Patents by Inventor Stefan Schroer
Stefan Schroer has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
-
Patent number: 11819185Abstract: A flexible endoscope for insertion into the human body includes a flexible section arranged in a distal end region of the endoscope. The endoscope further includes a tip segment distally adjoining the flexible section, the tip segment being controllable by at least one tension cord. A skeleton is formed in a flexible controllable section with guide elements that are movable relative to one another, each of which guides at least one tension cord laterally.Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 2021Date of Patent: November 21, 2023Assignee: Scholly Fiberoptic GMBHInventors: Matthias Kühn, Stefan Schröer, Michael Schwärzle, Johannes Bourbon, Lutz Labusch, Erwin Streck, Holger Reinecke
-
Publication number: 20230333452Abstract: To improve the accuracy and the speed of an autofocus method, using which a present best focal plane (13) may be found in an automated manner, which enables a best possible image quality for an object (3), which is located at a specific working distance (11) to an optical imaging system (1), it is provided that at least one parameter used during a z-scan (17) be adapted in an automated manner as a function of a presently set optical zoom level and/or a current estimated value of the working distance (11). During the z-scan (17), a present location of a focal plane (12) of the optical imaging system (1) is displaced within a scanning range (14) along an optical z-axis (8) of the imaging system (1), wherein the individual focal planes (12) are each evaluated to identify the best focal plane (13) among them.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 18, 2023Publication date: October 19, 2023Applicant: Schölly Fiberoptic GmbHInventors: Stefan Schröer, Christian Drobnik
-
Publication number: 20230292994Abstract: An endoscope arrangement (1) including a camera head (2) with at least one distal image sensor (4) and an image-processing unit (3) which is connected to the camera head (2) via a connecting line (14). The connecting line (14) has at least one optical line (15) for transmitting image information. The connecting line (14) additionally has an electrical line (16) for serially transmitting electrical signals, it being possible to transmit electrical control signals bidirectionally via this electrical line.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 14, 2021Publication date: September 21, 2023Applicant: Schölly Fiberoptic GmbHInventors: Daniel HÄRTER, Alexander KÖHLER, Stefan SCHRÖER, Lutz LABUSCH
-
Patent number: 11653085Abstract: To simplify the use of a functional scope of a medical image recording system, for example an endoscopy system, a method is proposed in which an image processing unit of the image recording system recognizes predefined image recording situations on the basis of an image sequence recorded using an image sensor of the image recording system and in response thereto proposes an adaptation to a user that results in an improved display and/or an improved recording of the image sequence in the respective recognized image recording situation. The adaptation can relate here to an algorithm, using which the image sequence is processed after the recording, and/or an image recording method currently used to generate the image sequence.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2020Date of Patent: May 16, 2023Assignee: SCHÖLLY FIBEROPTIC GMBHInventors: Stefan Schröer, Matthias Kühn, Alexander Köhler, Daniel Härter, Joachim Jauss
-
Patent number: 11589741Abstract: An endoscope assembly has an endoscope, having an optical waveguide and having an image guide, wherein the image guide is configured to be uninterrupted up to its proximal end and has an image guide interface at its proximal end for optical connection to an image capturing unit, an illumination unit having a light source and having an optical waveguide interface for optical connection of the light source to an optical waveguide, and an image capturing unit having an image sensor and having an image guide interface for optical connection of the image sensor to an image guide.Type: GrantFiled: November 11, 2020Date of Patent: February 28, 2023Assignee: SCHÖLLY FIBEROPTIC GMBHInventors: Stefan Schröer, Matthias Kühn, Johannes Bourbon, Lutz Labusch, Michael Schwärzle
-
Publication number: 20230028674Abstract: For simplified, less computationally intensive, image recording of different spectral signal components using a plurality of color channels of a single image sensor, a targeted adjustment of a sensitivity of at least one of the color channels in relation to another one of the color channels of the image sensor is provided for a spectral separation of this reduced or adjusted color channel from the other color channel so that at least one certain spectral range (i.e., in particular a part of a first spectral range captured using the other color channel) is no longer detectable using the color channel that has been adjusted in terms of its sensitivity. This adjusted color channel becomes spectrally blind in the spectral range and can consequently spectrally selectively detect a further spectral range (specifically a second spectral range deviating from the first spectral range). The second spectral range may include a fluorescence wavelength.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 21, 2022Publication date: January 26, 2023Applicant: Schölly Fiberoptic GmbHInventors: Johannes BOURBON, Herbert BOHUSCH, Stefan SCHRÖER, Matthias KÜHN
