Abstract: To prevent excitation light output from an output end of a light guiding portion causing damage to the eye when the light guiding portion which guides the special light output from a light source is detached from the insertion portion. Provided is an endoscope apparatus including: an insertion portion that is inserted into a body so as to irradiate special light to a subject observation portion inside the body and receives light output from the subject observation portion by the irradiation of the special light; and a light guiding portion that is optically connected to the insertion portion and guides the special light output from a light source to the insertion portion, wherein an output end for the special light in the light guiding portion is equipped with a diffusing portion that diffuses the special light guided by the light guiding portion.

Abstract: Provided is a nonlinear optical device capable of alleviating, without the need for a complicated compensation mechanism, temporal broadening and the waveform distortion resulting from a group-velocity dispersion slope, to thereby irradiate an object with short optical pulses having high peak power. The nonlinear optical device includes a short optical pulse source (10) for generating short optical pulses and a short optical pulse delivery system (20) for delivering the short optical pulses generated from the short optical pulse source to an object, in which there is generated substantially no nonlinear optical effect and there is substantially no amount of group-velocity dispersion, the short optical pulse source generates short optical pulses, and the short optical pulses have a spectral width (full width at half maximum) ?FWHM satisfying ?1<?FWHM<?2.

Abstract: A disposable attachment to a medical inspection or speculum device is disclosed that improves control of a fiber optic light source utilized in conjunction with the medical device to provide illumination within an internal body cavity. The attachment comprises a hollow guide tube and support having an attachment mechanism, wherein the attachment is adapted to affix to a medical device while the guide tube allows the fiber optic light to be fed therethrough and into the body cavity of interest. The guide tube provides physicians with a readily attachable and disposable alternative to existing methods of handling light sources, which often require diligent guidance and sterilization after each patient. In use, the device allows physicians to accurately inspect and diagnose conditions within a cavity by providing a stable light source to an existing instrument, whereafter the guide tube may be removed and discarded, and further the light may remain sterile.

Abstract: The endoscope light source device includes a semiconductor light source, optical fibers that are inserted into an endoscope, guide first light beams from the semiconductor light source, and are arranged in plural rows in at least an angle portion of the endoscope, an optical coupling circuit that is arranged at a distal end side of the endoscope with respect to the angle portion, and couples the first light beams guided by the optical fibers arranged in the plural rows to obtain a coupled light beam and a wavelength conversion part that is arranged at a distal end side of an endoscope insertion section in the optical coupling circuit, and converts a part or all of the coupled light beam from the optical coupling circuit into a converted light beam having a given wavelength by a phosphor.

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.

Abstract: An apparatus and methods for delivery of reinforcing materials to a weakened or fractured bone is disclosed. An apparatus for delivering a reinforcing mixture to a bone including a tube having a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis therebetween, wherein the tube has at least one inner lumen capable of allowing a bone reinforcing mixture to pass therethrough; a balloon engaging the tube wherein the balloon expands from a substantially deflated state to a substantially inflated state upon the bone reinforcing mixture entering the balloon; and at least one light guide extending through the tube into the balloon to guide a light into the balloon.

Abstract: An optical coupler is disclosed with an attachment section for mounting at a distal end of an optical imaging device for visualizing a surface area covered with an opaque fluid and/or particulate matter. The coupler includes a visualization section at one end of the coupler that includes a proximal surface for engaging the distal end of the optical imaging device, an attachment section connected to and extending away from the visualization section, an outer surface spaced apart from the proximal surface, and may include a hollow instrument channel extending from the proximal surface toward the outer surface. This surface extends continuously from a first outer side boundary across to a second opposite outer side boundary of the visualization section. The visualization section can be formed from an elastic material capable of transmitting an optical image of the surface area. In one form, the material is a silicone gel or elastomer.

Abstract: An electronic endoscope system includes an electronic endoscope having a CMOS image sensor on the tip of an insertion section, a light source device for illuminating the interior of a patient's body, and a processing device for reading out image signals from the CMOS image sensor. The electronic endoscope system can operate with a standard imaging mode and a special imaging mode. When the time taken to read out the image signals from all the pixels in the standard mode is defined as T, the light source device in the special imaging mode emits illumination light in every first half period T/2 while switching a wavelength of the illumination light between two different wavebands. In every second half period T/2, the processing device reads out the image signals from the half of the pixels.

