Having Imaging And Illumination Means Patents (Class 600/160)
  • Patent number: 8182420
    Abstract: An image pick-up unit inserted in the body picks up an image of the body, and transmits by radio the image to an extra-corporeal unit which is arranged outside the body. The image pick-up unit includes an image pick-up portion capturing an image, a data transmitting portion for transmitting the image obtained by the image pick-up portion to the extra-corporeal unit at a plurality of transmitting ratios, a characteristic amount detecting portion for detecting a predetermined amount of characteristics based on the image, and a determining portion for determining a valid image based on an output from the characteristic amount detecting portion. The data transmitting portion controls the data transmitting ratio in accordance with the determining result of the determining portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Masatoshi Homan, Kaoru Kotouda, Motoo Azuma
  • Patent number: 8182414
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Olympus Medical Systems Corp.
    Inventors: Keiji Handa, Hitoshi Karasawa, Daisuke Asada
  • Publication number: 20120123210
    Abstract: A method for assembling a cover glass in an endoscope and an endoscope with a cover glass. To assemble a cover glass in an endoscope, an uncoated cover glass is soldered into an intermediate ring, the cover glass soldered into the intermediate ring is provided with a coating, and the intermediate ring provided with the coated cover glass is joined into a sheath of the optical system of the endoscope.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2011
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Inventors: Peter Eisenkolb, Stefan Heseler, Martin Lehmann
  • Patent number: 8175682
    Abstract: An imaging transducer assembly is combined with a sensor of a medical positioning system, forming a transducer/sensor assembly. In one embodiment, the sensor includes a coil proximally coupled with the imaging transducer. A cable having first and second wires are proximally coupled to the coil. A non-conductive potting layer is wrapped around the coil. Traces are formed in the non-conductive potting layer that are used to electrically couple the imaging transducer with the first and second wires of the cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Hamm, Louis J. Barbato, Isaac Ostrovsky
  • Patent number: 8167794
    Abstract: An endoscope system is disclosed for detecting fluorescent light emitted in the near-infrared region by a plurality of fluorescent labeling materials introduced into a living tissue. An illumination system generates illumination light in the wavelength range 600 nm-2000 nm which serves as excitation light for the plurality of fluorescent labeling materials, and a detection system that can separately detect different ones of the plurality of fluorescent light emissions that are emitted at different wavelengths from among the plurality of fluorescent labeling materials is provided. The endoscope system may include a conventional-type endoscope having an insertion section, or a capsule endoscope that wirelessly transmits image data. By superimposing the image data obtained using reflected light in the visible region and fluorescent light emitted by the fluorescent labeling materials, improved diagnostic capabilities are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Shinya Matsumoto, Akira Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 8167793
    Abstract: An endoscope with a stereoscopic optical channel is again held and positioned by a robotic surgical system. A capture unit captures (1) at a first time, a first image from light from the channel; and (2) at a second time different from the first time, a second image from the light. Only one of the first image and the second image includes a combination of a fluorescence image and a visible image. The other of the first image and the second image is a visible image. An intelligent image processing system generates an artificial fluorescence image using the captured fluorescence image. An augmented stereoscopic display system outputs an augmented stereoscopic image of at least a portion of the tissue comprising the artificial fluorescence image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: David Scott, Wenyi Zhao, Christopher J. Hasser, Brian D. Hoffman, Ian McDowall, Catherine J. Mohr, John D. Stern
  • Patent number: 8165351
    Abstract: A method of determining the distance to an object can use a video inspection device comprising a first light emitter and a second light emitter, wherein the first light emitter can emit light through an opening with at least one shadow-forming element. The method can comprise capturing at least one first emitter image with the first light emitter activated and the second light emitter deactivated, capturing at least one second emitter image with the second light emitter activated and the first light emitter deactivated, determining a first plurality of luminance values of the pixels in the at least one first emitter image, determining a second plurality of luminance values of the pixels in the at least one second emitter image, determining the brightness ratios of the second plurality of luminance values to the first plurality of luminance values, and determining an object distance using the brightness ratios.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Clark Alexander Bendall
  • Publication number: 20120095292
    Abstract: An anchored guide wire is described including at least one expansion apparatus having an outer surface for contacting surrounding tissue, an elongated guide wire with at least one lumen for supplying fluid to the expansion apparatus, and a pump that supplies fluid to the lumen to inflate the expansion apparatus, wherein the outer surface of the expansion apparatus has a textured surface for preventing slippage on surrounding tissue. A method of securing a guide wire in a bodily cavity is also described including inserting an elongated guide wire with an expansion apparatus having a textured outer surface and a lumen for supplying fluid to the expansion apparatus, into the bodily cavity, supplying fluid to the lumen with a pump until the expansion apparatus is inflated, moving a medical device along the elongated guide wire, deflating the expansion apparatus, and withdrawing the guide wire from the bodily cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2010
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Inventors: Erhan H. Gunday, Lawrence J. Gerrans
  • Patent number: 8159549
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Given Imaging Ltd.
