The present disclosure relates to a cap for protecting an imaging instrument from damage caused by impact or poor handling. Exemplary devices can include a rigid outer shell and soft inner lining surrounding a distal tip of the instrument, to be applied between instrument use, and during instrument transport, disinfection, sterilization, and storage.

An illuminator including a receptacle for connecting a light cable to an illuminator. The receptacle includes a clamp assembly having a plurality of clamping jaws that are moveable from an open configuration in which a connecter of the light cable can be positioned between the clamping jaws for receiving light traveling in a light pathway in the illuminator to a closed configuration in which the clamping jaws completely block the light pathway, and a clutch that is movable between an engaged position for holding the clamping jaws in the open configuration and a disengaged position for allowing the clamping jaws to move to a gripped configuration and to the closed configuration, the clutch can be pushed by the connector when the connector is positioned between the clamping jaws to move the clutch out of the engaged position so that the clamp assembly moves the clamping jaws to the gripped configuration.

An insertion assisting instrument has an outer diameter dimension set to satisfy a relationship of xb′<xc′ assuming that an insertion assisting instrument is projected on X-Y coordinates such that a point on a circumference where the insertion assisting instrument has a largest outer diameter (that is, a point on an outer periphery of a proximal-end-side tapered surface at a distal end) is set as an origin and the proximal-end-side tapered surface is brought into contact with an X axis, coordinates of a second point B, which is most distal from the X axis on the circumference where the insertion assisting instrument has the largest outer diameter are (xb′, yb′), and coordinates of a third point C, which is most proximal from the X axis on a circumference at the proximal end of the insertion assisting instrument, are (xc′, yc′).

Device for an endoscopic illumination apparatus comprising a heat pipe having a first end region and a second end region; a first heat source; a heat dissipation element for dissipating thermal energy from said first heat source; a heat sink spaced apart from the first heat source; and a clamping element, wherein the clamping element is reversibly detachably mounted on the heat dissipation element such that the first end region of the heat pipe is held between the heat dissipation element and the clamping element, wherein the heat pipe is adapted to conduct the thermal energy of the heat source to the heat sink, wherein the second end region of the heat pipe is spaced apart from the first end region, and wherein the second end region ends in the heat sink.

There is provided herein an optical system for a tip section of a multi-sensor endoscope, the system comprising: a front-pointing camera sensor; a front objective lens system; a side-pointing camera sensor; and a side objective lens system, wherein at least one of said front and side objective lens systems comprises a front and a rear sub-systems separated by a stop diaphragm, said front sub-system comprises, in order from the object side, a first front negative lens and a second front positive lens, said rear sub-system comprises, in order from the object side, a first rear positive lens, an achromatic sub-assembly comprising a second rear positive lens and a third rear negative lens, wherein the following condition is satisfied: f.sub.(first rear positive lens)≤1.8f, where f is the composite focal length of the total lens system and f.sub.(first rear positive lens) is the focal length of said first rear positive lens.

An endoscope comprising: a tubular elongated member; a tensioning wire in a tensioning lumen along one side of the elongated member, between the proximal end and the distal end of the elongated member; a head arranged at the distal end of the elongated member and comprising: a tubular tensioning ring attached to the distal end of the tensioning wire and having a same external diameter as the elongated member; an imaging sensor having a rectangular cross section, arranged at a distal end of the head; and a tubular distal shell arranged longitudinally around the imaging sensor and having an inner diameter identical to or slightly larger than a diagonal of the rectangular cross section of the imaging sensor; wherein a tubular jacket sheathes the elongated member and the tensioning ring of the head.

A turn fixing mechanism portion of an endoscope apparatus includes: a turning portion connected to a turning unit turnably disposed; a fixed portion configured to turnably support the turning portion; an elastic member interposed between the turning portion and the fixed portion; and a holding member configured to fix a turned position of the turning unit by pressing the turning portion toward a side of the fixed portion to compress the elastic member in a turning axis direction to generate a predetermined frictional force.

A bending piece of a bending portion for endoscope is provided with: an annular wall portion; a plurality of wire inserting portions in which the wall portion has a first wall thickness; thin wall portions having a second wall thickness thinner than the first wall thickness; and a thick wall portion that is a part of the wall portion different from the thin wall portions between the plurality of wire inserting portions around a longitudinal axis, the thick wall portion formed to have a third wall thickness that is equal to or less than the first wall thickness and is thicker than the second wall thickness.

An optical instrument (1) for minimally invasive surgery includes an instrument housing (2) for receiving optical elements, wherein the instrument housing (2) is sealed in fluid tight fashion by way of at least one end window (7) on the distal side and/or proximal side. The end window (7) is arranged in a window frame (8) that surrounds the end window (7) around the entire circumference thereof. The end windows (7) is able to be attached with little stress in the associated window frame (8) based on at least two portions (12) that project radially to the inside from the window frame (8). The at least two portions (12) are formed on the inner circumferential surface of each window frame (8) facing the respective end window (7).

A high temperature cooling tube for use with an inspection device is provided. The cooling tube permits operation of the inspection device in environments having a temperature of greater than about 302° F. (150° C.). By providing the capability to inspect equipment in a relatively hot condition, cooling time required before inspection is reduced, overall turnaround time for such inspections is reduced, inspected equipment is placed back into service more quickly, and revenues are increased. In an exemplary embodiment, the cooling tube includes an inner sleeve for protecting the inspection device, a middle sleeve for insulation and air flow, and an outer sleeve for protecting the cooling tube and the inspection device from damage. The middle sleeve can include expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (EPTFE), which protects the inspection device from extreme high temperature working environments, and which permits flexibility. Related apparatuses, systems, techniques and articles are also described.