Abstract: A probe (4) is provided with at least a light projecting optical fiber (9) and a light receiving optical fiber (10) and is configured so that excitation light guided by the light projecting optical fiber is applied to the portion of a living organism which is to be observed and then light emitted, due to the excitation light, from the portion to be observed is received by the light receiving optical fiber. The probe (4) is also provided with an illumination means used for the capture of an image by the image capturing means of an endoscope body. The illumination means is, for example, a light emitting diode which is provided to the front end of the probe, a light guiding optical fiber (11) which guides illumination light from an illumination light source (5c) to the front end of the probe, or a light emitting substance piece which is disposed at the front end of the probe and emits white fluorescent light by excitation.

Abstract: In an endoscope system having the function of capturing autofluorescence from a living body irradiated with excitation light and the function of capturing normal light observation images using white light as observation light, the normal light observation images are processed with a G fluorescence signal and an R fluorescence signal from the biological autofluorescence. The endoscope system produces bright images on which a lesion area can be easily identified in the endoscopic diagnosis using autofluorescence images.

Abstract: A miniature medical spectrometer is provided, the spectrometer comprises: a room temperature, electrically excited, solid state two photon laser generating high intensity broad wavelength; a light projection optics, projecting said generated light on biological subject; a light collection optics, collecting reflected light from said biological subject; a wavelength selector spectrally analyzing said collected light; a detector, detecting said analyzed light; and a controller analyzing the reflected spectra and calculating result indicative of the medical state of the biological subject based on said spectrum.

Abstract: A method to inspect a solid organ in a subject includes introducing a needle in a predetermined area of the solid organ, inserting an optical probe through a lumen of the needle, and imaging the predetermined area using the optical probe. An optical probe to inspect a solid organ in a subject, the optical probe being intended to be positioned in the solid organ through a needle, the optical probe includes an optical fiber bundle, a ferule to protect the distal tip of the optical fiber bundle, the ferule comprising a shank and a head, and a sheath wrapping the fiber bundle and the shank, wherein the head of the ferule has a length adapted for the optical probe to image the solid organ while keeping the sheath inside the needle.

Abstract: There is provided a living body observing apparatus capable of reducing time period to be spent on observation of a subject in a living body. The living body observing apparatus of the invention includes: illumination means including one or a plurality of semiconductor light emitting elements for emitting illumination light to illuminate a subject; image pickup means for picking up an image of the subject illuminated by the illumination light emitted from the illumination means, and outputting the picked-up image as an image pickup signal; color separation means for separating the image of the subject into red, green, and blue components; and image processing means for performing a predetermined processing on the image pickup signal outputted from the image pickup means, and outputting the processed image pickup signal as a video signal to display the image of the subject on display means.

Abstract: An endoscopy system includes a lighting section for emitting blue narrow-band light, green band light and red band light, an endoscope using an image pickup device for splitting light into blue, green and red spectral bands for photometry, and a processing section for generating a special light inspection image and a normal light inspection image from images produced by the image pickup device.

Abstract: A method of manufacture and medical apparatus that provides an apparatus useful in illuminating at least a portion of a lumen of a body. The apparatus includes an elongated flexible member and a polymer encasement portion encasing a plurality of light emitters. The light emitters may be electrically coupled to one another without the use of wire bonds, and in some embodiments may be coupled without intervening electrical paths or traces. A maximum cross-sectional dimension of the polymer encasement portion may be less than twice a dimension of one of the light emitters. In some embodiments the maximum cross-sectional dimension is less than or equal to the sum of the dimension of one of the light emitters and a marginal dimension by which an outer portion of the polymer encasement portion extends beyond the light emitter. Light emitters may be arranged linearly, helically or in partially overlapping back-to-back relation.

