A combined ultrasonic and endoscopy system includes a cannula with a distal tip configured for insertion into an internal organ or other internal body structure. The distal tip is configured to include both an ultrasound probe head and a camera module. The ultrasonic and direct vision endoscopy images can be simultaneously displayed to a user on a display monitor. The ultrasound probe head can be rotated and steered to scan any location in the human organ cavity. The ultrasound probe can be re-usable or single use. The endoscopy system can be configured with a handheld portion that includes a re-usable handle portion and a single use portion that is configured to be disposed of following a single use. The system can also be configured using a conventional re-usable endoscope with working channels and an endoscopy processing tower system.

Connectors for connecting or linking one instrument or object to one or more other instruments or objects are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a connector can include a first arm with a first attachment feature for attaching to a first object, such as a surgical access device, and a second arm with a second attachment feature for attaching to a second object, such as a support. The connector can have an unlocked state, in which the position and orientation of the access device can be adjusted relative to the support, and a locked state in which movement of the access device relative to the support is prevented or limited. Locking the connector can also be effective to clamp or otherwise attach the connector to the access device and the support, or said attachment can be independent of the locking of the connector.

The disclosure relates to diagnostic, surgical, and/or therapeutic devices for being introduced into the human or animal body or for in vitro examination of human or animal blood samples or other body cells, in particular to an endoscope or a disposable endoscope that includes at least one illumination light guide and/or image guide for transmitting electromagnetic radiation, the illumination light guide or image guide having a proximal end face for incoupling or outcoupling of electromagnetic radiation and a distal end face for incoupling or outcoupling of electromagnetic radiation. The proximal and/or distal end faces consist of plastic elements that are transparent at least partially or in sections thereof, the transparent plastic being biocompatible and/or having non-toxic properties to human or animal cell cultures for exposure durations of less than one day. This allows for the production of assemblies for disposable endoscopes, inter alia.

Systems and methods for treating a patient may include accessing an anatomical structure with a single use visualization device, using the imaging capabilities of the single use visualization device within the anatomical structure, and in some cases, advancing the single use visualization device beyond the anatomical structure to and toward another anatomical structure within the patient. Disposable elements may be used with or added to the single use visualization device to accomplish tasks normally performed with reusable devices.

A single-use medical endoscope with an elongate shaft carrying a distal image sensor, with a flex circuit component having a distal end electrically coupled to the image sensor and a proximal tail end of the flex circuit extending outwardly from the endoscope handle to a flex circuit connector assembly.

This invention relates to an endoscopic device, and more particularly but not exclusively to an endoscopic device suitable for use in diagnostic and/or surgical procedures. The endoscopic device includes a base and a shaft extending from the base. The shaft is at least partially flexible and includes a bending section that is selectively displaceable between a straight configuration and a bent configuration. The endoscopic device also includes an actuation arrangement for selectively displacing the bending section between the straight and bent positions. The actuation arrangement includes at least one actuator which is at least partially made from a shape memory alloy, and which is configured to displace the bending section of the shaft when electric current is passed therethrough. The actuator is located inside the base of the device.

The present invention relates to an intubation system comprising insertion unit to be connected to a bending section of a medical instrument comprising an inner elongated shaft structure being capable of torque transmission around its length axis and an outer elongated shaft structure surrounding the inner elongated shaft structure and having a continuous outer surface, and an orientation controller being attached to the inner elongated shaft, such that when the orientation controller rotates, the bending section turns around itself.

Apparatuses, including sleeves, intraoral scanning systems to use these sleeves, and methods of using the sleeve, that authenticate the sleeve for use with an intraoral scanning system. Authentication may include verifying that the sleeve is new (unused) and/or verifying that the sleeve is appropriate and/or intended for use with the intraoral scanning system. Once authenticated, operation parameters of the intraoral scanning system can be automatically set based on information from a scanned identifier on the sleeve.

The present invention provides a rigid endoscope including a disposable endoscope body structure and a reusable camera assembly. The endoscope body structure includes a handle portion, an endoscope body inserting portion and a line connecting portion, wherein the endoscope body inserting portion is directly or indirectly connected to the handle portion, the line connecting portion includes a receptacle located in the handle portion and an external connecting portion located outside the handle portion, and the receptacle is directly or indirectly connected with the external connecting portion; the handle portion is provided with a camera assembly access port for the camera assembly to access; after accessing and being assembled to the camera assembly access port, the camera assembly access port is able to be inserted into the receptacle to transmit electrical energy and/or a signal with the external connecting portion by using the receptacle.

A medical valve may comprise a valve stem and an operation portion. The operation portion may include a stationary portion, a movable portion which is movable relative to the stationary portion and fixed relative to the valve stem, a seal disposed between the stationary portion and the movable portion, and a biasing member. Movement of the movable portion in a first direction may cause deformation of the biasing member, such that a restorative force of the biasing member urges movement of the movable portion in a second direction opposite the first direction. A frictional force between the seal and one of the stationary portion and the movable portion resists the movement of the movable portion in the second direction.