Abstract: An endoscope system includes a processor configured to generate a clock at predetermined timing, a light source apparatus configured to irradiate white light and excitation light in a time division manner in synchronization with the clock, and an endoscope configured to perform image pickup based on irradiation timing of the light source apparatus. The processor generates a first white light image at a first clock, generates a first fluorescent image at a second clock, generates a second white light image at a third clock, and generates a third white light image at a fourth clock and superimposes the second white light image and the first fluorescent image at the fourth clock and superimposes the third white light image and the first fluorescent image at a fifth clock.

Abstract: A medical system can include a light source configured to generate excitation light; and a processor including a memory, the processor: controlling energy supplied to an energy device, the light source generating the excitation light to generate fluorescence from the living body tissue heat treated by the energy device; generating a fluorescence image based on an image pickup signal obtained by imaging the living body tissue; and generating a control signal that restricts energy supply to the energy device and output the control signal to the energy control apparatus when a pixel value of at least one pixel in the fluorescence image exceeds a first threshold value.

Abstract: An imaging device includes a processor. The processor, in a manual focus mode, sets a focus evaluation area to have a larger size than the focus evaluation area set in an auto focus mode, generates assist information assisting adjustment of the in-focus object plane position based on a focus evaluation value obtained from an image of the focus evaluation area, and outputting the assist information to a display section.

Abstract: An endoscope system is provided with: a processor; a light source; and an image pickup device. The processor performs control for causing reflected light images corresponding to a predetermined period before start of the fluorescence occurrence period during the fluorescence non-occurrence period, among the reflected light images, to be recorded to the first storage medium; and, furthermore, performs control for causing the reflected light images to be recorded to the first storage medium during an after-end-of-fluorescence-occurrence period corresponding to a predetermined period with an end of the fluorescence occurrence period as a start point, and performs control for causing the reflected light images not to be recorded to the first storage medium during the fluorescence non-occurrence period after an end of the after-end-of-fluorescence-occurrence period.

Abstract: An endoscope system is provided with: an illumination device configured to alternately irradiate first and second light with different wavelengths by time division; an imaging lens capable of changing a focus position; an imaging sensor configured to acquire each of first and second images related to the first and second light; and a processor. The processor detects a first focused position based on the first image and detects a second focused position based on the second image; and the processor drives the imaging lens to the first focused position prior to acquiring the first image, and drives the imaging lens to the second focused position prior to acquiring the second image.

Abstract: An endoscope system includes a processor configured to generate a clock at predetermined timing, a light source apparatus configured to irradiate white light and excitation light in a time division manner in synchronization with the clock, and an endoscope configured to perform image pickup based on irradiation timing of the light source apparatus. The processor generates a first white light image at a first clock, generates a first fluorescent image at a second clock, generates a second white light image at a third clock, and generates a third white light image at a fourth clock and superimposes the second white light image and the first fluorescent image at the fourth clock and superimposes the third white light image and the first fluorescent image at a fifth clock.

Abstract: An endoscope system is provided with: a processor; a light source; and an image pickup device. The processor performs control for causing reflected light images corresponding to a predetermined period before start of the fluorescence occurrence period during the fluorescence non-occurrence period, among the reflected light images, to be recorded to the first storage medium; and, furthermore, performs control for causing the reflected light images to be recorded to the first storage medium during an after-end-of-fluorescence-occurrence period corresponding to a predetermined period with an end of the fluorescence occurrence period as a start point, and performs control for causing the reflected light images not to be recorded to the first storage medium during the fluorescence non-occurrence period after an end of the after-end-of-fluorescence-occurrence period.

Abstract: An endoscope apparatus includes an optical system including a focus lens, a connector to which an interchangeable optical system is connected, an image sensor configured to output a captured image based on the optical system and the interchangeable optical system, and a processor including hardware. The processor performs a determination process of determining whether the interchangeable optical system is a known or unknown optical system, implements a first step amount determination process when the interchangeable optical system is determined to be a known optical system, and implements a second step amount determination process when the interchangeable optical system is determined to be an unknown optical system and controls the focus lens based on step amount information determined.

Abstract: A laparoscopic surgical method including: observing an interior of an abdominal cavity by using a laparoscope and selecting an optical clearing site to be subjected to optically clearing of fat tissue that covers target tissue; allowing an optical clearing agent to act on the selected optical clearing site; checking visibility of the target tissue through the optical clearing site on which the optical clearing agent has been allowed to act; and treating the target tissue while observing, by using the laparoscope, the target tissue the visibility of which has been checked.

Abstract: An endoscope system includes a convex-portion specifying section that detects a convex portion in a picked-up image of a subject picked up by an image pickup section, and a convex-portion-size calculating section that detects a convex portion in a predetermined size range on the basis of information concerning the convex portion. An illumination section includes a plurality of illumination-light emitting sections that illuminate the subject with lights in bands different from one another from directions different from one another. The plurality of illumination-light emitting sections are provided on a distal end side inner circumferential surface of a cylindrical cap attached to the distal end of an insertion section of an endoscope to specify an image pickup range of the image pickup section.

