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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8029438 | Endoscope and hydrophilic cap An endoscope includes: an insertion portion including a distal end portion, to be inserted into a subject; an observation optical system disposed in the insertion portion; an optical member configuring a part of an outer surface of the distal end portion, through wh... | 10/04/2011 |
| 7938774 | Endoscope apparatus having controlled heater An endoscope apparatus of the invention includes an endoscope, camera control unit (CCU), and a trocar. The endoscope includes a heater and a temperature sensor. The CCU is configured to include a resistance value-voltage value conversion section, an analog-digital ... | 05/10/2011 |
| 7537563 | Heater for surgical viewing instruments A system and associated method is used for warming an endoscope, laparoscope, or other such instrument to minimize fogging. The preferred embodiment comprises a pad for wrapping around an instrument, including a one or more substances operative to generate heat thro... | 05/26/2009 |
| 7455637 | Electronic endoscope with heater An electronic endoscope comprising a pick-up unit at a distal end of the electronic endoscope, the pick-up unit comprising: an object optical system that brings in image light of a portion to be observed in a body cavity; a solid-state image pick-up device that pick... | 11/25/2008 |
| 7413543 | Endoscope with actively cooled illumination sources An endoscopic imaging system includes a reusable control cabinet having a number of actuators that control the orientation of a lightweight endoscope that is connectable thereto. The endoscope is used with a single patient and is then disposed. The endoscope include... | 08/19/2008 |
| 7341556 | Endoscope with cleaning optics The instrument has an original cleaning system, which includes a gas nozzle supplying a gas jet onto the optical surface under high pressure. This pressure is sufficient to enable the gas jet to be a single cleaning means for cleaning the optical surface in all clin... | 03/11/2008 |
| 7311660 | Method and apparatus for heating and applying warm antifog solution to endoscopes as well as a distal lens protector A sterile, self-contained, disposable apparatus used for heating and applying solution to the distal end of endoscopes as well as an endoscopic lens protector. The heating mechanism is chemical, electrical or a combination of both. Further the apparatus serves as a ... | 12/25/2007 |
| 7207937 | Objective lens unit, in-vivo examination apparatus and adaptor When examining a living organism exhibiting dynamic behavior such as pulsing, the dynamic behavior is suppressed and clear images are acquired. The invention provides an objective lens unit including a lens barrel for supporting optical components, wherein an end su... | 04/24/2007 |
| 7058213 | Scanning system and calibration method for capturing precise three-dimensional information of objects A scanning system includes a hand-held scanning device that generates two-dimensional images of a pattern reflected off an object. The system also includes a memory and processing unit. The memory stores a calibration table for the scanner and received scanned bitma... | 06/06/2006 |
| 7041054 | LED illumination for surgical endoscopes and industrial rigid boroscopes An endoscope and stroboscope comprising an elongated rigid tube that includes an inner tube providing an optical path for viewing through said tube by a human being, an LED light source connected to said tube and a fiber optic bundle providing light transmission fro... | 05/09/2006 |
| 7030904 | Reduced area imaging device incorporated within wireless endoscopic devices A reduced area imaging device is provided for use in medical or dental instruments such as an endoscope. In a first embodiment of the endoscope, connections between imaging device elements and between a video display is achieved by hard-wired connections. In a secon... | 04/18/2006 |
| 7015423 | Heating device for dental material A heating device into which a compule of dental material can be inserted to elevate the temperature of the dental material to above ambient temperature prior to clinical use having a base for housing a heating element, a temperature control mechanism for controlling... | 03/21/2006 |
| 7011626 | Optical instrument, in particular an endoscopic instrument The invention relates to an optical instrument, in particular an endoscopic instrument, with a housing, containing at least one optical system and a hygroscopic substance, and in which an eyepiece is detachably secured to the housing. In order to design an optical i... | 03/14/2006 |
