Embodiments of the invention include an apparatus including at least one illumination source configured to emit illumination energy and an illumination control system to receive the illumination energy. The illumination control system is configured to control the illumination energy to output a sequence of different illumination wavelengths using the illumination energy. The apparatus also includes a plurality of optical fibers connected to the illumination control system and configured to sequentially output the different illumination wavelengths. Each optical fiber is configured to transmit a different illumination wavelength of the sequence to output the sequence of different illumination wavelengths from the optical fibers toward an object. The apparatus further includes an image capture device including a plurality of pixels, and each pixel of the image capture device is configured to detect the illumination energy associated with each of the plurality of different illumination wavelengths reflected from the object.

A laryngoscope has a blade pivoted to a handle, and a light emitter lamp on the blade powered from a battery power source. A block formation at the rear end of the blade, at which it is pivoted to the head of the handle, incorporates a power source housing for the battery. The power source housing has a cover flap which cannot be opened in the operating position of the blade, but can be opened for removal of the power source in the folded position, or with the blade detached. This facilitates disposal and recycling. Electrical connectors lead from the power source housing to the light emitter lamp, and the rear end block of the blade has an external switch actuator which engages the head of the handle when the blade is extended to turn on the lamp. The power source, electrical connectors and light emitter may be combined into a discrete lighting module casing incorporated in the blade.

A laryngoscope has a blade pivoted to a handle, and a light emitter lamp on the blade powered from a battery power source. A block formation at the rear end of the blade, at which it is pivoted to the head of the handle, incorporates a power source housing for the battery. The power source housing has a cover flap which cannot be opened in the operating position of the blade, but can be opened for removal of the power source in the folded position, or with the blade detached. This facilitates disposal and recycling. Electrical connectors lead from the power source housing to the light emitter lamp, and the rear end block of the blade has an external switch actuator which engages the head of the handle when the blade is extended to turn on the lamp. The power source, electrical connectors and light emitter may be combined into a discrete lighting module casing incorporated in the blade.

One or more triggers, fluorescence or auto-fluorescence triggers, NIRAF triggers, methods of using triggers, fiber optic rotary joints (FORJ), free space beam combiners, OCT, SEE and/or fluorescence devices and systems for use therewith, methods of using and/or manufacturing same and storage mediums are provided. One or more embodiments using one or more triggers achieve structural compactness and/or high-speed acquisition while avoiding or reducing the need for high computational power. One or more embodiments use one or more triggers, one or more fluorescence triggers, one or more auto-fluorescence triggers, or NIRAF triggers, and/or one or more rotary joints, for performing pullback and/or image recording. Examples of optical applications that may involve the use of a trigger, fluorescence/auto-fluorescence trigger or NIRAF trigger, and/or a fiber optic rotary joint, include imaging, evaluating and characterizing/identifying biological objects or tissue, such as, but not limited to, for gastro-intestinal, otolaryngologic, cardio and/or ophthalmic applications.

One or more triggers, fluorescence or auto-fluorescence triggers, NIRAF triggers, methods of using triggers, fiber optic rotary joints (FORJ), free space beam combiners, OCT, SEE and/or fluorescence devices and systems for use therewith, methods of using and/or manufacturing same and storage mediums are provided. One or more embodiments using one or more triggers achieve structural compactness and/or high-speed acquisition while avoiding or reducing the need for high computational power. One or more embodiments use one or more triggers, one or more fluorescence triggers, one or more auto-fluorescence triggers, or NIRAF triggers, and/or one or more rotary joints, for performing pullback and/or image recording. Examples of optical applications that may involve the use of a trigger, fluorescence/auto-fluorescence trigger or NIRAF trigger, and/or a fiber optic rotary joint, include imaging, evaluating and characterizing/identifying biological objects or tissue, such as, but not limited to, for gastro-intestinal, otolaryngologic, cardio and/or ophthalmic applications.

A system may comprise a catheter including a wall having an inner surface defining a main lumen. The system may also comprise a device including an elongate flexible shaft configured to be slideably inserted within the catheter main lumen and a structure disposed around an outer surface of the elongate flexible shaft. The structure may be configured to engage with a plurality of flat surfaces comprising a portion of the inner surface to prevent rotation of the device within the main lumen.

A system may comprise a catheter including a wall having an inner surface defining a main lumen. The system may also comprise a device including an elongate flexible shaft configured to be slideably inserted within the catheter main lumen and a structure disposed around an outer surface of the elongate flexible shaft. The structure may be configured to engage with a plurality of flat surfaces comprising a portion of the inner surface to prevent rotation of the device within the main lumen.

Provided is a light emitting device including a light source that emits primary light; and a wavelength converter that includes a first phosphor that absorbs the primary light and emits first wavelength-converted light, wherein the light emitting device emits output light including the first wavelength-converted light, the first wavelength-converted light is near-infrared light having a fluorescence intensity maximum value within a wavelength range of 700 nm or more and less than 800 nm, the first wavelength-converted light mainly contains a broad fluorescent component based on an electron energy transition of .sup.4T.sub.2.fwdarw..sup.4A.sub.2 of Cr.sup.3+, and the broad fluorescent component has a fluorescence spectrum half-width that is less than 100 nm.

An optical rotary junction module for an OCT system according to the present invention includes an OCT connection part having a screw thread formed on an outer peripheral surface thereof, the OCT connection part being connected to an OCT system configured to produce light, a connecting/fixing part having a screw thread formed on an inner peripheral surface thereof and screw-coupled to and engaging with the screw thread formed on the outer peripheral surface of the OCT connection part, a first housing having a screw thread formed on an inner peripheral surface of one end thereof and a screw thread formed on an inner peripheral surface of the other end thereof, the first housing having one end screw-coupled to the connecting/fixing part, a second housing screw-coupled to the screw thread formed on the inner peripheral surface of the other end of the first housing, a hollow motor inserted into the second housing and configured to generate rotational power, and an adapter configured to be coupled to an imaging catheter configured to be inserted into a blood vessel of a human body and transmit light received from the OCT system. The optical rotary junction module has the effects of reducing noise generated during high-speed rotation, and preventing failure caused by abrasion or the like. Moreover, the module may be structurally simplified and reduced in size, and the product cost per unit thereof may be lowered by minimizing the components.

An optical rotary junction module for an OCT system according to the present invention includes an OCT connection part having a screw thread formed on an outer peripheral surface thereof, the OCT connection part being connected to an OCT system configured to produce light, a connecting/fixing part having a screw thread formed on an inner peripheral surface thereof and screw-coupled to and engaging with the screw thread formed on the outer peripheral surface of the OCT connection part, a first housing having a screw thread formed on an inner peripheral surface of one end thereof and a screw thread formed on an inner peripheral surface of the other end thereof, the first housing having one end screw-coupled to the connecting/fixing part, a second housing screw-coupled to the screw thread formed on the inner peripheral surface of the other end of the first housing, a hollow motor inserted into the second housing and configured to generate rotational power, and an adapter configured to be coupled to an imaging catheter configured to be inserted into a blood vessel of a human body and transmit light received from the OCT system. The optical rotary junction module has the effects of reducing noise generated during high-speed rotation, and preventing failure caused by abrasion or the like. Moreover, the module may be structurally simplified and reduced in size, and the product cost per unit thereof may be lowered by minimizing the components.