Components for an endoscopic vessel harvesting system suitable for harvesting target vessels such as the saphenous vein or radial artery for cardiac artery bypass graft surgery. The main components of such systems include a vessel dissector and a vessel harvester, both of which work in conjunction with a separately provided endoscope. The vessel dissector is an elongated cannula having a blunt tip for separating layers of facial around vessels. The tip may be movable, and is typically transparent to permit viewing forward of the tip using the endoscope. Internal features of the tip may reduce glare back to the endoscope. Several devices improve visibility through the tip by reducing interference from tissue or fluid on the tip. The vessel harvester also has an elongated cannula for receiving the endoscope. Several tools within the harvester permit manipulation, severing, and sealing of vessels forward of the distal end. The tool for manipulating vessels may have a low-profile for increased visibility of operation, and may be coupled to the cannula with a damping mechanism to reduce the possibility of avulsion of the vessels. Various vessel cutting and sealing devices are provided that may accommodate various sizes of vessels and improve cutting and sealing efficacy.

In one embodiment of the invention, an apparatus for performing surgical procedures is disclosed including a flexible entry guide tube, and a first steering device. The flexible entry guide tube has one or more lumens extending along its length from a proximal end to substantially at or near a distal end. At least one of the one or more lumens is an instrument lumen with open ends to receive a flexible shaft of a surgical tool to perform surgery near the distal end of the flexible entry guide tube. The first steering device is insertable into the instrument lumen to shape the flexible entry guide tube as it is inserted through an opening in a body and along a path towards a surgical site. The apparatus may further include a flexible locking device to couple to the flexible entry guide tube and selectively rigidize the flexible entry guide tube to hold its shape. The flexible entry guide tube may be steered by remote control with one or more actuators.

A sheath for a medical instrument includes an elongate body extending from a proximal end to a distal face. The elongate body may be configured to axially extend from a first length to a second length greater than the first length. The sheath may include a first hollow lumen extending from a first end proximate the proximal end to a second end proximate the distal face, and a second hollow lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal face. The second lumen may be open at the distal face. The sheath may also include a transparent window positioned at the second end of the first lumen to seal the first lumen at the second end. The transparent window may be configured to transmit light therethrough.

A sheath for providing a dynamic air shield relative to a distal portion of a laparoscope disposed within the sheath includes a sheath elongate body having an inner surface and an outer surface, a plurality of lumens, and a distal portion configured to deflect air from the lumens across the surface of a laparoscope. The sheath can include a registration and alignment feature configured to align the sheath with a laparoscope. Further, the sheath can be configured to work with robotic laparoscope systems.

Provided is an endoscope that can connect proximal ends of the first signal lines and a signal relay part together without securing an extra length for the first signal lines. An airtight casing is disposed inside an outer tube of an insertion part, an imaging device and first signal lines are accommodated inside the airtight casing, a distal end of the airtight casing is airtightly sealed by a cover glass, and a proximal end of the airtight casing is airtightly sealed by a partition wall part. The airtight casing is constituted of a first tubular body and a second tubular body, and the second tubular body is disposed in a nested shape with respect to the first tubular body. During the connection between the proximal ends of the first signal lines and the terminal part, the second tubular body is advanced toward the first tubular body.

Maximum hardness of a flexible tube section of an endoscope is set such that substantial maximum hardness at a time when an over-tube is attached is equal to or lower than maximum hardness of a flexible tube section of an endoscope. That is, the maximum hardness of the flexible tube section of the endoscope is set substantially equal to hardness obtained by subtracting hardness of the over-tube itself from the maximum hardness of the flexible tube section of the endoscope. In the endoscopes including a hardness changing function, maximum hardness of the endoscope, to which the over-tube is not attached, and maximum hardness of the endoscope, to which the over-tube is attached, are set substantially equal.

An endoscopic cap assembly may include a sleeve and a cap. The cap may include a cap channel extending along an external surface of the cap. The cap may also include an engagement feature extending radially outwardly from the external surface of the cap.

The present invention relates to a cover having a plurality of moveable, external, angled projecting elements for use with flexible medical scoping devices such as endoscopes or enteroscopes. The invention includes the cover with an over cuff and use of the disposable removable covering in methods of medical scoping procedures or examinations. The invention also includes an applicator for assisting in placing the covering about or over a medical device and a kit of parts.

A minimally invasive surgical instrument including a viewing instrument and a wiper mechanism configured and adapted to clean a lens of the viewing instrument. The wiper mechanism includes a wiper that is configured and adapted to contact and translate across a surface of the lens. An actuator moves the wiper across the lens to clean the lens.

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to providing an effective and reliable approach for cleaning an exposed surface of an imaging element (e.g., a lens) of apparatuses including but not limited to medical imaging instruments such as endoscopes and laparoscopes and the like. In the case of medical imaging instruments, cleaning apparatuses configured in accordance with embodiments the present invention can be cleaned while the distal end portion of the endoscope is in vivo. Such apparatuses have a cleaning member incorporated therein (e.g., a resilient polymeric wiper, a sponge, an absorbent pad or the like) that is used for cleaning the exposed surface of the imaging element. The apparatus is preferably adapted for being mounted on the imaging apparatus but can also be entirely or partially integral with one or more components of the imaging apparatus or system of which it is a component.