A laryngoscope blade (30) includes a blade proximal end (32), to be articulated to a handle (20), a blade distal end (38), a patient tongue side (34), a patient palate side (36), a plurality of adjacent rigid elements (40, 50, 60, 70) extending from the tongue side to the palate side, a plurality of joints (46, 56, 66) articulately connecting two of the adjacent rigid elements, and a force-transmitting mechanism (80), with a proximal end (82) and a distal end (87). The force-transmitting mechanism distal end is mechanically connected to the blade distal end. The force-transmitting mechanism is movable relative to the rigid elements in a longitudinal direction. The force-transmitting mechanism proximal end is mechanically couplable to the handle such that, by pivoting of the handle relative to the blade proximal end, the force-transmitting mechanism is moved relative to the blade proximal end.

An insertion apparatus includes: a tube in which a water feeding communication hole opens on an outer peripheral surface of the tube; a tube connector in which a water feeding branch conduit which allows an inner surface of a tube insertion hole to communicate with an outside is formed, and a second stopper portion which protrudes toward the inside of the tube insertion hole is formed; an O ring which is positioned by contacting with the second stopper portion; a spacer which is positioned by contacting with the O ring, and in which a communication hole which allows an inner surface side and an outer surface side of a wall portion to communicate with each other is formed; and an O ring which is positioned by contacting with the spacer.

An insertion apparatus includes: a tube in which a water feeding communication hole opens on an outer peripheral surface of the tube; a tube connector in which a water feeding branch conduit which allows an inner surface of a tube insertion hole to communicate with an outside is formed, and a second stopper portion which protrudes toward the inside of the tube insertion hole is formed; an O ring which is positioned by contacting with the second stopper portion; a spacer which is positioned by contacting with the O ring, and in which a communication hole which allows an inner surface side and an outer surface side of a wall portion to communicate with each other is formed; and an O ring which is positioned by contacting with the spacer.

In some embodiments, systems, methods, and media for capsule-based multimode endoscopy are provided. In some embodiments, a probe for capsule-based multimode endoscopy is provided, the probe comprising: a rigid capsule; a flexible tether coupled to a proximal end of the capsule; a rotatable reflective surface disposed within the capsule; a static ball lens disposed within the capsule; a first optical fiber optically coupled to the ball lens, the first optical fiber passing through the flexible tether; a second optical fiber optically coupled to the ball lens, the second optical fiber passing through the flexible tether; a graded index fiber disposed between a distal end of the second optical fiber and the ball lens, the graded index fiber optically coupled to the second optical fiber and the ball lens.

In some embodiments, systems, methods, and media for capsule-based multimode endoscopy are provided. In some embodiments, a probe for capsule-based multimode endoscopy is provided, the probe comprising: a rigid capsule; a flexible tether coupled to a proximal end of the capsule; a rotatable reflective surface disposed within the capsule; a static ball lens disposed within the capsule; a first optical fiber optically coupled to the ball lens, the first optical fiber passing through the flexible tether; a second optical fiber optically coupled to the ball lens, the second optical fiber passing through the flexible tether; a graded index fiber disposed between a distal end of the second optical fiber and the ball lens, the graded index fiber optically coupled to the second optical fiber and the ball lens.

Systems and methods for supporting image-guided procedures include an elongate device including a steerable distal end and a shape sensor located along a length of the elongate device and one or more processors coupled to the elongate device. While the elongate device is being traversed through one or more passageways of a patient, the one or more processors are configured to detect a data collection event, and capture, in response to detecting the data collection event, a plurality of points along the length of the elongate device using the shape sensor. In some embodiments, an insertion depth of the elongate device is monitored. In some embodiments, the data collection event is detected when the insertion depth is beyond a threshold insertion depth, no change of the insertion depth is detected for longer than a threshold period of time, or the insertion depth is beyond a threshold retraction distance.

A method for fixing a guide sheath of a cable for actuating the distal head of a medical device including providing a housing having at least one column made of a thermoplastic material for fixing a support sheath, arranging, from the terminal portion of the column, a groove that extends radially therethrough to allow the insertion of the support sheath, positioning the support sheath of the actuating cable inside the groove while a free end extends out of the column, and heating at least the free end of the column and applying a pressure to the column to ensure the attachment of the support sheath to the housing by means of welding.

A method for fixing a guide sheath of a cable for actuating the distal head of a medical device including providing a housing having at least one column made of a thermoplastic material for fixing a support sheath, arranging, from the terminal portion of the column, a groove that extends radially therethrough to allow the insertion of the support sheath, positioning the support sheath of the actuating cable inside the groove while a free end extends out of the column, and heating at least the free end of the column and applying a pressure to the column to ensure the attachment of the support sheath to the housing by means of welding.

A face mask (90) comprises an instrument shielding apparatus (91) which comprises an instrument shielding device (92) which is connected to the face mask (90) by an adapter (89). The adapter (89) comprises an instrument accommodating housing (15) through which an instrument bore (25) extends therethrough. The instrument accommodating housing (15) terminates at one end in a first main port (20) engageable with an instrument port (7) of the face mask (90), and in the other end in a second main port (23). The instrument shielding device (92) comprises a shielding sleeve (95) a first end (96) of which is secured by a coupling ring (98) to the second main port (23) of the adapter (89), and a second end (97) of which is secured in a storage chamber (94) of a sleeve storing housing (93) of the instrument shielding device (92). The sleeve storing housing (93) is sealably engageable with a proximal end (58) of an endoscope (10), and the shielding sleeve extends from a collapsed stored state in the storage chamber (94) to the adapter (89) for shielding the endoscope (10).

A rigidizing device includes a plurality of layers and an inlet between the elongate flexible tube and the outer layer and configured to attach to a source of vacuum or pressure. The rigidizing device is configured to have a rigid configuration when vacuum or pressure is applied through the inlet and a flexible configuration when vacuum or pressure is not applied through the inlet.