Abstract: An endoscope light source unit including a light source lamp and an infrared-cut filter for cutting out light rays with wavelengths of a near-infrared region which are included in illumination light emitted from the light source lamp, the endoscope light source unit includes a transparent conductive coating formed on at least one of front and rear surfaces of the infrared-cut filter; at least one pair of electrode portions provided on the one of the front and rear surfaces of the infrared-cut filter in a vicinity of a rim thereof on opposite sides of the transparent conductive coating, respectively, to be electrically connected to the transparent conductive coating; and an electrical-characteristic detector which measures an electrical characteristic of the pair of electrode portions to detect whether the electrical characteristic exceeds a predetermined threshold value.

Abstract: The endoscopic system includes an endoscope having an insertion portion which is inserted into a body and has a forceps insertion duct, and a light emitting member which has an end portion that emits the light and is inserted into a hollow organ in the body through the forceps insertion duct of the endoscope. The light emitting member issues positional information of the hollow organ which is detected through the endoscope orally and gastrically inserted into an abdominal cavity by causing the end portion to emit the light in the hollow organ. The system includes a treatment instrument by which a treatment is conducted in the abdominal cavity in cooperation with the endoscope.

Abstract: This endoscope system comprises image pickup means having an image pickup device, illumination light ejecting means having an illumination light ejection portion, an endoscope having an insertion portion and having an illumination light incident portion and an optical image ejection portion for ejecting subject light, a first connection portion for attaching the endoscope to the image pickup means so that the subject light can be captured, a second connection portion for attaching the endoscope to the illumination light ejecting means so that the light from the illumination light ejection portion can enter the illumination light incident portion, an optical path having a first adapter connection portion attachable to the first connection portion and a second adapter connection portion attachable to the second connection portion for capturing the subject image, and an adapter having an illumination optical system for guiding the illumination light to the image pickup region.

Abstract: An endoscope 2 has a CCD 9 incorporated in the distal part of an insertion unit 6 thereof. The sensitivity of the CCD 9 can be varied by applying a plurality of pulsating driving signals so as to change an electron multiplication rate. The endoscope 2 is connected to a processor 3 so that it can be disconnected freely. Information representing a type of endoscope stored in advance in a ROM 48 is transmitted to a controller 21 incorporated in the processor 3. The control means 21 uses a CCD sensitivity control means 12 to control the sensitivity of the CCD 9 according to the type of connected endoscope 2. Consequently, a view image of proper brightness can be produced irrespective of the type of endoscope 2.

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: An electronic endoscope apparatus has a light source, a luminance calculator, a controller, and a brightness adjuster. The light source illuminates an object. The luminance calculator calculates a luminance level indicating a brightness of an object image on the basis of image-pixel signals corresponding to the object image. The controller calculates and outputs a manipulated value in accordance with a luminance-difference between the luminance level and a reference luminance level indicating a standard brightness of the object image. The controller sets a non-sensitive band including a standard point corresponding to the reference luminance level. The brightness adjuster adjusts the brightness of the object image in accordance with the manipulated value. When the manipulated value is inside the non-sensitive band, the controller outputs a non-activating manipulated value so as not to activate the brightness adjuster.

Abstract: An endoscope system of the present invention has a video processor and a light source device, and an endoscope can be connected thereto. And a control portion of the light source device detects connection with the endoscope and the video processor, detects connection with the video processor and the light source device and detects the type of the endoscope by an endoscope detection portion. And when non-connection of the endoscope and the video processor is detected, or non-connection of the video processor and the light source device is detected, the control portion controls so that the light amount of illumination light supplied from the light source device to the endoscope becomes a predetermined light amount according the detected type of the endoscope.