Abstract: An arthroscopical surgical method including administering a fluorescent chemical agent into a joint, which is a treatment target, allowing the fluorescent chemical agent to be adsorbed by a degenerated region that has degenerated from a normal region in a cartilage inside the joint, which is the treatment target, displaying and observing an emission of fluorescence from the degenerated region, which has adsorbed the fluorescent chemical agent, by infrared excitation light on a display through an arthroscope, and allowing a surgeon to recognize the degenerated region in the cartilage inside the joint, which is the treatment target.

Abstract: In an arthroendoscopical surgical method, a resection target area, and a freshening treatment area which becomes repair surfaces with bleeding, are identified, and a resection line and a freshening line are drawn on a tear site in a meniscus, which is emphasized by fluorescence with use of a fluorescent medicine under excitation light. Using an ultrasonic treatment tool and an arthroscope, the resection target area is resected by a probe which generates ultrasonic vibrations, based on the resection line and freshening line under visible-light illumination. Thus, an inclined resection surface is formed, and planar repair surfaces with bleeding are joined and repaired.

Abstract: An arthroscopical surgical method using an ultrasonic treatment device for a joint includes: transmitting ultrasonic vibration to a treatment portion of the ultrasonic treatment device, removing an injured region of an articular cartilage so that a subchondral bone is exposed, and forming a cartilage edge which is nearly angled at 90° with the exposed surface of the subchondral bone to form a pool-shaped depression; forming a hole which pierces up to a cancellous bone of the subchondral bone through the depression, and scratching blood vessels in the cancellous bone; causing bleeding from the blood vessels so that blood is retained in the depression via the hole.

Abstract: An endoscope apparatus includes an optical system including a focus lens, a connector to which an interchangeable optical system is connected, an image sensor configured to output a captured image based on the optical system and the interchangeable optical system, and a processor including hardware. The processor performs a determination process of determining whether the interchangeable optical system is a known or unknown optical system, implements a first step amount determination process when the interchangeable optical system is determined to be a known optical system, and implements a second step amount determination process when the interchangeable optical system is determined to be an unknown optical system and controls the focus lens based on step amount information determined.

Abstract: An imaging device includes a processor. The processor, in a manual focus mode, sets a focus evaluation area to have a larger size than the focus evaluation area set in an auto focus mode, generates assist information assisting adjustment of the in-focus object plane position based on a focus evaluation value obtained from an image of the focus evaluation area, and outputting the assist information to a display section.

Abstract: In an arthroendoscopical surgical method, a resection target area, which is emphasized by fluorescence with use of a fluorescent agent under excitation light, is identified on a meniscus, and a resection line or an imaginary resection line is drawn. Using an ultrasonic treatment tool and an arthroscope, the resection target area is resected by a probe which generates ultrasonic vibrations, based on the resection line or imaginary resection line under visible-light illumination, and an inclined resection surface is formed.

Abstract: An endoscope system includes: an illumination unit configured to irradiate a visual field area with illumination light that produces return light from a specific substance; a sensor unit having a two-dimensional surface on which a plurality of pixels is arranged for receiving the return light from the visual field area and photoelectrically converting the return light to generate electrical signals; a reading unit configured to read out the electrical signals per a specified frame cycle; a reset pulse generation unit configured to generate reset pulses for releasing electric charges accumulated in the plurality of pixels; a reset pulse controller configured to adjust timing of generating the reset pulses such that a plurality of frame cycles is included in a period between generation of two consecutive reset pulses; and an illumination controller configured to cause the illumination unit to emit the illumination light in each of the plurality of frame cycles.

Abstract: In an arthroendoscopical surgical method, a resection target area, which is emphasized by fluorescence with use of a fluorescent agent under excitation light, is identified on a meniscus, and a resection line or an imaginary resection line is drawn. Using an ultrasonic treatment tool and an arthroscope, the resection target area is resected by a probe which generates ultrasonic vibrations, based on the resection line or imaginary resection line under visible-light illumination, and an inclined resection surface is formed.

Abstract: In an arthroendoscopical surgical method, a resection target area, and a freshening treatment area which becomes repair surfaces with bleeding, are identified, and a resection line and a freshening line are drawn on a tear site in a meniscus, which is emphasized by fluorescence with use of a fluorescent medicine under excitation light. Using an ultrasonic treatment tool and an arthroscope, the resection target area is resected by a probe which generates ultrasonic vibrations, based on the resection line and freshening line under visible-light illumination. Thus, an inclined resection surface is formed, and planar repair surfaces with bleeding are joined and repaird.

Abstract: An arthroscopical surgical method using an ultrasonic treatment device for a joint includes: transmitting ultrasonic vibration to a treatment portion of the ultrasonic treatment device, removing an injured region of an articular cartilage so that a subchondral bone is exposed, and forming a cartilage edge which is nearly angled at 90° with the exposed surface of the subchondral bone to form a pool-shaped depression; forming a hole which pierces up to a cancellous bone of the subchondral bone through the depression, and scratching blood vessels in the cancellous bone; causing bleeding from the blood vessels so that blood is retained in the depression via the hole.