Abstract: A therapeutic pad system comprises an ice patch having a generally disc-shaped configuration. The ice patch has a circular generally parallel first and second walls fabricated of a plastic-vinyl material. A non-solid gel which is capable of being frozen, thawed and re-frozen a plurality of times is located within the space between the walls. A jacket is fabricated of a cloth material and has a generally disc shaped configuration with an interior panel and an exterior panel and a pocket there between for receiving the ice patch. Common stitching is over approximately the lower two-thirds of the jacket and the upper one-third forms an opening. Decorative indicia coupled to the exterior panel of the jacket.

Abstract: A communication system including a bus, interconnecting first and third party surgical devices, and a touchscreen, operated with the bus and displaying replicas control interfaces of the first and third party surgical devices, and facilitating remote control of the first and third party surgical devices during a surgical procedure.

Abstract: A treatment instrument passage channel through which a treatment instrument can be passed lies through an elongated insertion unit that is inserted into a body cavity or the like. The distal opening of the treatment instrument passage channel opens onto the distal part of the insertion unit. A treatment instrument swing stand having a hole, through which the distal part of a treatment instrument led out of the distal opening is passed, bored therein is disposed near the distal opening so that the treatment instrument swing stand can swing freely. The treatment instrument swing stand is manipulated by proximally pulling angling wires. Thus, the distal part of the treatment instrument is swung from a position near the center of a field of view in both the rightward and leftward directions of an endoscope. Thus, the mucosa of a lesion can be resected easily while being caught in the field of view.

Abstract: A proximal housing for a full-thickness resection device (FTRD) is provided with a plurality of chambers through which fasteners are introduced into a portion of tissue to be resected. The proximal housing has a noncircular cut-out opposite the plurality of chambers to receive a noncircular endoscope. The proximal housing also is provided with a resection cavity into which the tissue to be resected is to be received. In addition, shaft openings are provided through which mounting shafts may be inserted. A noncircular endoscope is also disclosed for insertion into the cut-out whereby the endoscope has passages to house the functions of remote viewing, illumination, insufflation and irrigation.

Abstract: A rigid endoscope optics including an outer tube (1) of which the distal aperture is closed by a window (2) affixed to the outer tube in a sealed manner. The outer tube encloses an image transmitter (4, 5) running through it and a light guide (6) running parallel to the transmitter, the transmitter and pipe being configured by their distal ends (5, 7) looking and radiating, respectively, through the window. The light guide is cross-sectionally separated from the image transmitter's cross-section at least in the region of defined between their distal ends and the window by an optically opaque partition (3). The partition rests by its distal edge against the window, wherein an elastic and opague insert is disposed between the distal end of the partition (3) against the window (2).

Abstract: An endoscope is provided with a pliable tube composed of an integument layer formed from a resin and a metal tube integrally fitted into this integument layer in an insertion portion. The inner diameter dimension of the pliable tube at ambient temperature after application of the thermal load of the high-pressure steam sterilization step is larger than the inner diameter dimension at ambient temperature before application of the thermal load.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a tool having a wrist mechanism that provides pitch and yaw rotation in such a way that the tool has no singularity in roll, pitch, and yaw. A positively positionable multi-disk wrist mechanism includes a plurality of disks or vertebrae stacked in series. Each vertebra is configured to rotate in pitch or in yaw with respect to each neighboring vertebra. Actuation cables are used to manipulate and control movement of the vertebrae. In specific embodiments, some of the cables are distal cables that extend from a proximal vertebra through one or more intermediate vertebrae to a distal vertebra, while the remaining cables are medial cables that extend from the proximal vertebra to one or more of the intermediate vertebrae. The cables are actuated by a pivoted plate cable actuator mechanism.

Abstract: A deviated distal viewing endoscope is disclosed, wherein the rotation of the probe rotation control ring controls the rotation of the endoscopic probe as well as the rotation of a rotating tube housed in the handle and in the distal end of which a deviator prism is housed; the rotation of a focusing control ring controls the translation of the ring that acts to house the ocular lens; and the rotation of the ring controls the translation of a first cylindrical mount housing an ocular lens; and the rotation of a viewing angle variation control ring controls the translation of a second cylindrical mount integral with a cylindrical maneuvering tube, a longitudinal displacement of which controlling the tilting of the deviator prism of the endoscope.

Abstract: An optical fiber viewing assembly for an endoscope has a light guide with an elastically flexible portion and a substantially rigid pre-curved distal portion. The viewing assembly is particularly suited for traversing bends of relatively small radii in an endotracheal breathing tube without scraping accumulated biological material from the inner surface of the breathing tube that could collect on the distal end of the light guide and obscure the endoscopic view.

Abstract: An endoscope includes a flexible inserting tube to be inserted into a body cavity, an operation unit connected to a proximal end of the flexible inserting tube for operating the flexible inserting tube, and an hollow cylindrical cover member connected to the operation unit to surround a portion of the flexible inserting tube near the proximal end thereof. A proximal end portion of the cover member is made of a first material while a distal end portion thereof is made of a second material. The first material has higher stiffness than the second material.

Abstract: This relates to procedures and to devices for treating cardiac tissue by forming lesions in that tissue using photodynamic therapy techniques. In particular, the procedure is valuable for rectifying various cardiac arrhythymias with those so-formed lesions. Central to this procedure is the delivery of light to the desired lesion site in cooperation with delivery of a photodynamic drug to that site. The invention also relates to devices, particularly catheters, that are suitable for delivering the light for forming those lesions.

