Entries |
Document | Title | Date |
20080200760 | Positional Relationship Detecting Apparatus and Positional Relationship Detecting System - To realize a technique for calculating a positional relationship between a target coordinate axis fixed with respect to a detection target and a reference coordinate axis defined independently of motion and the like of the detection target, a first and a second linear magnetic fields in known directions on the reference coordinate axis are generated and a direction of the first and the second linear magnetic fields on the target coordinate axis are detected by a magnetic field sensor installed in an capsule endoscope ( | 08-21-2008 |
20080242931 | CAPSULE ENDOSCOPIC SYSTEM AND OPERATION CONTROL METHOD OF CAPSULE ENDOSCOPE - A receiver of capsule endoscopic system downloads diagnostic information of a patient obtained by a past diagnosis from a data storage of work station. A data analyzer of the receiver compares the diagnostic information and present information obtained by use of a capsule endoscope during endoscopy. A CPU produces a control command in which a frame rate of image shooting by use of the capsule endoscope is set based on an analysis result of the data analyzer. The produced control command is wirelessly transmitted via a radio wave from the receiver. The capsule endoscope wirelessly receives the control command from the receiver via the radio wave, and performs image shooting with the frame rate set by the control command. | 10-02-2008 |
20080249359 | Endoscopy System - An endoscopy system has an endo-robot that is navigable within an anatomical lumen of a patient by interacting with a magnetic field generated by an extracorporeal magnet system. The patient lies on a patient bed that is movable in one or more directions and/or orientations, and an obstacle detects objects in the movement path of the endo-robot in the anatomical lumen and produces a signal that causes the position and/or orientation of the patient bed to be altered dependent thereon. | 10-09-2008 |
20080262303 | SYSTEM FOR DETECTING POSITION OF CAPSULE ENDOSCOPE IN SUBJECT - A system is for detecting a position of a device. The device is swallowed, passes through a subject, and includes a magnetic field generator generating a constant magnetic field. The system also includes a position transducer. The position transducer includes a magnetic detector detecting an intensity of a magnetic field component parallel to a constant magnetic field output from the magnetic field generator, and a position processor calculating a position of the device in the subject based on the intensity detected by the magnetic detector. | 10-23-2008 |
20080306340 | ENCAPSULATED MEDICAL DEVICE GUIDANCE SYSTEM, AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE SAME - An encapsulated medical device guidance system, and a method of controlling the system, in which guidance coils are arranged to divide a magnetic field generating plane into at least two front and rear areas, a magnetic field for canceling gravity applied to a capsule endoscope itself is formed, and superposed on a magnetic field for moving or changing an attitude, a frictional resistance in moving a capsule endoscope is reduced by decreasing an area of an endoscope to contact the surface of an intracavital. | 12-11-2008 |
20080312501 | Capsule Medical System - A capsule medical system is provided that accurately detects the location at which biological information, such as an image captured in a living body, is acquired. A circular loop antenna | 12-18-2008 |
20090043161 | MEASURING ENDOSCOPE APPARATUS, PROGRAM AND RECORDING MEDIUM - The present invention provides a measuring endoscope apparatus which includes an endoscope that photoelectrically converts an image of an object to generate an imaging signal, a signal processing section that processes the imaging signal to generate image data, a distance measuring section that calculates an object distance based on a principle of triangulation using the image data, and a display section that displays the image of the object based on the image data. The measuring endoscope apparatus further includes a measuring section that calculates a size of the mark indicating a size of the object based on the object distance and a view angle of the endoscope. The display section also displays a mark along with the image of the object based on the image data. | 02-12-2009 |
20090062609 | ENDOSCOPE SYSTEM - The scope has an imaging sensor, a memory, an image signal-processing unit, and a scope controller having a timer. The image signal-processing unit performs a primary image-processing operation on an image signal output from the imaging sensor. The timer counts an elapsed time. The processor has a video signal-processing unit and a time-hold unit. The video signal-processing unit performs a secondary image-processing operation on the image signal on which the primary image signal processing operation is made. The time-hold unit keeps date data and outputting the date data to the scope controller. The scope controller measures a command-received time when a setting for the primary image-processing operation in the image signal-processing unit is changed on the basis of the elapsed time that is counted by the timer and the date data, and stories a record indicating that the setting has changed and the command-received time to the memory. | 03-05-2009 |
20090069630 | CAPSULE TYPE MEDICAL DEVICE - A capsule type medical device, which is introduced into the inside of a living body in order to observe the inside of the living body, includes an image capturing unit for capturing an image of the inside of the living body, a wireless communicating unit for transmitting the image data of the image captured by the image capturing unit to the outside of the living body through a wireless communication, a first voltage regulator unit for regulating a voltage output from a power supply unit and for supplying the voltage to the image capturing unit, and a second voltage regulator unit for regulating the voltage output from the power supply unit and for supplying the voltage to the wireless communicating unit. An oscillating unit included in the wireless communicating unit has a differential configuration. | 03-12-2009 |
20090076324 | MAGNETIC FIELD CONTROL METHOD AND MAGNETIC FIELD GENERATOR - There is provided a magnetic field control method and a magnetic field generator which are capable of moving a local maximum point of magnetic field intensity on a predetermined plane easily to any given point within a predetermined area on the predetermined plane. A magnetic field generator | 03-19-2009 |
20090093678 | MEDICAL DEVICE GUIDANCE SYSTEM - The medical device guidance system include a magnetic guidance device which generates a guidance field in an arbitrary direction to guide a capsular medical device and carry out movement and posture control, a position detection device which detects the present position by a magnetic field generated by the capsular medical device and a position calculating and correcting section which forms an estimation equation of an undesired magnetic field generated from a guidance coil and subtracts an estimation equation result from the detection result of the magnetic field detecting section, according to the present position of the capsular medical device that controls the position and posture by a guidance field relative to the position detection device, and corrects the present position by excluding a desired magnetic field generated from a guidance coil. | 04-09-2009 |
20090137871 | RADIO OBSERVATION DEVICE - A radio observation device which transmits information on observation subjects has a first coil, an oscillator, a first frequency controller, a frequency-measuring device, and a transmitter. The oscillator generates signals flowing through the first coil within a certain range of frequencies. The first frequency controller is connected to the oscillator, and adjusts the oscillating frequency of the signal flowing through the first coil by controlling said oscillator. The frequency-measuring device measures a resonance frequency of a signal flowing through the first coil and a signal flowing through a second coil being provided external to the radio observation device. The transmitter transmits the information on the observation subjects through said first coil by a carrier wave which oscillates at the resonance frequency. | 05-28-2009 |
20090177036 | In-Body Position Detecting System - A medical capsule device ( | 07-09-2009 |
20090264702 | LIVING BODY OBSERVATION SYSTEM AND METHOD OF DRIVING LIVING BODY OBSERVATION SYSTEM - A living body observation system of the invention includes a living body information acquiring apparatus including: a living body information acquiring section; a wireless transmission section; a power source section for supplying driving power for driving the living body information acquiring section and the wireless transmission section; a magnetic field detecting section for outputting a detection result of a magnetic field from outside as an electric signal; and a power supply control section for controlling a supplying state of the driving power supplied from the power source section to the living body information acquiring section and the wireless transmission section based on the electric signal; and a magnetic field generating section which is disposed outside the living body information acquiring apparatus and includes a resonant circuit for generating a magnetic field by resonance and a driving circuit for supplying driving voltage for driving the resonant circuit. | 10-22-2009 |
