An endoscope comprising: an objective optical system; an imager having a light receiving plane that faces an emitting plane of the objective optical system; a semiconductor device provided so as to face a plane, of the imager, opposite to the light receiving plane; and a conductive member that covers the objective optical system, the imager, and the semiconductor device, the conductive member having an external dimension that is identical between a side of the objective optical system and a side of the imager. A distance from an end portion of the semiconductor device in a direction orthogonal to an optical axis of the objective optical system to an inner wall of the conductive member is shorter than a distance from an end portion of the imager in the direction orthogonal to the optical axis of the objective optical system to the inner wall of the conductive member.

A distal end portion includes: an imager that is held by a metal lens frame; a distal end frame that is made of an electric insulating material and includes a through hole; an electrically conductive exterior portion; a first electrical conductor pattern that has a first end and a second end, the first end being in contact with the lens frame, the second end being connected to a first terminal that is in contact with the exterior portion; and a second electrical conductor pattern that is formed independently of the first electrical conductor pattern, and has a first end and a second end, the first end of the second electrical conductor pattern being in contact with the lens frame, the second end of the second electrical conductor pattern being connected to a second terminal that is not in contact with the exterior portion.

A needle and suture assembly is provided for use with an endoscopic suturing device with a needle holder arm. The needle assembly includes a needle tip and a needle body. The needle tip has a sharp end, a capture groove, a tab groove and a plug portion positioned between the capture groove and the tab groove. The needle body has first and second ends, tip tabs, retainers for removably retaining the needle body relative to the needle holder arm, and a suture opening. The needle tip is fixed relative to the needle body by plastic deformation of the tip tabs into the tab groove. A suture extends into the suture opening of the needle body and is fixed therein.

A needle and suture assembly is provided for use with an endoscopic suturing device with a needle holder arm. The needle assembly includes a needle tip and a needle body. The needle tip has a sharp end, a capture groove, a tab groove and a plug portion positioned between the capture groove and the tab groove. The needle body has first and second ends, tip tabs, retainers for removably retaining the needle body relative to the needle holder arm, and a suture opening. The needle tip is fixed relative to the needle body by plastic deformation of the tip tabs into the tab groove. A suture extends into the suture opening of the needle body and is fixed therein.

A medical manipulator system includes: an endoscope; a first manipulator equipped with a first treatment tool at a distal end thereof; a second manipulator equipped with a second treatment tool at a distal end thereof; a display for a user to view; and a controller configured to generate an image to be displayed on the display. The controller is configured to: acquire a first image taken by the endoscope, the first image contains the first treatment tool; and in response to determining that the second treatment tool does not exist in the first image: calculate a relative distance and a relative direction between the first treatment tool and the second treatment tool; generate a second image showing the relative distance and the relative direction between the first treatment tool and the second treatment tool; and send the first image and the second image to the display.

A medical manipulator system includes: an endoscope; a first manipulator equipped with a first treatment tool at a distal end thereof; a second manipulator equipped with a second treatment tool at a distal end thereof; a display for a user to view; and a controller configured to generate an image to be displayed on the display. The controller is configured to: acquire a first image taken by the endoscope, the first image contains the first treatment tool; and in response to determining that the second treatment tool does not exist in the first image: calculate a relative distance and a relative direction between the first treatment tool and the second treatment tool; generate a second image showing the relative distance and the relative direction between the first treatment tool and the second treatment tool; and send the first image and the second image to the display.

A method for measuring objects in a digestive tract based on an imaging system is provided. The imaging system captures a detection image in the measurement stage. The depth distance z.sub.i from a target point P′ to a board is calculated, a correction factor is obtained according to the predicted brightness g.sup.−1(z.sub.i) of a reference point P in the detection image. The depth image z(x, y) from the actual position of each pixel to the board is calibrated by the correction factor. The scale r of each pixel is calculated according to the depth image z(x, y). The actual two-dimensional coordinates S.sub.i′ of each pixel are calculated by the scale r, and the actual three-dimensional coordinates (S.sub.i′, z(x, y)) of each pixel are obtained. The distance between any two pixels in the detection image or the area within any range are calculated.

In some embodiments, systems, methods, and media for capsule-based multimode endoscopy are provided. In some embodiments, a probe for capsule-based multimode endoscopy is provided, the probe comprising: a rigid capsule; a flexible tether coupled to a proximal end of the capsule; a rotatable reflective surface disposed within the capsule; a static ball lens disposed within the capsule; a first optical fiber optically coupled to the ball lens, the first optical fiber passing through the flexible tether; a second optical fiber optically coupled to the ball lens, the second optical fiber passing through the flexible tether; a graded index fiber disposed between a distal end of the second optical fiber and the ball lens, the graded index fiber optically coupled to the second optical fiber and the ball lens.

An optical device may include an optical fiber having a fixed end and a free end; a first actuator positioned at a actuator position between the fixed end and the free end and configured to apply a first force on the actuator position of the optical fiber such that a movement of the free end of the optical fiber in a first direction is caused, wherein the first direction is orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the optical fiber; and a deformable rod disposed adjacent to the optical fiber, and having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is connected to a first rod position of the optical fiber and the second end is connected to a second rod position of the optical fiber.

The present invention may be embodied as a retrievable device capable of sensing one or more properties of an individual (e.g., chemical or physical parameters). In use, the retrievable device can continuously determine the chemical concentrations within the vaginal tract. An embodiment of the retrievable device comprises a first housing having a light source and an image capture device, a second housing removably connected to the lust housing and having a sensor, and a fitting for retrieving the device. The sensor may be an analyte sensor configured to obtain at least one measurement of a concentration of an analyte in a fluid. The analyte sensor comprises a sensor substance in a sol-gel material so the sensor substance reversibly interacts with an analyte of interest. In addition, the retrievable device can be configured to determine different physical parameters and re-implanted.