Abstract: Endoscopes and other viewing devices that control the light that contacts a sample and/or that is detected emanating from a sample. The viewing devices are particularly well suited for in vivo imaging, although other uses are also included. The viewing devices, and methods related thereto, comprise a spatial light modulator in the illumination and/or detection light path so that light transmitted to the target via a bundle of light guides or optical system is transmitted substantially only into the cores of the light guide bundle and not into the cladding surrounding the light guides, filler between the light guides in the bundle, or undesired light guides. Also, methods and apparatus for mapping the pixels of the spatial light modulator to the cores of the light guides in the bundle (preferably at least 3 pixels (e.g., at least 3 mirrors for a digital micromirror device) for each core), as well as for mapping the light guides of one light guide bundle to another.

Abstract: An endoscope having an optical guide that is optically coupled to a first broadband light source and a second laser light source that emits light at a wavelength in a range of 350 nm to 420 nm. The endoscope has an image sensor at a distal end and collects a reflectance image including red, green and blue components with the image sensor in response to illumination by said broadband light source. The image sensor also collects an autofluorescence image having a blue component, a green component and a red component. A processor processes the fluorescence image by determining a ratio of the fluorescence image and the reflectance image to provide a processed fluorescence image.

Abstract: A capsule endoscope includes a capsule portion. The capsule portion includes at least an observation optical unit having an image pick-up element and an optical lens that forms an objective optical system, an illuminating unit having an illuminating substrate, an electroluminescence light source, and a light-emitting control circuit, a peripheral-circuit part which forms various circuits having a signal processing circuit, a receiving and transmitting circuit, and a control circuit, and a power source unit which supplies power to the observation optical unit, the illuminating unit, and the peripheral-circuit part.

Abstract: An endoscope system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention includes an endoscope with a monochrome image pickup device for capturing reflected light and fluorescence from the body cavity, an excitation light cut filter which is installed in front of the image pickup device for shielding excitation light, and an endoscope ID which includes information on the type of the endoscope. A light source unit includes a first switching filter that irradiates light including excitation light for a fluorescent image mode and a filter for generating continuous light for a normal-light image mode. The filters switch based between the fluorescent image mode and the normal-light image mode. A second switching filter with a limiting filter that limits certain wavelengths of excitation light of the first switching filter is provided. The limiting filters are switched according to the endoscope ID or observation state in the fluorescence mode.

Abstract: This invention relates to an endoscope image sensing apparatus which can switch suitable color matrixes in accordance with the type of observation region, the type of light source used, or the like, and obtain good color reproduction corresponding to the type of observation region or the type of light source used. This apparatus uses a one-chip color CCD as an image sensing means. A CPU reads out corresponding color matrix coefficients from a ROM, and outputs the coefficients to a color separation circuit. The color separation circuit executes a matrix computation based on the color matrix to convert luminance and color difference signals into primary color signals.

Abstract: A visible light spectrum and a fluorescent light spectrum are received by a variable gain solid state imaging device provided to an endoscope. The variable gain solid state imaging device can be said to lower amplification levels for easily observed visible light spectrum, and higher amplification levels for low intensity fluorescent light spectrum observation. By varying the gain of the imaging device with the different spectrums, an object observed with the endoscope is displayed with approximately similar brightness in each white spectrum. A controller coupled to endoscope system switches different light spectrum to irradiate the observed object, while controlling amplification of the image device. The endoscope provides enhanced image detail to improve diagnosis and treatment of observed abnormal objects.

Abstract: In the light source unit 3A, a switching filter section 14, which can switch the RGB filter for normal-light observation and a filter for fluorescent observation on the optical path, is installed in front of the lamp 12, where if the fluorescent image mode is selected, the excitation light in a part of the blue wavelength band is supplied to the electronic endoscope 2A, and the excitation light reflected by the subject side is shielded by the excitation light cut filter 27 in front of the CCD 28 so as to obtain the fluorescent image, and also the signal of the fluorescent image and the signals of the two reflected light images which are set in a predetermined wavelength band are passed through the image processing circuit 38, where a matrix circuit for appropriately allocating the color signals of the R, G and B channels is installed, and as a result, the images can be displayed on the monitor 5 in pseudo-colors in hues which allow easy identification of a normal tissue and a pathologically affected tissue.