20090275801 | LIVING BODY OBSERVATION SYSTEM AND METHOD OF DRIVING LIVING BODY OBSERVATION SYSTEM - A living body observation system of the invention includes a living body information acquiring apparatus including: a living body information acquiring section; a wireless transmission section; a power source section for supplying driving power for driving the living body information acquiring section and the wireless transmission section; a magnetic field detecting section for outputting a detection result of a magnetic field from outside as an electric signal; and a power supply control section for controlling a supplying state of the driving power based on the electric signal, a magnetic field generating coil, a driving circuit for outputting a drive signal to the magnetic field generating coil, a switch for switching a generation state of a magnetic field, and a timer for outputting a signal for stopping output of the drive signal when a predetermined period has passed following switching from off to on of the switch. | 11-05-2009 |
20090281387 | CAPSULE-TYPE MEDICAL APPARATUS, GUIDANCE SYSTEM AND GUIDANCE METHOD THEREFOR, AND INTRASUBJECT INSERTION APPARATUS - Using a guidance system with a simple configuration, propulsive motion along a longitudinal direction and changing of the propulsion direction are easily performed with good precision and stability. There is provided a capsule-type medical apparatus | 11-12-2009 |
20090292173 | LUMEN PASSABILITY CHECKING DEVICE AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING LUMEN PASSABILITY CHECKING DEVICE - A lumen passability checking device has a capsule shape and a size capable of being introduced into a body. The lumen passability checking device includes a first insoluble portion that is made of a material insoluble in the body, and that is provided as a thin portion, excluding a part of a surface of a capsule shaped body; a soluble portion that is made of a material soluble in the body, forms the capsule shaped body, and is provided in the first insoluble portion, including the part of the surface of the capsule shaped body, the part being exposed to outside; and a second insoluble portion that is made of a material insoluble in the body, and that divides the soluble portion to form a dissolution route in the soluble portion, the dissolution route progressing from the part of the surface to inside. | 11-26-2009 |
20090292174 | DISPLAY DEVICE AND IN-VIVO INFORMATION ACQUIRING SYSTEM USING THE SAME - A display device includes: a display unit that displays examination procedure information indicating an examination procedure of a subject; and a control unit that acquires position-related information of a capsule endoscope inserted into the subject, calculates a position of the capsule endoscope based on the acquired position-related information, determines a to-be-executed examination procedure of the subject corresponding to the calculated position, and performs control to display the examination procedure information indicating the determined to-be-executed examination procedure of the subject. | 11-26-2009 |
20090318760 | SYSTEM DEVICE AND METHOD FOR ESTIMATING THE SIZE OF AN OBJECT IN A BODY LUMEN - A device, system and method for capturing in-vivo images allows for size or distance estimations for objects within the images. According to one embodiment of the present invention there may be provided, in an in-vivo device at least an imager, an illumination source to provide illumination for the imager, an energy source to emit for example a light beam or a laser beam in a body lumen and a processor to, based on the light beam or laser beam image, estimate, for example the size of objects in a body lumen. | 12-24-2009 |
20100010304 | SYSTEM FOR GUIDING CAPSULE MEDICAL DEVICE - A system for guiding capsule medical device is provided with a capsule medical device, a magnetic guidance device, and an image display device. The capsule medical device is provided with an imaging unit for imaging an in-vivo image of a subject and a permanent magnet magnetized in a known direction relatively fixed with respect to an upward and downward direction of an imaging surface of the imaging unit in a capsule casing, and has a center of gravity at a location deviated from a geometric center of the capsule casing in a direction parallel to a plane parallel to a magnetization direction of the permanent magnet and an imaging direction of the imaging unit and different from the magnetization direction of the permanent magnet, and maintains a specific state in which the magnetization direction of the permanent magnet and the imaging direction of the imaging unit are parallel to a vertical plane in liquid introduced into the subject. The magnetic guidance device magnetically guides the capsule medical device in the liquid while maintaining the specific state by applying a magnetic field to the permanent magnet. The image display device displays the in-vivo image by conforming a direction of intersection line of the imaging surface and the vertical plane in the in-vivo image to an upward and downward direction of the display screen. | 01-14-2010 |
20100030023 | ACTIVE DRIVE TYPE MEDICAL APPARATUS AND DRIVE CONTROL METHOD - An active drive type medical apparatus includes: an active mechanism having a rotatable joint provided near the distal end of a long member; an active mechanism driving section; a position/attitude detecting section configured to detect a position/attitude of the active mechanism; an instruction input section for performing instruction input of the position/attitude of the active mechanism; and a force calculating section configured to calculate, on the basis of the instruction input of the position/attitude, a force corresponding to a net external force acting on the active mechanism, by subtracting an estimated driving force estimated in the case where the active mechanism in a no-load state is driven, from a driving force required in the case where the active mechanism is actually driven by the active mechanism driving section from the position/attitude before the instruction input to the instructed and inputted position/attitude. | 02-04-2010 |
20100048998 | AUXILIARY CAVITY LOCALIZATION - A method and system for maintaining calibration of a distributed localization system are presented. After a baseline calibration of sensors distributed on a working instrument and reference instrument, if movement of the reference instrument is detected, shape sensing data from a Bragg shape sensing fiber also coupled to the reference instrument may be utilized to recalibrate the localization system. The reference instrument preferably is located intraoperatively in a relatively constrained anatomical environment, such as in the coronary sinus of the heart, to prevent significant movement. | 02-25-2010 |
20100069717 | In-Body Power Source Having High Surface Area Electrode - Power sources that enable in-body devices, such as implantable and ingestible devices, are provided. Aspects of the in-body power sources of the invention include a solid support, a first high surface area electrode and a second electrode. Embodiments of the in-power sources are configured to emit a detectable signal upon contact with a target physiological site. Also provided are methods of making and using the power sources of the invention. | 03-18-2010 |
20100094087 | Method of and Apparatus for Positioning and Maintaining the Position of Endoscopic Instruments - The present invention provides an apparatus for, and a method of, accurate positioning of endoscopic instruments. Accurate positioning of the instruments is accomplished through the inclusion of a steering ability within the device. After the endoscopic instrument is properly positioned, the present invention may use rapid exchange technology, soft locks, and mechanical locks to maintain the position of the endoscopic instrument. Rapid exchange technology is used to minimize displacement forces present on the guidewire or catheters. Soft locks and mechanical locks resist movements caused by displacement forces. | 04-15-2010 |
20100113876 | ENDOSCOPE APPARATUS AND ENDOSCOPE-IMAGE RECORDING METHOD - An endoscope apparatus including an insertion portion for insertion into a body cavity; an image-acquisition unit disposed at a tip thereof that acquires an image of the inside of the body cavity; an insertion-length measuring unit disposed at a base end of the insertion portion that measures an insertion length of the insertion portion inside the body cavity; a storage unit that stores the image acquired by the image-acquisition unit in association with the insertion length measured by the insertion-length measuring unit; a following decision unit that determines whether insertion movement at the tip follows insertion movement at the base end; and a correcting unit that corrects the insertion length of the insertion portion associated with the acquired image to cancel a change in the insertion length measured in a non-following period on the basis of the result of that determination. | 05-06-2010 |
20100113877 | MEDICAL APPARATUS - A medical apparatus having a medical device that is utilized to perform a predetermined medical action, includes an energy supply source including an attachment/detachment portion to/from which the medical device is attached/detached, and supplies energy when the medical device is utilized to perform the predetermined medical action, an energy output adjustment unit which adjusts the energy supplied from the energy supply source to medical action energy suitable for performing the predetermined medical action by using the medical device when the medical device is connected to the attachment/detachment portion, and an energy supply detecting mechanism for detecting a state that the energy supply source has supplied the medical action energy. When the determination mechanism detects a state that the energy supply source has supplied the medical action energy, the energy output from the energy supply source is prevented from being supplied to the medical device. | 05-06-2010 |
