Abstract: A manipulator operation system includes a treatment instrument distal end movement control section having an endoscope treatment instrument having a bending portion and a distal end portion, a bending driving section and a bending operating section. The manipulator operation system includes imaging mechanism having an imaging section that includes an optical system having a field curvature, images, observing mechanism having a display section that displays a taken image, detecting mechanism having a detecting section that detects an arrangement position of the distal end portion, field curvature information acquiring mechanism having a field curvature information acquiring section that acquires field curvature information of the taken image, and adjusting mechanism having an adjustment section that adjusts a ratio of an operation amount of the bending operating section and a driving amount of the bending driving section based on the arrangement position and the field curvature information.

Abstract: A robotic medical system comprises a medical instrument assembly having a retainer, a serial array of instruments disposed in the retainer, a chamber, and an instrument driver. The robotic medical system further comprises a user interface configured for generating at least one command signal, a drive unit coupled to the first mechanism, second mechanism, and instrument driver, and an electric controller configured, in response to the command signal(s), for directing the drive unit to linearly displace the array of instruments within the retainer, to displace a selected one of the instruments from the retainer into the chamber, and to distally advance the instrument driver within the chamber to engage the selected instrument.

Abstract: A medical device for examination or treatment based on a reference point A1, including: a virtual endoscopic image generation section configured to generate a virtual endoscopic image from a plurality of different sight line positions using three-dimensional image data of a bronchus that is obtained in advance; an image retrieving section configured to retrieve a virtual endoscopic image highly similar to a real image; a reference-point setting section configured to set the reference point A1 based on a line-of-sight position A0 of the highly similar virtual endoscopic image; a relative-position calculation section configured to calculate a relative position of a treatment instrument to the reference point A1; a movement detection section configured to detect a movement of the reference point A1 or the bronchus; and a position correction section configured to correct the relative position in response to the movement of the reference point A1 or the bronchus.

Abstract: Spectral characteristics are controlled with high accuracy using a variable-spectrum device provided at the tip of a long insertion portion of an endoscope, thereby acquiring a sharp observation image. An endoscope system, at least a portion of which is to be inserted into the body cavity of a living organism and which acquires an image of an observation target in the body cavity, includes, at a leading end of the portion inserted into the body cavity, a variable-spectrum device whose spectral characteristics are changed by changing a gap between two facing optical elements that are separated by the gap; an actuator that changes the gap between the two optical elements in accordance with an input driving signal; a sensor that detects the gap between the two optical elements; and an electrical circuit to which the output of the sensor is input, which includes an active device, and which outputs an electrical signal corresponding to the output of the sensor.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system for overlaying ultrasound imagery on a laparoscopic camera display. The system may include a laparoscope configured to capture a laparoscopic image of a surgical field and a laparoscopic ultrasound probe configured to capture an ultrasonic image of a structure in the surgical field. The system may further include a tracking system configured to detect a position and orientation of the laparoscope and a position and orientation of the laparoscopic ultrasound probe. The system may further include data associated with the laparoscope wherein the data indicates a distortion in the laparoscopic image. The system may further include a computer configured to receive the laparoscopic image, the ultrasonic image and the distortion data associated with the laparoscope.

Abstract: A system for extending the visual capabilities and working channel of a bronchoscope including a probe having optic and/or tracking capabilities at a distal tip thereof and capable of being advanced through the working channel of a standard bronchoscope. The probe also includes a working channel through which various diagnostic and treatment tools may be advanced.

Abstract: A body-insertable apparatus that is used in a state of being introduced in a body of a subject, and that performs a predetermined function inside the body of the subject includes an imaging circuit 27, a battery 40 that supplies with energy to be used to drive the imaging circuit 27, a power switch 33 that switches energy supply to the imaging circuit 27 from the battery 40, a switch control circuit 32 that performs a switching control of the power switch 33, and a signal detecting circuit 31 that detects a magnet and that transmits, to the switch control circuit, a control signal to cause the power switch 33 to toggle the switching control based on this detection state, and is possible to be turned on and off a main switch at a desirable timing before introduction into the body of the subject, thereby achieving energy saving in which a life of a battery is saved, and suppressing unnecessary radio wave radiation.

