Light Source Patents (Class 600/178)
  • Patent number: 11950869
    Abstract: A system for providing on-demand functionality during a medical procedure includes an instrument, an accessory, and a mounting device attached to one or more of the instrument and the accessory. The instrument includes an instrument body and an end effector. The end effector providing a first functionality. The accessory providing a second functionality. The mounting device removably couples the accessory to the instrument to augment the first functionality with the second functionality. In one example, the end effector includes jaws to provide a surgical functionality, and the first accessory includes a camera to provide a complementary monitoring functionality. In another example, the mounting device includes a mechanical mechanism and/or a magnetic mechanism for removably coupling the accessory to the instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Andrew J. Hazelton, Kayla Keifer Anderson, John Ryan Steger
  • Patent number: 11823403
    Abstract: An endoscopic imaging system for use in a light deficient environment includes an imaging device having a tube, one or more image sensors, and a lens assembly including at least one optical elements that corresponds to the one or more image sensors. The endoscopic system includes a display for a user to visualize a scene and an image signal processing controller. The endoscopic system includes a light engine having an illumination source generating one or more pulses of electromagnetic radiation and a lumen transmitting one or more pulses of electromagnetic radiation to a distal tip of an endoscope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Joshua D. Talbert, Donald M. Wichern
  • Patent number: 11805977
    Abstract: An endoscope system includes a processor configured to generate a clock at predetermined timing, a light source apparatus configured to irradiate white light and excitation light in a time division manner in synchronization with the clock, and an endoscope configured to perform image pickup based on irradiation timing of the light source apparatus. The processor generates a first white light image at a first clock, generates a first fluorescent image at a second clock, generates a second white light image at a third clock, and generates a third white light image at a fourth clock and superimposes the second white light image and the first fluorescent image at the fourth clock and superimposes the third white light image and the first fluorescent image at a fifth clock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masakazu Mizoguchi, Toshiaki Watanabe, Satoshi Takekoshi, Susumu Aono
  • Patent number: 11786116
    Abstract: An illumination system for an endoscope has a plurality of light assemblies, including a red assembly with a red light source, a blue assembly with a blue light source, a green assembly with a green light source, and an infrared (IR) assembly with an IR light source. Each light assembly further includes an output beam shape adjuster configured to receive an output beam from the respective light source and adjust the beam angular profile, and an output beam angle adjuster configured to receive a beam from the output beam shape adjuster and adjust the output beam angle. A plurality of dichroic plates are configured to combine output beams of the red assembly, the blue assembly, the green assembly, and the IR assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Excelitas Canada, Inc.
    Inventors: Yong Wang, Sola Anne Kuk
  • Patent number: 11782298
    Abstract: An illuminating device includes an illumination light generator configured to generate illumination pulses of coherent light, and a speckle modulator configured to modulate speckle caused by the coherent light. The illumination pulse generator repeatedly generates a single illumination pulse group including a plurality of illumination pulses as a repetitive illumination pulse group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Eiji Yamamoto, Bakusui Daidoji, Yasuo Sasaki
  • Patent number: 11766168
    Abstract: An endoscope, especially a mediastinoscope, includes an elongated shaft and a head piece situated at a proximal end section of the shaft, wherein a heat source is arranged in the head piece. At least one heat pipe extends inside the shaft, wherein a proximal end section of the at least one heat pipe is thermally coupled to the heat source and the endoscope includes an optical system which is closed by a cover glass arranged in a distal end section of the shaft. The heat source is a light source for generating an illumination radiation. The at least one heat pipe extends in the distal direction as far as the distal end section of the shaft, and at least one distal end section of the heat pipe is thermally coupled to the distal end section of the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: KARL STORZ SE & CO. KG
    Inventors: Daniel Ulmschneider, Christian Czupalla
  • Patent number: 11728615
    Abstract: In one aspect, an optical system for delivering light into an optical fiber is disclosed, which comprises a phosphor-converted white light source for generating white light, a red light emitting diode (LED) for generating red light, and a light-delivery system for delivering at least a portion of said white light and said red light into an input port of an optical fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Fraen Corporation
