A surgical microscope for visualizing a tissue region contains an illumination device with a light source and an illumination beam path for illuminating an object region with an object plane and an observation device having an observation beam path for imaging the object region with the object plane into an observation plane. A first polarizer can be coupled into the illumination beam path and is suitable for polarizing the illumination light in a first orientation. A polarizer, which can be coupled into the observation beam path, has a second orientation at an angle between 80° and 100° relative to the first orientation. In a first mode, the light source emits illumination light in a first wavelength range between 450 nm and 550 nm, the first polarizer is coupled into the illumination beam path, and the second polarizer is coupled into the observation beam path.

This invention relates generally to a medical device, and more specifically, to a vaginal surgical apparatus. In one embodiment, a vaginal device includes, but is not limited to, a shaft, the shaft including at least a space to at least partially accommodate a cervix; and a slot to secure a tenaculum; and a stopper that is positionably adjustable along at least a portion of a length of the shaft.

A surgical instrument having a position sensor that may be detachable, disposable, partially isolated from movement of the main body of the surgical instrument, and/or configured to display feedback lighting. The orientation of the surgical instrument may be mimicked either virtually or by a mechanical device with a second surgical instrument. The instruments of the present disclosure may be used in any procedure or treatment that would benefit from position feedback for the instruments.

Certain embodiments may relate to apparatuses and methods for performing surgical procedures. For example, a method may comprise initiating detection and tracking of at least one surgical instrument (including associated surgical material) within a surgical area. The method may further comprise performing a surgical procedure with the at least one surgical instrument and material and ending detection and tracking of the at least one surgical instrument and material within the surgical area. The method may further comprise displaying at least one indication of location status of the at least one surgical instrument.

A surgical retractor for positioning within an incision within a body of a patient is described. The surgical retractor comprises a flexible air-impermeable bag surrounding an interior region and extending from a first end through a central region to a second end. The surgical retractor includes a first port in the central region, the flexible air-impermeable bag surrounding a first channel that extends from the first port towards the first end, a second port in the central region, the flexible air-impermeable bag surrounding a second channel that extends from the second port toward the second end, and a plurality of beads substantially filling the interior region of the flexible air-impermeable bag. The flexible air-impermeable bag is configured to rigidify in response to air being evacuated from the interior region to position and hold intra-incision contents within a surgical working space in a patient.

An esophageal monitoring device includes a camera and, optionally, one or more lights to enable visualization of an interior of a subject's esophagus. Visualization of the interior of the subject's esophagus before and after a left atrial ablation procedure may enable a healthcare provider to determine whether or not the left atrial ablation procedure has damaged the subject's esophagus before the subject experiences any symptoms of such damage. An esophageal monitoring device may also include sensors and/or markers that enable a determination of its location within a subject's esophagus. Such an esophageal monitoring device may be configured for three-dimensional mapping, and enable the generation of an accurate three-dimensional map of the physical relationship between a subject's esophagus and the left atrium of his or her heart. Methods of monitoring a subject's esophagus while a left atrial ablation procedure is being conducted on the subject's heart are also disclosed.

A method for visualizing tissue of a subject includes receiving a first series of first imaging modality frames generated by imaging a region of tissue of the subject, and a first series of second imaging modality frames generated by imaging the region of tissue; displaying the first series of first imaging modality frames in combination with the first series of second imaging modality frames; storing a plurality of first imaging modality frames and a plurality of second imaging modality frames of the first series of second imaging modality frames in a memory; receiving a second series of first imaging modality frames generated by imaging the region of tissue; and displaying the second series of first imaging modality frames in combination with one or more of the second imaging modality frames of the first series of second imaging modality frames stored in the memory for visualizing the region of tissue.

A system is disclosed that includes an optical tracking device and a surgical computing device. The optical tracking device includes a structured light module and an optical module that includes an image sensor and is spaced from the structured light module at a known distance. The surgical computing device includes a display device, a non-transitory computer readable medium including instructions, and processor(s) configured to execute the instructions to generate a depth map from a first image captured by the image sensor during projection of a pattern into a surgical environment by the structured light module. The pattern is projected in a near-infrared (NIR) spectrum. The processor(s) are further configured to execute the stored instructions to reconstruct a 3D surface of anatomical structure(s) based on the generated depth map. Additionally, the processor(s) are configured to execute the stored instructions to output the reconstructed 3D surface to the display device.

An object of the present invention is to provide a medical image processing apparatus, an endoscope system, a medical image processing method, and a medical image processing program that are capable of displaying a region of interest with appropriate distinguishability. A medical image processing apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention is a medical image processing apparatus including a processor. The processor is configured to perform an image acquisition process of acquiring an observation image of a subject; a region-of-interest recognition process of recognizing a region of interest from the observation image; a tool information recognition process of recognizing tool information from the observation image, the tool information being information on a tool used for treatment of the subject; and a display control process of causing a display device to distinguishably display the observation image in a manner in which the region of interest has distinguishability based on a recognition result of the tool information.

A location pad includes multiple field-generators, a frame and a mounting fixture. The multiple field-generators are configured to generate respective magnetic fields in a region-of-interest of a patient body, for measuring a position of a medical instrument in the region-of-interest. The frame is configured to fix the multiple field-generators at respective positions surrounding the region-of-interest. The mounting fixture is configured to position the frame above the patient body.