Entries |
Document | Title | Date |
20080294000 | ENDOSCOPE SUPPORT SYSTEM - There is provided an endoscope support system including an endoscope device and a support device. The endoscope device includes an endoscope monitor, an electronic endoscope, an image processing unit to process an image picked up by the electronic endoscope to display the image on the endoscope monitor, and an image transmission unit to transmit image data corresponding to the image to the support device. The support device includes a support device monitor, a display control unit to display an image of the image data, a position input unit to accept an input pointing to a section in the image and to obtain position information, and a position transmission unit to transmit the position information to the endoscope device. Further, the endoscope device includes an image superimposing unit to superimpose a predetermined image at a point corresponding to the position information on the image displayed on the endoscope monitor. | 11-27-2008 |
20080300453 | INTRA-SUBJECT OBSERVATION SYSTEM AND INTRA-SUBJECT OBSERVATION METHOD - An intra-subject observation system includes a first liquid inserted into a desired organ of a subject; and a second liquid inserted into the organ without being mixed with the first liquid due to a specific gravity lighter than that of the first liquid. The system also includes a capsule medical apparatus inserted into the organ with an intermediate specific gravity between the specific gravity of the first liquid and that of the second liquid to acquire intra-subject information, which is output out of the subject by radio. | 12-04-2008 |
20090048482 | Image-based Path Planning for Automated Virtual Colonoscopy Navigation - A method for automatic virtual endoscopy navigation, including: (a) using a fisheye camera to generate an endoscopic image and a depth image from a current position of the camera in lumen computed tomographic (CT) data; (b) segmenting a first region and a second region from the depth image, wherein the first region identifies a view direction of the camera and the second region is an area through which the camera can be moved without touching an inner surface of the lumen; (c) moving the camera from the current position, while pointing the camera in the view direction, to a next position in the second region; and (d) repeating steps (a-c) in sequence using the next position in step (c) as the current position in step (a). | 02-19-2009 |
20090112058 | BODY-INSERTABLE APPARATUS - A body-insertable apparatus includes a plurality of function executing units each of which executes a predetermined function; a power source that supplies an electric power to each of the function executing units; an electric power storing unit that is connected to the power source and temporarily stores a redundancy of the electric power supplied from the power source; and an electric power discharging switch that supplies the electric power stored during a temporal period by the electric power storing unit to a high-power function executing unit being one of the function executing units. The high-power function executing unit operates intermittently among the function executing units and temporarily consumes a large electric quantity compared to the other function executing units. The high-power function executing unit consumes the electric power supplied from the electric power storing unit together with the electric power directly supplied from the power source. | 04-30-2009 |
20090118575 | ENDOSCOPIC SYSTEM, TREATMENT SECTION OPERATION CHECK INSTRUMENT FOR THE SAME, AND TREATMENT SECTION OPERATION CHECK METHOD - An endoscopic system includes an endoscope, a cartridge, and a treatment section operation check instrument. The endoscope includes a treatment instrument channel. The cartridge stores a treatment section and a treatment instrument insertion portion introduced into the treatment instrument channel. The treatment section operation check instrument includes a chamber. The chamber contains a hollow section with the volume which allows the treatment section stored in the cartridge to perform a treatment operation. The treatment section operation check instrument is disposed between the endoscope and the cartridge so as to be allowed to perform the operation check by disposing the treatment section in the hollow section of the chamber before insertion of the treatment section into the treatment instrument channel. | 05-07-2009 |
20090149703 | ENDOSCOPE INSERTION SHAPE ANALYSIS APPARATUS AND ENDOSCOPE INSERTION SHAPE ANALYSIS SYSTEM - An electronic endoscope system as an endoscope insertion shape analysis apparatus of the invention includes: an electronic endoscope having an insertion portion to be inserted into a body cavity; a shape observation apparatus and the like for detecting a shape of the insertion portion by a plurality of source coils of the insertion portion of the endoscope, a sense coil unit, and a shape processing device; and a display for displaying an endoscope image picked up by the endoscope and the shape detected by the shape observation apparatus; and further includes a PC for classifying shape data into a pattern based on the shape detected by the shape processing device. | 06-11-2009 |
20090182192 | TREATING TOOL FOR ENDOSCOPE - An endoscope treatment instrument having a needle for puncturing a biological tissue in a body cavity includes an indicator region provided on the outer surface of the needle including an indicator shape having miniature concave portions, and a plain region without the indicator shape provided in connection with at least one side of the indicator region in the axial line direction of the needle. | 07-16-2009 |
20090192348 | CAPSULE ENDOSCOPE, METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE SAME, AND INFORMATION MANAGER - A capsule endoscope swallowable in a body is provided, and includes an image pickup device for picking up an image in the body. A transmitter externally transmits information of the image. By use of an acceleration sensor, a capsule moving speed is detected in the body. A CPU as pixel number changer changes a pixel number of the image, namely resolution of the image according to information of the capsule moving speed. The CPU sets the pixel number lower according to lowness of the capsule moving speed. Also, the CPU sets the pixel number lower according to lowness of a capsule moving distance, and/or according to highness of similarity degree between plural consecutive images. Preferably, the CPU sets the pixel number by at least one of pixel binning, pixel thinning and pixel averaging. | 07-30-2009 |
20090209809 | Device for Measuring a Position of a Surgical Instrument - When a surgical instrument is inserted into an operating duct of an endoscope, the operator must know when the distal end of the instrument emerges from the distal end of the operating duct and thus reaches the visible zone of the viewing device of the endoscope. The invention provides a device for this purpose that comprises a generator to produce a measurement signal, devices to connect the measurement signal to the operating duct and/or instrument and/or the endoscope, and a measuring apparatus which measures a positional effect that the instrument exerts upon the measurement signal depending upon its position and which generates a display signal dependent upon the effect. | 08-20-2009 |
20090216077 | MANIPULATOR OPERATION SYSTEM - A manipulator operation system includes a treatment instrument distal end movement control section having an endoscope treatment instrument having a bending portion and a distal end portion, a bending driving section and a bending operating section. The manipulator operation system includes imaging mechanism having an imaging section that includes an optical system having a field curvature, images, observing mechanism having a display section that displays a taken image, detecting mechanism having a detecting section that detects an arrangement position of the distal end portion, field curvature information acquiring mechanism having a field curvature information acquiring section that acquires field curvature information of the taken image, and adjusting mechanism having an adjustment section that adjusts a ratio of an operation amount of the bending operating section and a driving amount of the bending driving section based on the arrangement position and the field curvature information. | 08-27-2009 |
20090221869 | ENDOSCOPE INSERTION SHAPE ANALYSIS SYSTEM AND BIOLOGICAL OBSERVATION SYSTEM - An endoscope insertion shape analysis system of the present invention includes an insertion state acquisition unit that acquires coordinate values of a plurality of locations in an insertion portion of an endoscope inserted in an examinee, an insertion shape detection unit that detects at least some insertion shapes of the insertion portion inserted in the examinee based on the coordinate values at the plurality of locations, a coordinate plane setting unit that sets a plurality of coordinate planes according to the coordinate values and the insertion shapes at the plurality of predetermined locations, an insertion shape projecting unit that projects the insertion shapes onto the plurality of coordinate planes and an insertion shape judging unit that judges whether or not a predetermined shape exists in the insertion shapes projected onto the plurality of coordinate planes. | 09-03-2009 |
20090234183 | ENDOSCOPE SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INSPECTING ELECTRONIC ENDOSCOPE - An electronic endoscope has a light guide for leading a light and a solid-state image sensor for capturing an image of a human body cavity during illumination. In inspecting the number of broken optical fibers in the light guide, a cap is attached to a distal portion of the electronic endoscope. The cap has a test chart. The solid-state image sensor captures an image of the test chart which is illuminated with the light transmitted through the light guide. A photometric circuit calculates an average luminance value “Y” of the test chart from a chart image signal. A broken fiber number calculator calculates the number “N” of broken optical fibers that satisfies N=M×(1−Y/I). “Y” represents an average luminance value of the test chart. “I” represents an ideal average luminance value when all optical fibers are conducting, and “M” represents the total number of the optical fibers. | 09-17-2009 |
20090253954 | CAPSULE MEDICAL SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TREATING DESIRED REGION INSIDE SUBJECT - A capsule medical system includes a capsule medical apparatus, a selecting unit, and a control unit. The capsule medical apparatus is introduced inside a subject and includes an imaging unit for taking an in-vivo image of the subject, a treating unit for treating a living tissue in the subject, and a driving unit for contributing to movement of the capsule medical apparatus. The selecting unit selects a treatment target of the treating unit from the in-vivo image. The control unit determines a relative distance between the treatment target and the treating unit, and moves the capsule medical apparatus in an imaging direction of the imaging unit by a distance corresponding to the relative distance using the driving unit. | 10-08-2009 |
20090306470 | MEDICAL APPARATUS - A medical apparatus of the present invention includes a medical device configured to be introduced into a body, and the medical apparatus further includes: an image pickup portion which is provided in the medical device and picks up an image of a subject to be examined in the body; a securing portion configured to secure the medical device to a wall in the body; and a grasping unit which is arranged in parallel to the image pickup portion, incorporates at least one assistance apparatus that assists the image pickup, and is configured to be grasped when the medical apparatus is introduced and retracted in and out of the body. | 12-10-2009 |
