Abstract: An apparatus for applying clips to tissue, comprises a plurality of clips, each of the clips including a proximal end having a pair of opposed jaws and a distal end including a linking feature, where the clips are linked to one another to form a clip chain with a linking feature of a distal-most one of the clips being gripped between the jaws of an immediately proximal one of the clips and a control linkage coupled to a proximal-most one of the clips for applying tension and compression to the clip chain in combination with a magazine containing the clip chain, the magazine including an abutment surface sized to prevent passage distally therebeyond of a clip having received between its jaws a linking feature of an immediately distal clip and an opening location within which the jaws of a clip are permitted to open to release a linking feature therefrom.

Abstract: An apparatus for applying clips to tissue, comprises a plurality of clips, each of the clips including a proximal end having a pair of opposed jaws and a distal end including a linking feature, where the clips are linked to one another to form a clip chain with a linking feature of a distal-most one of the clips being gripped between the jaws of an immediately proximal one of the clips and a control linkage coupled to a proximal-most one of the clips for applying tension and compression to the clip chain in combination with a magazine containing the clip chain, the magazine including an abutment surface sized to prevent passage distally therebeyond of a clip having received between its jaws a linking feature of an immediately distal clip and an opening location within which the jaws of a clip are permitted to open to release a linking feature therefrom.

Abstract: An apparatus for applying clips to tissue, comprises a plurality of clips, each of the clips including a proximal end having a pair of opposed jaws and a distal and including a linking feature, where the clips are linked to one another to form a clip chain with a linking feature of a distal-most one of the clips being gripped between the jaws of an immediately proximal one of the clips and a control linkage coupled to a proximal-most one of the clips for applying tension and compression to the clip chain in combination with a magazine containing the clip chain, the magazine including an abutment surface sized to prevent passage distally therebeyond of a clip having received between its jaws a linking feature of an immediately distal clip and an opening location within which the jaws of a clip are permitted to open to release a linking feature therefrom.

Abstract: A fluid delivery system for use with an endoscope. Certain embodiments of the invention include a single, large fluid source and pump installed upon an operator console, in combination with a small fluid reservoir and pump installed within a proximal connector of the imaging endoscope, multiple fluid sources that feed a common fluid channel that are pressurized by a common pump, multiple fluid sources that feed dedicated fluid channels that are pressurized by dedicated pumps, and a small fluid reservoir and pump installed within a handheld manual controller of the imaging endoscope. The fluid delivery endoscopic systems of the present invention provide the user with the flexibility of changing fluids either in advance of a procedure or on-the-fly as needed, instead of relying on fixed fluid sources only.

Abstract: An apparatus for applying clips to tissue, comprises a plurality of clips, each of the clips including a proximal end having a pair of opposed jaws and a distal and including a linking feature, where the clips are linked to one another to form a clip chain with a linking feature of a distal-most one of the clips being gripped between the jaws of an immediately proximal one of the clips and a control linkage coupled to a proximal-most one of the clips for applying tension and compression to the clip chain in combination with a magazine containing the clip chain, the magazine including an abutment surface sized to prevent passage distally therebeyond of a clip having received between its jaws a linking feature of an immediately distal clip and an opening location within which the jaws of a clip are permitted to open to release a linking feature therefrom.

Abstract: An apparatus for applying clips to tissue, comprises a plurality of clips, each of the clips including a proximal end having a pair of opposed jaws and a distal end including a linking feature, where the clips are linked to one another to form a clip chain with a linking feature of a distal-most one of the clips being gripped between the jaws of an immediately proximal one of the clips and a control linkage coupled to a proximal-most one of the clips for applying tension and compression to the clip chain in combination with a magazine containing the clip chain, the magazine including an abutment surface sized to prevent passage distally therebeyond of a clip having received between its jaws a linking feature of an immediately distal clip and an opening location within which the jaws of a clip are permitted to open to release a linking feature therefrom.