| 7002621 | Communication devices incorporating reduced area imaging devices A reduced area imaging device is provided for use with a communication device, such as a wireless/cellular phone. Various configurations of the imaging device are provided which locate the elements of the imaging device at desired locations. The communication device... | 02/21/2006 |
| 6716161 | Endoscope suitable for autoclave sterilization An endoscope suitable for autoclave sterilization includes an insertion section having an objective lens section disposed at the extreme end thereof for focusing a subject image and an eyepiece section located on the base end side of the inserting section and includ... | 04/06/2004 |
| 6712479 | Method for preventing laparoscope fogging The present invention includes maintaining the region of the proximal lens of a laparoscope at greater than ambient temperature in order to prevent fogging during use. Heating is accomplished using commercially available chemical heat packs generally used for heatin... | 03/30/2004 |
| 6695775 | Lens assembly for endoscopic lens system An optical lens assembly containing a plural number of lens elements for an optical system to be incorporated into a tip end portion of an endoscopic insertion instrument. Of a plural number of lenses which constitute an optical system, a metal film layer... | 02/24/2004 |
| 6547721 | Endoscope capable of being autoclaved An endoscope capable of being autoclaved in accordance with the present invention includes an insertion unit, an internal endoscope space, and contents. The insertion unit has a soft member, which is made of a soft polymeric material, as at least part of ... | 04/15/2003 |
| 6413209 | Imaging system with condensation control In one embodiment, a camera includes an image sensor, a sheath, and a housing. A first end of the sheath is closed to form a cavity to accommodate the image sensor, and the housing is adapted to mate with a second end of the sheath. One of the housing and... | 07/02/2002 |
| 6248060 | Rigid endoscope with second illumination system laterally offset from first illumination system A rigid endoscope includes a jacket tube with an optical system and, parallel to the optical axis of the optical system, a first glass fiber bundle which emits a beam to illuminate an object to be examined. A second optical illumination system is directed... | 06/19/2001 |
| 6234635 | Method for preventing laparoscope fogging The present invention includes maintaining the region of the proximal lens of a laparoscope at greater than ambient temperature in order to prevent fogging during use. Heating is accomplished using commercially available chemical heat packs generally used... | 05/22/2001 |
| 5951464 | Distal end part of endoscope A distal end part of an endoscope having a viewing window for introducing light from an object into an objective optical system for forming an observed image. An illuminating window is disposed in a side by a side relationship with the viewing window for ... | 09/14/1999 |
| 5910106 | Method and apparatus for heating a surgical instrument An instrument heater for heating a surgical instrument. The instrument heater includes a sheath having an inner and outer wall. The inner wall forms a bore through which the optical scope is inserted. A chemical solution fills the space between the inner ... | 06/08/1999 |
| 5865725 | Image capture instrument with side view angle The present invention is characterized by arranging along the lengthwise direction within a lens barrel: a side view mirror or prism which reflects in the lengthwise direction of said lens barrel the optical image incident from a translucent window that o... | 02/02/1999 |
| 5725478 | Methods and apparatus for providing suction and/or irrigation in a rigid endoscope while maintaining visual contact with a target area through the endoscope Methods and apparatus for providing suction and/or irrigation in rigid endoscopes used for, e.g., bronchoscopy, esphagoscopy, and sigmoidoscopy are described. The described methods and apparatus permit a user of the endoscope to maintain visual contact wi... | 03/10/1998 |
| 5651757 | Endoscope warmer An endoscope warmer for preheating endoscopic surgical instruments, wherein the warmer comprises a holster, a plurality of channels formed in the wall of the holster for circulating a heated fluid, a supply port and a return port for maintaining a constan... | 07/29/1997 |
