Insufflation systems may provide a continuous flow of insufflation gas to a body cavity. The continuous flow may be directed over the lens of an endoscope received within a cannula to form a protective envelope around the lens and improve visibility. The continuous flow may be supplied by a pressurized gas source. The continuous flow line may be assembled in parallel to an insufflation line running through a standard insufflator configured to provide non-continuous gas flow to the body cavity. The lines may converge upstream of or at the cannula or the insufflation flow may be provided to a separate cannula. Continuous gas flow may be provided by recirculating gas from the body cavity through the cannula Continuous gas flow may be provided by storing gas from the non-continuous insufflation flow in an accumulator and releasing the gas during off phases of the insufflation flow.

A medical control device includes: a captured image acquisition unit configured to acquire a captured image generated by an image sensor capturing a subject image introduced by an endoscope; a luminance calculation unit configured to calculate a luminance level of the subject image included in the captured image; and a dimming controller configured to control a light amount of irradiation light onto a subject and an electronic shutter of the image sensor based on the luminance level, and execute first dimming control of narrowing the electronic shutter before reducing the light amount as the luminance level increases.

The present disclosure includes vision preservation systems for medical devices, such as cryospray devices for use with endoscopes. Exemplary embodiments provide a distal attachment in the form of a shroud or cap that mounts to the end of a flexible endoscope. A purging fluid supply mechanism is provided along the length of the endoscope, providing a channel for purging fluid, such as gas, to communicate between the endoscope tip and an external gas supply. The cap or shroud assembly incorporates a lens clearing flow field adjustment mechanism, such as nozzles, designed to direct warm (room temperature or higher) purging fluid across a lens at the scope tip. Another flow deflection mechanism, such as a guide or nozzle, may be included with the cap to direct purging fluid at an angle away from the lens.

Disclosed is an intraoral scanner, including: a main body having a light projector, a camera lens, and an intake fan disposed therein; a probe tip mount disposed at the front end of the main body, and formed with a light gate; and a probe tip having the probe tip mount inserted into the rear end portion thereof, and having a reflective member for reflecting the light irradiated from the light projector through the light gate into an oral cavity and reflecting the light reflected from the interior of the oral cavity to the camera lens through the light gate disposed on the front end portion thereof. The probe tip mount is further formed with a guide hole for guiding the air flowing into the main body by the intake fan to the reflective member.

A camera head for an endoscope includes: a casing grasped by a user and detachably connected to an insertion unit inserted into a subject, the insertion unit taking an object image from the subject; an optical element having translucency and configured to seal the casing by being provided in the casing; an imaging element provided in the casing and configured to capture the object image taken into the casing through the optical element; and a dew condensation forming unit provided in the casing and having a smaller thermal resistance value than the optical element, the dew condensation forming unit functioning as a transmission path of heat between inside and outside of the casing.

A method for operating a heating system of an endoscope. The endoscope including a heating element and a temperature sensor in a distal region of the endoscope and a supply unit outside of the endoscope, the supply unit being connected to the heating element and the temperature sensor, wherein the supply unit activates and deactivates a power supply for the heating element on a basis of a temperature measurement value ascertained by means of the temperature sensor using two-state control, and a monitoring unit including a monitoring circuit which is powered by the power supply for the heating element. The method including: monitoring, with the monitoring circuit, the temperature sensor for a malfunction; and interrupting the power supply to the heating element if the malfunction of the temperature sensor is determined.

An endoscope includes a cleaning assembly that enables cleaning of a lens of the endoscope during a surgical procedure to maintain a clear image without having to remove the endoscope from the patient's body. The cleaning assembly includes an ultrasonic transducer operatively coupled to the lens to provide vibration thereto to remove fluids and debris from the lens, and an ultrasonic generator providing driving signals to the ultrasonic transducer.

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to providing an effective and reliable approach for cleaning an exposed surface of an imaging element (e.g., a lens) of apparatuses including but not limited to medical imaging instruments such as endoscopes and laparoscopes and the like. In the case of medical imaging instruments, cleaning apparatuses configured in accordance with embodiments the present invention can be cleaned while the distal end portion of the endoscope is in vivo. Such apparatuses have a cleaning member incorporated therein (e.g., a resilient polymeric wiper, a sponge, an absorbent pad or the like) that is used for cleaning the exposed surface of the imaging element. The apparatus is preferably adapted for being mounted on imaging apparatus but can also be entirely or partially integral with one or more components of the imaging apparatus or system of which it is a component.

An endoscope including: an elongated shaft comprising at least a first shaft tube with a window inserted in its distal end, and an electrical heating device arranged proximate to the window at or in the first shaft tube; wherein the heating device includes a flexible printed circuit board on which a resistive heating element configured as a conductor loop and a temperature sensor are arranged, and a heat-conducting structure connected in a thermally conductive manner to the temperature sensor is applied to the printed circuit board.

An endoscope (1) having a heating device (7) with at least one stiffened area (9, 10, 27) on a printed circuit board (8). At least one heating element (11) of the heating device is arranged in the stiffened area (9, 10, 27), and the heating device (7) is laid flat, from the outside, on a metallic head part (4) at the distal end (3) of the endoscope.