Abstract: An endoscope cover includes: a cylindrical cover main body that is to be attached to a distal framing portion along a longitudinal axis of an insertion section, and that includes an annular portion which is to cover part of an outer periphery of the distal framing portion; and a fragile portion, at least part of which is provided on the annular portion of the cover main body. The cover main body is spaced apart from at least part of the distal framing portion, and forms a gap between the cover main body and the distal framing portion. The fragile portion is broken under application of an intended stress and configured to have a user recognize breakage of the fragile portion in cooperation with the gap.

Abstract: An inflatable in-vivo capsule endoscope and method of operation is provided. The inflatable in-vivo capsule endoscope may include a sensing device for capturing in-vivo images and one or more permanent magnets for magnetically guiding the endoscope, housed interior to a capsule-shaped body. The inflatable in-vivo capsule endoscope may include an inflatable buoy attached externally to the capsule-shaped body. An inflation device may inflate the in-vivo capsule endoscope to reduce its specific gravity by injecting gas into the inflatable buoy, such that when the inflatable buoy is injected with an above threshold volume of gas, the inflatable in-vivo capsule endoscope floats in liquid. The inflatable in-vivo capsule endoscope may be magnetically guided via its permanent magnets when exposed to an externally generated magnetic field. A reduced magnetic field strength and external magnet size may be used to magnetically navigate an inflated capsule floating in liquid than a conventional uninflated capsule.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an endoscope includes: dividing some of signal lines into bundle portions; notching a part of a tube to form one or a plurality of notch portions; cutting at least one end portion of the tube in a state where the tube is folded with each notch portion to produce a first heat-shrinkable tube having cylindrical portions with aligned end portions in longitudinal directions of the cylindrical portions; inserting the divided bundle portions into the cylindrical portions of the first heat-shrinkable tube, respectively; inserting the signal lines into a second heat-shrinkable tube; heating at least an overlapping portion in a state where the first and second heat-shrinkable tubes partially overlap each other to cause heat shrinkage; inserting the signal cable and the channel into a tubular portion; and connecting the tubular portion to a distal end constituting portion to form the insertion portion.

Abstract: An endoscope particularly suited for endocranial procedures and a method of using the endoscope. In some examples the endoscope is rigid except for a bend/tilt portion near a distal end of a rigid tube that is inserted in a patient's cranium, which distal end is controlled in a degree and direction of tilt with a finger operated controller at the endoscope's handle. Some examples use telescoping tubes that allow customizing the endoscope size for specific procedures. A distal portion of the endoscope can be disposable, supplied in a sterile package for a single procedure, thus taking into account contamination dangers that are particularly high for intracranial and certain other interventions and the fact that it can be difficult or impossible to effectively autoclave heat-sensitive components of certain endoscopes or effectively sterilize them using other techniques.

Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning a distal tip of an endoscope includes a driver configured to be mounted over a shaft of the endoscope, the driver adapted for generating transverse waves along a length of the shaft. The apparatus may be provided as a retrofit to existing equipment, or as a feature of new equipment. Methods of operation are disclosed.

Abstract: An endoscope apparatus provided in the invention has forced disposability of a cannula by the means and techniques put in place so that the parts in contact with organic tissues or the detection of container extraction cannot be used, re-used, or if re-used, in a way that aligns with their operating limits. Activation of the cannula is detected and traced using sensors or wireless intercommunication devices so that when a certain time lapses or a certain number of activations after the first activation of the cannula, a limited usage means disables the cannula in mechanical or electrical way to ensure forced disposability of the cannula.

Abstract: An endoscope has an elongate shaft, with a housing that is arranged in the endoscope and has a fluid-tight embodiment and a sensor for capturing a physical measurement variable, the sensor being arranged in the shaft. The sensor is situated outside of the fluid-tight housing. A signal line extends from the sensor to a coupling point at the fluid-tight housing. The coupling point connects the signal line to an evaluation unit that is arranged in an interior of the housing for the purposes of evaluating the measurement signal.

Abstract: An endoscope includes a shaft having proximal and distal ends and a longitudinal axis therebetween. A handle is coupled to the proximal end of the shaft, and an image sensor is carried on the distal end of the shaft. A channel extends through at least a distal shaft portion and has a channel diameter, and a section of the channel is re-configurable between a constricted shape and a non-constricted shape to accommodate tools introduced therethrough. The combined diagonal dimension and channel diameter is usually greater than the outer shaft diameter. The image sensor may be connected to a connector on the housing by a first slack flex circuit and a lights source on the shaft may be connected to a connector on the housing by a second slack flex circuit.

Abstract: A medical device comprising an endoscope accessory for attachment to the working end of an endoscope. The coupler device provides a flexible working channel extension from the endoscope so that instruments can exit the endoscope at various angles. The device also provides a protective cover to reduce the ingress of debris, fluid, bacteria, or other unwanted matter from the working end of the endoscope which could lead to infection.