Abstract: A visualization of an image data record of an organ enclosing a cavity, in particular a CT image data record of a colon, that is reliable and has a low level of computational complexity, is performed according to a method. In at least one embodiment of the method a virtual viewer position outside the organ tissue is defined; an interface between the organ tissue and the cavity is defined with the aid of the image data record; from the middle of the cavity local gradients, that specify the rise in the absorption behavior between a gas contained in the cavity and the organ tissue, are determined; starting from the viewer position, a search beam is defined and an angle between the search beam and the gradients is determined; and a transparency value is allocated to the organ tissue as a function of the angle during visualization.

Abstract: A capsule type medical device is of a type of a capsule type medical device that is introduced inside the living body to gather in-vivo information, and comprises a capsule shaped casing; an in-vivo information acquisition device for acquiring the in-vivo information; a communication device for sending the in-vivo information acquired by the in-vivo information acquisition device to outside of the living body by wireless; at least one pair of first electrodes provided in a vicinity of one end along an axis of the casing for giving electric stimulation to body tissue in the living body; a first current control device for sending current to the first electrodes; and an interelectrode distance variation device for changing a distance between the electrodes.

Abstract: An endoscope insertion shape analysis system of the present invention includes an insertion state acquisition unit that acquires coordinate values of a plurality of locations in an insertion portion of an endoscope inserted in an examinee, an insertion shape detection unit that detects at least some insertion shapes of the insertion portion inserted in the examinee based on the coordinate values at the plurality of locations, a coordinate plane setting unit that sets a plurality of coordinate planes according to the coordinate values and the insertion shapes at the plurality of predetermined locations, an insertion shape projecting unit that projects the insertion shapes onto the plurality of coordinate planes and an insertion shape judging unit that judges whether or not a predetermined shape exists in the insertion shapes projected onto the plurality of coordinate planes.

Abstract: An endoscope system includes an endoscope having an insertion part capable of being be inserted into the interior of a living body; an extracorporeal device configured to be installed outside the living body, a first extracorporeal signal connection part having a second electrode electrically connected to the extracorporeal device, and a first scope-side signal connection part that has a first electrode electrically connected to the endoscope, is engaged with the first extracorporeal signal connection part, and has a tubular shape. The insertion part includes an observation part capable of observing a distal end side thereof. When engaged with the first scope-side signal connection part, the first extracorporeal signal connection part is at least partially disposed in an inner cylindrical space of the first scope-side signal connection part, and the second electrode and the first electrode are subjected to capacitive coupling.

Abstract: A system for guiding a capsule medical device is provided with a capsule medical device, a magnetic guidance device, and an image display device. The capsule medical device is provided with an imaging unit and a permanent magnet having a known magnetization direction relatively fixed with respect to an upward/downward direction of an imaging surface, and has a center of gravity deviated from a geometric center of the capsule casing in a direction parallel to a plane parallel to a magnetization direction and an imaging direction and different from the magnetization direction, and maintains a specific state in which the magnetization direction and the imaging direction are parallel to a vertical plane in liquid introduced into the subject. The image display device displays the in-vivo image by conforming a direction of intersection line of the imaging surface and the vertical plane to an upward and downward direction of a display screen.

Abstract: There is disclosed an operation microscope in which an observing and displaying system of an operating instrument are selected, and an endoscope image for observing a dead angle of the microscope and a navigation image are selectively displayed in a microscope observation field, so that a tomographic image, three-dimensionally constructed image, and the like can be selectively displayed in a display screen in accordance with a treatment position displayed in a monitor or an observation position of the operation microscope.

