Embodiments of the disclosure include an endoscope tip assembly for use on an endoscope, during procedures. The endoscope tip assembly may include a base configured to receive an endoscope tip configured to not disengage from the endoscope tip during a procedure. The endoscope tip assembly may also include a plurality of struts which is connected by a webbing, may fold flat during insertion, and may assume a balloon-like shape during withdrawal.

Disclosed herein are various systems and methods for guiding, supporting, and/or housing instruments. One exemplary system includes a guide tube having a manipulation section and mated with rails carrying instrument control members. Moving the rails with respect to the guide tube, or another point of reference, can control movement of the manipulation section.

An endoscope includes: an image pickup device configured to convert image pickup light into an image pickup signal and output the image pickup signal; a light emitting element configured to output an optical signal based on the image pickup signal; a bonded prism including: a first prism including a first reflecting surface configured to reflect the image pickup light and a lower surface that is a first emitting surface configured to emit the image pickup light to the image pickup device; and a second prism including a second reflecting surface configured to reflect the optical signal that is incident from an upper surface and outputted from the light emitting element, the second reflecting surface being bonded with the first reflecting surface; and an optical fiber configured to transmit the optical signal reflected by the second reflecting surface.

A method for measuring a glomerular filtration rate in a mammalian kidney comprises a source of reporter and marker fluorescent molecules. The fluorescent molecules are introduced into the blood stream of a mammalian subject. Over a period of time, a measurement of the intensities of the reporter and marker fluorescent molecules is taken. A ratio is calculated to determine the health of the subject's kidney. This method measures volume of plasma distribution based on a fluorescence of a marker molecule relative to a fluorescence of a reporter molecule.

A bending operation device includes a bending operation lever, a wire pulling member, bending operation wires, and tubular members. The bending operation lever is tiltably supported to have an angle with respect to a longitudinal direction of an operation unit of an endoscope. The wire pulling member includes arm portions displaced in conjunction with tilt motion of the bending operation lever. The bending operation wires are connected to the arm portions. The bending operation wires cause bending motion of a bendable part disposed in an insertion section of the endoscope. A respective one of bending operation wires is inserted in each of the tubular members. The tubular members (i) change extension directions of the plurality of bending operation wires and (ii) guide the plurality of bending operation wires to the plurality of arm portions.

Imaging components and systems are described herein. An example imaging component can include: a housing; at least one excitation optical element at least partially disposed within the housing; at least one laser-guiding element at least partially disposed within the housing, the at least one laser-guiding element being configured to deliver excitation pulses to a target location through the at least one excitation optical element via an aperture; and a signal collecting element disposed adjacent to the at least one excitation optical element.

Exemplary embodiments of a disposable endoscope are provided. For example, an endoscope is provided, including a tube having a proximal end and a distal end, a lumen having a proximal end and a distal end, the lumen surrounding an outer circumference of the tube, and a series of achromatic double lenses and singlet lenses within the tube from the distal end to the proximal end of the tube for conveying an image from the distal end of the tube to the proximal end of the tube. A housing is provided at the proximal end of the tube to provide a light path from the proximal end of the lumen to the distal end of the lumen from a polymer fiber optic located within the housing. A camera interface can be provided at an opposite end of the housing to receive the image from the distal end of the tube.

A photoacoustic-ultrasonic dual-mode endoscope includes: a probe and a probe driving unit, wherein the probe includes: a coaxially configured optical and electromagnetic rotary waveguide assembly including an optical fiber, the optical fiber including a core and a cladding, and a conductive path coaxially arranged with the optical fiber; a scanning tip located at an end of the coaxially configured optical and electromagnetic rotary waveguide assembly and configured to deliver a laser beam to an object to be examined and detect a photoacoustic signal and an ultrasonic signal generated from the object to be examined; and a plastic catheter surrounding outer surfaces of the coaxially configured optical and electromagnetic rotary waveguide assembly and the scanning tip, wherein the conductive path includes: a first conductive path including a portion coaxially arranged with the optical fiber; and a second conductive path including a portion coaxially arranged with the optical fiber and insulated from the first conductive path.

Endoscopes having a tip section with viewing elements coupled to a CMOS image sensor and/or a CCD image sensor for transforming light captured by the viewing element into digital and/or analog signals are described. A main connector is coupled with the tip section for transmitting the signals to a main control unit of the endoscope. The main connector includes a pad for transmitting digital signals provided by the CMOS image sensor to a push pin probe in a receptacle of the main control unit. The main connector also include another interface for transmitting analog signals to the main control unit.

A medical visualisation device including an instrument elevator having a guide surface for engagement with an instrument protruding through a tip part instrument channel and a X-ray transparent housing. The instrument elevator is radiopaque and pivotable around a pivot axis to adjust a guide angle between the guide surface and a longitudinal axis. The pivot axis being substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and a viewing direction. A control wire being coupled to the instrument elevator to transfer a force exerted on the control wire to the instrument elevator to adjust the guide angle.