20100121145 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MEASURING INSERTED LENGTH OF A MEDICAL DEVICE USING INTERNAL REFERENCED SENSORS - Measured locations of position sensors on a steerable medical device are used to determine the insertion depth of the steerable medical device with respect to a foundation point, which is initialized by an operator. The insertion depth, in turn, is used to determine the state of each segment that has passed the foundation point, i.e., is distal to the foundation point. | 05-13-2010 |
20100121146 | SCANNING ENDOSCOPE, SCANNING ENDOSCOPE PROCESSOR, AND SCANNING ENDOSCOPE APPARATUS - A scanning endoscope comprising a first transmitter, an actuator, a first mirror, and a second mirror, is provided. The first transmitter emits a beam of radiant light from an emission end. The actuator moves the emission end along a spiral course. The first mirror is arranged from the emission end toward a first direction. The first mirror comprises a first reflection surface around the first direction. The first reflection surface reflects the radiant light emitted from the first transmitter. The second mirror is arranged around the first reflection surface. The second mirror comprises a second reflection surface. The second reflection surface reflects the radiant light reflected by the first mirror in a direction that includes the first direction as a positive vector toward any points on the first line. | 05-13-2010 |
20100152538 | DEVICE FOR PREVENTING ENDOSCOPE DAMAGE BY ERRANT LASER FIRE IN A SURGICAL LASER - Provided is a device that can be attached to an endoscopic device and when so attached is capable of protecting said endoscope from damage that may be caused by errant laser fire. Also provided is a device that can determine the potential for damage from errant laser fire to a connected endoscopic device and emit a warning of such potential damage and, if required, can place the laser in a standby mode to avoid damage from errant laser fire. | 06-17-2010 |
20100160731 | ULTRASOUND-VISUALIZABLE ENDOSCOPIC ACCESS SYSTEM - An endoscopic access system is provided including an outer cannula and a penetrating stylet. The stylet provides an enhanced echogenic profile configured to provide for effective navigation under ultrasound visualization in a patient body. The cannula may include a rounded distal margin configured to provide for efficient passage though the cannula distal end of tools such as a wire guide. | 06-24-2010 |
20100160732 | POSITION DETECTING APPARATUS, BODY-INSERTABLE APPARATUS SYSTEM, AND POSITION DETECTING METHOD - A position detecting apparatus includes receiving antennas to receive a radio signal, transmitting antennas to transmit a radio signal for power supply to a capsule endoscope, a first and second linear magnetic field generators that generate first and second linear magnetic fields, a diffuse magnetic field generator that generates a diffuse magnetic field, a processing device that performs a predetermined process on the radio signal, and a magnetic field sensor that functions as a body-size information detector. The magnetic field sensor detects magnetic field strength at an arranged position as body-size information, and the processing device controls the first linear magnetic field generator based on the magnetic field strength detected by the magnetic field sensor. Thus, the position detecting apparatus is capable of generating a magnetic field for position detection having an optimal strength according to a difference in body sizes of subjects. | 06-24-2010 |
20100160733 | Endoscope Structures And Techniques For Navigating To A Target In Branched Structure - Systems and methods employing a small gauge steerable catheter ( | 06-24-2010 |
20100168517 | ENDOSCOPE AND A METHOD FOR FINDING ITS LOCATION - An endoscope and method for determining a position of an endoscope body within the human body are disclosed. The endoscope ( | 07-01-2010 |
20100185055 | INGESTIBLE EVENT MARKER SYSTEMS - Ingestible event marker systems that include an ingestible event marker (i.e., an IEM) and a personal signal receiver are provided. Embodiments of the IEM include an identifier, which may or may not be present in a physiologically acceptable carrier. The identifier is characterized by being activated upon contact with a target internal physiological site of a body, such as digestive tract internal target site. The personal signal receiver is configured to be associated with a physiological location, e.g., inside of or on the body, and to receive a signal the IEM. During use, the IEM broadcasts a signal which is received by the personal signal receiver. | 07-22-2010 |
20100191056 | ENDOSCOPE SHAPE ANALYSIS APPARATUS - An endoscope shape analysis apparatus includes a coordinates obtaining portion for obtaining coordinate values of an insertion portion; a storage portion for storing the coordinate values; a straight line setting portion for setting a first straight line A and a second straight line B, based on the coordinate values; a coordinate transformation portion for transforming coordinates of a previous second straight line B | 07-29-2010 |
20100234685 | COIL SYSTEM FOR THE CONTACT-FREE MAGNETIC NAVIGATION OF A MAGNETIC BODY IN A WORKING SPACE - A coil system for the contact-free magnetic navigation of a magnetic body with a magnetic dipole moment in a working chamber, a number of coils and a current control unit for controlling the respective currents in the multiple coils. The current control unit generates a force on the magnetic body in a predefined direction by setting the currents in the multiple coils so that the direction of the force generated by the currents on the magnetic body at each position among a number of positions in a volume in the working chamber essentially corresponds to the predefined direction of force. This coil system has the advantage that the position of the magnetic body in the working chamber does not need to be known exactly in order to move the body in a desired direction or to align the body in a desired orientation direction. This coil system suitable for use in a medical device and by special preference in a device for capsule endoscopy. In this situation, the magnetic body is a capsule that can be navigated in the body of a patient and has an imaging system for capturing images of the internal organs of the patient and a transmit module for sending the captured images to a receiver. | 09-16-2010 |
20100249506 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ASSISTING AN OPERATOR IN ENDOSCOPIC NAVIGATION - Navigation guidance is provided to an operator of an endoscope by determining a current position and shape of the endoscope relative to a reference frame, generating an endoscope computer model according to the determined position and shape, and displaying the endoscope computer model along with a patient computer model referenced to the reference frame so as to be viewable by the operator while steering the endoscope within the patient. | 09-30-2010 |
20100249507 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING VISUAL GUIDANCE TO AN OPERATOR FOR STEERING A TIP OF AN ENDOSCOPIC DEVICE TOWARD ONE OR MORE LANDMARKS IN A PATIENT - Landmark directional guidance is provided to an operator of an endoscopic device by displaying graphical representations of vectors adjacent a current image captured by an image capturing device disposed at a tip of the endoscopic device and being displayed at the time on a display screen, wherein the graphical representations of the vectors point in directions that the endoscope tip is to be steered in order to move towards associated landmarks such as anatomic structures in a patient. | 09-30-2010 |
20100249508 | IN-VIVO INFORMATION ACQUIRING SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING IN-VIVO INFORMATION ACQUIRING SYSTEM - A capsule endoscope system provided with a magnetic field generating apparatus including an input section for inputting identification information A and a magnetic field generating section that generates a magnetic field signal that controls a capsule endoscope, and the capsule endoscope including an in-vivo information acquiring section, a battery, a magnetic field receiving section, a storage section that stores identification information B, a control section and a comparing section that compares the identification information A with the identification information B and judges whether both pieces of information are the same or different, wherein when the judgment by the comparing section is a judgment that both pieces of information are the same, the control section supplies or shuts off power from the battery to the in-vivo information acquiring section. | 09-30-2010 |
20100261963 | IN-VIVO INFORMATION ACQUISITION SYSTEM AND DRIVE METHOD THEREFOR - An in-vivo observation system includes a capsule endoscope and a magnetic field generating apparatus. The capsule endoscope includes an in-vivo observation section, a radio sending section, a battery, a magnetic field detection section for detecting a magnetic field signal, and a power supply control section for controlling state of power supply from the battery to the in-vivo observation section and the radio sending section by toggle operation based on a detection result by the magnetic field detection section. The magnetic field generating apparatus includes a magnetic field generating section, an operation switch for giving a command to start generating the magnetic field signal, a state determination section for determining the state of power supply, and a magnetic field generation control section for controling generation of the magnetic field signal based on the command from the operation switch and a determination result by the state determination section. | 10-14-2010 |
