1. An endoscope system, comprising:
an endoscopic probe, the endoscopic probe having a proximal end, a distal end, and an elongate passageway extending between the proximal and distal ends; the elongate passageway configured to route at least one of an illumination system or a visualization system, wherein at least a distal end portion of the endoscopic probe is configured for insertion into a natural orifice of a body and routable through a tortuous natural lumen of the body; and
a sampling device attached to the endoscopic probe at a position proximate the distal end portion of the endoscopic probe such that the sampling device is configured for insertion into the body, wherein the sampling device includes a capnographic sensor capable of generating signals indicative of CO2 gas concentration during endoscopic use, and wherein the capnographic sensor includes an infrared LED light associated with an infrared detector, and a reference light emitter associated with a reference light detector.
2. The endoscopic system of claim 1, wherein the capnographic sensor measures CO2 concentration by IR spectroscopy.
3. The endoscopic system of claim 1, wherein the distal end portion of the endoscopic probe includes a distal-most end face, and wherein the sampling device is positioned adjacent the distal-most end face of the endoscopic probe.
4. The endoscopic system of claim 3, wherein the capnographic sensor includes an elongate sampling chamber, and wherein the distal-most end face of the elongate sampling chamber is a aligned with the distal-most end face of the endoscopic probe.
5. The endoscopic system of claim 1, further comprising a control console, the control console receiving signals from the capnographic sensor, processing the received signals, and displaying results of the processed signals.
6. The endoscopic system of claim 5, wherein the control console includes an alert device for generating an alert signal indicative of patient distress based on the received signals from the capnographic sensor.
7. The endoscopic system of claim 6, wherein the alert signal is either visual or audible.
8. The endoscopic system of claim 1, further comprising a respiration sensor.
9. The endoscopic system of claim 8, wherein the respiration sensor generates signals indicative of breath cycles.
10. An endoscopic system, comprising:
an endoscopic probe routable through a passageway of a body, the endoscopic probe having a proximal end, a distal end, and an elongate working channel therebetween, wherein the elongate working channel includes at least one of an illumination system or a visualization system, and wherein at least a distal end portion of the endoscopic probe is configured for insertion into a natural orifice of a body and routable through a tortuous natural lumen of the body; and
a sampling device coupled to the endoscopic probe and having a capnographic sensor capable of generating signals indicative of respiratory gas concentrations during endoscope probe use; said capnographic sensor located at a position proximate the distal end portion of the endoscopic probe such that the capnographic sensor is configured for insertion into the body, and wherein the capnographic sensor includes an infrared LED light associated with an infrared detector, and a reference light emitter associated with a reference light detector.
11. The endoscopic system of claim 10, wherein the distal end portion of the endoscopic probe includes a distal-most end face, and wherein the sampling device is located at the distal-most end face of the endoscopic probe.
12. The endoscopic system of claim 11, wherein the capnographic sensor includes an elongate sampling chamber, and wherein the distal-most end face of the elongate sampling chamber is a aligned with the distal-most end face of the endoscopic probe.
13. The endoscopic system of claim 10, further including a control console functionally connected to the endoscopic probe and the capnographic sensor, the control console receiving at least the generated signals from the capnographic sensor, processing the received signals, and outputting the processed signals for display, wherein the control console includes an alert device for generating a signal indicative of patient distress based on the received signals from the capnographic sensor.
14. The endoscopic system of claim 13, wherein patient distress is determined by comparing the processed signals from the capnographic signals with a value stored in or generated by the control console.
15. The endoscopic system of claim 10, further including a control console functionally connected to the endoscopic probe and the capnographic sensor, the control console receiving at least the generated signals from the capnographic sensor, processing the received signals, and outputting the processed signals for display, wherein the control console receives signals from the capnographic sensor and other signals associated with the body.
16. The endoscopic system of claim 15, wherein the other received signals are respiration signals indicative of breath cycles.
17. An endoscopic system, comprising:
an endoscopic probe, the endoscopic probe including a working channel configured to route an imaging or light system, and wherein at least a distal end portion of the endoscopic probe is configured for insertion into an esophagus of a body and routable through the esophagus of the body; and
a sampling device attached to the endoscopic probe including a capnographic sensor capable of generating signals indicative of respiratory gas concentrations during endoscope probe use; said capnographic sensor located at a position proximate the distal end portion of the endoscopic probe such that the capnographic sensor is configured for insertion into the esophagus of the body, and wherein the capnographic sensor includes an infrared LED light associated with an infrared detector, and a reference light emitter associated with a reference light detector.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1-11. (canceled)
12. A microscope comprising:
microscope optics for imaging an object;
a camera device arranged to record images captured by the microscope optics; and
a display apparatus connected to the camera device for displaying images recorded by the camera device to an observer, wherein at least one area of the display apparatus includes a deflecting device for deflecting light beams coming from an object into the microscope optics.
13. The microscope according to claim 12, wherein the deflecting device is provided on a side of the display apparatus opposite from a side of the display apparatus viewed by an observer.
14. The microscope according to claim 13, wherein the deflecting device is aligned so that the light beams coming from an object and deflected into the microscope optics extend substantially along a line of sight of an observer before the light beams are deflected by the deflecting device into the microscope optics.
15. The microscope according to claim 12, wherein the display apparatus includes a flat screen.
16. The microscope according to claim 12, wherein the display apparatus can be switched into a transparent mode in which the light beams coming from an object are at least partially transmitted through the display apparatus to an observer.
17. The microscope according to claim 12, wherein the deflecting device includes a mirror surface.
18. The microscope according to claim 12, wherein the deflecting device includes an electronically switchable mirror.
19. The microscope according to claim 12, wherein the deflecting device includes a switchable andor holographic reflective display.
20. The microscope according to claim 12, wherein the microscope is a stereomicroscope.
21. The microscope according to claim 20, wherein the display apparatus (12) has a stereoscopic viewing function.
22. The microscope according to claim 21, further comprising spatial sensors for reading spatial markings on an object, whereby external data can be displayed stereoscopically, spatially and with the correct magnification by the display apparatus according to a selected magnification of the microscope optics.