426 results about "Endoscopic imaging" patented technology

An endoscopic imaging system includes a reusable control cabinet having a number of actuators that control the orientation of a lightweight endoscope that is connectable thereto. The endoscope is used with a single patient and is 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. The endoscope is coated with a hydrophilic coating that reduces its coefficient of friction and because it is lightweight, requires less force to advance it to a desired location within a patient.

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.

An endoscopic imaging system for examining a patient's body cavity includes an endoscope having a distal end, a proximal end and a number of lumens therein. One or more distal gas ports are disposed at or adjacent the distal end of the endoscope and one or more proximal gas ports are disposed proximal to the distal gas ports. Insufflation gas is delivered to the distal gas ports and withdrawn from the proximal gas ports or vice versa such that a gas bubble is formed in the body cavity and travels with the distal tip of the endoscope.

An LED based light source unit for an endoscopic imaging system produces illumination for a camera through an endoscope. The light source unit includes an array of LEDs mounted to a thermally conductive substrate. The light source unit is integrated into the proximal end of an endoscope and coupled directly to the optical fibers running to the tip of the endoscope. A plurality of such light source units may be integrated into the housing of an endoscope. Light emitted from each light source unit is directed to a distinctive section of the endoscope's tip and a doctor may control light output of each individual light source unit during a surgery.

An endoscopic imaging catheter is configured for insertion, optionally via a longitudinal channel of an endoscopic insertion tube. The endoscopic imaging catheter includes reflecting and optical elements and an imaging element. The reflecting element reflects onto the imaging element through the optical element side and rear views of at least a portion, or the entire 360° view of a wall encircling an intrabody lumen around the axis of said the longitudinal channel.

An endoscopic imaging catheter is configured for insertion via a longitudinal channel of an endoscopic. The endoscopic imaging catheter includes an optical element, an imaging element, and a rotatable tubular shaft comprises an optical element and an imaging element, which comprise a side-looking imaging component. An endoscopic imaging catheter may alternatively comprise reflecting and optical elements and an imaging element. The reflecting element reflects onto the imaging element through the optical element side and rear views of at least a portion, or the entire 360° view of a wall encircling an intrabody lumen around the axis of said the longitudinal channel.

Described herein are various detachable secondary imaging endoscopic devices that can be used in conjunction with an endoscope to provide additional fields of view so that multiple regions of a body cavity may be imaged simultaneously. In one variation, a secondary imaging endoscopic device comprises an endoscope attachment member configured to be disposed over an endoscope, a first imaging element and a corresponding first light source at a first location on the endoscope attachment member, and a second imaging element and a second light source at a second location that is adjacent to the first location. In some variations, a secondary imaging device comprises a fluid delivery module having one or more ports for fluid delivery. The multiple simultaneous images acquired by the secondary imaging endoscopic device imaging elements and the main endoscope imaging element can be combined or arranged together to form a continuous view of a body cavity.

An endoscopic probe is combined with a source of radiation to measure a sample. A probe body includes a nonrotating transmission path and is communicated to the source to transmit radiation from the source from the proximal to the distal portion of the probe body. A micromotor is disposed in a distal portion of the probe body to provide a motive force. A movable scanner is coupled to the motor and is arranged and configured so that the scanner is directed toward or faces the transmission path. The scanner redirects the radiation from the source from the distal portion of the probe body into a scanned pattern onto the sample according to the motive force applied to the scanner from the motor. Back reflected radiation is received from the sample and is transmitted along the transmission path to the proximal portion of the probe body.

An imaging apparatus having an imaging device for imaging an object in cooperation with an endoscope is connected to a video processing unit for producing a standard video signal so that it can be disconnected freely. A signal delay occurs over a signal line linking the imaging device and the video processing unit. For this reason, a timing generator and a phase adjustment circuit are incorporated in the imaging apparatus. The timing generator generates driving signals used to drive the imaging device, and the phase adjustment circuit adjusts the phases of the driving signals so that an output signal of the imaging device will be input to the video processing unit according to predetermined timing. Even when the signal line has a different length from any other or the imaging device offers a different number of pixels from any other, the difference can be readily coped with owing to the imaging apparatus. This leads to alleviation of a load incurred by the video processing unit.

