Embodiments of a system and method of use for endoscope fluorescence inspection are generally described herein. In an example embodiment, a fluorescence inspection device provides capabilities for internal inspection of an endoscope lumen through a handheld unit coupled to a light pipe that identifies fluorescence from residual biological material exposed to a fluorescing agent. In another example embodiment, a fluorescence inspection device provides capabilities for external inspection of an endoscope surface through a handheld unit which emits excitation light and identifies fluorescence of residual biological material exposed to the fluorescing agent. The embodiments may also include an output device to output an indication in response to a detection (or lack of detection) of the fluorescent light with the fluorescence inspection device. Additional use examples and device structures are also described.

Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, system and assembly each adapted for enabling an imaging element cleaning apparatus to be placed through an abdominal wall of the patient without the use of a trocar or cannula. By eliminating the need for and use of a cannular or trocar, such embodiments advantageously overcome dimensional compatibility issues exhibited between the inside diameter of the central passage of commercially-available trocars and cannulas and the outside diameter of the sheath of an imaging element cleaning apparatus comprising such a sheath. Such dimensional compatibility issues are overcome by enabling an imaging element cleaning apparatus of the present disclosures to be placed through the abdominal wall of a patient without the use of a trocar or cannula. As a result, the sheath of the aforementioned imaging element cleaning apparatus can be in direct contact with the abdominal wall tissue.

A declogging assembly (20) is configured for use with a suction conduit (10). The suction conduit has a head (14) at a first end (15) and a vacuum tube connection (16) at a second end (17). The assembly includes a body (30). The body defines a first aperture (32), a second aperture (34), and a third aperture (36). The assembly also includes a plug (40) disposed within the body (30). The plug has a surface (42) configured to contact the head (14) of the suction conduit (10) so as to move the plug from a first position, in which the first aperture (32) is in fluid communication with the second aperture (34), to a second position, in which the first aperture (32) is in fluid communication with the third aperture (36). The assembly (20) also includes a biasing member (50) configured to bias the plug into the first position.

Provided among other things is a sampling system for determining an amount or type of contamination a narrow, elongated passageway in a medical device, said sampling system comprising: (a) a fluid supply system that supplies to said passageway a sampling liquid for flowing through said passageway and a gas for flowing through said passageway; and (b) a receiving container that receives liquid from said passageway, wherein said sampling liquid is sterile, wherein said sampling liquid is configured to allow recovery of viable pathogens from the passageway, and wherein said sampling liquid comprises an amount and selection of surfactant effective to enhance the dislodgement of Enterococcus faecalis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria from the narrow passageways.

A device for minimizing obstruction in a medical device that carries fluids includes a housing defining a channel configured to receive and secure a section of the medical device such that the section of the medical device extends coaxially with a central longitudinal axis of the channel. The device also includes components supported in the housing, including a motor, wherein the components are configured to be operated to impart motion to the housing and the attached medical device. The motion is configured to produce oscillatory motion of a frequency sufficient to concentrate shear stresses in a fluid boundary layer adjacent an inner wall of the medical device. The housing and the components supported in the housing are configured and arranged so that a device center of mass lies along or near the longitudinal axis of the channel.

A sterilization tray is disclosed herein that may be used to facilitate preparation of an endoscope for sterilization and increase the likelihood that the endoscope will be properly sterilized. The sterilization tray may be fabricated from a flexible and vapor-permeable sheet. Cutouts may be disposed through the sheet to define standoffs that are foldable away from the sheet. A first standoff may include a first contoured portion disposed therein. The tray may also include a second standoff that has a second contoured portion and a third contoured portion disposed therein. The third standoff may include a locking tab disposed on a free end of the third standoff. A positioning tab may also be disposed on the third standoff. The sterilization tray may also include a dry booster to which an endoscope may be connected.

A surgical instrument according to an embodiment may include: a shaft; an end effector provided on a side of one end of the shaft; a housing provided on a side of the other end of the shaft and including a base including an attachment surface to be attached to a robot arm, a lid portion covering the base, and cleaning liquid supply holes to supply a cleaning liquid; and a cleaning tube to supply the cleaning liquid into the shaft. The cleaning liquid supply holes include: a first cleaning liquid supply hole to which the cleaning tube is attached; a second cleaning liquid supply hole communicating with an inside of the housing; and a third cleaning liquid supply hole opening in a direction substantially orthogonal to an opening direction of the second cleaning liquid supply hole and communicating with the inside of the housing.

To provide an endoscope cap with a raising base or the like which is easily attached and detached to and from a distal end of an endoscope.

The endoscope cap includes: a cover that is attachable and detachable to and from a distal end of an insertion portion of an endoscope including a lever which is rotatably provided at the distal end of the insertion portion of the endoscope and a rotating portion which rotates the lever; and a raising base that has a lever connection portion connected to the lever and is rotatably provided inside the cover, and the endoscope cap is supplied in the state of being enclosed in an individual packaging member.

In accordance with one embodiment, an automated probe system includes a probe configured to be reversibly inserted into a live body part, a robotic arm attached to the probe and configured to manipulate the probe, a first sensor configured to track movement of the probe during an insertion and a reinsertion of the probe in the live body part, a second sensor configured to track movement of the live body part, and a controller configured to calculate an insertion path of the probe in the live body part based on the tracked movement of the probe during the insertion, and calculate a reinsertion path of the probe based on the calculated insertion path while compensating for the tracked movement of the live body part, and send control commands to the robotic arm to reinsert the probe in the live body part according to the calculated reinsertion path.

An apparatus of serializer/deserializer is provided. The apparatus comprises a holding unit and a capture unit. The holding unit connects to the capture unit through a coaxial cable, and comprises a disposable image-capture module, a synthetic-image module (L/R montage), a Mipi serializer, a Mipi deserializer, a Mipi capture card, and a capture device. Thus, the apparatus keeps the most expensive ISP and capture device at a back end; and puts the disposable image-capture module, the synthetic-image module, and the Mipi serializer at a front end. After use, it is only necessary to discard the disposable image-capture module, which extends into human body at the front end. The remaining parts are reused. Thus, cost is effectively reduced and the shortcoming of high cost of the use of modern disposable endoscope is solved.