Abstract: A catheter including a tube having at least one lumen, at least one elongate element, the at least one elongate element having a bendable portion at a predetermined bendable portion location therealong forward of a distal end of the tube and at least one selectably inflatable balloon communicating with at least one of the at least one lumen, the at least one selectably inflatable balloon having a forward end and a rearward end, the rearward end of the balloon being located rearwardly of the predetermined bendable portion location.

Abstract: A retrofitted credit card including a certified smart card chip, a display and retrofitted emulation circuitry operative to enable the certified smart card chip to communicate information to the display notwithstanding that the certified smart card chip is configured for communication only with an external read/write device.

Abstract: An endoscopy system including a balloon-equipped endoscope including a balloon which is configured for slidable frictional engagement with an interior wall of a body passageway and axial stretching of the interior wall when inflated to a slidable frictional engagement pressure and displaced axially along the body passageway and a balloon inflation subsystem operative to selectably inflate the balloon to the slidable frictional engagement pressure.

Abstract: Preparing an endoscope insertion assembly for performing endoscopy by providing the endoscope insertion assembly including an endoscope insertion tube operative for passage through a body cavity, and an optical assembly operative for inspection of said body cavity, and selectably inserting the optical assembly within said endoscope insertion tube.

Abstract: An enhanced flexibility auxiliary endoscope assembly for use with an endoscope, the assembly including at least one flexible elongate element and a flexible sleeve having a first lumen for accommodating a distal portion of an endoscope capable of assuming at least a first curvature and a second lumen for accommodating the at least one flexible elongate element, the second lumen being configured to allow the at least one flexible elongate element to assume the at least first curvature as well as at least a second curvature about the first curvature, thereby to enhance flexibility of the auxiliary endoscope assembly.

Abstract: An endoscope insertion assembly for performing endoscopy, including an endoscope insertion tube operative for passage through a body cavity, and an optical assembly operative for inspection of the body cavity, the optical assembly being selectably insertable within the endoscope insertion tube.

Abstract: An enhanced flexibility auxiliary endoscope assembly for use with an endoscope, the assembly including at least one flexible elongate element and a flexible sleeve having a first lumen for accommodating a distal portion of an endoscope capable of assuming at least a first curvature and a second lumen for accommodating the at least one flexible elongate element, the second lumen being configured to allow the at least one flexible elongate element to assume the at least first curvature as well as at least a second curvature about the first curvature, thereby to enhance flexibility of the auxiliary endoscope assembly.

Abstract: A balloon endoscope including an endoscope body having a selectably pressurizable interior volume, which generally fills the interior of the endoscope body and a selectably inflatable balloon located on an outer surface of the endoscope body and defining a balloon volume which communicates with the interior volume for selectable inflation of the balloon by selectable pressurization of the interior volume.

Abstract: A catheter including a tube having at least one lumen, at least one elongate element, the at least one elongate element having a bendable portion at a predetermined bendable portion location therealong forward of a distal end of the tube and at least one selectably inflatable balloon communicating with at least one of the at least one lumen, the at least one selectably inflatable balloon having a forward end and a rearward end, the rearward end of the balloon being located rearwardly of the predetermined bendable portion location.

Abstract: an endoscope system including an endoscope having an instrument channel and an anchoring assembly including an inflatable/deflatable balloon assembly, the inflatable/deflatable balloon assembly being deflatable to a cross-sectional size sufficiently small to enable it to pass through the instrument channel and being positionable and inflatable without substantial stretching to have a dimension sufficiently large to enable it to anchor in the large intestine.

Abstract: A catheter including a tube having at least one lumen, at least one elongate element, the at least one elongate element having a bendable portion at a predetermined bendable portion location therealong forward of a distal end of the tube and at least one selectably inflatable balloon communicating with at least one of the at least one lumen, the at least one selectably inflatable balloon having a forward end and a rearward end, the rearward end of the balloon being located rearwardly of the predetermined bendable portion location.

Abstract: A retrofitted credit card including a certified smart card chip, a display and retrofitted emulation circuitry operative to enable the certified smart card chip to communicate information to the display notwithstanding that the certified smart card chip is configured for communication only with an external read/write device.

Abstract: A side-mountable overtube for use with an endoscope including a sleeve formed with a slit, extending entirely along its length, and with a balloon inflation/deflation lumen communicating with a balloon opening at a balloon opening location intermediate along its length, and a selectably inflatable/deflatable balloon mounted onto the sleeve in a manner such that it does not extend entirely across the slit and thereby is side mountable along with the sleeve onto an endoscope, an interior of the balloon communicating with said balloon opening at the balloon opening location for selectable inflation/deflation of the balloon.

Abstract: A tubular body portion lining assembly adapted for insertion into a tubular body portion of a patient including a flexible tubular liner, liner placing functionality adapted to place at least a portion of the tubular liner between first and second locations within the tubular body portion, and at least one anchor adapted for anchoring the tubular liner to the tubular body portion at least a first selectable anchoring location.

Abstract: An expander for mounting a resilient outer tubular article over an elongate article including a chassis element having associated therewith at least one outwardly movable element which is selectably engageable with at least a portion of the resilient outer tubular article, a driver which is movable with respect to the chassis element and is operative to selectably engage the at least one outwardly movable element, when the outwardly movable element is in engagement with the at least a portion of the resilient outer tubular article, for producing corresponding outward motion and outward expansion thereof and an engagement element, associated with the driver, for insertion into the at least a portion of the resilient outer tubular article upon expansion thereof by operation of the driver, the engagement element being configured to accommodate at least a portion of the elongate article.

Abstract: A catheter including a tube having at least one lumen, at least one elongate element, the at least one elongate element having a bendable portion at a predetermined bendable portion location therealong forward of a distal end of the tube and at least one selectably inflatable balloon communicating with at least one of the at least one lumen, the at least one selectably inflatable balloon having a forward end and a rearward end, the rearward end of the balloon being located rearwardly of the predetermined bendable portion location.

Abstract: An endoscope insertion assembly for performing endoscopy, including an endoscope insertion tube operative for passage through a body cavity, and an optical assembly operative for inspection of the body cavity, the optical assembly being selectably insertable within the endoscope insertion tube.

Abstract: An endoscope assembly including an endoscope, a selectably inflatable balloon mounted onto a distal portion of the endoscope and an external tube extending alongside the endoscope and traversing the selectably inflatable balloon.

Abstract: An enhanced flexibility auxiliary endoscope assembly for use with an endoscope, the assembly including at least one flexible elongate element and a flexible sleeve having a first lumen for accommodating a distal portion of an endoscope capable of assuming at least a first curvature and a second lumen for accommodating the at least one flexible elongate element, the second lumen being configured to allow the at least one flexible elongate element to assume the at least first curvature as well as at least a second curvature about the first curvature, thereby to enhance flexibility of the auxiliary endoscope assembly.

Abstract: A device such as a smart card (100) capable of displaying data on a display panel (122). The panel (122) comprises an array of segments (130) coupled to a battery (124) for activating any or several of the segments. Microprocessor (114) is employed for storing and processing data. Switch (110) is operable by the user. Driver (120) includes electronic switches (220; 222) for activating a selection of the segments in accordance with the processed data to display segmented symbols on the panel (122). In order to extend battery life while keeping long-lasting quality performance, the polarity of the voltage applied to the segments is reversed in succession with respect to the previous activations.