An endoscope apparatus includes a compression processing control unit configured to carry out a compression processing of compressing image data by using a compression parameter to generate compressed data, a monitor that is a display unit configured to display a display image corresponding to the image data, an information quantity detection unit configured to detect a quantity of information on an object contained in the image data, and a judgement unit configured to carry out a judgement processing of judging whether or not a judgement value corresponding to the quantity of information is smaller than a predetermined threshold. The image pickup of the object and the generation of the image data are continuously performed multiple times, and the judgement processing is carried out whenever the image data is generated. The compression parameter and the display image are determined based on a result of the judgement processing.

An endoscope apparatus includes a compression processing control unit configured to carry out a compression processing of compressing image data by using a compression parameter to generate compressed data, a monitor that is a display unit configured to display a display image corresponding to the image data, an information quantity detection unit configured to detect a quantity of information on an object contained in the image data, and a judgement unit configured to carry out a judgement processing of judging whether or not a judgement value corresponding to the quantity of information is smaller than a predetermined threshold. The image pickup of the object and the generation of the image data are continuously performed multiple times, and the judgement processing is carried out whenever the image data is generated. The compression parameter and the display image are determined based on a result of the judgement processing.

A deployable and flexible tooltip camera is provided for integration within a shaft of an endoscopic tool. The tooltip camera includes a camera mounted to a distal tip of a curved tube which is capable of rotational and translational movement to provide a wide field of view of a tooltip of the endoscopic tool during an endoscopic procedure. The tube retains its curved shape when in use to provide a unique perspective view of the tooltip, but can then be withdrawn into a shaft of the endoscopic tool such that the entire tooltip camera and tube are retained within the shaft of the endoscopic tool and can pass through a cannula. The curved tube may be formed of a super-elastic memory alloy like Nitinol and pre-shaped into an s-curve using a two-step heat treatment process to attain the necessary curvature, and further laser-patterned with holes to attain the necessary flexibility.

A deployable and flexible tooltip camera is provided for integration within a shaft of an endoscopic tool. The tooltip camera includes a camera mounted to a distal tip of a curved tube which is capable of rotational and translational movement to provide a wide field of view of a tooltip of the endoscopic tool during an endoscopic procedure. The tube retains its curved shape when in use to provide a unique perspective view of the tooltip, but can then be withdrawn into a shaft of the endoscopic tool such that the entire tooltip camera and tube are retained within the shaft of the endoscopic tool and can pass through a cannula. The curved tube may be formed of a super-elastic memory alloy like Nitinol and pre-shaped into an s-curve using a two-step heat treatment process to attain the necessary curvature, and further laser-patterned with holes to attain the necessary flexibility.

An electronic endoscope processor includes a converting means for converting each piece of pixel data that is made up of n (n≥3) types of color components and constitutes a color image of a biological tissue in a body cavity into a piece of pixel data that is made up of m (m≥2) types of color components, m being smaller than n; an evaluation value calculating means for calculating, for each pixel of the color image, an evaluation value related to a target illness based on the converted pieces of pixel data that are made up of m types of color components; and a lesion index calculating means for calculating a lesion index for each of a plurality of types of lesions related to the target illness based on the evaluation values calculated for the pixels of the color image.

An endoscope with an optical channel is held and positioned by a robotic surgical system. A capture unit captures (1) a visible first image at a first time and (2) a visible second image combined with a fluorescence image at a second time. An image processing system receives (1) the visible first image and (2) the visible second image combined with the fluorescence image and generates at least one fluorescence image. A display system outputs an output image including an artificial fluorescence image.

An endoscope with an optical channel is held and positioned by a robotic surgical system. A capture unit captures (1) a visible first image at a first time and (2) a visible second image combined with a fluorescence image at a second time. An image processing system receives (1) the visible first image and (2) the visible second image combined with the fluorescence image and generates at least one fluorescence image. A display system outputs an output image including an artificial fluorescence image.

Embodiments of a hybrid imaging sensor that optimizes a pixel array area on a substrate using a stacking scheme for placement of related circuitry with minimal vertical interconnects between stacked substrates and associated features are disclosed. Embodiments of maximized pixel array size/die size (area optimization) are disclosed, and an optimized imaging sensor providing improved image quality, improved functionality, and improved form factors for specific applications common to the industry of digital imaging are also disclosed.

The cannula (1) comprises a tube (2) with a front end (4) at which there is provided at least one suction opening (10), and with a back end (3) intended to be connected to a source of vacuum; in the tube (2) there being defined at least one longitudinal flow conduit (8, 9) for the aspirated material; and an imaging apparatus (11, 12) capable of supplying first signals or data allowing the generation of a visual representation of the environment in close proximity to the front end of the tube (2) of the cannula (1) down to a first depth or distance, and second signals or data allowing the generation of a visual representation of the environment around the front end of the tube (2) of the cannula (1) down to a second depth or distance, greater than the said first depth or distance.

The cannula (1) comprises a tube (2) with a front end (4) at which there is provided at least one suction opening (10), and with a back end (3) intended to be connected to a source of vacuum; in the tube (2) there being defined at least one longitudinal flow conduit (8, 9) for the aspirated material; and an imaging apparatus (11, 12) capable of supplying first signals or data allowing the generation of a visual representation of the environment in close proximity to the front end of the tube (2) of the cannula (1) down to a first depth or distance, and second signals or data allowing the generation of a visual representation of the environment around the front end of the tube (2) of the cannula (1) down to a second depth or distance, greater than the said first depth or distance.