    Inventors: Carlton S. Jones, Renald Dore
  • Patent number: 11717375
    Abstract: An exemplary method includes receiving images of a site captured at a same time by a camera, generating, based one or more of the images, a monochromatic image, generating, based on one or more of the images, an alternate image representative of an alternate imaging characteristic of the site, and displaying the displaying the monochromatic image combined with the alternate image, the alternate image being highlighted relative to the monochromatic image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Ian E. McDowall, Christopher J. Hasser
  • Patent number: 11700995
    Abstract: Speckle removal in a pulsed fluorescence imaging system is described. A system includes a coherent light source for emitting pulses of coherent light, a fiber optic bundle connected to the coherent light source, and a vibrating mechanism attached to the fiber optic bundle. The system includes and an image sensor comprising a pixel array for sensing reflected electromagnetic radiation. The system is such that at least a portion of the pulses of coherent light emitted by the coherent light source comprises electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength from about 770 nm to about 790 nm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Inventors: Joshua D. Talbert, Donald M. Wichern
  • Patent number: 11582427
    Abstract: A medical image processing apparatus includes an image processor configured to: receive a plurality of first image data captured at different times and generated by illumination of light in a first wavelength band in sequence; receive a plurality of second image data captured at different times and generated by illumination of light in a second wavelength band different from the first wavelength band in sequence; generate first and second images based on the received first and second image data, respectively; and output the generated first image and second image to a display in chronological order of the first and second images and in accordance with a preset display pattern of the first and second images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: SONY OLYMPUS MEDICAL SOLUTIONS INC.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Ushiroda
  • Patent number: 11553838
    Abstract: There is provided an endoscope including a main body including a coupler to which a cable is attached, a tubular section having a tubular form, a reflector having a reflection surface that reflects light introduced from the coupler to inside of the main body and introduces the light to inside of the tubular section, a first optical system that transmits the light introduced by the reflector to the inside of the tubular section to a front-end portion of the tubular section and irradiates a subject with the light from the front-end portion, and a second optical system that transmits reflected light of the subject from the front-end portion of the tubular section to the main body side. The coupler is provided to be rotatable in the main body around a central axis of the tubular section with respect to another portion. The cable is coupled to a light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jun Arai, Yohei Kuroda, Masaru Usui, Tetsuharu Fukushima, Daisuke Nagao
  • Patent number: 11525999
    Abstract: In one aspect, a handheld lighting system is disclosed, which comprises a handheld housing extending from a proximal end to a distal end, and a light module disposed at least partially in the housing. The handheld lighting system further includes a removable and replaceable power module that is coupled to the housing (e.g., it is at least partially disposed within the housing) and is electrically coupled to the light module, e.g., through a pair of electrical leads, for providing electrical power thereto. Light intensity from the light module may be controlled from a knob on the power module. Various adapters can allow the lighting system to attach to a multitude of medical, industrial, dental or veterinary endoscopes or other instruments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: Acera LLC
    Inventors: Thomas V. Root, Michael Cook, Thomas Davis, Michael S. Epstein, Carlton Jones, David Leo
  • Patent number: 11478138
    Abstract: An imaging instrument comprises an elongate flexible shaft, a camera disposed at a distal end of the elongate flexible shaft, and a housing coupled to a proximal end of the elongate flexible shaft. The instrument also includes a light emitting diode (LED) within the housing and a heat dissipation system in thermal communication with the LED to transfer heat produced by the LED away from the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Andrew J. Hazelton, Lucas S. Gordon, Candice Murray, Randall L. Schlesinger
  • Patent number: 11437775
    Abstract: The embodiments described herein provide a device and method for an integrated white colored electromagnetic radiation source using a combination of laser diode excitation sources based on gallium and nitrogen containing materials and light emitting source based on phosphor materials. A violet, blue, or other wavelength laser diode source based on gallium and nitrogen materials may be closely integrated with phosphor materials, such as yellow phosphors, to form a compact, high-brightness, and highly-efficient, white light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: KYOCERA SLD Laser, Inc.
