Abstract: A control unit that includes a braking system for fixing the position of an endoscope tip is provided. The control system includes an up-down control knob and a right-left control knob. The brakes are engaged by rotating the control knob itself counter-clockwise from a free wheeling position. After the brakes have been engaged, a sufficient amount of force applied to the control knobs will move the endoscope tip slightly in the corresponding direction, allowing for fine tuning of tip position after braking.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention is an articulation joint for use in a low cost medical device such as an endoscope intended for a single use. In one embodiment, the articulation joint comprises a plurality of interconnected segments. In another embodiment, the articulation joint comprises an elongated tubular body. In another aspect, the present invention provides methods of manufacturing an articulation joint for use in a medical device.

Abstract: A wire fixing structure includes: a first hole portion through which a wire passes; and a second hole portion which is formed in a direction orthogonal to the first hole portion and communicates with the first hole portion. The wire includes: a first portion which is inserted into and is disposed in the first hole portion; a second portion which is extended from the first hole portion and wound around the outer peripheral portion of a wire fixing member; and a third portion which is inserted into and is disposed in the first hole portion again after the second portion is wound around the outer peripheral portion. The fastening member is inserted into the second hole portion and fixes the first portion and the third portion by pressing in the first hole portion.

Abstract: An endoscope system comprises an endoscope and a display to display image content captured by the endoscope. The endoscope system also comprises one or more sensors located in a headrest and configured to detect an input at the headrest. The endoscope system also comprises a control module configured to receive one or more sensor signals from the one or more sensors. The one or more sensor signals indicate movement of the headrest with respect to a support on which the headrest is mounted or pressure applied to the headrest. The control module is also configured to adjust the image content displayed by the display in response to the one or more sensor signals.

Abstract: An endoscope tip part including a tip housing at least partially enclosing an interior cavity and including a window, and a vision assembly accommodated in the interior cavity and including an imaging subassembly including an image sensor viewing in an optical direction through the window of the tip housing, a light source comprising an illumination surface for emitting light, a separate frame component including a light shielding wall made of an opaque material and extending between the image sensor and the light source so as to at least partially shield the image sensor from light emitted from the light source.

Abstract: An endoscopic system includes an integrated grasper device passing through a device lumen in the cannula. The grasper device has distal end forming two jaw portions that are biased to remain in an open position if unconstrained. The grasper has arch shaped portions that push against the inner surface of the device lumen when the grasper is retracted. To close the jaws of the grasper the grasper is retracted proximally until the arch shaped portions engage the opening of the device lumen. Further retraction causes the grasper jaws to close through engagement with the device lumen inner surface. The endoscopy system can include a single-use, removable cannula having a camera module on its distal tip. A re-usable portion can include the hand piece and display screen.

Abstract: A medical introducer includes an elongated tubular member having a proximal end, a distal portion, and a central lumen extending from the proximal end to a distal port in the distal portion. A frame structure is coupled to the distal portion of the elongated tubular member, where frame structure supports the distal portion of the elongated tubular member in a tapered shape and alternatively in a non-tapered shape. The elongated tubular member may include a rigid outer tube and a rigid inner tube carried in an interior lumen of the outer tube. The distal portion is typically a reinforced elastomeric tubular extension of the outer tube, and the reinforced elastomeric tubular extension may have a conical shape.

Abstract: A medical device, configured for insertion into a body, may include an elongate member extending from a proximal end to a distal end, where the distal end may be configured to be positioned inside the body. The medical device may also include an imaging device positioned at the distal end. The medical device may further include a plurality of light sources positioned at the distal end, wherein a characteristic of light delivered through a first light source may be controlled independent of the characteristic of light delivered through a second light source.

Abstract: An endoscope includes a shaft assembly having proximal and distal ends and a longitudinal axis therebetween. A handle is coupled to the proximal end of the shaft assembly, and an elastomeric body housing an image sensor and at least one LED is comprises a distal end of the shaft. The elastomeric body is deformable between a repose straight insertion profile and a deflected offset profile by the insertion of a tool shaft through the shaft assembly and an expandable-collapsible working channel in the elastomeric body. The viewing angle of the image sensor is moved from a first selected angle to a second selected angle when the elastomeric body is actuated from the repose profile to the deflected offset profile.

Abstract: An endoscope includes a handle, an elongated body extending distally from the handle and defining a longitudinal axis, a light source disposed within the distal portion of the elongated body and configured to illuminate tissue, and a therapeutic unit disposed within the distal portion of the elongated body and configured to treat tissue.