A portable hand-held endoscopy system adapted for interchangeable use with a variety of endoscopes. The system includes an endoscope having a first end and a second end, the first end having an eyepiece and the second end having a viewing end, the endoscope further having a coupler for coupling to a light source; and a battery operated unitary digital camera having an optical input, viewing screen, digital signal processor, memory with embedded software for processing data from the processor and for displaying an image on the viewing screen, and a coupler having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end includes a connector for removably connecting to the eyepiece, and the second end is coupled to the optical input of the digital camera. The video display is rotatable and pivotable about several different axes of rotation and a pivot point spaced distally from the main camera body. An ergonomic camera housing is provided, including a bulbous gripping region and two opposing forefinger accepting regions, facilitating a trigger-like grip and use of the camera by a physician. Redundant controls for moving video and still image capture facilitate ease of use by the physician as the camera and associated endoscope are held in a variety of orientations.

An endoscopic imaging system includes an endoscope with a beam deflecting mechanism at or adjacent its distal end for directing a beam of illumination light over an area of interest. Reflected light is gathered by one or more lenses and supplied to a light sensor and an image processor / computer that produces an image of the tissue. In one embodiment, the beam deflecting mechanism comprises a pair of mirrors that are oscillated such that light is scanned in a raster pattern over the area of interest.

The present invention is an integrated and automated irrigation and aspiration system for use in an endoscopic imaging system. The system provides for the automated cleaning of poorly prepared patients during a colonoscopy procedure as well as automated cleaning of an imaging system of an endoscope. The invention analyzes images obtained from an image sensor to detect the presence of an obstructed field of view, whereupon a wash routine is initiated to remove the obstruction. The wash routine may be adjusted in accordance with environmental conditions within the patient that are sensed by one or more sensors within the endoscope. In another embodiment, insufflation is automatically controlled to inflate a patient's colon as a function of one or more sensor readings obtained from one or more environmental sensor(s) on the endoscope.

Embodiments include devices and methods. One embodiment includes a method for imaging an endometrial cavity, including acquiring a plurality of images using an imaging system. A first part of the imaging system is positioned within the endometrial cavity. At least portions of two or more of the images are combined into a representation of at least a portion of the endometrial cavity. The combining at least portions of two of the images may include determining any motion of the first part of the imaging system, between the two or more of the images. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

An endoscopic imaging system includes an endoscope with a beam deflecting mechanism at or adjacent its distal end for directing a beam of illumination light over an area of interest. Reflected light is gathered by one or more lenses and supplied to a light sensor and an image processor / computer that produces an image of the tissue. In one embodiment, the beam deflecting mechanism comprises a pair of mirrors that are oscillated such that light is scanned in a raster pattern over the area of interest.

A system and method provide normalized fluorescence epi-illumination images and normalized fluorescence transillumination images. The normalization can be used to improve two-dimensional (planar) fluorescence epi-illumination images and two-dimensional (planar) fluorescence transillumination images. The system and method can also provide normalized bioluminescence epi-illumination images and normalized bioluminescence transillumination images. In some arrangements, the system and method can provide imagine of small animals, into-operative imaging, endoscopic imaging, and / or imaging of hollow organs.

Improved methods, systems and apparatus relating to wide field fluorescence and reflectance imaging are provided, including improved methods, systems and apparatus relating to removal of background signals such as autofluorescence and / or fluorophore emission cross-talk; distance compensation of fluorescent signals; and co-registration of multiple signals emitted from three dimensional tissues.

The present disclosure relates to calibration assemblies and methods for use with an imaging system, such as an endoscopic imaging system. A calibration assembly includes: an interface for constraining engagement with an endoscopic imaging system; a target coupled with the interface so as to be within the field of view of the imaging system, the target including multiple of markers having calibration features that include identification features; and a processor configured to identify from first and second images obtained at first and second relative spatial arrangements between the imaging system and the target, respectively, at least some of the markers from the identification features, and using the identified markers and calibration feature positions within the images to generate calibration data.