20090312601 | CAPSULE ENDOSCOPE SYSTEM - A capsule endoscope system includes: a receiving device that receives in-vivo images captured by a capsule endoscope inserted into an organ of a subject; and an image display device that acquires ID information of one or more capsule endoscopes, acquires through the receiving device the in-vivo images captured by the capsule endoscopes identified by the ID information, and displays thereon the in-vivo images thus acquired. The image display device is connected via a communication network to a central server that uniformly manages information about the capsule endoscopes, notifies the central server the ID information of the one or more capsule endoscopes, acquires information about the one or more capsule endoscopes from the central server, and performs a warning process about the one or more capsule endoscopes according to the information thus acquired. | 12-17-2009 |
20100063352 | ENDOSCOPE SYSTEM AND DRIVE CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - A movement detection circuit analyzes image data from a DSP, and detects an amount of movement of an object relative to a solid-state image sensor. A CPU compares a movement detection value with a threshold value. When the movement detection value is the threshold value or less, a normal light source and a special light source are alternately turned on and off at intervals of charge accumulation time of the solid-state image sensor. Normal light moving images and special light moving images are simultaneously displayed on a screen. When the movement detection value exceeds the threshold value, write of the special light moving images is inhibited. A display control circuit displays on the screen one of the normal light moving images, a special light still image, and tiled windows for simultaneously showing the normal light moving images and special light still image. | 03-11-2010 |
20110077459 | Bio-Medical Unit with Image Sensor for In Vivo Imaging - A bio-medical unit includes a power harvesting module, an image sensor module, a processing module, and a communication module. The power harvesting module is operable to generate a supply voltage from an electromagnetic signal. The image sensor module is powered by the supply voltage and captures streaming video of a body object. The processing module is powered by the supply voltage and processes the streaming video to produce processed streaming video. The communication module is powered by the supply voltage and transmits, as radio frequency (RF) signals, the processed streaming video to a communication device external to a host body. | 03-31-2011 |
20110230710 | Method For Using Variable Direction Of View Endoscopy In Conjunction With Image Guided Surgical Systems - A method for a variable direction of view endoscope used in combination with an image guided surgical system to provide new diagnostic and surgical capabilities. The method provides the following capabilities: greatly improved endoscopic orientation capabilities, global monitoring of endoscopic viewing direction, and greatly improved surgical approach and procedure planning. | 09-22-2011 |
20110251454 | Colonoscopy Tracking and Evaluation System - A system for tracking and evaluating a colonoscopy procedure performed using an endoscope includes a tracking subsystem, a processing subsystem and a display subsystem. The tracking subsystem provides information representative of the location of the endoscope within a patient's colon during the procedure. The processing subsystem generates visualization metrics from images produced by the endoscope during the procedure. The display subsystem is coupled to the tracking and processing subsystems to generate a visual display of the patient's colon with information representative of the visualization metrics at associated colon locations. | 10-13-2011 |
20110275889 | ENDOSCOPE SYSTEM - An endoscope system of the present invention comprises: an endoscope which acquires a front field-of-view image and a lateral field-of-view image of an object of observation; a detecting section which has a function capable of detecting whether a treatment instrument is used or not in the endoscope based on a notification signal which is outputted when the treatment instrument is inserted into the endoscope; and an image processing section which generates an observation image including the front field-of-view image and the lateral field-of-view image within the same screen, displays a magnified image of one field-of-view image out of the front field-of-view image and the lateral field-of-view image on a display section, and performs adjacent part display processing of displaying only a part of the one field-of-view image which is adjacent to the other field-of-view image or image compression processing of displaying a compressed image of the other field-of-view image on the display section. | 11-10-2011 |
20120083652 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INHIBITING INJURY TO A PATIENT DURING LAPAROSCOPIC SURGE - This group of inventions provides means and methods for preventing the damaging portions of surgical tools, such as laparoscopic devices, from adversely contacting tissues and organs that are not in the desired field of surgery. As such, the present disclosure pertains to any form of a warning or positioning device or methods, including those that are facilitated via software that are adapted and arranged for use in tracking portions of surgical instruments during laparoscopic surgery or other medical procedures. Such systems include those that are adapted and arranged to provide a warning to the surgeon or other medical personnel regarding the positional status of an instrument, and those that are adapted and arranged for disabling or attenuating the portions of those instruments that might be dangerous to a patient when a dangerous portion of the instrument is near or outside the desired, or denominated, field of surgery. Data relating to the position and orientation of the instrument and of the position of a safe zone within which the instrument can be kept safely is optionally (preferably) stored throughout a medical procedure for later playback for training purposes or for ensuring that a patient was not injured during a medical procedure. | 04-05-2012 |
20120130160 | IMAGING SYSTEM WITH DISPOSABLE PART - An imaging system comprising a disposable part (1) comprising a camera device (5), said disposable part arranged to be suitable for allowing said camera device to be inserted into a body cavity, a reusable control module (8) in communication with said disposable part, said reusable control module comprising a display which displays image signals from the camera device in the disposable part, a timing device which generates time of use data of the disposable part, said time of use data representing the amount of time which the disposable part is in use, and said imaging system being arranged to prevent use of the disposable part if the time of use of the disposable part reaches a predefined level. The disposable part further comprises a non-volatile memory component which stores time of use data generated by said timing device and in that said reusable control module is arranged to continuously monitor the time of use data stored in the non-volatile memory component of the disposable part and to stop displaying image signals from the camera in the disposable part when the time of use data stored in the non-volatile memory component reaches said predefined level. In this way an imaging system is provided which is able to prevent using a disposable part which has been used on one patient on another patient. | 05-24-2012 |
20120209061 | ENDOSCOPE SYSTEM - An endoscope system includes an endoscope having an insertion part capable of being be inserted into the interior of a living body; an extracorporeal device configured to be installed outside the living body, a first extracorporeal signal connection part having a second electrode electrically connected to the extracorporeal device, and a first scope-side signal connection part that has a first electrode electrically connected to the endoscope, is engaged with the first extracorporeal signal connection part, and has a tubular shape. The insertion part includes an observation part capable of observing a distal end side thereof. When engaged with the first scope-side signal connection part, the first extracorporeal signal connection part is at least partially disposed in an inner cylindrical space of the first scope-side signal connection part, and the second electrode and the first electrode are subjected to capacitive coupling. | 08-16-2012 |
20130053635 | DEVICE FOR STERILIZATION CHECK - A device for sterilization check for an endoscope, comprising: | 02-28-2013 |
20130060082 | PROBE SHAPE DETECTION APPARATUS AND PROBE SHAPE DETECTION METHOD - A probe shape detection apparatus includes a magnetic field sensing section for sensing a magnetic field generated by an electromagnetic coil in a flexible probe, a movement speed calculation section for calculating a movement speed of the coil, a coordinate computation section for calculating three-dimensional coordinates of the coil based on the sensed magnetic field, a moving average coordinate calculation section for calculating moving average coordinates of the coil, a comparison section for comparing the calculated movement speed with a predetermined threshold, a coil coordinate setting section for setting one of the moving average coordinates and the three-dimensional coordinates calculated by the coordinate computation section as the three-dimensional coordinates of the coil, based on a comparison result of the calculated moving speed, and a signal processing section for generating a video signal to display a shape of the probe, based on the set three-dimensional coordinates of the coil. | 03-07-2013 |
20130096375 | HUMIDITY DETECTING METHOD AND DEVICE FOR ENDOSCOPE, AND ENDOSCOPE APPARATUS - A humidity state at a distal end portion of an endoscope internal space can be reliably estimated without enlarging the diameter of an endoscope insertion part. | 04-18-2013 |
20130096376 | ENDOSCOPE APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING FLUORESCENCE IMAGING APPARATUS - An endoscope apparatus includes: a light source portion that irradiates an excitation light and a reference light alternately; an image pickup portion that picks up images of the fluorescence from the living tissue and the reflected light; a signal processing portion that generates image signals from picked up signals; an addition processing portion that generates, from image signals of fluorescence, addition processed signals of fluorescence in which pixels are added; a light quantity control portion that controls the quantity of light so as to maintain a predetermined light quantity ratio between the quantities of the excitation light and the reference light from the addition processed signals of fluorescence and image signals of the reflected light; and a superimposition processing portion that superimposes the addition processed signals and the image signals of the reflected light, with the predetermined light quantity ratio being maintained. | 04-18-2013 |
