Abstract: An insertion device includes: a tube having a channel hole and a communication hole; a frame member having a tube insertion hole and a forceps channel and disposed to cover a periphery of the communication hole; and a closing member configured to close the channel hole in the tube at a position closer to a proximal end side than the communication hole and having a distal end surface disposed to face the communication hole.

Abstract: An endoscope tip part including an exterior housing including a circumferentially extending side wall with a proximal opening, the circumferentially extending side wall defining an interior space with an air volume; a camera assembly positioned in the interior space so that the air volume envelops at least the distal portion of the camera assembly; and an interior housing part including a circumferentially extending closure surface and a circumferentially extending attachment surface, the interior housing part being positioned in the proximal opening; wherein the exterior housing and interior housing part are formed as separate prefabricated components, wherein the closure surface is configured for closing the proximal opening of the exterior housing so as to liquid-seal the air volume in the tip part, and wherein the attachment surface extends proximally from the proximal opening and is configured for attaching the interior housing part to another element of the tip part.

Abstract: An endoscope system for use with a light guide having an endoscope; and a reflector configured for placement between the endoscope and the light guide. The reflector has a translucent portion for transmitting light from the light guide and a reflective portion for reflecting light from the light guide back into the light guide.

Abstract: A medical system is provided comprising a medical device including a handle and a mechanism for moving a distal end of the medical device; an auxiliary medical device comprising a basket retrieval device including a basket sheath disposed over a basket wire and received into a working channel of the medical device; a knob assembly in communication with the basket retrieval device, the knob assembly rotatable so that the basket sheath, wire, or both move within the working channel; and a base removably connecting the auxiliary medical device to the handle wherein the handle and the base are configured to be simultaneously gripped with a hand, and wherein the mechanism is configured to be moved with a first finger to move the distal end of the medical device and the knob assembly is configured to be rotated with a second finger to move the basket sheath wire, or both.

Abstract: An image transfer arrangement (1) for the wireless transfer of image information items between a transmitter (4) and a receiver (8), wherein at least two communication channels (11) which are physically independent of one another are formed between the transmitter (4) and the receiver (8) and enable impairment and interference-free communication.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device comprising a digital camera, a speculum and an attachment means for attaching the camera to the speculum, wherein the speculum defines a first end with a first opening, and a second end with a second opening; and wherein the attachment means is attached to the first end of the speculum and the camera is has a first position substantially in the plane of the first opening such that it can view a region beyond the second opening. The device may be an otoscope and may be used in the visualization and treatment of the ear canal.

Abstract: Several embodiments of the present invention are generally directed to medical visualization systems that comprise combinations of disposable and reusable components, such as catheters, functional handles, hubs, optical devices, etc. Other embodiments of the present invention are generally directed to features and aspects of an in-vivo visualization system that comprises an endoscope having a working channel through which a catheter having viewing capabilities is routed. the catheter may obtain viewing capabilities by being constructed as a vision catheter or by having a fiberscope or other viewing device selectively routed through one of its channels. The catheter is preferably of the steerable type so that the distal end of the catheter may be steered from its proximal end as it is advanced with the body. A suitable use for the in-vivo visualization system includes but is not limited to diagnosis and/or treatment of the duodenum, and particularly the biliary tree.

Abstract: Apparatus, including a tube having proximal and distal ends and an internal lumen. The distal end may bend up to 270°, and the tube may be inserted into an eye. A planar resilient strip, having proximal and distal ends, is inserted into the internal lumen, and the strip distal end is fixed to the tube distal end. A coil spring is fixed to the strip proximal end so that a coil spring symmetry axis is coplanar with the strip. A camera, mounted with the strip distal end, images the eye interior. A wire is fixed to the strip distal end, so that a predetermined force on the wire causes the tube distal end to bend by a preset angle. A magnetometer at the tube proximal end is configured, when a nonvarying magnetic field traverses it, to provide a signal that, when taken with the preset angle, indicates a camera orientation.

Abstract: A holder for a surgical instrument, where the holder includes: an image sensor, the image sensor having a photo-sensitive layer and a rear side facing away from the photo-sensitive layer; and a circuit board, a first side of the circuit board being connected to the rear side of the image sensor. The holder may have a cover member having a first side arranged on a second side of the circuit board, the second side of the circuit board facing away from the image sensor. The cover member may be configured to form an interspace between the first side of the cover member and the second side of the circuit board, and the interspace may be filled with an adhesive.

Abstract: A system and method for enhanced surgical navigation and graphical user interfaces associated therewith. The system includes a 3D endoscope and a computing device including a display for displaying the graphical user interfaces. The 3D endoscope includes a camera source and a scan source and is utilized to generate a 3D spatial map of a surgical site. A position of a surgical tool is detected in the 3D spatial map, a distance between the position of the surgical tool in the 3D spatial map and a location of an anatomy is detected, and a warning is generated when it is determined that the distance between the position of the surgical tool in the 3D spatial map and the location of the anatomy is equal to or not greater than a threshold minimum distance.

