Abstract: A surgical alignment device including a base, a guide, and a plurality of linear actuators each extending between the base and the guide. The plurality of linear actuators include first ends connected to the base at base joints and second ends connected to the guide at guide joints. A locking arrangement is configured to simultaneously lock all of the base joints or simultaneously lock all of the guide joints.

Abstract: A tissue detection system and methods for use thereof are provided. The tissue detection system facilitates stimulating fluorescence via illumination in an area or areas of interest in the human body, detecting non-visible or not easily visible areas of interest subject to such stimulation, and identifying these areas of interest efficiently. The tissue detection system can employ a probe for facilitating illumination/stimulation of a tissue of interest, at least one emitter for generating radiation applied to the tissue of interest, and at least one detector for capturing radiation for the fluorescing tissues of interest.

Abstract: An exemplary system is configured to access image data representative of an image of an internal space of a patient, the image depicting a physical medical element positioned over an anatomical surface within the internal space, identify a region, within the image, that depicts a fiducial marker on the physical medical element, determine, based on the identified region, an affixation target location on the physical medical element, and assist, based on the determined affixation target location, an affixation process in which the physical medical element is affixed to the anatomical surface.

Abstract: An articulation joint includes proximal links, distal links, and intermediate links connecting the proximal and distal links. The articulation joint has a straight configuration along a straight longitudinal axis, a first bent configuration when the articulation joint bends toward a first side of the longitudinal axis, and a second bent configuration when the articulation joint bends toward a second side of the longitudinal axis, opposite to the first side. When the articulation joint is in the straight configuration, a first gap is defined at the first side between adjacent proximal links, and the adjacent proximal links contact each other at the second side, a second gap is defined at each of the first side and the second side between adjacent distal links, and a third gap is defined at the first side between adjacent intermediate links, and adjacent intermediate links contact each other at the second side.

Abstract: A system is provided that includes a Q3D endoscope disposed to image a field of view and a processor that produces a Q3D model of a scene and identifies target instruments and structures. The processor is configured to display the scene from a virtual field of view of an instrument, to determine a no fly zone around targets, to determine a predicted path for said instruments or to provide 3D tracking of said instruments.

Abstract: Described here are systems, devices, and methods useful for minimally invasive surgical procedures performed by a single operator. The surgical systems may include a user interface, a display, one or more support arms each comprising an external magnet, and one or more intracavity devices. The intracavity devices may be configured to be attracted to respective external magnets. The user interface may be configured to allow the operator to control the location and orientation of the intracavity devices by control of the position of the support arms and magnetic field of the external magnet.

Abstract: A method for controlling an orientation of a steerable distal portion of an elongate instrument, said instrument comprising at least one tensioning member attached to said steerable distal portion may include receiving an input command at a controller for articulation of said steerable distal portion, the articulation correlating to an approximate y-bend and an approximate x-bend of said steerable distal portion; calculating an approximate overall bend from said approximate y-bend and said approximate x-bend; and setting a limit of said approximate overall bend beyond which said steerable distal portion is not permitted to achieve. The method may further include one of: causing actuation of said at least one tensioning member to achieve said y-bend and said x-bend on a condition of said calculated approximate overall bend being equal to or less than said limit, and repeating the receiving, calculating, and setting steps on a condition of said calculated approximate overall bend being greater than said limit.

Abstract: A medical device includes a sheath extending longitudinally from a proximal end to a distal end and a handle coupled to the proximal end of the sheath. The handle includes a deflection lever coupled thereto. The deflection lever is rotatable proximally and distally along the handle to deflect a distal end of the shaft to which it is operably coupled and a locking mechanism movable between an locked configuration in which the locking mechanism engages an engagement feature on the outer surface of the handle, preventing the deflection lever from rotating and locking the distal end of the shaft in a desired position, and an unlocked configuration in which the locking mechanism releases the engagement feature to allow rotation of the deflection lever and deflection of the distal end of the shaft.

Abstract: An endoscope distal end frame includes: a holder including a first through hole, the holder being a primary molding made of a colored resin; and a distal end part including a second through hole that is concentric with the first through hole, the distal end part being a secondary molding made of a transparent resin layered on the holder. The first through hole has a diameter larger than a diameter of the second through hole.

Abstract: Provided is an endoscope including a cap that can suppress deformation due to a load and that is easily removable. The endoscope incudes a distal-end-portion body and a cap that is removably attached to the distal-end-portion body and that has an open window. The cap includes a cantilever piece that is formed on a wall portion on at least one of sides facing each other with the open window therebetween and that elastically bends, the cantilever piece having a fixed end and a free end and the cantilever piece including a stopper-target portion that is provided at the free end. The distal-end-portion body includes a stopper portion on a side facing the cantilever piece, the stopper portion engaging with the stopper-target portion. The stopper-target portion is removable from the stopper portion.

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 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.