Abstract: An instrument for visual examination of and operation on internal body organs includes a jacket defining an operating end and a longitudinally opposite control end, an outer tube disposed stationary inside the jacket, and an inner tube disposed for a rotation inside the outer tube. A first blade is rigidly connected to the outer tube at the operating end while a second blade is rigidly connected to the inner tube, adjacent the first blade. First fiber optic bundles with polished ends are disposed within a wall thickness of the jacket and diffusers are attached to the polished ends at the control end. Second fiber optic bundles are disposed within the wall thickness of the jacket, interspersed with the first fiber optic bundles. Lenses are attached to selective first fiber optic bundle at the control end. A mechanism is positioned at the control end and coupled to the first and second blades.

Abstract: A medical device, configured for insertion into a body, may include an elongate member extending from a proximal end to a distal end, where the distal end may be configured to be positioned inside the body. The medical device may also include an imaging device positioned at the distal end. The medical device may further include a plurality of light sources positioned at the distal end, wherein a characteristic of light delivered through a first light source may be controlled independent of the characteristic of light delivered through a second light source.

Abstract: An endoscope apparatus includes: a light source apparatus that emits light in a wavelength band including a first wavelength band for exciting a first fluorescent substance and a second wavelength band; an image pickup section that picks up an image of first fluorescence emitted when the first fluorescent substance is excited and an image of second fluorescence emitted when a second fluorescent substance provided on a treatment instrument is excited, to generate a fluorescence image; an information storing section that stores shape information including information on a shape of the second fluorescent substance; and an operation section that performs an operation to estimate an actual size of a region in which the first fluorescence is generated, based on a scaling factor calculated based on the shape information and a size of a draw region of the second fluorescence, and a size of a draw region of the first fluorescence.

Abstract: This invention relates to an endoscope, particularly a bronchoscope, incorporating one or more multifunctional component made of a material that is multifunctional. The endoscopes of this invention comprise at least one multifunctional component having more than one function wherein the functions were previously performed separately by individual components.

Abstract: An appliance is provided for connecting the water-tight cap of an endoscope using the distal end of the appliance to connect the water-tight cap over a venting pin connector to the proximal body of the endoscope or bronchoscope over the “S” connector by the proximal end of the appliance. In one version of the invention, one end of the appliance is connected to the “S” connector of the proximal body of the endoscope, as described in detail herein. In another version of the invention, one end of the appliance is wrapped around the proximal body of the endoscope, as described in detail herein. The invention also includes methods of operating the appliance.

Abstract: An endoscope that has an integrated light source and camera mounted at the distal end of the endoscope. The light source is a class of LED devices constructed of high-efficiency LEDs that emit narrow-band blue light coupled with phosphors, which cause a nearly natural “white” light to be emitted. The LEDs are coupled to a waveguide for transmission of the light to the distal end of the endoscope.

Abstract: A robotized laparoscopic system capable of executing commands of an operating surgeon is provided. The laparoscopic system includes a cylindrical tube inserted through an incision. A small-sized camera is attached to one end of the tube to capture the images of the surgical site. A bending portion is adapted to bend the tip of the tube in any direction. A driving unit controls a bending direction and a bending angle of the bending portion. A movement device moves the tube forward or backward in a longitudinal direction. A control unit independently controls the driving unit and the movement device. An input unit receives commands from the surgeon. A conversion unit converts the command input from the surgeon into digital signals and transmits the digital signals to the control unit. A support unit supports the weight of the movement device by being connected to an operating table or the floor.

Abstract: An endoscope with deflected distal viewing, comprises a rigid tube containing observation means, themselves comprising a distal deflector prism having a viewing axis that is inclined relative to the axis of the tube, and ultraviolet light guide means housed in the tube and opening out at their distal end onto a prism for deflecting the illuminating light beam in a direction that is substantially parallel to the viewing axis. The invention applies in particular to inspecting parts by the penetration test technique in the aviation field.

Abstract: A dental/medical instrument is provided for use in diagnostic and related patient inspection/examination. The device includes a body having an integral speculum with a video image capture device, a power supply and a display. These components, and user actuatable controls, are integral with the body. The body is adapted for convenient engagement and manipulation by a user's hand to provide a unitary, hand-held device capable of illuminating and capturing an image of a patient, and displaying the image. An autofocus device moves an image sensor relative to a fixed lens array. Components of the image capture device, such as a lens and light emitter, are disposed on a nose portion of the speculum, which is modularly replaceable with alternate nose portions sized and shaped to facilitate various discrete medical/dental examination procedures. Embodiments also includes a tube and controller configured to apply material, capture data, and/or effect movement of the speculum.

Abstract: A stereoscopic image observing apparatus includes a right-eye projector 1 and a left-eye projector 2 which illuminate projected light for right and left eyes with the parallax generated based on an image pick-up signal obtained from a stereoscopic endoscope 8, a Fresnel lens 17 which applies and reflects the lens operation with the positive polarity to the projected light of the illuminated images for the right and left eyes, and an optical shift element layer 16 having liquid crystal 20 and a double refraction plate 19 for changing and diffusing on time series the reflecting position of the reflected light of the images for the right and left eyes from the Fresnel lens 17.

