This optical scanning method yields a high quality image. An emission end of an optical fiber is displaced two-dimensionally to scan light emitted from the optical fiber, the emission end being displaced with an optical scanning actuator that includes a first driver and a second driver for driving the emission end in different directions. A circular scanning area is scanned by controlling, with a driver controller, a first drive signal supplied to the first driver and a second drive signal supplied to the second driver so as to rotate a scanning pattern of the light while causing the scanning pattern to reciprocate repeatedly in a nearly parallel manner with constant length.

Exemplary spectrally encoded probes are provided having forward view capabilities. These probes are configured such that the detection element comprises a plurality of light collecting components, where the distal ends at least partially surround the illumination element and the proximal ends form a linear array that is optically connected to a dispersive component.

An object is to provide a laser treatment tool capable of guiding a plurality of fluids, a laser transmission path insertable into such a laser treatment tool, and an external tube for forming the laser transmission path. In an external tube 80 which forms a laser transmission path 70 together with a lengthy hollow waveguide path 90 for guiding treatment laser light 57a and has an inner insertion space 81 for allowing insertion of the hollow waveguide path 90, a plurality of sub passages 84 and cooling water passages 85 are provided outside the hollow waveguide path 90, inserted into the insertion space 81, along a longitudinal direction of the insertion space 81.

A curve sensor universally applicable to even a curving measurement target having a relatively small diameter is provided. A curve sensor to measure the curving of a curving measurement target includes a light supply unit which guides light, a curve measurement unit which includes a curved state detection unit and which measures the curved state of the measurement target by the change in the amount of light output through the curved state detection unit, a light transmission unit which transmits the light from the light supply unit to the curve measurement unit and a holding portion which holds the light supply unit and the curve measurement unit at predetermined positions on the measurement target.

Systems, methods, and devices for facilitating insertion of an endotracheal tube and/or for verifying the position of the endotracheal tube within an airway of a patient with respect to an anatomical landmark of a patient are disclosed. Systems, methods, and devices for facilitating removal of debris from the distal airways of a patient under direct visualization are also disclosed.

An endoscope system includes: an image sensor, a first photoelectric sensor configured to convert an imaging signal and test data output from the image sensor into an optical signal and output the optical signal, optical fibers configured to transmit the optical signal output from the first photoelectric sensor, and an information processing device. The information processing device includes a second photoelectric sensor configured to receive the optical signal transmitted through the optical fibers, and is configured to: measure a current value corresponding to a receiving sensitivity of the test data converted into an electric signal by the second photoelectric sensor; measure a bit error rate of the test data; determine a transmission level of the test data based on the current value and the bit error rate; and assume reasons for a decrease in the transmission level and cause the transmission level to recover based on the transmission level.

An occlusion crossing device includes an outer shaft, an inner shaft, an optical fiber, and a handle attached to the inner shaft and the outer shaft. The inner shaft extends within the outer shaft. The inner shaft includes a drill tip at a distal end thereof. The optical fiber extends within the inner shaft substantially along a central axis of the inner shaft. The distal tip of the optical fiber is attached to the drill tip. The handle is configured to rotate the inner shaft and drill tip at speeds of greater than 500 rpm.

A device for Doppler optical coherence tomography (Doppler OCT), preferably of the human middle ear, is proposed. The device has an endoscope unit for at least partial insertion into the auditory canal. A sound source, a sound receiver, and OCT optics are integrated in the endoscope unit.

An endoscope system for use with a light guide having an endoscope; and a reflector configured for placement between the endoscope and the light guide. The reflector has a translucent portion for transmitting light from the light guide and a reflective portion for reflecting light from the light guide back into the light guide.

In one embodiment, a laryngoscopy apparatus includes a handle configured for gripping by an operator, a blade extending from the handle configured for insertion into the trachea of a patient, a clear viewing window provided on the blade that enables a patient's airway to be viewed, and means for clearing material from the viewing window that could obscure the view of the airway.