20100268030 | Self-Steering Endoscopic Device - An endoscopic device including mechanisms to facilitate insertion of the device is disclosed. The device includes a sensing assembly configured for determining the position of the distal end of the device relative to a lumen. The device may further including a steering mechanism configured to direct the distal end of the device. A controller may be operably connected to the sensing assembly and the steering mechanism. The controller may be incorporated into the endoscopic device. Alternately, the controller may be positioned remote of the endoscopic device. | 10-21-2010 |
20110004064 | CAPSULE MEDICAL DEVICE - A capsule medical device capable of alleviating a burden on a patient is provided. Provided is a capsule medical device that includes a casing having a capsule shape; a measurement-information acquiring section, disposed in the casing, for acquiring measurement information from an examination site positioned outside the casing; a locating-information acquiring section for acquiring information for locating the examination site from which the measurement information has been acquired by the measurement-information acquiring section; and a storage section for storing the measurement information acquired by the measurement-information acquiring section in association with the information for locating the examination site, acquired by the locating-information acquiring section. | 01-06-2011 |
20110009697 | GUIDING SYSTEM, POSITION CONTROLLING APPARATUS, AND GUIDING METHOD - A guiding system includes a capsule-type apparatus and a position controlling apparatus. The capsule-type apparatus includes a permanent magnet, which is fixed to a capsule-shaped casing, and is introduced into a subject. The position controlling apparatus includes a relative position controlling mechanism that changes a relative position between a predetermined axis and the subject, and a magnetic field generating mechanism that forms, in a space in which the subject is laid, a magnetic field that includes at least one of a component of a trapping magnetic field that attracts the permanent magnet to the predetermined axis and a component of a gradient magnetic field that attracts the permanent magnet in a direction same as or opposite to a direction in which the relative position is changed. | 01-13-2011 |
20110040150 | ROBOTIC DRIVE FOR CATHETER - Apparatus for controlling a steerable invasive probe having a handle. The apparatus includes a platform and a jig, which is mounted on the platform and is configured to receive the handle. The jig includes at least a first gear that is positioned and shaped to rotate the handle about an axis of the probe and a second gear that is positioned and shaped to operate a control on the handle for deflecting a tip of the probe. A drive module includes one or more motors. A transmission is coupled to the drive module and to the jig so as to controllably rotate at least the first and second gears and to translate the platform along a direction parallel to the axis in order to advance and retract the probe. | 02-17-2011 |
20110060189 | Apparatus and Methods for Capsule Endoscopy of the Esophagus - Apparatus and methods for capsule endoscopy are described for locating, positioning, steering, aiming and tracking of an endoscopy capsule ( | 03-10-2011 |
20110065989 | SYSTEM FOR ASSESSMENT OF COLONOSCOPE MANIPULATION - A comprehensive system for objective assessment of colonoscope manipulation includes a handgrip for collecting and transmitting colonoscope handling data including force and motion data; a patient pain monitor for collecting and transmitting data on the level of patient's pain and discomfort; and digital processing means for extracting useful features such as colonoscope tip advancement speed from colonoscope-provided video images. All data is wirelessly transmitted to an electronic unit for processing and displaying on a monitor. A colonoscopy procedure is properly conducted when certain shaft advancement causes appropriate tip advancement, all without an increased level of patient's pain. The system of the invention is aimed at providing objective assessment data allowing for safer and less painful colonoscopies. | 03-17-2011 |
20110098532 | METHOD FOR POSITIONING AN ENDOSCOPY CAPSULE THAT CAN BE MAGNETICALLY NAVIGATED USING A SOLENOID SYSTEM - In a method for positioning a magnetically navigable endoscopy capsule using a magnetic coil system, to bring the capsule to a known finding position within a region in the body of a patient supported on a patient table, the finding position is identified in at least one volume data set that encompasses the finding position, the volume data set is registered with respect to the patient, the volume data set and the finding position therein are transformed into the coordinate system of the magnetic coil system, and the magnetic coil system is operated to position the endoscopy capsule inserted into the patient to automatically control routing of the capsule to the finding position. | 04-28-2011 |
20110098533 | MEDICAL INSTRUMENT - A medical instrument including a distortion detection probe disposed in an insertion portion to be inserted into the interior of an examinee provided with a plurality of FBG sensor sections that detect distortion of the insertion portion, a coordinate calculation section that calculates first three-dimensional coordinates of the respective FBG sensor sections according to a first three-dimensional coordinate system whose origin is a predetermined position based on the detection results of the FBG sensor sections, a coordinate system setting section that sets a second three-dimensional coordinate system based on the first three-dimensional coordinates of the respective FBG sensor sections, a coordinate transformation section that transforms the first three-dimensional coordinates of the respective FBG sensor sections into second three-dimensional coordinates according to the second three-dimensional coordinate system set by the coordinate system setting section and a shape display section that displays the shape of the insertion portion based on the second three-dimensional coordinates transformed by the coordinate transformation section. | 04-28-2011 |
20110178371 | ENDOSCOPE APPARATUS AND METHOD OF MEASURING SUBJECT - An endoscope apparatus includes: a display device that displays a first image and a second image, the first image and the second image being contained in image data of a subject captured by an imaging unit of an endoscope apparatus; a designation section that designates a first position on the first image in accordance with an instruction input through an input device; a position calculation section that calculates a second position on the second image, the second position corresponding to the first position on the first image; a display control section that, when the first position is designated, performs a control of displaying a mark at the first position, subsequently displaying a mark at a third position which is different from the first and second positions, and subsequently displaying a mark at the second position; and a measurement section that performs measurement relating to the subject based on the first and second positions. | 07-21-2011 |
20110184238 | IMAGE-BASED GLOBAL REGISTRATION SYSTEM AND METHOD APPLICABLE TO BRONCHOSCOPY GUIDANCE - A global registration system and method identifies bronchoscope position without the need for significant bronchoscope maneuvers, technician intervention, or electromagnetic sensors. Virtual bronchoscopy (VB) renderings of a 3D airway tree are obtained including VB views of branch positions within the airway tree. At least one real bronchoscopic (RB) video frame is received from a bronchoscope inserted into the airway tree. An algorithm according to the invention is executed on a computer to identify the several most likely branch positions having a VB view closest to the received RB view, and the 3D position of the bronchoscope within the airway tree is determined in accordance with the branch position identified in the VB view. The preferred embodiment involves a fast local registration search over all the branches in a global airway-bifurcation search space, with the weighted normalized sum of squares distance metric used for finding the best match. | 07-28-2011 |
20110257482 | Laser Beam Collimation Apparatus - The present invention provides an endoscopic laser instrument for positioning the endoscopic instrument in relation to a reference point to measure the proper angular position of an associated medical device associated with a surgical site. | 10-20-2011 |
20110282151 | IMAGE-BASED LOCALIZATION METHOD AND SYSTEM - A pre-operative stage of an image-based localization method ( | 11-17-2011 |