    Inventors: James W. Raring, Paul Rudy, Eric Goutain, Troy Trottier, Melvin McLaurin, James Harrison
  • Patent number: 11395583
    Abstract: An endoscope light emitting device (1) is a light emitting device for use in a fluorescence imaging method. The endoscope light emitting device includes: a solid-state light emitting element (2); and a wavelength converter (3) including a first phosphor (4) that emits first wavelength-converted light (7), wherein the first wavelength-converted light has a light component across at least a whole of a wavelength range of 700 nm or more and 800 nm or less. An endoscope (11) includes the endoscope light emitting device. A fluorescence imaging method is a method using the endoscope light emitting device or the endoscope, and includes the steps of: administering a fluorescent drug to a subject; and applying the first wavelength-converted light (7) to the subject with whom the fluorescent drug has made contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Abe, Shozo Oshio
  • Patent number: 11369258
    Abstract: A light source system includes an illumination device configured to generate illumination light, and a light source module having a function of supplying light to the illumination device and configured to be detachably attached to the illumination device. The illumination device includes a first light source and a first storage configured to store characteristic information of the first light source. The light source module includes a second light source and a second storage configured to store characteristic information of the second light source. The illumination device includes a control circuit configured to determine a driving condition of at least one of the first and second light sources, based on the characteristic information of the first and second light sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masahiro Nishio, Yoshihiko Watanabe
  • Patent number: 11304591
    Abstract: An optical connection module for an endoscope includes: an optical fiber having a fiber end surface and configured to guide a part of emitted light emitted from a light source and incident on the fiber end surface; a ferrule having a ferrule end surface with an opening of a through-hole into which the optical fiber is inserted, the ferrule including a scatterer configured to scatter, in an inside of the ferrule, a part of the emitted light incident on the ferrule end surface, the ferrule being configured to emit scattered light generated by scattering from a side surface; and an optical sensor arranged in the periphery of the side surface of the ferrule and configured to receive the scattered light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kamee, Satoshi Ohara
  • Patent number: 11228157
    Abstract: In one aspect, an optical system for delivering light into an optical fiber is disclosed, which comprises a phosphor-converted white light source for generating white light, a red light emitting diode (LED) for generating red light, and a light-delivery system for delivering at least a portion of said white light and said red light into an input port of an optical fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: Fraen Corporation
    Inventors: Carlton S. Jones, Renald Dore
  • Patent number: 11169370
    Abstract: A method for generating light from a medical light source includes emitting light in a visible wavelength spectrum from a first light of the medical light source, emitting light in a first infrared spectrum from a first light emitter of a second light, redirecting light emitted from the first light emitter by at least one optical element of the second light, emitting light in a second infrared spectrum from a second light emitter of the second light, and redirecting the light emitted from the second light emitter by the at least one optical element of the second light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: Stryker Corporation
    Inventors: Gregory G. Otterstrom, Ajay Ramesh, Hannah Lawrence, Candice Pack, Richard I. Palmisano
  • Patent number: 11036045
    Abstract: A display device according to the present invention comprises: a light source configured to emit light in a manner capable of changing an emission direction as needed within a predetermined irradiation region; a first screen located in said irradiation region; a first reflective unit disposed closer to said light source than said first screen; a second reflective unit disposed at a position where the light reflected by said first reflective unit reaches; and a second screen disposed at a position where the light reflected by said second reflective unit reaches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: PIONEER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuji Ito, Manabu Akagi
  • Patent number: 11033177
    Abstract: The subject matter discloses a medical imaging device, comprising a handle adapted to operate and maneuver the medical imaging device, an elongated rigid shaft connected to the handle, and an extendible sleeve configured to cover at least a portion of the elongated rigid shaft. The extendible sleeve comprises a rigid section comprising at least one optical gear and an extendible section, wherein extending the extendible section pushes the rigid section along a longitudinal axis of the elongated rigid shaft, and wherein sliding the rigid section over the elongated shaft changes the at least one optical gear field of view to provide a different linear field of view in an object space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: 270 SURGICAL LTD.
