Abstract: A reusable rotating ultrasound capsule for mounting to a distal end of a catheter. An exemplary device includes a motor compartment having a proximal face and a distal end. A sensor compartment includes a cap that seals with the motor compartment. A motor located within the motor compartment includes a drive component and a shaft rotatably coupled to the drive component and extending distally from the motor compartment into the sensor compartment. The shaft includes an ultrasound transducer. A plurality of electrical contacts are mounted on the proximal face. At least two of the electrical contacts are electrically coupled to the motor. A rotational electrical coupler includes a rotational component mechanically coupled to the shaft and electrically coupled to the ultrasound transducer and a stationary component mechanically coupled to the motor compartment and electrically coupled to one or more of the plurality of electrical contacts.

Abstract: A catheter and catheter system includes a first lumen and a second lumen adjacent to the first lumen. The catheter occupies an arc around the first lumen, wherein the arc is greater than 180° and less than 360°, thus creating a lengthwise opening to the first lumen. The catheter material surrounds the second lumen in a cross-sectional dimension. Prior to a procedure, a sampling device is introduced into the second lumen prior and the probe is snapped into the first lumen prior to insertion into an endoscope.

Abstract: A system for determining orientation of a distal end of a catheter. The system includes a radial ultrasound system configured to generate images based on data received from a radial ultrasound probe. The system also includes a display device to present the generated images, a medical device, and a catheter system. The catheter system includes a flexible shaft having a first lumen configured to receive the radial ultrasound probe and a second lumen configured to receive the medical device, a cap portion having a longitudinal axis, and at least one orientation pin. The cap portion includes a third lumen configured to align with the first lumen, a fourth lumen configured to align with the second lumen, an exit port, and a ramp disposed between the fourth lumen and the exit port.

Abstract: An elongated access device used in a medical system. The elongated access device slidably receives a medical tool and an ultrasound probe. The elongated access device includes a sheath and an intraluminal tip attached to the distal end of the sheath. The intraluminal tip includes ramp and nose donuts being spaced apart from one another and configured to be attached to one or more elongated sleeves. One or more orientation pins are engaged with the respective ramp and nose donuts and may be anchored within the sheath. The medical tool is engaged with a ramp formed in the ramp donut or a ramp received within the ramp donut. The ultrasound probe is configured to engage with the intraluminal tip so as to ensure that the medical tool directionality is oriented toward a target during a procedure.

Abstract: In a bending tube including: multiple first slots for bending provided at set intervals, respectively, along a direction of a direction of a longitudinal axis O of a cylindrical bending tube body, the multiple first slots for bending extending in a circumferential direction of the bending tube body; slots for forming wire guide (a first slot for bending) paired and provided on arrangement of the multiple first slots for bending, the slots for forming wire guide extending in the circumferential direction of the bending tube body; and a wire guide formed by deforming a circumferential part of the bending tube body between the paired slots for forming wire guide, in an inner diameter direction; a width of a slot for bending adjacent to the wire guide is set relatively narrower than a width of other slots for bending.

Abstract: A tissue fastener production method of clamping two living tissues together by bringing the two living tissues into close contact includes the following steps: fixing one end of a wire material made of a metal to a shaft body, and winding the wire material around an outer periphery of the shaft body while twisting the wire material round an axis of the wire material, thereby forming a coil on which a predetermined force is exerted in the winding direction; heat treating the wire material to impart superelasticity thereto; and deforming the wire material to which the superelasticity is imparted in a range in which the wire material is elastically deformable, and reversing the winding direction of the coil in a direction reverse to the winding direction of the coil wound in the step of forming the coil so as to obtain an initial tension corresponding to the predetermined force.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing reports of medical procedures includes a biometric data recorder to record and transmit biometric data of a patient, the biometric data being transmitted with a medical report of the medical procedure. The medical report and biometric data are transmitted as an encrypted transmission to an information center for storage. The medical reports of steps in the medical procedure for a patient are linked using the biometric data even if performed by different medical service providers. Medical reports of plural patients undergoing the procedure are stored, linked according to patient using the patient biometric data. Reports generated from the linked data anonymously report a given patient's status following the procedure. Statistical reports are generated on plural patients undergoing the procedure, and competing procedures are compared using the statistical reports.

Abstract: An optical measurement apparatus includes a connector where a base end portion of a measurement probe introduced into a subject is connected, a light source unit that emits illumination light irradiated from a leading end of the measurement probe, an optical measurement unit that measures reflection light and/or scattering light of the illumination light incident through the measurement probe, a first optical path that transmits the illumination light emitted by the light source unit to the optical measurement unit, a second optical path that transmits, to the measurement probe, the illumination light emitted by the light source unit and transmits, to the optical measurement unit, reflection light and/or scattering light of the illumination light incident through the measurement probe, and an optical path switching unit that switches an optical path for transmitting the illumination light into the first optical path or the second optical path.

Abstract: A surgical treatment device which is used together with an endoscope, includes a sheath, a treatment portion which is arranged at the distal end portion of the sheath and includes first to third electrodes configured to treat a living tissue by using electrical energy, an operation portion which is arranged at a proximal end portion of the sheath and which is configured to operate the treatment portion, and a switching portion which is configured to switch between a first mode in which a treatment is given by using the first electrode and at least one of the second and third electrodes in the treatment portion and a second mode in which a treatment is given by using the second and third electrodes.

