Abstract: A vacuum cleaner for removing debris from a surface to be cleaned includes a suction chamber having a suction nozzle opening, a source of suction in fluid communication with the suction chamber, a brushroll provided within the suction chamber, and a roller provided in a roller chamber in front of the brushroll.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner main body capable of picking up images over a wide range by a camera securely without being interrupted by any obstacles. The vacuum cleaner main body includes a main casing, a camera capable of picking up images and provided in the main casing, driving wheels for enabling the main casing to travel, a sensor part provided in the main casing to detect a distance to an obstacle around the main casing, and a control unit. The control unit has at least a traveling mode and an image pickup mode. In the image pickup mode, the control unit makes the main casing autonomously travel to an image pickup position where no obstacles within a certain distance around the main casing are detected by the sensor part and where still images in a plurality of directions are picked up.

Abstract: An autonomous mobile apparatus such that damage to a camera thereof can be avoided. The autonomous mobile apparatus includes: a main body case; a running gear for moving the main body case when placed on the floor; a driving force source for driving the running gear; a robot controller for controlling the driving force source so that the main body case autonomously moves on the floor; a bumper disposed on the front side of the main body case; and a camera unit disposed on the rear side of a side surface of the main body case and images the area behind the main body case.

Abstract: A robot cleaner including: a main body, a driving unit configured to move the main body, and a suction device provided in the main body and configured to suction outside foreign substances, and the suction device may include a first suction member having a suction port provided at a bottom surface of the main body and configured to suction the foreign substances, and at least one second suction member formed to move relative to the first suction member and having a suction port configured to suction the foreign substances.

Abstract: A cleaner head for a vacuum cleaner having a suction inlet, a front blade and a rear blade. The front blade is located forward of or at the front of the suction inlet and is arranged to pivot about a first axis. The rear blade is located rearward of or at the rear of the suction inlet and is arranged to pivot about a second axis different to the first axis. Each blade pivots between a deployed position and a retracted position. The blades are configured such that when one of the blades is in the deployed position, the other of the blades is in the retracted position. Additionally, when one of the blades moves from the deployed position to the retracted position, the other of the blades moves from the retracted position to the deployed position.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner capable of ensuring communication between a suction port and a dust collecting unit even in a state that a body portion of a cleaning unit has pivoted along an up/down direction relative to a main casing. The body portion is provided on the main casing to be pivotable along the up/down direction. A sliding-contact surface portion is provided in the body portion and curved along a pivoting direction of the body portion. A curved surface portion is provided in the communicating section body and curved along the pivoting direction of the body portion to be brought into sliding contact with the sliding-contact surface portion by pivoting motion of the body portion. A communicating opening is opened in the curved surface portion to communicate with the dust collecting unit.

Abstract: An electric blower comprising: an electric motor; and a fan rotated by the electric motor, wherein the electric motor includes a stator, a rotor connected to the fan, and a frame accommodating the stator and the rotor, the stator includes a plurality of stator cores respectively having a core tooth portion facing the rotor, a coil portion attached to the stator core to form a magnetic pole at the core tooth portion, and a spacer inserted between the stator cores to press the stator cores against the frame, and the frame includes a regulation portion regulating position of the stator core pressed by the spacer.

Abstract: In a first mode, a control unit controls operation of driving wheels so that a main casing is made to travel straight and, upon detection of an object by an object sensor, the main casing is changed in traveling direction and made to travel straight. In a second mode, the control unit controls the operation of the driving wheels so that the main casing travels in a curved shape along an object detected by the object sensor. When a charging device is not found by a signal reception part during traveling within a region by the first mode, the control unit is changed over to the second mode. The control unit is changed over to the first mode when it is decided a specified number of times or more that the main casing has moved to a different region by the second mode.

Abstract: A multi-purpose mop. The multi-purpose mop may comprise a mop head, which may have a plurality of bristles on a first side, a squeegee on an opposite side, and a fabric attachment portion on a bottom face.