Abstract: A stroboscope module has a coupling with which the stroboscope module can be connected to a light connection of an endoscope. The coupling comprises a sleeve and a base, with the base being arranged in the sleeve displacable in an axial direction between a first position and a second position. An elastically deformable cuff having an internal diameter is arranged within the sleeve, into which cuff the light connection of the endoscope can be inserted in the first position. The sleeve and the base compress the cuff in the second position such that the internal diameter of the cuff is reduced and the light connection of the endoscope is locked in the coupling. The sleeve and the base can be locked in the second position.

Abstract: A light source apparatus includes a first rotational filter section that can place a blue filter, a green filter and a magenta filter in a light path, a second rotational filter section that can place a yellow filter in the light path and a band selection filter section that can place an NBI filter that limits blue and green light to a narrow band, wherein the first and the second rotational filter sections are controllable so that in the case of normal light imaging, the yellow filter is placed in the light path when the magenta filter is placed in the light path and in the case of narrow band imaging, the NBI filter is placed in the light path LP and the yellow filter is placed in the light path when the green filter is placed in the light path.

Abstract: An endoscope with adjustable viewing angle includes a light outlet device on the distal end of the endoscope to radiate illuminating light at an angle of illumination and a light conductor to transmit illuminating light to the light outlet device such that the light outlet device can be moved to adjust the angle of illumination in relation to the endoscope and such that a flexible portion of the light conductor is configured and positioned in order to be elastically reshaped when the light outlet surface is moved.

Abstract: An illumination unit includes semiconductor light sources, a target light quantity setting unit for setting a target light quantity for a total outgoing light quantity, a light quantity ratio setting unit for setting an outgoing light quantity ratio among the semiconductor light sources, an amplitude value setting unit for setting amplitude values of driving signals for the semiconductor light sources based on the set outgoing light quantity ratio and a driving signal generating unit for generating the driving signals by use of common pulse modulation control while keeping the set amplitude values. When the target light quantity is set, a driving pulse signal corresponding to the target light quantity is set in common among the semiconductor light sources. The driving pulse signal is formed to have amplitude values corresponding to the outgoing light quantity ratio to generate individual driving signals for driving the semiconductor light sources respectively.

Abstract: A surgical device is disclosed which includes an optical source for wirelessly transmitting a light based signal transcutaneously and a receiver for receiving the light based signals. The wireless coupling of signals between the optical source and the receiver wirelessly transmits video images from an internal site in a patient to a video monitor or other viewer outside the patient, and may wirelessly transmit control signals from a controller outside of the patient to an instrument inside the patient during a therapeutic or diagnostic surgical procedure.

Abstract: An endoscope light source unit for making illumination light incident on a light guide, includes a rotary aperture plate, aperture openings of different opening ratios and an auxiliary-light aperture opening of a maximum opening ratio formed in the rotary aperture plate; a rotating device; an auxiliary light; a first sensing portion and a plurality of second sensing portions formed in the rotary aperture plate in association with the auxiliary-light aperture opening and the aperture openings; a first sensor which detects the first sensing portion; a second sensor which detects the first sensing portion and detects the second sensing portions; and a controller which controls the rotary aperture plate in accordance with the first and/or second sensors. When the auxiliary light is in the retracted position, the controller drives the rotary aperture plate while the second sensor detects the first sensing portion.

Abstract: A delivery catheter for delivery, then photo-activation of photo sensitive material has a photo-sensitive substance-delivery part and an activation part. The catheter delivers substances such as biomaterials to a target site, followed by illumination of the target using optics located at the distal tip of the catheter which are optically coupled to an extracorporeal light source. In another aspect a deployable light-delivery catheter is disclosed that can illuminate a large area of tissue.

Abstract: A unit of equipment designed for use in endoscopic surgery includes radio frequency identification (RFID) circuitry and a network interface. The RFID circuitry can be used to store information of various types, such as component usage tracking information, user preferences, usage logs, error logs, device settings, etc. The network interface allows the unit to communicate over an external network with a remote server. Information, such as information stored in the RFID circuitry or in a separate memory, may be sent over the network to a desired destination, such as a server operated by the manufacturer of the equipment.