| 5647840 | Endoscope having a distally heated distal lens An endoscope having a distally heated distal lens for performing laparoscopic surgery is shown. The preferred embodiment of the endoscope is a laparoscope which includes a rigid elongated sheath tube which encloses means defining a fiber optic light carry... | 07/15/1997 |
| 5605532 | Fog-free endoscope A fog-free endoscope comprises an elongated tube defining an optical path extending from a distal end of the endoscope. A front window is fixed to the endoscope distal end, and heating means is disposed in the endoscope proximate the window to provide hea... | 02/25/1997 |
| 5549543 | Laparoscopic defogging apparatus A laparoscopic defogging apparatus for regulating and maintaining the temperature of a lens and end portion of the laparoscope is disclosed. A receptacle is provided which contains a first sterile fluid at a sufficient depth to allow the lens and end port... | 08/27/1996 |
| 5533496 | Endoscopic technique particularly suited for exploratory surgery Improved exploratory, pre- and post- surgical techniques are now available due to an improved endoscope which uses a housing with a window member thereon. Due to the window's angle and the air-pocket between the viewing tip of the endoscope and the window... | 07/09/1996 |
| 5518502 | Compositions, methods and apparatus for inhibiting fogging of endoscope lenses Methods for preventing and/or eliminating fogging of endoscope lenses during an endoscopic procedure which include the steps of introducing an endoscope into a body cavity and contacting the endoscope lens with a biocompatible and biodegradable compositio... | 05/21/1996 |
| 5464008 | Laparoscope defogging A defogger for the objective lens of a laparoscope provides a channel in a longitudinal direction of the laparoscope. Gas from an insufflator is supplied to the channel exteriorly of a body being operated upon. A deflector is provided at or adjacent the o... | 11/07/1995 |
| 5448990 | Endoscope viewing cannula and surgical techniques An improved endoscope assembly for exploratory and general surgery which permits exceptional vision while eliminating the requirement of both washing of the lense and expansion of the body cavity. Using a standard endoscope, a housing is placed over the e... | 09/12/1995 |
| 5413092 | Sheath for endoscope The sheath for endoscope includes a tubular sleeve portion and a lens cover portion at one end of the tubular sleeve portion. The lens cover portion is of a predetermined thickness that minimizes light reflection onto the field of view of the endoscope. T... | 05/09/1995 |
| 5351675 | Method and apparatus for preheating an optical instrument prior to use thereof in a medical procedure A method and apparatus for preheating an optical instrument prior to use thereof in a medical procedure, wherein the optical instrument includes an elongated optical shaft portion. The apparatus includes a casing for receiving the optical shaft portion th... | 10/04/1994 |
| 5347988 | Endoscope coupler with liquid interface An improved endoscope assembly includes a quantity of optically transparent liquid filling the space between facing windows of adjoining mechanically and optically coupled components to eliminate fogging due to condensation and thereby provide improved im... | 09/20/1994 |
| 5343855 | Endoscope pipeline controlling apparatus and endoscope system An endoscope pipeline controlling apparatus and endoscope system comprising an air feeding pipe communicating with an air feeding pump, a water feeding tank to which is connected a water feeding air feeding pipe branched from a part of the above-mentioned... | 09/06/1994 |
| 5339800 | Lens cleaning means for invasive viewing medical instruments with anti-contamination means Means for preventing contamination of the surgical viewing instrument including a flexible bag mounted on the proximal end of a hollow double walled tubular elongated member concentrically mounted to a borescope or surgical viewing instrument where the sp... | 08/23/1994 |
| 5261392 | Laryngoscope with interchangeable fiberoptic assembly A laryngoscope comprised of an integral handle and curved blade with a bivalve element to form an enclosed passageway with the curved blade, the handle shaped to receive a fiberoptic bundle assembly and the interior of the curved blade having a channel in... | 11/16/1993 |
| 5016098 | Electronic video dental camera An electronic video dental camera is provided which overcomes the disadvantages of both prior art dental mirrors, endoscopes, and video endoscopes. The electronic video dental camera is readily manipulated by dentists who are familiar with the manipulatio... | 05/14/1991 |