20130123575 | POSITION INFORMATION ESTIMATION SYSTEM - A position information estimation system includes: a body-insertable apparatus that is inserted into a subject and moves through an inside of the subject; a receiving unit that receives information from the body-insertable apparatus; and an information processor that performs processes on the information acquired from the receiving unit. The receiving unit includes an acquisition antenna that includes a plurality of receiving antennas and acquires information from the body-insertable apparatus. The information processor includes: a calculation unit that calculates difference values between signal levels acquired from the plurality of receiving antennas and corresponding signal levels acquired from the plurality of receiving antennas; a determination unit that compares each of the difference values with a threshold and determining whether to estimate position information; and a position information estimation unit that estimates position information of the body-insertable apparatus when the determination unit has determined that it is necessary to estimate the position information. | 05-16-2013 |
20130123576 | PROCESSOR FOR ELECTRONIC ENDOSCOPE AND ELECTRONIC ENDOSCOPE APPARATUS - A processor for an electronic endoscope includes first and second image storing units and a controller, which in a first mode, image data is converted sequentially into a video signal and is outputted while being stored sequentially in the first and second image storing units. In a second mode, image data stored in the first image storing unit is outputted while generated image data is sequentially stored in the second image storing unit. In a third mode, image data stored in the second image storing unit is outputted while generated image data is sequentially stored in the first image storing unit. In the second and third modes, it is possible to switch between a first playback mode that continuously outputs the multiple stored image data and a second playback mode that repeatedly outputs one of the multiple stored image data. | 05-16-2013 |
20130158344 | RECEIVING APPARATUS AND CAPSULE ENDOSCOPE SYSTEM - A receiving apparatus includes an operation input unit, a display unit, a memory, and a control unit, and the control unit has an examination flow management unit that controls a flow of a series of processes in the examination based on examination flow information recorded in the memory, and an operation mode setting unit that extracts from the examination flow information an operation mode associated with a process in a current examination flow controlled by the examination flow management unit and switches the operation mode of the receiving apparatus between a first operation mode and a second operation mode being different from the first operation mode in accordance with the extracted operation mode, and controls the operations of the receiving apparatus in accordance with the progress of the examination flow for each operation mode set by the operation mode setting unit. | 06-20-2013 |
20130172670 | REMOVABLE TIP ENDOSCOPE - There is provided herein, an endoscope comprising an elongated shaft terminating with a tip section wherein said tip section comprises a permanent section connected to the elongated shaft and a removable section securely connectable to the permanent section, wherein the removable section comprises at least one capture device and at least one light source. | 07-04-2013 |
20130197303 | FACIAL MASK AND ENDOTRACHEAL INTUBATION SYSTEM - According to one aspect of this invention, there is provided a medical facial mask having intubation port to insert an endotracheal tube; air ventilation port to perform artificial ventilation during intubation procedure; and a display device to display image of a patient's airway, wherein the image is transmitted from an image acquisition device which is inserted in the patient's airway. | 08-01-2013 |
20130217962 | CAPSULE ENDOSCOPE SYSTEM, OPERATING METHOD OF IMAGE DISPLAY, AND COMPUTER-READABLE RECORDING MEDIUM - A capsule endoscope system includes: a capsule endoscope including a first and a second imaging units; an image display that displays images captured by the first and second imaging units; a control unit that determines a moving direction of the capsule endoscope during imaging, specifies one of the imaging units which faces the moving direction of the capsule endoscope during imaging, and determines the posture of the capsule endoscope; and a display control unit that generates a display screen, arranges the image captured by the imaging unit facing the moving direction in a first display region in the display screen, arranges the image captured by the other imaging unit in a second display region in the display screen, and changes the positions of the first and second display regions according to the determination result of the position of the capsule endoscope. | 08-22-2013 |
20130289348 | INTELLIGENT ENDOSCOPE SYSTEMS AND METHODS - Endoscope sheaths and associated endoscopy data collection and analysis systems and methods are described. In one implementation an endoscope sheath include a body and one or more sensors disposed in the body. The sheath may further include a leak detection apparatus configured to detect leaks in the sheath body. In addition, the sheath may include actuator apparatus, such as a balloon catheter or other surgical instrument. Data from the endoscope and endoscope sheath may be collected, fused and displayed for use in medical procedures and/or analysis. | 10-31-2013 |
20130310640 | FLEXIBLE GASTROINTESTINAL VIDEOENDOSCOPE - The invention relates to a compact videoendoscope, which has additional movements on its tip, allowing better utilization of the movements performed in the distal segment of the device. The videoendoscope according to the invention also provides, in addition, an image processor and monitor incorporated to the handle, or proximal part of the device, with light originating from the device itself through LEDs placed at the distal tip. | 11-21-2013 |
20130324794 | WIRELESS ENDOSCOPIC CAMERA - A system and method for wirelessly transmitting a video image signal from an endoscopic camera to a receiver or control unit for storage and/or display on a video monitor. Use of a frame-specific, variable compression algorithm capable of progressively encoding a data stream provides for a better performing and higher quality wireless endoscopic camera system capable of generating images at varying resolutions. Use of a short-range, high-performance wireless technology, such as Ultrawideband (UWB), improves the performance capabilities of the system, while minimizing power consumption and extending battery life. Implementations of error correcting codes, as well as the use of multiple transmitting and receiving antennas, further improve the fidelity of the wireless communication. | 12-05-2013 |
20130345502 | ENDOSCOPE APPARATUS, FOLDER GENERATING METHOD, AND NON-TRANSITORY COMPUTER READABLE RECORDING MEDIUM - An endoscope apparatus comprises an analyzing portion configured, in a folder generating mode for extracting folder generating information regarding generation of a plurality of folders that record a plurality of image data of an inspection object, to analyze an image picked up by an image pickup portion and to extract the folder generating information; a folder generating portion configured to generate a plurality of folders regarding the inspection object based on the folder generating information extracted by the analyzing portion; and an inspection image recording portion configured to record each image data of the inspection object picked up by the image pickup portion in one folder among the plurality of folders generated by the folder generating portion. | 12-26-2013 |
20130345503 | Hand-Operated Endoscope For Medical Purposes - A hand operated endoscope for medical purposes, the endoscope including a separate, modular unit consisting of a camera system with an associate lens system, light source and a transmission system. This unsterilized modular unit can be used in a sterilized housing. | 12-26-2013 |
20140012074 | TRACHEOSTOMY VISUALIZATION - Systems, devices, and methods are disclosed for the cleaning of an endotracheal tube while a patient is being supported by a ventilator connected to the endotracheal tube for the purpose of increasing the available space for airflow or to prevent the build up of materials that may constrict airflow or be a potential nidus for infection. In one embodiment, a mechanically-actuated endotracheal tube cleaning device is configured to removably receive a visualization member to provide cleaning of the endotracheal tube under direct visualization. | 01-09-2014 |
20140018615 | TELESCOPIC INTUBATION TUBE WITH DISTAL CAMERA - An extendable intubation device is disclosed that includes a tube assembly having a plurality of elongated tubes. Within the assembly, a base tube is coupled with an extension tube to maintain a continuous fluid pathway along the tube assembly during a fore-and-aft movement of the extension tube relative to the base tube. The extendable intubation device can include a camera system to allow a user (e.g. physician) to visually monitor the advancement of the distal end of the extension tube into the trachea of the patient. The camera system can include a sensor portion attached to the distal end of the extension tube and a monitor portion. A conductive wire connects the sensor portion to the monitor portion. The monitor portion of the camera system can be provided as an eyepiece at the proximal end of the intubation device and/or as a stand alone display. | 01-16-2014 |
20140024891 | ENDOSCOPE SYSTEM AND IMAGE PLAYBACK METHOD IN ENDOSCOPE SYSTEM - An endoscope apparatus detects input of a position on a moving endoscope image to be recorded, stores a piece of coordinate information of the detected position in association with each of frames of the moving endoscope image, reads out pieces of frame data of the moving image from a memory card which records the pieces of frame data of the moving image, judges whether each of the frames is associated with the piece of coordinate information, superimposes an indicator M | 01-23-2014 |
20140031621 | CUTTING APPARATUS WITH IMAGE CAPTURE ARRANGEMENT FOR TREATING CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME - A cutting apparatus for treating carpal tunnel syndrome is provided with a hollow handle including a forward bent portion, a switch mounted on an outer surface, and a video screen pivotably secured to the outer surface; a transparent blade mount mounted with the bent portion and including an upper guide and a lower guide; a metal blade between the upper and lower guides; and an image capture assembly including a light source in the handle proximate the bent portion, a digital camera proximate the blade, and a microprocessor in the handle. The microprocessor is electrically connected to the video screen, the light source, and the digital camera respectively. The digital camera takes video of a target and records same as images. The microprocessor processes the images sent from the digital camera into image signals. The video screen receives the image signals and displays same as images. | 01-30-2014 |
20140039253 | Optically Guided Feeding Tube, Catheters and Associated Methods - The present invention provides devices and methods for safe, easy and cost effective means of placing and verifying proper placement of nasogastric and nasoenteric feeding tubes. Specifically, an integrated feeding device including a tube operable to deliver a nutritional and/or medicinal substance to the gastrointestinal tract, an optical system including a light source, flexible optical fibers or a camera, and a lens, and a steering system is disclosed. The components of the system, namely the optical system and the steering system, may be integrated into the tube. | 02-06-2014 |