Abstract: An improved light beam combiner is disclosed that creates a more uniform light source across the UV, Visual, and NIR range. It is an optical mechanical device made up of a standard high low dielectric thin film which, when placed at a 45 degree angle between a Deuterium lamp and a Halogen or Tungsten lamp, reflects the UV portion of a Deuterium lamp and passes the visual portion while also allowing the visual energy of a Halogen or Tungsten lamp to pass resulting in a more uniform light source for use in spectroscopy.

Abstract: An endoscope system includes an endoscope having an insertion tube; a main light source; an auxiliary light source; and a fiber-optic light guide provided in the insertion tube, the fiber-optic light guide being provided with an incident end face which selectively faces one of the main light source and the auxiliary light source, and an exit end face which faces an illuminating optical system provided at a distal end of the insertion tube. The auxiliary light source is a white LED.

Abstract: A light source apparatus for an endoscope including a main light source; a light guide member whose incident end face is opposed to the main light source and which guides light incident thereon to an emission end face thereof; an auxiliary light source which is activated to emit light when no light is emitted from the main light source and which is supported to move between a stand-by position in which the auxiliary light source is located out of a main light path between the main light source and the incident end face and an operative position in which the auxiliary light source is located in the main light path and is opposed to the incident end face when the main light source is inoperative; and an auxiliary light source emission control device for driving the auxiliary light source at a continuous emission mode to emit light of a predetermined intensity or at an intermittent emission mode to emit light of an intensity higher than the predetermined intensity.

Abstract: A light source device enables manual and automatic light regulation performed on illumination light that is irradiated to an object. A set value of a light regulation level for light emanating from a light source which is determined for use of an endoscope 11 is stored in a memory. When the driving power supply of the endoscope 11 is turned on again in order to reuse the endoscope, the stored and previously determined set value of the light regulation level is compared with a threshold value. When the previously determined set value of the light regulation level is equal to or larger than the threshold value, a diaphragm 26 is adjusted so that the light regulation level is set to a predetermined value. When the previously determined set value of the light regulation level is equal to or smaller than the threshold value, the diaphragm 26 is adjusted so that the light regulation level will be set to the previous determined set value.

Abstract: An endoscopic system for internal inspection of an object includes an endoscope extending along a longitudinal axis between a distal end to be inserted into the object and a proximal end and an illumination assembly attached to the proximal end of the endoscope. The illumination assembly includes a solid-state light source. The endoscopic system also includes an optical system positioned distally from the solid-state light source to receive and convey light to the distal end.

Abstract: An endoscope and stroboscope comprising an elongated rigid tube that includes an inner tube providing an optical path for viewing through said tube by a human being, an LED light source connected to said tube and a fiber optic bundle providing light transmission from said LED through and within said endoscopic and stroboscopic tube providing optical illumination from the distal end of said tube without interfering with the optical view for the user. The LED light source can be varied in intensity. A first end of the fiber optic bundle is a hemispherical concave shape abuts the LED light source.

Abstract: A fluorescence image display apparatus is provided; wherein, when a pseudo color image representing the tissue state of a target subject is obtained, based on a fluorescence image emitted from the target subject upon the irradiation thereof by an excitation light, the tissue state can be recognized regardless of the intensity of the fluorescent light. Based upon the statistical quantity of a wide band fluorescence image computed by a statistical quantity computing means, a gain that the wide band and narrow band fluorescence image data are to be multiplied by is computed by a gain computing means. A gain multiplying means multiplies the wide band and narrow band fluorescence image data by the gain, whereby a green gradation is assigned to the wide band fluorescence image and a red gradation is assigned to the narrow band fluorescence image, and a composite image data is obtained by an image composing means.