Abstract: The illumination system is a cannula comprising a transparent or semi-transparent material capable of carrying light from the proximal end of the cannula to the distal end of the cannula, thereby illuminating a surgical field. The surgical field is thus illuminated through components that do not occupy space that may otherwise by used for optics and or surgical tools. The illumination source may be optically coupled with the cannula at any appropriate location. The cannula comprises a sterilizable polymer which functions as a waveguide. A waveguide is a material medium that confines and guides light. When in use, the light source connected to the hub provides light which may be guided to the distal end of the cannula or any other suitable location. Thus, the sheath provides structure-guided illumination resulting in the illumination of the surgical site.

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.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed medical devices for illuminating and viewing a patient's internal body portion. The device may include an elongated flexible tube including a distal end and a proximal end. The tube defines a channel extending from the proximal end to an aperture at the distal end. An illumination device is housed within the channel and configured to emit a distally directed path of light. A light source is provided at the distal end of the flexible tube and configured to emit a laterally directed path of light. In one embodiment the light source is a organic light emitting diode.

Abstract: The present invention provides an endoscope with a watertight and air-tight endoscope handle that in preferred embodiments contains in its interior a solid-state light source and a gas permeable and liquid impermeable sealed compartment holding a battery and an electronic circuit, where the sealed compartment is preferably transverse to the long axis of the endoscope handle, and, in certain embodiments, at least partially surrounded by a movable structure.

Abstract: Sinusitis, enlarged nasal turbinates, tumors, infections, hearing disorders, allergic conditions, facial fractures and other disorders of the ear, nose and throat are diagnosed and/or treated using minimally invasive approaches and, in many cases, flexible catheters as opposed to instruments having rigid shafts. Various diagnostic procedures and devices are used to perform imaging studies, mucus flow studies, air/gas flow studies, anatomic dimension studies, endoscopic studies and transillumination studies. Access and occluder devices may be used to establish fluid tight seals in the anterior or posterior nasal cavities/nasopharynx and to facilitate insertion of working devices (e.g., scopes, guidewires, catheters, tissue cutting or remodeling devices, electrosurgical devices, energy emitting devices, devices for injecting diagnostic or therapeutic agents, devices for implanting devices such as stents, substance eluting devices, substance delivery implants, etc.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for utilizing light, including ultraviolet, optical and/or infrared, for detecting a body in an object, such as biomaterial or tissue, animal and/or human tissue. The body or object may be made fluorescent by the use of dyes or agent. Light is used to illuminate the body and object and the scattered light, fluorescent and/or emitted light, reflected light and transmitted light are detected and used to reconstruct the body and/or object using an iterative analysis. Further, the method and apparatus may be extended to endoscopic applications to make subcutaneous images of internal tissue above, on, in or beyond endoscopic pathways such as esophagus, stomach, colon, bronchial tubes and/or other openings, cavities and spaces animate or inanimate, and in man-made or industrial materials as carbon/resin structures.

Abstract: An endoscope (1) is provided having a handle (2) and a probe part (3) that can be connected thereto, with an illumination system comprising at least one light emitting diode (6) and a video system having an image receiver being arranged in the handle (2). A carrier element (12) made of a heat-conducting material is provided for at least one light emitting diode (6) inside the handle (2), to which the light emitting diode (6) is directly connected. The carrier element thermally contacts the housing parts and/or installation parts of the handle (2) and the probe part (3) for heat conductivity and/or dissipation.

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.

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.

Abstract: A first irradiation portion that radiates white light onto a subject, a second irradiation portion that radiates narrow bandwidth light having a narrower wavelength bandwidth than the white light, and an observation window used to observe the subject are respectively disposed on a leading end surface of an endoscope insertion portion. Each of the first and second irradiation portions includes a pair of irradiation windows for emitting light therefrom. A straight line passing through a center point of the observation window and bisecting the leading end surface is defined as a boundary line. The pair of irradiation windows of the first irradiation portion are disposed on both sides of the boundary line. The pair of irradiation windows of the second irradiation portion are disposed on the both sides of the boundary line. Spectra of lights radiated from the irradiation windows of the second irradiation portion can be changed individually.