20140039254 | MEDICAL SYSTEM - A medical system includes: an endoscope including an insertion portion that can be inserted into a body cavity of a subject, and an image pickup section provided at a distal end portion of the insertion portion; an exclusion section capable of, when the insertion portion is inserted into the body cavity of the subject, excluding a tissue existing around the distal end portion; a computing section that obtains luminance information relating to a luminance of an image picked up by the image pickup section, and determines whether or not the obtained luminance information meets a predetermined condition; a drive section that if a determination result that the luminance information does not meet the predetermined condition is provided, continues an operation to drive the exclusion section, and if a determination result that the luminance information meets the predetermined condition is provided, stops the operation to drive the exclusion section. | 02-06-2014 |
20140039255 | MEDICAL DEVICE FOR CONDUCTING A MEDICAL EXAMINATION AND/OR INTERVENTION - The invention is related to a medical device for conducting a medical examination and/or intervention within a human or animal body the medical device ( | 02-06-2014 |
20140051921 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR OPTIMIZING VIDEO STREAMING - A method for performing a surgical procedure includes adjusting an encoding configuration of a video encoder in response to receiving an input associated with a change of state of a surgical system performing the surgical procedure, and encoding image data of the surgical procedure captured after the change of state based on the adjusted encoding configuration. | 02-20-2014 |
20140051922 | REAL-TIME GENERATION OF THREE- DIMENSIONAL ULTRASOUND IMAGE USING A TWO-DIMENSIONAL ULTRASOUND TRANSDUCER IN A ROBOTIC SYSTEM - Systems and methods for performing robotically-assisted surgical procedures on a patient enable an image display device to provide an operator with auxiliary information related to the surgical procedure, in addition to providing an image of the surgical site itself. The systems and methods allow an operator to selectively access and reference auxiliary information on the image display device during the performance of a surgical procedure. | 02-20-2014 |
20140051923 | PED-Endoscope Image and Diagnosis Capture System - A personal electronic device (PED)-endoscope image and diagnosis capture system is provided. The system includes a PED adapter having a magnification lens connection side and a PED connection side. A magnification lens is connectable with the lens connection side of the PED adapter. An eyepiece lens coupler is also provided and connects the magnification lens to the endoscope eyepiece. A PED is connected to the PED adapter and includes a processor, a memory and an image capture system with a PED lens. The PED adapter aligns the magnification lens with the PED lens. The processor is configured to activate the image capture system using a remote or voice-activated trigger signal and store captured images in the PED memory. Patient data and examination data can be associated with the images, and the images and data can be transferred from the PED to an electronic medical records system. | 02-20-2014 |
20140058196 | SEALING STRUCTURE AND ANTENNA APPARATUS - A sealing structure has: a plate portion that is formed with a harder material than a bendable substrate and interposes an electronic device via the substrate from a top surface and a back surface of the substrate on which the electronic device is mounted; and an elastic body that is provided on an outer periphery of the plate portion to cover a part of the plate portion and integrally molded so as to press the plate portion against the substrate. | 02-27-2014 |
20140066703 | STEREOSCOPIC SYSTEM FOR MINIMALLY INVASIVE SURGERY VISUALIZATION - Embodiments of the invention are directed to minimally invasive surgical instruments and procedures using those instruments wherein the instruments include optical elements (e.g. a percutaneous optical channel (POC), a retaining plug and a stereoscopic imaging device (e.g. a stereoscopic camera) and a stereoscopic display device. The instruments be part of a system used to provide a surgeon with an indirect stereoscopic view of a surgical area undergoing a minimally invasive surgical procedure in a way that is perceived by the surgeon as being similar to that of an open surgery and providing a natural and intuitive environment to perform the surgery with a high degree of control. | 03-06-2014 |
20140066704 | STEREOSCOPIC METHOD FOR MINIMALLY INVASIVE SURGERY VISUALIZATION - Embodiments of the invention are directed to minimally invasive surgical instruments and procedures using those instruments wherein the instruments include optical elements (e.g. a percutaneous optical channel (POC), a retaining plug and a stereoscopic imaging device (e.g. a stereoscopic camera) and a stereoscopic display device. The instruments be part of a system used to provide a surgeon with an indirect stereoscopic view of a surgical area undergoing a minimally invasive surgical procedure in a way that is perceived by the surgeon as being similar to that of an open surgery and providing a natural and intuitive environment to perform the surgery with a high degree of control. | 03-06-2014 |
20140066705 | ENDOSCOPE INCLUING A MULTIFUNCTION CONDUCTOR - In one embodiment, an endoscope includes an elongate member having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion. The distal end portion is configured to be inserted into a body lumen. An electrical component is disposed within the distal end portion of the elongate member and configured to produce a signal. An elongate conductive mechanical component has a proximal end portion and a distal and portion. The distal end portion of the elongate conductive mechanical component is electrically coupled to the electrical component and configured to conduct the signal or electrical power from/to the electrical component to/from the proximal end portion of the elongate conductive mechanical component. | 03-06-2014 |
20140073852 | FORCE FEEDBACK CONTROL SYSTEM FOR VIDEO ENDOSCOPE - A video endoscope system includes a reusable control cabinet and an endoscope that is connectable thereto. The endoscope may be used with a single patient and then disposed. The endoscope includes an illumination mechanism, an image sensor, and an elongate shaft having one or more lumens located therein. An articulation joint at the distal end of the endoscope allows the distal end to be oriented by the actuators in the control cabinet or actuators in a control handle of the endoscope. Fluidics, electrical, navigation, image, display and data entry controls are integrated into the system along with other accessories. | 03-13-2014 |
20140081079 | MEDICAL IMAGE DISPLAYING APPARATUS AND A MEDICAL IMAGE DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS - A medical image displaying apparatus is provided that improves the workability of making a definitive diagnosis in capsule endoscopy. A medical image displaying apparatus of an embodiment is capable of displaying a virtual endoscopic image in a tube based on a viewpoint set inside the tube of the tubular body by using a three-dimensional image of the tubular body, and comprises a capsule endoscopic image storage and a display controller, and the capsule endoscopic image storage stores capsule endoscopic images acquired by a capsule endoscope passing inside the tube. The display controller displays the capsule endoscopic images based on the location of the viewpoint. | 03-20-2014 |
20140094648 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR DISPLAYING THREE-DIMENSIONAL ORIENTATION OF A STEERABLE DISTAL TIP OF AN ENDOSCOPE - A system for graphically visualizing an orientation of a steerable distal portion of an elongate instrument is disclosed. The system includes an instrument having an elongate body. The elongate body includes a proximal portion and a steerable distal portion. The system also includes at least one tensioning member attached to said steerable distal portion, wherein the actuation of said at least one tensioning member results in an approximate y-bend and an approximate x-bend of said steerable distal portion, and wherein said approximate y-bend and approximate x-bend define an approximate overall bend of said steerable distal portion. The system further includes a graphical user interface and an icon representing said approximate overall bend on said graphical user interface. | 04-03-2014 |
20140094649 | INSERTION OPENING ATTACHMENT - An insertion opening attachment is used in combination with an endoscope apparatus configured to observe the inside of a subject. The attachment is attached to an insertion opening opened in the subject into which an insertion unit of the endoscope apparatus is inserted, wherein the insertion opening attachment comprises an attachment main body having a flanged cylindrical shape which is fixed to a peripheral edge region of the insertion opening in a state the insertion opening attachment is inserted in the insertion opening. The attachment main body comprises is attachment state detection unit which detects whether the attachment main body is attached to the insertion opening and an insertion state detection unit which detects whether the insertion unit is inserted in the insertion opening. | 04-03-2014 |
20140114124 | SIGNAL TRANSMISSION COMPONENTS FOR USE WITH MEDICAL DEVICES - Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a medical device. The medical device may include an elongate member, having a proximal end and a distal end and at least two lumens extending therebetween. At least one of the lumens may be an imaging lumen configured to hold an imaging device, and an imaging device may be disposed inside the imaging lumen. A signal transmitting device may extend longitudinally through the imaging lumen. A distal end of the signal transmitting device may be operably coupled to the imaging device and a proximal end may be operably coupled to a processor. The processor may be located outside of the imaging lumen. The signal transmitting device may transmit signals between the imaging device and the processor. A grounded, braided catheter may be disposed within and extend the length of the elongate member, surrounding the imaging lumen. | 04-24-2014 |
20140163316 | ANTENNA CONNECTION UNIT, RECEIVED STRENGTH CORRECTION APPARATUS AND CAPSULE ENDOSCOPE SYSTEM - An antenna connection unit is a unit to which receiving antennas for receiving a wireless signal transmitted from a capsule endoscope introduced into a subject, is connectable. The antenna connection unit includes a received electric field strength detector configured to detect received strength of the wireless signal according to a plurality of pieces of input power from the receiving antennas, a correction parameter generation unit configured to generate a received strength correction parameter for correcting the received electric field strength detector, which is obtained by correcting the plurality of pieces of input power and the received strength corresponding to each input power, based on a reference parameter indicating a relationship between each input power and a detection strength obtained by performing a measurement for a received electric field strength detection circuit as a reference in advance, and a storage unit for storing the received strength correction parameter. | 06-12-2014 |
