Abstract: An enhanced flexible robotic endoscopy apparatus includes a main body and flexible elongate shaft. The main body comprises a proximal end, a distal end and a housing that extends to the proximal end and the housing comprises a plurality of surfaces and a plurality of insertion inlets which reside on at least one of the surface of the housing at the proximal end of the main body, through which a plurality of channels for endoscopy are accessible. Each of the insertion inlets has insertion axis corresponding thereto, along which flexible elongate assemblies are insertable, with the insertion axes of the insertion inlets being parallel to the central axis of the flexible elongate shaft at the proximal end of the flexible elongate shaft.

Abstract: An endoscope system is provided, which comprises an endoscope having a hollow tube formed therein, a flexible elongate member having a first end for operational control and a second distal end for operation of robotic members, one or more actuators coupleable to the flexible elongate member at the first end thereof, and an anti-buckling tube arranged with respect to the hollow tube at the first end of the endoscope to prevent buckling of the flexible elongate member during translation of the one or more actuators.

Abstract: An endoscope system is provided, which comprises an endoscope having a hollow tube formed therein, a flexible elongate member having a first end for operational control and a second distal end for operation of robotic members, one or more actuators coupleable to the flexible elongate member at the first end thereof, and an anti-buckling tube arranged with respect to the hollow tube at the first end of the endoscope to prevent buckling of the flexible elongate member during translation of the one or more actuators.

Abstract: An endoscope system is provided. The system comprises an endoscope having a hollow tube formed therein; and an instrument for insertion through the hollow tube, wherein the instrument has a first end for operational control and a second distal end for instrument operation at a distal end of the endoscope, wherein the distal end of the endoscope has an illumination device and a vision device for providing illuminated vision at the distal end of the endoscope for operational control of the instrument operation at the distal end of the instrument, and wherein the distal end of the instrument and the distal end of the endoscope are interoperably coupled for rotational control of the instrument with respect to the endoscope.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention is an endoscopy system with newly designed docking block, brake control, wire tension adjustment, bending angle sensor, memory chip data storage, valve control, imaging lens cleaning, optimized lumen arrangement and distal position sensor. The docking block can have a one-touch retaining mechanism. Braking control can be accessed by the endoscopist at the hand grip or knobs. Wire tension can be relaxed or tightened in response to surgeon or endoscopist control. Bending angle sensors can protect surgical instruments. Memory chip can store usage data of the endoscope. Multiple valves can have priority control. Lenses can be cleaned with one touch of a button. Lumens can be arranged to maximize imaging and lighting angles. Position markers accompanied with sensors can position the distal end of the endoscope automatically in the optimal position.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention is an endoscopy system with newly designed docking block, brake control, wire tension adjustment, bending angle sensor, memory chip data storage, valve control, imaging lens cleaning, optimized lumen arrangement and distal position sensor. The docking block can have a one-touch retaining mechanism. Braking control can be accessed by the endoscopist at the hand grip or knobs. Wire tension can be relaxed or tightened in response to surgeon or endoscopist control. Bending angle sensors can protect surgical instruments. Memory chip can store usage data of the endoscope. Multiple valves can have priority control. Lenses can be cleaned with one touch of a button. Lumens can be arranged to maximize imaging and lighting angles. Position markers accompanied with sensors can position the distal end of the endoscope automatically in the optimal position.

Abstract: An enhanced flexible robotic endoscopy apparatus includes a main body and flexible elongate shaft. The main body comprises a proximal end, a distal end and a housing that extends to the proximal end and the housing comprises a plurality of surfaces and a plurality of insertion inlets which reside on at least one of the surface of the housing at the proximal end of the main body, through which a plurality of channels for endoscopy are accessible. Each of the insertion inlets has insertion axis corresponding thereto, along which flexible elongate assemblies are insertable, with the insertion axes of the insertion inlets being parallel to the central axis of the flexible elongate shaft at the proximal end of the flexible elongate shaft.

Abstract: An enhanced flexible robotic endoscopy apparatus includes a main body and flexible elongate shaft. The main body comprises a proximal end, a distal end and a housing that extends to the proximal end and the housing comprises a plurality of surfaces and a plurality of insertion inlets which reside on at least one of the surface of the housing at the proximal end of the main body, through which a plurality of channels for endoscopy are accessible. Each of the insertion inlets has insertion axis corresponding thereto, along which flexible elongate assemblies are insertable, with the insertion axes of the insertion inlets being parallel to the central axis of the flexible elongate shaft at the proximal end of the flexible elongate shaft.

