Abstract: An illustrative apparatus includes an objective lens system mounted in a distal end of the apparatus, the objective lens system having a lengthwise axis; and a window mounted in a distal face of the apparatus, the window having a surface oriented at an angle to the lengthwise axis of the objective lens system.

Abstract: A system includes a connector assembly and a receiver assembly. The connector assembly includes a hermetically-sealed housing, a first induction coil disposed within the housing and electrically coupled to a surgical instrument, and a first light guide disposed within the housing and optically coupled to the surgical instrument. The receiver assembly includes a second induction coil electrically coupled to a power source, a second light guide, and a receptacle configured to receive the connector assembly such that, while the connector assembly is positioned in the receptacle, the first induction coil is aligned with the second induction coil and the first light guide is optically aligned with the second light guide.

Abstract: An illustrative system may include a radio frequency (“RF”) transmitter electrically coupled to a first electrical circuit and electrically isolated from a second electrical circuit; an RF receiver having a top surface that is parallel with a top surface of the RF transmitter, the RF receiver electrically coupled to the second electrical circuit and electrically isolated from the first electrical circuit; and a waveguide between the RF transmitter and the RF receiver and configured to guide an RF signal representative of data between the RF transmitter and the RF receiver, the data provided by the first electrical circuit, the waveguide comprising an input port that at least partially covers the top surface of the RF transmitter, and an output port that at least partially covers the top surface of the RF receiver.

Abstract: An image capture unit has mounted in a frame: a first imaging assembly, a first circuit board, a second imaging assembly, and a second circuit board. The first imaging assembly is mounted on the first circuit board. The second imaging assembly is mounted on the second circuit board. A portion of the first circuit board and a portion of the second circuit board have a stacked configuration with the portion of the first circuit board being approximately parallel to the portion of the second circuit board. An end of another portion of the first circuit board is adjacent to an end of another portion of the second circuit board.

Abstract: An exemplary connection system includes a connector assembly and a receiver assembly. The connector assembly includes a hermetically-sealed housing, a first RF communication device within the housing and communicatively coupled to a surgical instrument and a first induction coil within the housing and electrically coupled to the surgical instrument. The receiver assembly includes a second RF communication device communicatively coupled to a controller of the surgical instrument, a second induction coil electrically coupled to a power source and a receptacle configured to receive the connector assembly such that the first RF communication device is aligned with the second RF communication device, the first induction coil is aligned with the second induction coil, the first RF communication device may wirelessly communicate with the second RF communication device, and the second induction coil may inductively couple to the first induction coil to wirelessly transmit power to the first induction coil.

Abstract: An image capturing device comprises a first elongated body portion formed of a first material and a second elongated body portion coupled to a proximal end of the first body portion. The second body portion is formed of a second material having a greater heat conductivity than the first material. The device further comprises an imaging window coupled to a distal end of the first body portion, a first housing within the first body portion, an image sensor mounted to the first housing, and an image processor mounted to the first housing and coupled to receive electrical signals from the image sensor. The device further comprises a second housing within the first body portion. The second housing is coupled to the first housing and to the window such that heat generated by the image sensor and image processor is transmitted through the second housing to the window.

Abstract: An illustrative system may include a radio frequency (“RF”) transmitter electrically coupled to a first electrical circuit and electrically isolated from a second electrical circuit; an RF receiver having a top surface that is parallel with a top surface of the RF transmitter, the RF receiver electrically coupled to the second electrical circuit and electrically isolated from the first electrical circuit; and a waveguide between the RF transmitter and the RF receiver and configured to guide an RF signal representative of data between the RF transmitter and the RF receiver, the data provided by the first electrical circuit, the waveguide comprising an input port that at least partially covers the top surface of the RF transmitter, and an output port that at least partially covers the top surface of the RF receiver.