20140179998 | VIDEO RETRACTOR - A retractor includes a handle portion, a blade portion coupled to the handle portion. The blade portion is configured for insertion into an internal region of a patient. The blade portion includes a first portion configured to manipulate tissue of the patient. In an embodiment, a locator element is configured to highlight an external region of the patient to indicate to a user the location of the first portion in the internal region. In an embodiment, a signal-transmission medium is coupled to the blade portion and has a port. An overmolded camera unit has a lens and is configured to couple with the port. When the camera unit is coupled with the port, the lens is oriented to capture images of the internal region. | 06-26-2014 |
20140179999 | CAPSULE TYPE MEDICAL DEVICE - A capsule endoscope includes a capsule type housing and a circuit board on which a plurality of board sections are arranged in a row, the circuit board being housed inside the housing in a bent state. Connection electrodes for electronic component mounting are not formed on a second principal plane of the circuit board. | 06-26-2014 |
20140180000 | SELF-CONTAINED STERILIZABLE SURGICAL SYSTEM - A self-contained surgical system includes a sterilizable shaft having a light source and/or an image capture device mounted at the distal end of the shaft or connected to the distal end of the shaft by fiber optics. The light source is a light emitting diode or an array of light emitting diodes, and has its own power source located at the distal end of the shaft. The shaft includes a working channel, an irrigation/aspiration channel, and an electric cable. The shaft is coupled at its proximal end to a control module having a video processor and an integrally-mounted display screen for displaying image data from the image capture device. The control module includes an irrigation/aspiration system, a control unit, and a controller. The power module includes steering motors connected to steering cables in the shaft and drive motors and a power source. | 06-26-2014 |
20140187856 | Control System For Modular Imaging Device - A medical imaging system including a control module having a processor, at least one input module transmitting identifying information once connected to the control module, a display coupled to the control module for displaying image data received from the at least one input module, and a software executing on the processor for presenting icons on the display associated with the identifying information. | 07-03-2014 |
20140187857 | Apparatus and Methods for Enhanced Visualization and Control in Minimally Invasive Surgery - Embodiments of the present invention provide improved visualization systems and methods for minimally invasive surgery. Some embodiments include the use of reverse kinematic positioning of camera systems to provide rapid and manual surgeon controllable positioning of camera systems as well as display of 3D surgical area images along the line of sight between a surgeon's eyes and the surgical area itself. | 07-03-2014 |
20140194682 | INSERTION DEVICE - An insertion device includes an idle state detector detecting an idle state in which an insertion section does not move in directions along the longitudinal axis when a rotation unit rotates in directions around the longitudinal axis, and a movement displacement calculator calculating a rotation direction and amount of the rotation unit based on a driving direction and amount of the driving member and calculating a movement displacement of the insertion section from a reference position in directions parallel to the longitudinal axis based on the rotation direction and amount of the rotation unit. the movement displacement calculator calculates the movement displacement of the insertion section so that a movement amount of the insertion section in the longitudinal directions while the idle state being detected is zero. | 07-10-2014 |
20140235940 | S-shaped Visible Hard Intubation Core - A S-shaped visible hard intubating stylet comprises a LCD display, a handler and a hard stylet which are connected successively; the hard stylet has an outer end provided with a camera and a light emitter which are connecting to the LCD display, respectively; the hard stylet is formed to comprise, from one end to the other end, successively, a first linear section, an arc-shaped section, a circular arc-shaped section and a second linear section; a tangential direction of a tail end of the circular arc-shaped section that is adjacent to the arc-shaped section, and an axis direction of the handler, have an included angle which is ranging from no 20°; the circular arc-shaped section has a circular arc radius which is ranging from 45 mm to 75 mm; the circular arc-shaped section has a circular arc corresponding to a central angle which is ranging from 60° to 80°; the second linear section and the axis direction of the handler have an included angle which is ranging from 50° to 70°. | 08-21-2014 |
20140275763 | PARTIALLY DISPOSABLE ENDOSCOPIC DEVICE - An endoscopic device having a one-handed, either-handed steering mechanism is presented. The endoscopic device includes some components that are sterile and used on only a single patient. The single-use components are medically disposed of after exposure to a non-sterile environment such as an internal body cavity of a patient. The endoscopic device also includes some reusable components that are not exposed to a non-sterile environment. | 09-18-2014 |
20140275764 | SYSTEM FOR OBTAINING CLEAR ENDOSCOPE IMAGES - An endoscopic system including an endoscope, a light source for the endoscope and at least one image sensor for capturing a plurality of images of a body cavity. The light source is configured to emit light from the endoscope and into the body cavity such that the light is reflected off of a plurality of locations in the body cavity. The system also includes a control system for controlling both the light source and the at least one image sensor to vary parameters of the light source and the at least one image sensor such that the plurality of images have underexposed and overexposed regions. The endoscopic system could alternatively include a variable-attenuator element device adjacent the image sensor and configured to be located between the body cavity and the image sensor for capturing a single clear image with the image sensor. | 09-18-2014 |
20140275765 | PROBE ASSEMBLY AND DISPOSABLE COVER PARTICULARLY FOR USE IN ENDOSCOPE APPLICATIONS OF LOW COHERENCE INTERFEROMETRY - A fiber optic probe assembly comprises an optical engine and a fiber optic probe. A proximal end connector comprises a self-aligning connector for connecting optical fibers of the fiber optic probe to the optical engine and an integrated fiber optic-based polarizer. A disposable cover is provided for enclosing at least a portion of a fiber optic probe assembly. The disposable cover comprises an elongated tubular housing and a sheath portion adapted to receive at least a portion of the fiber optic probe between ends of the housing. A handle is disposed on a proximal end of the housing, the handle comprising a self-tensioning device. An optical window is disposed on a distal end of the housing, the optical window adapted to provide for alignment with optical elements of the fiber optic probe. | 09-18-2014 |
20140275766 | ENDOTRACHEAL INTUBATION DEVICE - A detachable stylet assembly for endotracheal intubation of a patient is disclosed. The stylet comprises an elongated tube defining: a longitudinal axis, a proximal end for detachably mounting the stylet to a hand grip, and a distal end for entering the trachea of the patient. The tube comprises an articulation section adjacent the distal end adapted to curve into the trachea upon actuation. An actuator housing is mounted on and adjacent to the proximal end of the tube. An actuating assembly is constructed inside the actuator housing having connection means for engaging the hand grip. A control wire is mounted within the actuator housing and connected to the actuating assembly. The control wire extends through the tube to the distal end of the tube and is adapted to curve the articulation section upon actuation. The hand grip comprises a base handle and a trigger for manual actuation of the actuator assembly. The trigger comprises finger grooves for convenient gripping. The base handle comprises a hand stop to prevent slippage. | 09-18-2014 |
20140288365 | SCOPE SENSING IN A LIGHT CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENT - The disclosure extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for detecting whether an illumination source of an endoscope is in use (inside the body of a patient) versus not in use (outside the body of a patient). The disclosure relies on the fact that the working environment is lit solely by the endoscope and its components. Thus, communication between the illumination or light source controller and the imaging device, such as a surgical camera, is required. When the illumination or light source is turned off and the endoscope is outside the body, a sensor will detect ambient light alerting the illumination source controller that it is outside the body, which then keeps the illumination source off or at a low intensity level. Conversely, when the illumination source is turned off and the endoscope is inside the body, the sensor will not detect any light (or will detect only a very low level of light). Based on this logic, if the imaging device, such as a camera, knows that the light is off during a specific period of time the frame(s) from that time period can be analyzed and the level of light gathered in the frame(s) will show the scope location either inside or outside of the body. | 09-25-2014 |
20140296628 | Endoscope Tip Position Visual Indicator and Heat Management System - The present specification discloses an endoscope having a tip section equipped with multiple viewing elements. Each of the viewing elements' field of view is illuminated by a discrete illuminator, such as a LED, being operated in a flash mode. The flash mode of operation of the LEDs enable doctors to obtain a position of the endoscope tip within a patient's body from outside by viewing the light emitted by the LEDs. Since the light is emitted for short pre-defined periods of time, the heat generated by the LEDs during their periods of operation is within a safe threshold value, and does not cause any burn injury inside the patient's body. | 10-02-2014 |
20140303435 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS AND IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - A image processing apparatus includes an image extraction unit that extracts first and second feature images representing first and second feature, respectively from a first image group acquired by sequentially capturing images of inside of a subject, and that further extracts third and fourth feature images representing first and second feature, respectively from a second image group acquired before the first image group, a feature data acquiring unit that acquires first and second feature data characterizing a movement of the capsule endoscope between the first and second feature images and between the third and the fourth feature images, respectively, a comparing unit that compares the first feature data with the second feature data, and a display control unit that performs, with respect to the first image group, display control based on a result of the comparison by the comparing unit. | 10-09-2014 |
