An image pickup apparatus for endoscope includes: an imager, an optical device, an optical module on which the optical device is mounted, an optical fiber optically coupled with the optical device, a ferrule having an insertion hole into which the optical fiber is inserted, and a wiring board including a first rigid board, a second rigid board and a flexible intermediate board. The ferrule is fixed to the second rigid board or a first principal surface of the optical module. A first side surface of the optical module is glued to the first rigid board, and the first principal surface is glued to the second rigid board.

Techniques for imaging are disclosed. In one example, the disclosure is directed to a sensor positioned on an elongate optical fiber. The sensor comprises a plurality of blazed Bragg gratings configured to generate acoustic energy for imaging a region in response to a first optical signal, an interferometer configured to sense acoustic energy from the region and to provide a responsive second optical signal, the interferometer including a first fiber Bragg grating (FBG) and a second FBG, wherein the plurality of blazed Bragg gratings are positioned between the first and second FBGs.

The disclosure relates to an endoscopic light source that includes a first emitter. The first emitter may emit light of a first wavelength at a dichroic mirror which reflects the light of the first wavelength to a plurality of optical fibers. The endoscopic light source further comprises a second emitter. The second emitter may emit light of a second wavelength at a second dichroic mirror which reflects the light of the second wavelength to the plurality of optical fibers. In one embodiment, the first dichroic mirror may be transparent to the light of the second wavelength, allowing the light of the second wavelength to pass through the first dichroic mirror.

A plastic optical fiber is excellent in translucency, heat resistance, resistance to environment and the like, and has highly excellent flexibility. The plastic optical fiber contains a core and at least one layer of cladding, wherein the bending elastic modulus of the innermost layer of the cladding is 20 to 70 MPa, the glass transition temperature of the innermost layer of the cladding is 10° C. or lower, and the storage elastic modulus of the innermost layer of the cladding at 30° C. is 1×10.sup.6 Pa to 4×10.sup.7 Pa.

Sub-diffraction endoscopic modal imaging systems and methods are disclosed herein. A single multi-mode fiber endoscope incorporated into a modal imaging system can facilitate the imaging of inner portions of a patient's body at a quantum-limited resolution. One method of sub-diffraction endoscopic modal imaging includes collecting incoming radiation with a multi-mode fiber, separating the output into multiple modes, and measuring an energy level of each mode to construct an image of the received incoming radiation.

The disclosure relates to an endoscopic light source that includes a first emitter. The first emitter may emit light of a first wavelength at a dichroic mirror which reflects the light of the first wavelength to a plurality of optical fibers. The endoscopic light source further comprises a second emitter. The second emitter may emit light of a second wavelength at a second dichroic mirror which reflects the light of the second wavelength to the plurality of optical fibers. In one embodiment, the first dichroic mirror may be transparent to the light of the second wavelength, allowing the light of the second wavelength to pass through the first dichroic mirror.

An endoscope includes a hollow handle housing and an insertion tube including a tip part at the distal end of the endoscope. The tip part includes an illumination arrangement with an elongated single-piece light guide having a proximal light guide end and at least one distal light guide end, wherein the proximal light guide end is adapted for receiving at least one light fiber. The at least one distal light guide end has an end surface adapted for emitting the light from a light source. The cross-section of the proximal light guide end differs from the cross-section of the at least another part of the light guide.

An instrument system that includes an elongate instrument body and an optical fiber sensor is provided. The optical fiber sensor includes an elongate optical fiber that is coupled to the elongate instrument body, wherein a portion of the optical fiber is coupled to the elongate instrument body in a manner to provide slack in the fiber to allow for axial extension of the elongate instrument body relative to the optical fiber.

An optical transducer for endoscope includes an optical device, a ferrule including an opaque first holding member including a first principal surface, a second principal surface, and a through-hole, and a transparent second holding member including a third principal surface and a fourth principal surface, the third principal surface of the second holding member abutting on the second principal surface, the optical device being bonded to the fourth principal surface, the third principal surface including a recess including an opening and having a bottom, the recess having the bottom communicating with the through-hole, and an optical fiber provided in the recess through the through-hole.

Systems, methods, and devices for directed to duplex imaging techniques for combining high-resolution surface images obtained with a Scanning Fiber Endoscope (SFE), and high-resolution penetrating OCT images obtained through Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT), from a SFE, and interleaving frames to improve resolution and identify below surface information of biological structures.