A device and method for cleaning or defogging a surgical scope during minimally-invasive surgery, including a casing which houses a sponge and a heating element configured to be accessible to the surgical scope and the casing is configured to removably attach to a trocar during a surgical procedure.

A handheld endoscope has a disposable, single-use portion that includes a distal tip, cannula, housings, and a proximal port that is connected to a substantially straight working channel. The cannula is rotatable about the main longitudinal axis of the cannula. The endoscope also includes a re-usable portion that has a handle and display module. The single-use and re-usable portions mate and un-mate with each other via physical side-mounting arrangement as well as separate electrical connectors. The handle can house imaging system electronics that support manual and auto imaging modes which can be selected via touch screen control on the display module. The re-useable portion is sealed with various o-rings and/or gaskets and can be highly fluid resistant to facilitate disinfecting and/or sterilization.

The systems, methods, and apparatus disclosed herein are directed to an exchangeable working channel for a surgical instrument comprising a proximal portion, a distal portion, and an instrument channel configured to receive the exchangeable working channel. The exchangeable working channel may comprise a shaft comprising a proximal region and a distal region; an inner surface defining a lumen extending through the shaft; and an outer surface configured to interface with the instrument channel of the surgical instrument. The exchangeable working channel may further comprise one or more locking members configured to releasably couple to the proximal portion or the distal portion of the surgical instrument. The exchangeable working channel may increase a service life of the surgical instrument as a worn working channel can be exchanged with a new one.

An endoscopic scope cleaning management system includes: an inspection order information storage unit which stores inspection order information including information of inspection date and time of an endoscope inspection using an endoscopic scope; an endoscopic scope specification unit which specifies an endoscopic scope to be used based on the inspection order information stored in the inspection order information storage unit; a cleaning necessity determination unit which stores cleaning history information of each endoscopic scope and determines whether it is necessary to clean the endoscopic scope to be used which is specified by the endoscopic scope specification unit, using the cleaning history information of the endoscopic scope to be used; and an information creation unit which creates and outputs information for notifying a user of the necessity to clean a cleaning-needed endoscopic scope for which it is determined by the cleaning necessity determination unit that the cleaning is required.

A surgical instrument includes a heat generating component, a heat sink, and elongate shaft, an elongate thermal conduit, and a movable contact structure. The elongate shaft extends from the heat generating component to the heat sink. The elongate thermal conduit is coupled to the heat generating component and extends within the elongate shaft between the heat generating component and the heat sink. The movable contact structure is positioned within the heat sink and is thermally coupled between the elongate thermal conduit and the heat sink. The elongate thermal conduit extends into the movable contact structure and the movable contact structure is movable relative to the heat sink.

A reprocessing case may be used to assist in reprocessing an instrument, such as an endoscope in an automated reprocessor. The reprocessing case may include various features such that the case may include and be transitioned between a closed configuration, an open configuration, and a disinfection configuration. In particular the reprocessor may transition the case to a disinfection configuration during a reprocessing procedure.

An elastic sealing device includes a watertight holding section that is provided between adjacent frame bodies and holds watertightness and a packing section that is projectingly provided with respect to the watertight holding section and that is arranged in a gap between the adjacent frame bodies and forms a continuous outer surface.

An endoscope includes a flexible portion, a surface of which is covered by an outer covering, the outer covering including a resin layer as an outermost layer and a laminated barrier film that is arranged on an inner side of the resin layer, and the laminated barrier film including a first barrier layer made from a metal oxide, and a second barrier layer made from a metal that is arranged on an inner side of the first barrier layer.

A tip for an optical scanner, where said tip includes a framework and an optical element. For some configurations the optical element is releasable attaching to the framework by a holding means of the tip. For some configurations the tip framework is formed in two materials of different thermal conductivities.

An endoscope includes: a long member that is connected to a direction changing portion provided in an insertion portion and enables the direction changing portion to move; a sliding member that includes a first contact portion that is brought into contact with an inner surface of a guide tube that allows insertion of the long member and a second contact portion that is brought into contact with the inner surface of the guide tube; a flow path that includes an opening portion formed in a direction that intersects a longitudinal axis of the sliding member such that a fluid flows into a clearance between the guide tube and the sliding member; and an operation member that causes the sliding member to move forward and backward relative to the guide tube.