An imaging module includes: a support substrate that includes a first surface, a second surface on an opposite side of the first surface, and a first mounting terminal disposed on the first surface; a planar light emitter including a light-emitting face, and a light-emitter terminal disposed on the first surface of the support substrate and connected to the first mounting terminal; and a solid-state image sensing device disposed adjacent to the planar light emitter and that includes a light-incident surface that has a quadrangular shape in plan view and that captures an image of an imaging object that is irradiated with light emitted from the light-emitting face.

An imaging module includes: a support substrate that includes a first surface, a second surface on an opposite side of the first surface, and a first mounting terminal disposed on the first surface; a planar light emitter including a light-emitting face, and a light-emitter terminal disposed on the first surface of the support substrate and connected to the first mounting terminal; and a solid-state image sensing device disposed adjacent to the planar light emitter and that includes a light-incident surface that has a quadrangular shape in plan view and that captures an image of an imaging object that is irradiated with light emitted from the light-emitting face.

A surgical tool, consisting of a handle and a flexible insertion tube, having a proximal end coupled to the handle and a distal end configured to be inserted into an orifice of a living subject. The tool has an inner tube, which is bendable without breaking over a range of angles in response to a bending force, and which retains the bent shape after the bending force has been removed. The inner tube is located within the insertion tube. A flexible tubing defines a lumen and is contained within the inner tube. A tool working tip is configured to contact tissue in the subject and to mate with a distal termination of the inner tube. A rigid outer tube grips outer surfaces of the working tip and of the inner tube so as to maintain an opening of the working tip in communication with the flexible tubing lumen.

A surgical tool, consisting of a handle and a flexible insertion tube, having a proximal end coupled to the handle and a distal end configured to be inserted into an orifice of a living subject. The tool has an inner tube, which is bendable without breaking over a range of angles in response to a bending force, and which retains the bent shape after the bending force has been removed. The inner tube is located within the insertion tube. A flexible tubing defines a lumen and is contained within the inner tube. A tool working tip is configured to contact tissue in the subject and to mate with a distal termination of the inner tube. A rigid outer tube grips outer surfaces of the working tip and of the inner tube so as to maintain an opening of the working tip in communication with the flexible tubing lumen.

Endoscopes and methods of their use, where the endoscopes provide a low profile or cross-section which facilitates introduction through small body passages, such as patient's cervix, and into body cavities, such a patient's uterus.

Endoscopes and methods of their use, where the endoscopes provide a low profile or cross-section which facilitates introduction through small body passages, such as patient's cervix, and into body cavities, such a patient's uterus.

An endoscopic image viewing support server includes an endoscopic image acquiring unit configured to acquire imaging information, a section-of-interest setting unit configured to estimate a degree of interest and classify a plurality of endoscopic images in accordance with the degree of interest, and an endoscopic image selecting unit configured to select an endoscopic image from each of sections of interest at a ratio based on the degree of interest. The section-of-interest setting unit is configured to determine an endoscopic image of interest from among the plurality of endoscopic images, and in a case where the plurality of endoscopic images are arranged in a chronological order, estimate the degree of interest for an endoscopic image in an endoscopic image group including the endoscopic image of interest by using image processing.

A surgical system including a surgical instrument having a shaft, an image sensor positioned at a distal end of the shaft, the image sensor being configured to capture images of a target object of a living object, and a control grip is arranged at a proximal end of the shaft. The surgical system further including a monitor for displaying the images and a controller configured to display a virtual target object model image of the target object on the monitor. Where the control grip is configured to position the virtual target object model image displayed on the monitor at a determined position and rotate the virtual target object model image displayed on the monitor at the determined position.

A surgical system including a surgical instrument having a shaft, an image sensor positioned at a distal end of the shaft, the image sensor being configured to capture images of a target object of a living object, and a control grip is arranged at a proximal end of the shaft. The surgical system further including a monitor for displaying the images and a controller configured to display a virtual target object model image of the target object on the monitor. Where the control grip is configured to position the virtual target object model image displayed on the monitor at a determined position and rotate the virtual target object model image displayed on the monitor at the determined position.

A steerable endoscope is provided with active steering control. An endoscope includes a flexible tubular body with first and second articulating segments, and a camera. In an embodiment, the endoscope includes an orientation sensor. A controller for the endoscope performs an automated analysis of an alignment between the motion axis of the endoscope and the viewing axis of the camera, and actively steers the endoscope to improve the alignment.