Abstract: An insertion tube for a medical device shaft including a plurality of semi-continuous slots arranged in a helical pattern along a length of the insertion tube. The insertion tube including a plurality of intervals separating the slots. The intervals comprising a plurality of helical intervals extending circumferentially, and the helical intervals may be circumferentially offset such that the plurality of slots are staggered. The intervals may further comprise a plurality of longitudinal intervals extending along the length of the insertion tube, and the longitudinal intervals may define a longitudinal space between the plurality of slots.

Abstract: A medical device may comprise a handle, a shaft extending from the handle, an adapter fixed to a distal end of the shaft, and an articulation joint. The adapter may have a proximal portion and a distal portion. The distal portion may include a rib extending approximately parallel to a longitudinal axis of the shaft and a locking tab. The articulation joint may have a proximal-most link. The proximal-most link may include a proximal cavity, an opening on a radially outer surface of the proximal-most link, and a cutout. The proximal cavity may be configured to receive the distal portion of the adapter. The opening may be configured to receive the locking tab of the adapter. The cutout may be configured to receive the rib of the adapter.

Abstract: A medical device including a handle, a shaft extending from the handle, first and second articulation wires coupled to the handle, and an articulation member at a distal end of the shaft, wherein the articulation member includes a central longitudinal axis within a first bending plane. The first and second articulation wires lie within the first bending plane, the articulation member includes a plurality of links arranged about the central longitudinal axis, a first link of the plurality of links is attached to an adjacent, second link of the plurality of links via a first pair of hinges, and a first hinge from the first pair of hinges is arranged on a first side the first bending plane, and a second hinge from the first pair of hinges is located on a second side of the bending plane, opposite the first side.

Abstract: An articulation assembly for a medical device may include a plurality of discs and a plurality of actuation elements. Each actuation element may include a primary stem and a plurality of arms extending radially outward from the primary stem. Each arm of the plurality of arms may extend at least partially through at least two adjacent discs of the plurality of discs.

Abstract: A medical device includes a handle including an actuating device, a shaft extending from the handle and having a longitudinal axis, a cam rotatably connected to the handle, wherein the cam includes a first section and a second section, and wherein a distance between a radially outer surface of the first section and a center of the cam is different from a distance between a radially outer surface of the second section and the center of the cam; and an actuation wire extending from the cam to a distal end of the shaft. Rotation of the actuating device rotates the cam, causing the actuating wire to wrap around the first section and the second section to deflect the distal end of the shaft.

Abstract: A medical device includes a handle including an actuating device, a shaft extending from the handle and having a longitudinal axis, a cam rotatably connected to the handle, wherein the cam includes a first section and a second section, and wherein a distance between a radially outer surface of the first section and a center of the cam is different from a distance between a radially outer surface of the second section and the center of the cam; and an actuation wire extending from the cam to a distal end of the shaft. Rotation of the actuating device rotates the cam, causing the actuating wire to wrap around the first section and the second section to deflect the distal end of the shaft.

Abstract: A medical device may include a sheath. The sheath may have a rigid portion and a flexible portion. In a first configuration of the medical device, the sheath may include a first lumen and a second lumen. In a second configuration of the medical device, the sheath may include only the first lumen.

Abstract: A medical device comprises: a base configured to be coupled to a solid structure or a bite block and one or more stabilizer assemblies. A first stabilizer assembly is configured to selectively inhibit a shaft of an endoscope from moving in an axial direction relative to the base or the bite block, and configured to allow a shaft of an endoscope to be rotated relative to the base or the bite block. A second stabilizer assembly is configured to selectively inhibit the shaft of the endoscope from rotating relative to the base or the bite block, and configured to allow the shaft of the endoscope to move in an axial direction relative to the base or the bite block.

Abstract: A distal tip of a medical device may comprise a proximal portion a distal portion. Each of a first side surface, a second side surface, a top surface, and a bottom surface may extend along the proximal portion and the distal portion and join together at a distalmost end of the distal tip. A curved shape of the distal portion may be sharper than a hemisphere.

Abstract: An elevator for a medical device may comprise an axle and a body having: a guide surface, a back surface on an opposite side of the body from the guide surface, a first side surface, and a second side surface. Each of the first side surface and the second side surface may extend between the guide surface and the back surface. The elevator may further comprise a connector extending outward from the first side surface. The connector may include a channel that is configured to receive a control member for pivoting the elevator about the axle.

Abstract: An articulation portion of a medical device may include a plurality of links arranged longitudinally about an axis. Each link may include a center lumen and at least one lumen extending longitudinally through a wall of each respective link, which may be configured to receive an articulation wire. A distalmost link of the plurality of links may include a first cutout on first radial surface of the distalmost link, a second cutout on a second radial surface of the distalmost, and a third cutout on the first radial surface of the distalmost link. The first radial surface may be one of a radially outer surface or a radially inner surface, and the second radial surface may be another of the radially outer surface or the radially inner surface. The articulation wire may extend through each of the first cutout, the second cutout, and the third cutout.

