An endoscope and methods of use thereof are provided, which includes at least one multi-functional extending arm supporting a plurality of imaging, lighting and other sensory elements. The arms provide a mounting platform upon which cameras, lights and sensors may be mounted to generate multiple-angled images and video, arena-like lighting and other data for performing a minimally-invasive surgical (MIS) procedure. The arms may be inserted through a single portal in the endoscope and extended outward in multiple directions from the single portal once inserted into a body cavity. The endoscope may also include support arms which support the extending arms within the body cavity and a stabilization plate which anchors the endoscope to an external surface of the body. An endoscopic tool with optical, lighting and other sensors integrated into a functional end is also provided.

A method and apparatus for capturing an image sequence using a capsule camera are disclosed. According to the present invention, a first energy-based frame time for the special images is determined based on first light energy perceived by the image sensor and a second energy-based frame time for the regular images is determined based on second light energy perceived by the image sensor. The capsule camera captures the image sequence comprising one or more sets of mixed-type images by configuring the capsule camera to cause a mixed-frame distance between the first energy-based frame time for one special image in a target set of mixed-type images and the second energy-based frame time for one regular image in the target set of mixed-type images smaller than an average frame period.

An endoscope optic including: an outer tube having an opening at an end face in an end region of the outer tube, a fiber tube disposed in the opening, the fiber tube containing an objective lens, and a fiber bundle for illuminating a region in front of the objective lens, the fiber bundle being provided at an outer periphery of the objective lens, wherein a distal end region of the fiber bundle being arranged in a distal aperture in the fiber tube, the aperture being surrounded by material of the fiber tube.

Sub-diffraction limited fluorescent images using a fiber-based stimulated emission depletion (STED) microscope are reported. Both excitation and depletion beams are transported through polarization-maintaining fiber and a lateral resolution of 100 nm has been achieved.

A biomedical device, an endoscope attachment accessory with telemetric function that allows to make measurements in internal surfaces of the body; the endoscope attachment accessory with telemetric function for measuring distances and sizes on internal surfaces of the human body comprising three modules, an image signal processing module for calculating distances, areas and volumes, a laser control module and an alignment module, all contained in a single housing.

A method and apparatus for sharpening gastrointestinal (GI) images are disclosed. A target distance between the target region and the imaging apparatus is determined for a target region in the regular image. One or more filter parameters of a de-blurring filter are selected from stored filter parameters according to the target distance. A processed target region is generated by applying the de-blurring filter to the target region to improve sharpness of the target region. A method for characterizing an imaging apparatus is also disclosed. The imaging apparatus is placed under a controlled environment. Test pictures for one or more test patterns are captured at multiple test distances in a range including a focus distance using the imaging apparatus. One or more parameters associated a target point spread function are determined from each test picture for characterizing image formation of the imaging apparatus at the selected distance.

A method of cannulating a coronary sinus within a heart chamber includes deploying, from a catheter, an imaging hood to a deployed configuration by extending the imaging hood from a distal end of the catheter and radially expanding the imaging hood to define a constant deployed volume within an open area of the imaging hood. The method further includes positioning a contact edge of the imaging hood and the open area of the imaging hood in the deployed configuration over or upon an ostium of the coronary sinus, displacing an opaque fluid with a transparent fluid from the open area defined by the imaging hood and tissue surrounding the ostium, visualizing the ostium through the transparent fluid by viewing the ostium via an imaging element attached to an inner surface of the imaging hood, and introducing a guidewire through the imaging hood and into the ostium while under visual guidance.

A medical control device according to the present disclosure includes an image processing section adapted to generate a captured image on the basis of an electric signal generated by an imaging device that captures an image of a subject, and a light source control information generation section adapted to generate control information for controlling a light quantity distribution of illumination light, according to a brightness distribution of the captured image.

Endoscopic systems, non-transitory, machine-readable storage media, and methods for correcting brightness non-uniformity are described. In an embodiment, the endoscopic system includes a light source positioned to emit illumination light onto a scene; a photodetector positioned to receive illumination light reflected off of the scene and configured to generate a scene signal based on the received illumination light; a display; and a controller operatively coupled to the light source, the photodetector, and the display. In an embodiment, the controller including logic that, when executed by the controller, causes the endoscopic system to perform operations including: illuminating the scene with the light source; detecting a scene depth; estimating a scene-specific brightness non-uniformity correction based on the detected scene depth and an endoscopic system brightness non-uniformity profile; and displaying an image of the scene with the display based on the scene signal, the detected scene depth, and the endoscopic system brightness non-uniformity correction.

The invention comprises a cannula assembly kit for a trocar suitable for use in minimally invasive surgery. The cannula assembly kit comprises a cannula and a pattern generating member. The cannula has a distal end and a proximal end and comprises a flange portion at its proximal end and an elongate cannula shaft portion extending from said flange portion to its distal end and an access port through the flange portion and the elongate cannula shaft portion, such that a surgical tool of a surgical instrument can be inserted through the access port. The pattern generating member comprises a pattern light source and a projector arranged such that the pattern light source is operatively connected to the projector for projecting a light pattern. At least the projector of the pattern generating member is configured for being at least temporarily fixed to the cannula shaft portion of the cannula.