An airway device facilitates the insertion of an ETT into a patient, the delivery of oxygenated air into a patient, an exchange of the pre-inserted ETT in an intubated patient, and an evaluation of the larynx and trachea in an intubated patient, The device comprises an overtube having a mask section attached to a distal portion of the overtube. An inflatable bladder affixed to the mask section includes a shape and surface configured to seamlessly contact the circumference of the elliptical construction of the laryngeal opening. Once the inflatable bladder is positioned adjacent the laryngeal opening enhanced sealing properties are created so that the axis of the airflow entering the device matches the axis of the trachea, allowing for the improved delivery of oxygenated air into the patient's lungs. The specific utilization of the bladder allows for the device to be constructed smaller than a typical airway device, which may more easily facilitate the insertion process. Additionally, the device may provide a seamless transition into endotracheal intubation when necessary.

An apparatus (100) having: a flexible tube (104) with a proximal end (106), a distal end (108), a lateral aperture (110) in the flexible tube at the distal end, and a guide channel (112) connecting the proximal end to the lateral aperture; an elevator (102) in the distal end having a redirecting surface (130) configured to bend and guide an instrument through the lateral aperture, where movement of the redirecting surface changes a magnitude of a bend in the instrument; and an elevator joint (132) between the elevator and the distal end that permits the movement of the redirecting surface. The elevator joint is configured to release the elevator through the lateral aperture.

An operation apparatus for performing an operation by steering an end effector includes a wire which is connected to the end effector to steer the end effector, and a tension compensator which is connected with the wire, wherein in an operating state, the tension compensator changes a shape or position in response to tension of the wire to keep the wire tight, and when the wire is pulled to steer the end effector, the tension compensator is shifted to a lock state in which the shape or position is not changed.

An endoscope includes: a hardness adjustment cable that is arranged in an insertion portion and includes a hardness adjustment sheath, a hardness adjustment wire inserted in the hardness adjustment sheath, and a coupling tool coupling the hardness adjustment sheath and the hardness adjustment wire; a retaining member fixed to the hardness adjustment wire on an operation unit side of the hardness adjustment cable; a cam mechanism that is coupled to the retaining member when tension is applied to the hardness adjustment wire; a sheath fixing unit coupled to the hardness adjustment sheath on the operation unit side of the hardness adjustment cable; and a guide frame that is arranged between the insertion portion and an operation unit and that holds the cam mechanism and the sheath fixing unit so as to be independently movable in a longitudinal direction of the insertion portion.

An actuation mechanism for an endoscope is disclosed. The actuation mechanism includes a housing configured to be attached to a handle of the endoscope and a thumbwheel coupled to the housing. Rotation of the thumbwheel causes longitudinal translation of an elongated medical device through a working channel of the endoscope. In some instances, the actuation mechanism includes a drive wheel and/or a roller wheel, wherein the elongate medical device is compressively positioned between the roller wheel and/or the drive wheel. Rotation of the thumbwheel may cause the drive wheel and/or the roller wheel to rotation in opposite rotational directions.

An endoscope made by a method for fixation of portions of steering wire of the endoscope, the steering wire having a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion, the method including positioning the second wire portion and the third wire portion of the steering wire adjacent to each other, applying an adhesive, at least partly enclosing the second wire portion, the third wire portion, and the adhesive with a crimp shell, and applying a crimping force to the crimp shell to crimp the crimp shell, the second wire portion, and the third wire portion to thereby fixate the second wire portion in relation to the third wire portion.

A control unit that includes a braking system for fixing the position of an endoscope tip is provided. The control system includes an up-down control knob and a right-left control knob. The brakes are engaged by rotating the control knob itself counter-clockwise from a free wheeling position. After the brakes have been engaged, a sufficient amount of force applied to the control knobs will move the endoscope tip slightly in the corresponding direction, allowing for fine tuning of tip position after braking.

Disclosed is a method for manufacturing a steerable instrument for endoscopic and/or invasive type applications, the instrument including an elongated tubular body having a proximal end part, a distal end part and an intermediate part between proximal and distal end parts, the proximal end part having at least one actuation proximal zone. The distal end part has at least one flexible distal zone, and the elongated tubular body is configured such that a movement of an actuation proximal zone is transferred to a corresponding flexible distal zone for a corresponding movement thereof. The elongated tubular body includes an inner, outer, and intermediate cylindrical elements having longitudinal elements between the inner and outer cylindrical elements. Inner, outer and intermediate cylindrical elements are coupled so movement of an actuation proximal zone is transferred by the longitudinal elements of one of the intermediate cylindrical elements to a corresponding flexible distal zone.

An elongate, flexible, medical device having distal and proximal ends, including an inner member having a proximal and distal end, a support member extending around the inner member between the proximal and distal end, a plurality of electrically-conductive wires, each braided with the support member having a proximal and distal end, an outer member surrounding the inner member, the support member, and the plurality of electrically-conductive wires and an actuator including a polymer electrolyte layer secured adjacent to the distal end of the elongate, flexible inner member and defining an exterior surface, electrodes distributed about the exterior of the polymer electrolyte layer. The distal end of one of the electrically-conductive wires is electrically connected to one of the electrodes. The polymer electrolyte layer is configured to deform asymmetrically in response to the application of an electrical signal through the plurality of electrically-conductive wires to the plurality of electrodes.

A steerable medical apparatus includes a shaft, a steering mechanism, and an actuation mechanism. The shaft has a proximal portion, a distal portion, a first pull wire, and a second pull wire. The distal ends of the first and second pull wires are coupled to the distal portion of the shaft. The steering mechanism has a first wheel and a second wheel coupled by a differential mechanism. The proximal ends of the first and second pull wires are respectively coupled to the first and second wheels. The actuation mechanism is coupled to the steering mechanism. Actuating the actuation mechanism in a first operational mode causes the distal portion of the shaft to curve in a first plane. Actuating the actuation mechanism in a second operational mode causes the distal portion of the shaft to curve away from the first plane.