An insertion portion of an endoscope includes a multi-lumen tube including a treatment instrument insertion channel, a first wire insertion hole that is provided parallel to the treatment instrument insertion channel, and a second wire insertion hole; one towing wire including a first portion that is inserted into the first wire insertion hole, a second portion that is inserted into the second wire insertion hole, and a third portion that is drawn out between the first wire insertion hole and the second wire insertion hole, wherein a proximal end portion of the first portion and a proximal end portion of the second portion are connected to a bending operation member; and a third wire insertion hole into which the third portion is inserted and in which the third portion abuts on a part of an inner peripheral surface.

Provided is an endoscope that can easily perform the attachment and detachment work of a proximal end side of a wire without impairing the operability of an operating part. The an endoscope includes an operating part (22) including an erection operating lever (20), an insertion part (24), an elevator (30), a wire (60) that is disposed to be inserted into a wire channel (62) to be movable forward and backward therethrough and is attachably and detachably coupled to the elevator (30) on a distal end side thereof, an opening part (94) that is provided at a proximal end of the wire channel (62) and delivers the proximal end side of the wire (60) to the outside of the operating part (22), a rotating member (96) that is disposed to be exposed to the outside of the operating part (22) and is configured to be rotatable around a rotational axis (96A) having a component in a direction orthogonal to a longitudinal direction of the operating part (22) depending on the operation of the erection operating lever (20), an engaged part (144) that is provided in the rotating member (96), and an engaging part (98) that is provided on the proximal end side of the wire (60) and is engageably and disengageably engageable with the engaged part (144).

A bending neck comprising a plurality of pivotally connected hollow links is formed by machining a tube to form individual, pivotally connected links. A second tube may be located inside the first tube and simultaneously machined with the first tube. Grooves are formed on opposite sides of the outer surface of the second tube to provide a passageway for control cables which control the articulation of the links. In a second implementation indentations are formed in the side of the single tube to form ring-like projections into the inner lumen of each link, through which the control cables may pass.

The present invention discloses an insertion unit, a bending section and an intubation system for use in a body lumen of a patient. The insertion unit comprises an inner elongated shaft structure being capable of torque transmission around its length axis and having spring-like and flexibility properties and an outer elongated shaft structure at least partially surrounding the inner elongated shaft structure and having spring-like properties and a continuous and flat outer surface. The inner elongated shaft structure has a distal end, and is capable of being connected to an optical head. The insertion unit is configured to transmit pushing and rotation forces along a length of the insertion unit. The integral insertion unit is configured and operable to bend the distal tip in all directions and to fully rotate the distal tip.

A deflectable endoscope including an imaging structure, an outer member having a proximal portion and a distal portion, an elongated column member extending distally from the outer member and an inner member positioned coaxial with the outer member and attached to the column member. The inner member extends distally of the outer member and has a distal tip portion. A reinforcement member is positioned over the column member to restrict axial movement of the column member such that when one of the inner member or outer member is moved with respect to the other, axial compression of the column member is restricted by the reinforcement member causing the distal tip portion of the inner member to deflect laterally.

A bending section of an endoscope includes a first bending piece and a second bending piece in each of which a hole is formed, the first bending piece includes a first groove communicating with the hole and formed toward an outer side of a radial direction, the second bending piece is disposed adjacent to the first bending piece and includes a second groove formed from an outer circumference of the second bending piece toward the hole, and the wire is disposed in the first groove and the second groove.

Medical devices that include a medical tool, a handle and a flexible cable bundle passing through the handle. The handles and cable routing therethrough are adapted to reduce noise within the cable.

A medical device may comprise a handle, a first shaft extending from a distal end of the handle, and a second shaft extending a lumen of the first shaft. The handle may further include a first actuator and a second actuator. The first shaft may include (1) a plurality of lumens extending therethrough, (2) a distal face, and (3) a longitudinal axis. Actuation of the first actuator may articulate a distal portion of the first shaft. The second shaft may be axially movable relative to the first shaft such that the second shaft extends out of a distal opening of the first lumen and distally of the distal face. Actuation of the second actuator may articulate a distal portion of the second shaft.

Some embodiments of a device comprise a tubular flexible body that includes a channel though a longitudinal axis; a first sensor that is located in a distal end of the tubular flexible body; a second sensor that is located in the distal end of the tubular flexible body; and wiring that connects to the first sensor and the second sensor and that extends to a proximal end of the tubular flexible body, wherein a sensed orientation of the first sensor is oriented opposite to a sensed orientation of the second sensor.

Apparatuses (e.g., devices, systems, etc.) and methods that may provide access to one or more tools to a remote site in the body including expandable and external working channels that may be part of a tube that is coupled to an outer surface of an elongate medical device, such as an endoscope.