An actuator system for use in an optical system of an endoscope. The actuator system including: at least one actuator; and a holder for receiving at least one optical element of the optical system, the holder is configured to be flat and extends in a holder plane. The holder including: an outer enclosure; a leaf spring; and an inner platform. Wherein the outer enclosure at least partially surrounds the leaf spring and the leaf spring at least partially surrounds the inner platform, the outer enclosure is elastically coupled to the inner platform via the leaf spring, the inner platform is configured to receive the optical element, and the at least one actuator interacts with the inner platform.

An endoscope includes a shaft assembly having proximal and distal ends and a longitudinal axis therebetween. A handle is coupled to the proximal end of the shaft assembly, and an elastomeric body housing an image sensor and at least one LED is comprises a distal end of the shaft. The elastomeric body is deformable between a repose straight insertion profile and a deflected offset profile by the insertion of a tool shaft through the shaft assembly and an expandable-collapsible working channel in the elastomeric body. The viewing angle of the image sensor is moved from a first selected angle to a second selected angle when the elastomeric body is actuated from the repose profile to the deflected offset profile.

Embodiments of the invention include a medical device for accessing a patient's body portion and used for diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions. Embodiments of the invention may include a particular endoscopic positioning mechanism for placing an endoscope and an additional treatment device within desired body portions in order to assist in diagnosis and treatment of anatomical diseases and disorders. In particular, a medical device according to an embodiment of the invention may include an outer flexible tube and a positioning mechanism configured for rotating one portion of the flexible tube relative to another portion of the flexible tube.

An endoscope with a rotation drum or a rotation module and an elongated rigid and/or flexible shaft tube which, at a distal end, by means of a bearing fork, rotatably bears the rotation drum about a first axis of rotation, and wherein an optical imaging system is disposed within the rotation drum. The bearing fork here has at least one first fluid conduit and at least one nozzle in order to clean and/or to cool the imaging system.

An endoscope with a rotating drum or a rotation module, in particular for use as a sterile disposable instrument, having an elongate rigid and/or flexible shaft tube which at a distal end mounts the rotating drum, so as to be rotatable about at least one first axis of rotation, an optical imaging system being arranged in the rotating drum, with the at least one first axis of rotation running approximately transversely to a longitudinal axis of the shaft tube and with the endoscope having at least one control line for rotating the rotating drum. Here, the at least one control line of the rotating drum runs on an outer side/outer face of the shaft tube, and is fastened to the rotating drum at at least one lever distance (a) from the at least one first axis of rotation.

Hybrid endoscope, in particular for sterile medical applications, wherein the endoscope comprises a receiving device for an imaging system and a shaft tube, wherein the receiving device is arranged, in a mounted state, on a distal end of the shaft tube. The endoscope is divided into at least two sub-assemblies, wherein a first sub-assembly comprises at least the receiving device, the imaging system and preferably a supply line of the imaging system as re-usable parts, and a second sub-assembly comprises at least the shaft tube as a part for single use, wherein the two sub-assemblies are able to be brought into releasable operative connection by means of an interface.

Disclosed herein are various systems and methods for guiding, supporting, and/or housing instruments. One exemplary system includes a guide tube having a manipulation section and mated with rails carrying instrument control members. Moving the rails with respect to the guide tube, or another point of reference, can control movement of the manipulation section.

The endoscope optical system consists of: a first lens group that is used only for front viewing; a plurality of second lens groups that have a negative lens at a position closest to an object side and are used only for side viewing; a third lens group that is commonly used in front viewing and side viewing; and a synthesizing section that synthesizes the rays emitted from the first lens group and the rays emitted from the second lens groups and causes the synthesized rays to be incident into the third lens group. The rays emitted from the first lens group and the rays emitted from the second lens groups are imaged on a same plane.

Improved methods and devices for performing an endoscopic surgery are provided. Systems are taught for operatively treating gastrointestinal disorders endoscopically in a stable, yet dynamic operative environment, and in a minimally-invasive manner. Such systems include, for example, an endoscopic surgical suite. The surgical suite can have a reversibly-expandable retractor that expands to provide a stable, operative environment within a subject. The expansion can be asymmetric around a stabilizer subsystem to maximize space for a tool and an endoscope to each be maneuvered independently to visualize a target tissue and treat the target tissue from outside the patient in a minimally invasive manner.

In general, arthroscopic medical implements and assemblies and methods of operating arthroscopic medical implements and assemblies are provided. Devices, systems, and methods are described herein in connection with accessing a surgical site using an arthroscopic medical implement. In an exemplary implementation, an optical sensor of the arthroscopic medical implement can gather and output image data, and an inertial sensor of the arthroscopic medical implement can gather and output orientation data. The orientation data can be used to modify the gathered optical image to maintain a display of the gathered optical image in a predetermined desired orientation before, during, and after any rotation of the arthroscopic medical implement. The arthroscopic medical implement can also include at least one sensor configured to gather and output pressure and/or temperature.