Abstract: A liquid containing system for a floor cleaning device, the liquid containing system comprising an outlet having a plurality of openings (H) to allow a liquid (W) to be extracted by means of capillary force when a mopping substrate, e.g. a cloth (C), is mounted against the plurality of openings (H), after filling the liquid containing system being substantially closed but for the plurality of openings (H).

Abstract: A surface cleaning apparatus, such as a steam mop, includes a steam delivery system having a steam delivery pathway. A fragrance dispenser for receiving a fragrant material is provided on the apparatus, and a portion of the steam delivery pathway is in in heat exchange relationship with the fragrance dispenser to heat the fragrant material in the fragrance dispenser by heat transfer from the steam in the pathway. Fragrance is dispensed from apparatus via heat transfer utilizing the steam pathway as a thermal radiation source.

Abstract: A cleaning tool includes a shaft extending from a proximal end to a distal end, where the shaft has a handle at the proximal end and a tool head at the distal end; and a sock removably mountable on the tool head. The tool head may include a through hole, and the sock may include a fastener with a first coupling member and a second coupling member, where the first and second coupling members are constructed to align with and couple through the through hole on the tool head. Alternatively the tool head includes one or more coupling members and the sock includes one or more corresponding coupling members constructed align with and couple with the one or more coupling members on the tool head.

Abstract: A main housing provides a first reservoir and a second reservoir. Water flows from the first reservoir to the second reservoir. A draining aperture in the first reservoir directs water from the first reservoir to the second reservoir. The water may be flushed from the first reservoir to the second reservoir. In another embodiment, the water may flow directly from the first tank to the second tank without the flush. A pump circulates water from the second reservoir to the first reservoir. The pump directs the water through a filtration system to filter the water to remove at least some of the dirt, debris, and other contaminants from the water. The filtered water is then returned to the first reservoir. An overflow relief in a dividing wall of the first reservoir directs overflow water to the second reservoir.

Abstract: Equipment and method for a system implementing a multistep washing process, with a chemical container (110A-110D) for each chemical (111A-111D) and means for conveying one chemical at a time from the container through a feed channel (120) to a washing object (100) and from the washing object through a return channel (130) back to the container. First and second sensors (122, 132) monitor a first parameter set in the feed channel (120) and a second parameter set in the return channel (130), respectively. Both parameter sets include parameter(s) indicating the purity of the chemical. A control center (150) includes calculation means (153) arranged to determine the mutual uniformity of the first and second monitored parameter sets. Action time of the chemical is determined on the basis of the mutual uniformity of the first and the second monitored parameter sets.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a bowl-type dish washer comprising: a body; a water tank in the body; a water supply coupled to the water tank; a rotation driver in the body; a rotation shaft coupled to the driver; a cleaning unit removably coupled to the rotation shaft; a curved plate coupled to the body at a top thereof; and a removable cover removably coupled to the curved plate, wherein the removable cover has multiple bowl-type dish supporters formed on an inner side thereof, wherein the multiple bowl-type dish supporters have different sizes based on the size of the bowl-type dishes, wherein the removable cover has a horizontal partition to define a detergent receiving space.

Abstract: A dishwasher, including a chamber for washing dishes and a chamber for storing dishes is provided. A mechanism is also provided allowing the dish racks to move the dishes from the washing chamber to the storage chamber of the dishwasher once the wash is completed.

Abstract: A rinse arm system for a warewasher includes a rinse arm (1) rotatable about a rotation axis (D), a locking mechanism (2) connected to the rinse arm (1) such that the locking mechanism (2) is rotatable with respect to the rinse arm (1), and a bushing (3). The locking mechanism (2) is latched in an interlocking manner to the bushing (3) or clamped in a force-fitting manner to the bushing (3) such that the locking mechanism (2) is fixedly connected to the bushing (3) and the rinse arm (1) is rotatable about the rotation axis (D) with respect to the bushing (3).

Abstract: A dishwasher for treating utensils in the dishwasher wherein the dishwasher has a tub at least partially defining a treating chamber, a liquid spray system, a liquid recirculation system fluidly coupling the treating chamber to the spray system to recirculate wash liquid from the treating chamber to the spray system, and filters capable of removing particles from the wash liquid.

