A video endoscope including: an outer cladding tube, a fiber tube accommodated in the outer cladding tube, wherein the fiber tube has a housing bounding a closed space with a distal end and a proximal end, wherein a front-side window is provided at the distal end of the fiber tube, the fiber tube having an inner tube (for accommodating an imaging sensor , and a heating foil provided between the fiber tube and the inner tube. Where, the heating foil is adapted to heat the front-side window at the distal end of the fiber tube.

A video endoscope including: an outer cladding tube, a fiber tube accommodated in the outer cladding tube, wherein the fiber tube has a housing bounding a closed space with a distal end and a proximal end, wherein a front-side window is provided at the distal end of the fiber tube, the fiber tube having an inner tube (for accommodating an imaging sensor , and a heating foil provided between the fiber tube and the inner tube. Where, the heating foil is adapted to heat the front-side window at the distal end of the fiber tube.

[Object] To acquire distance information concerning a living tissue through an endoscope with higher accuracy irrespective of the diameter of the endoscope. [Solution] An imaging device according to the present disclosure includes: a ranging light source section configured to output ranging light for measuring a distance at a predetermined timing; an image sensor on which an image of the imaging target is formed; a ranging light image sensor on which optical feedback of the ranging light from the imaging target is imaged; a branch optical system configured to coaxially branch incident light into three types of optical paths different from one another; and a distance information calculating section configured to calculate distance information concerning the imaging target on a basis of a result of detection of the optical feedback. In the branch optical system, a first optical path among the three types of optical paths is used as an optical path configured to guide the ranging light whose applied position on the imaging target has been controlled to the imaging target, a second optical path is used as an optical path configured to form an image of the imaging target on the image sensor, and a third optical path is used as an optical path configured to image the optical feedback on the ranging light image sensor. The distance information calculating section calculates a spaced distance to the imaging target by a Time Of Flight method on the basis of the result of detection of the optical feedback.

An image processing apparatus includes: a dividing processing circuit configured to divide an imaging signal that is obtained by capturing an image of inside of a subject into a first base component and a detail component, the first base component corresponding to an illumination component of an object, the detail component corresponding to a reflectance component of the object; a color enhancement processing circuit configured to generate a second base component by performing a color enhancement process on the first base component, the color enhancement process being a process of increasing color gradation of a mucosa color in a predetermined color space; and a synthesizing circuit configured to synthesize the second base component and the detail component to output a synthesized signal.

An image processing apparatus includes: a dividing processing circuit configured to divide an imaging signal that is obtained by capturing an image of inside of a subject into a first base component and a detail component, the first base component corresponding to an illumination component of an object, the detail component corresponding to a reflectance component of the object; a color enhancement processing circuit configured to generate a second base component by performing a color enhancement process on the first base component, the color enhancement process being a process of increasing color gradation of a mucosa color in a predetermined color space; and a synthesizing circuit configured to synthesize the second base component and the detail component to output a synthesized signal.

A plenoptic endoscope includes a fiber bundle with a distal end configured to receive light from a target imaging region, a sensor end disposed opposite the distal end, and a plurality of fiber optic strands each extending from the distal end to the sensor end. The plenoptic endoscope also includes an image sensor coupled to the sensor end of the fiber bundle, and a plurality of microlenses disposed between the image sensor and the sensor end of the fiber bundle, the plurality of microlens elements forming an array that receives light from one or more of the plurality of fiber optic strands of the fiber bundle and directs the light onto the image sensor. The plurality of microlens elements and the image sensor together form a plenoptic camera configured to capture information about a light field emanating from the target imaging region.

A light source apparatus includes a light source optically connectable to a scope including a light guide configured to guide light, and first and second illumination light emission units configured to radiate illumination light based on the guided light on a subject, and a light quantity distribution changing device disposed on an optical path of the light emitted from the light source. The light quantity distribution changing device is configured to control a light quantity of the light brought into each of the first illumination light emission unit and the second illumination light emission unit, so as to change a light quantity distribution of the illumination light radiated on the subject.

A light source apparatus includes a light source optically connectable to a scope including a light guide configured to guide light, and first and second illumination light emission units configured to radiate illumination light based on the guided light on a subject, and a light quantity distribution changing device disposed on an optical path of the light emitted from the light source. The light quantity distribution changing device is configured to control a light quantity of the light brought into each of the first illumination light emission unit and the second illumination light emission unit, so as to change a light quantity distribution of the illumination light radiated on the subject.

An optical fibre having a functionalised distal exploration end including a sheath, and a ferrule rigidly connected to the sheath at the distal exploration end, characterised in that the distal exploration end has a functionalised head which is removably attached on the ferrule. Also, a method of assembling the optical fibre.

An image processing apparatus including a processor comprising hardware. The processor being configured to: divide an imaging signal that is obtained by capturing an image of an inside of a subject into a first base component and a detail component, the first base component corresponding to an illumination component of an object, the detail component corresponding to a reflectance component of the object; generate a second base component by performing a color enhancement process on the first base component for increasing color gradation in a predetermined color space; and synthesize the second base component and the detail component to output a synthesized signal. Where the color enhancement process is an enhancement processing on the first base component for extending a color distribution range of at least one component of an L component, an a component, and a b component in a Lab color space.