Abstract: A light source device for use in an image capturing device such as an endoscope capable of reducing size and cost, and preventing heat generation at an illuminated position. An illumination unit of the endoscope includes LED light sources for emitting ultraviolet light, fluorescent fibers for generating red, green and blue light respectively by irradiation of the ultraviolet light, a sampling light source, and an excitation light source. Upon capturing a normal image, the ultraviolet light is emitted sequentially from the LED light sources to cause the fluorescent fibers to generate the red, green and blue light. The light of each color is passed through a light guide and irradiated on an observation area of a living body. Thereafter, reflected images attributable to the light of each color are captured with a CCD image capturing element of a charge multiplying type, and captured images are displayed on a monitor.

Abstract: A medical diagnostic instrument includes a housing containing at least one battery and a light source, such as a lamp, for illuminating a medical target. A switch includes a movable member that selectively moves at least one of the battery and the lamp into and out of electrical connection with the other. The instrument is preferably fabricated from a diecast or an extrusion process wherein a thin plastic sleeve member having text and/or graphic materials can be shrink fitted onto an extruded handle.

Abstract: An endoscope assembly consisting of an endoscope 622, a light source, 626 and a camera 552 with display 558. The endoscope contains a memory 670 with data that describes the endoscope and its operating characteristics. When the light source is connected to the endoscope with a fiber optic cable 628, the data in the memory are read into a control processor 538a internal to the light source. The control processor, based on the endoscope data configures the light source so that it emits an appropriate amount of light for that endoscope. The light source also sends a control unit 556 of the camera data indicating the type of endoscope to which the camera is attached. Based on this endoscope type data, the control unit processes the image signals generated by the camera head in an appropriate form for the attached endoscope so as to produce appropriate signals for presenting an image on the display.

Abstract: A space through which a cooling fluid flows is provided in the inside of a connection portion between an endoscope and a light source device in order to cool heat generated in the connection portion. For example, a device for performing air supply or air suction (at least either one of air supply and air suction) in the endoscope communicates with the space, and cooling is effected by the flow of air formed by the device. In a preferred example of a cooling method, when neither air supply nor air suction is needed during manipulation of the endoscope, the device and the space are connected to each other to effect cooling, and when air supply or air suction is needed, the flow of air used for cooling is intercepted, and is exclusively directed to an air channel in the endoscope.

Abstract: An illumination control system comprises a rotation detecting section, an abnormality determination section, and a filter removing section. The rotation detecting section detects the rotational driving of a filter which is located on a path of illumination light emitted from a light source, which irradiates color light rays having different wavelengths to an object, and which is driven by a rotational driver. The abnormality determination section determines whether status of filter rotation is normal or abnormal based on the detected rotation of the filter by the rotation detecting section. The filter removing section removes the filter from the path of the illumination light when the abnormality determination section determines that the status of filter rotation is abnormal.

Abstract: In a socket portion of an endoscopic light source connector, a rod end holder is mounted on a riser plate within a housing of a light source for holding and supporting a fore end portion of a light guide rod of a light source connector, which has a proximal end portion of a light guide encased in a rigid pipe. The rod end holder is constituted by a fixed tubular casing which is mounted on the riser plate in an aligned position relative to an optical axis of illumination light path from a source lamp of the light source, and a slide member which is axially slidably fitted in the fixed tubular casing and internally provided with a light guide passage for passing illumination light from the source lamp.

Abstract: A video endoscope system for fluorescence observation includes a video endoscope, an illumination probe, a power supply unit, a signal processing unit and a display. The video endoscope has a part configured to be inserted in a body cavity, an objective optical system that forms an image of a subject based on a visible component of the light emitted through the distal end of the insert part, and a cut filter that filters out from the light incident onto the objective optical system, a component of light having a predetermined wavelength. An image pickup device picks up an image of the subject formed by the objective optical system to output an image signal. A light emitting device is provided to emit excitation light having a wavelength so as to excite tissue of a living body to cause the tissue to emit self-fluorescence. The excitation light has the predetermined wavelength that is filtered by the cut filter. The light emitting device is configured to emit light associated with the predetermined wavelength.