    Inventors: Arkady Glukhovsky, Gavriel Meron, Doron Adler, Ofra Zinati, Jerome Avron
  • Patent number: 8155586
    Abstract: A portable device for data communication using a body as a conductor to transmit data to a receiver, the portable device includes a data receiving unit to receive data, a controller unit to control processing of data to be transmitted, a current limiting circuit to limit a current of a signal corresponding to the data to be transmitted to a predetermined value, and transmitting electrodes connected to the current limiting circuit and to contact the body to transmit the signal having the current of predetermined value to the receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Korea Institute of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Tae-Song Kim, Jong-Oh Park, Byung-Kyu Kim, Jin-Seok Kim, Han Cheung, Won-Woo Cho, Nan-Young Yoon, Young-Rok Kim
  • Patent number: 8152717
    Abstract: A device is configured for white balancing a medical videoscopic camera system prior to videoscopic medical procedures, as well as optionally simultaneously or non-simultaneously applying a fog-prohibiting agent to the distal lens of a medical videoscope such as an endoscope or laparoscope. The device combines a white balancing mechanism, protective mechanism, and defogging mechanism in one simple easy to use device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Inventor: Ricardo Alexander Gomez
  • Patent number: 8152713
    Abstract: A capsule endoscope including: an illumination board section on which an illumination portion is arranged; a lens support member that supports a lens; a hole that pierces through the illumination board section, the lens support member being fitted in the hole; and a supporting portion that positions and supports the illumination board section with respect to the lens support member when the lens support member is inserted into the hole, the supporting portion being provided in the lens support member. A method for assembling a capsule endoscope that includes an imaging board section on which an image sensor is arranged is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventor: Noriyuki Fujimori
  • Patent number: 8144192
    Abstract: To realize a simplified image display apparatus that prevents electrical connection between an external monitor and a receiving device when an electric signal generated by the receiving device is transmitted to the external monitor. The simplified image display apparatus includes a photocoupler 23 formed of a light emitting unit 21 electrically connected only to an input terminal 10 and a light receiving unit 22 that receives light output from the light emitting unit 21, a demodulator 24 that demodulates a received radio signal, a switching unit 25 that outputs either one of electric signals from the photocoupler 23 and from the demodulator 24, and a data generator 26 that applies predetermined signal processing to the electric signal input from the switching unit 25 to generate image data, and outputs the image data to a display unit 9 and an output terminal 11.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Olympus Medical Systems Corp.
    Inventor: Akira Matsui
  • Patent number: 8142350
    Abstract: A device and system for in-vivo sensing having a relatively heavy part and a relatively light part such that the heavy and light part may be temporarily attached in-vivo. Detachment of the heavy part may be provided at a predetermined location along a body lumen. The light part upon detachment of the heavy part may for example float within a body lumen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Given Imaging, Ltd.
