Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting, characterizing, and addressing the type of endoscope that is connected to the camera/light source based on the image size taken using that endoscope are disclosed. Once the type of endoscope is determined, the systems and methods can adjust at least one parameter of the camera/light source based on the determination of the type of endoscope that is being used.

Abstract: An optical filter system and a video endoscope therefor are disclosed. The optical filter system is arranged in a distal end section of a shaft. At least one image sensor for receiving image light is positioned in the distal end section. The optical filter system contains an optical filter and an objective lens system with a three or more lenses to collect image light and to pass it to the image sensor. The filter has transmission characteristics that vary relative to the radial distance from its center and is located between the first lens and the second lens of the objective lens system. Used in conjunction with fluorescence imaging, emission radiation collected by the image sensor is substantially free of excitation radiation. Additionally, a display system clearly delineating the regions with reliable fluorescence and/or visible light is also disclosed.

Abstract: A video endoscope that includes a handle with a housing and an interface portion rotatably mounted relative to the housing, and an elongate shaft with one or more electronic image sensors, wherein a proximal end section of the shaft is detachably connected to the interface portion of the handle, where the interface portion includes a first connector element electrically connected to an electric transmission element of the interface portion and the shaft includes a second connector element electrically connected to the one or more electronic image sensors, the first and second connector elements co-operating to form a detachable electrical connection, and where the handle includes an electrical connection assembly arranged at an exterior of the interface portion forming an electrical connection to at least one stationary electric and/or electronic component of the handle in a multiplicity of rotational positions of the interface portion relative to the housing.

Abstract: An oral and oropharyngeal cancer screening system and associated methods are disclosed. In at least one embodiment, the screening system provides an at least one oral and oropharyngeal cancer screening device configured for selectively capturing images of an oropharyngeal area of an at least one patient. The screening device provides an elongate, relatively compact housing, a distal end of the housing being selectively bendable. An imaging module is positioned within the housing, the imaging module providing a lens, an at least one light source, and an imaging sensor positioned in the distal end of the housing. A user application resides in memory on an at least one user device in selective communication with the at least one screening device. The user application is configured for receiving images captured by the at least one screening device and recording risk factors, automatically analyzing the captured images and potential health-risk factors to screen for OPML and oral and oropharyngeal risk.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for controlling cooperative surgical instruments with variable surgical site access trajectories are provided. Various aspects of the present disclosure provide for coordinated operation of surgical instruments accessing a common surgical site from different approach and/or separate body cavities to achieve a common surgical purpose. For example, various methods, devices, and systems disclosed herein can enable the coordinated treatment of tissue by disparate minimally invasive surgical systems that approach the tissue from varying anatomical spaces and must operate differently, but in concert with one another, to effect a desired surgical treatment.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for controlling cooperative surgical instruments with variable surgical site access trajectories are provided. Various aspects of the present disclosure provide for coordinated operation of surgical instruments accessing a common surgical site from different approach and/or separate body cavities to achieve a common surgical purpose. For example, various methods, devices, and systems disclosed herein can enable the coordinated treatment of tissue by disparate minimally invasive surgical systems that approach the tissue from varying anatomical spaces and must operate differently, but in concert with one another, to effect a desired surgical treatment.

Abstract: A fastening mechanism that comprises an actuator, a fastening device attached to a distal end of the actuator, and a device coupler, wherein the fastening device is pivotally attached to the device coupler.

Abstract: A housing (1) for the tip of a disposable insertion endoscope includes a circumferential side wall (2) having a first end and a second end, and a front wall (3) arranged at the first end to provide an internal compartment (4) in the housing (1), the front wall (3) including at least one transparent part made of a polymer material and adapted to protect a camera (10) arranged in the housing behind the at least one transparent part and a front surface (15) having at least one area provided with a nano-structure.

Abstract: An endoscope conduit switching device includes: a cap that is made of resin, the cap including a pressing surface to be pressed by an operator and a shaft hole formed on a surface of the cap on a side opposite to the pressing surface; and a shaft having one end that is inserted into the shaft hole of the cap and as other end that is inserted into a conduit of the endoscope. The cap is joined to the shaft with a first joint portion and a second joint portion that are spaced apart from each other along a direction in which the shaft extends.

Abstract: A manipulator system, has an elongated portion having a bending portion and a wire configured to bend the bending portion; an operation portion configured to generate a first force for pulling the wire by an operator; a motor configured to generate a second force for pulling the wire; a clutch mechanism configured to switch a pulling force to pull the wire between to at least one of the first force or the second force; a grasping-state detector configured to determine a grasping state of the operation portion by the operator; and a controller configured to control the motor and the clutch mechanism, wherein the controller is configured to obtain the grasping state from the grasping-state detector, generate a control signal for controlling the clutch mechanism according to the obtained grasping state, and transmit the control signal to the clutch mechanism.

Abstract: An endoscope used for insertion into a patient's body is disclosed herein. The endoscope can comprise an outer sleeve defining a longitudinal axis. The outer sleeve can comprise a first deflecting segment and a second deflecting segment at a distal portion of the outer sleeve and one or more slots at the distal portion. The endoscope can further comprise an inner sleeve positioned within the outer sleeve and comprising a working channel. The inner sleeve can comprise one or more extending elements at a distal portion of the inner sleeve, the one or more extending elements being coupled to the first deflecting segment of the outer sleeve. The endoscope can further comprise a tool advanceable through the working channel, wherein advancement of the tool transitions the distal portion of the outer sleeve between a straight profile and a deflected profile.