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. The exterior of the shaft may be protected by a laminate layer that is more flexible at the distal regions of the shaft than at more proximal regions, so as to improve steering. The shaft wall may be comprised of braided filaments so as to minimize the outer diameter of the shaft while maintaining a maximum working channel diameter. The handle may include symmetrical steering mechanisms to enable ambidextrous steering capabilities.

Abstract: A control handle includes a housing and at least one control wire that extends from the housing to terminate at a distal tip. A steering assembly is coupled with the at least one control wire for selectively tensioning the at least one control wire to effectuate movement of the distal tip. The steering assembly includes at least one cam that is rotatable about an axis and presents a winding surface that extends circumferentially. The at least one control wire is connected to the at least one cam. An actuator dial is rotatable about the axis and coupled with the at least one cam for rotatably driving the at least one cam from a neutral position to an actuated position to at least partially wind the control wire about the winding surface and to tension the at least one control wire for deflecting the distal tip.

Abstract: A memory device includes a memory cell array including memory cells arranged in a plurality of rows; an ECC engine configured to detect an error in first data that is read from the memory cell array in response to a read command and a read address, to output a first error occurrence signal, and to correct the error in the first data; a row fail detector configured to output a fail row address, which indicates a fail row among the plurality of rows; and a flag generator configured to receive the read address, the first error occurrence signal, and the fail row address, and to generate a decoding state flag, which indicates whether an error is detected and whether an error is corrected, and a fail row flag, which indicates that a read row address included in the read address is the fail row address.

Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting, characterizing, and addressing the type of endoscope that is connected to the camera/light source based on the image size taken using that endoscope are disclosed. Once the type of endoscope is determined, the systems and methods can adjust at least one parameter of the camera/light source based on the determination of the type of endoscope that is being used.

Abstract: One or more devices, systems, methods, and storage mediums for imaging and more particularly to minimally invasive medical devices, such as, but not limited to, spectrally encoded endoscopy (SEE), endoscopy, and/or other catheter-related apparatuses and systems, methods, and storage mediums for use with same, are provided herein. One or more devices, systems, methods and storage mediums may be for characterizing, examining and/or diagnosing, and/or measuring viscosity of, a sample or object in application(s) using an apparatus or system that includes, in one or more embodiments, an in-situ optics observation window or lens cleaning apparatus or system that provides a technique(s) for cleaning the medical device optic(s) without removing the medical device during a surgical procedure.

Abstract: A video endoscope including an elongated shaft, wherein the shaft includes at least one shaft tube, a magnetic ring surrounding the shaft tube is freely rotatably arranged in a region of a proximal end of the shaft tube, and the magnetic ring is axially fixed between a proximal stop shoulder of the shaft tube and a distal retaining body, and wherein the retaining body having a sleeve-like configuration and is placed onto the shaft tube from the distal direction. The shaft tube has an indentation in a region of the retaining body, and the retaining body is fastened on the shaft tube by a fastener which penetrates the retaining body and extends into the indentation.

Abstract: A video endoscope that includes a handle with a housing and an interface portion rotatably mounted relative to the housing, and an elongate shaft with one or more electronic image sensors, wherein a proximal end section of the shaft is detachably connected to the interface portion of the handle, where the interface portion includes a first connector element electrically connected to an electric transmission element of the interface portion and the shaft includes a second connector element electrically connected to the one or more electronic image sensors, the first and second connector elements co-operating to form a detachable electrical connection, and where the handle includes an electrical connection assembly arranged at an exterior of the interface portion forming an electrical connection to at least one stationary electric and/or electronic component of the handle in a multiplicity of rotational positions of the interface portion relative to the housing.

Abstract: An optical filter system and a video endoscope therefor are disclosed. The optical filter system is arranged in a distal end section of a shaft. At least one image sensor for receiving image light is positioned in the distal end section. The optical filter system contains an optical filter and an objective lens system with a three or more lenses to collect image light and to pass it to the image sensor. The filter has transmission characteristics that vary relative to the radial distance from its center and is located between the first lens and the second lens of the objective lens system. Used in conjunction with fluorescence imaging, emission radiation collected by the image sensor is substantially free of excitation radiation. Additionally, a display system clearly delineating the regions with reliable fluorescence and/or visible light is also disclosed.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for controlling cooperative surgical instruments with variable surgical site access trajectories are provided. Various aspects of the present disclosure provide for coordinated operation of surgical instruments accessing a common surgical site from different approach and/or separate body cavities to achieve a common surgical purpose. For example, various methods, devices, and systems disclosed herein can enable the coordinated treatment of tissue by disparate minimally invasive surgical systems that approach the tissue from varying anatomical spaces and must operate differently, but in concert with one another, to effect a desired surgical treatment.

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.