An image pickup apparatus for endoscope includes: an imager, an optical device, an optical module on which the optical device is mounted, an optical fiber optically coupled with the optical device, a ferrule having an insertion hole into which the optical fiber is inserted, and a wiring board including a first rigid board, a second rigid board and a flexible intermediate board. The ferrule is fixed to the second rigid board or a first principal surface of the optical module. A first side surface of the optical module is glued to the first rigid board, and the first principal surface is glued to the second rigid board.

An optical unit includes: a fixing portion including a front frame portion that holds an object-side fixed lens group, a rear frame portion that holds an image-side fixed lens group or an image sensor, and a fixing portion main body formed by using a non-magnetic material; a moving portion that holds a moving lens group and that is arranged on an inner side of the fixing portion main body so as to be slidable with respect to the fixing portion main body; and a voice coil motor configured to move the moving portion along a direction of the optical axis relative to the fixing portion main body, and including a magnetic portion magnetized in a direction intersecting an optical axis of the object-side fixed lens group, and a coil located on an outer side of the fixing portion main body with respect to the magnetic portion.

A photoacoustic-ultrasonic dual-mode endoscope includes: a probe and a probe driving unit, wherein the probe includes: a coaxially configured optical and electromagnetic rotary waveguide assembly including an optical fiber, the optical fiber including a core and a cladding, and a conductive path coaxially arranged with the optical fiber; a scanning tip located at an end of the coaxially configured optical and electromagnetic rotary waveguide assembly and configured to deliver a laser beam to an object to be examined and detect a photoacoustic signal and an ultrasonic signal generated from the object to be examined; and a plastic catheter surrounding outer surfaces of the coaxially configured optical and electromagnetic rotary waveguide assembly and the scanning tip, wherein the conductive path includes: a first conductive path including a portion coaxially arranged with the optical fiber; and a second conductive path including a portion coaxially arranged with the optical fiber and insulated from the first conductive path.

A bending portion includes: a bending piece group including a plurality of first bending pieces; and a second bending piece including coupling protruding portions for coupling to a coupling frame so as to resist torsion about the longitudinal axis, and including, on a proximal end side, third contact surfaces facing a direction of the longitudinal axis, the second bending piece including inside a second insertion portion for allowing insertion of internal components, the second insertion portion being formed so as to be coincident with the first insertion portion provided in each of the first bending pieces on a same projection plane, the second bending piece being interposed between the coupling frame and the bending piece group such that the third contact surfaces and a distal-most position of the bending piece group are in rotatably contact with each other.

An endoscope system (200, 300) for imaging an interior of a patient (180) comprises an endoscope tube (210, 310), an imaging unit (350) for imaging the interior of the patient, wherein the imaging unit is at least partially located inside the endoscope tube, and an optical coherence tomography unit (360), wherein said imaging unit (350) is distinct from the OCT unit (360), and wherein a sample arm (360c) of the OCT unit is at least partially located inside the endoscope tube.

A medical device comprising a shaft defining a first channel having a distal opening, a printed circuit board (PCB) coupled to a distal end of the shaft to expose the distal opening to an external environment, wherein the PCB includes an imager and at least one light, the imager and the at least one light mounted on a distal facing surface of the PCB, and an optically clear covering, wherein the covering covers the imager and the at least one light.

Several embodiments of the present invention are generally directed to medical visualization systems that comprise combinations of disposable and reusable components, such as catheters, functional handles, hubs, optical devices, etc. Other embodiments of the present invention are generally directed to features and aspects of an in-vivo visualization system that comprises an endoscope having a working channel through which a catheter having viewing capabilities is routed. the catheter may obtain viewing capabilities by being constructed as a vision catheter or by having a fiberscope or other viewing device selectively routed through one of its channels. The catheter is preferably of the steerable type so that the distal end of the catheter may be steered from its proximal end as it is advanced with the body. A suitable use for the in-vivo visualization system includes but is not limited to diagnosis and/or treatment of the duodenum, and particularly the biliary tree.

The invention provides systems and methods for imaging a sample. In various embodiments, the invention provides a system comprising an image sensor, a laser for emitting excitation light for an infrared or near-infrared fluorophore, a visible light source, a notch beam splitter, a notch filter, a synchronization module, an image processing unit, an image displaying unit, and light-conducting channels. In various embodiments, the present invention provides a system comprising an image sensor, a laser for emitting excitation light for an infrared or near-infrared fluorophore, a laser clean-up filter, a notch filter, a white light source, an image processing unit, an image displaying unit, and light-conducting channels. In accordance with the present invention, the image sensor can detect both visible light and infrared light.

An endoscope apparatus includes: an endoscope at least a part of which is inserted into an observation object and that propagates an image of an inside of the observation object irradiated with illumination light; a light source that emits the illumination light illuminating the inside of the observation object to the endoscope; an imager that captures an image of the inside of the observation object having been propagated from the endoscope and generates a captured image of the inside of the observation object; and control circuitry that performs driving control for the endoscope, the light source, and the imager. The control circuitry is configured to change the radiation angle of the illumination light in accordance with whether an insertion portion being a part of the endoscope is moving in the inside of the observation object or as stopped.

An image sensor includes: a pixel unit including pixels configured to generate a first signal corresponding to an amount of received light, and output the first signal; an AD converter configured to convert the first signal into a digital second signal by performing AD conversion processing for the first signal, and output the second signal; a transmitter/receiver configured to transmit and receive, in a time division manner, transmission data including at least the second signal in a first period, and reception data input from an outside in a second period; and a first generator configured to generate a first clock signal synchronized with the clock edge included in the reception data. The transmitter/receiver is configured to switch between the first period and the second period every horizontal line in the pixel unit, and transmit and receive the transmission data and the reception data in a time division manner.