Methods and systems for acquiring and/or projecting images from and/or to a target area are provided. Such a method or system can includes an optical fiber assembly which may be driven to scan the target area in a scan pattern. The optical fiber assembly may provide multiple effective light sources (e.g., via a plurality of optical fibers) that are axially staggered with respect to an optical system located between the optical fiber and the target area. The optical system may be operable to focus and/or redirect the light from the multiple light sources onto separate focal planes. A composite image may be generated based on light reflected from and/or projected onto the separate focal planes. The composite image may have an extended depth of focus or field spanning over a distance between the separate focal planes while maintaining or improving image resolution.

Systems and methods are provided for preparation of orthodontics and prosthodontics. A method may include scanning a patient's teeth to form first 3D data of the patient's teeth including a removable element that obscures part of the dental surfaces of the patient's teeth and non-obscured tooth surfaces, removing the removable element form the patient's teeth so that the removable element no longer obscures the part of the dental surfaces of the patient's teeth, and scanning the previously obscured part of the dental surfaces of the patent's teeth and the non-obscured tooth surfaces.

The present invention provides an imaging probe for imaging mammalian tissues and structures using high resolution imaging, including high frequency ultrasound and optical coherence tomography. The imaging probes structures using high resolution imaging use combined high frequency ultrasound (IVUS) and optical imaging methods such as optical coherence tomography (OCT) and to accurate co-registering of images obtained from ultrasound image signals and optical image signals during scanning a region of interest.

According to one aspect, the invention relates to a device for transporting and controlling light beams for endo-microscopic imaging without a lens on the distal side comprising a single-mode optical fibre bundle (40) on the distal side, wherein each single-mode optical fibre is intended to receive an elementary light source and to emit a light beam at a distal end; a single-mode optical fibre section (50) arranged at the distal end of the optical fibre bundle and intended to receive the light beams emitted by the single-mode optical fibres of the optical fibre bundle; an optical phase control device arranged on the side of the proximal end of the single-mode optical fibres. The optical phase control device comprises at least one spatial light modulator (30) adapted to apply a phase shift to each of the elementary beams and control means (60) for controlling the spatial light modulator allowing application of a phase shift to each of the elementary beams to form an illumination beam with a determined phase function at the distal end of the multimode optical fibre section (50).

An optical scanning endoscope device includes: a laser element; an optical fiber that guides laser light from the laser element; a first detector that detects a guided light amount of the laser light in the optical fiber; a second detector that detects light from a subject and outputs a detection signal; a first calculator that calculates an optical coupling ratio between the laser element and the optical fiber on the basis of the guided light amount; a second calculator that calculates a degradation ratio of the laser element on the basis of the guided light amount; a first adjuster that adjusts the magnitude of the detection signal on the basis of the optical coupling ratio; and a second adjuster that adjusts the output light amount of the laser light from the laser element on the basis of the degradation ratio.

A video endoscope including an elongate shaft having a distal end and a proximal end; a tubular sleeve arranged in the shaft so as to be rotatable about a longitudinal axis of the shaft; a connector arranged at the proximal end of the shaft; an objective arranged at the distal end of the shaft; at least one image sensor arranged in the shaft so as to be proximal to the objective, the at least one image sensor being surrounded by the tubular sleeve; a flexible signal line connecting the at least one image sensor to the connector; and a fastener for detachable fastening the flexible signal line.

An insertion device assembly for nasal sinuses includes: a guide pipe bent portion on the distal side of the guide pipe main body; a guide pipe distal opening on the distal side of the bent portion; a sheath inserted into the bent portion and the guide pipe distal opening from a proximal side opening of the main body through the main body to be movable back and forth; a sheath distal opening at the distal side of the sheath; an insertion portion of an endoscope inserted through the sheath to be movable back and forth; and an endoscope operation portion passing the sheath distal opening and the distal end of the insertion portion of the endoscope through the bent portion and protruding the distal end of the insertion portion of the endoscope from the guide pipe distal opening.

An endoscope handpiece and system may include an angle of view selector, a depressible button, which may be connected to a lock disposed within a port of the endoscopic handpiece. The system may further provide an endoscope, which may be connected to the handpiece via the port and locked in place by the lock.

This optical scanning endoscope apparatus includes an actuator that scans light from a light source over an object with a predetermined scan cycle, a light amount detector that detects the light amount from the light source, and a controller that controls output of the light source based on the light amount detected by the light amount detector. During each scan cycle by the actuator, the controller controls the light source so as to output light according to a predetermined output change pattern, sequentially calculates an integral value of the light amount detected by the light amount detector over a predetermined time period, and controls the maximum of the change in output of the light source due to the output change pattern so that the integral value does not exceed a predetermined standard value.

A dental imager includes an elongated handle with a rotatable head coupled to a distal end thereof and having a central platform with a plurality of arcuate scanning arms pivotally coupled thereto by a hinge. The arcuate scanning arms are of a shape and size for general deployment around a tooth and each include at least one scanner and a roller guide that comfortably rolls along the surface of the tooth or gums to bias the scanners a desired distance from the surface of the tooth, conducive for imaging thereof. In this respect, such a dental imager may be used in a process to scan and record the contours of an intraoral surface, the data of which may be used to create a digital three-dimensional surface impression printable by a 3D printer or the like.