An endoscope having an articulated bending section body including a number of segments, the segments having a central passage adapted in cross-sectional shape to receive and support the exterior surface of a bendable tubular member providing a working channel of the endoscope. The cross-sectional shape includes a number of sectors of a circular periphery having a shared center and the same radius, the total length of said sectors being longer than half of said circular periphery, so as to provide said support for the exterior of the bendable tubular member providing the working channel of the endoscope. The cross-sectional shape includes at least one outwardly extending lobe in which a coil spring is accommodated.

An endoscope having an articulated bending section body including a number of segments, the segments having a central passage adapted in cross-sectional shape to receive and support the exterior surface of a bendable tubular member providing a working channel of the endoscope. The cross-sectional shape includes a number of sectors of a circular periphery having a shared center and the same radius, the total length of said sectors being longer than half of said circular periphery, so as to provide said support for the exterior of the bendable tubular member providing the working channel of the endoscope. The cross-sectional shape includes at least one outwardly extending lobe in which a coil spring is accommodated.

A bending operation mechanism includes an operation lever, a wire pulling member, a pulling wire, a cylinder, and a pulley, and the pulley is disposed with a predetermined rotation shaft tilted so that an extended line of the predetermined rotation shaft intersects with the cylinder.

Endoscope systems with bending sections that can bend in four directions independent of the rotatable viewing configuration of the endoscope systems are provided. Methods of using the endoscope systems in a patient's body are further provided.

An articulated bending section body has a number of segments including a proximal end segment, a distal end segment and a number of intermediate segments. Each intermediate segment has a central passage adapted in cross-sectional shape to receive and support the exterior surface of a bendable tubular member providing a working channel of the endoscope. The cross-sectional shape includes a number of sectors of a circular periphery having a shared center and the same radius, the total length of the sectors being longer than half of the circular periphery. The cross-sectional shape comprises at least one outwardly extending lobe. The exterior surface of the bendable tubular member providing the working channel of the endoscope forms a closed lumen adjacent but separated from the working channel of the endoscope.

An articulated bending section body has a number of segments including a proximal end segment, a distal end segment and a number of intermediate segments. Each intermediate segment has a central passage adapted in cross-sectional shape to receive and support the exterior surface of a bendable tubular member providing a working channel of the endoscope. The cross-sectional shape includes a number of sectors of a circular periphery having a shared center and the same radius, the total length of the sectors being longer than half of the circular periphery. The cross-sectional shape comprises at least one outwardly extending lobe. The exterior surface of the bendable tubular member providing the working channel of the endoscope forms a closed lumen adjacent but separated from the working channel of the endoscope.

In one aspect, the present invention is an articulation joint for use in a low cost medical device such as an endoscope intended for a single use. In one embodiment, the articulation joint comprises a plurality of interconnected segments. In another embodiment, the articulation joint comprises an elongated tubular body. In another aspect, the present invention provides methods of manufacturing an articulation joint for use in a medical device.

In one aspect, the present invention is an articulation joint for use in a low cost medical device such as an endoscope intended for a single use. In one embodiment, the articulation joint comprises a plurality of interconnected segments. In another embodiment, the articulation joint comprises an elongated tubular body. In another aspect, the present invention provides methods of manufacturing an articulation joint for use in a medical device.

Disclosed is a flexible surgical instrument system, comprising a distal structural body comprising at least one distal structural segment each comprising a distal fixing disk and structural backbones; a proximal structural body comprising at least one proximal structural segment each comprising a proximal fixing disk, structural backbones and driving backbones; a plurality of cable pulling mechanisms operable to convert a rotational motion into a linear motion to turn the at least one proximal structural segment; and a driving unit to input the rotational motion to the plurality of cable pulling mechanisms; the driving unit comprises: a plurality of driving shafts operable to transfer the rotational motion to the plurality of cable pulling mechanisms, and a first end of each of the plurality of driving shafts is connected with each of the plurality of cable pulling mechanisms.

Disclosed is a flexible surgical instrument system, comprising a distal structural body comprising at least one distal structural segment each comprising a distal fixing disk and structural backbones; a proximal structural body comprising at least one proximal structural segment each comprising a proximal fixing disk, structural backbones and driving backbones; a plurality of cable pulling mechanisms operable to convert a rotational motion into a linear motion to turn the at least one proximal structural segment; and a driving unit to input the rotational motion to the plurality of cable pulling mechanisms; the driving unit comprises: a plurality of driving shafts operable to transfer the rotational motion to the plurality of cable pulling mechanisms, and a first end of each of the plurality of driving shafts is connected with each of the plurality of cable pulling mechanisms.