Disclosed herein are configurations for few-mode fiber optical endoscope systems employing distal optics and few-mode, double-clad or other optical fiber wherein the systems directing an optical beam to a sample via the optical fiber; collecting light backscattered from the sample; direct the backscattered light to a detector via the optical fiber; and detect the backscattered light; wherein the directed optical beam is single mode and the collected light is one or more higher order modes.

An endoscope includes: a first lens located at a distal-most position, a part of the first lens being exposed outside; a movable lens barrel configured to be able to move, and configured to hold a movable lens disposed on a proximal end side with respect to the first lens; an actuator unit including a coil that drives the movable lens barrel and generates heat by receiving a supply of electric power; and a control section that outputs first electric power to the coil when holding the movable lens barrel at a predetermined position, and outputs second electric power larger than the first electric power to the coil when conducting heat generated from the coil to the first lens at the predetermined position.

The present disclosure provides a spinal endoscope comprising an imaging device and an elongate rigid tube coupled to the imaging device, wherein the tube receives therein: a lens coupled to the imaging device to allow observation of a tissue; at least one irrigation channel to allow injection of a cleaning liquid to secure a view for surgery; a working channel to allow passage of a surgery-tool therethrough to a target location, and an optical fiber to allow irradiation of light beams, the spinal endoscope being characterized in that the working channel includes a first portion with a circular arc cross-sectional shape face-contacting and partially corresponding to an inner circumference of the elongate rigid tube, and a second portion with a linear cross-sectional shape, wherein the second portion connects both ends of the first portion.

A system for cutting a bone of a patient may include a motor; a rotating shaft drivingly coupled to the motor; a support tube positioned around the rotating shaft and supporting the rotating shaft at a plurality of locations; a plurality of steering wires coupled to the support tube; and a bone cutter at a distal end of the rotating shaft.

An endoscope optical system unit according to the present invention, includes, an endoscope illuminating optical system which includes, a light-emitting section, and a first optical-path deflecting prism group which takes in illumination light emitted from the light-emitting section, and irradiates light to a subject upon deflecting an optical path, and the first optical-path deflecting prism group includes three prisms in order from an object side which are, a first prism, a second prism, and a third prism, and the first prism, the second prism, and the third prism are disposed to be mutually adjacent, and a direction of irradiation of the illumination light is let to be variable to a first direction by rotationally moving the first prism with respect to the second prism, and the direction of irradiation of the illumination light is let to be variable to a second direction which differs from the first direction, by rotationally moving the first prism and the second prism integrally, with respect to the third prism; and an endoscope objective optical system, wherein the endoscope objective optical system includes a second optical-path deflecting prism group, and a lens group, and the second optical-path deflecting prism group includes three prisms in order from the subject side, a fourth prism, a fifth prism, and a sixth prism, and the fourth prism, the fifth prism, and the sixth prism are disposed to be mutually adjacent, and a visual field direction is let to be variable to the first direction by rotationally moving the fourth prism with respect to the fifth prism, and the visual field direction is let to be variable to the second direction which differs from the first direction, by rotationally moving the fourth prism and the fifth prism integrally, with respect to the sixth prism, and the first optical-path deflecting prism group and the second optical-path deflecting prism group are disposed such that a third axis of rotation when the fourth prism rotates with respect to the fifth prism, and a first axis of rotation when the first prism of the endoscope illuminating optical system rotates with respect to the second prism, become coaxial, and the first optical-path deflecting prism group and the second optical-path deflecting prism group are disposed such that a fourth axis of rotation when the fourth prism and the fifth prism rotate integrally with respect to the sixth prism, and a second axis of rotation when the first prism and the second prism rotate integrally with respect to the third prism, become coaxial, and both the visual field direction of the endoscope objective optical system and the direction of irradiation of the illumination light of t

An endoscope magnification optical system including: a first lens group that has positive power and includes at least a negative lens with a concave surface facing an object side, a positive lens with a convex surface facing an image side, and a doublet obtained by bonding a negative lens and a positive lens; a second lens group that has negative power and includes at least a doublet obtained by bonding a negative lens and a positive lens; and a third lens group that has positive power and includes at least a positive lens and a doublet obtained by bonding a negative lens and a positive lens, is configured such that predetermined conditions are satisfied.

A reduced area imaging device is provided for use in medical or dental instruments such as an endoscope. The imaging device is provided in various configurations, and connections between the imaging device elements and a video display may be achieved by wired or wireless connections. A connector assembly located near the imaging device interconnects the imaging device to an image/power cable extending through the endoscope. The connector provides strain relief and stabilization for electrically interconnecting the imager to the cable. The connector also serves as the structure for anchoring the distal ends of steering wires extending through the body of the endoscopic device. The connector includes a strain relief member mounted over a body of the connector. The connector allows a steering wire capability without enlarging the profile of the distal tip of the endoscopic device.

An image pickup unit, includes: a front group lens frame holding a front group lens; a rear group lens frame fitted to the front group lens frame and holding a rear group lens; a movable frame disposed to be movable forward and backward in a direction along a photographing optical axis within the rear group lens frame, and holding a movable lens; an adhesive bonding the front group lens frame to the rear group lens frame; and an adhesive outflow preventing portion preventing the adhesive from flowing out toward the movable frame side when the front group lens frame is bonded and fitted to the rear group lens frame.

Medical imaging camera head devices and methods are provided using light captured by an endoscope system or other medical scope or borescope. Afocal light from the scope is manipulated and split by a beamsplitter. At least one polarizing optical element manipulates the polarization properties of one or both of the beams. The resulting first and second beams are passed through focusing optics to different image sensor areas to produce images with different intensity. The resulting images are combined with high dynamic range techniques.

An objective optical system for an endoscope consists of a front group, an aperture stop, and a positive rear group in order from an object side. The front group consists of a negative first lens having a smaller absolute value of a curvature radius of a lens surface on an image side than that on an object side, and one or more parallel planar members of which an incidence surface and an emission surface are perpendicular to an optical axis, in order from the object side. The rear group consists of a positive second lens and a cemented lens in which a negative third lens, and a positive fourth lens are joined together in order from the object side and a cemented surface has a concave surface toward the image side. A predetermined conditional expression is satisfied.