Abstract: A flexible tube for an endoscope which has excellent insertion operability is disclosed. The flexible tube includes and an elongated flexible tubular body constructed from a core body having a hollow space and an outer cover which is provided over the outer periphery of the core body and formed into a laminated structure having a plurality of layers. The tubular body is formed with a plurality of easily bendable portions which are provided in a spaced apart manner along the longitudinal direction thereof, each of these easily bendable portion being adapted to bend locally with a smaller curvature radius when the flexible tube is bent in one direction. The average interval between the adjacent easily bendable portions is preferably in the range 50-400 mm. The easily bendable portions is formed by locally changing the flexural rigidity of the outer cover.

Abstract: An endoscope characterized by a soft section thereof through which built-in components lie has a flexible tube and pluralities of metallic built-in components and nonmetallic built-in components. The flexible tube is made by sheathing a metallic tubular member with a nonmetallic tubular member. The pluralities of metallic built-in components and nonmetallic built-in components lie through the flexible tube. As one property of the flexible tube, the hardness of at least a certain portion of the flexible tube, which discourages bending, is determined so that the hardness exhibited by the metallic tubular member that is an integral part of the flexible tube and the metallic built-in components will be higher than the hardness exhibited by the nonmetallic tubular member that is an integral part of the flexible tube and the nonmetallic built-in components.

Abstract: A treating instrument for an endoscope has a flexible sheath and an operating part connected to the proximal end of the flexible sheath. A first buckling preventing member formed from a flexible cylindrical material covers a proximal end portion of the flexible sheath. One end of the first buckling preventing member is secured to the operating part. A second buckling preventing member formed from a flexible cylindrical material overlaps the first buckling preventing member at a region extending from an intermediate position on the first buckling preventing member to the proximal end thereof. One end of the second buckling preventing member is secured to the operating part.

Abstract: An endoscope capable of varying the hardness of a soft part of an insertion unit thereof includes a hardness adjustment unit and a location changing mechanism. The hardness adjustment unit includes an elongated coil and a wire lying through the coil, and adjusts the hardness of the soft part of the insertion unit. The location changing mechanism changes relatively the location of the coil and wire in a longitudinal direction of the insertion unit to maintain the hardness adjustment unit such that the insertion unit is hardened most greatly.

Abstract: A pusher-rotator for installing a heart valve prosthesis including a handle and a flexible shaft extending from the handle. A valve holder is attached to a terminal end of the shaft. A bendable member is formed of a material which is bendable to hold a fixed shape. The bendable member includes multiple contact points for supporting the flexible shaft at spaced apart support points and maintaining the flexible shaft rotatable in a flexed orientation.

Abstract: A controllable sheath for optimizing the control of surgical instruments at the operation site includes a flexible sheath surrounding an endoscope and including a lumen extending along the walls of the sheath and adjacent to the endoscope. The lumen permits the passage of surgical instruments from the proximal end of the endoscopic device to the operation site. The lumen extends beyond the distal end of the endoscope and deflects at the distal end as desired by the operator's manipulation of a controller device. This distal end deflection may occur through various different techniques where the ability to deflect the lumen gives the operator increased control and maneuverability over the surgical implements located in the lumen. Depending upon the particular requirements of the surgical procedure, the controllable sheath may include any number of lumens capable of distal end deflection.

Abstract: An endoscopic insertion tube includes a helically wound spiral tube and a net-like braid disposed in overlaying relation. A polymeric adhesive layer is applied over the length of the spiral tube and the outer peripheral surface of the braid. A pre-expanded hollow tubular sheath member is placed over the adhesive layer and is shrunk thereupon using heat to cross-link with the polymeric adhesive layer. The sheath includes a preferably multi-layer structure including at least an inner and an outer layer which can be co-extruded or applied to the assembly in separate sections. According to a preferred embodiment, the outer layer is a clear high-polymer material that allows printing applied to the exterior of the upper layer to be protected.

Abstract: An endoscope is provided that comprises an imaging device such as a micro-size video camera supported by a novel device-steering shaft assembly. The shaft assembly comprises a malleable or rigid shaft, an imaging device carrier releasably and pivotally supporting the imaging device at one end of the shaft, and operating means including a flexible operating cable and cable moving means attached to the opposite end of the shaft for moving said cable and thereby pivoting the imaging device carrier relative to the shaft so as to alter the viewing angle of the supported imaging device. Using a malleable shaft offers the advantage that the shaft is manually reformable into various configurations to facilitate access to different surgical sites, with the shaft having the ability to remain in each selected configuration until manually reformed into another configuration. Alternatively, the imaging device may be permanently attached to the device carrier.

Abstract: A densely wound coil and a wire which passes through the coil are inserted into a flexible part which has a flexibility. The coil which is fixed in the vicinity of a distal end of the wire has a proximal end thereof which is regulated in movement toward a rearward side by a stopper. The wire which extends rearward from the proximal end of the coil has a proximal end thereof which is drawn or pulled toward the rearward side by angular movement of an adjustment knob which is provided in the vicinity of a forward end of an operation part. By this traction, a compressive force is relatively applied to the coil to make flexibility of the coil changeable. Indicia associated with the adjustment knob alerts the user to the level of flexibility to which the adjustment knob is moved.

