An assigned endoscope information holding unit holds preferential endoscope information on an endoscope to be preferentially assigned to a doctor. An endoscope assignment unit determines an endoscope to be assigned to an endoscopic examination, based on the preferential endoscope information held in the assigned endoscope information holding unit and the information on a doctor of an endoscopic examination that the examination schedule management unit manages. A history recording unit records usage history information on an endoscope used in the performed endoscopic examination, and a display processing unit displays the usage history information on a plurality of endoscopes in a comparable format.

A removable and replaceable sheath may be coupled to a medical instrument used during a procedure, and may enable one or more functional features of the medical instrument while maintaining a sterile barrier between the instrument itself and the treatment site. The sheath may be replaced prior to a subsequent use, and sterilization of the medical instrument is not required due to the sterile barrier. Sheaths may include an embedded memory that stores procedure configurations and procedure results, longitudinal channels for delivering power or irrigation, optical elements for providing procedure specific endoscopic views, and other features. One sheath may be fitted to an endoscope for imaging and tissue ablation. Another sheath includes a balloon usable during sinuplasty procedures. Yet another sheath may be fitted to a sonic ablation instrument to provide improved transmission of sonic power to tissue.

A device may be configured for white balancing a medical videoscopic camera system prior to videoscopic medical procedures, as well as optionally simultaneously or non-simultaneously applying a fog-prohibiting agent to the distal lens of a medical videoscope such as an endoscope or laparoscope. The device combines a white balancing mechanism, protective mechanism, and defogging mechanism in one simple easy to use device.

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.

Methods and systems for sterilizing a room are disclosed, including using a laser positioned within a housing to generate a pulsed laser beam; and intercepting the pulsed laser beam with a scattering optical element to substantially isotropically scatter the radiation of the pulsed laser beam outside the housing to sterilize the room. The scattering optical element comprises a hollow fused silica bulb filled with solid fused silica spheres or a fiber optic bundle and in some embodiments the scattering optical element is rotated. The pulsed laser beam comprises a wavelength ranging between about 200 nm to about 320 nm and in some embodiments comprises nanosecond or picosecond light pulses. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

A cleaning fixture for cleaning a medical device comprising a shaft receiving portion configured to receive a shaft and end effector assembly of the medical device, the shaft receiving portion including at least one nozzle disposed towards a distal end of the shaft receiving portion such that the at least one nozzle is positioned adjacent the end effector assembly of the medical device upon receipt of the shaft and end effector assembly of the medical device within the shaft receiving portion, and a handle receiving portion configured to receive the housing and handle of the medical device, the handle receiving portion releasably securable with the shaft receiving portion to enclose the medical device therein, the handle receiving portion including at least one lever activation assembly positioned adjacent the handle and operable to selectively actuate the handle to manipulate the end effector assembly.

An endoscope system includes: an endoscope scope insertion portion having an insertion portion configured to be inserted inside a living organism; an extracorporeal device which is disposed outside the living organism; a first scope-side signal connecting portion that is provided on the endoscope scope insertion portion and has a first electrode; and a cylindrical first extracorporeal-side signal connecting portion that is provided on the extracorporeal device and has a second electrode, the first extracorporeal-side signal connecting portion configured to engage with the first scope-side signal connecting portion. In this endoscope system, when the first scope-side signal connecting portion is engaged with the first extracorporeal-side signal connecting portion, at least a portion of the first scope-side signal connecting portion is located within an inside-cylinder space of the first extracorporeal-side signal connecting portion, and the first electrode and the second electrode are electrostatically coupled together.

Systems and methods for cleaning and disinfecting contaminated tube lumens are described herein. One system includes an ultraviolet light source and a sterile fluid reservoir fluidly coupled to a liquid light guide. The system is configured to allow simultaneous access and propagation of ultraviolet light and fluid in a tube having a lumen to be cleaned and disinfected. The light guide can be moved inside the tube and simultaneously emit ultraviolet light through its walls and at its distal end into the interior of the contaminated tube. A flush of sterile fluid from an open end of the liquid light guide removes debris and micro-organism detached from the inner surface during light exposure. The sterile fluid can be a high refractive index ionic solution promoting light propagation.

An endoscopic instrument includes a heat-generating component that is thermally coupled to a heat sink via a movable contact structure. The movable contact structure accommodates the relative motion between the thermal conduit and heat sink to maintain the thermal coupling between those elements, and prevent damage to such thermal coupling when the instrument is exposed to elevated temperatures, such as during autoclaving.

An endoscope and lens cleaning device assembly includes a tubular body, a visualization device including a lens, and a lens cleaning device. The visualization device is supported on a distal portion of the tubular body. The lens cleaning device is supported on the distal portion of the tubular body and includes an iris mechanism having a plurality of vanes. The vanes are movable between a first position in which the vanes are positioned radially outwardly of the lens of the visualization device and a second position in which the vanes cover the lens of the visualization device. Each of the vanes has a cleaning surface that is positioned to contact the lens of the visualization device as the vanes move between the first and second positions to clean the lens of the visualization device.