Abstract: Plug for endoscope includes a flexible tube-shaped sheath through which a plurality of wires are inserted. The plurality of wires is connected to an insertion tip portion having an image capturing portion. The plug includes a housing having a substrate accommodation portion and a sheath introduced portion. The substrate accommodation portion accommodates a substrate, a base end aperture portion of the sheath passed through an opening of the housing is arranged in the sheath introduced portion, and a part of the plurality of wires derived from the base end aperture portion is connected to the substrate. A liquid intrusion prevention wall is provided to stand on a bottom wall of the housing, and the bottom wall is arranged under the base end aperture portion of the sheath in a substantially vertical direction, and the substrate accommodation portion and the sheath introduced portion are spatially isolated from each other.

Abstract: Medical instruments with variable bending stiffness profiles are disclosed. A medical instrument can include a bending stiffness profile comprising a plurality of bending stiffness zones of substantially constant bending stiffness separated by transition zones. The bending stiffness profile can be achieved by modulating various modalities of the medical instrument along its length. A compound medical instrument can include a scope telescoping within a sheath. A variable bending stiffness profile of the compound medical instrument can be modulated by adjusting the relative position of the scope and the sheath.

Abstract: There are provided an endoscope in which adhesion strength between two optical members can be enhanced and an endoscope apparatus including the endoscope. An endoscope includes an insertion part that is to be inserted into a subject, a first unit that is built in a distal end portion of the insertion part and includes a prism, a second unit that is built in the distal end portion and includes a cover glass, an adhesive layer that is formed between the light-emitting surface of the prism and the surface of the cover glass and adheres the prism to the cover glass, and a resin layer that fills a gap larger than the thickness of the adhesive layer formed between the first unit and the second unit. The thermal expansion coefficient of the resin layer is set to 1/10 or less of the thermal expansion coefficient of the adhesive layer.

Abstract: The present disclosure teaches a novel medical device for osteotomy, capable of simultaneous aspiration, cauterization, image-acquisition, irrigation and tissue-protection, adapted for ear, nose and throat procedures, but available or other cavity surgeries.

Abstract: A catheter system comprises an elongate catheter body including a distal end. The catheter system also comprises a cannulation lumen extending through the elongate catheter body and terminating at the distal end of the elongate catheter body. The catheter system also comprises a steering element extending through the elongate catheter body for steering the distal end of the elongate catheter body and an imaging element extending within the elongate catheter body. The imaging element is configured to obtain optical images of an area located distally of the distal end of the elongate catheter body.

Abstract: Video endoscope comprising a distal end with a video camera assembly and a lens assembly arranged along a longitudinal axis, the video camera assembly comprising a video module, a video module holder, a proximal bushing arranged on the video module holder, a metal shield enclosing the video module along the longitudinal axis, and a flexible video cable, wherein the video cable is connected to the video module, runs through the video module holder and the proximal bushing away from the video module and is in contact with the bushing, wherein the video module comprises a video imager and control circuitry, wherein the metal shield has on its outside a dielectric coating obtained by material treatment of the metal shield, and wherein a maximum cross section of the distal end is less than 0.75 cm2. Further, a video endoscopy system is disclosed.

Abstract: An endoscope device is disclosed which includes an image processing unit that generates a first image corresponding to light in a green wavelength band on the basis of an imaging signal generated by an imaging device when a light source unit emits first illumination light or second illumination light, and generates a second image corresponding to light in other one of wavelength bands. Resolution of the first image obtained when the light source unit emits the first illumination light is equal to or higher than resolution of the first image obtained when the light source unit emits the second illumination light, and resolution of the second image obtained when the light source unit emits the second illumination light is higher than resolution of the second image obtained when the light source unit emits the first illumination light.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to the field of endoscopy. In particular, the present disclosure relates to systems and methods suitable for resecting or dissecting large areas of mucosal or submucosal tissue. The system may apply tension to and continuously manipulate mucosal tissue such that large lesions may be resected or dissected by a cutting element disposed at the distal end of an endoscope.

Abstract: Devices for enhancing minimally invasive cardiac surgery include a visualization device including an inflatable balloon at or near the distal end. Some visualization devices also include one or more lumens for allowing the introduction of one or more devices to a surgical site through the visualization device. Systems of the invention involve a visualization device which has at least one lumen for allowing introduction of an ablation device and/or other devices. A visualization device with an inflatable balloon may be positioned to create a space between a heart and pericardium when the balloon is inflated.

Abstract: A temporary tube placement system includes a tube having a proximal end and a distal end, a camera supported by the tube at the distal end, a plurality of fiber optic filaments through which light from a light source travels from the proximal end to the distal end, a screen for displaying images from the camera, and a power source electrically attached to the camera and the light source. The enteral tube includes a tube having a distal end portion for placement within a patient and a proximal end portion and a lumen increasing in cross section from the proximal end portion toward the distal end portion along at least a portion of the tube.

Abstract: An endoscope apparatus and a method of operating the endoscope apparatus that perform both illumination light observation and fluorescence observation by a simple configuration. At least a part of a wavelength region of excitation light is included in a first wavelength region where the absorption intensity of a fluorescent material is 10% or more of a first peak value. The wavelength region of the excitation light is included in a second wavelength region where the transmittance of a first spectral transmittance characteristic is 60% or more of a second peak value and a third wavelength region where the transmittance of a second spectral transmittance characteristic is 40% or less of a third peak value. A wavelength at which intensity of fluorescence is a peak is included in a fourth wavelength region where the transmittance of the second spectral transmittance characteristic is 80% or more of the third peak value.

