Abstract: An endoscopic deployment device includes a body mountable on an endoscopic device, a communication interface, and a motor. The body has a movable carrier couplable to an elongated end effector device. The effector device has an end effector shaft covered by an outer sheath and an end effector extending from a distal end of the shaft. The sheath is sized and shaped for insertion through a working channel of an endoscopic shaft of the endoscopic device. The body has a carrier channel sized for the carrier to slide therein. The end effecter is actuatable between open and closed positions by sliding the carrier in the carrier channel which in turn slides the sheath over the end effector shaft to uncover/cover the end effector. Rotation of a drive shaft of the motor is sliding the carrier in the carrier channel and actuating the end effector in response to a signal.

Abstract: An endoscopic deployment device includes a body mountable on an endoscopic device, a communication interface, and a motor. The body has a movable carrier couplable to an elongated end effector device. The effector device has an end effector shaft covered by an outer sheath and an end effector extending from a distal end of the shaft. The sheath is sized and shaped for insertion through a working channel of an endoscopic shaft of the endoscopic device. The body has a carrier channel sized for the carrier to slide therein. The end effecter is actuatable between open and closed positions by sliding the carrier in the carrier channel which in turn slides the sheath over the end effector shaft to uncover/cover the end effector. Rotation of a drive shaft of the motor is sliding the carrier in the carrier channel and actuating the end effector in response to a signal.

Abstract: An endoscopic deployment device includes a body mountable on an endoscopic device, a communication interface, and a motor. The body has a movable carrier couplable to an elongated end effector device. The effector device has an end effector shaft covered by an outer sheath and an end effector extending from a distal end of the shaft. The sheath is sized and shaped for insertion through a working channel of an endoscopic shaft of the endoscopic device. The body has a carrier channel sized for the carrier to slide therein. The end effecter is actuatable between open and closed positions by sliding the carrier in the carrier channel which in turn slides the sheath over the end effector shaft to uncover/cover the end effector. Rotation of a drive shaft of the motor is sliding the carrier in the carrier channel and actuating the end effector in response to a signal.

Abstract: An insertion device may include a hollow handle and a shaft extending distally of the hollow handle. The insertion device may also include a cap coupled to a distal end of the shaft. The cap may include a camera and an LED coupled thereto.

Abstract: In one embodiment according to the invention, there is disclosed a method of identifying a source of a vacuum quality problem in a vacuum environment associated with a tool. The method comprises gathering and storing vacuum environment data; identifying an anomaly within the vacuum environment; determining a tool component operating state when the anomaly likely occurred; and determining the source of the vacuum quality problem based on a state of the vacuum environment when the anomaly likely occurred and the tool component operating state when the anomaly likely occurred.

Abstract: A palm pad system including an electronic notepad coupled to a conventional personal digital device (“PDD”) via a data bus is set forth that enables a user to transpose handwritten data into electronic files or pages. The notepad and PDD are mounted onto a common base. The base includes a retaining structure for retaining the notepad on the base and another retaining structure for retaining the PDD on the base. The base further includes a flexible portion that permits the base to be folded into a compact form for protecting the notepad and PDD during transport. A pen containing a transmitter is employed by the palm pad system to transmit a signal to receptive electronics while a user writes data on the notepad with a writing tip contained in the pen. The signal received by the electronics is processed to generate an electronic file representative of the user's handwritten data. The electronic file can be electronically stored and retrieved.

Abstract: A cap containing a retractable tip for interfacing with a touch sensitive display. The cap can be configured to connect to a non-writing end and or a writing end of a pen. The pen can be configured on either or both ends to actuate the retractable tip such that the retractable tip is extended outwardly through an aperture in the cap. The cap can also be configured to connect with other writing or non-writing instruments.