Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for injecting one or more agents into tissue within a patient's body that includes a catheter. A needle guide extends from a distal end of the catheter and terminates at a distal tip, e.g., including a foot with an atraumatic contact surface, the needle guide having a cross-section smaller than the distal end and being biased to a curved shape. The needle guide includes a passage communicating from a lumen of the catheter to an outlet at the distal tip, and a needle device is disposed within the passage that may be deployed from the outlet to inject one or more agents into tissue. The catheter also includes an imaging assembly on the distal end configured to acquire images of tissue adjacent the needle guide distal tip.

Abstract: Provided are an endoscope and a hardness adjustment device configured so that an arrangement space of built-in components in an operation portion can be ensured and that burden on a coil spring and a wire can be reduced. In an operation portion, a retained portion of a coil spring unit is retained at a first radial position by a coil spring holder as a first retainer, and a base end portion of a wire unit is retained at a second radial position by a wire holder as a second retainer. A base end portion of the coil spring unit is retained at a third radial position by a coil spring contact portion as a third retainer.

Abstract: A medical device is provided that comprises: (i) an expandable capsule that can be swallowed by a patient and positioned to a target tissue within the patient, (ii) an endoscope attached to the capsule for obtaining an image of the target tissue at a wavelength of interest, and (iii) a thin tube or wire configured to position the device to the target tissue. The thin tube or wire is expandable. The capsule can be swallowed in stages to position the device at different locations within the gastrointestinal tract. The thin tube or wire can deliver electromagnetic radiation for visualization of the target tissue. The thin tube or wire can provide a passage of a biopsy device for access to the target tissue. In some instances, the capsule comprises a band which rotates around the capsule to clean the capsule. In some instances, the capsule collects multispectral or hyperspectral information.

Abstract: A method is described for performing a percutaneous operation on a patient to remove an object from a cavity within the patient. The method includes advancing a first alignment sensor into the cavity through a patient lumen. The first alignment sensor provides its position and orientation in free space in real time. The alignment sensor is manipulated until it is located in proximity to the object. A percutaneous opening is made in the patient with a surgical tool, where the surgical tool includes a second alignment sensor that provides the position and orientation of the surgical tool in free space in real time. The surgical tool is directed towards the object using data provided by both the first and the second alignment sensors.

Abstract: A swing prism endoscope with adjustable viewing direction includes a shaft with a proximal end and a distal end and a window of a transparent material that seals an opening on the distal end of the shaft so that it is fluid-tight. In addition the swing prism endoscope includes a pivotable prism on the distal end of the shaft for adjustable diversion of light that falls through the window into the shaft of the swing prism endoscope onto an object lens, where the pivotable prism is made of diamond.

Abstract: The invention relates to a surgical instrument system, which comprises a hollow shaft as well as a shaft-type instrument that can be inserted into the hollow shaft. To create a surgical instrument system that consists of a hollow shaft and of a medical instrument that can be inserted into the hollow shaft and that is both simple in construction and capable of a range of uses, it is proposed according to the invention that at least one cam that reduces the inside diameter of the hollow shaft should be positioned on the interior of the hollow shaft.

Abstract: An applicator instrument for dispensing surgical fasteners includes a housing, a firing system disposed in the housing and moveable in distal and proximal directions along a first axis, a handle extending upwardly from the housing along a second axis that defines an acute angle with the first axis, and a trigger mounted on the handle. The applicator instrument includes a non-linear elongated shaft extending from the housing that has a distal section that is extends upwardly toward a top of said applicator instrument. A distal end cap is secured to the distal end of the elongated shaft. The applicator has an imaging system including an imaging device for detecting images at the distal end of said applicator instrument, and a light source for illuminating a field of view for the imaging device at the distal end of the applicator instrument.

Abstract: A self-propelled device for locomotion through a lumen, comprising a set of serially arranged inflatable chambers, adjacent chambers being fluidly connected, and a fluid source attached to one end of the set, such that the chambers inflate sequentially. The chambers are constructed of an elastic material and have a wall thickness and dimensions such that they have a characteristic with a non-monotonous relationship between the inflation pressure within the chamber and the chamber's inflated size. The characteristic is such that after an initial inflation pressure peak, the non-monotonous relationship adopts a negative slope, such that the volume of the chamber increases more rapidly than the volume of fluid flowing into it, and the inflation pressure of the chamber falls. This effect causes the chamber to inflate and anchor rapidly, while essentially slowing down the inflation of the succeeding chamber until inflation of the first is complete.

Abstract: A system for dilating a body cavity with a device including a series of elongated members, each having a central channel and increasing outer diameters where the members are positioned one over the other such that the members are advanced into the body cavity to incrementally dilate the body cavity. The central channels of each member allow for various procedures to be performed including, for example, the application of wireless energy (e.g., ultrasonic) to the body cavity, the introduction of an irrigating fluid and aspiration from the body cavity, and the introduction of a drug to the body cavity.

