A multiple target optical imaging apparatus performs optical imaging of a plurality of physically-separated imaging sites using a light source, a two-dimensional detector and a plurality of fiber bundles. Each fiber bundle has a distal end positioned adjacent to a different one of the imaging sites, and conveys source light from its proximal end to its distal end, while conveying an optical signal from its respective imaging site from its distal end to its proximal end. The optical signals may be simultaneously detected on different regions of the detector. The system is small, and may be used to image sites on an ambulatory animal, with the light source and detector located in a portable housing attached to the animal. Different types of imaging may be used, including fluorescence imaging, hyperspectral imaging, or polarization imaging.

The present invention discloses a flexible digital ureteroscope that is at least partially disposable. The ureteroscope comprises a single-use catheter and a handle. The catheter comprises a distal end, a bend portion, and a proximal portion. The distal end has a rigid or semi-rigid shell that houses a set of micro lenses, an image sensor microchip, and a plurality of LED light sources. A working channel extends along the entire catheter and is coupled to a working channel port on the handle to receive various medical devices and irrigation lines during an endoscopic procedure. In addition, the catheter includes one or more steering wires to control the distal end to bend towards a desired direction. The rigid or semi-rigid shell of the distal end is made of a mix of polymer composite material with graphene nano-filler for enhancing thermal dissipation. The handle may be a single-use handle or a reusable handle. In case the handle is a reusable handle, it includes a battery module and a wireless communication module for communicating with a host machine wirelessly. In case the handle is a single-use handle, to reduce cost, the handle does not include a battery module and/or a wireless communication module. Rather, the single-use handle includes a host interface for receiving power from the host machine and transmits image data to the host machine.

A surgical retractor has a shaft with an integral blade. The shaft and the blade are joined at an angle. The blade has an upper surface. A plurality of LED lights are embedded within the blade and are exposed at the upper surface. The blade surrounding the LED lights is opaque. The retractor may further include a camera mounted on the blade. Also disclosed is a surgical retractor kit including a mounting ring, at least one of the aforementioned surgical retractors, and a coupler for releasably mounting the retractor to the ring.

Methods and apparatus to form biocompatible energization elements are described. In some examples, the methods and apparatus to form the biocompatible energization elements involve forming cavities comprising active cathode chemistry. The active elements of the cathode and anode are sealed with a biocompatible material. In some examples, a field of use for the methods and apparatus may include any biocompatible device or product that requires energization elements.

A wireless medical imaging system comprising a head unit is provided. The head unit comprises a head unit case, an integrated light source, an image sensor, a wireless transceiver, a central processing unit, and a user-input component. The head unit case has an external surface defining an external cavity, an internal surface defining an internal cavity, a first aperture, and a second aperture. The integrated light source, the image sensor, the wireless transceiver, and the central processing unit are disposed within the internal cavity. The integrated light source extends from within the internal cavity into the first aperture and is configured to transmit light from the head unit through the first aperture. The image sensor is configured to detect an image trans-nutted into the head unit through the second aperture. The external cavity is configured to receive an external battery. The user-input component is disposed on the external surface.

An on/off switching circuit includes an on/off switch switchable between an on state and an off state, an light emitting diode (LED) driver to power one or more LEDs to illuminate an area of interest, a switch control unit to transition the on/off switch between the on and off states, the switch control unit including a light sensing circuit comprising at least one LED of the LEDs as a light sensor, and a bi-directional gate circuit. When the on/off switch is in the off state the bi-directional gate is in a first conducting state in which the bi-directional gate circuit connects the light sensor to the light sensing circuit, and when the on/off switch is in the on state the bi-directional gate is in a second conducting state in which the bi-directional gate connects the LED driver to the one or more LEDs including the light sensor.

The invention relates to an appliance for vaginal penetration, comprising a grip (2), said appliance being designed to receive a working tool, especially an insemination gun (4) that passes through the grip, characterised in that it comprises a guiding tube (8) extending the grip (2) in order to form a compact assembly, said guiding tube being designed so as to receive the front tip of the working tool (12) therein and receiving a video viewing means such as an endoscopy-type tube (14) comprising a lighting element on the front end thereof, the appliance for vaginal penetration comprising an electronic cell receiving the video images, provided with means for transmitting images to a remote screen.

A system for wirelessly transmitting data from an endoscope, comprising an endoscope having a control body, an insertion tube extending from the control body, the distal end of the insertion tube containing an image sensor and a light source, and a control head connected to the control body, which comprises a battery; a light source amplifier connected to the battery, the light source amplifier operable to boost the intensity of the light source; a video processor configured to create compressed video data from a video stream captured via the image sensor; and a wireless communication module configured to negotiate a wireless connection with a mobile device, wherein the wireless communication module is further configured to transmit the compressed video data to the mobile device over the wireless connection, and wherein the wireless communication module comprises a channel discriminator configured to automatically avoid RF interference.

Disclosed embodiments relate to an endoscopic camera and methods for operating the camera. In one embodiment, the endoscopic camera includes a grip region to facilitate holding by a user. The camera may also include a mechanism for correcting improperly exposed video signals by modulating illumination parameters

A capsule endoscope includes: an in vivo information acquiring section that acquires information on an inside of a body of a subject; a battery that supplies power; a power source switch that turns on/off power supply from the battery to the in vivo information acquiring section; a detection section that includes at least two electrodes disposed on an outer face of a casing, and, upon detection of introduction to the inside of the body of the subject based on a change in electric resistance between the electrodes, outputs a detection signal; and a control section that controls the power source switch according to the detection signal.