Abstract: An articulating joint for an endoscopic device includes a body and a wire. The body includes a first link at a proximal end, a last link at a distal end, and interior links therebetween. The body is formed as a tube with gaps. Each interior link is connected on a proximal end to a further proximal link via first flexible members and on a distal end to a further distal link via second flexible members. Each interior link forms a proximal gap between the interior link and the further proximal link, a distal gap between the interior link and the further distal link, and a recess on both sides of the members permitting the members to bend and the interior links to rotate. The wire extends through the links such that applying tension to the wire causes at least one link to rotate toward another link and articulate the joint.

Abstract: A system is for tracking includes a longitudinal element extending longitudinally from a distal tip inserted into a body to a proximal end which remains outside of the body. The element includes an IMU sensor at the tip and a series of stripes extending along the element. Data from the IMU sensor determines an angular orientation of the tip. The system also includes an exterior member positioned outside of the body. The member includes a channel extending longitudinally therethrough and a linear encoder detecting each of the stripes of the element as the element is slid through the member so that data from the encoder determines a linear displacement of the element relative to the member at a point of entry. 3D location of the tip calculated based on the determined angular orientation and the linear displacement determined at each detected stripe.

Abstract: Medical systems are described, including a medical system that includes a scope including a handle and a shaft defining a channel having a distal opening, a processor, at least one laser source, a first laser fiber, and a second laser fiber, wherein each of the first laser fiber and the second laser fiber is coupled to the at least one laser source and extends through the shaft, wherein a distal end of the shaft includes an imager, the distal opening of the channel, a distal end of the first laser fiber, and a distal end of the second laser fiber, and wherein each of the first laser fiber and the second laser fiber is configured to transmit a collimated beam onto a target without altering or fragmenting the target.

Abstract: A system is disclosed that includes an optical fiber including a first optical module and a gate. The gate can be capable of moving between closed and opened states to form a slit. At least one storage medium can be included having encoded thereon executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to carry out a method including directing light from the first optical module through the slit onto the stone to form a pair of lines with a spacing between the pair of lines; and determining a size of the stone, based on a distance from a distal tip of the optical fiber and the spacing between the pair of lines.

Abstract: Methods and systems for determining and mapping a location of a distal end region of an elongate shaft. An illustrative method may comprise obtaining data from an accelerometer located in the elongate shaft adjacent a distal end thereof, determining a length of the elongate shaft inserted into a body from a reference point, merging the accelerometer data and the length of the elongate shaft to localize the distal end region of the elongate shaft, reconstructing a line of travel of the medical device within the body, and superimposing the reconstructed line of travel over an image of an anatomy of the patient.