Abstract: It is described an endoscope to perform surgeries preferably by perforation in translumenal organs in internal organs, comprising an insertion tube (10?) having a distal end (12?) and at least two working channels, one working channel having a smaller diameter (20?) and one working channel having a larger diameter (30?), the working channels (20?,30?) being capable of receiving surgical tools, the endoscope comprising at least two command cables (9?) operatively associated with the working channel of smaller diameter (20?) and at least two command cables (9?) operatively associated with the working channel of larger diameter (30?), the command cables (9?) being capable of allowing the surgical tool, arranged on any of the working channels (20?,30?), to move in any direction, regardless of the movement of the distal end (12?) of the insertion tube (10?).

Abstract: The present invention provides an adaptor that is suitable for attachment to an endoscopic device for delivery of a secondary gas. The adaptor can comprise a substantially cylindrical body with a two, opposing closed ends, two fluid transport channels extending through the cylindrical body and opening at the closed ends, and an inlet port extending outward from the cylindrical body and being in fluid connection with one of the fluid transport channels. The adaptor may be used in endoscopy methods and is particularly useful for adding a secondary gas source in an endoscopy procedure.

Abstract: An introduction device includes an operation main body, a bending section capable of bending in a first direction and a second direction, a first rotary body configured to be operated at a time of bending the bending section in the first direction, and a second rotary body configured to be operated at a time of bending the bending section in the second direction, the second rotary body being configured such that a part of an outer edge is located on an extension plane which is defined by extending the first surface, or the part of the outer edge is located more on the distal-end direction side of the first shaft portion than the extension plane.

Abstract: A bending operation device includes a bending lever that is tiltably supported with an angle to a longitudinal direction of an operation section of an endoscope, a wire pulling member that includes a plurality of arm portions that are displaced according to tilting motion of the bending lever, a plurality of operation wires that are connected to the plurality of arm portions and that bend a bending portion provided in an insertion section of the endoscope according to displacement of the wire pulling member, and a plurality of pulleys that guide the plurality of operation wires to the plurality of arm portions, with the plurality of operation wires being substantially parallel to one another, when the bending lever is in a neutral position at which the bending portion is substantially straight.

Abstract: The disclosure describes a flexible-rigid hybrid design for an endoscope and attachment mechanisms for removably coupling and decoupling the endoscope to a handle portion and/or a tool portion of a variety of different instruments. Some implementations describe designs for instruments that may be coupled to the flexible-rigid endoscope described herein or other endoscopes. Such instruments may include sinus and laryngeal forceps, a laryngeal syringe gun, an endoscopic Eustachian tube balloon dilator, an endoscopic tracheal dilator, and an endoscopic trans-oral esophageal balloon dilator. Some implementations describe an endoscope that may be removably coupled to a portable control box using a connector cable.

Abstract: A system, apparatus and methods for providing a single use imaging device having improved viewing for sterile environments is disclosed and described. A single use high definition camera used for general purpose surgical procedures including, but not limited to: arthroscopic, laparoscopic, gynecologic, and urologic procedures, may comprise an imaging device that is a sterile and designed to ensure single use. The imaging device may further include a sensor located near the tip of a laparoscope and a view optimizing assembly.

Abstract: There is provided an electronic endoscope and an electronic endoscope device with increased noise resistance. An electronic endoscope includes a connector that is connected to a processor device, and transmission and reception of electric power and signals are performed between the connector and the processor device. In the connector, an input and output portion for transmission and reception of electric power and signals is insulated from the processor device, and only a contact portion connected to a ground of the electronic endoscope is electrically connected to a ground of the processor device.

Abstract: There are provided an endoscope system, a processor device, an operation method, and a distance measurement device for accurately measuring the observation distance even if a colorant or residues are present in a subject. An endoscope system 10 includes a light source device 14, an endoscope 12, and an observation distance measurement unit 63. The light source device 14 emits signal light, which has a wavelength band absorbed by hemoglobin contained in the subject, to the subject. The endoscope 12 has an image sensor 48 that images the subject with reflected light of the signal light and outputs an image signal. The observation distance measurement unit 63 measures the observation distance based on the image signal.

Abstract: An endoscope includes an insertion section configured to be inserted into a subject to observe an inside of the subject. The insertion section includes a cylindrical connection member, and a hard member having a fitting portion fitted into the connection member and secured to the connection member with an adhesive applied on an outer surface of the fitting portion. At least one of the fitting portion and the connection member includes: a dam portion extending in an axial direction of the insertion section along the outer surface of the fitting portion to block the adhesive flowing along the outer surface of the fitting portion; and a storage portion continuously provided to the dam portion to partially store the adhesive blocked by the dam portion.

Abstract: An arthroscopic surgical temperature control system and method able to monitor and control the temperature within a surgical site during arthroscopic ablation procedures in order to prevent tissue damage is provided.

Abstract: An endoscope includes a first flat surface formed at a distal end portion of an insertion part to be inserted into a subject, and orthogonal to an axial direction of the insertion part, an observation window provided at the distal end portion for allowing image light of the subject to be taken therethrough, with a surface of the observation window as a light incidence plane, an illumination window provided at the distal end portion to irradiate a subject with illumination light, a fluid jetting nozzle arranged at the first flat surface to jet a fluid toward the observation window and fixed at the distal end portion of the insertion part, and an inclined surface formed around the observation window and arranged at a position that faces the fluid jetting nozzle.