Abstract: An endoscope or treatment instrument including: an insertion portion configured to be inserted into a subject; an electrodeposition portion configured to electrodeposit a lubricant applied to an outer surface, the outer surface including: a conductive portion provided on the insertion portion and made of a conductive material; and an insulating portion covering an outer surface of the conductive portion, exposed to a surface of the insertion portion, and made of an electrically insulating material; a connection portion connected to the conductive portion of the electrodeposition portion to take an electric charge; and a static electricity generation apparatus connected to the connection portion and configured to electrodeposit the conductive portion of the electrodeposition portion in a state that the insulating portion electrically insulates the conductive portion and an outside of the endoscope or treatment instrument.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a medical device. The medical device may include an elongate member, having a proximal end and a distal end and at least two lumens extending therebetween. At least one of the lumens may be an imaging lumen configured to hold an imaging device, and an imaging device may be disposed inside the imaging lumen. A signal transmitting device may extend longitudinally through the imaging lumen. A distal end of the signal transmitting device may be operably coupled to the imaging device and a proximal end may be operably coupled to a processor. The processor may be located outside of the imaging lumen. The signal transmitting device may transmit signals between the imaging device and the processor. A grounded, braided catheter may be disposed within and extend the length of the elongate member, surrounding the imaging lumen.

Abstract: A portable polysomnography apparatus comprises a unitary flexible structured pillow that is embedded with accelerometers for data collection. The polysomnography apparatus is advantageously sized and shaped to cause the sleeping subject to properly orient the embedded accelerometers for optimal data collection while the subject is asleep. A portable polysomnography system comprises a structured pillow with embedded sensors that are in wireless communication with a companion data collection device that records data from the embedded sensors. In an alternative embodiment, a system may include a structured pillow with an internal pocket into which a single device including embedded sensors and data recording capabilities is inserted.

Abstract: A surgical system comprises a display screen, an endoscopic device, and a non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium that stores a plurality of instructions for execution by one or more computer processors. The instructions are for: determining a current position of a reference point on the endoscopic device relative to a reference frame; determining a first vector from the current position to a position of a first landmark relative to the reference frame; transforming the first vector from the reference frame to an image reference frame that corresponds to a perspective of an image capturing device disposed at a tip of the endoscopic device; displaying a graphical representation of the transformed first vector along with a current image captured by the image capturing device—the displayed graphical representation indicates a direction to steer the tip of the endoscopic device towards the first landmark; and periodically repeating the above processes.

Abstract: An endoscope system includes an endoscope having an image pickup section and a processor device for an endoscope, and optically communicates signals through a scope-side connector and a processor-side connector. In the endoscope system, an optical communication section is constituted by an image signal transmission section and an image signal reception section, and windows and are arranged. An optical communication section is constituted by a scope-side signal transception section and a processor-side signal transception section, and windows and are arranged. The endoscope system includes: a first air blowing section and a second air blowing section for removing dirt adhered on the windows; and a control section that controls the first air blowing section and the second air blowing section.

Abstract: Provided is an endoscope apparatus that can improve the airtightness of a space within a connector part where an optical semiconductor element or the like is present. The endoscope apparatus includes a connector part that is connected to an external device and transmits and receives light signals to and from the external device. The connector part includes a hollow metal member having two openings that communicate with each other, a light emitting element that is press-fitted and fixed to one opening side of the hollow metal member so as to be capable of sealing the periphery of the one opening, a lens that is provided on the other opening side of the hollow metal member, a fixing member that fixes the lens to the hollow metal member, and an O ring that is pressed by the fixing member and seals a gap between the lens and the hollow metal member.

Abstract: A system for medical diagnosis includes a fiber optic cable and a plurality of light emitters optically coupled to a first end of the fiber optic cable. Each light emitter in the plurality of light emitters emits a distinct bandwidth of light. The system also includes a controller electrically coupled to the plurality of light emitters. The controller includes logic that when executed by the controller causes the controller to perform operations including: receiving instructions including an illumination mode, and adjusting an intensity of the light emitted from each light emitter in the plurality of light emitters to match the illumination mode.

Abstract: The invention relates to a trocar system for a minimally invasive work station, comprising an endoscopic instrument (2) having imaging means (3) and a device for transmitting the signals containing the image information to a display unit (6) and, as required, work tools, further comprising a trocar assembly (7 to 16) having a trocar sleeve, which is designed to receive a pin, including imaging means (8, 14), provided with a tip that is permeable to imaging media having different wavelengths, wherein the imaging means are provided to make the work field visible through the distal end of the pin and a device (16) is provided for transmitting the signals containing the image information to a display unit (6). The trocar assembly (7 to 16) and the minimally invasive instrument (3) are provided for separate use and for displaying the respective image information for the same display unit (6). The pin is provided with an on/off switch (13).

Abstract: The electronic endoscope has an endoscope shaft (2) and an electronics housing (3), and also an optical waveguide (5) having optical fibers (4). The endoscope shaft (2) is formed on the electronics housing (3) or connected thereto, the electronics housing (3) being closed so as to be vapor-tight and liquid-tight from outside. The optical waveguide (5) extends between a distal end (6) of the endoscope shaft (2), directed away from the electronics housing (3), and a light source (7) arranged in the electronics housing (3). The optical waveguide (5) has, at its proximal end (8), an optical waveguide connector (9), with which a light exit point (10) from the electronics housing (3) is closed off in a vapor-tight and liquid-tight manner.