Abstract: An endoscopic imaging system includes a reusable control cabinet having a number of actuators that control the orientation of a lightweight endoscope that is connectable thereto. The endoscope is used with a single patient and is then disposed. The endoscope includes an illumination mechanism, an image sensor, and an elongate shaft having one or more lumens located therein. An articulation joint at the distal end of the endoscope allows the distal end to be oriented by the actuators in the control cabinet. The endoscope is coated with a hydrophilic coating that reduces its coefficient of friction and because it is lightweight, requires less force to advance it to a desired location within a patient.

Abstract: An endoscopic surgical system has, in a hospital, multiple operating rooms A to J having anesthesia-apparatus related systems. Each of the anesthesia-apparatus related systems is connected to a hospital network managed by a server through a communication circuit. The anesthesia-apparatus related system is connected to an endoscopic system through a cable so as to communicate with each other interactively.

Abstract: Hermetically sealed enclosures and constructions are disclosed for use in endoscopic systems, particularly endoscopic systems with electronic imaging and illumination systems in the enclosures. Compound optical windows are also disclosed for use in the systems. The compound optical windows may have separate panes for an imaging system and an illumination system, and contrast-reducing optical boundaries are between panes.

Abstract: The invention provides an articulating mechanism useful, for example, for remote manipulation of various surgical instruments and diagnostic tools within, or to, regions of the body. Movement of segments at the proximal end of the mechanism results in a corresponding, relative movement of segments at the distal end of the mechanism. The proximal and distal segments are connected by a set of cables in such a fashion that each proximal segment forms a discrete pair with a distal segment. This configuration allows each segment pair to move independently of one another and also permits the articulating mechanism to undergo complex movements and adopt complex configurations. The articulating mechanisms may also be combined in such a way to remotely mimic finger movements for manipulation of an object or body tissue.

Abstract: An optical system for stereoscopic rigid endoscope is provided with first and second objective optical systems arranged to have a predetermined clearance therebetween and an optical path combining system that polarizes light passed through the first and second objective optical systems in directions perpendicular to each other. The optical path combining system parallelly shifts the optical axes of the first and second objective optical systems so that they coincide with each other. The shifting directions of the optical axes form an angle less than 90 degrees. A relaying optical system is provided inside the insertion unit of the endoscope. An optical axis of the relaying optical system is coaxial with the combined optical axes. An optical image separating system separates the light passed through the relaying optical system into first and second components that passed through the first and second objective optical systems and polarized by the optical path combining system, respectively.

Abstract: A microendoscope with a distal probe tip which has, in particular, a diameter of up to approximately 1 mm is provided and inside of which an optical subassembly at least provided with a micro-objective and with an image transmitting element is accommodated. An image transmitting system is connected to the optical subassembly. An image-enlarging coupling element is provided between the optical subassembly of the probe tip and the image transmitting system connected thereto. The image transmitting system connected to the coupling element has a larger active diameter than the optical subassembly that is provided with the distal objective. As a result, the distal probe tip on a handgrip has the necessary small working diameter over the entire working length, and at the beginning or inside the handgrip, the optical coupling element is coupled to an image guide or to an image transmitting system or the like having a higher pixel count and thus a larger active diameter and, therefore, a larger outside diameter.

Abstract: An otoscope permitting examination of a patient's ear is defined by an instrument head including a proximal end and a distal insertion portion that is insertable into the ear. The otoscope includes an imaging lens train disposed within the instrument head, wherein each of the imaging lens train, an eyepiece and a distal opening of said insertion portion are aligned along an optical axis. The otoscope further includes a focusing mechanism for selectively moving at least one of the imaging lens train and the optics contained within the eyepiece relative to one another along the optical axis. The imaging lens train and the optics in the eyepiece define an optical system such that an entrance pupil is substantially located in the distal insertion portion of the instrument head, thereby enabling the entire tympanic membrane to be viewed at once by the user.

Abstract: The present invention provides a capsule endoscope (CE) having sensors configured to form or to conform to the shell of the CE. The sensors are curved to correspond to the capsule's shape. According to this embodiment, the sensors may be covered by a coating material to protect the sensors. The sensors may also form the capsule shell. Instead of being covered by a shell associated with the capsule, the sensors are formed as the capsule shell. The sensors may also form part of the capsule shell. For example, one half of the capsule shell may be formed from the sensors.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improved colonoscope and method of removing or adding non-distal fluid from the colon during colonoscopy using a colonoscope, the colonoscope having at least a distal port and a non-distal port or plurality of non-distal ports to remove fluid from a shared channel within the colonoscope. The invention further describes the utilization of multiple ultrasound probes to determine a three dimensional image of anatomy behind the wall of a colon and the usage of microprocessors and/or motors to tighten and release wires of the colonoscope. Finally, a method of using an external joystick and a joystick on a handle of a colonoscope to effect navigation is described.

Abstract: A rotatable endoscope coupler which enables an endoscope to be rotatably attached to a camera and selectively locked in place. The coupler enables single handed rotation of the scope while the camera remains in a fixed orientation. A plurality of ceramic ball bearings riding in a stainless steel race enable the coupler to be repeatedly autoclaved. A locking mechanism allows the scope and camera to be fixed from relative rotation.