    Inventors: Mordechai Frisch, Zvika Gilad, Gavriel J. Iddan, Arkady Glukhovsky, Tal Davidson, Daniel Gat, Raphael Rabinovitz
  • Patent number: 8135187
    Abstract: Techniques for removing image autoflourescence from fluorescently stained biological images are provided herein. The techniques utilize non-negative matrix factorization that may constrain mixing coefficients to be non-negative. The probability of convergence to local minima is reduced by using smoothness constraints. The non-negative matrix factorization algorithm provides the advantage of removing both dark current and autofluorescence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ali Can, Michael John Gerdes, Musodiq Olatayo Bello, Xiaodong Tao, Francis Edward Pavan-Woolfe, Roshni Bhagalia
  • Patent number: 8128556
    Abstract: A body-insertable apparatus includes: an illuminating unit that illuminates the inside of a subject's body; an imaging unit that takes an image of the inside of the subject's body; a first power supplying unit that supplies electric power to the imaging unit; a second power supplying unit that supplies electric power to the illuminating unit; and a switch that either connects the first power supplying unit to the second power supplying unit or disconnects the first power supplying unit from the second power supplying unit. The switch electrically separates the first power supplying unit from the second power supplying unit during at least an illuminating period of the illuminating unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Olympus Medical Systems Corp.
    Inventor: Seiichiro Kimoto
  • Patent number: 8123679
    Abstract: The invention includes an insertion portion, one end of which is inserted inside a lumen of a subject; an image-acquisition unit for acquiring an image of an interior wall in the lumen as a substantially circular or substantially ring-shaped interior wall image; a transformation processing unit for transforming, in the interior wall image, at least substantially ring-shaped images concerning the interior wall, whose distance from the one end is uniform, to substantially straight-line-shaped or substantially band-shaped images; a distance-measuring unit for measuring a distance moved by the insertion portion relative to the subject; and an image synthesizing unit for joining the transformed images on the basis of the distance moved measured by the distance-measuring unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Tianyu Xie, Atsushi Okawa, Yasushige Ishihara, Toshiaki Watanabe
  • Patent number: 8123677
    Abstract: A body-insertable apparatus including a capsule-like casing, an illuminating unit, an imaging unit, and an antenna is provided. The capsule-like casing is formed in a capsule-like shape and includes a transparent imaging dome. The illuminating unit is arranged in the capsule-like casing and illuminates an examined site of a subject through the imaging dome. The imaging unit is arranged in the capsule-like casing and takes an image of the examined site illuminated by the illuminating unit. The antenna is arranged in the imaging dome at a position outside an imaging field of view of the imaging dome to transmit image information obtained through imaging by the imaging unit to an outside of the subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignees: Olympus Corporation, Olympus Medical Systems Corp.
    Inventor: Noriyuki Fujimori
  • Patent number: 8114014
    Abstract: A capsule medical apparatus is provided with a plurality of rigid boards which are connected in line via a flexible board; and molded bodies. The molded bodies are formed in a manner of covering functional components mounted on the respective rigid boards. The molded bodies keep an inter-board interval between the rigid boards by intervening between facing rigid boards. The molded bodies keep an inter-board interval between the rigid boards by intervening between facing rigid boards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Olympus Medical Systems Corp.
