This method is for calibrating an optical scanning apparatus that includes an optical fiber with a tip supported to allow vibration and an actuator that drives the tip of the optical fiber in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis of the optical fiber. The method includes arranging a position sensitive detector that detects a position of emitted light from the tip of the optical fiber (step S02) and detecting the position of the emitted light with the position sensitive detector while supplying light to the optical fiber and driving the tip of the optical fiber (step S03). The step of detecting (step S03) is performed using an interference fringe reducer that reduces interference fringes occurring along an optical path reaching the position sensitive detector.

Provided is a biological observation apparatus including: illuminating portions that irradiate biological tissue with illumination light including light in R, G, and B regions, respectively; an image acquisition portion that acquires image signals from reflected light of the illumination light coming from the biological tissue; narrow-band-light generating portions that are disposed in the illuminating portions or the image acquisition portion and that, in wavelength bands of the illumination light, generate two narrow-band beams for at least one of the R, G, and B wavelength bands constituting the illumination light, on either side of a central wavelength of that wavelength band; and an image-generating portion that generates an image on the basis of two or more types of the image signals obtained from the reflected light including two or more narrow bands acquired by the image acquisition portion.

One or more triggers, fluorescence or auto-fluorescence triggers, NIRAF triggers, methods of using triggers, fiber optic rotary joints (FORJ), free space beam combiners, OCT, SEE and/or fluorescence devices and systems for use therewith, methods of using and/or manufacturing same and storage mediums are provided. One or more embodiments using one or more triggers achieve structural compactness and/or high-speed acquisition while avoiding or reducing the need for high computational power. One or more embodiments use one or more triggers, one or more fluorescence triggers, one or more auto-fluorescence triggers, or NIRAF triggers, and/or one or more rotary joints, for performing pullback and/or image recording. Examples of optical applications that may involve the use of a trigger, fluorescence/auto-fluorescence trigger or NIRAF trigger, and/or a fiber optic rotary joint, include imaging, evaluating and characterizing/identifying biological objects or tissue, such as, but not limited to, for gastro-intestinal, otolaryngologic, cardio and/or ophthalmic applications.

A method for enhanced surgical navigation, and a system performing the method and displaying graphical user interfaces associated with the method. A 3D spatial map of a surgical site is generated using a 3D endoscope including a camera source and an IR scan source. The method includes detecting a needle tip protruding from an anatomy and determining a needle protrusion distance corresponding to a distance between the needle tip and a surface of the anatomy using the 3D spatial map. A position of a surgical tool in the 3D spatial map is detected and a determination is made by the system indicative of whether the needle protrusion distance is sufficient for grasping by the surgical tool. A warning is generated when it is determined that the needle protrusion distance is not sufficient for grasping by the surgical tool.

According to embodiments, a substantially coaxial arrangement of a camera, a light source, and an ultrasonic sensor can be positioned in an housing of a system that can be deployed from the tool port of a standard bronchoscope. Illumination from the light source facilitates positioning of the system by an operator using information from the camera. The ultrasonic system can determine when an object to be biopsied is adjacent to a biopsy needle.

A system may comprise a catheter including a wall having an inner surface defining a main lumen. The system may also comprise a device including an elongate flexible shaft configured to be slideably inserted within the catheter main lumen and a structure disposed around an outer surface of the elongate flexible shaft. The structure may be configured to engage with a plurality of flat surfaces comprising a portion of the inner surface to prevent rotation of the device within the main lumen.

A processing system includes a processor with hardware. The processor is configured to perform processing of acquiring a detection target image captured by an endoscope apparatus, controlling the endoscope apparatus based on control information, detecting a region of interest included in the detection target image based on the detection target image for calculating estimated probability information representing a probability of the detected region of interest, identifying the control information for improving the estimated probability information related to the region of interest within the detection target image based on the detection target image, and controlling the endoscope apparatus based on the identified control information.

An image processor selects, when a processing start operation for starting image storage processing is performed, a first image and a second image that satisfy a preset selection condition from a plurality of the first images and a plurality of the second images acquired in a target period including a time when the processing start operation is performed, for the image storage processing. A light source processor performs control to switch, out of a first illumination light beam and a second illumination light beam, one being emitted to the other to emit the other, during a target period.

Vision systems on catheters, cannulas, or similar devices with guiding lumens include receptors distributed in annular areas around respective lumens. Each of the receptors has a field of view covering only a portion of an object environment, and the field of view of each of the receptors overlaps with at least one of the fields of view of the other receptors. A processing system can receive image data from the receptors of the vision systems and combine the image data to construct a visual representation of the object environment.

A medical device may include an insertion portion longitudinally extending between a proximal end and a distal end. The insertion portion may define a channel extending therethrough. The medical device may further include a handle coupled to the proximal end of the insertion portion. The handle may further include an irrigation port in fluid communication with the channel and coupled to a source of irrigation fluid. Additionally, the handle may include an actuator and a pressurizer. Manipulation of the actuator may be configured to actuate the pressurizer to urge irrigation fluid distally through the channel.