Abstract: A gas supply apparatus includes: a gas supply conduit for supplying a gas to a digestive tract; a pressure detecting device which detects a pressure in the digestive tract; a flow regulating device which regulates a gas amount supplied from the gas supply source to the digestive tract via the gas supply conduit; a first control device which controls the flow regulating device according to a result detected by the pressure detecting device to supply the gas into the digestive tract so that the pressure inside the digestive tract becomes a set pressure; a second control device which controls the flow regulating device to supply a fixed gas amount into the digestive tract; and a gas supply mode switching device which switches between gas supply modes including a mode for executing control by the first control device and a mode for executing control by the second control device.

Abstract: Disclosed is an endoscope overtube such that friction during turning can be reduced. The endoscope overtube of the present invention has a first insertion passage into which an endoscope can be inserted, and has a second insertion passage into which a treatment instrument can be inserted, in a wall constituting the first insertion passage, wherein the second insertion passage has, on a side face thereof, an opening which passes through a surface of the overtube.

Abstract: A method of conducting a clinical procedure, including providing an endoscope having an instrument channel in communication with a lumen; providing a catheter adapted to be inserted through the instrument channel, the catheter comprising a tip having a guide tube portion, and a plurality of openings at a distal end of the catheter in the vicinity of the tip, the plurality of openings adapted for ejecting an irrigation fluid into and for sucking waste fluid from the lumen; inserting the catheter through the endoscope such that the tip protrudes into the lumen; providing and ejecting an irrigation fluid into the lumen through the openings; sucking waste fluid from the lumen through the openings; and withdrawing the catheter from the lumen and the endoscope.

Abstract: A retractor including an excluding portion having an obtuse distal end, an introduction portion extending from the excluding portion, and a handle portion provided at a proximal end of the introduction portion. The excluding portion and the introduction portion each have an outer diameter that allows insertion into a treatment instrument channel of an endoscope. The excluding portion is configured by a movable wire and a plurality of fixed wires, the movable wire extends through the introduction portion, proximal ends of the fixed wires are fixed to a distal end of the introduction portion, and a distal end of the movable wire and distal ends of the fixed wires are joined to each other. A proximal end of the movable wire is pulled with the handle portion toward the handle portion so the excluding portion develops a cocoon shape. The retractor is useful in minimally-invasive surgery.

Abstract: The catheter (1, 11) for an endoscope of the present invention comprises an openings (2, 12) in the vicinity of the tip at a distal end thereof, wherein the opening has a diameter smaller than an inner diameter of the catheter, and a plurality of said openings are provided. The catheter for an endoscope of the present invention can have multiple functions such as irrigation, suction, incision, cauterization, hemostasis by coagulation, and smoke evacuation.

Abstract: An endoscope air-supply system comprising: a gas supply device which supplies predetermined gas to a lumen of a subject through an air-supply duct; a pressure measurement device which measures pressure in the lumen and which is connected through a duct for pressure measurement communicating with the lumen; a flushing device which supplies gas for flushing to the duct for pressure measurement; and an instruction device which instructs the pressure measurement device to perform pressure measurement and which instructs the flushing device to supply the gas for flushing in synchronism with the pressure measurement by the pressure measurement device.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide means capable of steering a treatment instrument together with an endoscope with good operability in endoscopic surgery. The endoscope overtube of the present invention includes a first insertion passage into which an endoscope is inserted, wherein a wall constituting the first insertion passage includes a second insertion passage into which a treatment instrument is inserted, and a major axis direction of the second insertion passage is different from a major axis direction of the first insertion passage at a distal end of the second insertion passage. Since the treatment instrument insertion passage of the overtube does not extend in a direction along the major axis of the overtube, the treatment instrument is protruded from the distal end of the overtube in a direction different from that of the center of a surgical field, and extends outward, away from a direction along the viewing axis of the overtube.

Abstract: The guide tube for forming a pneumoperitoneum of the present invention comprising a flexible tube having an inner cavity, has an outer diameter that allows the guide tube to be inserted into a puncture needle, a distal end of the guide tube is closed, the distal end is provided with a tip portion that can be held by holding forceps provided in an endoscope, a proximal end of the guide tube is provided with a connecting portion to an insufflation apparatus, and the guide tube is provided with a side hole region having at least one side hole that can establish communication between the inner cavity of the flexible tube and the outside in a case where the inner cavity is pressurized through insufflation.