Abstract: An endoscopy auxiliary device includes an insertion tube and a clamping unit. The clamping unit has a pipe and a connector. The connector is connected to the insertion tube. The tube is configured to clamp a capsule endoscope. The pipe has an inner space configured to accommodate a part of the capsule endoscope. The pipe includes a first slit, a second slit and a third slit. The first slit extends from a free end of the pipe for a first distance toward a connection end of the pipe. The second slit extends from the free end of the pipe for the connection distance toward the connection end of the pipe. The third slit extends from the free end of the pipe for a third distance toward the connection end of the pipe. The first slit, the second slit and the third slit are separate.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a flexible entry guide tube comprising one or more lumens, wherein at least one lumen is an instrument lumen; and a rigidizing cable to lock a shape of the guide tube within a body cavity with a distal end of the guide tube near a medical site. The rigidizing cable can steer the guide tube. The apparatus comprises a flexible tool insertable into the instrument lumen. The tool can perform a medical procedure near the distal end of the guide tube. The tool comprises an end effector, a steerable tip portion, and a steering cable for steering the tip portion. While the tip portion remains within the instrument lumen, articulation of the tip portion causes corresponding articulation of a distal portion of the guide tube. The tool can extend away from the distal end while the shape of the guide tube is locked by the rigidizing cable.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides illumination apparatus for ophthalmic surgery comprising a light that provides planar field illumination, as well as methods of using the illumination apparatus. The illuminators of the present disclosure can be used in intraocular refractive and vitroretinal surgery to better enable visualization of anatomical structures of the eye currently difficult to view, capturing detail that would normally be obscured using conventional illumination apparatus.

Abstract: An endoscope system includes an endoscope, a display device, and a cable interconnecting the endoscope and the display device. The endoscope includes an elongated body extending distally from a handle. An image sensor is disposed within a distal portion of the elongated body, a lens is disposed at a distal end of the elongated body, and a light source including one or more light emitting elements is integrated into the distal end of the elongated body and positioned radially outward of the lens. An integrated processor is disposed within the handle.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a fully integrated sterilizable one time use disposable tissue visualization device and methods for using such devices. Preferred embodiments of the invention facilitate the visualization of an internal tissue site while causing a minimum of damage to the surrounding tissue. Further preferred embodiments may allow for the delivery of fluids and other treatment to an internal tissue site.

Abstract: A device for preventing air escape and maintaining colonic air distension can include a body, a distal gasket coupled to a distal end of the body, a proximal gasket coupled to a proximal end of the body, and a diaphragm coupled to the proximal gasket. The distal and proximal gaskets can form a fluid-tight seal with a colonoscope positioned within central bores of the distal gasket, the body, and the proximal gasket, and the diaphragm can conform to and form a fluid-tight seal with at least one of an anus and a stoma of a subject.

Abstract: Maximum hardness of a flexible tube section of an endoscope is set such that substantial maximum hardness at a time when an over-tube is attached is equal to or lower than maximum hardness of a flexible tube section of an endoscope. That is, the maximum hardness of the flexible tube section of the endoscope is set substantially equal to hardness obtained by subtracting hardness of the over-tube itself from the maximum hardness of the flexible tube section of the endoscope. In the endoscopes including a hardness changing mechanism, maximum hardness of the endoscope, to which the over-tube is not attached, and maximum hardness of the endoscope, to which the over-tube is attached, are set substantially equal.

Abstract: An adapter for an endoscope, the adapter including: a cylindrical body having an internal portion formed on the cylindrical body, the internal portion configured to matingly engage with each of distal and proximal external portions provided on a tip of the endoscope, the distal and proximal external portions being separated in a longitudinal direction of the cylindrical body by a portion of the tip that does not engage the internal portion; and wherein the cylindrical body further having an anti-slip portion formed on an exterior of the cylindrical body, the anti-slip portion having a plurality of recesses arranged circumferentially on the exterior, a position of the anti-slip portion in the longitudinal direction being set such that a position of the proximal external portion in the longitudinal direction does not overlap with the longitudinal position of the anti slip portion where the proximal external portion is engaged with the internal portion.

Abstract: An endoscope control system comprises one or more sensors located in a headrest and configured to detect an input at the headrest. The one or more sensors include at least one of an array of pressure sensors positioned adjacent to a forehead rest surface, a joystick controller mounted in the headrest, or a slip plate mounted to the headrest. The endoscope control system further comprises an endoscope control module configured to receive one or more sensor signals from the sensors indicating movement of the headrest or pressure applied to the headrest and providing an indication of intended movement of an image provided by an endoscope. The endoscope control system further comprises an endoscope manipulation module configured to receive the indication of intended movement from the endoscope control module and generate one or more actuation signals to activate one or more actuators configured to cause the intended movement of the image.

Abstract: A sleeve assembly is described for coupling a colonoscope insertion tube to an add-on tube. In some embodiments, the sleeve assembly defines an elongated lumen and comprises an inner sleeve sized to receive an insertion tube of a colonoscope, an outer sleeve encircling the inner sleeve, and one or more add-on tubes positioned between the inner sleeve and the outer sleeve. In some embodiments, at least the inner sleeve is collapsible to fit tightly over a colonoscope insertion tube received within the inner sleeve. In some embodiments, the inner sleeve is coupled to the outer sleeve at one or more locations along the length of the inner sleeve so that collapsing of the inner sleeve brings the outer sleeve radially closer to the inner sleeve, approximating the one or more add-on tubes to a colonoscope insertion tube received within the inner sleeve.