Abstract: An endoscope includes an insertion portion, a bending operation input portion, a first bending drive mechanism and a second bending drive mechanism. The insertion portion includes a first bending portion and a second bending portion disposed at the proximal end of the first bending portion. The bending operation input portion can bend the first bending portion. The first bending drive mechanism bends the first bending portion in accordance with the operation of the bending operation input portion. The second bending drive mechanism can automatically bend the second bending portion in the same direction as the bending direction of the first bending portion in conformity to the first bending portion after the start of the bending of the first bending portion.

Abstract: A blunt dissector for endoscopic vein harvesting has a generally-cylindrical sheath for retaining an elongated endoscope. The sheath is elongated between a distal end and a proximal end. A transparent tip is disposed at the distal end of the sheath. A handle is disposed at the proximal end of the sheath. The sheath includes a selectably closable longitudinal slot having an opened configuration such that the endoscope can be inserted radially into the sheath. The longitudinal slot has a closed configuration that retains the endoscope within the sheath and presents a substantially it) smooth outer surface for use during dissection.

Abstract: An endoscopic surgical instrument includes a wiping section that is provided at a tip part of an insertion section and is pivoted to wipe off extraneous matter adhering to an observation surface provided at a tip part of a lens the endoscope through a grip section and the insertion section. An axial member is inserted through the insertion section and is connected to the wiping section. An operation section is provided over a whole circumference of a tip end of the grip section in a longitudinal direction of the grip section, is connected to the axial member, and operates the wiping section through the axial member. A center axis of the operation section is coaxial to a center axis of an endoscope when the endoscope is inserted through the grip section and the insertion section.

Abstract: An endoscopic surgical instrument includes an insertion section which is inserted into a body cavity, and a surgical section which is disposed on a tip of the insertion section and treats an object. The surgical section includes a body section, and a first electrode, a second electrode, and a third electrode which are disposed on the body section. The surgical section coagulates and cuts the object by using a combination of not less than two of the first electrode, the second electrode, and the third electrode.

Abstract: The present invention is a method of treating a wound in a sac-like cavity inside of a subject using negative pressure therapy. In the treatment method, an applicator connected to a negative pressure source and a closing member that closes an opening of the sac-like cavity are inserted to the sac-like cavity. The applicator is placed in the sac-like cavity and the closing member is placed in contact with the edge of an opening section of the sac-like cavity. The negative power source is driven, and a negative pressure of a desired value is applied to the sac-like cavity from the negative pressure source. The negative pressure of the desired value in the sac-like cavity is maintained, and negative pressure therapy is performed.

Abstract: A biological observation apparatus according to the present application includes a sound wave radiating unit that radiates a sound wave into an object to be examined in living tissue, a light radiating unit that radiates light into the object, a light interfering unit that makes the light radiated from the light radiating unit interfere with light reflected from an area where the sound wave reaches and radiates interference light, a light detector that detects the interference light radiated from the light interfering unit and outputs an interference signal corresponding to the interference light, and a calculation unit that calculates the amount of frequency modulation of the radiated light based on the interference signal outputted from the light detector and calculates a difference value between the two adjacent amounts of frequency modulation in sequence.

Abstract: A method is provided to collect liquid, such as pancreatic juice water, and saline, from a body cavity of a subject. In the method, a tool is inserted through the body cavity to reach a target site in the body cavity. A body position of the subject is adjusted such that the wall surface of the body cavity including the target site intersects with a direction of gravitational force and the liquid present in the body cavity gathers on the wall surface intersecting with the direction of gravitational force. A recess is formed to be concaved on the wall surface in the direction of the gravitational force by making the tool press the wall surface of the body cavity. Therefore, the liquid present or discharged in the body cavity is accumulated in the recess. The liquid accumulated in the recess is taken out of the body of the subject.

Abstract: A biological observation apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention includes a sound wave radiating unit that radiates a sound wave into an object to be examined, a light radiating unit that radiates first light having a predetermined wavelength and second light different from the first light into a portion of the object influenced by the sound wave, a detector that detects reflected light of the first light and reflected light of the second light, and a calculation unit that calculates characteristic information of the object based on the reflected light of the first light and the reflected light of the second light.

Abstract: A device for dissecting and/or harvesting a vessel includes an integrally adjustable insufflation device to supply an insufflation fluid to a subcutaneous area within a patient. The integrally adjustable insufflation device includes one or more one fluid control mechanisms to regulate the pressure rate and/or flow rate of the insufflation fluid being supplied to the subcutaneous area from within a sterile field surrounding the subcutaneous area.

Abstract: A magnetically guided endoscope system has a display system wherein the position of the boundary of the examination region of the magnetic field that is used for capsule endoscope guidance is displayed and/or the position of the peak of the magnetic field used for capsule guidance is displayed. The displayed information can be presented in the form of computer-generated graphics superimposed on a camera image of the patient by a computer, or can be a fixed indicator on the display screen of a display at which a computer causes the camera image of the patient to be displayed at a position that is correctly oriented with respect to the fixed information.