Abstract: A light source device of an endoscope system comprises a light source and a light-source controller. The light source emits in a flash-emitting mode that the light source flashes in a flash interval longer than a field period of an imaging sensor for the endoscope system and for a flash period shorter than the field period. The light-source controller controls the light source so that the light source emits in the flash-emitting mode within an imaging period that is a period excluding a reading period within the field period. The flash interval is defined as a period from when the flash of the light source commences to when the next flash of the light source commences. The flash period is defined as a period from when the flash of the light source commences to when the flash of the light source is completed.

Abstract: In a minimally invasive surgical system, an illuminator includes a visible color component illumination source and a hardware non-visible fluorescence emission illumination source. Thus, the illuminator outputs target image illumination light in a first spectrum where the first spectrum includes at least a portion of the visible spectrum. The illuminator also outputs target image illumination light in a second spectrum, where the second spectrum includes non-visible light with a wavelength the same as a wavelength in an emission from a fluorophore.

Abstract: An object is to provide a light source device that can readily synchronize the lighting cycle of light sources and the rotation cycle of a light guide rod. Provided is a light source device (10) that includes LEDs (11) arranged in the form of a ring and each configured to emit illumination light; a light guide member (15) that optically guides the illumination light, emitted from each LED (11), along a central axis of the ring; a rotary motor that rotationally drives the light guide member (15) about the central axis; a reflective photo-sensor that detects rotation of the rotary motor; a CCD (5) that detects an amount of the illumination light optically guided by the light guide member (15); and a control section (6) that controls these sections and adjusts a phase difference between a lighting signal, which is used for performing lighting control of the LEDs (11), and a rotation detection signal, which is detected by the reflective photo-sensor, on the basis of the amount of light detected by the CCD (5).

Abstract: An endoscope comprises an elongated shaft, a headpiece at a proximal end of the shaft, the headpiece having a housing, at least one light source which is arranged in the shaft in a distal area thereof, and produces lost heat, and a passive cooling which has at least one heat pipe which is arranged in the shaft and is thermally coupled to the at least one light source in order to lead away the lost heat in the proximal direction. The at least one heat pipe extends into the headpiece, and a heat sink body is arranged in the headpiece, to which heat sink body the at least one heat pipe is thermally coupled, and which absorbs the lost heat from the at least one heat pipe and emits the lost heat to the environment directly or via the housing of the headpiece.

Abstract: An endoscope apparatus that captures images of a target using returned light from the target irradiated with irradiation light. The endoscope apparatus comprises a first optical system that has an axial chromatic aberration and respectively focuses light in different wavelength regions contained in the irradiation light at different positions on an optical axis thereof; a second optical system that focuses first returned light in a different wavelength region than light contained in the irradiation light and second returned light in a different wavelength region than the first returned light at substantially the same position on an optical axis thereof, the first returned light and the second returned light being returned from focal positions of the irradiation light focused in the target by the first optical system; and a light receiving section that receives the first returned light and the second returned light focused by the second optical system.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an endoscope apparatus comprising a tube body, a cover, a first image capture module, a second image capture module and a connecting tube. The first image capture module captures an image with a first view, and the second image capture module captures an image with a second view. A first flexible printed circuit board (PCB) is disposed inside the tube body, and a second flexible PCB is disposed inside the connecting tube. The connecting tube is connected with the tube body via the connecting between the first flexible PCB and the second flexible PCB, so as to transmit the images captured by the first image capture module or the second image capture module.

Abstract: There is provided an inside observation apparatus of an endoscope and the like which can perform an inside observation for irradiating an illumination light to a minute area of a surface of an object (for example, a living tissue) having a light scattering property and detecting a back-scattered light of the illumination light, can increase a detected light amount by a simply and low cost configuration by making an area of a detection region larger than an illumination region, and can reduce a time necessary to detect an body (for example, a blood vessel) to be observed and detect a region deeper than a conventional region.