Abstract: A control handle for use with a steerable endoscopic device. The endoscopic device having a pair of control wires to effect steering. The control handle includes a steering mechanism that includes an actuator, such as a control knob, drivingly connected to a drive member, such as a sprocket or drive gear. To transmit force from the drive member to the control wires, a length of transmission structure, such as bead chain, is connected to the proximal ends of the control wires and is engaged with the drive member. In one embodiment, a single-use endoscope may be provided, which includes a control handle, a steerable endoscopic device, and a umbilical cord or communications conduit for functionally connecting the control handle to a control cabinet of an endoscopic imaging system.

Abstract: A fluid delivery system for use with an endoscope. Certain embodiments of the invention include a single, large fluid source and pump installed upon an operator console, in combination with a small fluid reservoir and pump installed within a proximal connector of the imaging endoscope, multiple fluid sources that feed a common fluid channel that are pressurized by a common pump, multiple fluid sources that feed dedicated fluid channels that are pressurized by dedicated pumps, and a small fluid reservoir and pump installed within a handheld manual controller of the imaging endoscope. The fluid delivery endoscopic systems of the present invention provide the user with the flexibility of changing fluids either in advance of a procedure or on-the-fly as needed, instead of relying on fixed fluid sources only.

Abstract: An apparatus for applying clips to tissue, comprises a plurality of clips, each of the clips including a proximal end having a pair of opposed jaws and a distal end including a linking feature, where the clips are linked to one another to form a clip chain with a linking feature of a distal-most one of the clips being gripped between the jaws of an immediately proximal one of the clips and a control linkage coupled to a proximal-most one of the clips for applying tension and compression to the clip chain in combination with a magazine containing the clip chain, the magazine including an abutment surface sized to prevent passage distally therebeyond of a clip having received between its jaws a linking feature of an immediately distal clip and an opening location within which the jaws of a clip are permitted to open to release a linking feature therefrom.

Abstract: A fluid delivery system for use with an endoscope. Certain embodiments of the invention include a single, large fluid source and pump installed upon an operator console, in combination with a small fluid reservoir and pump installed within a proximal connector of the imaging endoscope, multiple fluid sources that feed a common fluid channel that are pressurized by a common pump, multiple fluid sources that feed dedicated fluid channels that are pressurized by dedicated pumps, and a small fluid reservoir and pump installed within a handheld manual controller of the imaging endoscope. The fluid delivery endoscopic systems of the present invention provide the user with the flexibility of changing fluids either in advance of a procedure or on-the-fly as needed, instead of relying on fixed fluid sources only.

Abstract: An apparatus for applying clips to tissue, comprises a plurality of clips, each of the clips including a proximal end having a pair of opposed jaws and a distal end including a linking feature, where the clips are linked to one another to form a clip chain with a linking feature of a distal-most one of the clips being gripped between the jaws of an immediately proximal one of the clips and a control linkage coupled to a proximal-most one of the clips for applying tension and compression to the clip chain in combination with a magazine containing the clip chain, the magazine including an abutment surface sized to prevent passage distally therebeyond of a clip having received between its jaws a linking feature of an immediately distal clip and an opening location within which the jaws of a clip are permitted to open to release a linking feature therefrom.

Abstract: A control handle for use with a steerable endoscopic device. The endoscopic device having a pair of control wires to effect steering. The control handle includes a steering mechanism that includes an actuator, such as a control knob, drivingly connected to a drive member, such as a sprocket or drive gear. To transmit force from the drive member to the control wires, a length of transmission structure, such as bead chain, is connected to the proximal ends of the control wires and is engaged with the drive member. In one embodiment, a single-use endoscope may be provided, which includes a control handle, a steerable endoscopic device, and a umbilical cord or communications conduit for functionally connecting the control handle to a control cabinet of an endoscopic imaging system.