Abstract: A top loading dishwasher including: a housing; a control panel; a top door; a handle; a inner center column; and a series of dish trays along the center column. Preferably, each tray includes removal and sectional dish racks. The top loading dishwasher is adapted for installation into a corner of a room. Other features of the top loading dishwasher are that each dish tray is circular and the center column attaches to the top door. In one exemplary embodiment, a hook system supports the each dish tray on the center column.

Abstract: A mobile dishwasher comprises a washer having a nozzle for discharging a cleaning fluid, and a first cart being configured to be detachably coupled to the washer. The first cart comprises two or more side-openings for receiving soiled utensils before being coupled to the washer.

Abstract: A drying mat has a first microfiber layer, a second microfiber layer, and a foam layer. The first microfiber layer and the second microfiber layer are joined to the foam layer with the first microfiber layer having a surface adjoining the foam layer and an opposite exposed surface and with the second microfiber layer having a surface adjoining the foam layer and an opposite exposed surface. The first microfiber layer exposed surface has two loops spaced apart from one another across the first microfiber layer exposed surface at a distance that corresponds to a dimension of a mount of an accessory to be used with the drying mat and that allows the loops to cooperate with each other to engage the mount of the accessory.

Abstract: A foldable dish rack having a case including a base, a lid, and a side wall extending from the periphery of at least a portion of the base, and a mat including a plurality of projections and a first mat hinge dividing a first mat portion and a second mat portion that provides for the second mat portion to fold relative the first mat portion from a planar configuration to a folded configuration whereby the second mat portion rests flat on the first mat portion, with the lid connected to a portion of the side wall by a case hinge such that the lid is capable of converting from a closed configuration against the side walls to an open configuration approximately perpendicular to a plane of the base.

Abstract: A storage and cleaning device in accordance with this disclosure is a multi-compartment. case for cleaning and storing one or more items, such as earrings. One end of the device can contain antibiotic cream for dispensing to protect and soothe a person's piercings. The other end of the device can hold a choice of treatment fluid for cleaning purposes, such as to clean ears or earrings. The center of the device can comprise a flip top lid or otherwise accessible compartment to securely hold one or more suitable items, such as jewelry items, and particularly earrings for example. Users can customize the look of the case with one or more optional sticker sheets.

Abstract: An endoscope flexible tube according to the present invention includes: a spiral tube configured such that a belt-like plate is spirally wound; an inner cylindrical member disposed inside an end part of the spiral tube; and an outer cylindrical member that is disposed outside the end part of the spiral tube, and holds the end part of the spiral tube between the inner cylindrical member and the outer cylindrical member. The inner cylindrical member has an outer diameter that is set larger than an inner diameter of the spiral tube, and the end part of the spiral tube is deformed to enlarge the inner diameter of the end part, and is externally fitted to the inner cylindrical member.

Abstract: There is provided a processor device for an endoscope capable of acquiring a blood vessel index value of a specific observation distance used for predetermined diagnostic criteria. A distance acquisition unit acquires a non-magnified observation distance at the start of the change of the imaging magnification, and acquires magnified observation distance at the end of the change of the imaging magnification. A distance ratio calculation unit calculates a first distance ratio between the non-magnified observation distance and the magnified observation distance. A blood vessel index value calculation unit calculates a blood vessel index value of the non-magnified observation distance from the image signal acquired at the non-magnified observation distance. An index value correction unit corrects the blood vessel index value of the non-magnified observation distance according to the first distance ratio to acquire a blood vessel index value of the magnified observation distance.

Abstract: A capsule endoscope system includes a capsule endoscope and a receiving device. The capsule endoscope outputs execution command at a timing at which work instruction data is received when movement speed is low, and outputs the execution command at a timing at which output of the execution command is instructed when the movement speed is high. The receiving device generates the work execution condition data and the work instruction data based on operations of an operator, and transmits the work execution condition data and the work instruction data to the capsule endoscope.

Abstract: A light source illumination unit has operation modes including at least a normal electric power mode to operate with first electric power consumption, and a low electric power mode to operate with second electric power consumption lower than the first electric power consumption. A controller selects at least one of the operation modes in accordance with a use schedule, and controls the light source illumination unit in accordance with the selected operation mode.