Abstract: The invention encompasses devices and methods used to keep the objective lens of a viewing or illuminating device, specifically an endoscope, free from obstructive fluid and dirt; specifically a device having a hollow body designed to fit over an endoscope, a transparent lens cover film that is retained within the device and that is threaded in front of the objective lens of an endoscope, thereby maintaining a clear and unobstructed transparent window in front of the endoscope lens, and an endcap configured to engage opposing edges of the lens cover film in a sealing manner.

Abstract: The various inventions relate to robotic surgical devices, consoles for operating such surgical devices, operating theaters in which the various devices can be used, insertion systems for inserting and using the surgical devices, and related methods.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to providing an effective and reliable approach for cleaning an exposed surface of an imaging element (e.g., a lens) of apparatuses including but not limited to medical imaging instruments such as endoscopes and laparoscopes and the like. In the case of medical imaging instruments, cleaning apparatuses configured in accordance with embodiments the present invention can be cleaned while the distal end portion of the endoscope is in vivo. Such apparatuses have a cleaning member incorporated therein (e.g., a resilient polymeric wiper, a sponge, an absorbent pad or the like) that is used for cleaning the exposed surface of the imaging element. The apparatus is preferably adapted for being mounted on the imaging apparatus but can also be entirely or partially integral with one or more components of the imaging apparatus or system of which it is a component.

Abstract: A hemostatic clip assembly for mounting on a delivery device comprises a capsule and a clip slidably mounted within the capsule so that, when the clip is drawn proximally into the capsule, arms of the clip are drawn together to a closed position, an abutting surface of at least one of the arms contacting a corresponding surface of the capsule when the clip is drawn to a predetermined position within the capsule to provide a first user feedback indicating closure of the clip in combination with a tension member connected to the clip arms and biasing the clip arms toward an open, tissue receiving configuration and a yoke slidably received within the capsule and releasably coupled to the tension member, the yoke including a ball cavity for receiving a ball connector of a control element of the delivery device to maintain the clip assembly coupled to the delivery device, wherein the control element is frangible to detach the yoke from the delivery device and to provide a second user feedback and, wherein release

Abstract: A surgical system includes a first instrument defining a first channel and a second instrument receivable by the first channel. The second instrument defines a second channel. A valve coupled to the first instrument controls fluid flow through the first channel, such that impedance of fluid flow through the first channel is substantially the same without the second instrument received in the first channel and with the first channel partially blocked by the second instrument. In another aspect, a surgical apparatus includes an outer member and an inner member received within the outer member to define a first channel therebetween. The inner member houses an optical lens and defines a second channel for receiving a surgical instrument. The first and second channels are configured such that a pump having an inflow rate of up to about 0.7 L/min connected to the second channel can maintain fluid pressure inside an organ.

Abstract: A cleaning device system to clean a surgical scope, which cleaning device system includes an attachment element to attach the cleaning device, being positioned outside the body of a patient, to a trocar. The abstract of the disclosure is submitted herewith as required by 37 C.F.R. § 1.72(b). As stated in 37 C.F.R. § 1.72(b): A brief abstract of the technical disclosure in the specification must commence on a separate sheet, preferably following the claims, under the heading “Abstract of the Disclosure.” The purpose of the abstract is to enable the Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and gist of the technical disclosure. The abstract shall not be used for interpreting the scope of the claims. Therefore, any statements made relating to the abstract are not intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to providing an effective and reliable approach for cleaning an exposed surface of an imaging element (e.g., a lens) of apparatuses including but not limited to medical imaging instruments such as endoscopes and laparoscopes and the like. In the case of medical imaging instruments, cleaning apparatuses configured in accordance with embodiments the present invention can be cleaned while the distal end portion of the endoscope is in vivo. Such apparatuses have a cleaning member incorporated therein (e.g., a resilient polymeric wiper, a sponge, an absorbent pad or the like) that is used for cleaning the exposed surface of the imaging element. The apparatus is preferably adapted for being mounted on imaging apparatus but can also be entirely or partially integral with one or more components of the imaging apparatus or system of which it is a component.

Abstract: An endoscopic surgical blade is disclosed. The blade is part of an endoscopic knife assembly which also has a knife tube and alignment ring. The endoscopic knife assembly is for use in endoscopic surgery by insertion of the assembly though a slotted cannula. The knife tube is hollow and allows the insertion of an endoscope for viewing of the surgical procedure. The blade has an upper and a lower cutting surface on the forward edge, which meet at an angle at a crotch.

Abstract: An endoscope sheath is provided comprising a sheath tube extending along a longitudinal axis between a proximal end and a distal end, the sheath tube is configured to receive at least a portion of an endoscope; a hub connected to the proximal end of the sheath tube; and a hub adapter engaging the hub and configured to engage the endoscope, wherein the sheath tube can rotate about the longitudinal axis without rotation of the hub adapter, and wherein the sheath tube is restricted from moving axially along the longitudinal axis relative to the hub adapter.