Abstract: A guidance apparatus includes: a magnetic field generator configured to generate a magnetic field that acts on a magnet; a magnetic field shielding material configured to shield the magnetic field generated by the magnetic field generator; an operation input device configured to receive an input of at least one of a target position and a target posture for guiding a position and a posture of a capsule medical apparatus; and a controller configured to control the magnetic field generator to generate a magnetic field that has been corrected to offset or reduce a deviation amount of the position or the posture of the capsule medical apparatus with respect to the target position or the target posture, caused by distortion, due to the magnetic field shielding material, of a magnetic field for guiding the capsule medical apparatus to at least one of the target position and the target posture.

Abstract: A camera system for monitoring the inside of a body having excellent work efficiency is suggested. The camera system for monitoring the inside of a body includes: a cable (12) in which one end is connected to the imaging part; a first auxiliary tool (8) which is connected to the other end of the cable (12); and a second auxiliary tool (7) which includes a holding unit (7g) which holds a held unit (8g) provided in the first auxiliary tool (8), and a rod-like unit (7x) connected to the holding unit (7g), and which draws out the held unit (8g) toward the outside of the body from the inside of the body through the inside of a tube-like device (6) of which one end is guided toward the inside of the body, in a state of being held by the holding unit (7g).

Abstract: A video laryngeal endoscope system having flat scan video kymography and laryngoscopic functions for analyzing a motion state of a larynx comprises: a laryngoscope for viewing vocal cords; a light source for illuminating the vocal cords; a video camera which has a beam splitter for separating an image viewed by means of the laryngoscope and the light source into two images to acquire a flat scan kymographic image and a stroboscopic image; a dual image capturing unit for converting two image signals transmitted from the video camera into a digital image signal; a storage unit for storing the digital image signal; a control unit for analyzing the digital image signal of the storage unit and simultaneously displaying analysis results of the flat scan kymographic image and the stroboscopic image; and a computer comprising analysis software for analyzing the image signal of the storage unit; and a monitor for displaying photographed images and analysis results.

Abstract: A capsule endoscopic system is disclosed, where the system comprises a capsule device and a docking device. The capsule device comprises a battery, a secondary coil, and a capsule housing to enclose the battery and the secondary coil in a sealed environment, where the capsule device consists of a first end and a second end in a longitudinal direction of the capsule device, and the battery is located in proximity to the first end and the secondary coil is located in proximity to the second end. The docking device comprises an opening on the docking device, a primary coil to generate an alternating magnetic field, and a primary core. The capsule endoscopic system is arranged so that at least a portion of the secondary coil is enclosed by the primary coil and the battery is outside the primary coil when the capsule device is at the docked position.

Abstract: Devices for joining an endoscope with a system for cleaning a colon or other body lumen are presented. Embodiments include variable placement of distal portions of suction components with respect to the endoscope, multiple suction tubes and/or suction portals, and devices for protecting colon walls from suction damage.

Abstract: A control interface and adjustment mechanism for an endoscope including multiple buttons, each button including a touch surface and a magnet disposed below the touch surface. The control system of the control interface includes a magnetometer detecting ambient magnetic fields and a control processor receiving signals from the magnetometer, wherein the control processor is connected to at least one endoscope component and controls the at least endoscope component. The control processor filters received first field information from the magnetometer to determine if the received first field information matches a specific stored button vector of at least one button vector stored in memory, and if the received first field information matches the specific stored button vector, then the at least one endoscope component is controlled based on the first information detected by the control unit.

Abstract: The invention relates to a fluid block (1) for an endoscope operating element, comprising at least one gas-conducting channel (4) provided inside the fluid block (1) and having an inlet opening and an outlet opening, at least one liquid-conducting channel (5) provided inside the fluid block (1) and having an inlet opening and an outlet opening, and at least one control valve (2) for opening/blocking the at least one gas-conducting channel (4) and the at least one liquid-conducting channel (5). The invention further relates to an endoscope having such a fluid block.

Abstract: An endoscope device includes a light source which generates visible light and excitation light, an imaging unit, an arithmetic unit which generates a visible light image signal according to a first signal and a fluorescence image signal according to a second signal and a third signal, and a switching unit. The imaging unit includes an excitation light, cut filter, a first image sensor, and a second image sensor. The excitation light cut filter transmits the visible light and fluorescence, and filters out the excitation light. A plurality of first photodiodes included in the first image sensor generate the first signal according to the visible light and a second signal according to the fluorescence. A plurality of second photodiodes included in the second image sensor generate the third signal according to the fluorescence transmitted through the plurality of first photodiodes.

Abstract: A surgical instrument (10, 110, 210) includes an articulating tube assembly (20, 120, 220) having a proximal end and a distal end, an articulating region (23, 123, 223) disposed between the proximal end and the distal end, and a proximal axis axially extending from the proximal end to the articulating region (23, 123, 223). The articulating tube assembly (20, 120, 220) includes an inner tube (24, 124, 224) and an outer tube (26, 126, 226) each having the articulating region (23, 123, 223). The inner tube (24, 124, 224) and the outer tube (26, 126, 226) being movable relative to each other proximal to the articulating region (23, 123, 223) and fixed axially relative one another distal to the articulating region (23, 123, 223).

Abstract: Example embodiments relate to endoscopic systems. Endoscopic system includes main body and control section. Control section includes extendible section that extends and contracts to change length between extendible section ends. Control section includes first expandable member. When first expandable member is in an expanded configuration, first expandable member includes proximal side wall and distal side wall. Distal side wall of first expandable member includes first protrusions. Control section includes second expandable member. When second expandable member is in an expanded configuration, second expandable member includes distal side wall and proximal side wall. Proximal side wall of second expandable member includes second protrusions. First and second protrusions configurable to cooperate to form a sieve portion between first and second expandable members.