-
Publication number: 20230013267Abstract: In order to improve imaging, in particular for low light intensities, an image recording device, in particular formed as an endoscope, is proposed, which comprises a single photon sensitive detector (SPSD) in addition to an image sensor, which uses photodiodes as light-sensitive cells, in order to respectively detect light from a common object area. With the help of the SPSD, additional image information can be obtained from the object area, to improve the image data recorded with the image sensor or to enhance it with additional image information, in particular with regard to a further spectral range, which is captured with the SPSD.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 12, 2022Publication date: January 19, 2023Applicant: SCHÖLLY FIBEROPTIC GMBHInventors: Michael Schwärzle, Matthias Kühn, Johannes Bourbon, Stefan Schröer, Lutz Labusch
-
Patent number: 11477370Abstract: The invention relates to a method for reconstructing an output image and/or a sequence of output images from raw image data, wherein, in at least one reconstruction chain between a recording of raw image data by means of an image recording device and a display of the output image and/or the sequence of output images on a display unit, at least one reconstruction step for reconstructing the output image and/or the sequence of output images is carried out, and wherein the result of the at least one reconstruction step is discarded when the result is recognized as invalid with respect to the fulfillment of a verification criterion.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 2021Date of Patent: October 18, 2022Assignee: SCHÖLLY FIBEROPTIC GMBHInventors: Stefan Schröer, Matthias Kühn, Alexander Köhler, Daniel Härter, Joachim Jauss
-
Publication number: 20220217262Abstract: A device (1) and a method for transferring a raw image data stream (8) from an image sensor (6) via a data transfer connection (4) between a transmitter (2) and a receiver (3). In this case, the latency of the data transfer connection (4) is determined (S1), and the data rate of the raw image data stream (8) at the transmitter (2) is adapted (S3) to the determined latency.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 5, 2022Publication date: July 7, 2022Applicant: Schölly Fiberoptic GmbHInventors: Stefan SCHRÖER, Johannes BOURBON, Matthias KÜHN, Michael SCHWARZLE, Lutz LABUSCH
-
Publication number: 20210344835Abstract: The invention relates to a method for reconstructing an output image and/or a sequence of output images from raw image data, wherein, in at least one reconstruction chain between a recording of raw image data by means of an image recording device and a display of the output image and/or the sequence of output images on a display unit, at least one reconstruction step for reconstructing the output image and/or the sequence of output images is carried out, and wherein the result of the at least one reconstruction step is discarded when the result is recognized as invalid with respect to the fulfillment of a verification criterion.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 29, 2021Publication date: November 4, 2021Applicant: SCHÖLLY FIBEROPTIC GMBHInventors: STEFAN SCHRÖER, MATTHIAS KÜHN, ALEXANDER KÖHLER, DANIEL HÄRTER, JOACHIM JAUSS
-
Publication number: 20210330175Abstract: In the case of an endoscope, it is proposed that an investment composition consisting of a flexible, controllable section be anchored in a counter bearing, which forms a support surface for the respective flexible section.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 22, 2021Publication date: October 28, 2021Applicant: SCHÖLLY FIBEROPTIC GMBHInventors: Matthias Kühn, Stefan Schröer, Michael Schwärzle, Johannes Bourbon, Lutz Labusch, Erwin Streck, Holger Reinecke
-
Publication number: 20210330178Abstract: It is proposed that, in the case of an endoscope, a skeleton be formed in a flexible, controllable section with guide elements that are movable relative to one another, each of which guides at least one tension cord laterally.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 22, 2021Publication date: October 28, 2021Applicant: SCHÖLLY FIBEROPTIC GMBHInventors: MATTHIAS KÜHN, STEFAN SCHRÖER, MICHAEL SCHWÄRZLE, JOHANNES BOURBON, LUTZ LABUSCH, ERWIN STRECK, HOLGER REINECKE
-
