Abstract: A variable-stiffness actuator includes a shape-memory member that increases in stiffness on heating, a heating member arranged to surround the shape-memory member along a longitudinal axis of the shape-memory member, and a heat transmitting medium arranged to surround the heating member along a longitudinal axis of the heating member. The heating member generates heat in response to supply of a current, so as to heat the shape-memory member. The heat transmitting medium is deformed to decrease an inner diameter of the heat transmitting medium to come into contact with the heating member, so as to cool the heating member. The heat transmitting medium is deformed to increase the inner diameter to come out of contact with the heating member.

Abstract: Provided are an endoscope system and a method of operating the same capable of reliably performing focusing even in a case where an observation target is illuminated with light including long-wave light. A movable lens moves in an optical axis direction. A lens drive unit moves the movable lens from a first lens position of the movable lens where an observation target illuminated with short-wave light is focused to a second lens position of the movable lens where the observation target illuminated with long-wave light having a longer wavelength than the short-wave light is focused.

Abstract: A robotic system includes a display to display an image captured by an image capture device, a linkage movably supporting the display, the linkage including a multitude of links, a multitude of joints coupling the multitude of links, and a multitude of sensors configured to sense configuration information of the linkage. A physical movement of the display corresponds to a configuration change of the linkage. The robotic system further includes a processor coupled to the multitude of sensors. The processor is configured to obtain sensor signals from the multitude of sensors, the sensor signals indicative of the configuration change, and adjust the image in response to the sensor signals.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a surgical device including an adapter assembly for selectively interconnecting an end effector and the device housing. The adapter assembly includes at least one drive converter assembly that converts and transmits a rotation of the rotatable drive shaft to an axial translation of at least one axially translatable drive member of the end effector. A first drive converter assembly includes a first drive element, a nut, an articulation sleeve, an articulation bearing, and an articulation link. Rotation of the rotatable drive shaft results in rotation of the first drive element. Rotation of the first drive element results in axial translation of the nut, the articulation sleeve, the articulation bearing, the articulation link, and the at least one axially translatable drive member of the end effector.

Abstract: A device or scope device is disclosed. The device may comprise: a handle body extending along an axis between first end and a second end; an actuator at the first end of the handle body; a catheter at the second end of the handle body; and a processing unit communicable with a plurality of devices to: switch-in the actuator for control of one device of the plurality of devices; configure, with the actuator, a setting of the one device, control, with the actuator, the one device based on the setting, and switch-in the actuator for control of another one of the plurality of devices. Related devices and methods also are disclosed.

Abstract: An endoscope includes an insertion portion that has a tip portion to be inserted into an examination target from a tip side of the tip portion. The endoscope includes a lens unit that is disposed at the tip portion. The endoscope includes an image sensor that is disposed on an opposite side to the tip side of tip portion with respect to the lens unit. The endoscope includes a linear conductor that has a tip disposed at the tip side with respect to the image sensor and has a proximal end which is extended from the tip through inside the insertion portion.

Abstract: An apparatus including a tendon-driven device such as an endoscope comprising a bendable body, a tendon attached to and extending a length of said body, and an actuator that will actuate said tendon based on a control signal from a controller. The controller is configured to send said control signal to said actuator and comprises a forward-kinematic-mapping unit that estimates an angular displacement, wherein the kinematic-mapping unit is configured for: providing a tension value of the tendon to obtain a desired angular displacement wherein the tension has a nonlinear relationship with the desired angular displacement based on information of friction where the tension is greater that would be calculated without including the effect of friction. The friction coefficient may be determined as it changes over time.

Abstract: Data characterizing a mother video feed acquired by an endoscopic video capture device can be received. The mother video feed can be for characterizing an operative field within a patient. One or more predefined markers can be identified within the mother video feed. Each of the one or more predefined markers can be associated with a surgical instrument in the operative field. Using the data characterizing the mother video feed, a daughter video feed comprising a sub-portion of the mother video feed can be generated. At least one of a location of the daughter video feed within the mother video feed and a zoom of the daughter video feed can be based on the identified one or more predefined markers. The daughter video feed can be provided. Related apparatus, systems, techniques, and articles are also described.

Abstract: A catheter (12) has an image sensing system (S1-S5) for imaging the interior wall of a passageway in which the catheter is to be located. The catheter has a radial imaging system comprising a light source arrangement for generating a light output radially around the catheter and an image sensor for receiving the generally radial light after the light has been scattered back by the interior wall. The catheter is positioned within the passageway with a known position and orientation, for example a known angle with respect to the anterior-posterior plane along the length of the catheter, so that it is known where along the catheter length, and at which angular position around the catheter, it is close to the passageway wall. The light output has a different intensity at different radial directions and/or the catheter comprises a light transmission arrangement which gives rise to different transmission of the light output at different radial directions.

Abstract: A system for controlling movement of a remotely controlled steerable instrument may comprise a flexible instrument comprising a steerable portion configured to articulate to change a shape of the steerable portion. The system may also comprise a shape sensing device comprising a first resistance-changing flexible sensor. The first resistance-changing flexible sensor may be configured to generate a signal indicative of a first bend change in the steerable portion. The system may also comprise a controller in signal communication with the first resistance-changing flexible sensor. The controller may be logically coupled to the flexible instrument and is configured to output a control signal to articulate the steerable portion of the flexible instrument in response to receiving at least the signal from the first resistance-changing flexible sensor.

