Abstract: A medical image processing apparatus includes: a captured image acquisition unit configured to acquire a first captured image obtained by capturing light from an observation target to which light of a first wavelength band is emitted and a second captured image obtained by capturing fluorescence from the observation target excited by excitation light of a second wavelength band; an evaluation value calculation unit configured to calculate, based on the first captured image, an evaluation value used for at least one of a first control of controlling a focus position of an imaging device configured to generate each of the first captured image and the second captured image and a second control of controlling a brightness of the first captured image and the second captured image; and an operation controller configured to execute at least one of the first control and the second control based on the evaluation value.

Abstract: A distal end cover includes a cover body having a cylindrical shape. The cover body includes first and second body portions, a first opening formed in the first body portion and the second body portion, a second opening that can receive a distal end portion of an insertion portion of an endoscope and is formed on a side opposite to the first body portion with respect to the second body portion, a finger hook portion forming a portion of the first opening, a first thin wall portion forming a portion of the first opening, and a second thin wall portion. When a load is applied to the finger hook portion to expand the first opening, a force in a tensile direction is applied to the first thin wall portion, and a force in a shearing direction is applied to the second thin wall portion.

Abstract: Devices and methods of use for an endoscopic accessory device that can be assembled and advanced over an endoscope positioned at a site within the body, the endoscopic accessory device including a body structure having seam structures on opposite sides of an elongate body structure, where the seam structures can be releasably joined to transform the body structure from a planar configuration to a tubular configuration.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided that enable optical image stabilization and image sensor alignments. By enabling image sensors to be adjusted based on identified misalignments, users of the systems and methods disclosed herein can adjust imaging during the course of a surgery or surgical procedure, without needing to stop the surgery or surgical procedure to manually realign optical components. The optical image stabilization allows for adjustment of sensor components to compensate for shifts or other movement of imaging devices and to maintain focus on a target object. The optical image stabilization also includes digital masks that can be overlaid on an image to block distracting mask shifting.

Abstract: A medical control device includes: an imaging controller configured to control an imaging device to cause the imaging device to capture normal light emitted from a light source and received by way of an observation target in a first period to generate a first captured image, and to capture excitation light emitted from the light source and received by way of the observation target and fluorescence light from the observation target excited by the excitation light in a second period to generate a second captured image; and image processing circuitry configured to: perform an adjustment process to reduce a component of a color corresponding to the excitation light included in the second captured image; and generate a superimposed image by superimposing the first captured image and the second captured image subjected to the adjustment process.

Abstract: A robotic system comprises a robotic arm and a medical instrument. The robotic arm comprises a series of linkages connected by a series of joints and one or more instrument drivers coupled to a distal end of the series of linkages. The medical instrument comprises an elongated shaft extending between a distal portion and a proximal portion, an instrument base connected to the proximal portion of the elongated shaft, the instrument base including an attachment interface configured to facilitate attachment to the robotic arm, a non-transitory computer readable medium storing a compression compensation parameter, and a pull wire connected to the distal portion of the elongated shaft, the pull wire extending along the elongated shaft between the distal portion and a drive input positioned at the instrument base, the drive input configured to actuate the pull wire to cause movement of the elongated shaft.

Abstract: An adaptor may include a shell and a plunger positioned at a first end of the shell and moveable between an undepressed state and a depressed state. The adaptor may further include a ramp extending from a second end of the shell and a carrier coupled to the ramp. In the undepressed state, the carrier may be located at a first position along the ramp, and wherein, in the depressed state, the carrier may be located at a second position along the ramp, wherein the second position may be closer to the second end of the shell than the first position.

Abstract: A medical instrument may comprise a first articulatable segment having a first diameter, and a second articulatable segment having a second diameter smaller than the first diameter, wherein the second articulatable segment is coupled to the first articulatable segment and extends in a distal direction past the first articulatable segment. The instrument may also comprise a first force transmission element coupled to the first articulatable segment and extending in a proximal direction from the first articulatable segment to a first connector portion, the first connector portion being configured to be releasably coupled with a first actuator, and a second force transmission element coupled to the second articulatable segment and extending in a proximal direction from the second articulatable segment to a second connector portion, the second connector portion being configured to be releasably coupled with a second actuator.

Abstract: A light source device includes: a first light emitter configured to emit first light; a second light emitter configured to emit second light having an identical color component to the first light; and an illumination controller configured to cause, after causing the first light emitter to emit the first light, the second light emitter to emit the second light according to a set light amount in a state in which the first light emitter is caused to emit the first light.

Abstract: A holding frame for an imaging unit arranged at a distal end of an endoscope includes a cylindrical three-dimensional molded interconnect device; a housing configured to house the imaging unit, the housing being formed of a notch; at least one cut face formed on the side face of the holding frame and obtained by cutting a support portion which is a gate portion into which a resin is injected when the holding frame is resin-molded; a connection terminal formed on a bottom face of the housing portion and configured to be connected to the imaging unit; a cable connection electrode arranged on a face where a proximal end side of the holding frame is notched; and a wiring pattern formed on a surface area of the holding frame excluding the cut face and configured to electrically connect the connection terminal and the cable connection electrode.