Abstract: An enhanced flexible robotic endoscopy apparatus includes a main body and flexible elongate shaft. The main body comprises a proximal end, a distal end and a housing that extends to the proximal end and the housing comprises a plurality of surfaces and a plurality of insertion inlets which reside on at least one of the surface of the housing at the proximal end of the main body, through which a plurality of channels for endoscopy are accessible. Each of the insertion inlets has insertion axis corresponding thereto, along which flexible elongate assemblies are insertable, with the insertion axes of the insertion inlets being parallel to the central axis of the flexible elongate shaft at the proximal end of the flexible elongate shaft.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention is an endoscopy system with newly designed docking block, brake control, wire tension adjustment, bending angle sensor, memory chip data storage, valve control, imaging lens cleaning, optimized lumen arrangement and distal position sensor. The docking block can have a one-touch retaining mechanism. Braking control can be accessed by the endoscopist at the hand grip or knobs. Wire tension can be relaxed or tightened in response to surgeon or endoscopist control. Bending angle sensors can protect surgical instruments. Memory chip can store usage data of the endoscope. Multiple valves can have priority control. Lenses can be cleaned with one touch of a button. Lumens can be arranged to maximize imaging and lighting angles. Position markers accompanied with sensors can position the distal end of the endoscope automatically in the optimal position.

Abstract: An endoscope system is provided, which comprises an endoscope having a hollow tube formed therein, a flexible elongate member having a first end for operational control and a second distal end for operation of robotic members, one or more actuators coupleable to the flexible elongate member at the first end thereof, and an anti-buckling tube arranged with respect to the hollow tube at the first end of the endoscope to prevent buckling of the flexible elongate member during translation of the one or more actuators.

Abstract: An endoscopy apparatus includes an elongate member for insertion into a shaft of a transport endoscope, a surgical tool, and a visible feature on the elongate member, the surgical tool or both. The surgical tool is coupled to a distal end of the elongate member and has an effector at an opposite end. The location of the visible feature is fixed relative to a roll orientation of the effector, so that a position of the visible feature during use indicates the roll orientation of the effector. Other embodiments include an endoscopy surgical instrument controller to control the movements of a pulling tendon and a pushing tendon, an adaptor for coupling a motor shaft to actuate a tendon of an endoscopy surgical instrument, an endoscopy surgical instrument controller to actuate a terminal joint, and a transport endoscope docking station comprising a base and a platform to which the base is rotatably coupled.

Abstract: An endoscope system is provided. The system comprises an endoscope having a hollow tube formed therein; and an instrument for insertion through the hollow tube, wherein the instrument has a first end for operational control and a second distal end for instrument operation at a distal end of the endoscope, wherein the distal end of the endoscope has an illumination device and a vision device for providing illuminated vision at the distal end of the endoscope for operational control of the instrument operation at the distal end of the instrument, and wherein the distal end of the instrument and the distal end of the endoscope are interoperably coupled for rotational control of the instrument with respect to the endoscope.

Abstract: A flexible robotic endoscopy slave system includes an endoscope body and a flexible elongate shaft extending therefrom into which at least one tendon driven robotic endoscopic instrument is insertable; a docking station with which the endoscope body is releasably dockable; and a translation mechanism for selectively longitudinally displacing the endoscopic instrument(s) within the flexible elongate shaft when the endoscope body is docked. The translation mechanism can carry and selectively displace actuators that drive each robotic endoscopic instrument by way of tendons. At least one degree of freedom (DOF) of robotic instrument motion is controlled by a pair of actuators and a corresponding pair of tendons. Actuation engagement structures releasably couple the actuators to an adapter structure for driving each endoscopic instrument. Tendon pretensioning can occur automatically under programmable control.

Abstract: An enhanced flexible robotic endoscopy apparatus includes a main body and flexible elongate shaft. The main body comprises a proximal end, a distal end and a housing that extends to the proximal end and the housing comprises a plurality of surfaces and a plurality of insertion inlets which reside on at least one of the surface of the housing at the proximal end of the main body, through which a plurality of channels for endoscopy are accessible. Each of the insertion inlets has insertion axis corresponding thereto, along which flexible elongate assemblies are insertable, with the insertion axes of the insertion inlets being parallel to the central axis of the flexible elongate shaft at the proximal end of the flexible elongate shaft.

Abstract: A flexible robotic endoscopy slave system includes an endoscope body and a flexible elongate shaft extending therefrom into which at least one tendon driven robotic endoscopic instrument is insertable; a docking station with which the endoscope body is releasably dockable; and a translation mechanism for selectively longitudinally displacing the endoscopic instrument(s) within the flexible elongate shaft when the endoscope body is docked. The translation mechanism can carry and selectively displace actuators that drive each robotic endoscopic instrument by way of tendons. At least one degree of freedom (DOF) of robotic instrument motion is controlled by a pair of actuators and a corresponding pair of tendons. Actuation engagement structures releasably couple the actuators to an adapter structure for driving each endoscopic instrument. Tendon pretensioning can occur automatically under programmable control.

Abstract: A master-slave robotic endoscopy system includes a flexible primary endoscope probe having at least one tool channel for carrying a tendon-sheath driven robot arm and corresponding end effector, and a secondary endoscope probe channel for carrying an imaging endoscope. The imaging endoscope provides enhanced image capture range relative to a distal end of the primary endoscope probe by way of a secondary endoscope probe channel distal opening proximally offset from the primary endoscope probe distal end; a ramp structure distally carried by the primary endoscope probe; and/or one or more actuatable distal imaging endoscope regions. Robot arms can include joint primitives that enable robot arm/end effector manipulation in accordance with intended degrees of freedom.