20120041262 | STEERABLE ENDOSCOPE AND IMPROVED METHOD OF INSERTION - A steerable endoscope has an elongated body with a selectively steerable distal portion and an automatically controlled proximal portion. The endoscope body is inserted into a patient and the selectively steerable distal portion is used to select a desired path within the patient's body. When the endoscope body is advanced, an electronic motion controller operates the automatically controlled proximal portion to assume the selected curve of the selectively steerable distal portion. Another desired path is selected with the selectively steerable distal portion and the endoscope body is advanced again. As the endoscope body is further advanced, the selected curves propagate proximally along the endoscope body, and when the endoscope body is withdrawn proximally, the selected curves propagate distally along the endoscope body. This creates a serpentine motion in the endoscope body that allows it to negotiate tortuous curves along a desired path through, around, and between organs within the body. | 02-16-2012 |
20120078048 | ENDOSCOPE WITH VARIABLE DIRECTION OF VIEW - Provided is an endoscope with a handle, an endoscope shaft connected to the handle, and imaging optics arranged in the endoscope shaft. An object can be located in the direction of view of the imaging optics in front of the endoscope shaft. The endoscope may also include a swivellably housed deflecting element that sets the desired direction of view. The deflecting element can be positioned at the distal end of the endoscope shaft facing away from the handle. An actuating element can be attached to the handle, which is mechanically connected to the deflecting element, and with which the swivel position of the deflecting element can be changed in order to set a desired direction of view. | 03-29-2012 |
20120078049 | ENDOSCOPE WITH VARIABLE DIRECTION OF VIEW - Provided is an endoscope with a handle, an endoscope shaft connected to the handle, and imaging optics arranged in the endoscope shaft. An object can be located in the direction of view of the imaging optics in front of the endoscope shaft. The endoscope may also include a swivellably housed deflecting element that sets the desired direction of view. The deflecting element can be positioned at the distal end of the endoscope shaft facing away from the handle. An actuating element can be attached to the handle, which is mechanically connected to the deflecting element, and with which the swivel position of the deflecting element can be changed in order to set a desired direction of view. | 03-29-2012 |
20120095290 | CAPSULE MEDICAL DEVICE GUIDANCE SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR GUIDING CAPSULE MEDICAL DEVICE - A capsule medical device guidance system includes: a magnetic field generator that applies a magnetic field having a magnetic field gradient to the magnetic field response unit and guides the capsule medical device; a first setting unit that sets a magnetic field gradient of a magnetic field for generating a vertical magnetic attracting force which makes a resultant force of a buoyancy of the capsule medical device and a gravity force and the vertical magnetic attracting force of the capsule medical device in the liquid substantially zero as a first magnetic field gradient; an operation input unit to which guidance instruction information for guiding the capsule medical device by a magnetic field and moving the capsule medical device from a first position to a second position is inputted; a second setting unit that obtains a magnetic field gradient of a magnetic field for generating a magnetic attracting force corresponding to the guidance instruction information inputted by the operation input unit and sets the obtained magnetic field gradient of the magnetic field as a second magnetic field gradient; and a control unit that controls the magnetic field generator to continuously apply the magnetic field having the first magnetic field gradient set by the first setting unit and keep the capsule medical device in a static state in the liquid even if any specific operation is not inputted when the guidance instruction information is not inputted by the operation input unit and controls the magnetic field generator to apply a magnetic field having a magnetic field gradient obtained by adding the second magnetic field gradient set by the second setting unit to move the capsule medical device from the first position to the second position to a state in which the first magnetic field gradient set by the first setting unit to keep the capsule medical device in a static state in the liquid is continuously applied when the guidance instruction information is inputted by the operation input unit. | 04-19-2012 |
20120130171 | ENDOSCOPE GUIDANCE BASED ON IMAGE MATCHING - A method of navigating a cavity of a subject employing images from a previous navigation is provided. In a first endoscopic examination, a set of schemas and at least one bookmark are saved in a data storage device. Each schema includes at least a still image in a cavity and a direction of a distal end. At least one bookmark is defined as at least one schema at a point of interest. In a second endoscopic examination, still images during navigation of an endoscope are compared with still images in the set of schemas to find a match, and use the information derived from the match to determine the location and the orientation of the distal end. An endoscopic system for effecting this method and a non-transitory machine-readable storage medium embodying a program for operating such an endoscopic system are also provided. | 05-24-2012 |
20120143004 | Variable Power Endoscope Based On Liquid Lens Technology - An endoscope realized as either a borescope or a fiberscope including one or more fluid filled lenses is described. In an embodiment, the optical power of the fluid filled lenses may be adjusted to adjust the focal length associated with the endoscope. Thus, variable working distances are allowable while maintaining focus on an object in front of the endoscope. The endoscope may include a distance sensor, which is used to determine a distance between the endoscope and a sample. A processor may compare the measured distance to the current optical power of the one or more sealed fluid filled lenses. The processor may transmit signals to one or more actuators coupled to one or more sealed fluid filed lenses to change the optical power of the one or more sealed fluid filled lenses based on the comparison. | 06-07-2012 |
20120203067 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR DETERMINING THE LOCATION OF AN ENDOSCOPE - A technician-free strategy enables real-time guidance of bronchoscopy. The approach uses measurements of the bronchoscope's movement to predict its position in 3D virtual space. To achieve this, a bronchoscope model, defining the device's shape in the airway tree to a given point p, provides an insertion depth to p. In real time, the invention compares an observed bronchoscope insertion depth and roll angle, measured by an optical sensor, to precalculated insertion depths along a predefined route in the virtual airway tree to predict a bronchoscope's location and orientation. | 08-09-2012 |
20120203068 | CAPSULE GUIDING SYSTEM - A capsule guiding system includes a magnetic guiding unit, a displaying unit, an operation unit, and a control unit. The magnetic guiding unit guides, using magnetic force, a capsule-shaped medical apparatus introduced inside a subject. The displaying unit displays an image of the subject and an image of the capsule-shaped medical apparatus as an overlapped image, and changes relative position and relative direction between the two images as the capsule-shaped medical apparatus is guided by the magnetic guiding unit. The operation unit inputs coordinate information which specifies movement direction of the capsule-shaped medical apparatus. The control unit adjusts coordinate system of the displaying unit and coordinate system of the operation unit to be consistent with each other, transforms the coordinate information input from the operation unit into the coordinate system of the magnetic guiding unit, and controls the guiding of the capsule-shaped medical apparatus based on the transformed coordinate information. | 08-09-2012 |
20120277531 | Bend sensor - A bend sensor for measuring a deflection of a technical or medical instrument, consisting of an elongated body of electrically insulating polymer material, with a longitudinal axis and with fibers of an electrically conducting polymer material that are embedded in the body. The fibers are disposed essentially parallel to the longitudinal axis and at a distance from one another in the polymer body. A measuring unit is connected with the fibers and is suited for evaluating the modification of the electrical resistances of the fibers as a measurement of the deflection of the body from the longitudinal axis. | 11-01-2012 |
20120323075 | OPTICAL FIBER SHAPE SENSING SYSTEMS - A method for measuring bending is provided. The method includes receiving a reflected signal from a strain sensor provided on an optical fiber; determining a spectral profile of the reflected signal; and determining bending of the optical fiber based on a comparison of the spectral profile of the reflected signal with a predetermined spectral profile. | 12-20-2012 |
20130085330 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ERROR ANALYSIS OF FIBER OPTIC INSTRUMENT DATA - An instrument system that includes an elongate body, a first optical fiber, a second optical fiber, and a controller is provided. The first optical fiber is operatively coupled to the elongate body and has a first strain sensor provided on the first optical fiber. The second optical fiber is operatively coupled to the elongate body and has a second strain sensor provided on the second optical fiber. The controller is operatively coupled to the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber and is adapted to receive a first signal from the first strain sensor and a second signal from the second strain sensor and to compare the first signal with the second signal. | 04-04-2013 |
