Abstract: A membrane endoscopic retractor is disclosed for retracting organs and tissue inside the body using only small tools extending through short incisions in the body. The membrane retractor generally comprises a membrane for supporting tissue and organs and two or more probes for supporting the membrane. The probes are endoscopic devices which allow the user to place and manipulate the membrane inside a body by stretching and supporting the membrane between and along various points. The membrane is rollably arranged inside a housing on one probe so as to easily be inserted into the body and then extended therefrom by a second probe. A third probe may be used to provide additional support to the membrane between the first and second probes. The entire retraction procedure inside the body is manipulatable from control ends of the probes which are located outside of the body.

Abstract: An endoscope comprises a control section at an operator side, a plurality of operation knobs projected at the control section, an insertion section insertable into a human body cavity for medical treatment and having a proximal end connected to the control section and distal end section insertable into the body cavity, and a water drain guide member provided at the respective operation knob of the control section and being of such a type that, after an endoscope body has been washed, the guide member can guide deposited water on the recess of the respective knob in a direction to run and drain therealong, when the control section is horizontally located with the operation knob set in a normally upward state.

Abstract: There is disclosed an endoscope comprising an image guide fiber and a light guide fiber extending along the axis of an insertion portion, and an outer tube made of a synthetic resin material for covering contained matters consisting of the image guide fiber and the light guide fiber, the outer tube having the flexibility thereof higher than that of the image guide fiber and light guide fiber, thereby preventing remaining-bend of the insertion portion.

Abstract: This invention provides an improved endoscope having control wires for articulating a set of rings and directing a probe which further provides an overload protection device interconnecting the control wires to an operating member. The overload protection device provides a controlled resiliency to inhibit the application of excess tension to the control wires but provides sufficient force to manipulate the probe.

Abstract: An endoscope includes a cylinder body having an opening leading to a suction channel and an opening of the suction channel leads to a suction device both of side bath of these openings are provided in an adjacent, parallel relation. A cap member is detachably mounted on the cylinder body and is made of an elastic member. A piston is provided on the cap member to allow one of the openings to be opened or closed through the movement of the piston. A suction control unit thus achieved has a simpler arrangement and enables easy and positive cleaning.

Abstract: A method for use in intra-abdominal surgery comprises the steps of inserting a tubular member into a natural body cavity of a patient through a natural body opening, manipulating the tubular member from outside the patient so that a distal end of the tubular member engages a wall of the natural body cavity, and forming a fluid tight connection between the distal end of the tubular member and the wall. Additional steps of the method include inserting an incising instrument through the tubular member upon insufflation of the abdominal cavity, manipulating the incising instrument from outside the patient to form a perforation through the surface of the wall, and moving a distal end of an endoscope through the tubular member and through the perforation. The endoscope is used to visually inspect internal body tissues in an abdominal cavity of the patient.

Abstract: A retractor is provided for use during endoscopic surgery. Bladed instruments located inside the patient's body at an insertion end of the retractor are manipulated by controls located outside the body at a control end. In three embodiments, the retractor comprises a tubular body having an insertion and control end. Two blades are movably connected in the insertion end of the body. The blades may be moved in various combinations, being extended away from the longitudinal axis of the retractor body and/or spread apart. The blades may be actuated with controls which extend from the control end of the body. In another embodiment, the retractor comprises a tubular body also having an insertion and control end. Three blades are movably attached to the insertion end of the body. The blades may be independently extended radially outward from the longitudinal axis of the retractor body. Each blade is actuable from a separate control located at the control end of the body.

Abstract: An endoscopic tissue retractor capable of being inserted through an endoscopic tube and subsequently capable of forming a T-shaped bar at its distal end. The legs of the "T" may be aligned with the axis of the tissue retractor for insertion within an endoscopic tube and situated transversely to the longitudinal axis for actual use. In use, the legs extend to diametrically opposed sides of the longitudinal axis of the tissue retractor and are rotatable in a plane passing through the axis of the endoscopic tube. A transversely slidable locking mechanism is provided to lock the components of the tissue retractor in a desired position.

Abstract: An endoscope for transurethral surgery and has a main body irrotationally supporting an optics and a surgical instrument, further an outer tube affixed to the main body and tubularly enclosing the optics and the surgical instrument, which is characterized in that the outer tube is rotational relative to the remaining endoscope parts.

Abstract: Tactile symbols for color recognition by blind or visually impaired persons comprising a surface above which a color symbol is raised substantially parallel to the first surface. The raised surface of the unitary symbol is continuous such that persons may identify the symbol by touch.

Abstract: There is disclosed a guide device for guiding an endoscope. The guide device includes an elongate, tubular guide body so flexible as to be bent. An insertion portion of the endoscope is adapted to be inserted into and guided by the guide body. A direction indication mechanism is mounted on an inner periphery of a front end portion of the guide body. The direction indication mechanism includes an annular holder member, and a displacement member supported by the annular holder member for displacement circumferentially of the holder member under the influence of gravity. The endoscope itself is not provided with a direction indication mechanism, and by observing the displacement member from the inner side of the front end portion of the guide body, the direction is confirmed.

Abstract: The insertion tube body of a borescope or endoscope is constructed to avoid leakage current. An inner coil is covered with a tubular urethane jacket over which a tubular braid is disposed. Terminators having sleeve portions are attached by inserting the sleeve portions between the coil and the jacket. The terminators are secured using epoxy and the braid is bound using a winding or wrap of thread. The braid does not contact the terminator or the coil, and floats electrically. A layer of a flexible tough material such as polyurethane is applied over the braid and onto the terminators.

