Abstract: A medical device is configured such that a distal end of an operation wire is securely fixed to a distal end of a shaft, enabling smooth distal end deflection operation. The medical device includes: a shaft that includes a distal end flexible portion and in which working lumens and wire lumens are formed; a distal end tip disposed on a distal end side of the shaft and in which distal end working lumens in communication with the working lumens are formed; an intermediate member disposed between the shaft and the distal end tip and including a main through-hole that is formed to secure communication paths with the working lumens and the distal end working lumens and surround the communication paths, and sub-through-holes that are formed to correspond to the positions in which the wire lumens are formed.

Abstract: A patterned tube for use with a scope or similar medical device can include at least one flexible section. The at least one flexible section can include a plurality of first cuts having a first thickness, a plurality of second cuts having a second thickness. Particular ones of the plurality of second cuts can be located substantially opposite particular ones of the plurality of first cuts. The at least one flexible section can further include a plurality of bending moment transfer portions. Particular ones of the bending moment transfer portions can be located between particular ones of the first cuts and particular ones of the second cuts.

Abstract: A control device for use with a steerable medical device comprises a steering shaft rotatable about a longitudinal axis thereof, a first steering cam is affixed to the steering shaft to rotate in unison therewith. A second steering cam is mounted on the steering shaft and freely rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the steering shaft independent of the steering shaft. A latch assembly is operatively connected to the first steering cam and the second steering cam and operable in an inactive configuration in which the first and second steering cams are positioned to maintain first and second steering wires in an un-tensioned or reduced tension state, and further operable in an active configuration in which the first and second steering cams are positioned to maintain the first and second steering wires in a tensioned state. A rotary knob assembly is also disclosed.

Abstract: An endoscope with an articulated bending section body (1) including a number of segments (4) where at least one hinge member (5) is provided between any adjacent segment (4). Each segment (4) has a first surface (9, 9?) and a second surface (10, 10?) delimited by an outer rim. The first surface (9, 9?) includes a first abutment part (11) adapted to abut the first opposing surface (10, 11) of an adjacent segment, wherein the first abutment part (11) is at a distance from the at least one hinge member (5) that is shorter than the shortest distance from the at least one hinge member (5) to the most remote part of the rim.

Abstract: An endoscope and a system including the endoscope and a monitor. The endoscope includes a handle; an insertion cord including an insertion tube, a bending section and a distal tip unit and defining an insertion cord axis; a steering mechanism configured to swivel the distal tip unit and including: a first input wheel and a second input wheel, both rotatably supported by the handle; and a first steering wire, a second steering wire and a third steering wire, all steering wires provided for controlling a bending movement of the bending section, connected to the first input wheel and/or the second input wheel, and extending through the insertion cord, and each steering wire radially spaced from the insertion cord axis and angularly spaced with respect to each other in the circumferential direction of the insertion cord.

Abstract: A connection joint includes: a first sleeve that is formed such that an end portion of a first tube arranged in an endoscope is externally fitted to the first sleeve; a first pusher configured to apply bias to the first sleeve from an outer peripheral side of the first sleeve; and a first bias releasing portion configured to press the first pusher in an outer peripheral direction of the first sleeve to release the bias.

Abstract: An insertion instrument comprises an insertion portion including a bending portion provided at a distal end side of the insertion portion, a first wire provided in the insertion portion, and an operation portion provided at a proximal end side of the insertion portion. The operation portion includes a bending operation unit. The bending operation unit includes a lever having a central shaft defining a central axis, a rotor coupled to the lever, a wire attachment surface to which the first wire is attached. An inner surface of the operation portion includes a receiver body and a restriction body. The receiver body supports the rotor for rotation about the central axis and for movement of the lever from a neutral position to an inclined position, where, in the inclined position, the central shaft is inclined relative to the central shaft in the neutral position. Movement of the lever from the neutral position to the inclined position pulls the first wire to bend the bending portion.

Abstract: An endoscope tubular connector includes: a connection joint including a through-hole; and a tubular portion that is formed of a material softer than the connection joint and that has one end arranged in the through-hole of the connection joint. The through-hole of the connection joint and a through-hole of the tubular portion are formed such that the through-holes are connected to each other, and an outer circumference of the tubular portion is arranged on an inner side with respect to an inner circumference of the connection joint.

Abstract: A control element for an endoscope includes a mounting base and an elastic member. The mounting base is provided with an avoidance area; the avoidance area is a hole or groove penetrating through the mounting base; the elastic member is disposed corresponding to the avoidance area; one end of the elastic member is connected to the mounting base, and the other end of the elastic member is a free end; a projection of the elastic member on a plane where the mounting base is located covers a part of the avoidance area; and the elastic member is provided with a first protrusion. The control element improves the control element corresponding to a leaf spring by redesigning the deformable portion of the elastic member. The control element increases the upper limit for the deformation amount of the elastic member while reducing resistance corresponding to unit deformation amount of the elastic member.

Abstract: A surgical endoscope for manipulation by a surgical robot arm. The surgical endoscope comprises a shaft having a distal end for insertion into a patient and a proximal end. An endoscope interface is attached to the proximal end of the shaft. The endoscope interface is configured to engage a robot arm interface of the surgical robot arm. The endoscope interface comprises an endoscope wedge mechanism moveable between an unlocked position and a locked position. The endoscope wedge mechanism comprises endoscope wedge elements which are displaceable such that collective displacement of the endoscope wedge elements actuates the endoscope wedge mechanism between the unlocked position and the locked position.