Abstract: A system and method for accounting for motion of a target in a medical procedure includes an endoscope (302) including a tracking mechanism (304) for tracking positions and orientations of the endoscope. Memory storage (310) is configured to record the positions of the endoscope when positioned at or near moving target tissue. A motion sensor (312) is configured to track cyclical motion of an organ such that the cyclical motion of the organ can be correlated to the recorded positions of the endoscope and the target tissue.

Abstract: A needle holder includes: a flexible sheath portion which is capable of being inserted into an instrument channel of a flexible endoscope; a first grasping member which is rotatably coupled with a distal end portion of the flexible sheath portion; and a second grasping member which is provided in the distal end portion of the flexible sheath portion. In a state where a curved needle is grasped by a first grasping surface of the first grasping member and a second grasping surface of the second grasping member, the second grasping surface inclines such that a grasped region of the curved needle that is grasped by the first grasping surface and the second grasping surface is positioned between a distal end of the second grasping member and a needle tip of the curved needle in a direction of a center axis of the second grasping member.

Abstract: A personal electronic device (PED)-endoscope image and diagnosis capture system is provided. The system includes a PED adapter having a magnification lens connection side and a PED connection side. A magnification lens is connectable with the lens connection side of the PED adapter. An eyepiece lens coupler is also provided and connects the magnification lens to the endoscope eyepiece. A PED is connected to the PED adapter and includes a processor, a memory and an image capture system with a PED lens. The PED adapter aligns the magnification lens with the PED lens. The processor is configured to activate the image capture system using a remote or voice-activated trigger signal and store captured images in the PED memory. Patient data and examination data can be associated with the images, and the images and data can be transferred from the PED to an electronic medical records system.

Abstract: An endoscope restraining system for restraining motion of an endoscope tube includes an attachment portion configured to attach the endoscope restraining system to a surface, a flexible tube coupled to the attachment portion at a proximal end of the flexible tube, a base plate coupled to a distal end of the flexible tube, and an endoscope restraint removably connected to the base plate. The endoscope restraint includes a plurality of supports configured to receive the endoscope tube to prevent changes in a torque position, degree of insertion, and lateral movement of the endoscope tube.

Abstract: An endoscopic system including an endoscope, a light source for the endoscope and at least one image sensor for capturing a plurality of images of a body cavity. The light source is configured to emit light from the endoscope and into the body cavity such that the light is reflected off of a plurality of locations in the body cavity. The system also includes a control system for controlling both the light source and the at least one image sensor to vary parameters of the light source and the at least one image sensor such that the plurality of images have underexposed and overexposed regions. The endoscopic system could alternatively include a variable-attenuator element device adjacent the image sensor and configured to be located between the body cavity and the image sensor for capturing a single clear image with the image sensor.

Abstract: A 3D scanner for recording topographic characteristics of a surface of at least part of a body orifice, where the 3D scanner includes a main body having a mounting portion; a tip which can be mounted onto and un-mounted from the mounting portion, where the tip is configured for being brought into proximity of the body orifice surface when recording the topographic characteristics such that at least one optical element of the tip is at least partly exposed to the environment in the body orifice during the recording; and a heater for heating the optical element, where the heat is provided by way of thermal conduction; where the tip can be sterilized in a steam autoclave when un-mounted from the main body of the 3D scanner such that it subsequently can be reused.

Abstract: An endoscopic probe for use during spinal surgery has an enlarged proximal end for cooperation with the hand of the surgeon and an elongate shaft terminating in a functional distal tip. The tip may be detachable for replacement. An endoscope extends through the shaft and is connected with a monitor to enable the surgeon to visually observe the area being treated. In a preferred form, a light means extends through the shaft to illuminate the area being treated, and in a further preferred form a conduit extends through the shaft to convey a fluid to flush the area being treated. In a further embodiment, two endoscopes are associated with the probe.

Abstract: A laser-induced breakdown spectroscope according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes: a laser head which emits a laser beam; a focusing lens which focuses the laser beam on a target specimen; a plasma reactor unit which amplifies first plasma, which is generated on the target specimen positioned at a focal point of the laser beam passing through the focusing lens, by controlling electron density and electron energy of the first plasma; a collection lens which focuses second plasma amplified by the plasma reactor unit; and a spectrophotometer which analyzes the second plasma focused by the collection lens.

Abstract: A medical imaging apparatus includes: a casing configured to form an exterior; an imaging unit housed in the casing and configured to capture a subject image; a manipulation ring rotatably provided on an outer surface of the casing; a detection unit configured to detect rotation of the manipulation ring; a manipulation calculation unit configured to calculate a rotation direction and a rotation angle of the manipulation ring based on a detection result of the detection unit; a function execution unit configured to execute a first or second function depending on the rotation direction and the rotation angle of the manipulation ring calculated by the manipulation calculation unit; and a function switch unit configured to switch a function executed by the function execution unit to the first or second function.

Abstract: In a minimally invasive surgical system, an image capture unit includes a prism assembly and sensor assembly. The prism assembly includes a beam splitter, while the sensor assembly includes coplanar image capture sensors. Each of the coplanar image capture sensors has a common front end optical structure, e.g., the optical structure distal to the image capture unit is the same for each of the sensors. A controller enhances images acquired by the coplanar image capture sensors. The enhanced images may include (a) visible images with enhanced feature definition, in which a particular feature in the scene is emphasized to the operator of minimally invasive surgical system; (b) images having increased image apparent resolution; (c) images having increased dynamic range; (d) images displayed in a way based on a pixel color component vector having three or more color components; and (e) images having extended depth of field.