20140309491 | ENDOSCOPE SYSTEM WITH PROCESSING APPARATUS - An endoscope system includes an endoscope and a processing apparatus. A communication connector for the endoscope includes a plug unit and a finger grip. The plug unit includes a connector housing and a shielding device. A first near field communication interface for NFC communication is incorporated in the connector housing. In the processing apparatus, a receiving cavity is formed in a receptacle connector, which also has a socket housing and a shielding device. A second near field communication interface is incorporated in the socket housing. In case the communication connector is coupled with the receptacle connector connectively, the second near field communication interface is positioned at the first near field communication interface at a short distance. | 10-16-2014 |
20140316193 | INFORMATION MANAGEMENT APPARATUS AND CAPSULE ENDOSCOPE INSPECTION SYSTEM - An information management apparatus that is used in a capsule endoscope inspection system including a receiving device operated by a built-in rechargeable battery and that is capable of communicating with the receiving device. The information management apparatus includes: a remaining battery capacity acquisition unit that acquires a current remaining capacity which is a remaining capacity of the battery; a storage unit that stores, for each examination item, a necessary remaining capacity which is a remaining capacity that the battery needs to complete an examination; a determination unit that compares the necessary remaining capacity corresponding to an examination item of a selected examination with the current remaining capacity; a calculation unit that, when the current remaining capacity is smaller than the necessary remaining capacity, calculates a charging time needed to increase the remaining capacity of the battery from the current remaining capacity to the necessary remaining capacity; and a control unit that, when the current remaining capacity is smaller than the necessary remaining capacity, causes a display device to display information on the charging time calculated by the calculation unit. | 10-23-2014 |
20140323801 | IMAGE SYSTEM FOR SURGERY AND METHOD FOR IMAGE DISPLAY - An image system for surgery includes: a three-dimensional imaging unit acquiring two images having parallax by capturing an image of a portion; a display unit displaying two images acquired by the three-dimensional imaging unit individually for both left and right eyes, or displaying a same image for both left and right eyes; a detection unit detecting that a treatment device that performs treatment on the portion or the three-dimensional imaging unit is in an operating state in which to initiate treatment on the portion; and a display control unit switching from displaying one of images on the display unit to displaying two images on the display unit when the detection unit detects the three-dimensional imaging unit or the treatment device is in the operating state in which to initiate treatment on the portion. | 10-30-2014 |
20140330073 | END EFFECTOR AND REMOTE CONTROL APPARATUS - An end effector includes a tip part having a deformation member that is physically changed due to contact with an object, a gauge display part configured to display gauge information according to a physical change of the deformation member, and a connecting rod part connected to the tip part and configured to operate the tip part. A manipulator including an end effector configured to display physical information, which varies according to an object making contact with a tip part, on a gauge display part, an endoscope configured to obtain an image of the tip part of the end effector and an image of the gauge display part, and a control part configured to control transmission of the image obtained by the endoscope, and to control operations of the tip part and the endoscope. | 11-06-2014 |
20140336453 | PRESSURE SENSOR, ENDOSCOPE AND ENDOSCOPE DEVICE - There are provided a pressure sensor which can avoid an endoscope from causing intestinal perforation, an endoscope including the pressure sensor, and an endoscope device including the endoscope. There is provided a pressure sensor including a support unit and a pressure sensitive unit disposed on the ridge line of the front end of the support unit and configured to output a signal corresponding to an applied pressure. The pressure sensitive unit includes a first electrode disposed in a ring shape and multiple second electrodes opposed to the first electrode. The second electrodes are spaced in the circumferential direction of the first electrode. | 11-13-2014 |
20140336454 | APPARATUS AND SYSTEM FOR MANAGEMENT OF INSPECTION INFORMATION - An examination information management apparatus includes: a data transmitting and receiving unit that transmits and receives data to and from a receiving device for receiving image data captured by a capsule endoscope; a storage unit that stores examination information and the image data acquired in an examination; an ID maintaining unit that maintains an identification ID for identifying the storage unit; a determination unit that determines, when the identification ID is received from the receiving device via the data transmitting and receiving unit, whether or not the identification ID registered with the receiving device matches the identification ID maintained by the ID maintaining unit; and an examination information generating unit that newly generates examination information and causes the storage unit to store the image data received from the receiving device in association with the newly generated examination information, if the identification IDs are not determined by the determination unit to match each other. | 11-13-2014 |
20140378760 | MOBILE CAPSULE DEVICE AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - A mobile capsule device | 12-25-2014 |
20150025310 | MEDICAL APPLICATOR - An applicator for use in the fitting of an occlusive plug of the screw in kind to a fallopian tube, said applicator comprising: a body member; an eyepiece fitted to one end of the body member; an elongate probe carried by, and projecting from the other end of the body member; a fibre optic cable extending from the eye-piece along the interior of the probe to a terminal end of the probe distal from the body member; a nose piece movably mounted at said distal end of the probe and adapted to releasably receive a rear, drive end of an occlusive plug; a mechanical connection extending between the body member and the nose-piece whereby the practitioner may, within limits, vary the angle of the nose-piece with respect to its carrier tube; and a rotational drive means extending between the body member and the nose-piece to apply torque & hence rotational movement to an occlusive plug temporarily held by the nose-piece. | 01-22-2015 |
20150045614 | Endoscope Connector Cover Detection and Warning System - In an embodiment, the present specification is an alarm/warning system for notifying a user cleaning an endoscope that the main connector/electrical connector of endoscope has not been covered by a connector cover. The warning system indicates an absence of a connector cover cup when the connector of the endoscope is not connected to a main control unit. | 02-12-2015 |
20150057497 | ACTIVATION DEVICE - An activation device activates a capsule medical device that has a first coil inside and is activated when voltage not less than a first specified value or current not less than a second specified value is generated in the first coil. The activation device includes: a case; a second coil that is provided in the case and is configured to generate a magnetic field when current flows through the second coil; and a guide portion for guiding to a position that is located outside the case and that is a position of the capsule medical device where the capsule medical device can be activated based on the magnetic field generated by the second coil. The capsule medical device is housed at a specified position in a specified posture in a container having a specified shape. The case has a placement surface on which the container is configured to be placed. | 02-26-2015 |
20150057498 | ENDOSCOPE SYSTEM - An endoscope system includes: an image storage section that stores image information associated with position information of a luminal organ of a subject; a virtual endoscopic image generating section that generates a virtual endoscopic image endoscopically depicted; an image pickup section that picks up an image in the luminal organ; a position registration processing section that compares the virtual endoscopic image and an endoscopic image, and extracts an virtual endoscopic image similar to the endoscopic image; a position estimation section that estimates a distal end position of an endoscope insertion portion; a feature region determination section that determines whether or not the distal end position exists in a feature region; a storage section that stores information for presentation; and a candidate information presentation control section that presents the virtual endoscopic image based on the information in the storage section, to a display section as candidate information. | 02-26-2015 |
20150073209 | STEREOSCOPIC ENDOSCOPE DEVICE - Provided is a stereoscopic endoscope device including a single objective lens that collects light from a subject and forms an image of the light; a light splitting section that splits the light collected by the objective lens; image-capturing devices that capture optical images of the subject at imaging positions of the split beams of the light; focal-position adjusting sections that give optical path lengths different from each other to the split beams of the light; a calculation section that calculates an object distance between each point on the subject and the objective lens from 2D images acquired by the image-capturing devices; and a parallax-image generating section that generates a plurality of viewpoint-images of the subject when observed from a plurality of viewpoints, by using the calculated object distance. | 03-12-2015 |
20150080651 | ENDOSCOPE APPARATUS - An endoscope apparatus includes an illumination unit, an optical system including an optical lens and a diaphragm unit configured to adjust a size of an opening, an imaging unit including a solid state imaging device and configured to output an image signal, a region setting unit configured to set a region of interest in an image formed by the image signal, an estimation value calculation unit configured to calculate and output an estimation value showing a focus level in the region of interest, an estimation value storage unit configured to store the estimation value, an estimation value comparison unit configured to compare a reference value and the estimation value and outputs the comparison result, and a diaphragm control unit configured to output a control signal for controlling the opening of the diaphragm unit based on the comparison result. | 03-19-2015 |
20150087899 | NESTED CANNULA STARTER ALIGNMENT - A medical system includes a tube ( | 03-26-2015 |
20150094530 | LIGHT SOURCE APPARATUS, ENDOSCOPE SYSTEM AND OPERATING METHOD - A light source apparatus for endoscopic imaging includes a light source for emitting at least narrow band blue light and narrow band green light, to illuminate an object in a body cavity. The light source is changeable over between field sequential lighting and simultaneous lighting. The light source, upon setting of the field sequential lighting, emits the narrow band blue light and narrow band green light in a discrete manner, and upon setting of the simultaneous lighting, simultaneously emits the narrow band blue light and narrow band green light. A connector is connectable with an endoscope having a complementary color image sensor of yellow, magenta and cyan, for imaging the object. A controller sets the field sequential lighting assuming that the endoscope is connected to the light source and assuming that the light source is used for emitting the narrow band blue light and narrow band green light. | 04-02-2015 |