    Inventors: Jun Matsumoto, Hidetake Segawa
  • Publication number: 20120029291
    Abstract: Certain embodiments include an endoscope and methods for imaging using the endoscope. The endoscope may include an imaging channel and a tip positioned at one end of the imaging channel, the tip adapted to collect light from a field of view that extends 360° around at least a portion of the endoscope and to transmit the light to the imaging channel. Certain embodiments may also utilize various sensors, controllers and processing mechanisms to record and process images into a representation, move the endoscope in and out of the endometrial cavity, and to biopsy a portion of the endometrium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2011
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Applicant: Ikona Medical Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey M. Wallace, Santosh Venkatesha, Keith Peacock, Nitish V. Thakor, Ananth Natarajah
  • Patent number: 8105232
    Abstract: An inter-image calculation portion includes a switch circuit made up of three switch portions for switching each of three image data (R, G, B) from a 3-board processing portion, a first divider, a second divider, a first adder, a second adder, a first LUT, a second LUT, a first clip portion, and a second clip portion. The inter-image calculation portion executes addition processing of two different fluorescent images with two different wavelength bands and division processing the two different fluorescent images with two different wavelength bands and then it executes addition processing which adds the addition results and the division results of the two different fluorescent images with two different wavelength bands or it executes subtraction processing which subtracts the addition results from the division results of the two different fluorescent images with two different wavelength bands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Olympus Medical Systems Corp.
    Inventor: Kenji Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 8100826
    Abstract: The apparatus and methods herein provide quantitatively controllable light sources and expanded dynamic range endoscopy systems that can improve the quality of images and the ability of users to distinguish desired features when viewing tissues by providing methods and apparatus that improve the dynamic range of images from endoscopes, in particular for example with endoscopes that have dynamic range limited because of small image sensors and small pixel electron well capacity, and other optical system constraints. The apparatus and methods herein, for example, combine light sources with quantitatively variable spectral output and quantitatively variable wavelength dependent intensity distribution with image sensors and controllers to create an expanded dynamic range endoscopy system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Tidal Photonics, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas B. MacKinnon, Ulrich Stange
  • Publication number: 20120016202
    Abstract: There is disclosed an endoscopic instrument comprising a shaft having a distal end at which at least one optical sensor is arranged and a proximal end configured for a connection to a supply unit, further comprising a data transmission element which is provided between the at least one optical sensor and the proximal end and which is configured to differentially transmit at least two signals. The data transmission element is embodied as a star quad cable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2011
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Inventors: Eckart Baum, Peter Schwarz
  • Patent number: 8096941
    Abstract: The present invention provides a system and single or multi-functional element device that can be inserted and temporarily placed or implanted into a structure having a lumen or hollow space, such as a subject's abdominal cavity to provide therewith access to the site of interest in connection with minimally invasive surgical procedures. The insertable device may be configured such that the functional elements have various degrees of freedom of movement with respect to orienting the functional elements or elements to provide access to the site from multiple and different orientations/perspectives as the procedure dictates, e.g., to provide multiple selectable views of the site, and may provide a stereoscopic view of the site of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York
    Inventors: Dennis L. Fowler, Peter K. Allen, Andrew T. Miller
  • Patent number: 8094354
    Abstract: A scanning objective lens for scanning on an observation target with light emitted from an exit end face of an optical fiber moving on a curved plane formed to be convex on an objective lens side, including first and second lens groups each having a positive power, wherein the first lens group and the second lens group are arranged in this order from the optical fiber's exit end face side, and the scanning objective lens satisfies conditions: 0.60<f1/f2<1.25??(1); and 0.95<|R1a/R1b|<2.50??(2) when f1 denotes a focal length of the first lens group, f2 denotes a focal length of the second lens group, R1a denotes a curvature radius in the first lens group nearest to the exit end face of the optical fiber, and R1b denotes a curvature radius of a lens surface in the first lens group nearest to the observation target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Hoya Corporation
    Inventor: Minoru Murayama
  • Patent number: 8090177