Abstract: A control handle for use with a steerable endoscopic device. The endoscopic device having a pair of control wires to effect steering. The control handle includes a steering mechanism that includes an actuator, such as a control knob, drivingly connected to a drive member, such as a sprocket or drive gear. To transmit force from the drive member to the control wires, a length of transmission structure, such as bead chain, is connected to the proximal ends of the control wires and is engaged with the drive member. In one embodiment, a single-use endoscope may be provided, which includes a control handle, a steerable endoscopic device, and a umbilical cord or communications conduit for functionally connecting the control handle to a control cabinet of an endoscopic imaging system.

Abstract: A proximal connector of an endoscope shaft can be manually attached to and detached from a console, such that the connector and endoscope shaft can be provided as a single use device. An interface between the proximal connector and console can include a sliding plate moveable to operably make and break at least some of the connections between the console and endoscope shaft. A fluid reservoir may be separately connected to the proximal connector and hang from a mount on the interface.

Abstract: A proximal connector of an endoscope shaft can be manually attached to and detached from a console, such that the connector and endoscope shaft can be provided as a single use device. An interface between the proximal connector and console can include a sliding plate moveable to operably make and break at least some of the connections between the console and endoscope shaft. A fluid reservoir may be separately connected to the proximal connector and hang from a mount on the interface.

Abstract: A proximal connector of an endoscope shaft can be manually attached to and detached from a console, such that the connector and endoscope shaft can be provided as a single use device. An interface between the proximal connector and console can include a sliding plate moveable to operably make and break at least some of the connections between the console and endoscope shaft. A fluid reservoir may be separately connected to the proximal connector and hang from a mount on the interface.

Abstract: A fluid delivery system for use with an endoscope. Certain embodiments of the invention include a single, large fluid source and pump installed upon an operator console, in combination with a small fluid reservoir and pump installed within a proximal connector of the imaging endoscope, multiple fluid sources that feed a common fluid channel that are pressurized by a common pump, multiple fluid sources that feed dedicated fluid channels that are pressurized by dedicated pumps, and a small fluid reservoir and pump installed within a handheld manual controller of the imaging endoscope. The fluid delivery endoscopic systems of the present invention provide the user with the flexibility of changing fluids either in advance of a procedure or on-the-fly as needed, instead of relying on fixed fluid sources only.

Abstract: A control handle for use with a steerable endoscopic device. The endoscopic device having a pair of control wires to effect steering. The control handle includes a steering mechanism that includes an actuator, such as a control knob, drivingly connected to a drive member, such as a sprocket or drive gear. To transmit force from the drive member to the control wires, a length of transmission structure, such as bead chain, is connected to the proximal ends of the control wires and is engaged with the drive member. In one embodiment, a single-use endoscope may be provided, which includes a control handle, a steerable endoscopic device, and a umbilical cord or communications conduit for functionally connecting the control handle to a control cabinet of an endoscopic imaging system.

Abstract: An apparatus for applying clips to tissue, comprises a plurality of clips, each of the clips including a proximal end having a pair of opposed jaws and a distal end including a linking feature, where the clips are linked to one another to form a clip chain with a linking feature of a distal-most one of the clips being gripped between the jaws of an immediately proximal one of the clips and a control linkage coupled to a proximal-most one of the clips for applying tension and compression to the clip chain in combination with a magazine containing the clip chain, the magazine including an abutment surface sized to prevent passage distally therebeyond of a clip having received between its jaws a linking feature of an immediately distal clip and an opening location within which the jaws of a clip are permitted to open to release a linking feature therefrom.

Abstract: A razor blade tool relating to overcoming single use shortcomings of current utility knives allows a user to select multiple razor blade positions. Each razor blade position allows a razor blade tool to be utilized for a different purpose, such as scraping, case cutting, twine cutting, and as a knife. Additional razor blades are stored in a razor blade tool in a manner that prevents the sharpened edges of razor blades from contacting side-walls of the storage area so that stored razor blades remain sharp and undamaged.