    Inventors: Avraham Levy, Golan Salman
  • Patent number: 10952619
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for fluorescence imaging with a minimal area image sensor are disclosed. A system includes an emitter for emitting pulses of electromagnetic radiation and an image sensor comprising a pixel array for sensing reflected electromagnetic radiation, wherein the pixel array comprises active pixels and optical black pixels. The system includes a black clamp circuit providing offset control for data generated by the pixel array. The system includes a controller comprising a processor in electrical communication with the image sensor and the emitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: Ethicon LLC
    Inventors: Joshua D. Talbert, Donald M. Wichern
  • Patent number: 10750929
    Abstract: An endoscope device includes: an normal light image acquisition unit that acquires an normal light image; a special light image acquisition unit that acquires a special light image; a blended image generation unit that generates a blend image by combining one color component image from among a plurality of color component images constituting the normal light image and the special light image; and a superimposed image generation unit that generates a color superimposed image by combining the blended image with another color component image. The blended image generation unit generates the blended image by replacing a part of the pixels of the one color component image with the corresponding pixels of the special light image such that they are blended in a substantially uniform distribution over the entire blended image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Motohiro Mitamura
  • Patent number: 10709311
    Abstract: A laryngoscope device with an elongate handle includes a video laryngoscope blade with a camera mounted transversely on a first end of the handle and one or more pivot assemblies coupling a display monitor on an opposing second end of the handle. Each pivot assembly includes a pivot coupling defining a respective axis of rotation of the display monitor relative to the handle and a motor for controlling angular position of the display monitor relative to the handle about the respective axis. A sensor device is arranged to detect movement of the display monitor away from a target orientation such that a controller having the target orientation stored thereon can be adapted to operate the motor to return the display monitor to the target orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Montane Medical Corporation
    Inventor: Ian Schoonbaert
  • Patent number: 10700779
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a free-space optical communications system that may make use of a controller and a digital micro mirror (DMM) assembly in communication with the controller. The DMM may have a plurality of independently controllable micromirror elements forming both an emitter and a receiver. A laser is included which is configured to generate an optical beam which may be applied to select ones of the first subpluralities of micromirror elements to generate a transmitted free space optical signal along a selected vector. A detector is included for receiving an incoming free space optical signal imaged by at least one of the micromirror elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC
    Inventor: Robert Matthew Panas
  • Patent number: 10667677
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure may include a medical device comprising an elongate member including a proximal region and a distal region. The elongate member can further include a handle at the proximal region and a tip at the distal region. The tip can include one or more openings, wherein one of the one or more openings at least partially houses an illumination unit. The illumination unit may further comprise a light source, a near-field diffuser proximate to the light source, and a far-field aperture proximate to the light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
    Inventors: Russell Dresher, Andrew Calabrese
  • Patent number: 10531008
    Abstract: An image pickup system includes a light source apparatus and a light-source control section performing first control for setting a duty width and perform second control for, after the duty width is set to a minimum duty width by the first control, changing supply timing of the illumination light not to supply the illumination light in a period other than the period where the light amount control by the PWM is permitted and to supply, in the period where the light amount control by the PWM is permitted, light having a light amount integrated value equal to a light amount integrated value supplied in the period other than the period where the light amount control by the PWM is permitted, and an image pickup apparatus, where data representing a driving current value after the change of the supply timing and a value of the pulse width is stored.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yusuke Yabe, Tomoya Takahashi, Satoshi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 10499798
    Abstract: An endoscope has an imaging unit at a tip portion of an insertion unit to be inserted into a body cavity, and the imaging unit includes: a solid-state imaging device which is disposed in such a manner that a photodetecting surface thereof crosses a longitudinal direction of the insertion unit and which performs photoelectric conversion on an optical image formed on the photodetecting surface; a circuit board having a connection surface which is opposed to a surface, opposite to the photodetecting surface and formed with connection terminals, of the solid-state imaging device and which serves for electrical connection to the connection terminals of the solid-state imaging device, wherein the circuit board is a rigid board that is L-shaped as defined herein; and a first leg and a second leg that constitute the L-shaped circuit board and are perpendicular to each other are provided as defined herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Ryo Kitano
  • Patent number: 10484594
    Abstract: A medical image acquisition system includes an imaging device and an image processing device. The imaging device includes: an imaging unit configured to receive light and convert the light into an electric signal so as to generate the imaging signal; an optical unit including a focus mechanism moving one or a plurality of lenses so as to adjust a focal point position, and configured to form an optical image on the imaging unit; a memory configured to store therein unique information of the imaging device; and an auto focus controller configured to totally control the imaging device. The image processing device includes an auto focus evaluation unit configured to perform focusing evaluation based on the imaging signal, and the auto focus controller controls driving of the focus mechanism by referring to the unique information in accordance with an evaluation result by the auto focus evaluation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: SONY OLYMPUS MEDICAL SOLUTIONS INC.
