An endoscopy support system, including an extendable primary wrap comprising a band of elastic material sized for placement around a lower abdomen of a subject and at least one elastic, secondary strap having a first end fixed to the primary wrap and a second end comprising a coupling mechanism for removably coupling the second end to the primary wrap, wherein the at least one elastic strap is configured to extend in a left to right direction across a front abdomen portion of the primary wrap in order to exert an additional targeted force to a portion of the abdomen of the subject. The system further includes at least one extension piece having an attachment mechanism to removably couple to the primary wrap or the at least one secondary strap.

A photodynamic treatment device treating a patient's cervix opening with light that causes selected tissue to fluoresce and imaging the tissue while the treatment is in progress without affecting the treatment.

A capsule endoscope according to one embodiment includes: a camera; a transceiver; a tubular receiving coil for receiving power supplied from an external power transmitting antenna via magnetic flux; a tubular capsule accommodating these components; and an X-ray marker to be used in location and orientation detection. In the capsule endoscope, a magnetic body is arranged along the inner periphery of the receiving coil, and a self-propelling drive device including an electromagnet and a permanent magnet is arranged in series with the receiving coil along the tubular axial direction of the capsule so that the permanent magnet does not enter the inside of the receiving coil.

An image guidance system for tracking a surgical instrument within the oral cavity. The image guidance system includes a plurality of cameras adapted to be located within the oral cavity to provide intraoral images of optically visible patterns within oral cavity. A processing system receives and processes the intraoral images to recognize patterns and triangulate the locations and orientations of each camera. The processing system uses a reference dataset which defines a reference coordinate system based on alignment to a portion of the oral anatomy. The processing system determines the location and orientation of the tracked instrument based on the reference dataset. In an embodiment, the system includes an oral fixture that is removably attachable to teeth in a patient and is configured to hold one of the cameras.

An endoluminal crawler used in endoscopic procedures includes a body and an actuation unit. The body includes a tubular portion. The actuation unit includes an actuator providing a rotational output and a traction belt. The traction belt includes a traction portion and an engaging portion. The traction portion protrudes out of a slot defined in the tubular portion and the engaging portion operatively engages the actuator.

A tube assembly for a living organism includes a tube and a first ferrule. The tube is partially placeable into a living organism. The tube includes a first end, a second end, a through-hole, and a lens. The through-hole extends in a first direction from the second end to the first end. The first ferrule covers an outer periphery of the tube in the first direction. The lens is located in a portion of the through-hole including at least the first end. The tube and the first ferrule contain a ceramic material.

An insertion device includes a thin and elongated insertion section, a rotating body which is rotated to advance or retreat the insertion section, a driving force supply source which supplies a driving force to the rotating body, a variable stiffness section provided for the insertion section and permitting stiffness of the insertion section to be varied, a stiffness detector which detects the stiffness of the insertion section varied by the variable stiffness section, and a controller which controls the driving force supply source in accordance with the stiffness of the insertion section detected by the stiffness detector.

A single extrusion triple lumen expandable device designed for obtaining tissue from the aerodigestive tract is provided. The device may have internal and external folds and a tissue collection surface for collecting a tissue sample from a body lumen, such as the nose or throat. The device includes a camera and lumens for enhanced functionality. The present invention is also directed to methods of collecting a tissue sample using the devices, described herein.

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 variable-stiffness actuator system includes a shape-memory member in which a stiffness increases by being heated and decreases by radiating heat, a heating member configured to generate heat, a channel arranged along the longitudinal axis of the shape-memory member, a transfer section configured to selectively supply and stop first and second heat transmission fluids into the channel, and a controller configured to control the transfer section. The controller causes the transfer section to supply the first heat transmission fluid and then supply the second heat transmission fluid into the channel, and further to stop the supply of the second heat transmission fluid so that retention of the first and second heat transmission fluids simultaneously occurs in the channel.