Abstract: In a light source unit, a switchable filter section in which an RGB filter and a fluorescence observation filter can be shifted into the light path is disposed in front of a lamp. When fluorescence image mode is selected, excitation light in a part of the wavelength band of the blue wavelength band is supplied to an electronic endoscope, and the excitation light which is reflected by the subject is shielded by an excitation light shielding filter situated in front of a CCD, whereby a fluorescence image can be obtained. On the other hand, if normal-light image mode is selected, then R, G, B light is supplied sequentially, and even under illumination of B light, the color component image in the wavelength bands which are not shielded by the excitation light shielding filter are captured, thereby yielding a normal-light image also, and hence making it possible to capture both a fluorescence image and a normal-light image by means of a single image pickup element.

Abstract: A connector assembly for an endoscope apparatus, which includes a plug removably insertable in a receptacle, is disclosed. The plug has a molded body incorporating a light cable and an electrical connector in a fixed spatial relationship within the molded body.

Abstract: An endoscope assembly is disclosed having a housing adapted to be manipulated by medical personnel, such as a surgeon. An elongated lens tube has one end secured to the housing while an elongated stage is removably secured to the housing so that the stage encompasses and is coaxial with the tube. The stage together with the lens tube are adapted for insertion into the cavity of a body. A lens assembly provided within the lens tube relays the optical image from the free end of the stage to the housing. A lens assembly within the housing, furthermore, varies the magnification of the image between macroscopic magnification and microscopic magnification in which tissue may be examined on a cellular level. For macroscopic magnification, white light is transmitted through the lens tube as well as reflected back from the target tissue through the lens tube and to the housing. For microscopic examination, laser radiation is utilized in lieu of the white light illumination.

Abstract: An endoscope includes a red component cut optical filter having a characteristic that a spectral transmittance becomes half at 630 nm and zero at 670 nm, for example between a light source and an infrared cut filter, to remove a long wavelength component mainly in a red band of illumination light. This restrains scattering of light on a long wavelength side of red light, and allows taking images of mucosa, blood vessels, and other tissue in good contrast in an object to be observed and satisfactorily observing them on a monitor. Further, reduction in light amount resulting from cutting a red component with the filter is eliminated by light amount control with an aperture and gain control of a signal.

Abstract: A light-source device for an endoscope includes a housing, first and second lamps, and first and second movable lamp mounting sections. The first movable lamp-mounting section is transferable with respect to the housing between first and second lamp positions. The second movable lamp-mounting section is attached to the first movable lamp-mounting section and is transferable between a lighting position and a lamp replacing position. The first lamp is optically connected to a light guide cable when the second movable lamp-mounting section is positioned at the lighting position and when the first movable lamp-mounting section is positioned at the first lamp position. The second lamp is optically connected to the light guide cable when the second movable lamp-mounting section is positioned at the lighting position and when the first movable lamp-mounting section is positioned at the second lamp position.

Abstract: A solid-state light source includes a semiconductor light source for emitting light and an optical system having a fiber optic element. The fiber optic element has an input for receiving emitted light from the semiconductor light source. The fiber optic element also has an output for emitting light received from the solid-state light source. The semiconductor light source and the fiber optic element in aggregate form an illumination path.

Abstract: An endoscope 2 has a CCD 9 incorporated in the distal part of an insertion unit 6 thereof. The sensitivity of the CCD 9 can be varied by applying a plurality of pulsating driving signals so as to change an electron multiplication rate. The endoscope 2 is connected to a processor 3 so that it can be disconnected freely. Information representing a type of endoscope stored in advance in a ROM 48 is transmitted to a controller 21 incorporated in the processor 3. The control means 21 uses a CCD sensitivity control means 12 to control the sensitivity of the CCD 9 according to the type of connected endoscope 2. In addition, an automatic gain control circuit supplementarily amplifies a signal output from the CCD 9 so that the level of the signal becomes a predetermined level. Consequently, a view image of proper brightness can be produced irrespective of the type of endoscope 2.