Publication number: 20210152786Abstract: An endoscope assembly has an endoscope, having an optical waveguide and having an image guide, wherein the image guide is configured to be uninterrupted up to its proximal end and has an image guide interface at its proximal end for optical connection to an image capturing unit, an illumination unit having a light source and having an optical waveguide interface for optical connection of the light source to an optical waveguide, and an image capturing unit having an image sensor and having an image guide interface for optical connection of the image sensor to an image guide.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 11, 2020Publication date: May 20, 2021Applicant: SCHÖLLY FIBEROPTIC GMBHInventors: STEFAN SCHRÖER, MATTHIAS KÜHN, JOHANNES BOURBON, LUTZ LABUSCH, MICHAEL SCHWÄRZLE
-
Patent number: 11006049Abstract: A visualization module (1, 50, 100, 200), in particular for an endoscope (2), having an image sensor (3) and an illumination unit (4) for lighting a field of view of the image sensor (3), wherein the illumination unit (4) is arranged in the shadow of the image sensor (3) in the case of light that is incident perpendicularly on an end face (32) of the visualization module (1, 50, 100, 200), and the image sensor (3) and the illumination unit (4) are encapsulated at least partially in a transparent encapsulation material (5). A method for producing a visualization module (1, 50, 100, 200) is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2019Date of Patent: May 11, 2021Assignee: Schölly Fiberoptic GmbHInventors: Matthias Kuhn, Maximilian Gotz, Johannes Bourbon, Stefan Schroer, Holger Reinecke
-
Publication number: 20210014410Abstract: To simplify the use of a functional scope of a medical image recording system, for example an endoscopy system, a method is proposed in which an image processing unit of the image recording system recognizes predefined image recording situations on the basis of an image sequence recorded using an image sensor of the image recording system and in response thereto proposes an adaptation to a user that results in an improved display and/or an improved recording of the image sequence in the respective recognized image recording situation. The adaptation can relate here to an algorithm, using which the image sequence is processed after the recording, and/or an image recording method currently used to generate the image sequence.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 10, 2020Publication date: January 14, 2021Applicant: SCHÖLLY FIBEROPTIC GMBHInventors: STEFAN SCHRÖER, MATTHIAS KÜHN, ALEXANDER KÖHLER, DANIEL HÄRTER, JOACHIM JAUSS
-
Publication number: 20210007588Abstract: In summary, to simplify operation of a medical image acquisition system, it is proposed that the image acquisition system continuously monitors a current image acquisition situation and assigns at least one new function to at least one, preferably manual, operating element, which is adapted to a detected new image acquisition situation, in response to a change in the image acquisition situation, to the extent that said newly assigned function is adjustable and/or operable with the at least one operating element. To this end, the image acquisition system can detect the change in the image acquisition situation using predefined parameters by means of sensors and/or through communication with peripheral units and/or preferably through image analysis of an image sequence which is recorded with an image sensor of the image acquisition system.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 10, 2020Publication date: January 14, 2021Applicant: SCHÖLLY FIBEROPTIC GMBHInventors: STEFAN SCHRÖER, MATTHIAS KÜHN, ALEXANDER KÖHLER, DANIEL HÄRTER, JOACHIM JAUSS
-
Publication number: 20190246027Abstract: A visualization module (1, 50, 100, 200), in particular for an endoscope (2), having an image sensor (3) and an illumination unit (4) for lighting a field of view of the image sensor (3), wherein the illumination unit (4) is arranged in the shadow of the image sensor (3) in the case of light that is incident perpendicularly on an end face (32) of the visualization module (1, 50, 100, 200), and the image sensor (3) and the illumination unit (4) are encapsulated at least partially in a transparent encapsulation material (5). A method for producing a visualization module (1, 50, 100, 200) is also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 23, 2019Publication date: August 8, 2019Applicant: Scholly Fiberoptic GmbHInventors: Matthias Kuhn, Maximilian Gotz, Johannes Bourbon, Stefan Schroer, Holger Reinecke
-
Publication number: 20190191963Abstract: An image transfer arrangement (1) for the wireless transfer of image information items between a transmitter (4) and a receiver (8), wherein at least two communication channels (11) which are physically independent of one another are formed between the transmitter (4) and the receiver (8) and enable impairment and interference-free communication.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 5, 2018Publication date: June 27, 2019Applicant: Schölly Fiberoptic GmbHInventors: Matthias Kuhn, Alexander Kohler, Stefan Schroer