Abstract: A sliding motion transfer member (22) for the kinematic chain of an actuator mechanism of an endoscope. The sliding motion transfer member (22) has a proximal end and a distal end (21). The sliding motion transfer member (22) is adapted to receive motion activation input and to move in a sliding manner in response to the motion activation input, thereby transferring motion to an elongate motion transmission member (27) extending from the distal end (21) of the sliding motion transfer member (20). The sliding motion transfer member (22) includes a first passage (36) adapted for receiving a proximal section of the elongate motion transmission member (20) and an adhesive.

Abstract: A flexible endoscope system is provided for use in surgical operation which includes a head part and a control handle detachably connected using first and second docking keys. The head part comprises a shaft, a flexible tip located at a distal end of the shaft, an image sensor module, and drive tendons extending in the shaft for controlling the movement of the flexible tip in multiple degrees of freedom. The control handle includes multiple motors for tensioning or relaxing the drive tendons via a capstan assembly. Control element is provided on the control handle to allow a user to trigger a complex movement of the flexible tip to form an S shape so that a bird-eye view of the surgical site can be obtained by the endoscope system. The detachable connection eliminates the need to sterilize the control handle in which the main electronic components are located.

Abstract: The present invention provides a robotic locomotive device that is capable of driving itself forwards and backwards, anchoring and steering itself whilst inside a tubular structure, for example, the human colon, or any structure comprising two opposing walls. In this respect, the device is made up of two or three segments covered in an elastic material and driven by an internal actuating mechanism. All of the segments have a concertina configuration that enable a shortening and lengthening motion. As well as contracting and extending in length, at least one of the end segments is capable of bending at an angle away from the longitudinal axis such that it becomes wedged or jammed between the walls of the tubular structure. That is, the end segments are capable of both a bending action and a contracting and extending action.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are various robotic surgical systems having various robotic devices. Further, disclosed herein are removable coupleable connection ports, each of which can be coupled to a robotic device and a camera assembly that is disposed into and through the robotic device. Also disclosed herein are removable connection ports having at least one of a elongate device body coupling mechanism, a camera assembly coupling mechanism, and/or a presence detection mechanism. Further discussed herein is a camera assembly with at least one actuation mechanism for actuating movement of the steerable distal tip thereof.

Abstract: An endoscope including a distal tip unit having an optical system; a handle having a housing, a printed circuit board, and an operating unit for steering the distal tip unit, the housing enclosing the printed circuit board; a bending section; and a steering wire for controlling a bending movement of the bending section, the steering wire being connected to the operating unit. The printed circuit board is configured to process information received from the optical system via cables extending from the distal tip unit. A separation means arranged in the housing and separates an inner space of the housing at least into a printed circuit board compartment accommodating the printed circuit board and a steering wire compartment accommodating the steering wire.

Abstract: Steering handles with manifolds that enable an operator to configure an endoscopic system in situ for a variety of tasks, including irrigation, aspiration, or both. In addition, the disclosed endoscopic systems facilitate rapid reconfiguration of the location of a laser fiber optic within a catheter assembly. The laser fiber optic, for example, can be removed from an irrigation channel of the endoscopic system and reinserted in the aspiration channel during a laser lithotripsy procedure. In some embodiments, the removal and reinsertion can be performed in situ, without removing the catheter from the patient or the treated organ. These aspects of the disclosed system reduce the time required to perform laser lithotripsy procedures, with less trauma to the patient.

Abstract: An endoscope having a handle, the handle including a frame with bearings, a control device with trunnions extending from opposite sides of a body of the control device, shell parts together enclosing a cavity accommodating the frame and at least partly the control device therein, the shell parts including a first column and a second column extending into the cavity from opposite sides, wherein the shell parts and the frame each are formed as separate components, wherein the trunnions of the control device and preferably the columns are supported by the bearings of the frame so that the control device is rotatable about a pivot axis, and wherein the first and second columns of the shell parts are arranged to retain the trunnions of the control device between the first and second columns of the shell parts.

Abstract: An endolumenal robotic system provides the surgeon with the ability to drive a robotically-driven endoscopic device to a desired anatomical position in a patient without the need for awkward motions and positions, while also enjoying improved image quality from a digital camera mounted on the endoscopic device.

Abstract: An optical unit includes a fixed barrel configured to accommodate a moving barrel configured to hold an optical element configured to form an object image and formed of a nonmagnetic body to be able to advance and retract between a first position and a second position in a direction along an optical axis, a first magnet provided at the fixed barrel and configured to attract the moving barrel in a first direction along the optical axis to hold the moving barrel at the first position, a coil configured to attract the moving barrel in a second direction opposite to the first direction along the optical axis to hold the moving barrel at the second position by a magnetic field generated by being energized, and a second magnet provided at the moving barrel and configured to be attracted by the first magnet and the magnetic field of the coil.

Abstract: An otoscope provides a disposable speculum sleeve that conducts light to a narrow tip holding an electronic camera. By removing the light source from the tip, the diameter of the tip may be further reduced to allow the space of the ear canal to be shared between the otoscope and a tool such as a curette for removing foreign objects or to permit the tip to navigate around ear obstructions. The sleeve may provide for multidirectional illumination of the ear structure for improved visualization. The tip and sleeve may be flexible for increased patient comfort when using a compact tip design.