Abstract: An omnidirectional endoscope device 1 is provided at a distal end part of an insertion section 12 of an endoscope 10 with an omnidirectional light receiving unit 20 for receiving an incident light from all around the periphery in the peripheral direction and reflecting the light toward a relay lens optical system 13. The insertion section 12 slidably pierces through a retaining cylinder 33. A light guide 35 (illumination light transmitting means) is embedded in the retaining cylinder 33, and an outgoing surface at the distal end of this light guide 35 is faced with a distal end face of the retaining cylinder 33. The retaining cylinder 33 can be operated in a sliding manner by a grip 31 disposed at the basal end. By this, the illumination light can strike upon the view field of the omnidirectional light receiving mechanism regardless whether the inside space of an image to be observed is large or small.

Abstract: An endoscope system comprising an endoscope which incorporates an imaging element together with an element for determining the type of the imaging element; a light source apparatus, which includes a DMD in a light path from a light source lamp, for determining incidence or non-incidence of the illuminating light from the light source lamp on a mirror; a CPU which determines the type of imaging element based on the information provided by the type determining element and detects a time required by the imaging element for charge reading based on the determination result; and a DMD control circuit which controls the DMD at a charge reading timing of the imaging element corresponding to the charge reading time detected by the CPU, the endoscope system making it possible to extend the exposure time to a maximum regardless of the type of the endoscope, by controlling the light shielding time of illuminating light in accordance with the type of the imaging element.

Abstract: An endoscope to perform non-tethered macroscopy and microscopy at the same time is provided. An electromagnetic source is used to deliver electromagnetic energy through a first optical pathway to a tissue inside a body. An image detector is used to detect the reflected electromagnetic energy from the tissue through a second optical pathway as real-time images. A macro-to-micro lens set is used to change the magnification of the reflected electromagnetic energy before it reaches the image detector with two or more different magnification levels. A filter set is used to filter the reflected electromagnetic energy before it reaches the image detector. Furthermore, the endoscope includes a flexible shaft. The distal end of the shaft includes a spread and spot means to spread and spot the electromagnetic energy at the tissue. A processing means is also included for processing the detected images.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to make the light distribution by a light guide even. In the light guide, an amount of light emitted from the central region in the light emission end face is relatively small in comparison with an amount of light emitted from a peripheral region in the light emission end face. For example, a mask for shielding light is provided near the light emission end face of the light guide. The mask is, for example, circular, and is aligned with an optical axis Z0 as the center. By providing the mask, the light emitted from the central region in the light emission end face is shielded around the optical axis Z0.

Abstract: An endoscope illumination system for use with an endoscope having both a microscopic mode and a macroscopic mode. The illumination system includes a source of broadband light and includes a source of laser illumination, which may be infrared illumination. A circuit determines the mode of operation of the endoscope. This circuit activates the source of broadband light and deactivates the source of laser illumination when the endoscope is in its macroscopic mode. Conversely, the circuit deactivates the source of broadband light and activates the source of laser illumination when the endoscope is in the microscopic mode.

Abstract: There is provided an endoscopic treatment system. The system includes an endoscope having an insertion portion which is inserted into a body and has a forceps insertion duct, and a light emitting member which has an end portion that emits the light and is inserted into a hollow organ in the body through the forceps insertion duct of the endoscope. The light emitting member issues positional information of the hollow organ which is detected through the endoscope orally and gastrically inserted into an abdominal cavity by causing the end portion to emit the light in the hollow organ. The system includes a treatment instrument by which a treatment is conducted in the abdominal cavity in cooperation with the endoscope.

Abstract: A portable imaging system incorporating a portable light source powered by a battery, the output of which is conditioned and regulated to supply an output voltage of a selected level such that the light source provides illuminating light of a selected illumination level and a selected color temperature for use in illuminating the area of interest of an object whose image is observed by means of said portable imaging system.

