Abstract: Described is an endoscopic system and method of use thereof for generating a clear endoscopic image, the method including emitting light from a light source via an endoscopic camera into a body cavity, receiving light reflected from the body cavity at at least one image sensor of the camera, controlling at least one of the light source and the camera to generate a plurality of images having underexposed and overexposed regions, and combining the plurality of images to generate the clear endoscopic image.

Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods for controlling the temperature of a distal window of an endoscope, the method comprising: generating light from at least one light source of an illuminator and directing the light to the distal window of the endoscope; reflecting a temperature-dependent fraction of the light from the distal window; detecting the temperature-dependent fraction of the light; and modulating the light from the at least one light source based on the detected temperature-dependent fraction of the light to control the temperature of the distal window.

Abstract: A method of obtaining a clear endoscopic image includes emitting light from an endoscope into a body cavity; receiving light reflected from the body cavity at a variable-attenuator, the variable-attenuator comprising a plurality of light attenuating elements that are aligned with a plurality of pixels of at least one the image sensor; controlling the variable-attenuator to attenuate light passing through the plurality of light attenuating elements and into the plurality of pixels of the at least one image sensor; capturing an image with the plurality of pixels of the at least one image sensor.

Abstract: A method of improving personnel actions in an operating room includes capturing at least one image of the operating room by at least one camera, wherein the at least one image depicts at least one medical personnel; processing the at least one image by a computing system to identify at least one action performed by the at least one medical personnel; determining, using the computing system, a relationship between the at least one action and a metric associated with a surgical workflow in the operating room; and generating, using the computing system, instructions for improving personnel actions in the operating room based on the determined relationship.

Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods for controlling the temperature of a distal window of an endoscope, the method comprising: generating light from at least one light source of an illuminator and directing the light to the distal window of the endoscope; reflecting a temperature-dependent fraction of the light from the distal window; detecting the temperature-dependent fraction of the light; and modulating the light from the at least one light source based on the detected temperature-dependent fraction of the light to control the temperature of the distal window.

Abstract: A method for controlling devices in a medical facility includes determining a location of a medical device or medical device controller on a mobile cart in a medical room of a medical facility by triangulating a position of a wireless transceiver associated with the medical device or medical device controller using other wireless transceivers associated with one or more other medical device controllers and/or one or more other medical devices.

Abstract: A method of providing a visual indication that information is being saved or broadcast includes providing at least one recording device for obtaining the information, providing a system for saving and/or broadcasting the information obtained from the at least one recording device, providing at least one monitor for viewing the information, providing a plurality of visual indications, and activating the plurality of visual indications when the information is being saved or broadcast.

Abstract: A method of using an endoscopic system includes generating, by a light system, electromagnetic waves, the light system including a source of imaging light and a separate source of heating light; directing the electromagnetic waves from the light system to a window at a distal end of an endoscope; determining if the window of the endoscope is configured to allow a first portion of the electromagnetic waves to pass therethrough while absorbing a second portion of the electromagnetic waves in order to heat the window; allowing or not allowing activation of the source of heating light depending on if the window of the endoscope is determined to be configured to allow the first portion of the electromagnetic waves to pass therethrough while absorbing the second portion of the electromagnetic waves.

Abstract: Anti-fogging system for an endoscope including an endoscope having an outer housing, an imaging arrangement, and a distal window. A filter lens is located at the distal window, with the filter lens allowing a first portion of electromagnetic light to pass therethrough while absorbing a second portion of electromagnetic light in order to heat the filter lens.

Abstract: A method of communicating with a slave device includes sending a first device discovery message from the communicator to the slave device using a first communication protocol; if the slave device responds to the first device discovery message using the first communication protocol, establishing communication between the slave device and a control device using the first communication protocol; if the slave device does not respond to the first device discovery message using the first communication protocol, sending a second device discovery message from the communicator to the slave device using a second communication protocol; and if the slave device responds to the second device discovery message using the second communication protocol, establishing communication between the slave device and the control device using the second communication protocol.

Abstract: Anti-fogging system for an endoscope including an endoscope having an outer housing, an imaging arrangement, and a distal window. A filter lens is located at the distal window, with the filter lens allowing a first portion of electromagnetic light to pass therethrough while absorbing a second portion of electromagnetic light in order to heat the filter lens.

Abstract: A method of communicating with a slave device includes sending a first device discovery message from the communicator to the slave device using a first communication protocol; if the slave device responds to the first device discovery message using the first communication protocol, establishing communication between the slave device and a control device using the first communication protocol; if the slave device does not respond to the first device discovery message using the first communication protocol, sending a second device discovery message from the communicator to the slave device using a second communication protocol; and if the slave device responds to the second device discovery message using the second communication protocol, establishing communication between the slave device and the control device using the second communication protocol.

Abstract: A system for automatically establishing a network. The system includes a main device group including a main wireless transceiver device, a control device and a first network interface and a secondary device group including a secondary wireless transceiver device, a secondary device group slave device and a second network interface. The main wireless transceiver device wirelessly communicating with the secondary wireless transceiver device to instruct the main device group and the secondary device group to form a network wherein the control device communicates with the secondary device group slave device over the first network interface and the second network interface, respectively. The control device wirelessly controls functions of the secondary device group slave device with instructions sent over the network.

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: 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 method of providing a visual indication that information is being saved or broadcast includes providing at least one recording device for obtaining the information, providing a system for saving and/or broadcasting the information obtained from the at least one recording device, providing at least one monitor for viewing the information, providing a plurality of visual indications, and activating the plurality of visual indications when the information is being saved or broadcast.

Abstract: Anti-fogging system for an endoscope including an endoscope having an outer housing, an imaging arrangement, and a distal window. A filter lens is located at the distal window, with the filter lens allowing a first portion of electromagnetic light to pass therethrough while absorbing a second portion of electromagnetic light in order to heat the filter lens.

Abstract: Anti-fogging system for an endoscope including an endoscope having an outer housing, an imaging arrangement, and a distal window. A filter lens is located at the distal window, with the filter lens allowing a first portion of electromagnetic light to pass therethrough while absorbing a second portion of electromagnetic light in order to heat the filter lens.

Abstract: A method of setting up an operating room including placing at least one surgical device on at least one surface in the operating room, capturing an image of the at least one surgical device with a camera, comparing actual attributes of the at least one surgical device determined using the image captured by the camera with desired attributes of the at least one surgical device stored in a digital preference storage using a computer system, and issuing instruction information of the at least one surgical device in the operating room, the instruction information being dependent on results of the step of comparing.

Abstract: A system for automatically establishing a network. The system includes a main device group including a main wireless transceiver device, a control device and a first network interface and a secondary device group including a secondary wireless transceiver device, a secondary device group slave device and a second network interface. The main wireless transceiver device wirelessly communicating with the secondary wireless transceiver device to instruct the main device group and the secondary device group to form a network wherein the control device communicates with the secondary device group slave device over the first network interface and the second network interface, respectively. The control device wirelessly controls functions of the secondary device group slave device with instructions sent over the network.