Abstract: The invention relates generally to various systems, tools and methods for acquiring diagnostic information, including medical information, for a user, transmitting the information to a remote location, assessing the information, and transmitting resulting diagnosis and treatment information to the user and/or a third party for subsequent action. The present invention provides consumer and user-friendly telemedicine systems and procedures which enable health services and/or diagnosis to be provided at a distance remotely.

Abstract: A portable laparoscope is disclosed. In implementations, the portable laparoscope includes a housing and an elongated tube coupled to the housing. A lighting source and a camera are disposed proximate to an end of the elongated tube opposite the housing. The camera is configured to capture an image in a viewing area that is illuminated by light provided by the lighting source. The portable laparoscope includes an image display apparatus configured to display the images acquired by the camera and/or to transmit the images to a remote display device. The housing may be configured to hold and position an insufflator.

Abstract: An endoscope camera head includes: a main body unit having an irregular tubular shape made of a metal or an alloy and including a hollow portion that is airtightly concealed; an imaging unit accommodated in the hollow portion of the main body unit and configured to generate an image signal based on light from an object; and an operating unit configured to output an operation signal for operating the imaging unit. The operating unit includes an input unit located at a position extending over a first face and a second face adjacent each other, of a surface of the main body unit, and configured to receive an input of the operation signal from an outside, and a fixing unit configured to fix the input unit to the main body unit.

Abstract: A bronchoscope adapter is configured for one hand operation by providing a slide lock that is captured within a housing and a retaining nut that can be operated with a single finger or thumb. Rotation of the retaining nut is eased by isolating rotational force from a compression block with a spacer ring.

Abstract: There is provided a surgical system including a monitoring sensor configured to sense a characteristic of a surgical site within a body, in a sensing region of the surgical site which includes at least a part of a region outside a display field of an endoscope, and circuitry configured to detect an occurrence of a medical abnormality in the region outside the display field of the endoscope based on a result of the sensing by the monitoring sensor, and generate notification information regarding the detected medical abnormality.

Abstract: An endoscopic peripheral includes a first end of a flexible cable including at least a camera and one or more lights enclosed by a tip at the first end. The tip is tapered for insertion of a portion of the first end into a body of a patient. The endoscopic peripheral includes one or more controls interconnected with and controlling the camera and the one or more lights. A second end of the flexible cable terminates in a plug configured to physically connect the endoscopic peripheral to an electronic device. The electronic device powers the camera and the one or more lights and displays content captured by the camera. The endoscopic peripheral is plug and play when connected to the electronic device. The diameter of the diameter of the endoscopic peripheral between the first end and the second end is approximately the same.

Abstract: A probe includes an articulating member with at least two vertebrae elements sequentially arranged along a long axis of the elongate ultrasound imaging probe. The articulating member includes pivots located between the at least two vertebrae elements. The pivots are disposed off-center relative to the at least two vertebrae elements. The pivots are spatially oriented to provide a pivot point for a different articulation direction of a vertebra element. The probe further includes a plurality of guides, including at least one guide for each of the respective different pivot directions. The probe further includes an actuator with a set of controls, each control configured to actuate a different pair of the plurality of guides for controlling opposing articulation directions, wherein the actuator reduces stress induced on at least one of a pushed guide or a non-activated guide, wherein the stress is induced in response to the actuator pulling a guide.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are various systems and methods for facilitating control of a tool or tools. The systems can allow a user to control multiple degrees of freedom. One such system allows a user to control multiple degrees of freedom of two tools simultaneously. Another such system allows a user to control multiple degrees of freedom with a single hand. Frames and rails for supporting and/or constraining movement of a tool or tools are also described herein.

Abstract: An enhanced flexible robotic endoscopy apparatus includes a main body and flexible elongate shaft. The main body comprises a proximal end, a distal end and a housing that extends to the proximal end and the housing comprises a plurality of surfaces and a plurality of insertion inlets which reside on at least one of the surface of the housing at the proximal end of the main body, through which a plurality of channels for endoscopy are accessible. Each of the insertion inlets has insertion axis corresponding thereto, along which flexible elongate assemblies are insertable, with the insertion axes of the insertion inlets being parallel to the central axis of the flexible elongate shaft at the proximal end of the flexible elongate shaft.

Abstract: An LED-type distal end optical adapter includes a three-dimensional molded substrate including a through hole and provided with a mounting surface and wall surface parts provided so as to project from the mounting surface, an adapter frame member including a small diameter hole in which an outer circumferential surface of the first wall surface part of the three-dimensional molded substrate is disposed and forming a first adhesive filling space, and a lens holding frame disposed in a through hole and forming a second adhesive filling space.

Abstract: There is provided herein a tip section for an endoscope assembly that includes a fluid distribution device for circulating fluid for cleaning a body cavity. In an embodiment, the tip section includes a groove aligned with side jet channels, where multiple holes drilled above the groove, through the periphery of a tip cover covering the tip section, provide an exit for the fluid circulated by the side jet channels in all directions around the tip cover. In another embodiment, the tip section includes a removable attachment that covers jet channel openings. Multiple holes drilled through the cover provide a multiple jet exit for the fluid circulated by the jet channels in multiple directions around the tip cover.