Abstract: An articulation joint includes proximal links, distal links, and intermediate links connecting the proximal and distal links. The articulation joint has a straight configuration along a straight longitudinal axis, a first bent configuration when the articulation joint bends toward a first side of the longitudinal axis, and a second bent configuration when the articulation joint bends toward a second side of the longitudinal axis, opposite to the first side. When the articulation joint is in the straight configuration, a first gap is defined at the first side between adjacent proximal links, and the adjacent proximal links contact each other at the second side, a second gap is defined at each of the first side and the second side between adjacent distal links, and a third gap is defined at the first side between adjacent intermediate links, and adjacent intermediate links contact each other at the second side.

Abstract: An actuation assembly for a medical device may include a first gear including: a first gear toothed region; and a first gear untoothed region; and a second gear including: a second gear toothed region; a second gear untoothed region; and an articulation wire coupled to the second gear. In a first portion of a rotational range of the first gear, the first gear toothed region may interact with the second gear toothed region, such that the second gear toothed region rotates upon rotation of the first gear. In a second portion of the rotational range, the first gear untoothed region may interact with the second gear untoothed region, such that the second gear remains stationary upon rotation of the first gear.

Abstract: A medical device includes a handle including an axle, a device shaft extending from the handle to a distal end, and a control device. The control device is coupled to the handle, and the control device includes a knob. The knob is rotatable relative to the handle. The control device also includes a control shaft extending from the knob, at least one spring clutch including two legs, and a spool. The spool is rotatable relative to the axle. The control device also includes one or more wires coupled to the spool. Rotation of the knob is configured to rotate the control shaft, causing the at least one spring clutch to loosen, the spool to rotate, and the one or more wires to move.

Abstract: An articulation joint includes proximal links, distal links, and intermediate links connecting the proximal and distal links. The articulation joint has a straight configuration along a straight longitudinal axis, a first bent configuration when the articulation joint bends toward a first side of the longitudinal axis, and a second bent configuration when the articulation joint bends toward a second side of the longitudinal axis, opposite to the first side. When the articulation joint is in the straight configuration, a first gap is defined at the first side between adjacent proximal links, and the adjacent proximal links contact each other at the second side, a second gap is defined at each of the first side and the second side between adjacent distal links, and a third gap is defined at the first side between adjacent intermediate links, and adjacent intermediate links contact each other at the second side.

Abstract: A medical device including a handle and a distal tip. The distal tip includes an elevator configured to change an orientation of an accessory device. The elevator is rotatable about a first axis and a second axis. Rotation of the elevator about the first axis raises or lowers the elevator. Rotation of the elevator about the second axis angles the elevator to the right or left. The medical device includes a first wire attached to a first side of the elevator and a second wire attached to a second side of the elevator. Moving the first wire and second wire the same distance proximally or distally relative to the distal tip rotates the elevator about the first axis. Moving one of the first wire and second wire a distance relative to the other of the first wire and second wire rotates the elevator about the second axis.

Abstract: A medical device includes a handle including an axle, a device shaft extending from the handle to a distal end, and a control device. The control device is coupled to the handle, and the control device includes a knob. The knob is rotatable relative to the handle. The control device also includes a control shaft extending from the knob, at least one spring clutch including two legs, and a spool. The spool is rotatable relative to the axle. The control device also includes one or more wires coupled to the spool. Rotation of the knob is configured to rotate the control shaft, causing the at least one spring clutch to loosen, the spool to rotate, and the one or more wires to move.

Abstract: A linkage assembly for a medical device may comprise: a rotatable member configured to rotate about a rotation axis; a piston; and a connecting rod rotatably connected to the rotatable member and the piston and movable along a range. A first end of the range may correspond to an initial position of a distal member movable by the linkage assembly, and a second end of the range may correspond to a final position of a distal member. In a first configuration of the connecting rod, at the first end of the range, a proximal end of the connecting rod may be offset from a longitudinal axis by a first amount. In a second configuration of the connecting rod, at the second end of the range, the proximal end of the connecting rod may be offset from the longitudinal axis by a second amount.

Abstract: An actuation mechanism for a medical device comprises: a rotatable member configured to rotate about a rotational axis and a spring, coupled directly or indirectly to the rotatable member. The spring is configured to move from a first configuration to a second configuration. In the first configuration, a longitudinal axis of the spring has a first angle with respect to a lever arm of the rotatable member. In the second configuration, a longitudinal axis of the spring has a second angle with respect to the lever arm of the rotatable member.

Abstract: A linkage assembly for a medical device may comprise: a rotatable member configured to rotate about a rotation axis; a piston; and a connecting rod rotatably connected to the rotatable member and the piston and movable along a range. A first end of the range may correspond to an initial position of a distal member movable by the linkage assembly, and a second end of the range may correspond to a final position of a distal member. In a first configuration of the connecting rod, at the first end of the range, a proximal end of the connecting rod may be offset from a longitudinal axis by a first amount, wherein the longitudinal axis is perpendicular to the rotation axis; In a second configuration of the connecting rod, at the second end of the range, the proximal end of the connecting rod may be offset from the longitudinal axis by a second amount. The second amount may be less than two-thirds of the first amount.