Abstract: A system and method for video assisted percutaneous needle cricothyrotomy and tracheostomy to assist physicians in quickly intubating patients suffering from respiratory distress when oral or nasal intubation is not possible or contraindicated. The system and method includes a display monitor, a percutaneous needle assembly including a connection hub having a syringe port for removably attaching a syringe, a needle port for attaching a hollow needle, and a stylet port in communication with the needle port for receiving a fiber optic stylet that extends through the hollow needle. The fiber optic stylet includes one or more illuminators, and a camera for capturing and transmitting anatomical images for display on the display monitor to visually assist physicians in locating a patient's trachea lumen. The fiber optic stylet is positioned within the trachea lumen, and used as a guide wire to insert a dilator and cannula for ventilating the patient.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for controlling cooperative surgical instruments are provided. Various aspects of the present disclosure provide for coordinated operation of surgical instruments accessing a common body cavity of a patient from different approaches to achieve a common surgical purpose. For example, various methods, devices, and systems disclosed herein can enable the coordinated treatment of surgical tissue by disparate minimally invasive surgical systems that approach the tissue from varying anatomical spaces and operate in concert with one another to effect a desired surgical treatment.

Abstract: A light source control device includes a light source controller configured to: cause a first light source to emit light in a visible wavelength band in a first entire line exposure period, which is an entire line exposure period in which all horizontal lines in an effective pixel area are simultaneously exposed; cause a second light source to emit excitation light in a second entire line exposure period, which is different from the first entire line exposure period; and cause the excitation light to be emitted in an excitation light emission period including the second entire line exposure period and a period, which is adjacent to the second entire line exposure period and is at least a part of a readout period during which charges accumulated in the plurality of pixels are read out, when controlling an operation of the second light source.

Abstract: Methods for advancing a device through a gastrointestinal tract. These methods may include inserting a device into the gastrointestinal tract, advancing a first portion of the device having a first vacuum port distally through the gastrointestinal tract away from a second portion of the device having a second vacuum port, sliding the second vacuum port towards the first vacuum port while the first vacuum port is applying suction, preventing tissue from moving distally past the first vacuum port by radially expanding a blocker that is positioned proximal to the first vacuum port, activating vacuum through the second vacuum port to suction tissue of the gastrointestinal tract to the second vacuum port, and releasing vacuum on the first vacuum port and advancing the first vacuum port distally through the gastrointestinal tract a desired distance while the vacuum is activated through the second vacuum port.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for controlling cooperative surgical instruments are provided. Various aspects of the present disclosure provide for coordinated operation of surgical instruments accessing a common body cavity of a patient from different approaches to achieve a common surgical purpose. For example, various methods, devices, and systems disclosed herein can enable the coordinated treatment of surgical tissue by disparate minimally invasive surgical systems that approach the tissue from varying anatomical spaces and operate in concert with one another to effect a desired surgical treatment.

Abstract: In general, arthroscopic medical implements and assemblies and methods of operating arthroscopic medical implements and assemblies are provided. Devices, systems, and methods are described herein in connection with accessing a surgical site using an arthroscopic medical implement. In an exemplary implementation, an optical sensor of the arthroscopic medical implement can gather and output image data, and an inertial sensor of the arthroscopic medical implement can gather and output orientation data. The orientation data can be used to modify the gathered optical image to maintain a display of the gathered optical image in a predetermined desired orientation before, during, and after any rotation of the arthroscopic medical implement. The arthroscopic medical implement can also include at least one sensor configured to gather and output pressure and/or temperature.

Abstract: A vessel harvesting system removes a target vessel from a patient for use as a bypass. An elongated harvesting instrument inserts into a body along a path of a target vessel which includes at least one side branch. The harvesting instrument includes a cutter for applying thermal energy to sever and cauterize the side branch. An endoscopic camera captures visible-light images from a distal tip of the instrument within a dissected tunnel around the target vessel. A thermal camera captures thermograms coinciding with the visible-light images to characterize a temperature present at respective surfaces in the tunnel. An image processor (e.g., an electronic controller) renders a video stream including the visible-light images and an overlay depicting the temperatures present on at least some of the respective surfaces when applying the thermal energy. A display presenting the video stream and overlay to a user can be an augmented-reality display.

Abstract: A control method and a control system for a capsule endoscope are provided. The control method comprises acquiring a frame rate of the capsule endoscope. The frame rate is the number of frames of images captured by the capsule endoscope per unit time. The control method further comprises controlling the number of radio frequency transmission channels that are turned on according to the frame rate. The number of radio frequency transmission channels that are turned on is at least two, and the radio frequency transmission channels transmit the captured images. The control method and control system for the capsule endoscope can adaptively distribute a plurality of radio frequency transmission channels according to the real-time position of the capsule endoscope, and further turn on the radio frequency transmission channels to transmit a plurality of signals synchronously or asynchronously.

Abstract: A monitoring system includes an endoscope shape detection apparatus configured to detect a shape of an insertion section of an endoscope and a movement detection apparatus configured to detect a movement of a hand that operates the endoscope.