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for the detection of atypical vessels in digital cervical imagery. A pre-processing stage is applied to enhance the contrast of blood vessel features compared to the surrounding tissue. Next, a segmentation stage is applied to identify regions of interest for atypical vessels using texture and gradient information. Finally, a post-processing stage (1) identifies other clinically relevant features in the cervical imager, and removes these features from the region of interest; and (2) uses color, size, and shape information to further refine the region of interest to eliminate false positives and determine a final region of interest. This automated method of atypical vessel detection is especially useful for diagnostic purposes such as cervical cancer detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: STI Medical Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Sankar Venkataraman, Wenjing Li, Ulf Peter Gustafsson
  • Patent number: 8075478
    Abstract: A system, apparatus, and method for viewing a visually obscured portion of a body cavity. The system includes an endoscopic-type instrument, an imaging apparatus, and a human interface apparatus. The endoscopic-type instrument includes a face tip assembly connected to a shaft assembly, the shaft assembly being connected to a handle and viewing assembly. The face tip assembly includes a plurality of input/output ports and a working channel extension to protect an optical image collector. The shaft assembly includes an actively flexible shaft segment and a passively flexible shaft. The method for viewing a visually obscured portion of a cavity includes the steps of providing an instrument having an actively flexible shaft segment and manipulating the actively flexible shaft segment to a desired angular deflection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Inventor: Jorge A. Campos
  • Publication number: 20110275899
    Abstract: A spectrally encoded endoscopic probe having high resolution and small diameter comprising at least one flexible optical fiber; an energy source; a grating through which said energy is transmitted such that the energy spectrum is dispersed; a lens for focusing the dispersed energy spectrum onto a sample such that the impingement spot for each wavelength is a separate position on the sample, the wavelength spectrum defining a wavelength encoded axis; means for mechanically scanning the sample with focused energy in a direction perpendicular to the wavelength encoded axis; a means for receiving energy reflected from the sample; and, a means for detecting the received reflected energy. The probe grating and lens delivers a beam of multi-spectral light having spectral components extending in one dimension across a target region and which is moved to scan in another direction. The reflected spectrum is measured to provide two dimensional imaging of the region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2011
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Applicant: The General Hospital Corporation
    Inventors: Guillermo J. Tearney, Brett Eugene Bouma, Milen Stefanov Shishkov, Jonathan Jay Rosen
  • Patent number: 8054182
    Abstract: A method of inspecting a vehicle, comprising providing at an inspection site a hand-held inspection wand that transceives audio-visual information with a command/remote site a safe distance from the inspection site and that is staffed by law enforcement personnel, stopping the vehicle at the remote site, instructing an occupant of the vehicle to exit the vehicle and grasp the wand, transmitting instructions from the command site to the occupant via the wand, that direct the occupant to capture video of the vehicle at the remote site using the wand, capturing video of the vehicle using the wand, transmitting the captured video from the wand to the command site, and displaying the transmitted captured video at the command site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: The Johns Hopkins University
    Inventor: Protagoras N. Cutchis
  • Patent number: 8049184
    Abstract: A lesion can be made distinctive in an acquired fluorescence image so as to allow for accurate diagnosis. There is provided a fluoroscopic device (1) including a light source unit (2) that emits illumination light, which is in a wavelength range to be absorbed by a blood vessel, and excitation light, which generates agent fluorescence by exciting a fluorochrome accumulated specifically in a lesion, to an examination site (S); an image acquisition unit (15, 16) that acquires an image by irradiating the same examination site (S) with the illumination light and the excitation light and photographing the respective reflected light and fluorescence obtained; and an image processing unit (4) that acquires a reference image by smoothing the luminance of the reflected-light image acquired by the image acquisition unit (15, 16) and corrects the fluorescence image on the basis of the acquired reference image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventor: Yasushige Ishihara
  • Publication number: 20110263937
    Abstract: The rigid endoscope has a shank-like middle part, on which a handle connects on a proximal side and which on a distal side includes a distal part with an optics window. The handle is arranged offset or obliquely to a longitudinal axis of the middle part, as well as of the distal part, in order to provide free space in the region of the handle of the working instrument as well as on the distal side of the tool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2011
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Applicant: RICHARD WOLF GMBH
    Inventors: Eberhard Körner, Manfred BOEBEL, Waldemar SCHOLL
  • Patent number: 8046057