Abstract: A light source illumination unit has operation modes including at least a normal electric power mode to operate with first electric power consumption, and a low electric power mode to operate with second electric power consumption lower than the first electric power consumption. A controller selects at least one of the operation modes in accordance with the current usage, and controls the light source illumination unit in accordance with the selected operation mode.

Abstract: An articulating mechanism for use in a medical device, such as an endoscope or a catheter, includes a series of stacked links disposed adjacent to one another and movable with respect to each other. Each link includes a front face tapered to a pair of pivot points and a rear face defining a wedge shaped recess for receiving the pivot points of the adjacent link. Pull-wires provide tension and hold the staked links together while also allowing for controlled bending of the distal portion by movement of one or more of the pull-wires.

Abstract: Devices and methods for treating rhinitis are provided. An integrated therapy and imaging device is provided for single handheld use. The device may have a hollow elongated cannula, a therapeutic element coupled to a distal portion of the cannula, an imaging assembly coupled to the cannula to provide visualization of the therapeutic element, and an articulating region operably coupled to the imaging assembly to articulate the imaging assembly. The imaging assembly may be articulated so as to translate vertically, laterally, axially, and/or rotationally.

Abstract: Several embodiments of the present invention are generally directed to medical visualization systems that comprise combinations of disposable and resuable components, such as catheters, functional handles, hubs, optical devices, etc. Other embodiments of the present invention are generally directed to features and aspects of an in-vivo visualization system that comprises an endoscope having a working channel through which a catheter having viewing capabilities is routed. the catheter may obtain viewing capabilities by being constructed as a vision catheter or by having a fiberscope or other viewing device selectively routed through one of its channels. The catheter is preferably of the steerable type so that the distal end of the catheter may be steered from its proximal end as it is advanced with the body. A suitable use for the in-vivo visualization system includes but is not limited to diagnosis and/or treatment of the duodenum, and particularly the biliary tree.

Abstract: An endoscope according to the present invention includes an elongated insertion section that is inserted into a subject, an attachment portion that is provided on the insertion section, and to which a circular cylindrical external appliance is attached, and a locking member that is disposed on a more distal end side of the insertion section than the attachment portion, and that prevents removal of the external appliance from the insertion section by abutting against a surface, of the external appliance, facing a distal end.

Abstract: An instrument port for introducing an instrument into a surgical site includes a port body, a bulb disposed on the distal end of the port body, and a channel extending from a proximal end to a distal end of the instrument port. The channel includes an instrument channel defined in the port body and a bulb channel defined in the bulb. An imaging system is disposed at or near the distal end of the instrument port. The imaging system is fluidically isolated from the surgical site.

Abstract: A medical system includes: a plurality f monitors each configured to display a video signal of a different type; a touch panel configured to display an operation screen where a selecting operation is performed; a video output discrimination portion configured to discriminate a monitor capable of displaying the video signal of the peripheral device for which the selecting operation is performed by referring to a table in which the peripheral device is associated with the monitor capable of displaying the video signal; a data holding portion configured to hold a monitor identification video for identifying the monitor capable of displaying the video signal and information on the corresponding monitor; and a peripheral device control portion configured to perform control so as to display the monitor identification video held in the data holding portion on the discriminated monitor, depending on a discrimination result of the video output discrimination portion.

Abstract: An endoscope includes: an insertion portion; a first observation portion configured to observe a first area including a front of the insertion portion; a second observation portion configured to observe a second area including a side of the insertion portion and be adjacent to the first area; a first illumination portion configured to irradiate the second area with first illumination light; and a second illumination portion configured to irradiate the second area with second illumination light, and the second illumination portion performs irradiation with the second illumination light of a light quantity equal to a light quantity for which the first illumination light in a range observed in the second observation portion and illumination light from an illumination portion configured to irradiate the first area with the illumination light are put together.

