There is provided herein, an electronic circuit board assembly for a tip section of a multiple viewing elements endoscope, the assembly including a base board configured to carry a first metal frame to support a front looking viewing element and a second metal frame to support a side looking viewing element; and a flexible illumination circuit board comprising a front foldable panel configured to carry three sets of front illuminators for essentially illuminating the field of view (FOV) of the front looking viewing element, and a side foldable panel configured to carry a set of side illuminators for essentially illuminating the field of view (FOV) of the side looking viewing element.

A method for determining surface characteristics of an intraoral structure may include illuminating an intraoral structure with light of a first light source passing through focusing optics and capturing depth image data during the illumination with the first light source of light from the intraoral structure passing through the focusing optics. The method may also include illuminating the intraoral structure with a second light source and capturing two-dimensional image data during the illumination with the second light source. Depth data of the intraoral structure may be generated using the depth image data and the two-dimensional image data may be mapped to the depth data.

A pericardial-cavity observing method including: a step of inserting an endoscope sheath and an endoscope into a space between the heart and the pericardium; a step of disposing a protruding portion closer to the pericardium than an optical member is so that an angle that is formed between a centerline that passes through a center of the protruding portion and a center of the optical member and a tangent of the pericardium that passes through a foot of a perpendicular line drawn, from the center of the optical member of the endoscope, to the pericardium sagging down from the protruding portion toward the heart becomes greater than an angle formed between the centerline and an external common tangent of the protruding portion and the optical member; and a step of observing the heart by means of the endoscope.

A device for determining the surface topology and associated color of a structure, such as a teeth segment, includes a scanner for providing depth data for points along a two-dimensional array substantially orthogonal to the depth direction, and an image acquisition means for providing color data for each of the points of the array, while the spatial disposition of the device with respect to the structure is maintained substantially unchanged. A processor combines the color data and depth data for each point in the array, thereby providing a three-dimensional color virtual model of the surface of the structure. A corresponding method for determining the surface topology and associate color of a structure is also provided.

A system for determining the surface topology and associated color of at least a portion of a three-dimensional structure includes a hand-held device. A scanning system may be configured to provide depth data of the portion. An imaging system may be configured to provide two-dimensional color image data of the portion associated with the plurality of data points. A processor may be operably coupled to the hand-held device and configured to associate the depth data with the color image data.

Multi-spectrum ring illuminated surgical cameras and scopes having a ring lens and a plurality of LEDs. The LEDs set behind an electronic imaging sensor (camera) and positioned radially about the longitudinal axis of the lens and/or scope.

Multi-spectrum ring illuminated surgical cameras and scopes having a ring lens and a plurality of LEDs. The LEDs set behind an electronic imaging sensor (camera) and positioned radially about the longitudinal axis of the lens and/or scope.

A catheter system includes an electronic console; a catheter having a proximal end attachable to the console and a distal end configured to house therein an optical probe; an optical fiber configured to transmit from the console to the optical probe excitation radiation of a first wavelength, and configured to return to the console an optical response signal having a second wavelength longer than the first wavelength; a detector configured to detect intensity of the optical response signal; and a processor configured to determine, based on the detected intensity of the optical response signal, whether the catheter is properly connected to the console. The optical response signal is generated within the optical fiber itself in response to transmitting the excitation radiation therethrough. The optical response signal is an auto-fluorescence signal and/or Raman scattering signal generated from the optical fiber itself.

A cannula can include a body with proximal and distal portions and a lumen extending through the body, the distal portion configured for insertion into a patient anatomy. An energy interface can be positioned in the proximal portion, and a light emitting device can be coupled to the energy interface and configured to emit light from the body. A system can include the cannula, a support structure, and an energy source. The support structure can include another energy interface that transfers energy to/from the energy interface. The energy source can be coupled to the cannula via the energy interfaces, where the light emitting device emits light from the body in response to energy received from the energy source via the energy interfaces. One or more cannulae can be used to illuminate the patient anatomy.

An imaging system includes an image sensing unit and a processing unit. The image sensing unit captures a plurality of images of an object, wherein each of the images includes a plurality of pixels. The processing unit obtains a plurality of sets of image data according to the images, wherein each set of image data includes a plurality of characteristic values. The processing unit calculates a plurality of difference parameters of the characteristic values of every two sets of image data. The processing unit accumulates the difference parameters within a predetermined time period to obtain a plurality of accumulated difference parameters corresponding to the pixels. The processing unit determines a plurality of weighting values corresponding to the pixels according to the accumulated difference parameters. The processing unit performs an image processing process according to the sets of image data and the weighting values.