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for identifying tissue structures in advance of a mechanical medical instrument during a medical procedure. A mechanical tissue penetrating medical instrument (22) has a distal end for penetrating tissue in a penetrating direction. An optical wavefront analysis system (32-50) provides light to illuminate tissue ahead of the medical instrument and receives light returned by tissue ahead of the medical instrument. An optical fiber (30) is coupled at a proximal end to the wavefront analysis system and attached at a distal end to the medical instrument proximate the distal end of the medical instrument. The distal end of the fiber has an illumination pattern directed substantially in the penetrating direction for illuminating the tissue ahead of the medical instrument and receiving light returned therefrom. The wavefront analysis system provides information about the distance from the distal end of the medical instrument to tissue features ahead of the medical instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Inventor: Dana S. Clarke
  • Patent number: 8038608
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to enable clearly identifying whether a body-cavity image displayed on a display unit is based on data which is directly received by a viewer itself, or whether the body-cavity image displayed on the display unit is based on data received by another receiving device. An identification notifying unit presents different identification modes such as a capsule mark and a cable mark 41 which are sensory recognizable between the case where a body-cavity image based on body-cavity image data which a first receiving unit has received directly from a capsule endoscope is displayed, and the case where a body-cavity image 40 based on body-cavity image data which a second receiving unit has received via another receiving device is displayed. Thus, it is possible to clearly identify which receiver has received the body-cavity image data based on which the body-cavity image is displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignees: Olympus Corporation, Olympus Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiaki Shigemori, Akira Matsui
  • Patent number: 8038609
    Abstract: An endoscope apparatus used in combination with a near infrared light irradiation unit that irradiates near infrared light on a target irradiation section. White light and the infrared light are irradiated on a target observation area including the target irradiation section. The imaging means spectroscopically images a reflected light image of the target observation area, which is outputted as a spectral image signal. The storage section includes estimated matrix data. The IR image signal generation means generates an IR image signal constituted by an estimated value of reflected light intensity of the near infrared light by performing a matrix operation on the spectral image signal using the estimated matrix data and spectral matrix data of the near infrared light. The color image signal generation means generates a color image signal based on the spectral image signal and the IR image signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Fujinon Corporation
    Inventors: Shinichi Kohno, Hiroshi Fujita, Daisuke Ayame
  • Patent number: 8038607
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Olympus Medical Systems Corp.
    Inventor: Noriyuki Fujimori
  • Patent number: 8038600
    Abstract: A medical system includes: a medical device to be inserted into the body cavity; a rotating device for the medical device for rotating the medical device around the insertion axis; an image pickup device provided to the medical device; and an image capturing timing detection device for detecting a signal regarding image capturing timing performed by the image pickup device. Furthermore, the medical system includes: a rotating angle acquisition device for acquiring the rotating angle of the rotating device for the medical device regarding the image capturing timing in response to the output of the image capturing timing detection device; and an image acquisition device for performing rotation processing for the image captured by the image pickup device based upon the information regarding the rotating angle acquired by the rotating angle acquisition device, thereby acquiring the image subjected to a rotation processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Akio Uchiyama, Isao Aoki, Shinsuke Tanaka, Hironobu Takizawa, Hironao Kawano
  • Patent number: 8040373
    Abstract: An endoscope spectral image system is provided and includes: an image recording apparatus for recording a color image provided by using a scope; and a processor apparatus, in which spectroscopic characteristic information including a spectroscopic characteristic of CCD is output from the processor apparatus to the image recording apparatus along with color image data. At the image recording apparatus, matrix data in correspondence with the spectroscopic characteristic information is selected to be read from a plurality of matrix data stored in a memory, matrix operation by the matrix data and color image data is carried out at a spectral image-forming circuit, and a spectral image formed by signals of arbitrarily selected wavelength regions is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Fujinon Corporation
    Inventors: Daisuke Ayame, Kazunori Abe, Shinji Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 8033993
    Abstract: An endoscope device of the invention includes: an insertion portion disposed with an observation optical system; an operation portion continuously provided to a proximal end side of the insertion portion; a display device main body provided to a proximal end side of the operation portion and disposed with a monitor portion for displaying a subject image; a rotational movement shaft for rotationally movably journaling the display device main body with respect to the operation portion; and a finger-hooking portion provided to the display device main body and for operation of rotationally moving the display device main body about a rotational movement shaft, and thus it is possible for an operator to easily orient the monitor of the display device in an easily viewable direction when operatably grasping the operation portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignees: Olympus Medical Systems Corp., Olympus Imaging Corp.