Abstract: An observation system includes: a light source portion configured to generate light of a first wavelength band, and light of a second wavelength band; an emphasizing processing portion configured to perform processing for highlighting a structure positioned in a layer of a predetermined depth in the biological tissue, to an image obtained by picking up an image of return light from the biological tissue; a selecting portion configured to change an emphasis amount; and a control portion configured to increase a ratio of a light quantity of the light of the second wavelength band to the light quantity of the light of the first wavelength band when the emphasis amount is increased, or decrease the ratio of the light quantity of the light of the second wavelength band to the light quantity of the light of the first wavelength band when the emphasis amount is decreased.

Abstract: An insertion device assembly for nasal sinuses includes: a guide pipe bent portion on the distal side of the guide pipe main body; a guide pipe distal opening on the distal side of the bent portion; a sheath inserted into the bent portion and the guide pipe distal opening from a proximal side opening of the main body through the main body to be movable back and forth; a sheath distal opening at the distal side of the sheath; an insertion portion of an endoscope inserted through the sheath to be movable back and forth; and an endoscope operation portion passing the sheath distal opening and the distal end of the insertion portion of the endoscope through the bent portion and protruding the distal end of the insertion portion of the endoscope from the guide pipe distal opening.

Abstract: A speculum is provided, comprising two or more blades moveable between an open and a closed position. A polyisoprene or silicone tubular sheath is attached to at least one of the blades, the sheath being arranged to retain the lateral walls of the body cavity when the blades are in the open position. Sheath attachment means provided on one of the speculum blades facilitate attachment of the sheath to the blade, the attachment means comprising at least one patch or strip of adhesive material extending in a longitudinal direction of the blade.

Abstract: An endo-optic illuminator has a compartment, a divider within the compartment, and a fiber optic cable in optical communication with the divider and with the light source of a microscope. The fiber optic cable transmits the light through its length. The cable has two ends: a tip and a base. A user then positions the cable to emit light with the tip proximate a patient's eye. Opposite the tip, the base connects the cable to the light source. The divider redirects light from the light source into the base of the fiber optic cable and then onward to illuminate its tip. The divider includes a prism, beam splitter, mirror flip, occluder, shutter, and the like. The fiber optic cable transmits light with less than a 10% loss of candlepower along its length. The illuminator replaces a second separate light source currently used by ophthalmologists.

Abstract: Provided is an image processing apparatus, including: an information acquiring unit configured to acquire three-dimensional polarization tomographic information and three-dimensional motion contrast information of an object to be inspected using tomographic signals of light beams having polarizations different from each other, which are obtained by splitting combined light obtained by combining return light from the object to be inspected irradiated with measuring light and reference light corresponding to the measuring light; an extracting unit configured to extract a specific region of the object to be inspected using the three-dimensional polarization tomographic information; and an image generating unit configured to generate a motion contrast enface image of the extracted specific region using the three-dimensional motion contrast information.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for improving overall vision in patients suffering from a loss of vision in a portion of the retina (e.g., loss of central vision) by providing a dual optic intraocular lens which redirects and/or focuses light incident on the eye at oblique angles onto a peripheral retinal location. The intraocular lens can include a redirection element (e.g., a prism, a diffractive element, or an optical component with a decentered GRIN profile) configured to direct incident light along a deflected optical axis and to focus an image at a location on the peripheral retina. Optical properties of the intraocular lens can be configured to improve or reduce peripheral errors at the location on the peripheral retina. One or more surfaces of the intraocular lens can be a toric surface, a higher order aspheric surface, an aspheric Zernike surface or a Biconic Zernike surface to reduce optical errors in an image produced at a peripheral retinal location by light incident at oblique angles.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in the measurement of the optical density of macular pigment in the human eye, and an apparatus for the use in measuring the lens optical density of a human eye. The apparatus is particularly applicable to flicker photometers, which are used to measure the macular pigment in the human eye.

Abstract: A server in communication with a first device capable of receiving input from a camera attached to the first device, and a second device capable of displaying output, is provided. The server is configured to receive, from the first device, data relating to characteristics of the camera and characteristics of an image obtained by the camera of a screen of the second device; determine a screen pixel length of the screen; and provide instructions to the second device to display on the screen an object at a desired visual angle in response to the data received from the second device and the screen pixel length, while the first device is positioned at an arbitrary distance from the screen.