20150094531 | ELECTRONIC ENDOSCOPIC DEVICE - An electronic endoscopic device includes a light source, an endoscopic scope including an imaging unit provided at a tip end, a temperature detecting unit that detects a temperature of the tip end, and a light source control unit that performs a light emission control and a light emission stop control in a frame period. The imaging unit includes a plurality of pixels and a driving unit, and the electronic endoscopic device further includes a control unit in which, when a temperature detected by the temperature detecting unit exceeds a threshold value, the control unit performs a control such that, in a frame period following a first frame period, a period in which the light emission stop control is performed is set to be longer, and a read-out speed of the imaging signal is set to be slower. | 04-02-2015 |
20150099925 | Endoscope with Integrated Sensors - The insertion tube of an endoscope is equipped with an array of pressure sensors that provide real-time information of the pressure exerted by the insertion tube as it passes through a patient's body during an endoscopic procedure. Pressure information may be displayed in real time, wherein regions of high pressure are highlighted. An alarm is generated when the pressure applied at any location inside the patient's body exceeds safe limits. Further, sensors may be placed along the length of the insertion tube for measurement of distance travelled by the tip of an endoscope, which is integrated with measurement of the force applied by a physician in maneuvering the endoscope to determine applied force at a given location. | 04-09-2015 |
20150099926 | Endoscope with Integrated Sensors - The insertion tube of an endoscope is equipped with an array of pressure sensors that provide real-time information of the pressure exerted by the insertion tube as it passes through a patient's body during an endoscopic procedure. Pressure information may be displayed in real time, wherein regions of high pressure are highlighted. An alarm is generated when the pressure applied at any location inside the patient's body exceeds safe limits. Further, sensors may be placed along the length of the insertion tube for measurement of distance travelled by the tip of an endoscope, which is integrated with measurement of the force applied by a physician in maneuvering the endoscope to determine applied force at a given location. | 04-09-2015 |
20150099927 | DEVICES, SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR IMPROVED INTUBATION AND MANAGEMENT OF AIRWAYS - Devices, systems and methods for improved intubation which have particular application for awake or sedated intubation are described. An intubation scope having a handle, a flexible probe, and an articulatable tip where the handle has a control lever coupled to a rotary control wheel, which is in turn connected to control wires which when moved by the rotary control wheel cause articulation of the tip of the intubation scope. Systems utilizing the intubation scope may also include endotracheal tubes adapted to fit over the tip of the intubation scope. | 04-09-2015 |
20150112128 | ENDOSCOPE SYSTEM AND FOCUS CONTROL METHOD FOR ENDOSCOPE SYSTEM - An endoscope system includes an in-focus object plane position switch section that switches an in-focus object plane position of an imaging section, a target in-focus position determination section that calculates an in-focus evaluation value, and determines a target in-focus position based on the in-focus evaluation value, and a change-in-scene detection section that detects whether or not a change in scene has occurred based on a captured image. The target in-focus position determination section determines whether or not the in-focus evaluation value satisfies a determination criterion until the change-in-scene detection section detects that the change in scene has occurred, and selects the first in-focus object plane position or the second in-focus object plane position that is not currently selected by the in-focus object plane position switch section when it has been determined that the in-focus evaluation value does not satisfy the determination criterion. | 04-23-2015 |
20150119639 | MEDICAL SYSTEM - A medical system includes an endoscope apparatus including a plurality of insertion portions and a main unit supporting them; a sheath unit attachable to a biological subject and having a through-hole through which the insertion portions can be passed; a monitor; barcodes from which the insertion portions issue identification information; an identification-signal generating unit that acquires the identification information from the barcodes and outputs this to the main unit every time the insertion portions pass through the through-hole; wherein the main unit includes an image selector that displays, on the monitor, an image acquired by the insertion portion identified by the main unit as having being have passed through the sheath unit on the basis of the identification information from the identification-signal generating unit. | 04-30-2015 |
20150126808 | METHOD FOR POSITIONING A DISPOSABLE STERILE ENDOTRACHEAL TUBE, AND CORRESPONDING SYSTEM FOR INTUBATION - The system for intubation comprises:—a disposable sterile endotracheal tube ( | 05-07-2015 |
20150297070 | ENDOSCOPE FOGGING PREVENTION SYSTEM AND ENDOSCOPE FOGGING PREVENTION METHOD - An endoscope fogging prevention system includes a heater which heats inside of a distal end portion, a temperature sensor which measures heat quantity information regarding the inside and a control unit which controls the driving of the heater based on the heat quantity information measured by the temperature sensor. The fogging prevention system judging the operating characteristics of the heater and the operating characteristics of the temperature sensor based on the heat quantity information, and deactivating the heater when judging that the judgment result is out of a desired range. | 10-22-2015 |
20150297073 | ARTHROSCOPIC INSTRUMENT ASSEMBLY, AND METHOD OF LOCALIZING MUSCULOSKELETAL STRUCTURES DURING ARTHROSCOPIC SURGERY - An arthroscopic instrument assembly ( | 10-22-2015 |
20150305603 | INTEGRATED MEDICAL IMAGING SYSTEM - A fiber optic camera system may include a fiber optic camera and a video processing console. The camera may include an elongate sheath having a proximal end and a distal end, and the sheath may contain one or more illumination optical fibers and an imaging bundle having at least one fiber optic clad and multiple fiber optic cores. The camera may further include a camera body fixedly attached to the proximal end of the elongate sheath, and the camera body may contain an imaging sensor optically coupled to a proximal end of the imaging bundle and configured to generate image data and an illumination source optically coupled to proximal ends of the illumination fibers. In some embodiments, the camera body has no connection member for connecting a secondary illumination source to the camera. | 10-29-2015 |
20150313444 | LOCATION OF FRAGMENTS DURING LITHOTRIPSY - A medical apparatus, including a lithotripsic device configured to break a stone into one or more fragments in a body lumen and an endoscope which is configured to obtain a captured image in the body lumen. The medical apparatus further includes an image processor which is configured to process the captured image and create a processed image for display on a monitor, and which is also configured to process and display a track of a movement of at least one of the stone or the one or more fragments. | 11-05-2015 |
20150313446 | ROBOTIC-ASSISTED SURGICAL SYSTEM AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - A robotic-assisted surgical system includes a flexible inserted portion having an elongated shaft; a distal-end movement-amount detecting portion that detects an amount of movement of the distal end of the inserted portion; an operating unit that is disposed outside the body and that is operated by an operator outside the body; a driving portion that drives the inserted portion at a proximal end thereof in accordance with an operation signal input to the operating unit; and a control portion that calculates a difference between the amounts of movement of the distal end and the proximal end of the inserted portion, and that, in the case in which the difference is greater than a predetermined threshold, controls the driving portion so as to notifies the operator to that effect. | 11-05-2015 |
20150313448 | DEVICE AND SYSTEM FOR CHECKING THE STATUS OF AN IN-VIVO IMAGING DEVICE - A device and system for monitoring the status of a battery in an in-vivo imaging device, prior to use of the in-vivo imaging device. The device may include a frame counter for counting the number of frames captured and may include monitoring the voltage of the battery. A warning signal is generated if it is determined that the battery is faulty prior to use. The warning signal can be generated by the device and/or by a receiver which receives data from the in-vivo imaging device and/or a by workstation which receives the data from the receiver. | 11-05-2015 |
20150313503 | ELECTROMAGNETIC SENSOR INTEGRATION WITH ULTRATHIN SCANNING FIBER ENDOSCOPE - Methods and systems for imaging internal tissues within a body are provided. In one aspect, a method for imaging an internal tissue of a body is provided. The method includes inserting an image gathering portion of a flexible endoscope into the body. The image gathering portion is coupled to a sensor configured to sense motion of the image gathering portion with respect to fewer than six degrees of freedom. A tracking signal indicative of motion of the image gathering portion is generated using the sensor. The tracking signal is processed in conjunction with supplemental data of motion of the image gathering portion to determine a spatial disposition of the image gathering portion within the body. In many embodiments, the method includes collecting a tissue sample from the internal tissue. | 11-05-2015 |
20150320297 | IMAGING MODULE AND IMAGING SYSTEM INCLUDING SAME - An imaging module is capable of being used a two or more limited number of times. The imaging module includes: a CMOS imaging sensor; and a counter memory in which the number of use times is stored, the number of use times being the number of times the imaging sensor is used. | 11-12-2015 |
20150351608 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR EVALUATING A COLONOSCOPY PROCEDURE - A method and device for evaluating a colonoscopy procedure includes an endoscope ( | 12-10-2015 |
20160000299 | MEDICAL IMAGE DISPLAY CONTROL APPARATUS, METHOD, AND PROGRAM - Providing an inner wall image generation unit that generates, based on a three-dimensional image of a subject, an inner wall image representing the inner wall of a hollow organ of the subject, a specific region projection image generation unit that obtains a representative value based on a plurality of voxels on a light ray vector extending outside the hollow organ by a preset distance from each pixel of the inner wall image and generates a specific region projection image by projecting the representative value on the inner wall image, and a display control unit that superimposingly displays the specific region projection image on the inner wall image, wherein the specific region projection image generation unit sets some visualization target voxels from the voxels of the three-dimensional image, and obtains a representative value of a visualization target voxel in the plurality of voxels on the light ray vector. | 01-07-2016 |
