An endoscope with an articulated bending section body (1) including a number of segments (4) where at least one hinge member (5) is provided between any adjacent segment (4). Each segment (4) has a first surface (9, 9″) and a second surface (10, 10′) delimited by an outer rim. The first surface (9, 9″) includes a first abutment part (11) adapted to abut the first opposing surface (10, 11) of an adjacent segment, wherein the first abutment part (11) is at a distance from the at least one hinge member (5) that is shorter than the shortest distance from the at least one hinge member (5) to the most remote part of the rim.

An endoscope having a handle including a frame, a fluid handling device secured to the frame via an interface, the fluid handling device comprising a fluid passage having a first fluid opening, a tube in fluid communication with the fluid opening of the fluid handling device, and shell parts enclosing a cavity accommodating the frame, the tube, and at least partly the fluid handling device therein, wherein, at least prior to enclosing the frame, the tube, and at least partly the fluid handling device within the cavity of the shell parts, the interface and the tube are configured to permit movement of the fluid handling device relative to the frame within a pre-determined boundary comprising a first position and a second position separated by a distance.

An endoscope handle for an endoscope for visually inspecting inaccessible places, such as human body cavities, the endoscope handle including: a frame (70) having a first wall portion (101) formed as an integral portion of the frame, the frame being formed as a single component; a liquid-tight chamber (100) accommodating a circuit (25), preferably a printed circuit board, of the endoscope handle, wherein the liquid-tight chamber is at least partly defined by the first wall portion of the frame; and a first shell part (60) and a second shell part (60′) together enclosing a cavity (63), the shell parts accommodating and securing the frame within the cavity, the shell parts forming an exterior surface (68) shaped to form an ergonomic grip for an operator, wherein the shell parts and the frame each are formed as separate components.

A video probe is disclosed herein that includes an elongated probe including an articulating portion, and a controller functionally coupled with the elongated probe. The articulating portion may include at least two interconnected links and each link may include opposing electromagnetic coils disposed within the link. The controller may be configured to stimulate the opposing electromagnetic coils to attract/repulse corresponding opposing electromagnetic coils of an adjoining link thereby causing the link to pivot about the axis of the single-axis joint.

A medical device including a handle, a shaft extending from the handle, first and second articulation wires coupled to the handle, and an articulation member at a distal end of the shaft, wherein the articulation member includes a central longitudinal axis within a first bending plane. The first and second articulation wires lie within the first bending plane, the articulation member includes a plurality of links arranged about the central longitudinal axis, a first link of the plurality of links is attached to an adjacent, second link of the plurality of links via a first pair of hinges, and a first hinge from the first pair of hinges is arranged on a first side the first bending plane, and a second hinge from the first pair of hinges is located on a second side of the bending plane, opposite the first side.

An endoscopy device is configured with a flexible cannula or tube for nasal insertion and has multiple parallel and adjacent lumens that provide sub-chambers configured to provide means to diagnose and treat Barrett's esophagus, such as by spray cryo-therapy with no further insertion of tubes. The lumens are configured to impart a small diameter with sufficient flexibility for nasal insertion into a patient's esophagus and accommodate a means any treatment modality. In the case of cryo-therapy, a lumen provides gas pressure relief, and is along the tube, with separate lumens for the delivery of a liquid freezing agent and an imaging means, which includes a source of illumination. Outer lumens may support guide wires used to steer the tube tip and aim the camera to determine the where to immobilize tip before the start of the treatment and/or to correct strictures formed in prior procedures.

A method of performing medical procedure includes inserting a working channel into a bodily cavity, the working channel having an elongated shaft with a first lumen and a second lumen and an inflatable balloon positioned at a distal end of the shaft and having a mesh disposed an outer wall thereof, wherein the mesh creates a textured surface that prevents slippage of the balloon on surrounding tissue, advancing the working channel through the bodily cavity until the inflatable balloon reaches an anchoring position, anchoring the working channel at the anchoring position by supplying fluid via a pump until the balloon is inflated and the textured surface grips the surrounding tissue, inserting at least one medical instrument through the second lumen and performing the medical procedure, withdrawing the medical instrument from the second lumen, deflating the inflatable balloon, and withdrawing the working channel from the bodily cavity.

In one aspect, the present invention is an articulation joint for use in a low cost medical device such as an endoscope intended for a single use. In one embodiment, the articulation joint comprises a plurality of interconnected segments. In another embodiment, the articulation joint comprises an elongated tubular body. In another aspect, the present invention provides methods of manufacturing an articulation joint for use in a medical device.

An image pickup apparatus includes a silicon layer, a rewiring layer including low-permittivity insulating bodies having a permittivity that is lower than a permittivity of silicon oxide, and a cover glass, and a cutout portion is provided in the silicon layer, wirings are provided on the cutout portion, the wirings do not cover at least a part of the low-permittivity insulating bodies in the rewiring layer, the low-permittivity insulating body being exposed at the cutout portion, and the cutout portion is covered by a second protection film including a metal material via a first protection film including an insulating material.

An articulating optical surgical probe includes a handle sized to fit in a single hand and a single rigid cannula extending from the handle having a diameter of 20 Ga or less. The probe further includes a slotted tip at a distal end of the cannula and at least one optical fiber extending through the handle, the single rigid cannula and the slotted tip, and a pull-wire secured to the slotted tip. When the pull-wire exerts tension on the slotted tip, the slotted tip will deviate from straight to a bend angle controlled by the tension in the pull-wire. The slotted tip is formed from a resilient material that will restore to the straight position when the tension exerted by the pull-wire is released.