    Inventor: Takahiro Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 10136803
    Abstract: Ring illuminated surgical cameras and scopes having a ring lens and a plurality of LEDs. The LEDs set behind an electronic imaging sensor (camera) and positioned radially about the longitudinal axis of the lens and/or scope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: InnovaQuartz LLC
    Inventor: Stephen E. Griffin
  • Patent number: 10095021
    Abstract: An endoscope includes an insertion portion. First and second electronic instruments are located in the insertion portion and are supplied with drive power from different systems. A plurality of power limiting portions limit the drive power supplied to the first and second electronic instruments, respectively, via mutually different systems. First and second wirings, at least a portion of which are located inside the insertion portion, connect respective power limiting portions with the respective ones of the first and second electronic instruments. A ground conductor extends from one end of the insertion portion to the other end of the insertion portion and is connected between a first connection connecting the first electronic instrument and the first wiring and a second connection connecting the second electronic instrument and the second wiring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masaki Ichihashi
  • Patent number: 10085629
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kenji Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 9978580
    Abstract: A lamp is provided. The lamp includes a transparent envelope for emitting light, and an RFID tag coupled to a portion of the transparent envelope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: Heraeus Noblelight America LLC
    Inventors: William E. Johnson, Robert Ervin
  • Patent number: 9913577
    Abstract: A speculum includes an upper blade, a lower blade, a link member, a handle portion, a curved portion, and a light source. The link member connects the upper blade and the lower blade to allow the upper blade and the lower blade to move between an open state and a close state. The curved portion connects the lower blade and the handle portion. The light source is disposed on the curved portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: OBP MEDICAL CORPORATION
    Inventor: Jeffrey Ralph Swift
  • Patent number: 9830500
    Abstract: A method to encode and decode a digital fingerprint code by an identification encoder and an identification decoder wherein the digital fingerprint code includes a plurality of N-bit data embedded on a set of curves by changed thicknesses in the curves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: AGFA GRAPHICS NV
    Inventor: Rudolf Bartels
  • Patent number: 9820654
    Abstract: An observation device includes a light source unit capable of adjusting a quantity of 390-490 nm illuminating light according to a B1 range and a B2 range having a longer wavelength than the B1 range, and an imaging element that images reflected light from a subject irradiated with illuminating light. The light source unit changes the light quantity ratio of the B1 range to the B2 range depending on whether white light imaging is conducted or narrow band imaging is conducted. The imaging element includes RGB color filters arranged according to pixels and the R color filter transmits more light in an R range and the B1 range than light in the second B range and has a spectral characteristic that satisfies a predetermined conditional formulae.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hideyuki Nagaoka
  • Patent number: 9814380
    Abstract: The Pedicle Endoscope represents a new way to image the insertion of screws in vertebrae with the aid of fiber optics. The endoscope can operate in the visible and infrared spectra and is used in conjunction with a polyaxial or multiaxial screwdriver assembly. The mechanical assembly is comprised of a screwdriver, a polyaxial or multiaxial shaft, and a pedicle screw. The polyaxial shaft is inserted in the screwdriver and this assembly couples with the pedicle screw. Once this mechanical assembly is integrated, the endoscope is inserted through a bore that runs along the polyaxial shaft and the pedicle screw and it comes out of the screw tip, imaging the progression of the screw as it penetrates the incision in the vertebra. The endoscope consists of three fiber cores, one for imaging and two for illumination and a conduit for irrigation and air suction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Inventors: Octavio Cesar Silva, Fernando Emilio Silva
  • Patent number: 9709794
    Abstract: An endoscope with adjustable viewing angle, in which the viewing angle can pivot around a pivot axis, includes a fixed reflecting surface for reflecting illuminating light from a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the endoscope to a direction parallel to the pivot axis of the viewing angle and a pivotable reflecting surface for reflecting illuminating light from a direction parallel to the pivot axis of the viewing angle to the viewing angle for illuminating an object observed by the endoscope, such that at least either the fixed reflecting surface or the pivotable reflecting surface is curved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Karl Storz GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Ulrich Weiger
