Abstract: Endoscopic devices are disclosed for viewing and/or performing a surgery on a patient's organ, such as a uterus. In an embodiment, the endoscopic deice includes a housing, a cannula, an imaging system, and a flexible printed circuit (FPC). The cannula is configured for insertion through a cervix into a uterus. The cannula has a lumen that extends from a proximal end of the cannula to a distal end of the cannula. The proximal end of the cannula is secured within the housing. The imaging system is located at a distal end of the cannula and includes a camera and one or more light-emitting diodes (LEDs). The FPC extends within the lumen of the cannula and electrically connects the camera and the LEDs to electrical components located in the housing. The lumen is configured to provide a passage for a working tool.

Abstract: Biological navigation devices and methods are disclosed. The devices can be used as or to support colonoscopies or endoscopes. The devices can have longitudinally extensible cells that can be selectively inflated. The devices can have articulable links. The devices can be removably attached to elongated elements, such as colonoscopes or other endoscopes.

Abstract: A surgical visualization system comprises: (a) an endoscope comprising: (i) a shaft comprising a distal end, wherein the distal end is configured to be inserted into a cavity of a patient, (ii) a camera positioned at the distal end of the shaft for visualizing a first structure below a tissue surface within the cavity when the distal end is inserted into the cavity, wherein the camera defines a line of sight, wherein the camera is configured to be swept over the first structure; and (b) a processor in operative communication with the camera of the endoscope, wherein the processor is configured to: (i) monitor at least one sweep parameter when the camera is swept over the first structure, and (ii) estimate a depth of the first structure below the tissue surface based on the monitored at least one sweep parameter.

Abstract: An endoscope includes a first frame, a second frame, a first clearance, an enlarged diameter section, a distal end constituent member, and a second clearance, and a set height of the enlarged diameter section is set to be greater than a magnitude of the first clearance to which the second clearance is added.

Abstract: An endoscope port having a housing is disclosed. The housing of the endoscope port may include a channel passing therethrough, and a hub which may include a first roller and a second roller. The endoscope port may further include an entrance at an end of the channel, and an exit at an opposite end of the channel. The endoscope port may be configured such that when an actuator moves in a first rotational direction, a first roller moves in a second rotational direction, and a second roller moves in the first rotational direction.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for an endoscope for use in a surgical procedure, e.g., a pediatric trans-nasal endoscopy procedure. The endoscope may include a handle for gripping by a user, and a shaft extending from the handle. The shaft may have a working channel extending longitudinally therethrough and a distal region configured to be inserted into a patient. A fluid control mechanism on the handle may be actuatable by a user to selectively control the flow of at least one of air, suction or water through the working channel. The working channel may include a bifurcation region that splits the working channel into a first channel through which a surgical instrument can be introduced into the working channel, and a second channel configured to selectively convey at least one of air, suction or water into the working channel.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods are discussed herein for an endoscope. The endoscope has a distal tip with an oblique portion and a flat portion, the oblique portion defines a plane that forms an angle between and including 20 and 40 degrees to a central axis of the endoscope. A related sheath may have similar features at the distal tip.

Abstract: There is provided herein an endoscope assembly comprising at least one front-pointing viewing element on a front end of a distal section of the endoscope assembly, at least one side-looking viewing element on at least one side wall of the distal section of the endoscope assembly, a working channel configured for insertion of a medical tool towards the distal section, and a system for regulating the direction of exit of medical device wherein said system enables the medical device to exit at multiple angles to the long dimension of the endoscope device either from the front end or through side walls of the distal section of the device.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an endoscope system and a handle for a medical device that allows for rotation of the device when a locking member is disengaged by an operator, but does not allow for rotation when the locking member is engaged. Such a handle allows for an operator to maintain the position of an endoscope even when the operator removes his or her hand from the controls of the scope.

Abstract: An apparatus for performing surgical procedures is disclosed including a flexible entry guide tube and a first steering device. The guide tube has one or more lumens extending along its length from a proximal end to substantially at or near a distal end. At least one of the one or more lumens is an instrument lumen with open ends to receive a flexible shaft of a surgical tool. The first steering device is insertable into the instrument lumen to shape the guide tube as it is inserted through an opening in a body and along a path towards a surgical site. The apparatus may further include a flexible locking device to couple to the flexible entry guide tube and selectively rigidize the guide tube to hold its shape. The guide tube may be steered by remote control with one or more actuators.

Abstract: An endoscope head or endoscope head attachment for retrofitting a generally known endoscope having an existing internal endoscope head has at least one individual optical unit for image transmission; a lighting source; and a working channel for guiding tools and/or for media to flow through. In addition, the endoscope head or attachment has an internal pivoting device which is designed to pivot at least one section of the endoscope head or attachment from a prograde orientation into a lateral or a retrograde orientation. The optical unit and the working channel of the endoscope head or attachment are coupled directly or indirectly to the pivoting device, so that they can be pivoted together with the latter.

