Abstract: An endoscope apparatus including: an elongated insertion section; an adaptor, which has an illuminating section including optical elements, and an observation optical system, that are attached to and removed from a tip of the insertion section; a sensor provided in the adaptor; and electrical contacts for the illumination section, and electrical contacts for the sensor, provided in the adaptor and the tip of the insertion section.

Abstract: An endoscope observation optical system capable of improving the observation resolution of a mucous membrane of a living body is provided. The endoscope includes an observation optical system compatible with both standard visible-light observation and blood-vessel-enhancement observation, whose main component of a displayed image is an absorption peak of hemoglobin present in a waveband lower than 480 nm, wherein some longitudinal chromatic aberration remains in the endoscope observation optical system due to undercorrection at a wavelength of 415 nm, and wherein the focal position during blood-vessel-enhancement observation is set closer to a near point than the focal position during standard visible-light observation.

Abstract: The electronic endoscope device in accordance with the present invention comprises an image pick-up unit capable of acquiring an object image with respect to illumination light employed for illuminating the object for each prescribed wavelength band, an exposure period setting circuit for setting the exposure period of the image pick-up unit corresponding to the each wavelength band, an amplification circuit for amplifying picked-up image signals of the object image obtained with the image pick-up unit corresponding to the each wavelength band, and a control circuit for controlling the amplification circuit such that the picked-up image signals corresponded to the each wavelength band of the object image that are acquired with the image pick-up unit at the exposure period set corresponding to the each wavelength band set by the exposure period setting circuit are amplified at amplification factors computed corresponding to the exposure period that is set corresponding to the each wavelength band.

Abstract: A medical diagnostic instrument includes a housing containing at least one battery and a light source, such as a lamp, for illuminating a medical target. A switch includes a movable member that selectively moves at least one of the battery and the lamp into and out of electrical connection with the other. The instrument is preferably fabricated from a diecast or an extrusion process wherein a thin plastic sleeve member having text and/or graphic materials can be shrink fitted onto an extruded handle.

Abstract: An electric bending endoscope according to the present invention includes a bending portion arranged to an inserting portion, a bending driving mechanism which electrically bends the bending portion, an operation input member which instructs an operation to the bending driving mechanism so that the bending driving mechanism bends the bending portion, and a bending angle holding mechanism which holds the bending angle of the bending portion.

Abstract: A device and system including an optical head assembly and a dome, and a method for use thereof. The optical head assembly includes an illumination portion and an imaging portion and is situated behind the dome. The dome may have an optical system integrated therein.

Abstract: An endoscope system includes an endoscope switching device 3 to which a plurality of endoscope devices are simultaneously connected, and an endoscope control device which controls the plurality of endoscope devices via the endoscope switching device 3. The endoscope switching device 3 includes an image combining circuit 73 which combines video signals outputted from the plurality of endoscope devices and creates a combined image signal for simultaneously displaying the plurality of endoscope images, and a switching device control unit 75 which controls the image combining circuit 73. The switching device control unit 75 controls the operation for distributing a control command from a remote controller or PC to the corresponding endoscope device based on a character code sent from a system control unit in the endoscope control device. Simultaneously, the switching device control unit 75 controls the image combining circuit 73 via a serial I/F.

Abstract: In an endoscope device 1 in accordance with the present invention, a navigation screen 51 is displayed. The navigation screen 51 includes: an endoscopic live image display area 52 in which a live image produced by a bronchoscope 2 is displayed; a VBS image display area 53 in which a VBS image is displayed; and a thumbnail VBS image area 54 in which images constructed by reducing VBS images that represent all branch points on a route are displayed as thumbnail VBS images representing branch points. Consequently, an endoscope can be reliably navigated to reach a target region using guide images that represent actual branch positions.

Abstract: Disclosed is an improved fluorescent endoscope system having reduced factors that cause errors during diagnosis based on quantitative evaluation of fluorescent intensity for improved accuracy of fluorescent endoscopic diagnosis.

Abstract: A scanner for three-dimensional scanning of interior surfaces or cavities of limited dimensions or with restricted accessibility. The scanner includes a probe having an axis and at least one light source and one camera adapted to perform a scan 360° around the axis of the probe. High precision three-dimensional replicas of real objects may be created using 3-D scan data obtainable with the scanner.

Abstract: A convergence prism assembly with a housing and a prism structure having a plurality of prisms mounted in a unitary assembly.

