Abstract: An endoscope apparatus includes an apparatus main body having a housing with a concave portion formed in one surface, and an endoscope unit including a detachable connector portion in the concave portion, wherein, when the connector portion is mounted to the concave portion, the connector portion constitutes a part of the one surface. More preferably, a packing is provided in the housing or the connector portion that, when the connector portion is mounted to the housing, retains the mutual mating surfaces of the housing and the connector portion in a closely contacting state.

Abstract: Endoscopes comprising a handle and a detachable elongation portion housing a light source for illuminating the distal end of the elongation portion are provided.

Abstract: A microendoscope with a distal probe tip which has, in particular, a diameter of up to approximately 1 mm is provided and inside of which an optical subassembly at least provided with a micro-objective and with an image transmitting element is accommodated. An image transmitting system is connected to the optical subassembly. An image-enlarging coupling element is provided between the optical subassembly of the probe tip and the image transmitting system connected thereto. The image transmitting system connected to the coupling element has a larger active diameter than the optical subassembly that is provided with the distal objective. As a result, the distal probe tip on a handgrip has the necessary small working diameter over the entire working length, and at the beginning or inside the handgrip, the optical coupling element is coupled to an image guide or to an image transmitting system or the like having a higher pixel count and thus a larger active diameter and, therefore, a larger outside diameter.

Abstract: An endoscope has an insertion portion and a tip unit detachably attached to a distal end of the insertion portion. The insertion portion is configured to be inserted into an object, and has a signal cable and a first optical fiber extending therethrough. The tip unit has a second optical fiber optically connected to the first optical fiber, and an actuator electrically connected to the signal cable. The actuator vibrates the second optical fiber so as to scan light irradiated from the second optical fiber over an observed area.

Abstract: An apparatus including a handle; a first tubular body coupled to the handle and a second tubular body comprising a polymer material coupled to a distal end of the first tubular body and the distal end defining a guide face, wherein the first tubular body and the second tubular body are co-linearly aligned and collectively define a first lumen therethrough extending from an entry port to the guide face; wherein the second tubular body has a dimension adequate for insertion into a uterus of a human subject, and wherein the guide face comprises an outside diameter less than an outside diameter of the second tubular body. Also, a method of using a hysteroscope having a single operating channel.

Abstract: An electric bending endoscope includes a bending portion arranged to an inserting portion and a bending driving unit which bends the bending portion. In the electric bending endoscope, the bending driving unit includes a motor which generates driving force for bending the bending portion, a first unit which holds the motor, a driving force transmitting member which transmits the driving force of the motor, and a second unit which bends the bending portion by the driving force of the motor. The electric bending endoscope further includes a first holding member which detachably supports, to the first unit, a rotating shaft arranged to the driving force transmitting member of the second unit.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for introducing an intubation tube into the trachea. The inventive device comprises a shaft, a receiving element arranged at the distal end of said shaft to which a proximal end of an intubation tube can be mounted and a coupling arranged at the proximal end of the shaft for coupling an endoscope thereto.

Abstract: A laparoscopic assembly includes a body, an elongated shaft, and optionally, a removable or non-removable surgical tip. The body includes a casing manually manipulating tip actuating means, a tip actuating rod, a collet, a collet closer, and one or more collet detent members. The shaft is operably and removably gripped by the body and extends from the body to interconnect the body with a surgical tip. The collet closer is shaped and sized to, on tightening of the collet closet, radially compress the collet to grip the sheath. Each collet detent member is disposed in one collet radial bore, and is shaped and sized to permit only partial entry into the collet axial bored to engage the sheath depression during assembly, and be freely movable radially within the collet radial bore in response to urging inwardly by the tightening of the collet closer, or outwardly by the sheath depression wall when the collet closer is loosened.

Abstract: An endoscope has an optics housing provided at a proximal end, with an outer shank releasably connected to the optics housing, and with an inner shank which is arranged inside and parallel to the outer shank and is releasably connected to the optics housing. A corresponding endoscope set and a set of endoscope shanks are also provided.

Abstract: A steerable ablation catheter system suitable for radiofrequency ablation of intracardiac tissue comprises two parts: a disposable catheter shaft with a deflectable tip at the distal end of the shaft; and a handle with steering mechanisms, wherein the two parts are engaged and disengaged through a pair of the quick coupling and locking connecting units.

Abstract: The present invention provides an endoscope having an opening of a channel tube retracted from a distal end face having an observation window of the insert therein toward a proximal end side. When a plurality of polyps are removed, a picked-up polyp is moved back from the distal end face of the insert toward the proximal side of the insert in order for the picked-up polyp not to interfere with observation by the endoscope and operation by a cutting tool extending through the endoscope channel.

Abstract: An eyepiece optical system, an illuminating lamp, and a battery 2 are housed in an operation unit 2. An insertion unit in which an image transmitting optical fiber bundle and an illumination light transmitting optical fiber bundle are incorporated is detachably coupled with the operation unit through a coupling unit. The insertion unit is bent using a bending wire attached to the distal end thereof and coupled to the operation unit by a wire operating mechanism. An anti-clouding material can be disposed on a surface of the distal end of the insertion unit to protect it against clouding.

Abstract: A flexible fiber-optic endoscope having a plurality of independently removable modules wherein such modules contain components including a hollow body assembly with a steerable articulation section having a control means for remote manipulation, a tubular fiber-optic assembly incorporating an objective lens and an optic image guide and an optical eyepiece for viewing images carried by the image guide, and a disposable cover assembly for covering the steerable articulation section.

Abstract: An intubator includes a housing and a memory cylinder connected for axial movement relative to the housing. A flexible scope tube attached to the housing extends within and through the memory cylinder such that the scope tube can be retracted within or caused to extend beyond the distal end of the memory cylinder by the relative axial movement between the housing and memory cylinder. The scope tube is angularly adjustable and includes a light transmitting fiber optic cable, a visual transmission fiberoptic cable, and a fluid conduit. In use, an endotracheal tube is mounted on the memory cylinder such that the endotracheal tube, memory cylinder and scope tube have their distal ends flush. The intubator is then inserted through the patient's mouth to the larynx opening. Collapsing the memory cylinder within the handle causes the scope tube to be extended from the memory cylinder for positioning within the trachea.

Abstract: A multiplane TEE probe is provided for the imaging and diagnosis of multiple scan planes from within a cavity of the body. The probe includes an articulation section formed of a plurality of interconnected links. The articulation section is controlled from the handle of the probe, with the articulation limit stops located in the handle. The articulation section may be locked in a given bent position, but the lock will be overcome by the force of the esophagus against the transducer tip if the probe is withdrawn in a locked and bent position. When the articulation section is locked an indication signal is displayed on the handle of the probe and on the display of the ultrasound system.