Abstract: An endoscope system has a first endoscope in which a hardness variation mechanism for use in adjusting the hardness level of a soft part of an insertion unit is incorporated in the soft part, and at least one second endoscope having a soft part. A range of levels of the adjustable hardness of the soft part of the first endoscope includes the hardness level of the soft part of the second endoscope. Another endoscope system has a first endoscope in which a hardness variation mechanism for use in adjusting the hardness level of a soft part of an insertion unit is incorporated in the soft part, and at least one second endoscope usable for examination of the same region as the first endoscope and having a soft part. A range of levels of the adjustable hardness of the soft part of the first endoscope includes the hardness level of the soft part of the second endoscope.

Abstract: A bendable portion for an endoscope includes a bending mechanism which minimizes the bendable portion diameter and allows a large degree of bending. A bending mechanism embodiment uses a shape memory alloy coil encircling the elastic body of the bendable portion. The shape memory alloy coil is heated to define the shape of the bendable portion.

Abstract: An optical endoscopic portal for providing a passage through a body cavity wall includes a cannula comprising an absorbent member having a distal end for positioning in a body cavity, a proximal end for positioning external of the body cavity and a passage between the distal and proximal ends for receiving instruments. The absorbent member has a rigid dry state prior to introduction through the cavity wall and a soft wet state after absorbing fluid upon introduction of the distal end in the body cavity. An optical element is disposed in the absorbent material and optically couples the distal end with the proximal end. The optical element includes a light transmitting optical element for illuminating the body cavity and/or an image transmitting optical element for transmitting an image of the body cavity for viewing externally thereof.

Abstract: A densely wound coil and a wire which passes through the coil are inserted into a flexible part which has a flexibility. The coil which is fixed in the vicinity of a distal end of the wire has a proximal end thereof which is regulated in movement toward a rearward side by a stopper. The wire which extends rearward from the proximal end of the coil has a proximal end thereof which is drawn or pulled toward the rearward side by angular movement of an adjustment knob which is provided in the vicinity of a forward end of an operation part. By this traction, a compressive force is relatively applied to the coil to make flexibility of the coil changeable. By an O-ring which is urged against the adjustment knob, even if a hand is removed after the adjustment knob has been operated, the adjustment knob can be locked to the state by a frictional force.

Abstract: A flexible sheathing tube particularly suitable for use on an endoscopic insertion rod or flexible light guide cable, the sheathing tube having a laminated wall basically including a helical coil as a flexible base structure and a tubular metal wire netting placed around the helical coil member. The helical coil member has a certain number of helices thereof tightly closed and fixed to each other into the form of a rigid ring at least at one end of the sheathing tube to be trimmed in a subsequent stage. The end ring provides a rigid support uniformly on and around the inner periphery of the tubular netting, permitting a cutter blade to cut the end of the sheathing tube to a predetermined length by a straight clear cut through the laminated wall and the backing end ring.

Abstract: A fiberoptic intubation stylet is an endotracheal intubation aid for use with a fiberoptic scope to facilitate difficult endotracheal intubations particularly when a direct line of sight is not available due to patient's anatomy or pathology. The fiberoptic intubation stylet comprises a pre-sterilized soft transparent plastic holding sheath with a longitudinally built-in malleable metal stylet. The tubular holding sheath provides a neat and secure contact of the fiberoptic scope so that the stylet can be held in position. The malleable stylet makes the fiber optic scope as firm and able to be curled into a shape of an ordinary intubation stylet that is familiar to all intubators, thus enableing the fiberoptic scope to be manipulated as an ordinary intubation style in any clinical situation, even when a direct line of sight is not possible.

Abstract: An endoscope provided with a curved portion protecting mechanism which is capable of straightening the curved portion securely and protecting the insertion portion itself from damage. The endoscope is provided with an end portion ?ac! in which an observing means is disposed and an insertion portion including a curved portion which is freely bent, the insertion portion being inserted into a body cavity through a mantle tube. A flexible tube is laid from the end portion to a predetermined position through the curved portion, and a hard straightening rod for straightening the curved portion is withdrawably disposed in the flexible tube. A rack-and-pinion mechanism is connected to the straightening rod, which is advanced and withdrawn by a rotary operating means of an endoscope operating portion. In this manner, when the straightening rod is inserted into the flexible tube by the rotary operating means, the curved portion is straightened securely.

Abstract: An endotracheal tube insertion system includes a formable shaft having sufficient stiffness to hold a formed shape and having a plurality of longitudinally extending passageways defined therethrough. The instrument further includes a housing connected to the first end of the formable shaft. An image guide cable is disposed in a first longitudinally extending passageway and is optically connected to an eyepiece which is affixed to the first end of the housing. A light source is attached to the second end of the formable shaft proximate the second end of the image guide cable. A baffle member is attached to the second end of the formable shaft proximate to a second longitudinally extending passageway and has an opening directed toward the first longitudinally extending passageway. A fluid port is in fluid communication with the second passageway. A suction port is also provided in fluid communication with a third longitudinally extending passageway.

Abstract: A fluid insensitive system for braking the displacement cables of an endoscopic insertion tube wherein at least one control wheel is mounted on the outside of the insertion tube control housing. A brake disc is slidably mounted adjacent the control wheel and is moved in and out of engagement with the wheel by an actuator. A ratchet mechanism acts between the control wheel and the brake disc to apply a restraining force against the wheel when the wheel and the brake disc are in engagement.