Abstract: A medical system includes an endoscope which is a first medical instrument, a gas supply apparatus which is a second medical instrument that supplies a gas to an insertion site at which an insertion portion of the endoscope is inserted, a biological information acquiring apparatus which is a biological information detection section that detects a blood flow rate at the insertion site as a biological information detected value, a manipulation information acquiring apparatus which is a manipulation information detection section that contacts the insertion portion of the endoscope and is combined with a roller that rotates as the insertion portion moves forward or backward to detect an amount of rotation of the roller as manipulation information, and a system control apparatus provided with a control section that outputs an instruction signal for changing an amount of gas supply to the gas supply apparatus according to the detected value detected by the biological information acquiring apparatus and the manipula

Abstract: A medical device for examination or treatment based on a reference point, includes: a virtual endoscopic image generation section configured to generate a virtual endoscopic image of a bronchus from a plurality of different line-of-sight positions using three-dimensional image data of the bronchus of a subject that is obtained in advance; an image retrieval section configured to retrieve a virtual endoscopic image highly similar to an endoscopic image of the bronchus picked up by an image pickup section arranged at a distal end portion of an insertion section; a reference-point setting section configured to set a reference point based on a line-of-sight position of the highly similar virtual endoscopic image; and a relative-position calculation section configured to calculate a relative position of a treatment instrument to the reference point.

Abstract: An image display apparatus includes a display unit that displays images contained in a plurality of image groups inside a subject picked up by a plurality of imaging devices, and a control unit that extracts a related image related to a currently displayed image currently displayed in the display unit from the plurality of image groups to make the display unit display the related image extracted.

Abstract: A monitor apparatus for a laparoscopic surgery rotates images captured by a laparoscope as an endoscope and displayed on monitors for the laparoscopic surgery clockwise or counter-clockwise according to commands for rotating the images by surgeons who use image rotation manipulation parts such that the images of surgical devices displayed on the monitors are arranged in the direction where the surgeons can actually manipulate the laparoscopic surgical devices most conveniently.

Abstract: An imaging system comprising a disposable part (1) comprising a camera device (5), said disposable part arranged to be suitable for allowing said camera device to be inserted into a body cavity, a reusable control module (8) in communication with said disposable part, said reusable control module comprising a display which displays image signals from the camera device in the disposable part, a timing device which generates time of use data of the disposable part, said time of use data representing the amount of time which the disposable part is in use, and said imaging system being arranged to prevent use of the disposable part if the time of use of the disposable part reaches a predefined level.

Abstract: An endoscope system having a first image pickup device including at least one image pickup unit that is capable of picking up an image of an object, a second image pickup device including at least one image pickup unit, the second image pickup device being different from the first image pickup device, a retaining member being provided for retaining the second image pickup device in a body cavity, and including a camera cable that is connected to the second image pickup device and transmits an image pickup signal obtained by the second image pickup device, and a wire connected to the second image pickup device, a signal processing device that is provided outside the body cavity and processes image pickup signals obtained by the first image pickup device and the second image pickup device, and a display device that displays an image signal outputted from the signal processing device.

Abstract: An endoscope system includes an endoscope provided with an image pickup section that picks up an image of an object in a body cavity, a position setting section that sets information on a predetermined position in the object based on information obtained from the image of the object picked up by the image pickup section and a position correction section that corrects the information on the predetermined position set by the position setting section based on information on a boundary line extracted in the image of the object picked up by the image pickup section and outputs information on the corrected position.

Abstract: A system and method may display an image stream (200), where an original image stream may be divided into two or more subset images streams, each subset image stream being displayed simultaneously or substantially simultaneously in each time slot (210A-240D) may be variably adjusted based on a predetermined criterion. The images may be collected from an ingestible capsule traversing the GI tract.

Abstract: A capsule employing components for detecting blood content or hemoglobin concentration within tissue forming a lumen in vivo advantageously permits screening or diagnosis of certain diseases. In one embodiment, the capsule includes a light source for intermittently illuminating a region of tissue and a light detector for receiving interacted light from the tissue and hemoglobin therein. Methods of validating data of interacted light signal are also disclosed. A power conservation method of detecting the blood content values at different rates is further disclosed.

Abstract: An in-vivo imaging device including a camera may include a frame storage device. Systems and methods which vary the frame capture rate of the camera and/or frame display rate of the display unit of in-vivo camera systems are discussed. The capture rate is varied based on physical measurements related to the motion of the camera. Alternatively, the frame capture rate is varied based on comparative image processing of a plurality of frames. The frame display rate of the system is varied based on comparative image processing of a multiplicity of frames. Both the frame capture and the frame display rates of such systems can be varied concurrently.