Abstract: A luminal coupling tube system for providing access to a lumen of a subject is disclosed. The system includes an internal magnet assembly, a snare assembly, an external magnet, a pull wire system and a feeding tube assembly. The internal magnet assembly includes an internal magnet having a first coupling surface and a tether for traversing an endoscope instrument channel. The snare assembly includes a snare, a snare operating device, and a cable. The external magnet includes a second coupling surface. The polar orientation of the external magnet is opposite the polar orientation of the internal magnet such that the first and second coupling surface are magnetically attracted. The pull wire system includes a needle, a cannula and a pull wire. The feeding tube assembly includes a tube, a snare, a connector, and a dome fixed to the tube. A method of use is disclosed.

Abstract: A compact optical unit which comprises a light emitting section for emitting a light, a first optical element having a first reflecting section for reflecting a light which is emitted from the light emitting section, a second optical element having a second reflecting section which is disposed to face the first optical element, and a light condensing optical system for condensing a light is formed. The first reflecting section and the second reflecting section are disposed so as to be diagonal to an optical axis of a light which is incident to the first reflecting section and the second reflecting section, a light transmitting section is disposed in the first optical element for transmitting a light which is reflected by the second reflecting section so as to be incident to the light condensing optical system.

Abstract: An endoscope system includes an endoscope and an insertion unit guide member. The endoscope has an elongated insertion unit whose bending section adjoins a distal section thereof. The insertion unit guide member comprises a plurality of tubular members to be placed in a pipe. Each of the tubular members has a guide channel having a predetermined diameter that permits other tubular member or the insertion unit to smoothly pass through the guide channel. The plurality of tubular members has predetermined degrees of flexibility and predetermined lengths. At least one of the tubular members has a member that changes the advancing direction in which the insertion unit is advanced through the guide channel.

Abstract: In an endoscope system according to the present invention, a system controller includes a communication I/F, a display I/F, a voice recognizing circuit which recognizes a voice signal from a microphone, a remote control I/F which receives and transmits data to/from a remote controller, a voice synthesizing circuit which synthesizes voice and generates the voice from a speaker, and an intensive operating panel I/F which receives and transmits the data to/from an intensive operating panel. An external recording medium can be connected to the system controller. A CPU can record and read image data to the external recording medium. With the structure, the device can be operated by the voice for natural conversation.

Abstract: According to the endoscope system of the present invention, when the image pickup device of the first endoscope device detects illumination light irradiated from the illumination device of the second endoscope device, the control device performs control so as to reduce light quantity of the illumination device of the second endoscope device based on the level of luminance signal outputted from the solid state image pickup element of the image pickup device, and when the image pickup device of the second endoscope device detects illumination light irradiated from the illumination device of the first endoscope device, the control device performs control so as to reduce light quantity of the illumination device of the first endoscope device based on the level of luminance signal outputted from the solid state image pickup element of the image pickup device.

Abstract: An electronic endoscope system which is largely composed of a scope and a processor. The processor includes a primary or patient's circuit and a secondary circuit which are so connected as to be able to communicate with each other for data transmission in an electrically insulated state. The secondary circuit on the side of the processor includes first MPU and first rewritable ROM which is connected with the first MPU through a first bus, a PC card slot connected to said first bus. In addition to data of picture images captured by an image sensor device mounted on a fore distal end portion of an insertion tube of a scope, a PC card stores a firmware version-up program to be executed for updating a firmware in the first ROM as soon as PC card is booted, starting from an address described in MBR of PC card. An update program of the firmware version-up program is transferred to and written into the first ROM at a high speed depending upon a clock speed of the first bus.

Abstract: A capsule-type medical device comprises a capsule main unit having functions for being inserted into the body cavity and performing medical acts such as taking images or the like. The capsule main unit comprises therein a magnet which is acted upon by external magnetism, and a spiral portion on the outer perimeter, so that rotating force acting upon the magnet is readily converted into a propelling force for propelling the capsule-type medical device. A flexible insertion portion which is long and small in diameter is provided to the capsule main unit to allow smooth progression through the body cavity, and the center of gravity of the device is placed upon the longitudinal center axis of the capsule main unit, thus facilitating smooth progression through the body cavity.

Abstract: A video endoscope system includes a reusable control cabinet and an endoscope that is connectable thereto. The endoscope may be used with a single patient and 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 or actuators in a control handle of the endoscope. Fluidics, electrical, navigation, image, display and data entry controls are integrated into the system along with other accessories.

Abstract: An illumination device for medical and dental procedures is described. The illumination device includes an elongate body configured to contain two or more optical fibers to transmit electromagnetic energy from a power source toward a target surface. The distal end of the illumination device is illustrated as a unitary structure, and the proximal end is illustrated as having multiple proximal end members. The illumination device includes two or more optical fibers for transmitting energy toward the distal end, and at least one optical fiber for transmitting energy from the distal end toward the proximal end of the device.