    Inventors: Hirotoshi Amano, Keiji Okada, Katsushi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 8029437
    Abstract: An endoscope has a tubular shaft whose interior contains components, in particular lenses, spacers, diaphragms, prisms and filters of an optical system, said components being at least partially surrounded by a support piece made of shrunk material. It is proposed that the components be surrounded by a transparent and tube-sleeve-shaped shrunk material which has been shrunk before the components are introduced into the tubular shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Karl Storz GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Jürgen Rudischhauser, Klaus Renner, Markus Kupferschmid
  • Patent number: 8029439
    Abstract: An LED based light source unit for an endoscopic imaging system produces illumination for a camera through an endoscope. The light source unit includes an array of LEDs mounted to a thermally conductive substrate, a light guide to collect light emitted from the LEDs and to couple the light into a group of optical fibers within the endoscope, and an interface to allow the light source unit to be removably attached to the endoscope at the endoscope's external light port. The LEDs therein may be overdriven by power for increased light output. When the LEDs reach their lifetime, the light source unit can be discarded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Stryker Corporation
    Inventors: Erik F. D. Todd, Hasan Ertas, Andrew J. Hamel
  • Publication number: 20110237893
    Abstract: An illumination device (1a) includes a light source section (21) outputting excitation light; a fluorescent member (22) excited by the excitation light to emit illumination light; a first light transmitting section (24) disposed between the light source section (21) and the fluorescent member (22) to guide the excitation light output from the light source section (21) to the fluorescent member (22); and a second light transmitting section (25), which is arranged closer to the distal side than the fluorescent member (22) to guide the illumination light emitted from the fluorescent member (22). According to the invention, it is possible to provide an illumination device and an endoscope apparatus capable of exciting the fluorescent member to radiate illumination light, without directly radiating laser light from the light source section to the outside, even if a bending portion or more distal side than the bending portion is damaged in an insertion part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2011
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Inventors: Eiichi KOBAYASHI, Takakazu ISHIGAMI
  • Publication number: 20110237892
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of apparatus and method according to the present disclosure are provided. For example, an apparatus for providing electromagnetic radiation to a structure can be provided. The exemplary apparatus can include a first arrangement having at least two wave-guides which can be configured to provide there through at least two respective electro-magnetic radiations with at least partially different wavelengths from one another. The exemplary apparatus can also include a dispersive second arrangement structured to receive the electro-magnetic radiations and forward at least two dispersed radiations associated with the respective electro-magnetic radiations to at least one section of the structure. The wave-guide(s) can be structured and/or spatially arranged with respect to the dispersive arrangement to facilitate at least partially overlap of the dispersed radiations on the structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2009
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicant: The General Hospital Corporation
    Inventors: Guillermo J. Tearney, Brett Eugene Bouma, Dvir Yelin, Dongkyun Kang
  • Publication number: 20110218402
    Abstract: Provided is a capsule-type endoscope that has a power receiving coil that wirelessly receives an electric power from outside a body of an individual to be examined, a processing circuit that performs predetermined processing, and an adjusting reactance section that is capable of adjusting a reactance that is connected to the power receiving coil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2011
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Applicant: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ken SATO, Hiroshi IWAISAKO, Hideharu MIYAHARA, Naoki YOSHIDA
  • Publication number: 20110201888
    Abstract: The present invention generally provides methods and devices for removing fluid from a medical device, such as a access device having a viewing port. The viewing port may comprise a lens formed of a generally transparent piezoelectric material, and one or more electrodes may be operatively associated with the lens to cause the lens to vibrate in a desired mode of vibration, such as to shake off and/or atomize fluid or other debris on the lens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2011
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Inventor: Sarah N. Verner
  • Patent number: 7998065
    Abstract: A device including at least one image sensor and a circuit board having a plurality of rigid sections and a plurality of flexible sections. The image sensor is disposed an a rigid section of the circuit board. The circuit board may be folded into a housing configured for in vivo sensing. An illumination source is electrically connected to a ring shaped rigid section and at least one battery is positioned between two of the rigid sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Given Imaging Ltd.
