An endoscope includes an imager unit loading region provided on a distal end side of a distal end barrel member provided at a distal end portion of an insertion portion and formed of a resin material, a cable connection surface provided on a proximal end side, a wall provided to connect an opening of the imager unit loading region and an opening of the cable connection surface, a contact pattern formed on a wall surface, a wiring pattern formed on a front surface of the cable connection surface from the wall, and configured to electrically continue to the contact pattern, and a connection pattern formed on the cable connection surface, and configured to electrically continue to the wiring pattern, with a core wire of a cable being electrically connected to the connection pattern, in a space formed in the distal end portion by the cable connection surface.

The endoscope herein described has a unique steering capability allowing the highly flexible distal end of the shaft of the device to be moved to a full range angular positions without rotating the device on its long axis, thus enabling the device to be steered within the cavity of interest. The relative lengths of the control cables used to move the distal end of the bendable shaft can be changed whenever the flexible or malleable shaft is to be re-shaped to a new configuration thus preventing the distal end or the steering mechanism from assuming an undesired angular position. When used as an endotracheal device, a novel tongue retractor is described which forms an internal conduit, allowing passage of the bendable shaft of the endotracheal intubation device and an endotracheal tube therethrough. Methods for performing a tracheal intubation and changing the relative lengths of the cables are disclosed.

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.

A steering assembly of a medical device may comprise a handle having a recess and first and second wire guides disposed within the recess. At least one of the first or second wire guides may be keyed to the recess to prevent rotation of the first or second wire guide within the recess. First and second wire segments may be configured to steer a sheath coupled to the steering assembly in first and second directions. The first wire segment may pass through a first gap between the first wire guide and the second wire guide. The second wire segment may pass through a second gap between the first wire guide and the second wire guide. Neither of the first nor the second gap may occupy any overlapping space.

A medical device that includes a first body including a first actuation member including a first connector and a second actuation member. The medical device includes a second body for attachment to, and detachment from, the first body. The second body including an actuation wire, a second connector at a proximal end of the actuation wire, and a valve having one or more channels for receiving a material. Attachment of the first body with the second body results in the first connector engaging the second connector, such that movement of the first actuation member causes a corresponding movement of the actuation wire. Moving the second actuation member into the second body to interact with the valve is configured to selectively direct the material through the one or more channels.

Medical instruments having a translatable spool are disclosed. In one aspect, a medical instrument configured for use with a robotic system includes an instrument base configured to couple to a robotic drive mechanism of the robotic system and an elongate shaft coupled to the instrument base. The elongate shaft has a distal end. The medical instrument also includes a pull wire fixedly coupled to the distal end of the elongate shaft, the pull wire being configured to actuate the elongate shaft, and a rotatable spool in the instrument base. The rotatable spool is configured to direct the pull wire to the elongate shaft at an angle. The rotatable spool is configured to translate in coordination with actuation of the elongate shaft to control the angle of the pull wire relative to the elongate shaft.

An apparatus, method, and system for a steerable medical device, configured to be used in conjunction with guide tools and devices in medical procedures, including endoscopes, cameras, cutting tools and catheters.

A system comprising an adjustable mount arm, a bronchoscope coupled to the adjustable mount arm, an attachment coupled to the bronchoscope, and a steerable sheath coupled to the attachment and configured to be inserted through the bronchoscope. The system further includes a flexible probe configured to be inserted through the steerable sheath and the bronchoscope.