Abstract: A surgical tool for operating within a body cavity through a small diameter opening includes a substantially rigid member which is elongated along a first axis and which has a cross-sectional dimension to fit within the opening. A head is mounted on one end of the rigid member for movement in at least one plane through an angle with respect to the first axis. An operable control member is mounted on an opposite end of the rigid member for having at least one degree of manipulability. The control member is coupled to the head member through the rigid member such that manipulation of the control member through an angle with respect to the first axis causes movement of the head member through a corresponding angle. Accordingly, the head member can be steered within a body cavity by control external to the body cavity. In some embodiments, the control member is manipulable to a second degree for actuating an actuating member mounted on the head.

Abstract: A handle device for an endoscope incorporates controls for adjusting the degree of curvature of the distal tip portion of the endoscope as well as the degree of extension of the surgical instrument beyond the distal end of the endoscope's working lumen. The handle member comprises a generally hollow body which is dimensioned to be readily grasped by the surgeon and it incorporates a thumb-slide having a ratchet surface thereon, the thumb-slide being joined to a pull-wire extending the length of the endoscope and fastened at its distal end to the body of the endoscope. By depressing and longitudinally sliding the thumb-slide, the curvature of the distal end of the steerable endoscope is controlled. The degree of extension of the working instrument beyond the distal end of the working lumen is controlled by a rotatable threaded rod which is designed to produce only translational motion to the instrument without any twisting thereof.

Abstract: An endoscopic surgical procedure and instruments are disclosed for the treatment of transverse carpal ligaments and similar anatomical structures. The procedure enables the release of the carpal ligament under endoscopic control and through only a single incision. A uniquely shaped grooved cannula is provided to enable access to the carpal tunnel while also stabilizing instruments used in the procedure. The procedure involves the insertion of the cannula into the carpal tunnel through a single incision. The cannula has a longitudinal groove which is positioned to face or abut the ligament and which axially receives an endoscope through its proximal open end and obliquely receives a knife which is then positioned to cut the ligament from the side where the scope is placed.

Abstract: An elongate bending device for use in an endoscope or the like includes a number of segments which are arranged in a row along a longitudinal axis of the bending device and are pivotally connected to one another, and at least one operating wire extending through the segments along the longitudinal axis of the bending device. That portion of the inner peripheral surface of the segment along which the operating wire extends serves as a wire guide surface portion. This wire surface guide portion forms an inwardly convex, continuous curved line. The distance between the wire guide surface portion and the longitudinal axis of the bending device is increasing progressively from a central portion of the wire surface guide portion toward the opposite ends of the wire surface guide portion.

Abstract: An instrument is described for the penetration of body tissue with a hollow shaft, the point of which is formed as a conical, beveled, or tapered window. An optic with a lighting unit is brought into the point through the hollow shaft. The optic ends at an axial distance behind the summit of the point. The instrument can be inserted within view. In so doing, the entry of the point can be observed over the entire surface area thereof. Preferably, a second optic is run to the summit of the point, which in addition enables improved observation of the area lying directly in front of the point.

Abstract: A bending section of an endoscope is constructed from non-round vertebrae. The vertebrae are D-shaped, having a planar portion and an arcuate portion. A first pair of protrusions extends from a first surface of the vertebra, defining a vertical bending axis. A second pair of protrusions extends from a second surface of the vertebra, defining a horizontal bending axis. Because the vertebra is D-shaped, the second pair of protrusions are farther from the longitudinal bending axis of the bending section than the first pair of protrusions. To provide uniform, symmetrical bending of the bending section, the first pair of protrusions are shorter than the second pair of protrusions. In addition, the first pair of protrusions extends at a different angle than the second pair and thus have a different shape, so that the first and second pair of protrusions are not symmetrically shaped with respect to each other.

Abstract: An actuator (2) is used for actuating an auxiliary endoscopic device, such as an irrigation syringe (4), a pronged forcep (98) or a flexible stone-capturing basket (86). The auxiliary endoscopic device has a stationary portion (46) and a portion (62) which moves relative to the stationary portion. The actuator includes a foot pedal assembly (6) having a movable part (14) and a stationary part (12), a housing (8) and a coaxial cable (10). The coaxial cable includes an inner wire (30) and an outer tube (22) fixed at its ends (24, 26) to the movable part of the foot pedal assembly and to the housing. The stationary portion of the auxiliary endoscopic device is secured to the housing while the movable portion is connected to one end of the wire, the other end of the wire being connected to the stationary part of the foot pedal assembly.

Abstract: A new surgical technique, the Barrett-Day endoscopic plantar fasciotomy procedure, is used to relieve the symptoms of heel spur syndrome. The positioning of the plantar fascia ligament is determined, and the patient is prepared for surgery. A small, vertical incision is made in the medial side of the foot, and the adipose tissue is spread. A fascial elevator is inserted into the first incision to separate the plantar fascia from the surrounding tissue, creating a channel. A slotted canula and trocar is inserted into the channel, and a second incision is made on the lateral side of the foot, allowing the canula and trocar to substantially pierce the foot. The trocar is removed, and an endoscope is inserted into the canula through the medial portal. A cutting instrument is inserted into the lateral portal of the canula, and is used to release the plantar fascia from the heel bone. Once the plantar fascia has been released from the heel bone, the instruments are removed, and a bandage is placed around heel.