Abstract: A light source device includes: a light emission part in which a plurality of illuminants are arranged on a support body; a light guide member in which light emitted from the light emission part is introduced into an incidence surface at one end of the light guide member; and a light collecting member which is located between the light emission part and the light guide member. The light collecting member comprises a plurality of tapered columnar bodies tapered toward the incidence surface of the light guide member. The plurality of tapered columnar bodies are placed so that base end portions thereof are each opposed to an associated one of light emission surfaces of the illuminants. A light emission window is formed at a position of the device, which is opposed to the incidence surface of the light guide member.

Abstract: A light source device includes: a light emission part in which a plurality of illuminants are arranged on a support body; a light guide member in which light emitted from the light emission part is introduced into an incidence surface at one end of the light guide member; and a light collecting member which is located between the light emission part and the light guide member. The light collecting member includes a plurality of tapered columnar bodies, which are placed so that tip portions thereof are opposed to the incidence surface of the light guide member and base end portions thereof are opposed to light emission surfaces of the illuminants. A selective translucent member for limiting transmission of an infrared component is located along an optical path leading from the light emission part to the incidence surface of the light guide member.

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: An illumination device (1a) includes a light source unit (21) which is provided on the base end side of an insertion portion (2) to emit excitation light, a first optical transmission unit (24) which is provided from the base end side toward the front end side in the insertion portion (2) to guide excitation light from the light source unit (21) to the front end side, a fluorescent member (22) which is provided at the front end of the first optical transmission unit (24) and is excited by excitation light to emit illumination light, and a light determination unit (30) which is provided near the fluorescent member (22) to determine the amount of illumination light emitted from the fluorescent member (22) and output a determination signal.

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.

Abstract: An illumination unit includes a distal end frame member having a through opening, a plurality of illumination sections, and a holding member which is arranged in the through opening and holds the illumination sections to incline the illumination sections at a desired angle with respect an opening surface of the through opening and to form a cascade along the axial direction of the through opening. The illumination unit includes a reflective member which is configured to reflect the illumination light emitted from the illumination sections toward the opening surface, the reflective member being held by the holding member to face the illumination sections and to apply the illumination light externally emitted from the illumination sections from the inside of the through opening via the opening surface.

Abstract: A laparoscope with an elongated rigid shaft, including an observation device at its distal end and a handle body at its proximal end, with a main body disposed at a distance from the handle body and connected thereto by a connecting piece, wherein the connecting piece is designed such that the position thereof can be adjusted.

Abstract: An endoscope system and an observation method using the same includes an agent dispensing portion for dispensing towards an acquisition object a fluorescent agent; a light source portion for emitting excitation light for exciting the fluorescent agent and irradiation light having different spectral characteristics from the excitation light; an optical system for transmitting the excitation light and the irradiation light towards the acquisition object; image-acquisition means, disposed at a portion that is inserted inside a body cavity and capable of acquiring fluorescence excited from the acquisition object by the excitation light, and light in a different wavelength band, which is excited from the acquisition object by the irradiation light; and control means for controlling the agent-dispensing means so that the acquisition object is irradiated with the irradiation light before the fluorescent agent is spouted out towards the acquisition object and for synchronizing at least the operation for spouting the

Abstract: The medical instrument includes an optical fiber sensor in which a plurality of FBG sections are formed, a reflector that forms reference light, a light source that outputs light by stepwise changing light beams of wavelengths of a predetermined interval, a coupler that splits light and generates interference light, a detection section that detects the interference light and a calculation section that calculates amounts of deformation of the FBG sections based on the detection result of the detection section.

Abstract: An external endoscope light source system includes light emitting diodes for providing a light output to an endoscope. The light is provided to a fiber optic cable for transmission to the endoscope. A fiber optic receives a portion of the light output and provides the output to a color sensor for sensing color values. The color values are provided to a controller that adjusts power to the various LEDs to provide a white light output. Instead of a color sensor in the light source, the light source can receive a white balance signal from a video camera provided for an endoscope. The white balance signal varies intensity of light output from each of the LEDs to obtain a white light output. The camera also provides shutter speed of a camera image sensor to the light source. The shutter speed is used to pulse or modulate the light output only when the shutter of the camera is open. By modulating the light output by the light source, the amount of heat generated by the light source is minimized.