A feeding tube device for postpyloric feeding that comprises a bendable feeding tube having a proximal end, a central portion and, and a distal end and a delivery lumen therealong for conducting a digestible substance therethrough, an imaging unit having an image sensor mounted on a tip of the distal end to image an imaging space thereinfront, and a tilting mechanism for tilting the distal end in relation to the central portion. The distal end has at least one lateral tilt and feeding opening therealong for delivering the digestible substance therethrough, the at least one lateral tilt and feeding opening are laid out so that when the tilting mechanism tilts the distal end the at least one lateral tilt and feeding opening narrows.

An obesity treatment apparatus comprises at least one operable stretching device (10) implantable in an obese patient and adapted to stretch a portion (12a) of the patient's stomach wall (12), and an operation device (16, 18) for operating the stretching device when implanted to stretch the stomach wall portion such that satiety is created.

Disclosed is an endoscope for measuring intra-organ pressure (e.g., intragastric pressure), and more particularly an endoscope for measuring intra-organ pressure (e.g., intragastric pressure) and visualizing the response of an adjacent sphincter (e.g., lower esophageal sphincter) to changes in the intra-organ pressure.

A method is disclosed comprising providing a biological sample on a swab, directing a spray of charged droplets onto a surface of the swab in order to generate a plurality of analyte ions, and analysing the analyte ions.

Disclosed are methods for performing endoscopy comprising directing a distal end of an endoscope to proximity of a portion of a surface of a bodily cavity; and directing a liquid-gas stream at a portion of the surface of the bodily cavity. Disclosed are also devices useful in endoscopy, comprising: an elongated body having a proximal end and a distal end; a nozzle at the distal end; a gas channel configured for conveying a gas from the proximal end to the nozzle; and a liquid channel configured for conveying a liquid from the proximal end to the nozzle, wherein the nozzle is configured to generate a liquid-gas stream directed in a specified direction from a gas conveyed by the gas channel and a liquid conveyed by the liquid channel.

A duodenoscope protected with disposable consumables is provided. An insertion portion of a duodenoscope body (1) is covered with a cuff (3). A disposable forceps passage tube (4) is inserted into a tube of the duodenoscope body (1). A distal end of the duodenoscope body (1) is covered with an end cap (2) which is integrally connected to the cuff (3) and the disposable forceps passage tube (4). An elongated opening (2.1), which is of the same shape as the opening of a head end (1.1) of the duodenoscope body (1), is formed in a side face of the end cap (2). A forceps-lifting unit (1.2) is disposed in the head end (1.1) of the duodenoscope body (1). The end cap (2) is made of a transparent elastic material. A soft connection port (5) is disposed in the elongated opening (2.1) of the end cap (2). The soft connection port (5) is shaped like a smoking pipe and made of an elastic film. A large-orifice end of the soft connection port (5) is glued to the elongated opening (2.1) of the end cap (2), while a small-orifice end (5.2) thereof sleeves and is glued to a distal end of the disposable forceps passage tube (4). A pulley (1.4) is disposed on the head of the forceps-lifting unit (1.2), and a groove (1.5) is formed in the periphery of the pulley (1.4). The duodenoscope protected with disposable consumables can protect both the external surface of the duodenoscope and the internal surface of the tube.

A method is disclosed comprising providing a biological sample on a swab, directing a spray of charged droplets onto a surface of the swab in order to generate a plurality of analyte ions, and analysing the analyte ions.

An endoscope system includes an image acquisition section, an attention area setting section, and a dimming control section. The image acquisition section acquires a captured image that includes an object image. The attention area setting section sets an attention area within the captured image based on information from the endoscope system. The dimming control section performs a dimming control process that controls the intensity of illumination light based on the attention area set by the attention area setting section.

A gastrectomy device includes an elongated member and a tube. The elongated member has a proximal end and a distal end and defines a longitudinal side window disposed adjacent the distal end. The elongated member defines a first longitudinal channel, a second longitudinal channel, and a plurality of side apertures. The first longitudinal channel is in communication with the longitudinal side window and the plurality of side apertures is in communication with the second longitudinal channel. The tube extends through the first longitudinal channel. An array of lights is associated with the tube to provide illumination. The tube is movable through the elongated member between a first state, in which the tube is disposed within the first longitudinal channel of the elongated member, and a second state, in which a portion of the tube extends through the longitudinal side window of the elongated member.

First RGB image signals are inputted. A first B/G ratio and a first G/R ratio are calculated. The first B/G ratio and the first G/R ratio are converted into a second B/G ratio and a second G/R ratio, respectively, through a color information conversion process. Owing to the color information conversion process, a difference between first and second observation areas in a second signal ratio space formed by the second B/G ratio and the second G/R ratio is greater than a difference between the first and second observation areas in a first signal ratio space formed by the first B/G ratio and the first G/R ratio, and a difference between the first and third observation areas in the second signal ratio space is greater than a difference between the first and third observation areas in the first signal ratio space.