  • Patent number: 9686484
    Abstract: Provided is an apparatus for acquiring and projecting a broadband image. The apparatus includes a probe unit provided with a white light source unit configured to emit white light for acquiring a visible light image to a subject, a fluorescence excitation light source unit configured to emit fluorescence excitation light for acquiring an invisible light fluorescence image, an image acquisition unit configured to receive an invisible light fluorescence image signal for the subject, and an image projection unit configured to project an image onto the subject; and an image processing unit configured to process an image received from the image acquisition unit. This apparatus may simultaneously acquire and display the visible light image and the invisible light fluorescence image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: KOREA PHOTONICS TECHNOLOGY INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Byeong Il Lee, In Hee Shin, Jae Seok Park, Joo Beom Eom, Hyung Ju Park, Seok Ki Kim
  • Patent number: 9675238
    Abstract: An endoscopic device that irradiates a plurality of illuminating lights having different spectrums from each other onto a subject at a front edge of an endoscope inserting module and captures the subject to obtain an observation image, includes an illuminating module that generates the plurality of illuminating lights, an imaging module that captures the subject and outputs an image signal of the observation image, a light intensity ratio control module that controls the illuminating module to irradiate the plurality of illuminating lights onto the subject with a set light intensity ratio by setting the light intensity ratio of the plurality of illuminating lights for every observation image, and a color tone correcting module that corrects the color tone of the image signal so as to obtain the observation image with substantially a same color tone even though the light intensity ratio is changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: FUJIFILM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takayuki Iida, Toshihiko Kaku, Hiroshi Yamaguchi, Takaaki Saito
  • Patent number: 9526144
    Abstract: A light source apparatus includes a cooling device configured to be able to cool a semiconductor light-emitting device, a light-emitting device drive section that supplies a semiconductor light-emitting device drive signal to the semiconductor light-emitting device, a cooling device drive section that supplies a cooling device drive signal to the cooling device, a semiconductor light-emitting device drive control section that sets a duty ratio of the semiconductor light-emitting device drive signal and controls an amount of light emission of the semiconductor light-emitting device, and a cooling device drive control section that generates the cooling device drive signal having a same duty ratio as the duty ratio of the semiconductor light-emitting device drive signal and having timing synchronized with the semiconductor light-emitting device drive signal and adjusts a signal level of the cooling device drive signal based on a measurement result of a temperature of the semiconductor light-emitting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yusuke Yabe, Tomoya Takahashi, Yusuke Yoshida, Masato Toda
  • Patent number: 9498109
    Abstract: Provided is a fluorescence endoscope device that includes a light source; an image generating portion that captures an image of fluorescence generated at a subject due to irradiation with excitation light to obtain a fluorescence image and that captures an image of return light returning from the subject due to irradiation with white light to obtain a white-light image; a dividing portion that divides the fluorescence image by the white-light image to generate a divided fluorescence image; a coordinate extracting portion that extracts a second region of the divided fluorescence image having a gradation value higher than a second threshold; a fluorescence-image correcting portion that extracts a first region having a gradation value higher than a first threshold in the fluorescence image and generates a corrected fluorescence image in which an overlap region that overlaps the second region is extracted; and a monitor that displays the corrected fluorescence image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yasushige Ishihara
  • Patent number: 9314149
    Abstract: An illumination device for a speculum may include a first housing part and a second housing part that define a cavity therein. The illumination device may further include a pull tab configured to move from a first position to a second position. When the pull tab moves from the first position to the second position, the pull tab may be disposed so as to allow an electric circuit to be complete so as to provide illumination from an illumination source. When the pull tab is disposed in the first position, the pull tab may be positioned to interrupt the electric circuit such that the illumination device is in an unilluminated state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: WELCH ALLYN, INC.
