Abstract: A catheter comprising a first lumen for receiving a guidewire and having an exit opening at a distal tip of the catheter. A second lumen, adjacent the first lumen and separated from the first lumen by a common wall, the second lumen configured for receiving contrast fluid, wherein perforations are formed in the common wall; a guidewire in the first lumen the guidewire being configured to be capable of advancement distally to extend out of the exit opening, the guidewire having two conditions: a first condition in which the guidewire is advanced distally to block the perforations whereby fluid may not flow from the second lumen to the first lumen; a second condition in which the guidewire is withdrawn proximally to unblock the perforations whereby fluid may flow from the second lumen into the first lumen and thence out of the exit opening.

Abstract: In a minimally invasive surgical system, an image capture unit includes a prism assembly and sensor assembly. The prism assembly includes a beam splitter, while the sensor assembly includes coplanar image capture sensors. Each of the coplanar image capture sensors has a common front end optical structure, e.g., the optical structure distal to the image capture unit is the same for each of the sensors. A controller enhances images acquired by the coplanar image capture sensors. The enhanced images may include (a) visible images with enhanced feature definition, in which a particular feature in the scene is emphasized to the operator of minimally invasive surgical system; (b) images having increased image apparent resolution; (c) images having increased dynamic range; (d) images displayed in a way based on a pixel color component vector having three or more color components; and (e) images having extended depth of field.

Abstract: In a minimally invasive surgical system, an image capture unit includes a prism assembly and sensor assembly. The prism assembly includes a beam splitter, while the sensor assembly includes coplanar image capture sensors. Each of the coplanar image capture sensors has a common front end optical structure, e.g., the optical structure distal to the image capture unit is the same for each of the sensors. A controller enhances images acquired by the coplanar image capture sensors. The enhanced images may include (a) visible images with enhanced feature definition, in which a particular feature in the scene is emphasized to the operator of minimally invasive surgical system; (b) images having increased image apparent resolution; (c) images having increased dynamic range; (d) images displayed in a way based on a pixel color component vector having three or more color components; and (e) images having extended depth of field.

Abstract: An endoscope apparatus for endoscopic treatment is disclosed. The apparatus comprises an endoscopic insertion tube comprising an outer surface including an outer rail formed longitudinally thereon and extending along a portion of the insertion tube. The outer rail has a predetermined shape. The insertion tube comprises an inner channel formed therethrough. An endoscope apparatus for endoscopic treatment is disclosed. The apparatus comprises an endoscopic insertion tube without a working channel and an outer surface including at least one outer rail formed longitudinally thereon and extending along a portion of the insertion tube. The outer rail has a first predetermined shape. At least one medical device includes an outer wall having at least one mounting unit formed thereon along a portion of the length of the outer wall. The mounting unit has a second predetermined shape cooperable with the first predetermined shape.

Abstract: Endoscopic arrangement comprising a first distal end, an imaging device arranged at the first distal end, a first proximal end for connection to a supply unit, a data transmission element embodied as a light guide and having a second distal end and a second proximal end, and comprising an electro-optical converter, wherein the electro-optical converter is configured to convert digital data generated by the imaging device into an optical signal, wherein the data transmission element at its second distal end is optically coupled to the electro-optical converter for coupling the optical signal into the data transmission element, wherein the imaging device comprises at least two data outputs each having a digital output signal, and wherein a first signal converter is provided between the imaging device and the electro-optical converter for combining the digital output signals into a digital combined output signal.

Abstract: A bending operation apparatus for an endoscope includes a bending operation knob, a first movable disk, a second movable disk, a cam member, a fixed disk, an annular member, and a step portion that is provided at the annular member and comes into contact with a base portion of the cam member as the cam member is pivoted in another direction to cause the second movable disk to move from a second position to a first position.

Abstract: Apparatus (10) is provided, including an elongate carrier (24), configured to be advanced through an esophagus (20) of a subject. An anchor member (30) is coupled to a distal end of the carrier, and configured to be mounted in a stomach (32) of the subject in a vicinity of a lower esophageal sphincter (LES) (34) of the subject. An imaging capsule (26) is configured to move with respect to the carrier when the anchor member is in the vicinity of the LES. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: An insertion device sets engage range which it prescribed in return power to the neutral position by elastic force of the spring and rotation resistance force by the slide power by elastic member for dial portion performing curving operation of a curving portion. If a rotary angle is beyond an engage range, the dial part lets a rotary point of view to order return in an engage range and, if there is a rotary angle in an engage range, the dial part keeps a target part in an observation field of vision.

Abstract: To provide an endoscope apparatus in which the observation image can be varied continuously as the observation magnification is varied by a zoom magnification varying manipulation so that an observation image suitable for an endoscope diagnosis is obtained at each observation magnification, and to thereby prevent the operator from feeling uncomfortable and increase the accuracy of a diagnosis. An endoscope apparatus is equipped with illuminating unit having plural light sources which generate light beams having different spectra, for illuminating an observation subject; imaging unit for imaging the observation subject; observation magnification varying unit for varying observation magnification of the imaging of the imaging unit; and light quantity ratio varying unit for continuously varying an emission light quantity ratio between the plural light sources according to the observation magnification that is set by the observation magnification varying unit.