Abstract: An endoscope has a first bending portion and a second bending portion. The first bending portion is the distal portion of an elongated insertion member, and the second bending portion is located at the proximal end of the first bending portion. The dimension of the second bending portion in the longitudinal axis of the insertion member is smaller than the dimension of the first bending portion therein. The endoscope includes a hand-held unit having a control section that is used to bend the first bending portion and second bending portion. The control section of the hand-held unit has an angling knob that is used to bend the first bending portion, and a second angling lever that is used to bend the second bending portion.

Abstract: A cannula fixation system that allows for easy insertion and removal. A flexible sleeve with corrugations and proximal flange is attached distally to the cannula. The flange serves as a splashguard and a finger retention device. The corrugations have a variable diameter depending upon the tension applied to the proximal flange. The flange is pulled proximally to reduce the diameter of the corrugations for insertion of the cannula. Upon release of the flange, the corrugations expand because of the inherent resiliency of the sleeve to seal against the portal in the patient. The cannula body can be shifted with the sleeve remaining in sealing contact with the portal.

Abstract: Disclosed is a clutch for a surgical device comprising a housing having an interior wall defining a hollow interior; a shaft, the shaft being capable of moving axially and rotationally within the hollow interior of the housing; at least one clutch element connected with the shaft; and an activator; where the surgical device is a laparoscopic surgical tool.

Abstract: A cylindrical proximal unit is disposed at the proximal end of an elongated insertion unit that has a CCD incorporated in a distal part thereof and that has a bending section. A light source unit, a circuit for producing a CCD driving signal in response to a signal received from an external unit by radio, and a motor unit for electrically driving the bending section are incorporated in the proximal unit. Thus, a light guide cable need not be led out of the proximal unit. This leads to easy operation. Moreover, by manipulating an operation unit separated from an endoscope, a motor included in the motor unit is driven by radio via a scope interface unit.

Abstract: An endoscope with guiding apparatus is described herein. A steerable endoscope is described having an elongate body with a manually or selectively steerable distal portion, an automatically controlled portion, a flexible and passively manipulated proximal portion, and an externally controlled and manipulatable tracking rod or guide. The tracking rod or guide is positioned within a guide channel within the endoscope and slides relative to the endoscope. When the guide is in a flexible state, it can conform to a curve or path defined by the steerable distal portion and the automatically controlled portion. The guide can then be selectively rigidized to assume that curve or path. Once set, the endoscope can be advanced over the rigidized guide in a monorail or “piggy-back” fashion so that the flexible proximal portion follows the curve held by the guide until the endoscope reaches a next point of curvature within a body lumen.

Abstract: An electro-mechanical surgical device includes: a housing; an elongated shaft extending from the housing, a distal end of the elongated shaft being detachably coupleable to a surgical instrument; at least two axially rotatable drive shafts disposed within the elongated shaft, a distal end of each of the drive shafts being configured to couple with the surgical instrument; a steering cable arrangement, the steering cable arrangement being configured to steer the distal end of the elongated shaft; and a motor system disposed within the housing, the motor system being configured to drive the drive shafts and the steering cable arrangement. A control system may be provided for controlling the motor system. A remote control unit may also be provided for controlling the motor system via the control system. Sensors, such as optical or Hall-effect devices, may be provided for determining the position of the elements of the surgical instrument based on the detected rotation of the drive shafts.

Abstract: A handle used to control movement of a medical instrument. The medical instrument may be coupled to a robotic arm that is connected to a controller. The medical instrument may have a plurality of functions such as wrist locking and motion scaling. One of the functions may be selected through a graphical user interface operated by the end user. The handle may have a plurality of buttons. One of the buttons may allow the end user to control the selected function. For example, when wrist locking/unlocking is selected, depressing the button can toggle the medical instrument wrist between a locked state and an unlocked state.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for placing and advancing a diagnostic or therapeutic instrument in a hollow body organ of a tortuous or unsupported anatomy, comprising a handle, an overtube, a distal region having an atraumatic tip. The overtube may be removable from the handle, and have a longitudinal axis disposed at an angle relative to the handle. The overtube may be selectively stiffened to reduce distension of the organ caused by advancement of the diagnostic or therapeutic instrument. The distal region permits passive steering of the overtube caused by deflection of the diagnostic or therapeutic instrument while the atraumatic tip prevents the wall of the organ from becoming caught or pinched during manipulation of the diagnostic or therapeutic instrument.

Abstract: A tubular access sleeve and suction tool for accessing an anatomic surface or anatomic space and particularly the pericardium to access pericardial space and the epicardial surface of the heart in a minimally invasive manner are disclosed. A suction tool trunk extending through a suction tool lumen of the sleeve is coupled to suction pads at the ends elongated support arms. The suction pads can be retracted into a sleeve working lumen during advancement of the access sleeve through a passage and deployed from the tubular access sleeve lumen and disposed against the an outer tissue layer. Suction can be applied through suction tool lumens to suction ports of the suction pads that fix to the outer tissue layer so as to tension the outer tissue layer and/or pull the outer tissue layer away from an inner tissue layer so that the anatomic space can be accessed by instruments introduced through the working lumen to penetrate the outer tissue layer.