20130085331 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SELECTIVE MEASUREMENT OF FIBER OPTIC INSTRUMENT SENSORS - An instrument system that includes an elongate body, an optical fiber, and a controller is provided. The optical fiber is operatively coupled to the elongate body and has a plurality of strain sensors provided on the optical fiber. The controller is operatively coupled to the optical fiber and adapted to obtain signals from one of the plurality of strain sensors more frequently than from another of the plurality of strain sensors and to determine a position of the elongate body based on the obtained signals from the one of the plurality of strain sensors. | 04-04-2013 |
20130085332 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CALIBRATION OF OPTICAL FIBER INSTRUMENT - An instrument system that includes an elongate body in a geometric configuration, an optical fiber, and a controller is provided. The optical fiber is operatively coupled to the elongate body and has a strain sensor provided on the optical fiber, wherein at least a portion of the optical fiber is in the geometric configuration. The controller is operatively coupled to the optical fiber and adapted to receive, from a source other than the optical fiber, information indicative of the geometric configuration, receive a signal from the strain sensor, and associate the signal with the geometric configuration. | 04-04-2013 |
20130085333 | FIBER OPTIC INSTRUMENT SHAPE SENSING SYSTEM AND METHOD - An instrument system that includes an elongate body, a first optical fiber, a second optical fiber, and a controller is provided. The first optical fiber is operatively coupled to the elongate body and has a first strain sensor provided on the first optical fiber. The second optical fiber is not directly coupled to the elongate body and has a second strain sensor provided on the second optical fiber. The controller is operatively coupled to the first optical fiber and to the second optical fiber. The controller is adapted to receive a first signal from the first strain sensor and to receive a second signal from the second strain sensor. The first optical fiber has a different size than the second optical fiber. | 04-04-2013 |
20130085334 | FIBER OPTIC INSTRUMENT SHAPE SENSING SYSTEM AND METHOD - An instrument system that includes an elongate body, an optical fiber, and a controller is provided. The optical fiber is operatively coupled to the elongate body and has a plurality of strain sensors provided on the optical fiber. Each of the plurality of strain sensors has a reflectivity, wherein one of the plurality of strain sensors has a different reflectivity than another one of the plurality of strain sensors. The controller is operatively coupled to the optical fiber and adapted to: receive one or more signals from the plurality of strain sensors; and determine a position of the elongate body based on the one or more signals. | 04-04-2013 |
20130090528 | INSTRUMENT SYSTEMS AND METHODS UTILIZING OPTICAL FIBER SENSOR - A method for mapping an internal structure of a patient with an elongate body is provided. The method includes detecting, at a plurality of instances, contact between a distal portion of an elongate body and an internal structure of the patient; determining a plurality of geometric configurations of the distal portion, the plurality of geometric configurations corresponding to the plurality of instances of contact between the distal portion and the internal structure; determining a plurality of positions of the distal portion, the plurality of positions corresponding to the plurality of geometric configurations; and generating a map of the internal structure based on the plurality of positions of the distal portion. | 04-11-2013 |
20130109919 | ENDOSCOPE | 05-02-2013 |
20130123579 | ILLUMINATED TUBING SET - An illuminated medical tubing set that provides visual indications of characteristics relating to the type and operating status of the tubing. An illuminated tubing set system generally comprises an optical element, a fluid conduit, and a power source. In general, the fluid conduit is used to transmit fluid in a critical care environment. The power source interfaces with the optical element. The optical element is configured to illuminate the tubing set after being powered by the power source. Optionally, the illuminated tubing set can further comprise a pressure sensor and a microcontroller. Additional sensors, such as to monitor other characteristics of the tubing, fluid, or surrounding environment, can also be included. For example, an occlusion sensor, temperature sensor, or flow sensor, or any combination thereof, can be included. | 05-16-2013 |
20130144124 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING VISUAL GUIDANCE TO AN OPERATOR FOR STEERING A TIP OF AN ENDOSCOPIC DEVICE TOWARD ONE OR MORE LANDMARKS IN A PATIENT - Landmark directional guidance is provided to an operator of an endoscopic device by displaying graphical representations of vectors adjacent a current image captured by an image capturing device disposed at a tip of the endoscopic device and being displayed at the time on a display screen, wherein the graphical representations of the vectors point in directions that the endoscope tip is to be steered in order to move towards associated landmarks such as anatomic structures in a patient. | 06-06-2013 |
20130261392 | TUBULAR INSERTION SYSTEM - A tubular insertion system includes an insertion unit including a bendable portion, a bending operation mechanism that operates the bendable portion. The tubular insertion system further includes a bending operation amount detection/calculation device that calculates bending operation amount information, a bent shape detection/calculation device that calculates bent shape information, and a first operation support information acquisition unit that acquires first operation support information based on at least one of the bending operation amount information and the bent shape information. | 10-03-2013 |
20130345513 | ENDOSCOPE APPARATUS AND MEDICAL SYSTEM - An endoscope apparatus includes: a light source apparatus that emits light in a wavelength band including a first wavelength band for exciting a first fluorescent substance and a second wavelength band; an image pickup section that picks up an image of first fluorescence emitted when the first fluorescent substance is excited and an image of second fluorescence emitted when a second fluorescent substance provided on a treatment instrument is excited, to generate a fluorescence image; an information storing section that stores shape information including information on a shape of the second fluorescent substance; and an operation section that performs an operation to estimate an actual size of a region in which the first fluorescence is generated, based on a scaling factor calculated based on the shape information and a size of a draw region of the second fluorescence, and a size of a draw region of the first fluorescence. | 12-26-2013 |
20130345514 | PROPRIOCEPTIVE ENDOSCOPE AND VIRTUAL DYNAMIC TOMOGRAPHY - Some embodiments provided herein relate to a device for endoscopy. The device includes a first segment of endoscopic tube, a second segment of endoscopic tube, and at least one positional sensor configured to determine a relative orientation of the first segment to the second segment. Some embodiments provided herein relate to mapping information (such as images) along a specific path and/or length of an endoscopic probe. | 12-26-2013 |
20140039258 | ENDOSCOPE INSERTION SHAPE OBSERVATION PROBE - An endoscope insertion shape observation probe including: a bobbin including a first insulation member provided at a front end of a core made of a magnetic member and a second insulation member provided at a rear end of the core; a coil portion formed by winding metal lines on the core; at least two terminal portions to which the metal lines are electrically connected; and signal lines having wires electrically connected to the terminal portions and extended rearward while being sandwiched between an inner circumferential surface of a tube and an outer circumferential portion of the coil portion, wherein the two terminal portions has the wires brazed respectively on surface sides thereof, the surface sides being directed in opposite directions away from each other toward outward of each magnetic coil unit, which improves resistance property of signal lines connected to plural magnetic coil units without increasing an outer diameter. | 02-06-2014 |
20140088363 | ENDOSCOPE SYSTEM - An endoscope system includes: an endoscope that has a light guiding member that guides an illuminating light, an optical system that irradiates the illuminating light onto an object, and a drive portion that rocks the light guiding member so that the illuminating light is irradiated along a predetermined scanning pattern; a coordinate information acquisition portion that can identify an irradiation position; a storage portion in which information regarding chromatic aberration of magnification caused by the optical system, is previously stored a correction information acquisition portion that, upon detecting that light of the predetermined wavelength band is irradiated onto a position corresponding to a predetermined image height, detects an aberration amount of the light of the other wavelength band and outputs image correction information that corrects chromatic aberration of magnification based on the aberration amount; and an image processing portion that performs image correction processing based on the image correction information. | 03-27-2014 |
