A stereo imaging system comprises an observation instrument having an image acquisition unit for detecting first image data and second image data, which can be combined for stereo observation. There is provided at least one position sensor for detecting an orientation of the instrument in relation to a position reference. There is provided a control device that is operable in a first representation mode and a second representation mode, depending on the orientation of the instrument. The control device is configured for outputting an image signal, which comprises a stereo signal that is based on the first image data and the second image data in the first representation mode, and a mono signal that is based on the first image data or the second image data in the second representation mode. The control device is configured to erect images that are output with the image signal in the second representation mode, depending on the orientation.

A camera head with multiple image sensors that may be detachably connected to an endoscope is presented. Each sensor capturing a portion of the image by the attached endoscope. One sensor receives two portions of the image light at opposing sides of the central image area, and another sensor receives the central image area. The output from the multiple sensors is combined and manipulated into a single higher 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 deflection prism assembly for an endoscope having a lateral viewing direction, the deflection prism assembly including: a prism holder; and a deflection prism accommodated in the prism holder; wherein the deflection prism has a light outlet surface and an opposite light inlet surface arranged obliquely to the light outlet surface, the deflection prism further having a lateral surface extending between the light inlet surface and the light outlet surface; and the prism holder accommodates the deflection prism such that the prism holder surrounds less than all regions of the lateral surface of the deflection prism.

An endoscope includes: a protection sheath that forms an insertion unit; a pipe-like case that is connected to a proximal end side of the protection sheath; a distal end optical system that is provided at a distal end of the protection sheath and that defines a distal end side of a sealed space formed in the protection sheath and the case; a partition wall that is provided in the case, is perpendicular to an insertion axis of the insertion unit, and defines a proximal end side of the sealed space; a shaft member that is inserted into the protection sheath and that is rotatable relative to the protection sheath in a direction around the insertion axis; an image pickup unit that is provided at a distal end of the shaft member and that picks up an image of light passing through the distal end optical system; and a magnet coupling which includes a first magnet provided in the sealed space and a second magnet provided outside the sealed space with the partition wall interposed therebetween and of which the first magnet is connected to a proximal end side of the shaft member. The magnet coupling and the case are rotatable relative to each other in the direction around the axis.

Various embodiments comprise endoscopes (e.g., arthroscopes) for viewing inside a cavity of a body. The endoscopes may include a tip, at least one solid-state emitter such as light emitting diode (LED), located at the distal end of the endoscope, an elongated member. The elongated member may include a plurality of lenses for transmitting light received from the tip member and an elongated conducting member for providing electric power to the solid-state emitter. The elongated conducting member may include conducting lines embedded in a flexible elongated insulating membrane. The tip member and the elongated member may be configured to dissipate heat generated by the solid-state emitter.

There are provided an operation unit that allows a practitioner to easily ascertain a vertical direction of an observation image output from an image pickup unit and displayed on a monitor and an endoscope including the operation unit.

An operation unit is connected to a proximal end side of an insertion unit of an endoscope, and the insertion unit is provided with an optical system and an image pickup unit picking up an image of light passing through the optical system. The operation unit includes: a grip part that extends in a direction of an insertion axis of the insertion unit; a first flat surface portion that is formed on an outer surface of the grip part at a position on a top side in a vertical direction, extends in the direction of the insertion axis, and is perpendicular to the vertical direction in a case where a direction which indicates a top and a bottom of an image formed from image pickup signals output from the image pickup unit, among directions perpendicular to the direction of the insertion axis, is defined as the vertical direction; and a second flat surface portion that is formed on the outer surface of the grip part at a position on a bottom side in the vertical direction, extends in the direction of the insertion axis, and is perpendicular to the vertical direction.

There is provided an endoscope of which operability in changing a visual field direction can be improved.

A grip part includes a first flat surface portion that is formed on a part of an outer surface of the grip part and that is parallel to a direction of an insertion axis, a knob includes a finger placing portion and a pair of finger rest portions, and the finger placing portion is provided at a position facing the first flat surface portion in the direction of the insertion axis in a case where the knob is positioned at a reference position used as a reference of a position relative to the grip part in the direction around the axis.

Endoscopes and methods of their use, where the endoscopes provide a low profile or cross-section which facilitates introduction through small body passages, such as patient's cervix, and into body cavities, such a patient's uterus.

An optical endoluminal far-field microscopic imaging catheter comprises a light generating system, a first light delivery conduit for propagating light generated by the light generating system and a light distributor configured to redirect light propagated by the delivery conduit into a direction of an object to be imaged. A discriminator is configured for capturing light reflected from the object incident on a window of the discriminator from a particular direction and transmitting only the light captured from the particular direction to a second light delivery conduit. A drive mechanism is configured to sweep the window through a plurality of directions in a predictable pattern for matching each light capture event in the window with a direction of the window during the event. An analyzer matches the direction of the window with an associated light capture event and generate a visible image based on a mosaic of the captured light.

An optical system for an endoscope includes an objective and a reversal system arranged after the objective. The reversal system includes at least one reversal stage for projecting the distal intermediate image as a proximal intermediate image into a proximal intermediate image plane. The reversal system imprints on the proximal intermediate image a first longitudinal chromatic aberration referred to a predetermined wavelength from the visible spectrum and a predetermined wavelength from the near infrared range. The objective imprints on the distal intermediate image a second longitudinal chromatic aberration referred to the predetermined wavelength from the visible spectrum and the predetermined wavelength from the near infrared range. The second longitudinal chromatic aberration has the opposite sign relative to the first longitudinal chromatic aberration, which reduces the longitudinal chromatic aberration caused by the reversal system in the proximal intermediate image.