An endoscopic instrument (312, 820, 824) includes an outer tubing (206) extending from a proximal tubing end to a distal tubing end, a flexible torque component (200) extending through the outer tubing, an articulation assembly (400, 500, 600, 700, 828), and an end effector (450, 550, 650, 750, 824). The articulation assembly (400, 500, 600, 700, 828) is coupled to the distal tubing end and includes a plurality of segments (404, 408, 504, 604, 704) and at least one control member (412, 512, 612, 712) extending from a proximal control end to a distal control end coupled with the plurality of segments. The control member manipulates an orientation of at least one segment of the plurality of segments responsive to receiving a control input at the proximal control end. The end effector (450, 550, 650, 750, 824) is coupled to a distal end of the flexible torque component such that manipulating the orientation (516, 616, 620) of the at least one segment controls an orientation of the end effector (450, 550, 650, 750, 824) relative to the outer tubing (206) and rotation of the flexible torque component (200) controls an angle of rotation of the end effector relative (450, 550, 650, 750, 824) to the outer tubing (206).

An apparatus for operating on tissue has a body, an elongate shaft, and an end effector. The elongate shaft extends distally from the body. The elongate shaft has an articulation section that is operable to selectively deflect the end effector laterally relative to the elongate shaft. The articulation section presents a first indication section and a second indication section. The first and second indication section may be configured to visually indicate the direction and degree of articulation of the articulation section. The first and second indication section may alternatively be configured to indicate the angular orientation of the end effector about the longitudinal axis. The body may further comprise a knob that is operable to rotate the shaft about the longitudinal axis. The knob may include a third indication section and a fourth indication section that align with the first and the second indication sections of the articulation section, respectively.

A disposable endoscope (200) and system, the disposable endoscope (200) comprising: a tubular component (201), a linear drive piece (202) controlling the tubular component (201) to bend, an image pickup unit (203) installed at the front end of the tubular component (201) and a wiring harness connected thereto, a cladding layer (204) wrapping around the integral structure, and a connector head (205) and a disposable fixing piece (206) both disposed at one end of the linear drive piece (202) away from the tubular component (201). A first connector (2021) is fixed at a connector head (205) at one end of the linear drive piece (202) and is detachably engaged with a corresponding second connector (301) of an external control base (300); the first connector (2021) is fixed by the disposable fixing piece (206) with respect to the connector head (205), and can be moved in a length direction within a through hole (2051) of the connector head (205) after the disposable fixing piece (206) is removed. The disposable endoscope system separates the control base (300) used to control a drive from the disposable endoscope (200) inserted into a cavity of a human body and used to capture images, realizing disposability of an endoscope, and thereby omitting existing complicated cleaning and sterilization processes.

A disposable endoscope (200) and system, the disposable endoscope (200) comprising: a tubular component (201), a linear drive piece (202) controlling the tubular component (201) to bend, an image pickup unit (203) installed at the front end of the tubular component (201) and a wiring harness connected thereto, a cladding layer (204) wrapping around the integral structure, and a connector head (205) and a disposable fixing piece (206) both disposed at one end of the linear drive piece (202) away from the tubular component (201). A first connector (2021) is fixed at a connector head (205) at one end of the linear drive piece (202) and is detachably engaged with a corresponding second connector (301) of an external control base (300); the first connector (2021) is fixed by the disposable fixing piece (206) with respect to the connector head (205), and can be moved in a length direction within a through hole (2051) of the connector head (205) after the disposable fixing piece (206) is removed. The disposable endoscope system separates the control base (300) used to control a drive from the disposable endoscope (200) inserted into a cavity of a human body and used to capture images, realizing disposability of an endoscope, and thereby omitting existing complicated cleaning and sterilization processes.

An insertion instrument includes a rotating member rotatable around a rotation axis, and adjacent portions adjacently provided on both sides of the rotating member in the direction along the rotation axis. The insertion instrument includes a cover tube forming a part of an outer surface of an insertion section and provided in an elastic deformation state so as to apply elastic force toward an inner peripheral side of the insertion section. A position of the rotating member in the direction along the rotation axis is adjusted by the elastic force, whereby a state where both ends of the rotating member in the direction along the rotation axis are located apart from the adjacent portions is maintained.

An insertion instrument includes a rotating member rotatable around a rotation axis, and adjacent portions adjacently provided on both sides of the rotating member in the direction along the rotation axis. The insertion instrument includes a cover tube forming a part of an outer surface of an insertion section and provided in an elastic deformation state so as to apply elastic force toward an inner peripheral side of the insertion section. A position of the rotating member in the direction along the rotation axis is adjusted by the elastic force, whereby a state where both ends of the rotating member in the direction along the rotation axis are located apart from the adjacent portions is maintained.

An articulating instrument including a distal assembly having first and second configurations and intermediate configurations between them. At least one of the first and second configurations is substantially stable such that the distal assembly of the instrument has a tendency to remain in the stable configuration when placed in that configuration by a user of the instrument. Preferably, the distal assembly terminates in a distal tip unit defining at least one distal feature that is useful for manipulating tissue.

A dividing wall member is provided inside a specific bending piece selected from a plurality of bending pieces, an internal space of the bending piece is divided by the dividing wall member into a first space that opens corresponding to one rotating shaft, of rotating shafts that form a left and right pair, and a second space that is larger than the first space and opens corresponding to another rotating shaft, of the rotating shafts that form a left and right pair, and rotating shafts that form an upper and lower pair, a signal cable is inserted as a first internal component inside a first space, and a pair of light guides and a treatment instrument insertion channel are inserted as second internal components inside the second space.

A dividing wall member is provided inside a specific bending piece selected from a plurality of bending pieces, an internal space of the bending piece is divided by the dividing wall member into a first space that opens corresponding to one rotating shaft, of rotating shafts that form a left and right pair, and a second space that is larger than the first space and opens corresponding to another rotating shaft, of the rotating shafts that form a left and right pair, and rotating shafts that form an upper and lower pair, a signal cable is inserted as a first internal component inside a first space, and a pair of light guides and a treatment instrument insertion channel are inserted as second internal components inside the second space.

Medical endoscope imaging systems and methods of using the same are disclosed. The imaging systems can have an endoscope having an image sensor, a display housing having an image display, a communication link configured to couple the image sensor to the image display, and a camera housing having a camera-sensor. The display housing can be configured to be detachably coupled to the camera housing. The camera-sensor can be configured to receive signals from the image display.