Abstract: An observed image forming apparatus comprises: an apparatus body including a plurality of connector receivers to which electric connectors of a plurality of observation devices for obtaining an image of an object to be observed can be connected; a cap that is to be mounted to one of said plurality of connector receivers to which any of said plurality of electric connectors is not connected; and a cap insertion and extraction detecting circuit that detects whether or not the cap is mounted to the one of the connector receivers in the apparatus body, wherein, when mounting of the cap has been detected by the cap insertion and extraction detecting circuit, one of the observation devices an electric connector of which is connected to the other one of the connector receivers in the apparatus body is controlled to be driven.

Abstract: A medical instrument having a lighting system for illuminating a target area, the system comprising a light source and associated power controller, the system being configured to move from a first illumination mode to a second illumination mode based on a sensed or determined changed condition, such as predetermined temperature and/or change in a scene or brightness signal, or lack of change, from an image sensor that may be associated with the instrument.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to reliably prevent a trouble that a battery is loaded either in a state where a ribbon is entirely housed in a battery housing or without a ribbon by a simple method using a ribbon. Guide parts (83, 84) are provided on both side walls (57, 58) of a battery housing (53). A ribbon (81) is set so as to cross the battery housing (53) in a stretched state by the guide parts (83, 84) in a position where the battery can be taken out by drawing the ribbon (81). With the configuration, at the time of loading a battery, by making the ribbon (81) extend outside, the ribbon (81) is not entirely housed in the battery housing (53) or absence of the ribbon (81) in the battery housing (53) can be prevented. By making the battery front end face come into contact with the stretched ribbon (81) and inserting a battery, a normal loading state in which the ribbon (81) is pushed to the deepest place can be assured. The battery ejecting function with a simple ribbon (81) can be reliably displayed.

Abstract: An in-vivo information acquiring system includes a body-insertable apparatus that transmits a wireless signal containing an in-vivo image, and a receiving apparatus that receives the wireless signal. The body-insertable apparatus includes an imaging unit, a selecting unit, and a transmitting unit. The imaging unit captures in-vivo images. The selecting unit selects an in-vivo image to be added with unique information from the in-vivo images. The transmitting unit additionally arranges an identification signal, which is written according to a signal sequence rule of synchronization signals added to scanning line information about the in-vivo image selected by the selecting unit, in a position corresponding to positions in which the synchronization signals are arranged, adds unique information corresponding to the identification information after the identification information, and transmits the in-vivo image added with the unique information.

Abstract: An actuator has a magnet moved together with a moving lens frame, an SMA wire capable of extending and contracting in a moving direction I of the moving lens frame with execution or non-execution of energization thereof, a fixing member made of a magnetic material attached to a distal end of the SMA wire, a pressing spring which urges the fixing member toward the magnet along the moving direction I, and a stopper member and a stopper portion which limits the movement of the magnet along the moving direction I at a first position or a second position.

Abstract: An endoscopic image pickup unit includes: a first fixed lens frame which holds a first objective lens group; a second fixed lens frame which, being fitted over the first fixed lens frame, holds a second objective lens group; a movable lens frame which, being installed in the second fixed lens frame so as to be able to move forward and backward along a photographic optical axis, holds a movable lens; and a deformation preventing member which, being interposed between a distal end body and the second fixed lens frame, prevents the second fixed lens frame from being deformed by fixing force of the fixing member when the endoscopic image pickup unit is fixed to the distal end body.

Abstract: A distal end optical unit for an electronic endoscope includes a first supporting tube configured to support an image sensor therein, a second supporting tube, and a third supporting tube configured to support an objective optical system. The first supporting tube includes a first open end, a first sealed end that is hermetically sealed, and a metal-covered inner circumferential surface. The second supporting tube includes a second open end, a second sealed end that is hermetically sealed with a cover lens, and a metal-covered outer circumferential surface. The third supporting tube has an inner circumferential surface with a low reflectivity. The third supporting tube is fitted into the second supporting tube. The second open end of the second supporting tube is fitted into and hermetically joined to the first open end of the first supporting tube.

Abstract: A lens drive control apparatus of the present invention controls a lens drive system that has a lens frame that holds a lens so as to be movable forward and backward in an optical axis direction of an optical lens, and a transmitting member that transmits to the lens frame a driving force generated by a strain deformation of a shape memory alloy member that exhibits a predetermined hysteresis characteristic between a temperature and an amount of deformation. The lens drive control apparatus includes a control section that, at a timing at which an instruction that causes the lens frame to move forward or backward stops, performs control that changes a temperature of the shape memory alloy member to a temperature belonging to a dead zone of the predetermined hysteresis characteristic.

Abstract: An in-vivo sensing device for capturing sensed data of the gastrointestinal tract, or other body lumens or cavities of a patient, and for transmitting the sensed data to a data recorder external to the patient. The in-vivo sensing device has an identifier code associated with it. The sensed data may be transmitted to the data recorder together with the identifier code so that the received sensed data can be correlated with the in-vivo sensing device.

