An endoscope having a distal end, a proximal end and a longitudinal axis extending from the proximal end to the distal end, the endoscope comprising: a flexible elongate tube, an illumination source positioned at the distal end for illuminating a lumen of a patient, an image sensor for capturing images within the illuminated lumen of the patient, a working channel extending through the elongate tube and terminating at the distal end, an articulation assembly including at least one steering cable operably coupled to the distal end such that movement of the at least one steering cable induces the flexible elongate tube to articulate relative to the longitudinal axis, is characterized by a head being arranged at the distal end, said head carrying at least the illumination source and the image sensor and comprising a distal section of the working channel, said head being rotatable relative to the flexible elongate tube about the longitudinal axis.

A medical system comprising a first device comprising a first handle and a first shaft extending distally from the first handle, wherein the first handle includes a first actuator, a second device comprising a second handle and a second shaft extending distally from the second handle, wherein the second handle includes a second actuator, and a fixture coupling the first device to the second device, wherein a center of the first actuator is within 4.5 inches of a center of the second actuator, and wherein the fixture couples the first device to the second device so that the first handle is configured to be held in a first hand of an operator, while a second hand of the operator traverses between use of the first actuator and the second actuator.

A medical device control handle has a first actuation assembly and a second actuation assembly, wherein each assembly has a shaft that is axially aligned but not rotationally coupled with the other shaft. The first actuation assembly includes a first actuation member and a clutch mechanism having a friction disk for generating frictional torque in rendering the first actuation member self-holding. The first actuation member has a cam portion adapted to impart translational motion and rotational motion for disengaging the clutch mechanism upon pivotation of the first actuation member, thus allowing rotation of the first shaft to manipulate a feature of the medical device, for example, deflection. The second actuation assembly includes a second actuation member and a translating member that is responsive to rotation of the second shaft so as to manipulate another feature of the medical device. The second actuation member is also self holding.

An insertion assist system includes a guide member and a shift member. The guide member brings an outside bend of a peripheral surface of an insertion body into contact with a guide surface of the guide member. The shift member shifts a direction of the distal end of the insertion body. The shift member comes into contact with an inside bend of the peripheral surface of the insertion body when the insertion body is bent. The shift member bends the insertion body toward the guide surface about the guide surface as a fulcrum when the shift member comes into contact with the inside bend and bends the insertion body.

A detachable endoscope includes an insertion unit including an illuminating and image pickup unit, an operation unit configured to bendingly operate a front end of the insertion unit, and a detachable unit configured to detachably couple the insertion unit and the operation unit to each other, wherein the detachable unit comprises: a first detachable module disposed at the insertion unit in such a manner as to be connected to respective one ends of first and second operating wire and third and fourth operating wires juxtaposedly arranged in the insertion unit; and a second detachable module disposed at the operation unit in such a manner as to be connected to respective both ends of upper and lower chains wound around upper and lower sprockets of the operation unit.

A medical instrument drive assembly includes a base portion, a first set of one or more drive outputs, a platform secured to the base portion, and a latching mechanism. The first set of one or more drive outputs are coupled to and/or extending from the base portion and are configured to drive a first medical instrument. The platform is secured to the base portion and movable between an elevated configuration and a depressed configuration. The platform is biased in the elevated configuration. The latching mechanism is configured to cause the platform to be held in the depressed configuration.

A steerable instrument for endoscopic and/or invasive type of applications, such as in surgery, which has an elongated tubular body having a proximal end part with a first actuation flexible zone having a first diameter and a distal end part having a first distal flexible zone having a second diameter that is different from the first diameter. A cylindrical diameter adaptation section is arranged to connect the proximal end part to the distal end part such that a flexion in a radial direction relative to a longitudinal center axis of the longitudinal tubular body of the first actuation flexible zone results in an amplified or attenuated flexion of the first distal flexible zone.

An endoscopic device includes a single-use cannula configured for insertion through a cervix into a uterus, a camera secured to a distal end region of the single-use cannula for acquiring images of the uterus, a connection hub secured to a proximal end region of the cannula, a reusable display configured to present the images acquired by the camera and that is securable to the connection hub, and a handle secured to the connection hub. The handle is pivotable between a first position in which the handle is stowed along the connection hub and arranged to prevent attachment of the reusable display to the connection hub and a second position in which the handle is deployed to an orientation that is antiparallel to the connection hub and arranged to permit attachment of the reusable display to the connection hub.

A Stylet device that allows for the articulation of tubing and provides a method for positioning of the tubing during intubation or other procedures while the tubing is located within a passage-way or lumen of a subject, such as an airway, organs, veins, intestines and the like. Where unique anatomical conditions are present in a subject, rendering standard intubation devices inadequate, the articulation capabilities of the apparatuses of the current invention are of particular use during methods of use and further promote the non-occlusion of the central cavity of the tube.

An endoscopic bendable tube includes: an integrally formed resin tube; at least two wires embedded in a tube wall of the resin tube from a proximal end side to a distal end side of the resin tube, the at least two wires being parallel to a tube axis direction of the resin tube and being at positions facing each other; and a plurality of pairs of through slits formed in the tube wall of the resin tube in the tube axis direction, each pair of through slits being formed facing each other in the tube wall of the resin tube.