An endoscope pipe with a central, elongated observation window on the distal end, whereby several light outlet openings for fiberoptic end surfaces are positioned close to the observation window for illuminating the angle area observed through the observation window and the light outlet openings are positioned asymmetrically in relation to the longitudinal extension of the observation window and/or the fiberoptic end surfaces are held in the light outlet openings in such a way that light is beamed from the fiberoptic end surfaces into the angle area in various directions.

A device for performing surgical procedures, such as intracardiac procedures or neurosurgical procedures, includes a solid optical window formed of a transparent, compliant material, wherein the solid optical window includes a proximal side and a distal side, wherein a distal face of the solid optical window is configured to approach tissue during a surgical procedure; an imaging system embedded into the solid optical window and positioned to obtain an image through at least a portion of the distal face of the solid optical window; and a tool channel formed through the solid optical window from the proximal side to the distal side of the solid optical window, wherein the tool channel is configured to receive a tool for performing the surgical procedure.

An endoscope or other endoscopic instrument is provided with multiple image sensors, each capturing a portion of the image provided from an optical imaging system. One sensor receives two portions of the image light at opposing sides of the image. The output from the multiple sensors is combined and manipulated into a single high resolution image which can then be displayed to the user. A virtual horizon rotation feature is also provided which can rotate a displayed image within a combined field of view including data from the multiple image sensors. Various light directing element designs are provided to direct image light to the multiple sensors.

A method for supplementing a shaft tube and an assembly of a medical instrument with a plastic component comprises a step of providing a shaft tube with a distal end; a step of mechanically connecting an assembly to the distal end of the shaft tube by way of a connecting device; a step of inserting the shaft tube with the assembly into a casting mold and closing the casting mold, a predetermined region of the outer surface of the assembly contacting a mold surface of the casting mold; a step of supplying a liquid plastic into the casting mold, the liquid plastic wetting the distal end of the shaft tube and the outer surface of the assembly; and a step of solidifying the liquid plastic, the solidified plastic forming the plastic component and creating a further mechanical connection of the assembly to the end of the shaft tube.

Systems and methods for three-dimensional imaging, modeling, mapping, and/or control capabilities in compact size suitable for integration with and/or augmentation of robotic, laparoscopic, and endoscopic surgical systems. The systems including at least one optical source configured to project onto a surgical or endoscopic environment, and at least one camera positioned to capture at least one image of the surgical or endoscopic environment.

An endoscope includes an image-capturing module. The image-capturing module includes a lens barrel housing an optical system, an image sensor, a sensor holding member that relatively fixes the lens barrel and the image sensor, and a flexible substrate through which a signal of the image sensor is transmitted to a transmission cable. The flexible substrate is bendable at an arbitrary number of bending portion.

An interventional hysteroscope includes a shaft, an optical imaging element, an ultrasonic imaging element and a treatment element, such as an ablation needle. The shaft has a distal end, a proximal end, and a longitudinal axis therebetween, and the optical imaging element is disposed at the distal end of the shaft. The ultrasonic imaging element is also disposed at the distal end of the shaft and is configured to image along a laterally oriented image path. The treatment element is configured to be deployed from the shaft along a laterally oriented treatment path, and the imaging path and the treatment path intersect at an intersectional location spaced laterally away from the shaft. A display is configured to present both an optical image from the optical imaging element and an ultrasonic image from the ultrasonic imaging element and to present a marker on the ultrasonic image at a location corresponding to the intersectional location.

A video imaging system is provided. The video imaging system is configured to maintain a video image displayed on a display unit in a predetermined orientation based upon a use. The video imaging system includes an endoscope, a camera head unit, a camera control unit configured to determine a focal distance, and a display control unit. The display control unit is configured to process the focal distance to determine a use. The use is processed by the display control unit so as to maintain the video image in the predetermined orientation. The contextual information may be focal distance, image data or endoscopic orientation.

A rotational device for rotating an endoscope having a stationary assembly, a rotatable assembly, which includes a distal coupling means for coupling to an endoscope, a drive means, which is embodied for putting the distal coupling means into rotational motion for rotating an endoscope connected to the distal coupling means, a proximal coupling means at the stationary assembly for coupling to a camera device, and an optical unit for transmitting light from the distal coupling means to the proximal coupling means.