Provided herein is an endoscope comprising an end portion configured to take an image; a controller configured to control the end portion and process the image input by the end portion; and a connector configured to connect the end portion and the controller, wherein the end portion is provided with at least one lens apparatus surrounding an exterior surface of the end portion, the lens apparatus being adapted to be brought to various focuses, thereby providing an effect of obtaining images from various viewpoints at a short period of time, and when used as an endoscope, obviating the need to move the multi-view and multi-focused variable lens at the end portion, making it possible to reduce the thickness of the connector that connects the end portion of the endoscope with the controller.

A disinfection system is provided. The disinfection system may utilize ultraviolet light and/or ozone for disinfection of infected tissue. For example the system may involve an endoscopic ultraviolet light to disinfect lung tissue. In another aspect, the system may involve a ventilator which provides ozone in small doses to disinfect the tissue. Combinations and variations are further disclosed.

A fluidic light field camera is disclosed herein. The fluidic light field camera includes a fluidic objective lens; a fluid control system operatively coupled to the fluidic objective lens, the fluid control system to change the shape of the fluidic objective lens in accordance with the amount of fluid therein; a microlens array disposed behind the fluidic objective lens; a sensor array disposed behind the microlens array; and a data processing device operatively coupled to the fluid control system and the sensor array, the data processing device configured to vary the focal point of the fluidic light field camera by using the fluid control system to control the shape of the fluidic objective lens, thereby enabling all portions of an image being captured by the fluidic light field camera to be in focus during a single recording cycle of the fluidic light field camera.

Improved fluoresced imaging (FI) and other sensor data imaging processes, devices, and systems are provided to enhance use of endoscopes with FI and visible light capabilities. A first optical device is provided for endoscopy imaging in a white light and a fluoresced light mode with an image sensor assembly including one or more image sensors. A mechanism in the first optical device to automatically adjust the focus of the first optical device wherein the automatic focus adjustment compensates for a chromatic focal difference between the white light image and the fluoresced light image caused by the dispersive or diffractive properties of the optical materials or optical design employed in the construction of the first or second optical devices, or both. Adjustment mechanisms are provided using liquid lenses or repositioning sensors. The design may be integrated with a scope or detachable.

An optical probe having a controlled viewing angle lens tip is provided that includes an elastomer lumen, where the elastomer lumen includes internal dividers disposed to separate the elastomer lumen into a plurality of channels, a lens that is sealably attached to a distal end of the elastomer lumen, where each channel is disposed to operate as an independent hydraulic channel, where an angle of the lens relative to a central axis of the elastomer lumen is positioned according to a state of pressure in each independent hydraulic channel, and a hydraulic generator, where the hydraulic generator is disposed to pressurize each hydraulic channel to a defined state as set by a computer input from a to computer.

A flexible fluidic mirror system and a hybrid fluidic optical system is disclosed herein. The flexible fluidic mirror system generally includes a flexible fluidic mirror having an outer housing and a flexible membrane supported within the outer housing, and a fluid control system operatively coupled to the flexible fluidic mirror. A portion of the flexible membrane comprises a reflective coating or film or nanoparticles disposed thereon or sprayed on. The hybrid fluidic optical system generally includes a hybrid fluidic optical device (i.e., a lens or mirror) having an outer housing and a flexible membrane supported within the outer housing, and a fluid control system operatively coupled to the hybrid fluidic optical device. The hybrid fluidic optical device further includes a magnetically actuated subsystem configured to selectively deform the flexible membrane so as to increase or decrease the convexity of the flexible membrane of the hybrid fluidic optical device.

The objective optical system consists of order from an object side, a first group having a positive refractive power, a second group having a negative refractive power, and a third group having a positive refractive power, wherein focusing is carried out by moving the second group, and a lens nearest to image is a planoconvex positive lens having a convex surface directed toward the object side, and a flat surface of the planoconvex positive lens is either affixed directly to an image pickup surface or cemented to a cover glass formed on the image pickup surface, and the objective optical system satisfies the following conditional expression (1).

5<ff/f<8(1) where, ff denotes a focal length of the planoconvex positive lens disposed nearest to image, and f denotes a focal length of the overall objective optical system at the time of normal observation.

A variable power optical system for an endoscope comprising a first lens group having a negative power, a second lens group having a positive power and a third lens group, and wherein the first lens group includes at least a negative lens having a concave surface pointing to an image side and a positive meniscus lens having a concave surface pointing to an object side, the second lens group includes at least a meniscus lens having a convex surface pointing to the object side and a cemented lens formed by cementing together a negative lens and a positive lens, and the third lens group includes at least a positive lens having a convex surface pointing to the object side, and wherein the variable power optical system for an endoscope is configured to satisfy a predetermined condition.

A coupler device is provided for covering and at least partially sealing a portion of the working end of an endoscope, and an actuator for providing energy to the endoscope to automatically and/or manually adjust the focal length of the optical lens. The coupler device protects the scope and its components to reduce the ingress of debris, fluid and other matter, thereby reducing infection risk. In addition, the coupler device provides a mechanism to provide adjustable focus and more viewing power from the lens, thereby minimizing manual movement of the endoscope during operation and allowing for the design of more compact and maneuverable endoscopes.

An endoscope system includes: an electric lens capable of changing a focal length by applying a voltage; an imaging unit configured to capture a subject image formed by the electric lens to generate image signals; a focus controller configured to perform control to periodically repeat sequential switching of the focal length of the electric lens between two or more values; and a video signal generator configured to generate a video signal to be provided to a display device from the image signals generated by the imaging unit.