Abstract: A device for sterilizing and charging a battery of an instrument, comprising a sterilization device sealingly enclosing therein at least one battery of an instrument and operable to sterilize the at least one battery, an inductively powered battery-charging device disposed inside the sterilization device and having a charger operable to be placed in conductive contact with and charge the at least one battery and a power receiver sub-assembly electrically coupled to the charger and operable to receive electrical power inductively from outside the sterilization device and supply the received electrical power to the charger to charge the battery during sterilization, and a power supply disposed outside the sterilization device and operable to supply power inductively to the power receiver sub-assembly through the sterilization device.

Abstract: A method for variably flexing and steering an insertion device that receives an instrument, which comprises providing a hollow body having tendons disposed therewithin and a distal end, changing a condition of the hollow body by selectively applying suction to create a vacuum in the hollow body to place the hollow body in a relatively stiff condition and relieving the vacuum to place the hollow body in a relatively flexible condition, maintaining the hollow body in the relatively flexible and relatively stiff conditions with the tendons, the vacuum created by the applied suction frictionally locking the tendons in place in the relatively stiff condition, and individually adjusting at least one of the tendons in length to steer the distal end of the hollow body.