Abstract: A method for planning a procedure, which can include determining anatomical landmarks is disclosed. The anatomical landmarks can be used to determine anatomical targets of a patient. The plan can include a path or trajectory to reach a selected target.

Abstract: An electronic endoscope has a light guide for leading a light and a solid-state image sensor for capturing an image of a human body cavity during illumination. In inspecting the number of broken optical fibers in the light guide, a cap is attached to a distal portion of the electronic endoscope. The cap has a test chart. The solid-state image sensor captures an image of the test chart which is illuminated with the light transmitted through the light guide. A photometric circuit calculates an average luminance value “Y” of the test chart from a chart image signal. A broken fiber number calculator calculates the number “N” of broken optical fibers that satisfies N=M×(1?Y/I). “Y” represents an average luminance value of the test chart. “I” represents an ideal average luminance value when all optical fibers are conducting, and “M” represents the total number of the optical fibers.

Abstract: This group of inventions provides means and methods for preventing the damaging portions of surgical tools, such as laparoscopic devices, from adversely contacting tissues and organs that are not in the desired field of surgery. As such, the present disclosure pertains to any form of a warning or positioning device or methods, including those that are facilitated via software that are adapted and arranged for use in tracking portions of surgical instruments during laparoscopic surgery or other medical procedures. Such systems include those that are adapted and arranged to provide a warning to the surgeon or other medical personnel regarding the positional status of an instrument, and those that are adapted and arranged for disabling or attenuating the portions of those instruments that might be dangerous to a patient when a dangerous portion of the instrument is near or outside the desired, or denominated, field of surgery.

Abstract: A system including a processor and/or processor system can be used to create a plan for a procedure, such as a surgical procedure. The plan for the surgical procedure can be based on various elements, including determined anatomical landmarks that can be used to determine anatomical targets of a patient. The planning processor can be used to determine the anatomical landmarks and identify anatomical targets in image data of a subject, even if the anatomical targets are indistinguishable in the image data.

Abstract: A system including a processor and/or processor system can be used to identify landmarks in image data. The landmarks can be used to further identify anatomical targets. The landmarks and/or targets can be used to create a plan for a procedure, such as a surgical procedure. The processor can be used to determine the anatomical landmarks that can be used to identify anatomical targets in image data of a subject, even if the anatomical targets are indistinguishable in the image data.

Abstract: An endoscope system of the invention includes: an endoscope including an insertion portion, a distal end portion provided on a distal end side of the insertion portion, and a bending portion which is capable of changing a position and an orientation of the distal end portion; a position detecting section for acquiring position information on a position where the distal end portion is located; a passing target position setting section for setting a passing target position for the distal end portion; a path estimating section for estimating a path through which the distal end portion is to be passed; a bending control target position setting section for setting a bending control target position such that the distal end portion reaches the passing target position along the path; and a bending control information calculating section for calculating an amount of bending and a bending direction of the bending portion.

Abstract: An encapsulated endoscope system in accordance with the present invention comprises: an encapsulated endoscope that rotates to develop a thrust; a controller that moves the encapsulated endoscope in an intended direction of advancement; an imaging unit incorporated in the encapsulated endoscope; and an image processing unit that receives image data sent from the imaging unit, and produces an image, which results from rotation of the received image data, according to the rotational phase of the encapsulated endoscope.

Abstract: An endoscope system of the present invention comprises: an endoscope which acquires a front field-of-view image and a lateral field-of-view image of an object of observation; a detecting section which has a function capable of detecting whether a treatment instrument is used or not in the endoscope based on a notification signal which is outputted when the treatment instrument is inserted into the endoscope; and an image processing section which generates an observation image including the front field-of-view image and the lateral field-of-view image within the same screen, displays a magnified image of one field-of-view image out of the front field-of-view image and the lateral field-of-view image on a display section, and performs adjacent part display processing of displaying only a part of the one field-of-view image which is adjacent to the other field-of-view image or image compression processing of displaying a compressed image of the other field-of-view image on the display section.