Abstract: Systems and methods that use interference signal from a sample tissue (e.g. retina) obtained in a self-referenced manner to obtain one or more characteristics about the sample tissue, such as thickness and intensity information, are discussed in the present disclosure. One example method of analyzing the sample tissue using an interferometry system includes illuminating the sample tissue with a beam of light using a spectrally broadband source. Scattered light signal is collected from the sample tissue at a detector. The signal results from optical interference between light scattered from multiple scatterers located at different depths in the tissue. The light signal is dominated by light scattered from a scatterer located within the bulk of the tissue. One or more characteristics of the sample tissue are determined based on the collected signal.

Abstract: Provided is an ophthalmologic apparatus, including: a scan unit configured to repeat two-dimensional scanning on a fundus of an eye to be inspected with measuring light; an image generation unit configured to generate a two-dimensional image of the fundus based on reflected light of the measuring light from the fundus that is two-dimensionally scanned; and a control unit configured to control, in the two-dimensional scanning, an amount of the measuring light that is radiated to the fundus and is not used to generate the two-dimensional image to be smaller than an amount of the measuring light that is radiated to the fundus and is used to generate the two-dimensional image.

Abstract: Systems, devices, methods, and kits for monitoring one or more physiologic and/or physical signals from a subject are disclosed. A system including a head mounted display to monitor one or more physiologic signals from the face or head of the subject is disclosed. A method for analyzing an ocular parameter of the subject to determine a sympathetic and a parasympathetic outflow thereto is disclosed.

Abstract: An optical equipment suitable for observation of an iridocorneal annular zone of an eye including: an illumination assembly, including at least one illumination electric device for illuminating the zone with a plurality of illumination optical paths for illumination light beams going to a corresponding plurality of sub-portions, an image capturing assembly, including at least one image capturing electric device for capturing images of the zone with a plurality of imaging optical paths for imaging light beams coming from a corresponding plurality of sub-portions, and a front optical assembly having a front surface located close to front surface of an eye, a rear surface located far from front surface of an eye, and including a central portion between the front and rear surfaces and a lateral portion around the central portion; the front optical assembly is stationary; all imaging optical paths pass through central portion between the front and rear surfaces.

Abstract: A fundus imaging apparatus according to embodiments of the present invention includes an optical unit configured to guide light from a fiber light source to a fundus of a subject eye, a wavefront sensor capable of measuring the wavefront of reflected light guided via the optical unit after the light from the fiber light source is reflected on the fundus, a wavefront correction device provided on an optical path extending between the fiber light source and the subject eye to correct the wavefront of the reflected light, an APD that can receive the reflected light and capture an image of the fundus, and a processing and control unit configured to acquire thickness information about an optical diffusive layer of the fundus and determine a correction value to be used when the wavefront correction device corrects the wavefront of the reflected light based on the acquired thickness information.

Abstract: An optical coherence tomography includes a light source, a light separator, a light generator configured to generate interference light, a detector configured to detect the interference light, a first optical element, and at least one of second optical elements comprising a pair of surfaces, and performs forming a tomographic image of a subject. The first optical element is arranged on a measurement light path so as to be closest to the subject, and satisfies at least one of following conditional formulas: ?(W?S)<U?2Z<X?W; ??[a2] U?2Z<?W; and ??[b1] U?2Z>X?W+S, ??[c2] W: a predetermined operation distance U: a depth of interest S: a range of interest X: a distance which is greater than W+U+S and minimal among distance(s) between the pair of surfaces Z: a shallowest position of the area of interest relative to an origin position.

Abstract: A method of monitoring a patient includes operating each of one or more wireless sensing devices to measure a physiological parameter from a patient and wirelessly transmit a parameter dataset, and receiving the one or more parameter datasets from the one or more wireless sensing devices. The method further includes calculating a patient condition index based on the one or more parameter datasets, wherein the patient condition index is an indicator of stability of the one or more physiological parameters. A measurement interval is then assigned for each wireless sensing device based on the patient condition index, and each wireless sensing device is operated according to the respective measurement interval.