Abstract: Visual-assisted guidance of an ultra-thin flexible endoscope to a predetermined region of interest within a lung during a bronchoscopy procedure. The region may be an opacity-identified by non-invasive imaging methods, such as high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) or as a malignant lung mass that was diagnosed in a previous examination. An embedded position sensor on the flexible endoscope indicates the position of the distal tip of the probe in a Cartesian coordinate system during the procedure. A visual display is continually updated, showing the present position and orientation of the marker in a 3-D graphical airway model generated from image reconstruction. The visual display also includes windows depicting a virtual fly-through perspective and real-time video images acquired at the head of the endoscope, which can be stored as data, with an audio or textual account.

Abstract: An endoscopic apparatus includes an ultrasonic vibrator, a diffraction grating, an electrical energy generator, a detector, a determination unit, a controller. The diffraction grating converts the ultrasonic vibration into a surface acoustic wave propagating on a surface of the transparent member. The detector detects reflected electrical energy reflected from the energy supply system. The determination unit determines whether the electrical energy suitable to drive the ultrasonic vibrator has been supplied to the ultrasonic vibrator based on the reflected electrical energy detected by the detector. The controller controls the electrical energy output from the signal generator based on a determination result of the determination unit.

Abstract: A steerable imaging catheter is provided, including an elongated catheter tube, at least one steering cable extending along the catheter tube to control the movement of the distal end thereof, and a fiber optic cable extending along the catheter tube. The fiber optic cable transmits illumination light from its proximal end to its distal end and transmits an image from its distal end to its proximal end. In one embodiment, two or more steering cables are used, and the catheter tube is configured to have greater flexibility near its distal end than its proximal end so as to concentrate the movement (flexing) of the catheter tube at its distal end. The use of two or more steering cables, together with the catheter tube having varying flexibility, permit better control of the distal end of the catheter tube while reducing undue twisting of the remainder of the catheter tube.

Abstract: A medical apparatus is detachably connected with a disposable medical device to be inserted into a subject, and performs a specified treatment. The medical apparatus includes an alteration unit that performs an alteration process of altering the medical device, and a control unit that causes the alteration unit to perform the alteration process at the end of the treatment by the medical apparatus.

Abstract: An image pickup system of the present invention has a light emitting section that emits a first illuminating light and a second illuminating light to an object, an image pickup section that picks up an image of a first return light and an image of a second return light, and outputs the images as image pickup signals respectively, an image generating section that generates a first image and a second image respectively based on the image pickup signals, a differential value calculating section that calculates a first differential value corresponding to the first image and a second differential value corresponding to the second image respectively, a calculation section that performs calculation processing by using the first differential value and the second differential value, and a region discriminating section that discriminates between regions in the object by applying threshold processing to a calculation result of the calculation section.

Abstract: An endoscope system includes an imaging section that captures an object via an optical system and an image sensor, an observation state determination section that determines the observation state of the object captured by the imaging section, and an aperture control section that controls the state of an aperture included in the optical system based on the observation state, the aperture control section controlling the state of the aperture so that the resolution determined by the diffraction limit due to the aperture is equal to or higher than a resolution determined by the image sensor when the observation state determination section has determined that the observation state is a first observation state, and stopping down the aperture as compared with the state of the aperture in the first observation state when the observation state determination section has determined that the observation state is a second observation state.

Abstract: An endoscope sheath including an elongate flexible hose, which encloses a main lumen, for receiving at least one portion of a shank of a flexible endoscope, and at least one working channel, for receiving at least one portion of a flexible endoscopic working instrument, wherein the endoscope sheath has a transparent distal end portion. Further provided is an endoscope arrangement, and a method for providing an endoscope arrangement.

Abstract: An endoscope comprises an elongate shaft assembly, a window, a viewing angle adjustment assembly, and an indicator feature. The window is located at the distal end of the shaft assembly. The shaft assembly is configured to transmit a view acquired through the window. The viewing angle adjustment assembly is operable to selectively change a viewing angle associated with the window. The indicator feature is positioned to be visible within a view acquired through the window. The indicator feature is configured to indicate the viewing angle associated with the window.

Abstract: An object removal tool including a basket device having a basket section; a sheath on the basket device, where the sheath is adapted to longitudinally slide on the basket device; and a control connected to the basket device and the sheath. The control is configured to longitudinally move the sheath on the basket device to close the basket section on an object.

Abstract: An endoscope includes an insertion unit, an operation unit, an operation-unit engagement part, an insertion-unit engagement part, a water-tight sealing member, and a torque control member. The torque control member is provided between the operation-unit engagement part and the insertion-unit engagement part in radial directions of the insertion unit, so as to make tight contact with the operation-unit engagement part and the insertion-unit engagement part, and controls resistive torque of the insertion unit during rotation of the insertion unit by applying frictional resistance of a direction about the axis to the insertion unit when the insertion unit rotates in relation to the operation unit.

Abstract: An endoscope system includes at least an endoscope of the endoscope and an accessory, a placement unit on which the endoscope is adapted to be placed, a detecting unit configured to detect whether the endoscope is placed on the placement unit or not, an actuating unit for at least one of the endoscope and the accessory, an operating unit for operating the actuating unit, and a control unit configured to be switched between a normal mode wherein the actuating unit is controlled according to an operation to the operating unit and a restricting mode wherein the actuating unit is controlled regardless of an operation to the operating unit, on the basis of a result of detection by the detecting unit.