Abstract: A body insertable apparatus includes a capsule casing configured to be disposed within a cavity and a plurality of imaging blocks provided in the capsule casing. Each imaging block includes an illuminating unit configured to illuminate an interior of the cavity and an imaging device configured to pick up images of the interior of the cavity in a substantially backward-looking or substantially forward-looking movement direction of the capsule casing, wherein arrangement directions of the plurality of imaging devices are associated with one another. The capsule casing includes a cylindrical body casing in which the respective imaging blocks are disposed, and transparent end cover casings, provided watertight with the cylindrical body casing, that cover up the respective imaging blocks, and derive illumination lights from the illuminating units. The body-insertable apparatus further includes an elastic member that urges each of the imaging blocks against the respective transparent end cover casing.

Abstract: A body cavity observation apparatus includes a treatment tool to be inserted into a body cavity of a subject with an insertion tool as a guide, an observation section attached to an opening of a body wall of the subject, a monitor for displaying the body cavity captured by the observation section, and a marker position-detecting device for detecting a position of a marker part applied to the treatment tool or insertion tool from an image showing the body cavity captured by the observation section. The marker position-detecting device includes a pixel extracting device for extracting a group of pixels in the same color as the color of the marker part from the image and a calculation device for calculating a position of the barycenter of the group of pixels as a position of the marker part.

Abstract: A system for tracking and evaluating a colonoscopy procedure performed using an endoscope includes a tracking subsystem, a processing subsystem and a display subsystem. The tracking subsystem provides information representative of the location of the endoscope within a patient's colon during the procedure. The processing subsystem generates visualization metrics from images produced by the endoscope during the procedure. The display subsystem is coupled to the tracking and processing subsystems to generate a visual display of the patient's colon with information representative of the visualization metrics at associated colon locations.

Abstract: An endoscope control device includes: a safety maintaining circuit for maintaining safety in terms of function or use-purpose of the endoscope control device; a control section for controlling operation of the endoscope control device; and an activation section for activating the control section, wherein the safety maintaining circuit is formed in the same device as at least one of the control section and the activation section.

Abstract: A surgical instrument, such as an endoscopic or laparoscopic instrument, includes an ablation device. The ablation device includes an elongate member comprising first and second channels. First and second probes are disposed within the respective first and second channels, where the first and second probes each define a central axis. First and second electrodes are coupled to distal ends of the respective first and second probes. A distance between the first and second electrodes is adjustable by rotating at least one of the first and second probes about the central axis of the at least one of the first and second probes.

Abstract: A method of automated image calibration that corrects for non-uniform illumination and calibrates color that is simple, fast, automated, accurate and reliable. A gray balance algorithm is applied to correct for non-uniform illumination and a color calibration algorithm is then applied to calibrate the human subject data. The system has been applied in multiple clinical sites with different instruments.

Abstract: A method for a variable direction of view endoscope used in combination with an image guided surgical system to provide new diagnostic and surgical capabilities. The method provides the following capabilities: greatly improved endoscopic orientation capabilities, global monitoring of endoscopic viewing direction, and greatly improved surgical approach and procedure planning.

Abstract: A medical system includes: an image signal acquiring portion for acquiring a signal to generate an image corresponding to a picture of a subject; an image generating portion for generating a real-time image of an inside of the test subject based on the acquired signal; a detecting portion for outputting a position and an orientation of an image position and orientation detecting element as a detection value; a reference image data storage portion for storing reference image data made up of anatomical images of the test subject; a guide image generating portion for generating a guide image to provide guide information about at least one of an anatomical position and orientation within the test subject of the real-time image, based on the detection value and the reference image data; and a detection state notification information generating portion for generating information to notify a detection state of the detection value.

Abstract: In a virtual endoscopy method, an unfolding axis substantially along an elongated lumen is divided into axis segments. Ray casting directions are selected extending generally radially from the axis segments. At least some of the ray casting directions are tilted away from a camera position. Ray casting is performed along the tilted ray casting directions to define pixel values that are arranged into an unfolded view. The ray casting employs at least one of (i) volume rendering and (ii) computing a statistical characteristic of voxels over a preselected distance (dinterval) along the ray casting direction into the lumen-defining structure.

Abstract: In a master-slave manipulator system, manipulation device can be manipulated intuitively even when clutch manipulation is performed.

