A contact-type endoscope surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) probe includes a gradient-index (GRIN) lens, a transparent substrate adhered to the GRIN lens, and a rough metallic layer adhered to an opposite side of the transparent substrate from the GRIN lens. The GRIN lens focuses light from a Raman spectrometer onto the rough metallic layer, and the rough metallic layer is positioned at the distal end of the contact-type endoscope SERS probe.

A contact-type endoscope surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) probe includes a gradient-index (GRIN) lens, a transparent substrate adhered to the GRIN lens, and a rough metallic layer adhered to an opposite side of the transparent substrate from the GRIN lens. The GRIN lens focuses light from a Raman spectrometer onto the rough metallic layer, and the rough metallic layer is positioned at the distal end of the contact-type endoscope SERS probe.

A probe is configured with a flushing port and an evacuation port to establish a flow path to remove blood from a resected tissue. The probe comprises a balloon configured to expand and contact the resected tissue to compress filaments and improve access to the underlying blood vessels for coagulation with an energy source. An endoscope can be used to view the tissue, and the balloon may comprise a transparent material or a viewing port to allow imaging of the bleeding tissue through the balloon. The probe may have a light source to illuminate the tissue with a beam oriented at an oblique angle to the tissue surface, which can decrease interference from blood and may allow more localized coagulation of the blood vessel.

An image pickup apparatus of the present invention includes a first member including an illumination optical element and an observation optical element, an image pickup device, and a second member including a signal wire and an illumination member. The first member includes a first layer substrate including an illumination window and an observation window and a second layer substrate including a first illumination element and an observation lens, the second member includes a third layer substrate including a second illumination element and an opening in which the image pickup device is disposed and a fourth layer substrate including a third illumination element and a signal wire, the first member and the second member are stacked in order of the first layer substrate, the second layer substrate, the third layer substrate, and the fourth layer substrate and integrally bonded, and the first illumination element is a light emitting element.

An image pickup apparatus of the present invention includes a first member including an illumination optical element and an observation optical element, an image pickup device, and a second member including a signal wire and an illumination member. The first member includes a first layer substrate including an illumination window and an observation window and a second layer substrate including a first illumination element and an observation lens, the second member includes a third layer substrate including a second illumination element and an opening in which the image pickup device is disposed and a fourth layer substrate including a third illumination element and a signal wire, the first member and the second member are stacked in order of the first layer substrate, the second layer substrate, the third layer substrate, and the fourth layer substrate and integrally bonded, and the first illumination element is a light emitting element.

A flexible endoscope of the present invention includes a catheter portion and a connection plug. The catheter portion includes an image guide, a light guide, and a catheter tube that surrounds the image guide and the light guide in a longitudinal direction, and the connection plug includes a hollow cover that accommodates the proximal end of the catheter tube, a flexible tube that protrudes from the hollow cover and through which the catheter tube is passed, a first connection terminal that is connected to the light guide extending from the proximal end of the catheter tube, and a second connection terminal that is connected to the image guide extending from the proximal end of the catheter tube. The image guide and the light guide are slidable inside the catheter tube, and at least one of the image guide and the light guide is arranged curved inside the hollow cover of the connection plug.

An apparatus, method, and system for a steerable medical device, configured to be used in conjunction with guide tools and devices in medical procedures, including endoscopes, cameras, cutting tools and catheters.

An apparatus, method, and system for a steerable medical device, configured to be used in conjunction with guide tools and devices in medical procedures, including endoscopes, cameras, cutting tools and catheters.

A light source device includes: a first optical element that generates transmitted light obtained by removing a first wavelength band component from incident light and generates reflected light obtained by extracting the first wavelength band component from the incident light; a first light source that emits light that includes at least a component of the first wavelength band and that causes the light to be incident on the first optical element so as to be reflected light of the first optical element; a second light source that emits light so that light including a component of a wide second wavelength band including the first wavelength band to be transmitted light of the first optical element; and a control unit that controls driving of the first light source and the second light source. The control unit controls on/off of emission of the first and second light source emission light.

A method for characterizing a state of an end effector of an ultrasonic device is disclosed. The ultrasonic device including an electromechanical ultrasonic system defined by a predetermined resonant frequency. The electromechanical ultrasonic system further including an ultrasonic transducer coupled to an ultrasonic blade. The method including applying, by an energy source, a power level to the ultrasonic transducer; measuring, by a control circuit coupled to a memory, an impedance value of the ultrasonic transducer; comparing, by the control circuit, the impedance value to a reference impedance value stored in the memory; classifying, by the control circuit, the impedance value based on the comparison; characterizing, by the control circuit, the state of the electromechanical ultrasonic system based on the classification of the impedance value; and adjusting, by the control circuit, the power level applied to the ultrasonic transducer based on the characterization of the state of the end effector.