Endoscopy device and endoscopy system with annular view

An endoscopy apparatus, comprising:

• a housing positioned at a distal end of an endoscopic shaft and a line for transmitting at least either electrical power or a control signal from a proximal end of the shaft to the distal end portion of the shaft;
• a first imaging means comprising at least a catadioptric imaging device having a first reflective surface and a second reflective surface and a light refracting interface, and a first image sensor, the first imaging means disposed in an end portion of said housing and configured to collect light reflected, scattered, or emitted from objects in a predetermined first surrounding region annularly surrounding the distal end portion of the endoscopic shaft and configured to generate a first image of said first surrounding area, and said first image sensor is configured to capture said first image and generate a first image signal representing said first image;
• and
• a second imaging means comprising at least a lens configured to gather light and a second image sensor, the second imaging means disposed in said end portion of said housing and configured to collect light reflected, scattered, or emitted from objects in a predetermined second surrounding region, and configured to generate a second image of said second surrounding region, and said second image sensor is arranged back-to-back with the first image sensor and configured to capture said second image and generate a second image signal representing said second image.