Abstract: To facilitate certain surgical procedures, a flexible endoscope may more readily be passed through body vessels and tubular organs, especially when those organs assume a tortuous path. However, a difficulty arises in steering a flexible endoscope through internal body orifices. In accordance with the present invention, a rigid introducer is used in combination with the flexible endoscope to facilitate targeting of such an orifice and once the distal end of the introducer is made to enter the orifice, the flexible endoscope can be advanced through the introducer and there beyond to the point in the body where an item of interest is to be viewed.

Abstract: A control handle for use in rotating a catheter and for rotating a working means at the end of the catheter.

Abstract: A control system and method for laser angioplasty or laser ablation or welding of tissue in general, in which firing of a laser catheter is correlated with movement of a vessel or other body chamber carrying the laser catheter, whereby the laser is fired only during those times its fiberoptic-delivered beam is aimed at plaque or other target in the vessel or chamber.

Abstract: Aimable catheters for laser angioplasty, including at its distal end a positioning means carrying a laser radiation transmission means and/or optical viewing means, the positioning means being rotatable about an axis spaced from that of the catheter.