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.

Abstract: An endoscope adapted to insert a treatment tool includes: an opening portion from which the treatment tool protrudes, the opening portion being provided on a distal end of the endoscope; a rotary shaft rotatably mounted in the opening portion, a direction of a shaft center being perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the endoscope; and a raise base that is attachable to the rotary shaft and detachable from the rotary shaft in a predetermined attaching/detaching direction through the opening portion and is capable of rising around the rotary shaft while being attached to the rotary shaft.

Abstract: A subject irradiated with violet light and green light is imaged to obtain RGB signals, based on which a base image is produced. Frequency filtering processing is applied to the B signal to obtain a blood vessel extraction signal, in which a most superficial blood vessel, a superficial blood vessel, and a middle-layer blood vessel at different depths are extracted. Edge strength of each blood vessel in the blood vessel extraction signal is calculated. Display control processing based on the edge strength of each blood vessel is applied to the base image. Thereby, a first image or a second image is produced. In the first image, the most superficial blood vessel, the superficial blood vessel, and the middle-layer blood vessel are displayed in a distinguishable manner. In the second image, the most superficial blood vessel, the superficial blood vessel, and the middle-layer blood vessel are selectively enhanced or suppressed.

Abstract: An endoscope includes a standing base in a tip portion body, an operation wire of which a tip side is connected to the standing base, and a stretchable coating member that covers the operation wire along an extending direction of the operation wire and so as to allow the operation wire to be relatively movable over the entire region from a connection portion between the standing base and the operation wire to an operation wire-guide passage. A tip of the coating member and the standing base are liquid-tightly fixed to each other, and a base end of the coating member and the operation wire-guide passage are liquid-tightly fixed to each other, and the coating member is disposed at a position where a moving path of the coating member and a moving path of a treatment tool led from a treatment tool-guide passage do not interfere with each other.

Abstract: A system for visualizing an anatomical target includes an imaging device having a field of view for imaging a portion of a region to be imaged. A three-dimensional model is generated from pre-operative or intra-operative images and includes images of an internal volume in the region to be imaged not visible in the images from the imaging device. An image processing module is configured to receive images from the imaging device such that field of view images of the imaging device are stitched together to generate a composite image of the region to be imaged. The composite image is registered to real-time images and the three-dimensional model. An internal view module is configured to generate for display an internal view of the internal volume at one or more positions along the composite image.

Abstract: A guidance device includes: a magnetic field generation unit configured to generate the magnetic field; a movement mechanism configured to move the magnetic field generation unit in a vertical direction; a rotation mechanism configured to rotate the magnetic field generation unit in a vertical plane including a magnetization direction of the magnetic field generation unit; an input unit configured to input first operation information for changing posture of a capsule medical device; and a control unit configured to: cause the rotation mechanism to rotate the magnetic field generation unit to change the posture of the capsule medical device based on the first operation information; and control the movement mechanism to change a distance between the magnetic field generation unit and the capsule medical device to correct a magnetic attracting force in a vertical direction of the capsule medical device.

Abstract: A system for measuring sensation or sensory responses of a tissue of a subject (or patient) by delivering air pulses of controlled pressure, duration, and frequency to the tissue surface. The system can include an endoscope having a range finder component to determine the distance between the distal end of the endoscope and a target tissue surface. When it is determined that the endoscope has been positioned at a predetermined distance from the tissue surface, the air pulses can be administered to the tissue surface.

Abstract: An endoscope having an elongate shaft, an objective arranged in a distal end region of the shaft for generating an image of an object field in an image plane. The objective having a beam splitter, and an image recorder for recording the image of the object field and an optical waveguide for forwarding illumination radiation from a proximal region to the distal end region of the shaft. The endoscope being embodied as a contact endoscope, a sensor area of the image recorder arranged in the image plane and an emergence portion of the optical waveguide adapted to forward at least some of the illumination radiation to the beam splitter to illuminate the object field.

Abstract: Methods, devices, and systems for monitoring a health parameter of a user. A portable monitoring device comprises a housing adapted to couple to a user proximate to the user's respiratory tract; a first audio sensor, disposed in the housing, is adapted to detect a breath sound of the user and create breath sound data; and a processor coupled to the first audio sensor transduces the breath sound data into a modified breath sound signal which is representative of a parameter of the user's breathing, and the processor is adapted to compare the parameter of the user's breathing to a predetermined parameter threshold.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for facilitating insertion of an endotracheal tube and/or for verifying the position of the endotracheal tube within an airway of a patient with respect to an anatomical landmark of a patient are disclosed. Systems, methods, and devices for facilitating removal of debris from the distal airways of a patient under direct visualization are also disclosed.

Abstract: A joint portion in the bending portion for use in the insertion portion of an endoscope joints bending pieces with slide surfaces parallel to the rotation axis of bending and with slide surfaces perpendicular to the rotation axis. Since the slide surfaces receive external force exerted in the direction of the rotation axis in a direction perpendicular to the surfaces, they are resistant to displacement or twisting.