Abstract: The teachings herein relate to devices for insertion into a cavity, opening or other passageway that requires the bending of the device to conform to a curved or even tortuous shape of the path. The devices include axial support components for translating forces for moving the device forward in the path. The axial support components preferably include adjacent components capable of rocking for tilting the device in one or more directions. The device preferably includes one or more lateral support components for limiting any lateral motion of an axial support component relative to an adjacent axial support component.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include an apparatus including an enclosure configured to receive an endoscope having an electromagnetic radiation sensor. The apparatus also includes an electromagnetic radiation source having at least a portion disposed within the enclosure. The electromagnetic radiation source is configured to emit electromagnetic radiation based on a calibration instruction. The electromagnetic radiation sensor is configured to receive at least a portion of the electromagnetic radiation when at least a portion of the endoscope is coupled to the enclosure.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include an apparatus including an enclosure configured to receive an endoscope having an electromagnetic radiation sensor. The apparatus also includes an electromagnetic radiation source having at least a portion disposed within the enclosure. The electromagnetic radiation source is configured to emit electromagnetic radiation based on a calibration instruction. The electromagnetic radiation sensor is configured to receive at least a portion of the electromagnetic radiation when at least a portion of the endoscope is coupled to the enclosure.

Abstract: The teachings herein relate to devices for insertion into a cavity, opening or other passageway that requires the bending of the device to conform to a curved or even tortuous shape of the path. The devices include axial support components for translating forces for moving the device forward in the path. The axial support components preferably include adjacent components capable of rocking for tilting the device in one or more directions. The device preferably includes one or more lateral support components for limiting any lateral motion of an axial support component relative to an adjacent axial support component.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for determining target characteristics during a laser procedure, comprising (i) obtaining a relationship between (i) a number of pixels associated with a light beam reflected from a target or an object located in proximity to the target on an endoscopic image obtained from a video sensor coupled to an endoscope and (ii) a distance of the target from a tip of the endoscope. The method further comprising (ii) measuring the number of pixels associated with the light beam reflected from the target or the object located in proximity to the target during a procedure, and (iii) based at least in part on the relationship obtained in step (i) and the measured number of pixels in step (ii), determining at least one of a size of the target or a distance of the target from the tip of the endoscope.

Abstract: An endoscopic medical apparatus can include an endoscope tip extender such as can be configured to extend longitudinally axially from a distal portion of an endoscope in a tapered arrangement. The tip extender can define a bore such as extending longitudinally axially within the tip extender. The tip extender can include a material that can be at least one of softer or more flexible than a material of the distal portion of the endoscope.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include an apparatus including an enclosure configured to receive an endoscope having an electromagnetic radiation sensor. The apparatus also includes an electromagnetic radiation source having at least a portion disposed within the enclosure. The electromagnetic radiation source is configured to emit electromagnetic radiation based on a calibration instruction. The electromagnetic radiation sensor is configured to receive at least a portion of the electromagnetic radiation when at least a portion of the endoscope is coupled to the enclosure.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include an apparatus including an enclosure configured to receive an endoscope having an electromagnetic radiation sensor. The apparatus also includes an electromagnetic radiation source having at least a portion disposed within the enclosure. The electromagnetic radiation source is configured to emit electromagnetic radiation based on a calibration instruction. The electromagnetic radiation sensor is configured to receive at least a portion of the electromagnetic radiation when at least a portion of the endoscope is coupled to the enclosure.

Abstract: The present invention is premised upon an improved balloon dilator, more particularly to an improved balloon dilator comprising an expandable balloon, a core wire which extends through the expandable balloon, and a single visual marker band positioned at a geometric center within the balloon dilator which may selectively reflect certain wavelengths of light.

Abstract: The teachings herein relate to devices for insertion into a cavity, opening or other passageway that requires the bending of the device to conform to a curved or even tortuous shape of the path. The devices include axial support components for translating forces for moving the device forward in the path. The axial support components preferably include adjacent components capable of rocking for tilting the device in one or more directions. The device preferably includes one or more lateral support components for limiting any lateral motion of an axial support component relative to an adjacent axial support component.

