A tethered imaging camera encapsulated in a shell lens element of such camera enables viewing from inside and imaging of a biological organ in/from a variety of directions. A portion of camera's optical system together with light source(s) and optical detector mutually cooperated by housing structure inside the shell are moveable/re-orientable within the shell to vary a desired view of the object space without interruption of imaging process. A tether carries electrical but not optical signals to and from the camera and controllable traction cords to move the camera, and a hand-control unit and/or electronic circuitry configured to operate the camera and power its movements. Method(s) of using optical, optoelectronic, and optoelectromechanical sub-systems of the camera.

Improved fluorescent imaging and other sensor data imaging processes, including hyperspectral imaging, devices, and systems are provided to enhance endoscopes with multiple wavelength capabilities and providing sequential imaging and display. A first optical device is provided for endoscopy imaging in a white light and a fluoresced light mode with an imaging unit including one or more image sensors. A mechanism in the first optical device to automatically adjust the focus of the first optical device using one or more deformable, variable-focus lenses, wherein the automatic focus adjustment compensates for a chromatic focal difference between the light collected at distinct wavelength bands 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. Further variable spectrum imaging is enhanced with the use of adjustable spectral filters.

A scanner for scanning a dental site comprises a base, a detector mounted to the base, and an optical element to redirect light reflected off of the dental site towards the detector along a detection axis in a first direction. Two or more flexures couple the optical element to the base, wherein the two or more flexures maintain an alignment of the optical element to the detector with changes in temperature.

A method is described for performing a percutaneous operation on a patient to remove an object from a cavity within the patient. The method includes advancing a first alignment sensor into the cavity through a patient lumen. The first alignment sensor provides its position and orientation in free space in real time. The alignment sensor is manipulated until it is located in proximity to the object. A percutaneous opening is made in the patient with a surgical tool, where the surgical tool includes a second alignment sensor that provides the position and orientation of the surgical tool in free space in real time. The surgical tool is directed towards the object using data provided by both the first and the second alignment sensors.

Fluorescent imaging systems for performing an endoscopic procedure, such as a retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) procedure may include a first light source for emitting light in the visible spectrum, or light in the near infrared (NIR) spectrum, or both. A light source bandpass filter may block the emitted light in the visible spectrum, or in the NIR spectrum, or both. A first sensor may be capable of detecting the light in the visible spectrum, or the light in the NIR spectrum, or both. A sensor bandpass filter may block the detected light in the visible spectrum, or in the NIR spectrum, or both. The first or a second light source, or the first or a second sensor, or combinations thereof, may be removably disposed on a duodenoscope.

A sheath for covering an endoscope includes a latch assembly, an elongate body extending distally from the latch assembly, and a sheath tip extending distally from the elongate body. The latch assembly includes a main housing and a guide housing, the guide housing movable relative to the main housing to increase a longitudinal length of the latch assembly. The sheath tip has a front face including first and second windows disposed within respective first and second openings defined in the front face. The first and second windows are configured to correspond with respective lighting and imaging windows of an endoscope.

An optical bulb for a medical device includes first and second bodies. The first body has a substantially hemispherical distal side. The second body extends from the first body and includes a mechanical connection point at or near the proximal side of the second body. An instrument channel extends through the optical bulb from the proximal side of the second body to the distal side of the first body. An imaging channel extends an aperture defined in the proximal side of the second body and terminates between the proximal and substantially hemispherical distal sides of the first body. The distal end of the imaging channel is substantially hemispherical. The first body is configured and arranged to provide a substantially uniform image path within a field of view of a camera disposed in the imaging channel.

The present invention relates to a fully integrated sterilizable one time use disposable tissue visualization device and methods for using such devices. Preferred embodiments of the invention facilitate the visualization of an internal tissue site while causing a minimum of damage to the surrounding tissue. Further preferred embodiments may allow for the delivery of fluids and other treatment to an internal tissue site.

This disclosure relates to the minimally invasive medical technical field, and specifically, to a device of anti-fogging endoscope system including a beam of a near-infrared light for anti-fogging, which is coupled into an endoscope imaging optical channel in combination coaxially and is transmitted to the front optical window sheet, the visible light passes through the front optical window sheet, and the near-infrared light is absorbed by the absorption characteristics of the front optical window sheet to raise the temperature of the front optical window sheet. The device is also provided with a cut filter for eliminating the impact on image quality caused by the near-infrared stray light, so that the illumination light source of the prior-art endoscope is not necessary to be changed. It is suitable to integrate the coaxial coupling module with a camera handle or adapter and is more convenient to operate the device.

A tissue mapping system includes: an imaging stylet, a stylet-deploying mechanism, and a system console with data-processing capability. This tissue mapping system calculates, in-real time, a position of the stylet during tissue imaging and sensing. This position is then used to combine and re-map image and sensor data acquired by the stylet from different regions of the mapped tissue. The stylet is configured to acquire image data within its vicinity when inserted in a tissue, and also has a sensing region along a flexible distal portion of its length. The stylet-deploying mechanism inserts the stylet in different regions of the mapped tissue iteratively. The stylet-deploying mechanism also incorporates features for registering the position of the stylet by using strain sensing or image data. The system console communicates with the stylet to calculate the position of the stylet by using intra-operative tissue image data and distributed strain data within the sensing region of the stylet. The stylet incorporates optical guides that are advantageously used both for imaging and for distributed strain sensing. Another aspect of the invention is the use of the very same imaging and strain sensing optical guide to interrogate biochemical sensors disposed distally within the stylet in some embodiments.