20140135579 | ENDOSCOPIC SYSTEM WITH ELECTROGMAGNETIC INTERFERENCE SHIELDING - An endoscopic system can include an endoscope shaft having a proximal end and a distal end. The endoscopic system can have a sensor system that includes an electrically active sensor mounted proximate the distal end and positioned to sense at least one characteristic of an environment in which the distal end is located, a data signal transmission line connected to the sensor to transmit data signals between the sensor and a signal processor, and an electrical power transmission line connected to the sensor to transmit power to the sensor. The endoscopic system also can include a floating ground element arranged to provide an electrical reference for the sensor system. Voltage induced by an electromagnetic interference external to the endoscopic system on at least one of the data signal transmission line or electrical power line is substantially similar to the voltage induced by the electromagnetic interference on the floating ground element. | 05-15-2014 |
20140142385 | Endoscope with an adjustable viewing direction - An endoscope with an adjustable viewing direction includes a shaft, an image transmission device for transmitting an image from a distal end of the endoscope to a proximal end of the endoscope, a hermetically tight sheath around the image transmission device, with a light admission window at the distal end of the endoscope, a manipulating device at the proximal end of the endoscope, a swivel actuation device on the manipulating device for manual adjustment of an angle between the viewing direction and a longitudinal axis of the shaft, a magnetic coupling device for magnetically transmitting a force, parallel to the longitudinal axis of the shaft, between the swivel actuation device and a force transmission device inside the hermetically tight sheath, and a rotation actuation device on the manipulating device for manually rotating the viewing direction about the longitudinal axis of the shaft relative to the manipulating device. | 05-22-2014 |
20140187861 | ENDOSCOPE USING DEPTH INFORMATION AND METHOD FOR DETECTING POLYP BASED ON ENDOSCOPE USING DEPTH INFORMATION - An endoscope using depth information and a method for detecting a polyp based on the endoscope using the depth information are provided. The endoscope using the depth information may generate an irradiated light signal including a visible light, obtain depth information based on the irradiated light signal and a reflected light signal obtained through the irradiated light signal being reflected off of an intestine wall, generate a depth image inside the intestine wall based on the depth information, and detect a polyp located on the intestine wall based on the depth image. | 07-03-2014 |
20140200407 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR AUTOMATICALLY MAINTAING AN OPERATOR SELECTED ROLL ORIEINTATION AT A DISTAL TIP OF A ROBOTIC ENDOSCOPE - In a robotic endoscope system, the orientation of a captured camera view at a distal tip of a robotic endoscope and displayed on a screen viewable by an operator of the endoscope is automatically maintained at a roll orientation associated with a setpoint so as not to disorient the operator as the endoscope is moved, flexed and its tip turned in different orientations. A processor generates a current commanded state of the tip from operator input and modifies it to maintain the setpoint roll orientation. To generate the modified current commanded state, the current commanded roll position and velocity are constrained to be a modified current commanded roll position and velocity that have been modified according to a roll angular adjustment indicated by a prior process period commanded state of the tip and the setpoint. The processor then commands the robotic endoscope to be driven to the modified commanded state. | 07-17-2014 |
20140275785 | Device and Method to Display the Angle of View Endoscopically When Using a Multi-Angle Endoscope - An endoscope comprises an elongate shaft assembly, a window, a viewing angle adjustment assembly, and an indicator feature. The window is located at the distal end of the shaft assembly. The shaft assembly is configured to transmit a view acquired through the window. The viewing angle adjustment assembly is operable to selectively change a viewing angle associated with the window. The indicator feature is positioned to be visible within a view acquired through the window. The indicator feature is configured to indicate the viewing angle associated with the window. | 09-18-2014 |
20140330080 | SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING AN INSTRUMENT USING SHAPE SENSORS - The present invention relates, generally, to controlling a steerable instrument having an elongate body. More particularly, the present invention relates to a system and method for sensing the shape of a steerable instrument and controlling the steerable instrument in response to a control signal from a user input device and a shape signal corresponding to the sensed shape of at least a portion of the steerable instrument. The present invention also relates to a system for sensing the shape of a flexible instrument with an optical shape sensor. | 11-06-2014 |
20140336462 | INSERTION PORTION DETECTION DEVICE AND INSERTION PORTION DETECTION SYSTEM - An insertion portion detection device provided with a light source unit which emits measuring beam to an outer circumferential surface of a cylindrical shape of an insertion portion to be inserted into an insertion target and to be a detection target, an optical pattern detection unit which receives reflected light from the outer circumferential surface and which sequentially acquires image data in a predetermined range of the outer circumferential surface including given optical patterns so that at least some of the optical patterns correspond to the image data, and a displacement amount calculation unit which detects a corresponding optical pattern from the image data and calculates at least one of an insertion amount of the insertion portion and an amount of rotation around the central axis of the cylindrical shape. | 11-13-2014 |
20140350340 | INTRACORPOREAL LOCATOR PROBE - A probe device comprising an elongate flexible body and bend sensors for detect bending of the body and producing an output signal that is indicative of the detected bend. The probe device is connected to a processor which creates a data model of the probe device from the respective output signals of the bend sensors and renders the data model as an image of said probe device. The image may be superimposed with an image of an object, for example part of a human or animal body, into which the probe device is inserted during use. | 11-27-2014 |
20150025318 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INHIBITING INJURY TO A PATIENT DURING LAPAROSCOPIC SURGERY - This group of inventions provides means and methods for preventing the damaging portions of surgical tools, such as laparoscopic devices, from adversely contacting tissues and organs that are not in the desired field of surgery. As such, the present disclosure pertains to any form of a warning or positioning device or methods, including those that are facilitated via software that are adapted and arranged for use in tracking portions of surgical instruments during laparoscopic surgery or other medical procedures. Such systems include those that are adapted and arranged to provide a warning to the surgeon or other medical personnel regarding the positional status of an instrument, and those that are adapted and arranged for disabling or attenuating the portions of those instruments that might be dangerous to a patient when a dangerous portion of the instrument is near or outside the desired, or denominated, field of surgery. Data relating to the position and orientation of the instrument and of the position of a safe zone within which the instrument can be kept safely is optionally (preferably) stored throughout a medical procedure for later playback for training purposes or for ensuring that a patient was not injured during a medical procedure. | 01-22-2015 |
20150038788 | INSTRUMENT HAVING RADIO FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR USE - One RFID equipped instrument includes an elongate body with a plurality of uniquely identified radio frequency identification chips spaced along the length of the elongate body. One system used for determining the position of an instrument includes an instrument; a plurality of radio frequency identification chips attached to the instrument; a reader connected to an antenna and adapted to communicate with each radio frequency identification chip using the antenna. | 02-05-2015 |
20150080657 | ENDOSCOPE FOGGING PREVENTION UNIT AND ENDOSCOPE - An endoscope fogging prevention unit includes: a distal end section including a cylindrical member, in an interior of which at least an optical member is provided; a heating section configured to heat at least the optical member; and a measuring section configured to measure a temperature of the interior of the distal end section. The fogging prevention unit further includes: a wiring substrate section including a mounting area portion and a wiring area portion; and a conducting section having the lowest insulating properties against the outside in the mounting area portion, and connected to a ground of a system different from a system of a wiring member of the heating section and the measuring section. | 03-19-2015 |
