It is an object of the present invention to provide an endoscope insertion assistance apparatus, a method and a program that allow an operator of an endoscope to easily grasp an insertion situation of the endoscope to thereby conduct effective insertion assistance. An endoscope insertion assistance apparatus (100) according to the present invention includes an acquisition unit (110) that acquires shape data to identify an insertion shape of an endoscope inserted into a lumen, an estimation unit (120) that estimates any one of a plurality of shape categories for the insertion shape from the shape data and an output unit (130) that outputs display information in chronological order for the estimated shape category.

A head-mounted display device for interface with a blood processing machine using a disposable component having tubing and a blood component receptacle includes a frame configured to be mounted on a person's head and configured to hold a lens in front of an eye of the person. The display device includes a display, a wireless transceiver configured to communicate with a network, and a processing circuit. The processing circuit is coupled to the frame, the display and the wireless transceiver and receives instructions for training the person how to use the blood processing machine. The processing circuit overlays indicators, text, highlighting and/or icons on the blood processing machine as seen from a field of view of the person based on the instructions to train the person in using the blood processing machine.

A system may comprise a medical instrument, a tracking subsystem configured to receive position data from the medical instrument, and a control system communicatively coupled to the medical instrument and the tracking subsystem. The control system may be configured to perform operations including accessing a model of an anatomic structure of a patient and receiving an indication that the medical instrument has been delivered to a known anatomical landmark. The operations may also include collecting a plurality of measurement points of the anatomic structure along a measurement path extending from a measurement initiation position proximate the known anatomical landmark within the anatomic structure of the patient as the medical instrument moves along the measurement path. The operations may also include determining a location of the medical instrument relative to the anatomic structure and registering the collected plurality of measurement points to the model of the anatomic structure.

Systems and methods are provided for inserting an endoscope through an anatomical cavity to a target site. A speaker is positioned externally proximate to a patient and the endoscope is inserted into the anatomical cavity. A signal is received from at least one sensor positioned near the distal end of the endoscope. The signal is indicative of vibrations induced in internal cavity tissue by the externally positioned speaker. A first anatomical structure in contact with the distal end of the endoscope is identified based on the signal indicative of vibrations induced in the internal cavity tissue by the externally positioned speaker. As the distal end of the endoscope moves from the first anatomical structure into contact with other anatomical structures along a path to the target site, the received signal indicative of induced vibrations changes correspondingly and is used to guide the endoscope to the target site.

The disclosure extends to systems and methods for reducing the area of an image sensor by employing bi-directional pads used for both image data issuance and configuration command reception and internal supply voltage generation, for reducing the number of conductors in an endoscope system.

An image acquisition unit acquires a real endoscope image. A first evaluation value acquisition unit acquires a first evaluation value indicating the hole likeness of the insertion destination of an endoscope, and a second evaluation value acquisition unit acquires a second evaluation value indicating the boundary likeness of a plurality of bronchi at the bronchial branch. A determination unit determines whether or not a branching structure is included in the real endoscope image using both the first and second evaluation values. When it is determined that a branching structure is included, a virtual endoscope image generation unit generates a virtual endoscope image, and a display control unit displays the real endoscope image and the virtual endoscope image on a display.

An endoscope processor includes: a recording portion capable of recording externally inputted patient information that specifies a patient and warning information regarding a medical action to the patient; a first display control portion configured to perform setting so as to display an acquired endoscopic image and the patient information recorded in the recording portion in a predetermined section; a second display control portion configured to perform setting so as to display a warning information image based on the warning information recorded in the recording portion in an area not overlapping with the endoscopic image; and a control portion configured to perform control so as to switch display and non-display of the patient information to the first display control portion, and perform control so as to cause the warning information image to be displayed at all times according to display of the endoscopic image to the second display control portion.

A pressure monitoring device is provided for use with a tool such as a medical endoscope. The device includes a housing which is fluidically coupled with an internal volume of the endoscope. A pump is used to change the pressure inside the device housing and endoscope, thereby establishing a pressure differential from the ambient environment. During an endoscopy procedure, the pressure inside the device housing is monitored, and a change in pressure exceeding a predefined limit causes an alarm signal indicating a leak has occurred in the endoscope. The device housing may be directly mounted to the endoscope, located remotely and connected with a coupling tube, or integrated with an accessory device connected to the endoscope. The pump may be integrated internally to the device housing, or it may be a separate external pump which is connected to the housing. The pressure differential may be positive or negative relative to ambient.

A method of indicating an oxygen desaturation period has been initiated includes detecting an oxygen mask configured to supply oxygen to a patient to saturate the patient, detecting a removal of the oxygen mask from the patient to stop saturation of the patient, initiating a desaturation timer in response the removal of the oxygen mask from the patient, and operating an image display device to display a first running time on a screen of the image display device indicating a desaturation time elapsed from a time of the removal of the mask.

There are provided an apparatus and method for photographing an object. An apparatus for photographing an object using top and bottom buttons includes: a head part including a camera; a connection part coupled to the head part and extended in a length direction thereof, and having a first button for manipulating the camera on an extension line in the length direction from a formation position of the head part and a second button for manipulating the camera formed on a surface opposite to the first button; and a body part including a power source means coupled to the connection part and supplying power to the camera, and a display means displaying a state of the camera or a power state.