Abstract: A body-insertable apparatus that is used in a state of being introduced inside the body of a subject and that executes a predetermined function inside the body of the subject, comprises a driving controller that controls the driving condition of the predetermined function.

Abstract: A capsule guidance system includes a capsule including an imaging unit that captures an in-vivo image, a transmitting unit that transmits the image, and a magnetic field response unit; a magnetic field generation unit that generates a magnetic field; a receiving unit that receives the image; a display unit that displays the image; an operation input unit that inputs operation information for magnetically guiding the capsule; a control unit that controls the magnetic field generation unit to guide the capsule in accordance with the operation information; and a selection unit that selects at least two of a liquid surface, a submerged area, and a liquid bottom that is a lower boundary surface between the liquid and the outside as guidance areas into which the capsule medical device is guided. The control unit switches the magnetic field to be generated in accordance with the selected guidance area.

Abstract: An insertion unit has a channel through which a treatment tool can be inserted. A distal end of the insertion unit has a single-focus objective optical system or a focal-point-variable objective optical system to focus the optical image on a light receiving surface of an image capturing element. At a short object distance from the distal end, an image signal with a sufficient resolution is obtained from the image capturing element. In this state, a treatment tool projected by a reduced amount from a distal end opening of the channel is captured on a light receiving surface of the image capturing element. A required resolution is also provided for a far side.

Abstract: A capsule endoscope includes a capsule-shaped casing and an imaging unit for taking an image of an inside of an organ in a state where the capsule endoscope is floating in liquid introduced inside the organ of a subject. Specific gravity of the capsule endoscope to the introduced liquid is ?; a plane divides the capsule endoscope such that a volume ratio is to be ?:1??. A straight line that connects a center of volume of a portion whose volume ratio is ? and a center of gravity of the capsule endoscope is substantially perpendicular to the plane. The center of gravity is present at a position farther distant from the plane than the center of volume. A surface of a boundary of a field of view that forms an angle of view of the imaging unit and the plane do not intersect outside the capsule endoscope.

Abstract: An endoscope is provided capable of performing excellent observation for a long time by preventing decrease in light amount and generation of image noise caused by heat generated by an LED illumination even in a case where a distal-end adapter configured of the LED illumination is arranged at the distal end portion of the insertion unit. One end portion of a heat-radiating member configured of a plurality of elongated wires is arranged in the vicinity of a light emitting device, on the other hand, the other end portion of the heat-radiating member is arranged at a predetermined position on a proximal end side of an insertion unit, and a binding member for binding the wires of the heat-radiating member is provided on a side in the vicinity of the light emitting device of the heat-radiating member.

Abstract: An apparatus for introduction into a test body includes a functional portion for obtaining information on an inside of a test body; a power source for supplying power for driving the functional portion; and an enclosed container for accommodating the functional portion and the power source. A cross-sectional shape orthogonal to a longitudinal direction of the enclosed container is an elliptical shape to make an outer shape small to alleviate a burden on a test subject during introduction into a body by swallowing or the like for test.

Abstract: An endoscope system includes: an endoscope equipped with an insertion portion, and an image pickup unit disposed at a distal end portion of the insertion portion; an illumination unit detachably connected to the endoscope; an imaging mode input unit used to set an imaging mode of the endoscope to one of a normal-light mode and a special-light mode; a processing condition selection unit which selects a processing condition for a color correction process of an endoscopic image based on the imaging mode; and a processor detachably connected to the endoscope and equipped with an image processing unit which performs the color correction process, under the processing condition selected by the processing condition selection unit, with respect to each of hue regions partitioned by at least eight reference color axes including six reference color axes which divide a color space into R (red), M (magenta), B (blue), C (cyan), G (green), and Y (yellow) hue regions and at least two reference color axes established additio

Abstract: A capsule endoscope system includes a capsule endoscope which is introduced into a subject; a change unit which changes a position or posture of the capsule endoscope in the subject with respect to the subject; a storage unit which stores in advance a change procedure of the capsule endoscope as a control parameter of the change unit; and a controller which controls the change unit in accordance with the parameter stored in the storage unit.

Abstract: A flow guide directs a fluid flow across a surface of a device, for example a lens surface of an endoscope, in a controlled manner to facilitate flow attachment to the surface. Embodiments include features that impart a non-uniform velocity profile and/or include guide surfaces for facilitating flow attachment and/or coverage.