Abstract: A method for a variable direction of view endoscope used in combination with an image guided surgical system to provide new diagnostic and surgical capabilities. The method provides the following capabilities: greatly improved endoscopic orientation capabilities, global monitoring of endoscopic viewing direction, and greatly improved surgical approach and procedure planning.

Abstract: A high accurate image of a specimen is obtained by accurately measuring a distance between the specimen and a tip of a light emitting portion that irradiates a light to the specimen. An endoscope observation device includes the light emitting portion that irradiates the light to the specimen and a light receiving portion that receives an observation light returning from the specimen so as to form an image of the observation light received by the light receiving portion. The endoscope observation device is equipped with a distance measurement unit that measures an absolute distance between the tip of the insertion portion and the specimen through an interference of the low coherence light, a correction unit that corrects the brightness information of the observation light based on the absolute distance measured by the distance measurement unit, and an image forming unit that forms the image of the specimen based on the brightness information of the observation light corrected by the correction unit.

Abstract: A diagnosis system composed of a fluoroscopic apparatus for obtaining a fluoroscopic image of an internal body be radiating x-rays to the body, and an endocopic apparatus for obtaining an optical image of the internal body part to be observed by inserting an insertion section of the endoscope into the body. In an operating section of the endoscope, a fluoroscope operating section for operating the fluoroscopic apparatus is disposed. Operation signals from the fluoroscope operating section are sent from a communication I/F of an endoscopic processor to the fluoroscopic apparatus. The fluoroscoptic apparatus receives the operation signals with a fluoroscopic processor and controls a fluoroscopic table.

Abstract: An endoscope apparatus of the invention includes an endoscope, camera control unit (CCU), and a trocar. The endoscope includes a heater and a temperature sensor. The CCU is configured to include a resistance value-voltage value conversion section, an analog-digital conversion section, voltage value-temperature table conversion section, a control voltage calculation section, an digital-analog conversion section, a voltage amplification section, a switch control section, and a switch. The trocar 5 includes an insertion detection sensor.

Abstract: A bio-medical unit includes a power harvesting module, an image sensor module, a processing module, and a communication module. The power harvesting module is operable to generate a supply voltage from an electromagnetic signal. The image sensor module is powered by the supply voltage and captures streaming video of a body object. The processing module is powered by the supply voltage and processes the streaming video to produce processed streaming video. The communication module is powered by the supply voltage and transmits, as radio frequency (RF) signals, the processed streaming video to a communication device external to a host body.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the invention, a robotic surgical system includes a master control console having a stereo viewer to view stereo images; a surgical manipulator having a stereo endoscopic camera coupled to a robotic arm to generate the stereo images of a surgical site; a stereo telestration device coupled between the stereo endoscopic camera and the stereo viewer to mix telestration graphics and the stereo images of the surgical site together for viewing by the stereo viewer; and a telestration generator coupled to the stereo telestration device to generate the telestration graphics for overlay on the stereo images of the surgical site.

Abstract: An endoscope inserting direction detecting system receives an endoscopic image, detects an endoscope inserting direction, in which an endoscope should be inserted, on the basis of the endoscopic image and produces information concerning the detected inserting direction. The endoscope inserting direction detecting method includes setting sampling pixels, detecting the direction of a change in brightness in the endoscopic image and evaluating the angles among a plurality of inserting-direction candidates and the direction of the change in brightness.

Abstract: An encapsulated endoscope system in accordance with the present invention comprises: an encapsulated endoscope that rotates to develop a thrust; a controller that moves the encapsulated endoscope in an intended direction of advancement; an imaging unit incorporated in the encapsulated endoscope; and an image processing unit that receives image data sent from the imaging unit, and produces an image, which results from rotation of the received image data, according to the rotational phase of the encapsulated endoscope.

Abstract: A robotic medical system comprises a medical instrument assembly having a retainer, a serial array of instruments disposed in the retainer, a chamber, and an instrument driver. The robotic medical system further comprises a user interface configured for generating at least one command signal, a drive unit coupled to the first mechanism, second mechanism, and instrument driver, and an electric controller configured, in response to the command signal(s), for directing the drive unit to linearly displace the array of instruments within the retainer, to displace a selected one of the instruments from the retainer into the chamber, and to distally advance the instrument driver within the chamber to engage the selected instrument.