Abstract: A system for determining elapsed time for a surgical procedure conducted using an endoscope is disclosed. The system may be configured to determine elapsed time for management overseeing operating rooms to determine performance metrics of the operating room such as, but not limited to, operating room consistency and frequency of unusual procedure times to assess operating room efficiency. The system may include determining insertion of an endoscope into a patient and determining removal of the endoscope from a patient. The system may then generate an elapsed surgery time based upon the insertion time of the endoscope into the patient and the removal time of the endoscope from the patient.

Abstract: A distal end hood that is detachably mounted on a distal end portion of an endoscope includes a groove having a groove bottom portion formed in a ring shape over an entire circumference at a predetermined position on an outer peripheral surface of the distal end hood, a plurality of projections, which are provided on an inner peripheral surface on one side sandwiching the groove and in each of which a tapered surface is formed, the tapered surface reducing a wall thickness by continuously increasing a diameter of an inner peripheral surface from the groove side toward a distal end surface of the distal end hood, and a locking portion provided on a side opposite to the projections sandwiching the groove and locked to the distal end portion of the endoscope, in which the projections are configured to bend at the groove bottom portion toward a proximal end side.

Abstract: An endoscope includes: a coil spring which is helically wound around an outer periphery of a treatment instrument channel disposed in an insertion section, the coil spring including a distal end which is fixed to the insertion section on a distal end portion side with respect to a bending portion; and a slide member disposed on a proximal end side of the coil spring, the slide member provided for applying an operation force for deforming the coil spring so as to increase a bending strength of at least a portion of the coil spring corresponding to the inside of the bending portion.

Abstract: An endoscope apparatus includes: a light source device alternately emitting a first illumination light group including green light and a second illumination light group not including the green light; an image sensor including color filters of a plurality of colors; and a processing circuit. The processing circuit generates a display image on the basis of an image obtained with the first illumination light group and an image obtained with the second illumination light group. The first illumination light group further includes blue narrowband light together with the green light. The processing circuit generates a green channel image in the display image on the basis of a green image and a blue narrowband image.

Abstract: A cannula suitable for use in minimally invasive surgery is improved with a highly polished and very smooth luminal wall and/or LED's or other light sources focused at particular angles relative to the axis of the cannula. The devices provide for improved lighting and/or reduced lighting requirements for cannulas used for minimally invasive surgery.

Abstract: A mucous membrane lifting instrument includes: a tubular hood having a proximal end attachable to a distal end of an endoscope; a first band having an elasticity, and arranged on an outer peripheral surface of the hood in a stretched state; a second band having an elasticity, and arranged on the outer peripheral surface of the hood in a stretched state at a position proximal of the first band; and a linear member that is connected to the first band, and passes between the outer peripheral surface of the hood and the second band.

Abstract: A flexible tube insertion apparatus includes a flexible tube to be inserted into a tract, a shape calculation system configured to calculate a shape of the flexible tube, and a bend detection unit configured to detect formation of first and second bend portions in the flexible tube, based on information of the calculated shape of the flexible tube. The apparatus also includes a positional relationship calculation unit configured to calculate a three-dimensional positional relationship expressed by a crossing angle between first and second imaginary planes respectively passing through the first and second bend portions, and a stiffness control system configured to control a stiffness of the flexible tube, based on the three-dimensional positional relationship.

Abstract: A system for controlling a medical imaging scope is disclosed. The system includes a camera head, a display, a processing unit, a memory unit and an input disposed on the medical imaging scope. The processing unit is configured to display a menu that correlates to a plurality of commands. The input is configured to be moveable in three dimensions of space along a set axis, in a plurality of discrete patterns. The processing unit is further configured to associate each of the plurality of discrete patterns with a desired command of the plurality of commands and store each of the plurality of discrete patterns with the desired command of the plurality of commands in the memory unit so as to customize a control of the medical imaging scope.

Abstract: Various embodiments are generally directed to devices, systems, and methods for controlling the flow of fluids in endoscopic systems, such as endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) enabled endoscopes. Some embodiments are particularly directed to valve sets and/or valve interface mechanisms for controlling air, water, and/or suction flow through a valve well for an endoscopic system. Several embodiments are directed to user interface mechanisms and techniques for enabling an operator to interact with and control endoscope valves. Many embodiments are directed to mechanisms and techniques for translating interface input motion into valve control motions. In one or more embodiments, the valve sets and/or valve interface mechanisms may be disposable.