A medical device for providing direct port-like endoscopic access to the urinary bladder, or other orifice, of a patient and a method of utilizing and inserting the medical device. The medical device can include a hollow tube with a main channel and a separate channel, a cap with an inflation port and a hollow flexible stem fluidly connecting the inflation port and the separate channel. A method can include inserting a needle above the pubic symphysis of a mammal, threading a guide wire through the needle, removing the needle and inserting the medical device. The method can optionally include determining measuring the depth between the skin surface of the patient's suprapubic region and urinary bladder.

A medical device for providing direct port-like endoscopic access to the urinary bladder, or other orifice, of a patient and a method of utilizing and inserting the medical device. The medical device can include a hollow tube with a main channel and a separate channel, a cap with an inflation port and a hollow flexible stem fluidly connecting the inflation port and the separate channel. A method can include inserting a needle above the pubic symphysis of a mammal, threading a guide wire through the needle, removing the needle and inserting the medical device. The method can optionally include determining measuring the depth between the skin surface of the patient's suprapubic region and urinary bladder.

A single-use, sterile, disposable catheter placement assist device to aid in the sterile placement of transurethral urinary catheters in female patients, and a method for catheter placement using the device. The catheter placement assist device includes a labia separator with flared wings having a curved profile. The wings meet at a valley. The catheter placement assist device also includes a posterior shield that covers the perineal tissues including the anus to prevent contamination of the sterile catheter with bacteria and may further include a spout that may be shallowly inserted into the vagina to position the catheter device to optimize labial separation, retraction of the posterior vaginal wall, perineal shielding, and visualization of the urethral meatus. The additional features of a light, a handle, a catheter tip holder, a swab storage location, and a stackable configuration may further be included with the catheter placement assist device.

A single-use, sterile, disposable catheter placement assist device to aid in the sterile placement of transurethral urinary catheters in female patients, and a method for catheter placement using the device. The catheter placement assist device includes a labia separator with flared wings having a curved profile. The wings meet at a valley. The catheter placement assist device also includes a posterior shield that covers the perineal tissues including the anus to prevent contamination of the sterile catheter with bacteria and may further include a spout that may be shallowly inserted into the vagina to position the catheter device to optimize labial separation, retraction of the posterior vaginal wall, perineal shielding, and visualization of the urethral meatus. The additional features of a light, a handle, a catheter tip holder, a swab storage location, and a stackable configuration may further be included with the catheter placement assist device.

The present invention relates to a cannula for puncturing body cavities, comprising an inner and an outer longitudinally cut sleeve with proximal and distal ends. The inner sleeve is arranged within the outer sleeve so as to be longitudinally displaceable and rotatable within the outer sleeve such that the longitudinal cut of the inner sleeve is covered by the outer sleeve in a first rotational position and the longitudinal cuts of the inner and outer sleeves are placed on top of each other in a second rotational position. The distal end of the inner sleeve is provided with a puncture tip that is completely retracted into the outer sleeve if the inner sleeve is in the second rotational position, wherein the inner and outer sleeves and/or the two handle portions are, preferably unreleasably, locked to one another.

An apparatus for accessing a bodily passageway includes: an endoscope including an insertion portion configured to inserted into the bodily passageway; a drive tube including a lumen configured to receive the endoscope; a helically-wound thread disposed on an outer wall of the drive tube and configured such that rotation of the drive tube causes the drive tube with the endoscope to move along the passageway; a flexible drive shaft configured to transfer rotary motion generated by a power supply; and a rotatable drive collar disposed on the endoscope and configured to rotate the drive tube relative to the endoscope, the rotatable drive collar including a stator, a rotor rotatable over the stator and detachably coupled to the drive tube, a rotary gear configured to transfer the rotary motion from the flexible drive shaft to the rotor to rotate the drive tube, and a watertight seal disposed between the stator and the rotor.