An improved bi-directional steerable catheter is provided. The catheter generally comprises a catheter body, tip section and control handle. The catheter further comprises first and second puller wires extending from the control handle, through the catheter body and into the tip section. The control handle has deflection means for each puller wire that include a gear, and a carrier to which the proximal end of a puller wire is anchored. The gear is rotatably coupled to a lever controlled by an operator and the gear engages the carrier such that rotation of the gear by the lever results in longitudinal movement of the carrier, which results in deflection of the tip section.

An improved bi-directional steerable catheter is provided. The catheter generally comprises a catheter body, tip section and control handle. The catheter further comprises first and second puller wires extending from the control handle, through the catheter body and into the tip section. The control handle has deflection means for each puller wire that include a gear, and a carrier to which the proximal end of a puller wire is anchored. The gear is rotatably coupled to a lever controlled by an operator and the gear engages the carrier such that rotation of the gear by the lever results in longitudinal movement of the carrier, which results in deflection of the tip section.

Aspects of articulating devices and methods are disclosed. An exemplary articulating device may comprise an interior core with a reinforcing extending along a central axis, an exterior layer bonded to the interior core by an interface, and a lumen extending through the exterior layer, exterior of the reinforcing element, and parallel to the central axis. A steering wire may be moveable in the lumen to articulate a distal end of the device relative to the central axis in response to a force applied to the steering wire. Related methods of manufacturing an articulating device are also described.

An endoscope is provided and includes a flexible insertion tube; a distal end assembly provided at an end of the insertion tube; and a cooling medium tube provided in the inside of the insertion tube, and connected to the distal end assembly. A cooling medium for cooling the distal end assembly is introduced through one of the insertion tube and the cooling medium tube, and discharged through the other of the insertion tube and the cooling medium tube. Since the endoscope is configured such that the cooling medium directly contacts with a heating element or a conductor through which the heat of the heating element is conducted, the cooling effect of the front end portion of the endoscope is improved.

An articulation joint includes proximal links, distal links, and intermediate links connecting the proximal and distal links. The articulation joint has a straight configuration along a straight longitudinal axis, a first bent configuration when the articulation joint bends toward a first side of the longitudinal axis, and a second bent configuration when the articulation joint bends toward a second side of the longitudinal axis, opposite to the first side. When the articulation joint is in the straight configuration, a first gap is defined at the first side between adjacent proximal links, and the adjacent proximal links contact each other at the second side, a second gap is defined at each of the first side and the second side between adjacent distal links, and a third gap is defined at the first side between adjacent intermediate links, and adjacent intermediate links contact each other at the second side.

An articulation joint includes proximal links, distal links, and intermediate links connecting the proximal and distal links. The articulation joint has a straight configuration along a straight longitudinal axis, a first bent configuration when the articulation joint bends toward a first side of the longitudinal axis, and a second bent configuration when the articulation joint bends toward a second side of the longitudinal axis, opposite to the first side. When the articulation joint is in the straight configuration, a first gap is defined at the first side between adjacent proximal links, and the adjacent proximal links contact each other at the second side, a second gap is defined at each of the first side and the second side between adjacent distal links, and a third gap is defined at the first side between adjacent intermediate links, and adjacent intermediate links contact each other at the second side.

An endoscope including at least one operating element, a steerable deflecting element located at the distal end, an endoscope tip, and a steering wire having a first portion, a second portion and an intermediate portion, wherein the intermediate portion is attached to the deflecting element or to the endoscope tip, operation of the at least one operating element to apply a drag force to the first portion moving the endoscope tip in a first direction, and operation of the at least one operating element or another operating element to apply a drag force to the second portion moves the endoscope tip in a second direction different from the first direction, and/or wherein the intermediate portion of the steering tie element is at least in part received in a clearance provided at/in a distal end portion of the deflecting element and/or at/in the endoscope tip.

An endoscope with an articulated bending section body (1) including a number of segments including a proximal segment (2), a distal segment (3) and a number of intermediate segments (4, 4′, 4i) arranged between the proximal segment (2) and the distal segment (3). Each intermediate segment (4, 4′, 4i) comprises at least one through passage for a pull-wire (7). The intermediate segments include (4, 4′, 4i) at least one interface segment (4i) adapted to receive and retain the distal end of a tube (8) surrounding the at least one pull-wire (7).

An endoscope with an articulated bending section body (1) including a number of segments including a proximal segment (2), a distal segment (3) and a number of intermediate segments (4, 4′, 4i) arranged between the proximal segment (2) and the distal segment (3). Each intermediate segment (4, 4′, 4i) comprises at least one through passage for a pull-wire (7). The intermediate segments include (4, 4′, 4i) at least one interface segment (4i) adapted to receive and retain the distal end of a tube (8) surrounding the at least one pull-wire (7).

An endoscope with an articulated bending section body (1) including a number of segments (4) where at least one hinge member (5) is provided between any adjacent segment (4). Each segment (4) has a first surface (9, 9″) and a second surface (10, 10′) delimited by an outer rim. The first surface (9, 9″) includes a first abutment part (11) adapted to abut the first opposing surface (10, 11) of an adjacent segment, wherein the first abutment part (11) is at a distance from the at least one hinge member (5) that is shorter than the shortest distance from the at least one hinge member (5) to the most remote part of the rim.