20160000301 | BORESCOPES AND RELATED METHODS AND SYSTEMS - Borescopes for medical and other uses. In some embodiments, a portable borescope may comprise a dongle comprising an image processor may be coupleable with the borescope and may be configured to receive image data from an image sensor within a tip assembly of the borescope. In some embodiments, the image processor may be within a mobile general purpose computing device coupled to the borescope. One or more components of the borescope and/or tip assembly may be disposable. In some embodiments, the borescope may be configured to limit at least one of a duration and a number of uses of the borescope, or at least a portion of the borescope, to a preconfigured value. | 01-07-2016 |
20160000302 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR NAVIGATING WITHIN THE LUNG - Methods and systems for navigating to a target through a patient's bronchial tree are disclosed including a bronchoscope, a probe insertable into a working channel of the bronchoscope and including a location sensor, and a workstation in operative communication with the probe and the bronchoscope, the workstation including a user interface that guides a user through a navigation plan and is configured to present a central navigation view including a plurality of views configured for assisting the user in navigating the bronchoscope through central airways of the patient's bronchial tree toward the target, a peripheral navigation view including a plurality of views configured for assisting the user in navigating the probe through peripheral airways of the patient's bronchial tree to the target, and a target alignment view including a plurality of views configured for assisting the user in aligning a distal tip of the probe with the target. | 01-07-2016 |
20160000303 | ALIGNMENT CT - Methods and systems for navigating to a target through a patient's bronchial tree are disclosed including a bronchoscope, a probe insertable into a working channel of the bronchoscope including a location sensor, and a workstation in operative communication with the probe and the bronchoscope the workstation including a user interface that guides a user through a navigation plan and is configured to present a three-dimensional (3D) view for displaying a 3D rendering of the patient's airways and a corresponding navigation plan, a local view for assisting the user in navigating the probe through peripheral airways of the patient's bronchial tree to the target, and a target alignment view for assisting the user in aligning a distal tip of the probe with the target. | 01-07-2016 |
20160007831 | INSERTION APPARATUS | 01-14-2016 |
20160007835 | MASTER-SLAVE SYSTEM AND DRIVING METHOD THEREFOR | 01-14-2016 |
20160015254 | ENDOSCOPIC SURGERY DEVICE - The endoscopic surgery device includes: an outer tube body that penetrates through a body wall to be inserted into a body cavity; an endoscope insertion path provided inside the outer tube body; a treatment tool insertion path provided inside the outer tube body; a position sensor that has a non-sensitive area where no change in a relative position of the treatment tool insertion part with respect to the endoscope insertion part is detected even if the treatment tool insertion part is moved back and forth, and a sensitive area that is an area other than the non-sensitive area, where change in a relative position of the treatment tool insertion part is detected, and that detects its movement amount with respect to the outer tube body; and a control unit that changes a range of an observation image acquired by the endoscope in accordance with the detected movement amount. | 01-21-2016 |
20160015260 | ENDOSCOPIC SURGERY DEVICE - An endoscopic surgery device that can easily acquire an image desired by a surgeon, and that has high operability. The endoscopic surgery device includes: an outer tube body; an endoscope insertion path that is provided inside the outer tube body; | 01-21-2016 |
20160051125 | LOCATION OF FRAGMENTS DURING LITHOTRIPSY - A medical apparatus, including a lithotripsic device configured to break a stone into one or more fragments in a body lumen and an endoscope which is configured to obtain a captured image in the body lumen. The medical apparatus further includes an image processor which is configured to process the captured image and create a processed image for display on a monitor, and which is also configured to process and display a track of a movement of at least one of the stone or the one or more fragments. | 02-25-2016 |
20160058960 | NASAL AEROSOL DELIVERY SYSTEM - A nasal delivery device can include a nasal prong and an activation member. The nasal prong can comprises an opening at a top and bottom portion of the prong to allow for the passage of an aerosolized treatment agent through the nasal prong. The activation member can be positioned on the nasal delivery device at a location that is spaced apart from the subject's oral cavity when the nasal prong is received into the nostril of the subject. The activation member can be configured to detect a desired exhalation state of the subject and upon detection of the desired exhalation state, the activation member activates the delivery of the aerosolized treatment agent. | 03-03-2016 |
20160081530 | ENDOSCOPE SYSTEM - An endoscope system includes: an endoscope having a field of view in front of a distal end portion of an insertion portion; an insertion assisting instrument including a conduit having an inner portion through which the insertion portion can be inserted and an angle operation portion that varies an angle of a distal end portion of the conduit; an image generation section that generates an image corresponding to the field of view of the endoscope; a rotation angle calculation section that calculates a rotation angle indicating to what extent the insertion portion inserted through the inner portion of the conduit is rotated with respect to the insertion assisting instrument, based on the image generated by the image generation section; and an image rotation section that rotates the image so as to display the image, with the rotation angle being offset. | 03-24-2016 |
20160081759 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR STEREOSCOPIC DEPICTION OF IMAGE DATA - Three-dimensional depiction of image information is provided during minimally invasive surgery carried out by an endoscope by detecting an operation region of the using a sensor device in three dimensions. Stereoscopic image data is generated from the 3D-data acquired from the sensor and is visualized on a suitable display device. | 03-24-2016 |
20160089009 | CAPSULE ENDOSCOPE SYSTEM - A capsule endoscope system includes: a capsule endoscope; a receiving unit that receives an image signal of an object transmitted wirelessly from the capsule endoscope; an image display unit that displays an image based on the image signal received by the receiving unit; a position detection unit that detects a position of the capsule endoscope; and a control unit having a first determination unit that determines whether normal display of the image based on the image signal is possible and having a second determination unit that determines whether normal position detection for the capsule endoscope is possible by the position detection unit. The control unit causes the image display unit to start display of the image based on the image signal when the normal display of the image based on the image signal is possible and the normal position detection for the capsule endoscope is possible. | 03-31-2016 |
20160100740 | System and Method for Display of Capsule Images and Associated Information - A method for presentation of image sequence data is disclosed. The intensity of the image sequence data is used to derive the navigation guide. Each representative data may correspond to an average pixel value, a median pixel value, a minimum value, or a maximum value of the sub-image or said one or more images. Each representative data may also comprise a term proportional to a mathematical product of adjusted color values. The series of representative data can be plotted along with highlighting an area between a curve corresponding to the series of representative data and a coordinate axis by filling the area with a highlight color. Each representative data may comprise a minimum value and a maximum value associated with the sub-image, or one or more images. | 04-14-2016 |
20160113484 | TROCAR, PORT, AND SURGERY ASSISTANCE SYSTEM - A technique using a trocar including a retractable camera in which fogging and organic matters are removed to clean a lens of the camera. The trocar includes a pipe portion and a head portion. The pipe portion includes a side opening portion. According to rotation of a changing over mechanism and a shaft, the retractable camera rotates such that the camera is changeable between a stored position and a deployed position by passing through the side opening portion. A wiper blade is fixed to an end face of the side opening portion on a tip side of the trocar. When the retractable camera rotates, a tip of the wiper blade contacts a camera lens in a deformable manner. | 04-28-2016 |
20160120393 | LAPAROSCOPIC VIEWING SYSTEM - A laparoscopic viewing system is provided. The laparoscopic viewing system embodies a viewing device for heads-up three dimensional viewing of a laparoscopic surgical field. The viewing device may include a head-mount framing, a transparent light shield and two prism and screen sets. The head-mount framing may provide a brace arm extending off a front portion thereof for supporting the light shield a predetermined distance from the front portion. Each prism and screen set may be disposed on the light shield so as to be a predetermined distance from each eye of the wearer of the device, wherein a screen of each set is configured to produce video images viewable through its corresponding prism of the same set. The viewing system may further provide a wireless transmitter configured to reproduce visual images on each screen, wherein the visual images are transmitted from a stereo laparoscopic camera by way of the wireless transmitter. | 05-05-2016 |
20160128546 | MONITOR APPARATUS - A monitor apparatus includes: a display panel that displays a medical image; an as-viewed output terminal capable of outputting a video signal reflecting a same color set value as a color set value reflected in the medical image displayed on the display panel; a communication unit that detects device information regarding an external device connected to the as-viewed output terminal; and a second color setting reflection unit capable of controlling to further change the color set value reflected in the video signal outputted from the as-viewed output terminal based on a detection result of the communication unit. | 05-12-2016 |
20160135663 | MANIPULATOR AND MANIPULATOR SYSTEM - The invention has for its object to provide a manipulator and manipulator system in which a dynamic surplus is rapidly removed and a moving assembly actuates rapidly in association with the operation of an operating assembly. | 05-19-2016 |
20160174810 | IMAGING DEVICES AND RELATED METHODS | 06-23-2016 |
20160174822 | Multiple Viewing Element Endoscope System Having Multiple Sensor Motion Synchronization | 06-23-2016 |
20160175057 | ASSISTANCE DEVICE FOR IMAGING SUPPORT OF A SURGEON DURING A SURGICAL OPERATION | 06-23-2016 |
20160183882 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REMOVING SPECKLE FROM A SCENE LIT BY A COHERENT LIGHT SOURCE - The disclosure extends to methods, devices, and systems for removing speckle from a coherent light source, such as laser light. The methods, devices, and systems help eliminate or reduce speckle introduced from a coherent light source, such as laser light, by utilizing the teachings and principles of the disclosure. | 06-30-2016 |