An optical system for a stereo video endoscope including: first and second lens system channels each having optical elements in identical configurations, the optical elements being arranged in a same position along first and second optical axes, respectively, an optical axis of first and second optical elements coincide with the first and second optical axes, respectively, first and second cross-sectional areas of the first and second optical elements are inscribed in first and second circumferential circles, respectively, centers of first and second circumferential circles each coincide with the first and second optical axes, respectively, to define a maximum radius of the first optical element and the second optical element, the first and second circumferential circles overlap one another, and circumferential shapes of the first and second optical elements deviate from the first and second circumferential circles circumscribing them such that the first and second optical elements do not contact.

An apparatus for capturing a stereo image includes a first objective for producing a first image, a second eye objective for producing a second eye image, a first viewing direction device rotatable about a first axis assigned the first objective, and a second viewing direction device rotatable about a second axis assigned the second objective. The viewing direction of the apparatus is rotatable by simultaneous rotation of the first and second viewing direction devices. The first objective or part is movable in a translational fashion. A cam mechanism is provided and embodied to couple a rotation of the first viewing direction device to a translational movement of the first objective or part.

A 3D video endoscope has a shaft which has the form of a flexible or rigid elongated hollow body, a first image sensor, a second image sensor, a first optical channel which comprises a first objective lens and a first optical image guiding system which forwards the image captured by the first objective lens to the first image sensor, a second optical channel which comprises a second objective lens and a second optical image guiding system which forwards the image captured by the second objective lens to the second image sensor. The first optical channel and second optical channel are substantially arranged in the shaft. The first optical channel has a first diaphragm which reduces the aperture of the first optical channel compared to the aperture of the second optical channel. Apart from the first diaphragm, the first optical channel and the second optical channel are structured identically.

In some embodiments, a stereoscopic imaging apparatus includes a tubular housing having a bore extending longitudinally through the housing. First and second image sensors are disposed proximate a distal end of the bore, each including a light sensitive elements on a face and mounted facing laterally outward. The apparatus further includes a first beam steering element associated with the first image sensor and a second beam steering element associated with the second image sensor. The beam steering elements receive light from first and second perspective viewpoints and direct the received light onto the faces of the image sensors forming first and second images. Either the first and second beam steering elements or the first and second image sensors are moveable to cause a change a spacing between or an orientation of the perspective viewpoints to cause sufficient disparity between the first and second images to provide image data including three-dimensional information.

An optical system including: a sideways-viewing, distal optical assembly including an entry lens, a deflecting unit configured as a prism unit, and an exit lens on a common optical axis; a proximal optical assembly including left and right lens system channels, wherein the right and left lens system channels are identically configured and parallel to each other and each having an optical axis; and a prism unit between the distal optical assembly and the proximal optical assembly, the prism unit couples a left beam path exiting the exit lens into the left lens system channel and a right beam path exiting the exit lens into the right lens system channel; wherein a second distance between the left and right lens system channels is adjustable, the second distance being in a direction perpendicular to the first and second optical axes of the respective first and second lens system channels.

An endoscopic camera has two or more cameras positioned at a distal end, positioned to provide partially overlapping fields of view. The cameras communicate captured digital images the length of the flexible endoscope, where they may be saved and processed to provide additional imaging features. With partially overlapping images from two or more cameras, image processing can provide panoramic images, super resolution images, and three-dimensional images. One or more of these image modes may also be enhanced to provide a virtualization window that displays a portion of a larger or higher resolution image. The virtualization window displays the selected area of the image, and may be moved or zoomed around the image to provide a virtual endoscope repositioning experience, where the endoscope remains statically positioned but the virtualization window presents a sense of movement and navigation around the surgical area.

An apparatus includes a shaft, an imaging head, and a processor. The shaft includes a distal end sized to fit through a human nostril into a human nasal cavity. The imaging head includes an image sensor assembly, a plurality of light sources, and a plurality of collimators. At least some of the light sources are positioned adjacent to the image sensor assembly. Each collimator is positioned over a corresponding light source of the plurality of light sources. The processor is configured to activate the light sources in a predetermined sequence. The image sensor assembly is configured to capture images of a surface illuminated by the light sources as the light sources are activated in the predetermined sequence.

A stereoscopic vision optical system includes a first lens group having a negative refractive power, disposed nearest to an object, a second lens group having a positive refractive power, and a rear-side lens group having a positive refractive power. The rear-side lens group includes a first rear group and a second rear group. The optical axis of the first lens group, an optical axis of the first rear group, and an optical axis of the second rear group is positioned on the same plane. The optical axis of the first lens group is positioned between the optical axis of the first rear group and the optical axis of the second rear group, and the following conditional expression (1) is satisfied:

0.08((L/2)(f1/f2))(1/WD)0.25(1).

A video endoscopic device has a camera head and two parallel optical arrangements, each with optical components, arranged coaxially with one another along a common first optical axis of the optical components of a respective optical arrangement and in the interior of an endoscope shaft. The optical components transmit an optical image from a distal end of the respective optical arrangement to a proximal end of the respective optical arrangement. The camera head contains at least one image sensor comprising a recording plane and at least two projection objectives, each having a second optical axis and arranged to project an image onto the image sensor. The optical arrangements comprise a collimating optical unit for generating an at least approximately parallel beam path at the outlet of the respective optical arrangement. The respective collimating optical unit has a third optical axis arranged coaxially with the optical components of the optical arrangements.

In one embodiment, a minimally invasive surgical system includes a patient side manipulator, a hermetically sealed endoscopic camera instrument, a vision cart, and a monitor. The patient side manipulator has a robotic arm. The endoscopic camera instrument has a housing at a proximal end to couple to the robotic arm. The endoscopic camera instrument further has a hermetically sealed camera sensor at a distal end, a shaft coupled to the housing, and a wristed joint coupled between the shaft and the camera sensor. The vision cart has a camera control unit coupled in communication with the hermetically sealed camera sensor to capture the images of the surgical site. The monitor is coupled in communication with the camera control unit to display the captured images of the surgical site.