An opening and closing unit includes a body that has a first hollow part penetrating through both ends thereof and an opening part communicating the first hollow part with an outside, and an opening and closing part that is inserted into the first hollow part to selectively open and close the opening part, has second hollow part formed therein, and has a through hole communicating with the second hollow part on one side thereof.

A cover 20 for covering a circumferential portion of an outer circumferential surface of a rigid endoscope 10 having an observation window portion 14 provided at a tip thereof includes a flexible outer cover member 22 covering the circumferential portion of the circumferential surface of the rigid endoscope 10 and a tubular member 26, provided inside the outer cover member 22, through which a cleaning fluid to be supplied from a base end of the rigid endoscope 10 to the observation window portion 14 of the rigid endoscope 10 flows inside, and the outer cover member 22 is attached to the outer circumference surface of the rigid endoscope 10 by flexing the outer cover member 22.

An access device for accessing an intervertebral disc having an outer shield comprising an access shield with a larger diameter (˜16-30 mm) that reaches from the skin down to the facet line, with an inner shield having a second smaller diameter (˜5-12 mm) extending past the access shield and reaches down to the disc level. This combines the benefits of the direct visual microsurgical/mini open approaches and the percutaneous, “ultra-MIS” techniques.

A motorized actuation module actuates an endoscopic instrument. It is made up of a mounting plate able to be attached to the ulnar-palmar grasping zone of a handgrip of an endoscope, the mounting plate having an ulnar-palmar bearing surface extended by a heel extending in a direction that makes an angle of 90°±25° with respect to the perpendicular to the plane of the ulnar-palmar bearing surface. The heel includes an electromechanical sensor that delivers a control signal controlling the movement of an endoscopy instrument.

A method and device for the remote eradication of pathogens comprising a light source for emitting UV light in the pathogen killing wave length range, and a tangible transmission medium, which is at least initially resistant to degradation by the UV light. An optical interface between the UV light source and the tangible transmission medium is provided whereby the emitted UV light is collected from the light source and transmitted through the tangible transmission medium, whereby UV light emitted from the tangible transmission medium and directed against a pathogen in proximity thereto is at a power level sufficient to substantially effectively kill the pathogen within a reasonable period of time. The device is used for sanitization of biopsy channels of endoscopes and for treating of pathogens within humans and animals.

A view optimizing assembly, method and kit for use in combination with a laparoscope having a lens located on the shaft tip of the laparoscope, and a source of insufflation CO.sub.2. The invention includes a multi-lumen sheath assembly, a deflector assembly in fluid communication with the lumens of the sheath assembly, wherein the flow of CO.sub.2 through the lumens forms a vortex when coming into contact with the deflector assembly, thereby preventing fogging of the laparoscope lens.

An ultrasonic endoscope includes a distal end rigid portion that is located at a distal end of an insertion section; a treatment tool lead-out portion that is disposed on a proximal end side of an ultrasonic transducer and that includes an erecting base housing portion that has an opening whose opening direction is toward one side in a first direction, an opening forming surface in which the opening is formed, and a treatment-tool erecting base that is disposed in an inside of the erecting base housing portion and that changes a lead-out direction of a treatment tool; and an observation window that is disposed in an observation means forming surface located on the proximal end side of the opening forming surface. The position of the observation window in the first direction is located on one side in the first direction relative to a one-side opening position of the opening.

A hybrid apparatus for delivery of fluid in connection with endoscopic irrigation and lens cleaning including a connector which is adaptable to a flexible or rigid container, a connector arranged at the end thereof and connected via a tubing supply to a fluid, air and or gas source and to an endoscope during a procedure.

A device for protecting against an airborne contamination of a medical device including an air circulation cooling system is disclosed. The device also includes an enclosure defining a sealed receiving volume for the medical device, the protection device further comprising structure for circulating gas flow, within the enclosure, the gas flow having predetermined composition and/or quality criteria different from the external environment and able to be used by the cooling system of the medical device in operation.

A conduit cleaning tool includes a long shaft. The shaft includes a linear first part and a second part arranged on a proximal end side with respect to the first part. The second part includes a plurality of bent portions bent to a corrugated shape in a predetermined direction with respect to a longitudinal direction N, and the plurality of bent portions are configured to rub an inner surface of the conduit.