Various aspects of a systems and method for reconstructing a surface of a three-dimensional (3D) target are disclosed herein. The method may comprise projecting a sequence of patterns to the surface of the target; capturing a first stereo endoscopic image and a second stereo endoscopic image from the patterns reflected from the surface; performing a coarse matching for the captured first and second stereo endoscopic images to acquire a set of matching candidates; and performing a precise matching for the acquired set of matching candidates to acquire reconstruction pixels for reconstructing the surface.

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 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 tip section of a multi-camera endoscope includes a front-pointing camera on a planar surface of a distal end of the tip section and two side-pointing cameras positioned on a cylindrical surface in proximity to the planar surface such that the side field of view provided by the two side-pointing cameras partially overlaps with the front field of view provided by the front-pointing camera. The tip section further includes a working channel configured for insertion of a surgical tool; and a pathway fluid injector for inflating and/or cleaning a body cavity into which the endoscope is inserted.

An illumination optical system according to the present invention is provided with: an illumination-light guiding portion configured to guide illumination light emitted from a light source portion; and an illumination-light deflecting portion configured to emit the illumination light guided thereto by the illumination-light guiding portion after deflecting the illumination light by means of reflection, wherein, in one cross-section along a direction in which the illumination light travels, the illumination-light guiding portion has a pair of total reflection surfaces in which the distance therebetween gradually increases in a forward traveling direction of the illumination light, and the illumination-light deflecting portion is provided with an emission surface from which the illumination light guided by the illumination-light guiding portion is emitted, and a reflection surface that has a convex shape facing the emission surface and that reflects the illumination light guided by the illumination-light guiding portion toward the emission surface.

Disclosed herein are methods and devices for treating pancreatitis. In the methods described herein, the distal portion of a catheter is routed into the pancreatic duct. The catheter delivers to the pancreatic duct an effective amount of a composition at an effective infusion pressure, wherein the amount and infusion pressure of the composition are effective to decrease the secretion of digestive enzymes from one or more exocrine tissues of the pancreas. The reduction of digestive enzymes may reduce damage to the islet cells typically seen in chronic pancreatitis. Backflow of the composition out of the pancreatic duct is limited, for example, by an occluding system, and aspiration system, or both.

In a rigid distal end portion of an ultrasonic endoscope, a side-viewing optical observation portion and a wave transmission/reception face of an ultrasonic probe are provided on respective sides, in the width direction, of a boundary side wall of a pair of side walls constituting a laterally open recess. The wave transmission/reception face is arranged in a range in which at least a part of the wave transmission/reception face overlaps the boundary side wall, while being offset from an elevator in the longitudinal direction of an insertion portion. When the rigid distal end portion is viewed in an observation direction of the optical observation portion, a top portion of the elevator is located on a line connecting a center of the outer shape of the wave transmission/reception face of the ultrasonic probe, and a center, in the width direction, of the distal end connecting portion of a treatment tool conduit.

An endoscope pipe with a central, elongated observation window on the distal end, whereby several light outlet openings for fiberoptic end surfaces are positioned close to the observation window for illuminating the angle area observed through the observation window and the light outlet openings are positioned asymmetrically in relation to the longitudinal extension of the observation window and/or the fiberoptic end surfaces are held in the light outlet openings in such a way that light is beamed from the fiberoptic end surfaces into the angle area in various directions.

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.

An apparatus includes a shaft, an imaging head, and a processor. The shaft includes a distal end sized to fit through a human nostril into a human nasal cavity. The imaging head includes an image sensor assembly, a plurality of light sources, and a plurality of collimators. At least some of the light sources are positioned adjacent to the image sensor assembly. Each collimator is positioned over a corresponding light source of the plurality of light sources. The processor is configured to activate the light sources in a predetermined sequence. The image sensor assembly is configured to capture images of a surface illuminated by the light sources as the light sources are activated in the predetermined sequence.