Abstract: A light source apparatus for an endoscope including a main light source; a light guide member whose incident end face is opposed to the main light source and which guides light incident thereon to an emission end face thereof; an auxiliary light source which is activated to emit light when no light is emitted from the main light source and which is supported to move between a stand-by position in which the auxiliary light source is located out of a main light path between the main light source and the incident end face and an operative position in which the auxiliary light source is located in the main light path and is opposed to the incident end face when the main light source is inoperative; and an auxiliary light source emission control device for driving the auxiliary light source at a continuous emission mode to emit light of a predetermined intensity or at an intermittent emission mode to emit light of an intensity higher than the predetermined intensity.

Abstract: An accurate determination of the tissue state of a diseased portion is performed by use of an image obtaining apparatus employing a charge multiplying type solid state image obtaining element. A target subject is irradiated with an illuminating light that contains an excitation light, and the reflected light, which includes a fluorescence image, reflected from the target subject thereupon is detected by a charge multiplying type CCD. At this time, the fluorescent light image is passed through a rotating filter, and is detected as a wide band fluorescent light image and a narrow band fluorescent light image by the charge multiplying type CCD, and obtained as a wide band fluorescence image data and a narrow band fluorescence image data by an image processing unit. A fluorescence diagnostic image is obtained of the wide band fluorescence image data and the narrow band fluorescence image data, and displayed on a monitor.

Abstract: An endoscopic system for internal inspection of an object includes an endoscope extending along a longitudinal axis between a distal end to be inserted into the object and a proximal end and an illumination assembly attached to the proximal end of the endoscope. The illumination assembly includes a solid-state light source. The endoscopic system also includes an optical system positioned distally from the solid-state light source to receive and convey light to the distal end.

Abstract: An endoscope probe system includes an endoscope probe to be inserted into a body cavity to observe tissue of a living body. The endoscope probe system further includes a laser source that emits multiple laser beams, a light detector having multiple light receiving elements each of which detects intensity of light incident thereon, and a plurality of confocal optical systems arranged to focus the laser beams emitted from the laser source to small spots arranged in a matrix pattern on the target and selectively transmit the laser beams reflected by the target at the spots to respective ones of the light receiving elements of the light detector.

Abstract: Balloon probes, adapted for use in endoscopy and other medical procedures, are useful to obtain spectroscopic information reflected or emitted from a tissue of interest in the infrared spectral region. The information collected by the probe is useful in the diagnosis and treatment of disease. The invention also relates to methods utilizing these probes to analyze a surface of interest, in a minimally invasive manner, in connection with the diagnosis and treatment of disease.

Abstract: An endoscope system has a lamp 22 that emits illumination light with which an object is illuminated, and a power supply 24 that supplies power with which the lamp is lit. Furthermore, the endoscope system includes a condition detecting unit and a notifying unit. The condition detecting unit is provided to or near the lamp 22 and detects a predetermined condition relevant to the lamp. The notifying unit notifies an operator of the state of the lamp according to a result of detection performed by the condition detecting unit. The condition detecting unit is a temperature detector 27 or a power detector 51. The temperature detector 27 detects whether the temperature at or near the lamp is equal to or larger than a predetermined value. The power detector 51 detects whether current or voltage supplied or applied from the power supply to the lamp is equal to or smaller than a predetermined value.

Abstract: An endoscope comprising a shaft comprises an imaging system arranged in the shaft and an illuminating system which allows light emitted by a light source to emerge at the distal end of shaft, wherein the light source comprises at least one light emitting diode. The light source comprises at least two light emitting diodes which emit light in different spectral ranges, and the light of the at least two light emitting diodes emerges spectrally additively mixed from the illuminating system.

Abstract: An endoscope that has an integrated light source and camera mounted at the distal end of the endoscope. The light source is a class of LED devices constructed of high-efficiency LEDs that emit narrow-band blue light coupled with phosphors, which cause a nearly natural “white” light to be emitted. The LEDs are coupled to a waveguide for transmission of the light to the distal end of the endoscope.