The present invention provides a new method and device for disease detection, more particularly cancer detection, from the analysis of diffuse reflectance spectra measured in vivo during endoscopic imaging. The measured diffuse reflectance spectra are analyzed using a specially developed light-transport model and numerical method to derive quantitative parameters related to tissue physiology and morphology. The method also corrects the effects of the specular reflection and the varying distance between endoscope tip and tissue surface on the clinical reflectance measurements. The model allows us to obtain the absorption coefficient (μa) and further to derive the tissue micro-vascular blood volume fraction and the tissue blood oxygen saturation parameters. It also allows us to obtain the scattering coefficients (μs and g) and further to derive the tissue micro-particles volume fraction and size distribution parameters.

A digital image processing method for real-time automatic abnormality notification of in vivo images and remote access of in vivo imaging system, comprising the steps of: acquiring multiple sets of images using multiple in vivo video camera systems; for each in vivo video camera system forming an in vivo video camera system examination bundlette; transmitting the examination bundlette to proximal in vitro computing device(s); processing the transmitted examination bundlette; automatically identifying abnormalities in the transmitted examination bundlette; setting off alarming signals locally provided that suspected abnormalities have been identified; receiving one or more unscheduled alarming messages from one or more endoscopic imaging systems randomly located; routing alarming messages to remote recipient(s); and executing one or more corresponding tasks in relation to the alarming messages.

Disclosed are MEMS-based optical image scanners and methods for imaging using the same. According to one embodiment, a 3-D scanner for endoscopic imaging is provided, which includes a MEMS mirror for 1-D or 2-D lateral scanning and a MEMS lens for scanning along the optical axis to control the focal depth. The MEMS lens can be a microlens bonded to a MEMS holder. Both the MEMS holder and the MEMS mirror can be electrothermally actuated. A single-mode fiber can be used for both delivering the light to and receiving the returning light from an object being examined.

A capsule endoscope system includes a capsule endoscope and a receiver. The capsule endoscope has plural image pickup units for endoscopic imaging by passing a gastrointestinal tract in a body. The receiver for wireless communication with the capsule endoscope receives and stores image data from the capsule endoscope. The receiver includes a data analyzer for retrieving position relationship data expressing a position relationship of the image pickup units to a target region in the gastrointestinal tract. A CPU of the receiver produces a command signal according to the position relationship data for determining a number of frames of imaging per unit time for respectively the plural image pickup units. The capsule endoscope includes a CPU for controlling operation of the plural image pickup units according to the command signal from the receiver.

The present invention discloses one kind of spectral-domain optical coherent tomography endoscopic image system for in vivo optical biopsy, and the system includes one fiber optical interferometer, one imaging probe, one detection unit, one image acquiring card and one computer. The detection unit has grating spectrograph for high imaging speed, and the imaging probe has axial axicon lens and inside rotating right angle prism or circularly symmetric beam splitter combined to ensure high transverse resolution in the whole depth range, so as to realize circularly scanning endoscopic imaging. The present invention proposes two embodiments of circularly scanning probe and their corresponding system structures. The present invention may be applied in the optical endoscopic biopsy and analytic study of oral cavity, respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract, etc.

An imaging system includes a pulsed laser, a pre-compensator for chromatic dispersion, a transmission optical fiber, and a GRIN lens. The pre-compensator chirps optical pulses received from the laser. The transmission optical fiber transports the chirped optical pulses from the pre-compensator. The GRIN lens receives the transported optical pulses from the transmission optical fiber. The GRIN lens has a wider optical core than the transmission optical fiber and substantially narrows the transported optical pulses received from the transmission optical fiber.

The present invention provides disposable illumination sheaths as a sterile barrier between an imaging device and a patient. An exemplary sheath can generally be usable with any imaging system known in the art, for example, an endoscopic imaging system, and can be designed to cover and / or enclose portions of the imaging device that may be exposed to patient tissue and / or bodily fluids. An exemplary sheath of the present invention can be designed to cover and protect the imaging shaft, optics housing, camera housing, handle, imaging output and / or other electrical and component cords, as well as any other portion of the imaging device that may be exposed to contamination. A used sheath can be disposed of after a first procedure and a new, sterile sheath can be used for a subsequent procedure. In this way, an imaging device can be utilized repeatedly without the need for a full sterilization between each procedure.