Abstract: Provided is an endoscope that can easily perform the attachment and detachment work of a proximal end side of a wire with respect to a slider. An endoscope includes a base member (98) that forms a slider housing space (150) that is independent of an internal space of an operating part (22), an opening part (94) that is provided at a proximal end of a wire channel (62) and delivers the proximal end side of the wire (60) to a slider housing space (150), a slider (96) that is disposed in the slider housing space (150) and moves in a longitudinal direction of the operating part (22) depending on the operation of an erection operating lever (20) so as to be movable forward and backward, an engaged part (152) that is provided in the slider (96) and recessed toward a lateral side orthogonal to a movement direction of the slider (96), and an engaging member (154) that is provided at the proximal end of the wire (60) and is pushed into and engageable with the engaged part (152) from the lateral side.

Abstract: An insertion apparatus includes: a base member, a rotary shaft, and a driven member including a hole. A plurality of concave portions are formed on the rotary shaft, and a pair of side wall surfaces which form each of the plurality of concave portions are disposed so as to intersect with each other at a right angle or at an obtuse angle.

Abstract: A system and method for a teleoperational medical system is provided is provided that can include one or more processors, conductors can extend through a shaft with an interface positioned at a proximal end of the shaft and a sensor(s) positioned at a distal end of the shaft, and the conductors can electrically couple the sensor(s) to the processor via the interface. Signals can be transmitted over the conductors between the sensor(s) and the processor(s). The signals can include power and control signals transmitted in one direction over the conductors and sensor data transmitted in an opposite direction over the same conductors.

Abstract: There is provided a photoelectric composite module according to the present disclosure including: a first connecting member having an outer frame having a tubular shape, and a plurality of contacts provided in an interior of the outer frame; a first printed board on which a photoelectric conversion element configured to convert an electrical signal into an optical signal is mounted, and which is configured to act as a relay between the contacts and the photoelectric conversion element; and a second printed board configured to act as a relay between the contacts and an electrical signal cable. The first printed board and the second printed board are three-dimensionally arranged.

Abstract: A cap for attachment to a distal end of an endoscope and a method of positioning the cap on the endoscope are provided. The cap includes a tubular body having a proximal portion, a distal portion and a lumen extending therethrough. The proximal portion includes a first portion and a second portion where at least one of the first portion and the second portion includes a connector for operably connecting the first portion and the second portion. The cap has in open configuration wherein at least a portion of the first portion and the second portion are spaced apart and movable relative to each other. The cap also has a closed configuration wherein the first and second portions are connected and the lumen if formed therethrough. The cap in the closed configuration is sized and shaped to be positionable on the distal end of the endoscope.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to surgical systems and methods. The system includes a main assembly having an IMU subsystem, camera, scope head assembly, and processor. Processor processes images and IMU information, including determining whether images include a distal end of the scope head assembly and a cannulation target. Responsive to a determination that images include the distal end of the scope head assembly, the processor generates 3-dimensional position of distal end of the scope head assembly. When images are determined to include the cannulation target, the processor generates 3-dimensional positions of the cannulation target. Processor also generates predictions of one or more real-time trajectory paths for the distal end of the scope head assembly to cannulate the cannulation target.

Abstract: An endoscope apparatus includes an endoscope having a lens, an actuator, and an endoscope memory, and a processor having a driving circuit and a processor memory and connected to the endoscope. The processor judges whether there is abnormality or not in at least one of the actuator or the driving circuit by using information on a signal transmitted from the driving circuit to the actuator, first judgement information read from the endoscope memory, and second judgement information read from the processor memory.

Abstract: Devices, systems and methods for cleaning a surface of as elongated instrument held within a cavity. In particular embodiments of the device, a longitudinal wire member extends along an elongated instrument (e.g. a laparoscope) and a rotatable transverse member removes matter from a surface of the instrument (e.g. a lens).

Abstract: A continuous flow endoscope device includes an elongated tubular member defining an interior, a first channel disposed within the interior of the elongated tubular member, a second channel disposed within the interior of the elongated tubular member, and an optics device disposed in a free space of the interior of the elongated tubular member. The second channel is configured to receive an instrument therein during a first portion of an operation. A lumen defined through the second channel is fluidly isolated from a lumen defined through the first channel. The free space of the interior of the elongated tubular member being a space within the interior of the elongated tubular member not occupied by either the first channel or the second channel.

Abstract: There is an endoscope that allows operations for attaching and detaching the proximal end of a wire to and from an elevating operation mechanism to be easily performed, can reduce the influence of variations of the length of a soft part and the length of an operation wire, and can adjust an operating range of an elevating operation lever for an elevator.