    Inventors: Robert L. Vivenzio, Raymond A. Lia, Michael T. McMahon, Jon R. Salvati
  • Patent number: 9287436
    Abstract: A display device includes: a first substrate; a photo transistor on the first substrate; and a switching transistor connected to the photo transistor. The photo transistor includes a light blocking film on the first substrate, a first gate electrode on the light blocking film and in contact with the light blocking film, a first semiconductor layer on the first gate electrode and overlapping the light blocking film, and a first source electrode and a first drain electrode on the first semiconductor layer. The switching transistor includes a second gate electrode on the first substrate, a second semiconductor layer on the second gate electrode and overlapping the second gate electrode, and a second source electrode and a second drain electrode on the second semiconductor layer. The first semiconductor layer and the second semiconductor layer are at a same layer of the display device, and each includes crystalline silicon germanium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignees: SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO., LTD., INDUSTRY-ACADEMIC COOPERATION FOUNDATION, YONSEI UNIVERSITY, ULSAN COLLEGE INDUSTRY COOPERATION
    Inventors: Sang Youn Han, Cheol Kyu Kim, Jun Ho Song, Sung Hoon Yang, Kyung Tea Park, Seung Mi Seo, Suk Won Jung, Do Young Kim, Sun Jo Kim, Hyung Jun Kim
  • Patent number: 9280003
    Abstract: A method for imaging a scan region by controlling at least one of the relative phase and relative amplitude of multiple optical modes propagating through a multimode optical fiber to control the position of an output beam emitted from the output facet of the optical fiber is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
    Inventors: Kristen Judith Boucher Anand, Olav Solgaard, Joseph M. Kahn, Catherine Jan
  • Patent number: 9239133
    Abstract: A solid state illumination system is disclosed, wherein a light source module comprises a first light source, comprising an LED and a phosphor layer, the LED emitting a wavelength ?1 in an absorption band of the phosphor layer for generating longer wavelength broadband light emission from the phosphor, ??PHOSPHOR, and a second light source comprising a laser emitting a wavelength ?2 in the absorption band of the phosphor layer. While operating the LED, concurrent laser pumping of the phosphor layer increases the light emission of the phosphor, and provides high brightness emission, e.g. in green, yellow or amber spectral regions. Additional modules, which provide emission at other wavelengths, e.g. in the UV and near UV spectral bands, together with dichroic beam-splitters/combiners allow for an efficient, compact, high-brightness illumination system, suitable for fluorescence imaging and analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: Excelitas Canada, Inc.
    Inventors: Yong Wang, Paul Constantinou
  • Patent number: 9176316
    Abstract: An improved spatial light modulation display system includes light sources for providing red, green, and blue light. A system controller includes functionality for controlling a color balance of the red, green, and blue light. A sensor is provided for sensing light from each of the light sources. The controller can detect a shift in color balance based on the intensity of light sensed by the sensor. If the sensor output indicates that the sensor is operating out of a desirable range, the spatial light modulator can modulate the light in order change the brightness of light sensed by the sensor. The modulation pattern can be varied until the sensor output is a specified value or within a specified range of values. In a preferred embodiment, the sensor is located to receive off-state light from the spatial light modulator so as to avoid obstruction of light used for displaying images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Daniel J. Morgan, Roger S. Carver
  • Patent number: 9155457
    Abstract: An endoscope apparatus includes a white LED that emits synthesized light of the excitation light and the fluorescence, a CCD that picks up an image of an observation part, a brightness detecting section that detects brightness of an optical image of the observation part based on an image pickup signal outputted by the CCD, a light adjusting circuit that adjusts driving time of the semiconductor light source, a color correction parameter deriving section that derives a first color correction parameter for correcting a gain of a color component signal related to the excitation light in a video signal, and a second color correction parameter for correcting a gain of a color component signal related to the fluorescence, and a color tone varying section that corrects the excitation-light-related gain with the first color correction parameter, and corrects fluorescence-related gain with the second color correction parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shinji Yamashita
  • Patent number: 9113814
    Abstract: An endoscope apparatus and image processing method of an endoscope apparatus are provided. In one respect, an endoscope apparatus includes an illumination unit for selectively providing light in a plurality of wavelength bands and white light, a sensing unit for receiving light reflected from a body cavity, and an image processing unit for generating additional synthesized images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Won-hee Choe, Jae-guyn Lim, Seong-deok Lee
  • Patent number: 9072457
    Abstract: A cam face 303a of a cam 303 has a shape depending on the distribution of the light amount in the cross-section of reference light LR. When the cam 303 is rotated by a stepping motor 302, an abutment 312 moves following the displacement of the cam face 302a with the rotation of the cam 303. A light-blocking link 310 rotates about the axis of rotation 311 with the movement of the abutment 312. A shield 313 moves in a first direction with the rotation of the light-blocking link 310 to change the shielding region of the reference light LR. A light-blocking plate 400 can shield the reference light LR from a second direction different from a shielding direction (first direction) by an attenuator 300. The light-blocking plate 400 is moved by a drive mechanism 410 and changes the shielding region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOPCON
    Inventors: Shigeru Okikawa, Tomoyoshi Abe