Abstract: An endoscope apparatus includes a camera and circuitry. The camera is detachably connected to a base of an endoscope adapted to be inserted in a subject and includes a sensor configured to image a subject image captured by the endoscope. The circuitry is configured to process an image captured by the camera and generate a video signal for display, calculate a gain in white balance based on the captured image, and perform mask edge detecting processing for detecting a boundary point between the subject image and a mask area other than the subject image included in the captured image.

Abstract: An endoscope system sets a hardness variation of a thick flexible tube portion and a hardness variation of a thin flexible tube portion such that their respective ratios against base hardness are constant, and as each flexible tube portion becomes thicker, the hardness variation increases and an endoscope with a relatively thin flexible tube portion has a smaller hardness variation. This makes it possible to avoid situations like an endoscope with a thick flexible tube portion lacking hardness or an endoscope with a thin flexible tube portion becoming too hard, and makes it possible to perform optimum insertion operation in accordance with the thickness of a flexible tube.

Abstract: An endoscope system includes: an electric lens capable of changing a focal length by applying a voltage; an imaging unit configured to capture a subject image formed by the electric lens to generate image signals; a focus controller configured to perform control to periodically repeat sequential switching of the focal length of the electric lens between two or more values; and a video signal generator configured to generate a video signal to be provided to a display device from the image signals generated by the imaging unit.

Abstract: An endoscope includes a distal end rigid member, a distal end member, an optical unit, an opening provided in the distal end member, and a ring-shaped molded member configured to engage with a ring-shaped space formed between an outer circumferential surface in the distal end portion in an axial direction of the optical member and an inner circumferential surface in the opening of the distal end member, inclined from the distal end face of the distal end member toward the distal end face on an outer circumferential surface of the optical member throughout a whole circumference.

Abstract: An adaptor associated with a stereoscopic field of view through a port. The adaptor includes a housing, frame, and cables. The housing includes circuits associated with imaging data. The frame is connected to the housing, and has a guide and aperture. The guide extends away from the frame and is configured to pass through an opening of the port. The guide includes a terminal end configured to extend into the port such that the aperture is in communication with the opening. The cables include sensors that receive the imaging data capable of producing the stereoscopic field of view. The sensors are disposed at a distance from one another at the terminal end of the guide, wherein the distance enables the sensors to receive the image data capable of producing the stereoscopic field of view. The cables extend from the sensors of the guide to respective integrated circuits in the housing.

Abstract: The endoscope apparatus includes an endoscope insertion portion configured to be inserted into a subject and including a distal end portion, a distal end covering portion configured to cover at least an outer periphery of the distal end portion of the endoscope insertion portion and held by the distal end portion, a suction conduit provided with an opening in the distal end covering portion and configured to discharge a fluid including gas generated from an inside of the subject to outside of the subject via the opening, and a positioning portion configured to define a position of the opening of the suction conduit in a rotation direction with a long axis of the endoscope insertion portion as a center when the distal end covering portion is held by the distal end portion of the endoscope insertion portion.

Abstract: A medical device may include a handle having a first handle portion and a second handle portion. The first handle portion may be rotatable relative to the second handle portion. The medical device may also include a deflectable shaft coupled to and extending distally of the first handle portion. A port may be positioned on the first handle portion and a control knob may be coupled to the shaft.

Abstract: A light source device for endoscope includes: an irradiation portion capable of radiating excitation light; a rotating body provided on an optical axis of the excitation light and configured to rotate with a rotating shaft as a center; a phosphor arranged in an irradiation area of the excitation light, and configured to generate fluorescence by being irradiated with the excitation light; a light quantity control portion configured to control irradiation intensity or irradiation time of the excitation light; and a rotation control portion configured to rotate the rotating body at a predetermined speed when the excitation light is radiated with a first irradiation intensity or time and rotate the rotating body faster than the predetermined speed when reducing the irradiation intensity or the irradiation time of the excitation light is reduced in the irradiation intensity or time vis-a-vis the first ones.

Abstract: An endoscope apparatus includes: an endoscope including an insertion portion, a suction conduit, a by-pass conduit, a suction button, and a solenoid valve; a high-frequency knife; and a valve opening/closing portion.

Abstract: A capsule endomicroscope has a predetermined axial length and a diameter smaller than the axial length. The endomicroscope can acquire images of a surface of a hollow organ, and includes a microscopic image acquisition assembly having an optical axis oriented in a radial direction of the endomicroscope to acquire microscopic images of a section of the surface of a hollow organ present in a predetermined image acquisition area on a radial outer surface of the endomicroscope through a housing of the endomicroscope that has sectionally light-transparent material. A light source emits light rays in a radial direction through the light-transparent material of the housing during image acquisition. The light source and the light-transparent material of the housing located between the light source and the predetermined image acquisition area are interconnected to each other such that no refraction interface exists between the light source and the image acquisition area.