Abstract: A capsule-type endoscope includes an illumination board which is prepared to mount an illuminating electronic component necessary to illuminate a test region of a test subject with illumination light; an image sensor which has a light-receiving surface including an effective area and an ineffective area, the illumination light reflected from the test region being received to generate an image of the test region in the effective area, the ineffective area not contributing to the image generation; an imaging board which is arranged in parallel with the illumination board, the image sensor being mounted on the imaging board; and a component arrangement unit in which the illuminating electronic component is arranged, the illuminating electronic component being provided in an area on the illumination board, the area on the illumination board being obtained by projecting the ineffective area in the light-receiving surface of the image sensor to a direction orthogonal to the light-receiving surface of the image sens

Abstract: A capsule medical device includes a capsule casing that contains an illumination board, an imaging board, a transmission board, and a control board on which functional components are mounted, and a sheet-like battery that supplies power to the functional components. The sheet-like battery is rolled up to be a pole shape and located between cutout parts of the imaging board, the transmission board, and the control board and the inner wall of the capsule casing.

Abstract: An endoscope includes: a distal end portion provided at a distal end of an insertion portion; a front-view observation window for observing an insertion direction of the distal end portion, which is provided facing toward the insertion direction; a lateral-view observation window for observing a circumferential direction of the distal end portion, which is formed along the outer circumferential lateral surface and has a lateral observation field of view; a light-emitting member having an emission end surface for emitting light in a distal end direction of the distal end portion; a groove portion formed on the outer circumferential lateral surface of the distal end portion so as to be longer than the emission end surface of the light-emitting member along the circumferential direction of the outer circumferential lateral surface of the distal end portion and opposed to the emission end surface, on a proximal end side with respect to the lateral-view observation window; a plurality of particles for scattering l

Abstract: A power supply starter (51) provided with a magnetic body (51e) is mounted on an inner lid portion (42) while a sterilizing sheet (43) is opened for enabling application of a magnetic field from outside of the inner lid portion (42) (inside of the inner lid portion (42)) by the magnetic body (51e), and therefore, the start to drive respective functions of the capsule endoscope (2) is prevented until the magnetic field is applied from outside, and thereby, the start to drive the respective functions of the capsule endoscope can be performed with arbitrary timing and the consumption of power accumulated within the capsule endoscope can be suppressed.

Abstract: An encapsulated medical device system according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a selector between a receiving device and a plurality of receiving antennas having their respective directionalities. The system selects and disconnects any receiving antenna subjected to the effect of a magnetic field used to guide a capsule endoscope, and captures information about the inside of a body from the appropriate receiving antenna thus selected. The system prevents an overload current caused by induced voltage from being applied to the receiving device. The system includes the function of preventing the overload current, caused by induced voltage arising from a sudden movement of the capsule endoscope or sudden change in magnetic field gradient, from being applied to a transmission circuit of the capsule endoscope and a receiving device.

Abstract: An illumination device for use in an endoscope includes a light source, an optical fiber and a wavelength conversion member. The optical fiber guides light to a tip end of an endoscope insertion portion of the endoscope. The wavelength conversion member is provided at an emission end of the optical fiber. The wavelength conversion member configured to be excited by the light source. The illumination device can provide white illumination light obtained by mixing light emitted from the optical fiber and light obtained by exciting the wavelength conversion member by the light emitted from the optical fiber. Also, the illumination device can provide illumination light being different from the white illumination light, by using other excitation light.

Abstract: An endoscope of the present invention includes a distal end main body portion provided at a distal end portion of an insertion portion, a disposing hole having a first space and a second space that is formed in the distal end main body portion, and an objective lens. The endoscope also includes an image pickup unit that is provided inside disposing hole such that objective lens faces a second opening and that has a shape formed along a part of first space and second space. Image pickup unit is fixed inside disposing hole by a screw that is inserted into distal end main body portion through a screw hole formed in distal end main body portion at an intersecting region between first space and second space.

Abstract: A fluorescence distribution image of each fluorescent agent can be acquired from a fluorescence image that has been captured in a mixed state so as to improve the diagnosability of cancer cells.

Abstract: An endoscope includes light emitting devices arranged in the distal end portion of its insertion unit, and at least one elongated heat-radiating member. One end of the radiating member is arranged in the vicinity of the light emitting devices and the other end is arranged in a predetermined position adjacent to the proximal end of the insertion unit. In observation using the endoscope, a decrease in the amount of illumination rays or the occurrence of image noise can be prevented, the decrease and the noise being caused due to heat generated by LED illumination lights arranged at the distal end of the insertion unit. Therefore, observation can be performed for a long time in good conditions.

Abstract: A capsule type medical device, including: a capsule shaped casing which can be ingested to within the living body; an electrical stimulation device which comprises a plurality of electrodes which are used for applying electrical stimuli to living body tissue; an electrode selection device which selects an electrode from among the plurality of electrodes, to apply an electrical stimulus; a contact detection device which electrically detects the electrode which is in contact with the living body tissue; and a control section which controls the various devices.

Abstract: An image pick-up unit inserted in the body picks up an image of the body, and transmits by radio the image to an extra-corporeal unit which is arranged outside the body. The image pick-up unit includes an image pick-up portion capturing an image, a data transmitting portion for transmitting the image obtained by the image pick-up portion to the extra-corporeal unit at a plurality of transmitting ratios, a characteristic amount detecting portion for detecting a predetermined amount of characteristics based on the image, and a determining portion for determining a valid image based on an output from the characteristic amount detecting portion. The data transmitting portion controls the data transmitting ratio in accordance with the determining result of the determining portion.