Some implementations of the disclosure are directed to detachable endoscope shafts assemblies including detachable endoscope shafts. In one implementation, an endoscope assembly comprises: an endoscope housing comprising a distal connector including first circuitry configured to receive one or more image signals or supply power from the endoscope housing; and a detachable endoscope shaft comprising: a distal segment configured to be inserted in a patient cavity; an attachment segment proximal to the distal segment, the attachment segment configured to be removably coupled to an instrument or adapter; and a proximal connector configured to removably and electrically couple to the distal connector, the proximal connector including second circuitry configured to electrically couple to the first circuitry.

An arthroscope's insertion shaft has near its distal end a solid state camera. The shaft has an outer diameter of no more than 6 mm, and has rigidity and strength for insertion of the camera into joints for arthroscopic surgery. Light conductor(s) have a flattened region shaped to lie between an endoscope camera and an inner surface of an outer wall of an endoscope shaft. The flattened region is shaped to conduct illumination light though the space between the camera and inner surface of the other wall to a distal end of the endoscope shaft for illumination of a surgical cavity to be viewed by the camera. The flattened region is formed by heating a region of a plastic optical fiber, and squeezing the heated region in a polished mold.

A joint ring includes a main body part and a pair of protrusion parts protruding from a first surface of the main body part in a direction of a central axis thereof and having spherical surfaces on protruding portions. The main body part includes a pair of engagement holes and a pair of receiving holes. The protrusion parts include engagement parts which are configured to be capable of being inserted into the engagement holes. When the joint rings are arranged in the direction of the central axis and the protrusion parts of a first joint ring enter the receiving holes of a second joint ring, the spherical surfaces come into contact with receiving surfaces inside the receiving holes, and the first joint ring and the second joint ring become rotatable relative to each other with a line segment connecting centers of the respective spherical surfaces as a rotational center.

An endoscope includes: a composite cable in which a plurality of cables each including a core wire and an electric insulating coated portion coating the core wire are bundled with an electric insulating outer sheath; a substrate that includes electrodes to which the respective cables are connected; and a cable fixing portion that includes a cable distal end fixing portion holding the plurality of cables in which the core wire and the coated portion are exposed from a distal end surface side of the composite cable, a cable alignment portion aligning the plurality of cables, and a cable body fixing portion holding an end portion of the composite cable on a side where the plurality of cables is exposed, and provided with a through hole having a diameter same as a diameter of an outer periphery of the composite cable.

The invention relates to a method for manufacturing an endoscope insertion tube (2).The insertion tube (2) has a proximal passive flexible section (20) and a distal angled section (A). The entire insertion tube, including the passive flexible section (20) and the angled section (A), is formed from a single tube element. The invention further relates to an endoscope having such an insertion tube (2).

A camera module is provided with: an imaging element which is formed in a rectangular shape and has a plurality of pads provided to a back surface opposite from an imaging surface; a substrate where, on the same plane, a plurality of linear conductors are lined up in parallel and have an insulating coating in a rectangular shape such that the side of one end and the other end in the direction of extension of the conductors is shorter than one side of the imaging element, the conductors at the one end and the other end being exposed at a plate surface front and/or back; and a low-melting-point electroconductive material for connecting, to each of the pads, the conductors of the one end that are exposed due to one end surface of the substrate being abutted against the back surface.

An imaging apparatus for an endoscope includes: a lens; an image sensor configured to capture an image via the lens; a light blocking portion provided covering the lens and the image sensor; a light source provided near the light blocking portion; and a light guide portion provided covering the light blocking portion and the light source and configured to guide light from the light source. The light blocking portion is provided so as to prevent the light from the light source from being incident on the lens and the image sensor. An end face of the lens is arranged at a position further recessed than at least an end face of the light blocking portion.

Apparatus, including an insertion tube, configured to be inserted into a body cavity and having a first lumen having a first lumen diameter and a distal opening, and a tubular channel, having a second lumen and an outer channel diameter smaller than the first lumen diameter, inserted into the first lumen. The apparatus includes a support structure, configured to be passed through a space between an inner wall of the insertion tube and an outer wall of the tubular channel to the distal opening in a folded state and to unfold, upon exit of the support structure through the distal opening, in a direction transverse to the first lumen to reach a support dimension that is greater than the first lumen diameter. A plurality of planar two-dimensional arrays of ultrasonic transducers are supported by the support structure, the arrays having transverse dimensions less than the first lumen diameter.

A Raman endoscope for use in obtaining in vivo Raman spectra in the peripheral airways of the lungs and a method of constructing the Raman endoscope are disclosed. The endoscope has a tubular sheath containing a fiber bundle. The sheath has an outer diameter of less than 1.35 mm. The sheath is made of fluorinated ethylene propylene. The sheath is flexible along its length from a first end to a point along the sheath so that it can navigate sharp turns within the peripheral airways. A layer of coating covers the sheath along a terminal length and a probe tip of the fiber bundle. The terminal length extends along a length of the sheath extending from a second end opposite to the first end to the point. Terminal length is rigid to facilitate advancement of the endoscope towards the lesion of interest. Terminal length is 5 mm or less.

A medical endoscope including: an elongated shaft with a distal end region having a non-circular cross-section and a shaft main section arranged proximally from the distal end region, an at least one light guide having a plurality of individual fibres disposed longitudinally through the shaft, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of individual fibres in the distal end region are bonded over a length of at least 50% of the distal end region with an inflexible adhesive.