A disinfection system is provided. The disinfection system may utilize ultraviolet light and/or ozone for disinfection of infected tissue. For example the system may involve an endoscopic ultraviolet light to disinfect lung tissue. In another aspect, the system may involve a ventilator which provides ozone in small doses to disinfect the tissue. Combinations and variations are further disclosed.

The present application relates to an endoscope apparatus including a shaft component with a proximal end and a distal end. The shaft component is arranged in an outer shaft. The endoscopy apparatus includes an image capture device having an objective lens for generating a real image and an image sensor for capturing the image and generating an image signal. The endoscopy apparatus includes a pivot joint device which couples the image capture device to the shaft component in a manner pivotable about two orthogonal axes but rigid in respect of a rotation about the longitudinal axis of the shaft component. The endoscopy apparatus includes a pivot control device to set a pivot position of the image capture device relative to the shaft component which depends on the rotational position of the image capture device and the shaft component relative to the outer shaft.

The disclosure relates to an endoscopic light source that includes a first emitter. The first emitter may emit light of a first wavelength at a dichroic mirror which reflects the light of the first wavelength to a plurality of optical fibers. The endoscopic light source further comprises a second emitter. The second emitter may emit light of a second wavelength at a second dichroic mirror which reflects the light of the second wavelength to the plurality of optical fibers. In one embodiment, the first dichroic mirror may be transparent to the light of the second wavelength, allowing the light of the second wavelength to pass through the first dichroic mirror.

In certain embodiments, an illuminating endoprobe system includes one or more light sources, a housing, a vitreous visualization fiber, and a general illumination fiber. The light sources generate a visualization light and an illumination light. The housing receives the visualization and illumination light, and has a probe tip with a probe axis. The vitreous visualization fiber transmits the visualization light through the probe tip. The visualization light has a visualization axis and a visualization beam angle at the probe tip. The general illumination fiber transmits the illumination light through the probe tip. The illumination light has an illumination axis and an illumination beam angle at the probe tip. The illumination beam angle is greater than the visualization beam angle, and the illumination axis is at an offset angle relative to the visualization axis, where the offset angle greater than 5 degrees.

A scope system is provided including an elongate tube with a distal portion and a lumen extending therethrough. The scope system also includes at least one accessory channel including a tubular structure with an accessory lumen extending therethrough, the at least one accessory channel movably disposed at least partially within the lumen of the elongate tube. The at least one accessory channel includes a distal section and a forward-viewing configuration and a side-viewing configuration. In the forward-viewing configuration, the distal section of the at least one accessory channel is substantially parallel to the distal portion of the elongate tube and in the side-viewing configuration, the distal section of the at least one accessory channel is arced at a radius greater than a radius of the distal portion of the elongate tube.

Various embodiments comprise endoscopes (e.g., arthroscopes) for viewing inside a cavity of a body. The endoscopes may include a tip, at least one solid-state emitter such as light emitting diode (LED), located at the distal end of the endoscope, an elongated member. The elongated member may include a plurality of lenses for transmitting light received from the tip member and an elongated conducting member for providing electric power to the solid-state emitter. The elongated conducting member may include conducting lines embedded in a flexible elongated insulating membrane. The tip member and the elongated member may be configured to dissipate heat generated by the solid-state emitter.

Certain embodiments describe an endoilluminator comprising a probe housing an optical fiber. The probe comprises a distal end with an opening through which a first light from a distal end of the optical fiber is configured to be propagated. The probe comprises one or more side openings through which a second light from one or more sides of the optical fiber is configured to be propagated. The endoilluminator also comprises a handpiece coupled to a light source and the proximal end of the probe, wherein the light source is configured to drive light into the optical fiber.

An illuminating device and an endoscope having the same are described. The illuminating device includes a light source assembly, and the light source assembly includes a first light source, a diffusion sheet and a dichroic mirror. The diffusion sheet is disposed between the first light source and the dichroic mirror, and the diffusion sheet is used to diffuse light of the first light source.

Methods and systems for acquiring and/or projecting images from and/or to a target area are provided. Such a method or system can include an optical fiber assembly which may be driven to scan the target area in a scan pattern. The optical fiber assembly may provide multiple effective light sources (e.g., via a plurality of optical fibers) that are axially staggered with respect to an optical system located between the optical fiber and the target area. The optical system may be operable to focus and/or redirect the light from the multiple light sources onto separate focal planes. A composite image may be generated based on light reflected from and/or projected onto the separate focal planes. The composite image may have an extended depth of focus or field spanning over a distance between the separate focal planes while maintaining or improving image resolution.

An elevator for an endoscope comprises a first end secured to the endoscope, a second end movable by an actuator, a flexible portion positioned between the first and second ends that is rotatable when the second end is moved by the actuator, and a guide portion extending between the flexible portion and the second end to receive an endotherapy instrument extending from the endoscope, the guide portion comprising a chute to guide the endotherapy instrument leaving the endoscope. A method of forming an elevator comprises forming from a planar sheet of material an elongate body comprising a length between first and second ends, a width, and a thickness, forming a guide body in the elongate body, bending the elongate body such that first and second lengths of the elongate body oppose each other to form an interior space, and bending the guide body to extend into the interior space.