Abstract: An exemplary medical system includes a first electrical circuit on a printed circuit board (PCB) and configured to generate data, a second electrical circuit on the PCB and electrically isolated from the first electrical circuit, and a radio frequency (RF) communication interface assembly on the PCB. The RF communication interface assembly includes an RF transmitter electrically coupled to the first electrical circuit and electrically isolated from the second electrical circuit, an RF receiver out of direct RF signal path alignment with the RF transmitter, electrically coupled to the second electrical circuit, and electrically isolated from the first electrical circuit, and a waveguide between the RF transmitter and the RF receiver and configured to guide an RF signal representative of the data between the RF transmitter and the RF receiver.

Abstract: An image capturing device comprises an elongated body, an imaging window coupled to a distal end of the elongated body, and a heat source within the elongated body. The heat source is configured to apply heat to the imaging window to remove condensation from or prevent condensation from forming on the imaging window.

Abstract: An exemplary connection system includes a connector assembly and a receiver assembly. The connector assembly includes a hermetically-sealed housing, a first RF communication device within the housing and communicatively coupled to a surgical instrument and a first induction coil within the housing and electrically coupled to the surgical instrument. The receiver assembly includes a second RF communication device communicatively coupled to a controller of the surgical instrument, a second induction coil electrically coupled to a power source and a receptacle configured to receive the connector assembly such that the first RF communication device is aligned with the second RF communication device, the first induction coil is aligned with the second induction coil, the first RF communication device may wirelessly communicate with the second RF communication device, and the second induction coil may inductively couple to the first induction coil to wirelessly transmit power to the first induction coil.

Abstract: An illumination source may be coupled to an image capture device through a connector. A light sensor is placed downstream of the connector to measure the light received by the image capture device from the illumination source. The light sensor provides the measurement of the received light to the illumination source for closed-loop control of illumination source. The light sensor may be positioned in a camera housing to take into account light attenuation from the illumination source to the camera. The light sensor may be positioned at other locations on the image capture device. Multiple light sensors may be positioned at different locations on the image capture device to detect sources or locations of attenuation. Redundant light sensors of more than one type of sensor may be used at a single light sensor location to provide for validation of measurements and increase the variety of information measured.

Abstract: A surgical system comprises a network accessible database configured to store calibration data for an endoscopic image capture device. The surgical system also comprises an image processor configured to be communicatively coupled to the endoscopic image capture device to receive image data of a surgical site during a surgical or diagnostic procedure. The image processor is configured to retrieve the calibration data from the network accessible database via a network connection. The image processor is further configured to process the received images based on the retrieved calibration data. The surgical system further comprises a user control system coupled to the image processor and configured to receive the processed images from the image processor. The user control system comprising a display configured to display the processed images. The calibration data is periodically or dynamically updated on the database to account for changes in the surgical system or new calibration methodologies.

Abstract: An image capture unit has mounted in a frame: a first imaging assembly, a first circuit board, a second imaging assembly, and a second circuit board. The first imaging assembly is mounted on the first circuit board. The second imaging assembly is mounted on the second circuit board. A portion of the first circuit board and a portion of the second circuit board have a stacked configuration with the portion of the first circuit board being approximately parallel to the portion of the second circuit board. An end of another portion of the first circuit board is adjacent to an end of another portion of the second circuit board.

Abstract: An exemplary medical system includes a first electrical circuit on a printed circuit board (PCB) and configured to generate data, a second electrical circuit on the PCB and electrically isolated from the first electrical circuit, and a radio frequency (RF) communication interface assembly on the PCB. The RF communication interface assembly includes an RF transmitter electrically coupled to the first electrical circuit and electrically isolated from the second electrical circuit, an RF receiver out of direct RF signal path alignment with the RF transmitter, electrically coupled to the second electrical circuit, and electrically isolated from the first electrical circuit, and a waveguide between the RF transmitter and the RF receiver and configured to guide an RF signal representative of the data between the RF transmitter and the RF receiver.

Abstract: An image capturing device comprises an elongated body, an imaging window coupled to a distal end of the elongated body, and a heat source within the elongated body. The heat source is configured to apply heat to the imaging window to remove condensation from or prevent condensation from forming on the imaging window.