Abstract: The teachings herein relate to devices for insertion into a cavity, opening or other passageway that requires the bending of the device to conform to a curved or even tortuous shape of the path. The devices include axial support components for translating forces for moving the device forward in the path. The axial support components preferably include adjacent components capable of rocking for tilting the device in one or more directions. The device preferably includes one or more lateral support components for limiting any lateral motion of an axial support component relative to an adjacent axial support component.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include an apparatus including an enclosure configured to receive an endoscope having an electromagnetic radiation sensor. The apparatus also includes an electromagnetic radiation source having at least a portion disposed within the enclosure. The electromagnetic radiation source is configured to emit electromagnetic radiation based on a calibration instruction. The electromagnetic radiation sensor is configured to receive at least a portion of the electromagnetic radiation when at least a portion of the endoscope is coupled to the enclosure.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include an apparatus including an enclosure configured to receive an endoscope having an electromagnetic radiation sensor. The apparatus also includes an electromagnetic radiation source having at least a portion disposed within the enclosure. The electromagnetic radiation source is configured to emit electromagnetic radiation based on a calibration instruction. The electromagnetic radiation sensor is configured to receive at least a portion of the electromagnetic radiation when at least a portion of the endoscope is coupled to the enclosure.

Abstract: The teachings herein relate to devices for insertion into a cavity, opening or other passageway that requires the bending of the device to conform to a curved or even tortuous shape of the path. The devices include axial support components for translating forces for moving the device forward in the path. The axial support components preferably include adjacent components capable of rocking for tilting the device in one or more directions. The device preferably includes one or more lateral support components for limiting any lateral motion of an axial support component relative to an adjacent axial support component.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include an apparatus including an enclosure configured to receive an endoscope having an electromagnetic radiation sensor. The apparatus also includes an electromagnetic radiation source having at least a portion disposed within the enclosure. The electromagnetic radiation source is configured to emit electromagnetic radiation based on a calibration instruction. The electromagnetic radiation sensor is configured to receive at least a portion of the electromagnetic radiation when at least a portion of the endoscope is coupled to the enclosure.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include an apparatus including an enclosure configured to receive an endoscope having an electromagnetic radiation sensor. The apparatus also includes an electromagnetic radiation source having at least a portion disposed within the enclosure. The electromagnetic radiation source is configured to emit electromagnetic radiation based on a calibration instruction. The electromagnetic radiation sensor is configured to receive at least a portion of the electromagnetic radiation when at least a portion of the endoscope is coupled to the enclosure.

Abstract: The present invention is premised upon an improved balloon dilator, more particularly to an improved balloon dilator comprising an expandable balloon, a core wire which extends through the expandable balloon, and a single visual marker band positioned at a geometric center within the balloon dilator which may selectively reflect certain wavelengths of light.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include an apparatus including an enclosure configured to receive an endoscope having an electromagnetic radiation sensor. The apparatus also includes an electromagnetic radiation source having at least a portion disposed within the enclosure. The electromagnetic radiation source is configured to emit electromagnetic radiation based on a calibration instruction. The electromagnetic radiation sensor is configured to receive at least a portion of the electromagnetic radiation when at least a portion of the endoscope is coupled to the enclosure.

Abstract: The present invention is a compact lens system for use as a wide-field photographic objective with small format digital image sensors having a pixel dimension less than 0.010 mm. The f-number of the lens system is 2.9740, and the effective focal length of the system is 3.85 mm. The full angular field of view of the lens system is 61 degrees, and the chief ray incidence angles on the image plane are less than 18 degrees. The system comprises three plastic lenses, each having two aspheric surfaces. At least one of the aspheric surfaces in the system is coated with a multilayer infrared cut-off filter for blocking infrared wavelengths from the image sensors. The lens system has a reduced sensitivity to manufacturing tolerances, particularly lateral misalignment of optical elements and surfaces.

Abstract: The present invention is a compact lens system for use as a wide-field photographic objective with small format digital image sensors having a pixel dimension less than 0.010 mm. The f-number of the lens system is 2.9740, and the effective focal length of the system is 3.85 mm. The full angular field of view of the lens system is 61 degrees, and the chief ray incidence angles on the image plane are less than 18 degrees. The system comprises three plastic lenses, each having two aspheric surfaces. At least one of the aspheric surfaces in the system is coated with a multilayer infrared cut-off filter for blocking infrared wavelengths from the image sensors. The lens system has a reduced sensitivity to manufacturing tolerances, particularly lateral misalignment of optical elements and surfaces.