20150112139 | ENDOSCOPE - An endoscope including an operation portion, an insertion portion pivotable relative to the operation portion, and a rotation knob to pivot the insertion portion about an axis of the insertion portion, includes: an insertion portion neutral position indicating portion, provided on an outer circumferential face of the rotation knob, configured to indicate a neutral position; and an indication ring, provided at the operation portion configured to include an operation portion neutral position indicating portion linearly aligned with the insertion portion neutral position indicating portion in an axis direction and indicating that the insertion portion is positioned at a neutral position, and two rotational angle indicating portions provided so as to be apart from the operation portion neutral position indicating portion in a circumferential direction, each of the two rotational angle indicating portions indicating rotation of the insertion portion. | 04-23-2015 |
20150297308 | ENTEROSCOPE MEASURING DEVICE - The present invention is a measuring device for determining the insertion distance of an endoscope in a body lumen during an endoscopy. The measuring device generally may include a bracket member for attaching the measuring device to an endoscope, a spooling device for spooling thread wrapped around a thread disk attached to the spooling device, and a thread tension knob. Prior to an endoscopy, the biocompatible thread may be attached to the lumen interior, such as the small intestine wall. As the endoscope is removed from the lumen, the thread unwinds from the thread disk as the spooling device rotates during the spooling process. A counting device counts the rotations of the spooling device. The number of rotations may subsequently be translated to linear distance so that a location within the lumen may later be correlated to images taken during the endoscopy. | 10-22-2015 |
20150320303 | ENDOSCOPE REPROCESSING APPARATUS - An endoscope reprocessing apparatus has a calculation section and a control section. The calculation section determines whether a flow rate or pressure information is in a region in which the circulation conduit is determined to be clogged, of a region exceeding a predetermined threshold value and a region below the predetermined threshold value, and determines whether newest flow rate or pressure information has a correlation with a change-over-time prediction axis when the flow rate or pressure information is in the region in which the circulation conduit is determined to be clogged. The control section performs a first measure relating to removal of scale when it is determined that the flow rate or pressure information has a correlation with the change-over-time prediction axis, and performs a second measure different from removal of scale when it is determined that the flow rate or pressure information does not have the correlation. | 11-12-2015 |
20150335226 | BENDING APPARATUS - A bending apparatus includes a shape sensor including a light source, an optical fiber, a detecting part, and a light receiver. The shape sensor utilizes a variation in optical characteristics, which is detected by the detecting part in accordance with a variation of curvature of the optical fiber when the optical fiber is bent. The shape sensor is freely bendable in any direction and having directivity in detection sensitivity for a bending direction. A bending direction restriction mechanism is combined with the shape sensor and has bending directivity including such a property of ease in bending that bending is easy in at least a specific direction other than a direction of a center line, and such a property of difficulty in bending that bending is difficult in directions other than the specific direction. | 11-26-2015 |
20150342500 | RELATIVE POSITION DETECTING SYSTEM OF TUBULAR DEVICE AND ENDOSCOPE APPARATUS - A relative position detecting system of a tubular device includes a shape sensor and a relative position detecting section. The shape sensor is configured to detect a shape of the tubular device to be inserted into a tubular cavity of an object. The relative position detecting section is configured to detect a relative positional relation between at least one position in a first range in which the shape of the tubular device is detectable by the shape sensor and at least one position in the tubular cavity. | 12-03-2015 |
20150359419 | OBJECT INSERTION SYSTEM - An object insertion system includes an insertion portion, a first information generator, a storage unit, a second information calculator and an output unit. The first information generator includes at least one sensor and is configured to generate first information indicating at least one of an insertion state and an operation state of the insertion portion in a body cavity. The second information calculator is configured to calculate second information based on the first information generated by the first information generator and at least one of third information and fourth information stored by the storage unit, the second information being operation support information to insert the insertion portion to perform a predetermined work. The output unit is configured to output the second information. | 12-17-2015 |
20160015470 | CONTENT PRESENTATION IN HEAD WORN COMPUTING - Aspects of the present invention relate to providing assistance to medical professionals during the performance of medical procedures through the use of technologies facilitated through a head-worn computer. | 01-21-2016 |
20160073858 | CALIBRATION ASSIST APPARATUS, CURVING SYSTEM, AND CALIBRATION METHOD - A calibration assist apparatus is an apparatus for use in a curving system, the curving system including an elongated flexible portion and a curve detection unit which is provided in the flexible portion and which is configured to detect a curving amount of the flexible portion. The calibration assist apparatus assists in calibrating the curve detection unit. The calibration assist apparatus includes a calibrator configured to restrain a deformation and a movement of the flexible portion in both directions along a first axis perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the flexible portion and restrain a deformation and a movement of the flexible portion in at least one direction along a second axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and the first axis. | 03-17-2016 |
20160073863 | CURVED SHAPE SENSOR - A curved shape sensor to detect a curved shape of a measured object includes a light source to emit detection light, an optical fiber to guide the detection light, a detection part provided at a portion of the optical fiber, a rotation suppressing member fixed to the optical fiber, and a light detection unit to detect the detection light traveling through the optical fiber. The measured object includes a tubular member having flexibility so as to be curved, and an incorporation member located inside the tubular member. The detection part changes characteristics of the detection light in accordance with a change in a curvature of the optical fiber. The rotation suppressing member is located within a space defined by the tubular and incorporation members with being in contact with them, so as to suppress rotation of the optical fiber. | 03-17-2016 |
20160073866 | TUBULAR SYSTEM - A tubular system includes a tubular apparatus including a flexible inserting section and a physical quantity detector, a physical quantity detector signal processing box to process a signal from the physical quantity detector, and a detachable connection cable to connect the tubular apparatus with the physical quantity detector signal processing box. The physical quantity detector includes an optical waveguide arranged in the inserting section. The connection cable includes a light source to supply light to the optical waveguide, a photodetector to detect light modulated by the physical quantity detector, a light entrance/exit section to supply or receive an optical signal to or from the physical quantity detector, and an electrical input/output section to supply or receive an electrical signal to or from the physical quantity detector signal processing box. | 03-17-2016 |
20160101263 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR REDUCING MEASUREMENT ERROR USING OPTICAL FIBER SHAPE SENSORS - An apparatus comprises an instrument including an elongated, flexible body and a shape sensor including an optical fiber extending at least partially along the elongated, flexible body. The apparatus also includes a radiopaque material incorporated with the optical fiber at least partially along a length of the optical fiber. | 04-14-2016 |
20160183770 | CONTACT DETECTING APPARATUS, OPTICAL MEASUREMENT APPARATUS, AND CONTACT DETECTING METHOD - A contact detecting apparatus detects contact between a body tissue and a probe for emitting illumination light onto the body tissue and receiving return light of the illumination light scattered from the body tissue. The contact detecting apparatus includes: a laser light source that emits laser light to irradiate a specified region of the body tissue via the probe; a photoelectric conversion unit that converts light received via the probe into an electric signal; and a signal processing unit that determines whether or not there is contact between a distal end of the probe and the body tissue based on whether the electric signal includes a component of a beat signal caused by interference of the return light of the laser light scattered from each of a surface of the body tissue and a surface of the distal end of the probe. | 06-30-2016 |