Abstract: An endoscope distal end cover (10) is a cover for protecting a distal end (20t) of an endoscope (20) which has an observation window at the distal end, including: a synthetic polymer film (13) which is to be located over the observation window (32) when the endoscope distal end cover is attached to the distal end of the endoscope, wherein the synthetic polymer film has a surface which includes a plurality of raised portions, when viewed in a normal direction of the synthetic polymer film, a two-dimensional size of the plurality of raised portions is in the range of more than 20 nm and less than 500 nm, and a static contact angle of water with respect to the surface is not less than 98°.

Abstract: An endoscope includes: a connection member that has an attaching and detaching direction defined to be orthogonal to a central axis of a distal end rigid portion in a longitudinal direction and is engaged with a wire connection portion of a movable member; and a rigid guide including a wire insertion path that guides a pulling wire, a distal end opening of the wire insertion path being disposed on a proximal end side of the movable member. The distal end opening of the wire insertion path of the rigid guide is disposed at a position closer to the central axis of the distal end rigid portion in an attaching direction of the connection member than a position in a plane formed by a rotation trajectory of the connection member.

Abstract: An apparatus for capsule endoscopy, the apparatus comprising a capsule that comprises: at least one inflatable bladder configured to form a toroid having a hole and an outer periphery when inflated; a plurality of continuous tracks, each extending through the hole and around the outer periphery of the at least one inflatable bladder; and a propulsion system configured to drive the continuous tracks; wherein the capsule is configured such that the continuous tracks slip over the at least one inflatable bladder when driven by the propulsion system.

Abstract: Introduced here is an ingestible device that can comprise a capsule, an intervention tool, and a processor configured to controllably employ the intervention tool to manipulate structures in a living body. The ingestible device may further comprise a camera that is configured to generate images of various in vivo environments as the ingestible device traverses the living body. These images may be wirelessly transmitted to an electronic device located outside of the living body to enable greater control over the intervention tool.

Abstract: Tools and systems are provided for the delivery of accessory devices to endoscopes. A device delivery system for delivering an endoscopic device to an endoscope, comprises an insertion instrument having a pair of pivotable arms. The arms extend from a device delivery portion of the insertion instrument at a first end, into a handle portion at an opposed, second end, and are connected together at a pivotable connection. A bracket is connected to a back plate for placement of a device to be delivered thereagainst. An extension shaft extends from the back plate for placement through a working channel of the endoscopic device to be delivered. The system further comprises a removable spacer for enclosing the device delivery end of the insertion instrument.

Abstract: An endoscope system comprising: a light source device configured to emit illumination light; an electronic endoscope; a processor that includes an image processing unit; and a monitor. The image processing unit includes: a detection unit configured to generate a first blood vessel detection image and a second blood vessel detection image; a separation unit configured to separate the first blood vessel detection image and the second blood vessel detection image into a shallow blood vessel image and a deep blood vessel image; a feature amount calculation unit configured to calculate a shallow blood vessel feature amount regarding the shallow blood vessel image and a deep blood vessel feature amount regarding the deep blood vessel image; and an evaluation unit configured to calculate severity of a lesion of a biological tissue by using the shallow blood vessel feature amount and the deep blood vessel feature amount.

Abstract: An endoscope apparatus includes an illumination device emitting a plurality of lights with different wavelength bands at least two different timings in time series, and a processor including hardware. The plurality of lights includes a first light and a second light. The processor is configured to generate a highlighted image in which a specific structure under a mucus membrane is highlighted, based on a plurality of images obtained by the emission of the plurality of lights. The illumination device emits the first light and the second light continuously. The first light has a first wavelength band corresponding to a luminance component of the highlighted image. The second light has a second wavelength band that enables capturing of an image of the specific structure with higher contrast than the first light.

Abstract: A distal end portion of an endoscope includes: a distal end cover disposed at a distal end of an insertion portion; a distal end member configured to be inserted into and fitted to the distal end cover, the distal end member including a first side surface and a second side surface, the first side surface being configured to come into surface contact with an inner surface of the distal end cover, the second side surface being formed in a radially inward direction with respect to the first side surface, the second side surface forming a space by being separated from the inner surface of the distal end cover by a predetermined distance; an electronic component mounted on a distal end surface of the distal end member; and a wiring electrically connected to the electronic component and disposed in a space formed between the inner surface of the distal end cover and the second side surface of the distal end member.

Abstract: A flexible endoscope insertion method includes: rotating a hollow organ by changing the body position to semilateral position or lateral position for observing the lateral wall of the lumen; turning the tip of the flexible endoscope to the lateral wall of the lumen by rotating the endoscope in the counter direction of the lumen; and retracting the organ with the endoscope itself by rotating the endoscope in the counter direction of the lumen. In other embodiments, the method includes: rotating a body cavity by changing the body position to the appropriate position for observing the lateral side of the organ; turning the tip of the flexible endoscope to the lateral side of the organ by rotating the endoscope in the direction of the lateral side of the organ; and retracting the organ with the endoscope itself by rotating the endoscope in the direction of the lateral side of the organ.

Abstract: A medical system includes an insertion device including a handle, an insertion portion with at least one lumen, a port fluidly coupled to the lumen, and a connection portion. The medical system also includes a medical device including a handle, an insertion portion, and a connection portion configured to be coupled to the connection portion of the insertion device. The connection portion of the medical device is configured to be coupled to the connection portion of the insertion device to form an electronic and physical connection between the insertion device and the medical device.