the four side surfaces, an optical element in which a light emitting region is disposed in a position opposed to the insertion holes, and optical fibers inserted into the insertion holes.

Abstract: A lens unit includes a first optical element including a first principal surface that is an incident surface; and including a first glass substrate and a first resin, the first glass substrate including a frame-shaped cutout at an outer edge of the first principal surface, the first resin being disposed only in the cutout.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a lens unit includes: producing a stacked wafer including a plurality of optical wafers that include at least one optical wafer in which a light shielding layer is disposed and having a first principal surface and a second principal surface; forming grooves in a grid pattern on the first principal surface or the second principal surface of the stacked wafer using a dicing blade, in which the grooves have a depth at which the light shielding layer is cut; and dividing the stacked wafer into a plurality of lens units by performing stealth dicing using a filamentation laser along the grooves.

Abstract: A lens unit includes: a first optical device including a first glass substrate including a first principal surface and a second principal surface, and a resin lens disposed on the second principal surface; a second optical device including a second glass substrate including a third principal surface and a fourth principal surface, in which the third principal surface is disposed facing the second principal surface, and a substantially rectangular aperture layer made of metal that is disposed on the third principal surface and that has four corner regions cut out; and an adhesive layer that adhesively bonds the first optical device and the second optical device, in which four corner regions do not sandwich the aperture layer between the first optical device and the second optical device.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes a lens unit and an image pickup unit. The lens unit includes a plurality of optical devices including a first optical device that includes: a first glass substrate having a first principal surface and a second principal surface and a groove leading to the second principal surface from the first principal surface in at least one of four corners on an outer edge; first resin disposed in the groove; and a resin lens disposed on the second principal surface. The image pickup unit including an image pickup device is disposed on an optical device not including the first resin, of the plurality of optical devices.

Abstract: A distal end frame includes: a distal end frame body including a resin molded product; an image pickup unit housing chamber formed of a bottomed hole with an opening which is formed on a distal end surface of the distal end frame body; a through hole penetrating from a bottom face of the image pickup unit housing chamber to a proximal end side of the distal end frame body; a mounting face formed on the bottom face of the image pickup unit housing chamber; an inclined face that is formed in a region containing a part of an inner wall face of the through hole to be adjacent to the mounting face, and is visible through the opening; and a wiring pattern that is formed of the metal pattern constituting the molded interconnect device, and is continuously formed in a region containing the mounting face and the inclined face.

Abstract: A needle holder includes: a flexible sheath portion which is capable of being inserted into an instrument channel of a flexible endoscope; a first grasping member which is rotatably coupled with a distal end portion of the flexible sheath portion; and a second grasping member which is provided in the distal end portion of the flexible sheath portion. In a state where a curved needle is grasped by a first grasping surface of the first grasping member and a second grasping surface of the second grasping member, the second grasping surface inclines such that a grasped region of the curved needle that is grasped by the first grasping surface and the second grasping surface is positioned between a distal end of the second grasping member and a needle tip of the curved needle in a direction of a center axis of the second grasping member.

Abstract: An endoscopic task supporting system including: an image storage that stores a plurality of endoscopic images acquired in a time series; a three-dimensional data generation unit that generates three-dimensional data indicating a three-dimensional shape of a predetermined part subject to observation, based on the plurality of endoscopic images stored in the image storage; a two-dimensional image generation unit that generates, from the three-dimensional data generated by the three-dimensional data generation unit, a two-dimensional image corresponding to a viewpoint position and a direction of line of sight entered; and a display control unit that causes a predetermined display unit to display the two-dimensional image generated by the two-dimensional image generation unit.

Abstract: A bipolar electrode instrument for use in a resectoscope and having an elongated shaft section, through which a first conductor extends, which forms a working electrode to which high-frequency current can be applied at the distal end of the electrode instrument, and a second conductor further extending through the shaft section, which forms a counter electrode in the distal end region of the electrode instrument. The working electrode and the counter electrode are spatially separated from one another in such a way that the distance between them cannot be bridged by a straight conductor which has a length of 6 mm or less. When used in a resectoscope for endoscopic surgery with a cladding tube, the electrode instrument is mounted so as to be longitudinally displaceable inside the cladding tube.

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 a light source apparatus, an illumination-light setting section capable of setting, as illumination light for illuminating an object including a biological tissue, first illumination light obtained by combining light in one or more wavelength bands selected from the light in plural wavelength bands and second illumination light obtained by combining light in one or more wavelength bands different from the first illumination light, selected out of the light in the plural wavelength bands, a light-source control section, and an image analyzing section configured to acquire an analysis result related to presence or absence of an abnormal finding. The illumination-light setting section sets, based on the analysis result of the image analyzing section for the first image acquired by the first illumination light, a combination of light in wavelength bands included in the second illumination light to be irradiated next.

Abstract: An overtube device includes: a tube body having a bending part and a main body part; a wire having a distal end part fixed to the bending part and a proximal end part positioned on the proximal end side and extending along a longitudinal axis; an operation part capable of pulling the wire to the proximal end side; and an overtube base configured to fix the tube body in a longitudinal axis direction so as not to advance and retract, and configured so that the operation part is provided in a state where the wire is pulled toward the proximal end side of the wire until a curved shape of the bending part is held. In a state where the operation part is mounted on the overtube base, the overtube base holds the wire in a state where the wire is pulled toward the proximal end side of the wire.

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 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 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 control device includes a processor. The processor acquires an endoscope image that is an image captured by an endoscope; determines whether suction is needed, based on the endoscope image; when the suction is determined to be needed, implements control to carry out the suction; determines a state of a subject based on a change in the endoscope image when the suction is performed; and performs control regarding suction based on the state of the subject.

Abstract: A treatment tool generator includes: a power source configured to supply power to a treatment tool; and a processor configured to control an operation of the power source and the treatment tool, the processor being configured to cause the power source to supply the power to the treatment tool to apply treatment energy to a biological tissue from the treatment tool, calculate a thickness index value to be an index of a thickness dimension of the biological tissue that is grasped by the treatment tool, determine whether it is a change timing to change a control state of at least one of the power source and the treatment tool based on the thickness index value, and perform at least one of a first control, a second control, and a third control upon determining that it is the change timing.

Abstract: An ultrasound probe includes: an ultrasound transducer including plural piezoelectric elements; an acoustic lens layer configured to radiate the ultrasound emitted from the plural piezoelectric elements to outside; a back layer that faces the acoustic lens layer with the ultrasound transducer interposed between the back layer and the acoustic lens layer; and a wiring member having at least a part that is arranged at a first position between the acoustic lens layer and the ultrasound transducer or at a second position that faces the ultrasound transducer with the back layer interposed between the second position and the ultrasound transducer. The wiring member includes: a resin layer having electrically insulating; and an electrically conducting layer that is provided on the resin layer and includes plural signal wirings.