An endoscope stereo imaging device includes an endoscope lens assembly and an imaging module. The imaging module includes first, second and third lens assemblies, a beam splitter, first and second image sensors and a micro lens array. A light beam from the endoscope lens assembly is transmitted to the beam splitter after passing through the first lens assembly and is split into first and second portions of the light beam. The first portion light beam is transmitted to the first image sensor via the second lens assembly and forms a two-dimensional image. The second portion light beam is transmitted to the second image sensor via the third lens assembly and the micro lens array sequentially and forms a first three-dimensional image.

A method for inspection of a mechanical system includes the steps of: obtaining a two-dimensional image sequence of the mechanical system; generating a three-dimensional structure model from the two-dimensional image sequence; and refining the three-dimensional structure model with an existing three-dimensional model of the mechanical system to produce a refined model having intensity and/or color information from the two-dimensional image sequence and structural accuracy of the existing three-dimensional model.

A medical apparatus is described for providing visualization of a surgical site. The medical apparatus includes an electronic display disposed within a display housing, the electronic display configured to produce a two-dimensional image. The medical apparatus includes a display optical system disposed within the display housing, the display optical system comprising a plurality of lens elements disposed along an optical path. The display optical system is configured to receive the two-dimensional image from the electronic display, produce a beam with a cross-section that remains substantially constant along the optical path, and produce a collimated beam exiting the opening in the display housing. The medical apparatus can also include an auxiliary video camera configured to provide an oblique view of a patient on the electronic display without requiring a surgeon to adjust their viewing angle through oculars viewing the electronic display.

An imaging device (010, 10, 110) comprises a first optical system (020, 20, 120) at a distal end of the imaging device, a second optical system (080, 80, 180) towards the proximal end of the imaging device, and a sensor (074, 74, 174) at the proximal end of the imaging device. The first and second optical systems and the sensor are aligned along a common longitudinal axis. The first optical system is or comprises one or more reflective and/or refractive optical components (24, 124; 22, 122) symmetrically and/or coaxially arranged with respect to the longitudinal axis, and the second optical system comprises one or more reflective and/or refractive optical components (24, 124; 22, 122) for focussing incident light towards the sensor. A calibration system (200) and method for calibrating such an imaging device, and a method of processing image data obtained from such an imaging device are also provided.

A surgical retractor includes a plurality of cameras integrated therein. One such retractor includes a tubular retractor and an insert supporting said plurality of cameras can be disposed within a tubular retractor.

A holder for an optical system of an endoscope, the holder including: a take-up region configured to receive an optical element; and at least one fixing region configured to fix the holder in the optical system by a soldered connection, the fixing region being separate from the take-up region; wherein a material of the holder is a base material that is provided with a coating, a material of the coating having better solderability than the base material, the coating being removed from the take-up region to expose a surface of the take-up region, the exposed surface being blackened by a laser-assisted surface treatment.

An optical system for an endoscope, the optical system including: a distal optical assembly; a proximal optical assembly; and at least one elongated bar-shaped fixing element; wherein the proximal optical assembly is fastened to the distal optical assembly by the fixing element.

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.

The technology described herein can be embodied in a stereoscopic endoscope in which the orientation of the two eyes may be determined dynamically as the endoscope is moved and rotated. This may enable an improved user-experience when using an angled stereoscopic endoscope even when it is rotated, for example, to view the sides of a cavity.

An optical system of an endoscope having a lateral viewing direction, the optical system including: a sideways looking distal optical assembly; and a proximal optical assembly, wherein light bundles incident from an object space are guided along a beam path by the distal and proximal optical assemblies and imaged on an image sensor; the distal optical assembly comprises a deflection prism assembly having first and second prisms arranged in a direction of incident light; the first prism has first inlet and inclined first outlet sides; the second prism has second inlet, reflection, and second outlet sides; and the first outlet side of the first prism and/or the second inlet side of the second prism have a coating in a region outside of the beam path to form an air gap in a region of the beam path between the first outlet and second inlet sides.