Abstract: An encapsulated endoscope system in accordance with the present invention comprises: an encapsulated endoscope that rotates to develop a thrust; a controller that moves the encapsulated endoscope in an intended direction of advancement; an imaging unit incorporated in the encapsulated endoscope; and an image processing unit that receives image data sent from the imaging unit, and produces an image, which results from rotation of the received image data, according to the rotational phase of the encapsulated endoscope.

Abstract: A transmitting/receiving system includes a transmitting apparatus that generate modulated signals each containing a broadband signal component and a narrowband signal component, and transmits the modulated signals to the outside; and a receiving device that receives the modulated signals via at least three receiving antennas. The receiving device includes a signal processing system that processes the broadband signal component contained in the modulated signal; and a received-strength detecting system that processes the narrowband signal component contained in the modulated signal.

Abstract: An improved interface between the surgeon and an endoscope system for laparoscopic surgery, holding a laparoscopic came and/or controlling an automated endoscope assistant includes at least one wireless transmitter with at least one operating key (12a). at least one wireless receiver (11), at least one conventional laparoscopy computerized system (15) loaded with conventional surgical instrument spatial location software, and conventional automated assistant maneuvering software, software loaded onto to the conventional laparoscopy system that enables a visual response to the depression of at least one key on the wireless transmitter as well as an interface with the conventional automated assistant maneuvering software so as to achieve movement of the endoscope, and at least one video screen (30).

Abstract: A method for a variable direction of view endoscope used in combination with an image guided surgical system to provide new diagnostic and surgical capabilities. The method provides the following capabilities: greatly improved endoscopic orientation capabilities, global monitoring of endoscopic viewing direction, and greatly improved surgical approach and procedure planning.

Abstract: The invention relates to a holding device for medical purposes having a carrier arm on whose distal end at least one medical instrument can be secured and having at least one joint for positioning the carrier arm and/or the medical instrument, wherein the at least one joint can be transferred between a position that releases the joint and a position that blocks the joint and wherein the at least one joint is coupled with a touch sensor for actuating the joint. To produce a holding device for medical purposes that ensures simple construction, simple handling, and reliable positionability, it is proposed with the invention that the sensor should be coupled with the medical instrument mounted on the distal end of the carrier arm.

Abstract: An illumination light application structure provided for irradiating an observation object with illumination light in an observation optical apparatus provided with an objective optical system inside a lens barrel whose top is configured into a slender shape, includes a wavelength converting element located in the proximity of a position of an entrance pupil of the objective optical system; a light source emitting light whose wavelength is converted by the wavelength converting element; and an irradiation device irradiating the wavelength converting element with the light emitted from the light source through the objective optical system.

Abstract: A capsule endoscope can prevent any fall of the efficiency of observation by reducing the substance or substances adhering to the outer surface of the front end cover such as food residue and mucus. The capsule endoscope includes a dome-shaped front end cover provided on the outer surface with photocatalytic coating, an image pickup means arranged in the front end cover to pick up images of the inside of an object of examination into which the endoscope is introduced and acquire image information on the inside of the object of examination and a lighting section arranged around the image pickup means within the dome-shaped front end cover.

Abstract: An electric bending operation device can be mounted to an insertion portion of a medical instrument for observation including an electric bending portion. The electric bending operation device may include: an insertion portion mounting mechanism; a rotation mechanism; an insertion portion operation section; and a support column.

Abstract: A flexible endoscope for ophthalmic orbital surgery includes a flexible probe housing having a proximal end, a distal end and a lumen extending between the proximal end and the distal end. The endoscope also includes an image fiber disposed in the lumen that communicates image information from the distal end of the flexible probe, a purge fluid/gas port disposed at the proximal end of the flexible probe that accepts purge fluid/gas and a purge fluid/gas conduit disposed in the lumen and in fluid communication with the purge fluid/gas port. The fluid/gas conduit delivers purge fluid/gas to the distal end of the endoscope. The endoscope also includes an access conduit disposed in the lumen that receives one of an ablation instrument, a coagulating instrument and a medication delivery instrument.

Abstract: An improved interface between the surgeon and an endoscope system for laparoscopic surgery, holding a laparoscopic came and/or controlling an automated endoscope assistant includes at least one wireless transmitter with at least one operating key (12a). at least one wireless receiver (11), at least one conventional laparoscopy computerized system (15) loaded with conventional surgical instrument spatial location software, and conventional automated assistant maneuvering software, software loaded onto to the conventional laparoscopy system that enables a visual response to the depression of at least one key on the wireless transmitter as well as an interface with the conventional automated assistant maneuvering software so as to achieve movement of the endoscope, and at least one video screen (30).

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.