Abstract: A stereoscopic endoscope apparatus includes: an image pickup device configured to pick up optical images for a right eye and a left eye; a similarity degree determination portion configured to receive input of an image signal for the right eye and an image signal for the left eye outputted from the image pickup device, and calculate a similarity degree between the image for the right eye and the image for the left eye; and an image signal output portion configured to switch and output a three-dimensional image signal formed of the image signal for the right eye and the image signal for the left eye and a two-dimensional image signal formed of either one of the image signal for the right eye and the image signal for the left eye, based on the similarity degree calculated by the similarity degree determination portion.

Abstract: An endoscope system includes: an endoscope including a side-viewing observation unit that includes a field of view in a lateral direction of an insertion part to be inserted into an object to be observed and a second protruding portion that protrudes from the insertion part and forms a blind spot in the field of view of the side-viewing observation unit; an image acquisition unit that acquires a side-viewing observation image by using the side-viewing observation unit; a monitor that displays the side-viewing observation image; and a display control section that allows at least a part of the blind spot of the side-viewing observation image in which the second protruding portion is shown up not to be displayed, and displays the side-viewing observation image on the monitor.

Abstract: The present device is designed to enhance the efficiency of endoscopic surgeries by allowing for in situ cleaning of the lens via a combination of fluid flow and wiping mechanisms. By removing the need for intermittent halts in surgery, this device may provide a more seamless and fluid operation process, enhancing surgeon convenience and contributing to patient safety by providing a more consistent and clearer field of view for surgeons to operate in.

Abstract: Improved fluoresced imaging (FI) endoscope devices and systems are provided to enhance use of endoscopes with FI and visible light capabilities. An endoscope device is provided for endoscopy imaging in a white light and a fluoresced light mode. A chromatic adjustment assembly, typically implemented with prisms, compensates for a chromatic focal difference between the white light image and the fluoresced light image caused by the dispersive properties of the optical materials or optical design employed in the construction of the optical channel. The assembly is placed optically between the most proximal rod lens of the endoscope and the focusing optics, typically at an internal telecentric image space, to improve the chromatic correction. The prism assembly directs incoming light with different spectral content along separate paths which compensate for chromatic aberration.

Abstract: A stereoscopic endoscope apparatus includes: an insertion portion; a variable focus objective optical system; a fixed focus objective optical system; an image pickup section; an image signal generation output section that outputs an image signal for two-dimensional display when a focal length of the variable focus objective optical system and a focal length of the fixed focus objective optical system are different from each other, and outputs an image signal for stereoscopic observation when the focal length of the variable focus objective optical system and the focal length of the fixed focus objective optical system are coincident with each other in the near point observation state.

Abstract: A pericardial-cavity observing method including: a step of inserting an endoscope sheath and an endoscope into a space between the heart and the pericardium; a step of disposing a protruding portion closer to the pericardium than an optical member is so that an angle that is formed between a centerline that passes through a center of the protruding portion and a center of the optical member and a tangent of the pericardium that passes through a foot of a perpendicular line drawn, from the center of the optical member of the endoscope, to the pericardium sagging down from the protruding portion toward the heart becomes greater than an angle formed between the centerline and an external common tangent of the protruding portion and the optical member; and a step of observing the heart by means of the endoscope.

Abstract: An endoscopic camera system has an endoscope having a field stop encoded with endoscope information; a camera head coupleable to the endoscope, the camera head generating image data including the endoscope information; and a camera control unit coupleable to the camera head to receive image data from the camera head; and wherein the camera control unit is configured to analyze the endoscope information to identify the endoscope coupled to the camera head.

Abstract: The invention relates to an endoscope with a shaft, in which at least one working channel is arranged, and with an endoscope head arranged at the distal end of the shaft, wherein a deflection lever is arranged in the endoscope head and is adjustable between a non-deflected starting position and a deflected working position relative to the shaft, and wherein the deflection lever is adjustable via a Bowden wire, the proximal end of which is mounted via a collet on a control handle arranged at the proximal end of the shaft, wherein the collet fixing the proximal end of the Bowden wire is arranged on a slide that is movable proximally out of a housing of the control handle, which slide is coupled to the control handle via a rod. In order to create an endoscope which, having a simple structure, can be easily dismantled, in particular for cleaning purposes, and reassembled, the invention proposes that the slide can be coupled to the rod via a clamping connection.

Abstract: An endoscope system includes: an image sensor; a transmission module; a first optical fiber; a first optical connector; a second optical connector; a communication mode stabilizing unit configured to smooth an optical beam; a second optical fiber having a core diameter larger than a core diameter of the first optical fiber; a reception module; a first correction optical system including a first lens and configured to increase a beam diameter of an optical signal output from an end of the first optical fiber, and a second lens configured to convert the optical signal whose beam diameter is increased by the first lens into parallel light; and a second correction optical system. The second optical fiber is a step index optical fiber, and the communication mode stabilizing unit smoothes the optical beam by using a larger area of a core of the first optical fiber.