    Inventor: Dov Avni
  • Patent number: 8000776
    Abstract: An image processing circuit includes a spectrum estimating portion for inputting image data, obtaining data required for spectrum estimation from an estimation data supplying portion and estimating spectrums of pixels, a scattering feature calculating portion for calculating several scattering features based on spectrums of pixels from the spectrum estimating portion and data required for feature calculation from the feature calculation data supplying portion, and a color image generating portion for performing a display color calculation based on a scattering feature image from the scattering feature calculating portion and for determining RGB values of respective pixels and outputting RGB images in order to display scattering features as a color image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Gono
  • Patent number: 7996067
    Abstract: An in-vivo device may include an optical system, and a method for viewing in-vivo sites. A dome or cover may cover an end of the device, protecting optical elements such as illumination devices or imagers, which may be behind the dome. The dome may be forward projecting. The field of view of the imager may be for example forward looking. Illumination element(s) and a receiving unit or imager may be disposed behind a single optical window, which for example may enable obtaining of images free of backscatter and stray light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Given Imaging Ltd.
    Inventors: Arkady Glukhovsky, Gavriel Meron, Gavriel J. Iddan
  • Patent number: 7993263
    Abstract: A method of displaying an image in a subject is provided. The method including: capturing an image using a capsule type medical device introduced into the subject; generating a wireless signal of the image; receiving the wireless signal of the image at the outside of the subject with an external device; and displaying the image based on the received signal, on a first display portion contained in the same housing as the external device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Takeshi Yokoi, Hironobu Takizawa, Hidetake Segawa, Hitoshi Mizuno, Hideyuki Adachi, Hiroki Moriyama, Hisao Yabe
  • Patent number: 7990587
    Abstract: An electronic endoscope has a video-scope with an image sensor, a light source, a signal reading processor, a shading member, a driver, and a driving controller. The signal reading processor alternately reads odd-line image-pixel signals and even-line image-pixel signals over one-frame reading interval, when forming a still image on the basis of one frame worth of image-pixel signals generated by a one-time exposure. The shading member blocks the illuminating light. The driver selectively arranges the shading member at a non-shading position that enable the illuminating light to pass and at a shading position that blocks the light. The driving controller controls the driver by a sequence of pulse signals so as to position the shading member at the shading position for a shading-interval in the one-frame reading interval, and so as to position the shading member at the non-shading position for a remaining reading-interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Hoya Corporation
    Inventor: Yasuharu Watanabe
  • Patent number: 7982763
    Abstract: The present invention is a portable camera and lighting unit for standalone use in videography to create a high-resolution well-illuminated video feed from a vast array of camera angles and positions, the illumination source always inherently tracking with the camera. The unit may also be used as a satellite in combination with a primary video conferencing and production station (VVPR) for multi-camera production and teleconferencing capabilities. The portable camera and lighting unit includes a portable base, a mast extending upward from the base, and an articulating boom that is fully-pivotable and extendable. A remote control Pan-Tilt-Zoom camera is mounted at the end of the boom for overhead images of healthcare procedures, and an adjustable beam light source is mounted directly on the camera for lighting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Inventor: Simon P. King