An endoscope including a distal tip unit having an optical system; a handle having a housing, a printed circuit board, and an operating unit for steering the distal tip unit, the housing enclosing the printed circuit board; a bending section; and a steering wire for controlling a bending movement of the bending section, the steering wire being connected to the operating unit. The printed circuit board is configured to process information received from the optical system via cables extending from the distal tip unit. A separation means arranged in the housing and separates an inner space of the housing at least into a printed circuit board compartment accommodating the printed circuit board and a steering wire compartment accommodating the steering wire.

The present invention relates to the field of medical devices, particularly an endoscope structure, which consists of a shell, an insertion section and a handheld section on the sides of the shell, the shell consists of a 1.sup.st shell and a 2.sup.nd shell spliced with each other, both the insertion section and the handheld section can rotate relatively to the shell, a scope tube is arranged inside the insertion section to insert into to-be-observed tissues, and an adjustment mechanism is arranged inside the shell to control the deflection of the scope tube. The beneficial effects of the present invention are: by arranging several plug-in structures and clamping structures between the 1.sup.st shell and the 2.sup.nd shell, the shell can be easily assembled; the insertion section and the handheld section are made into the structures that can rotate relatively to the shell, during use, rotation at angles according to actual needs can be realized, and the convenience can be increased for actual surgeries; by manually turning the adjustment handle from outside of the shell, the adjustment mechanism is driven to adjust the deflection direction of the scope tube, the practicability and convenience of the scope tube is greatly improved during tissue observation.

An endoscopic instrument (1, 134), for inserting into a body of a patient, has through a tubular the shaft (3, 47, 137) and at least two electrical, mechanical and/or optical line (11, 13, 15, 57, 59, 65, 67, 123, 181) extending through the shaft (3, 47, 137): a fluid channel (7, 53) which directly surrounds the at least two line (11 ,13, 15, 57, 59, 65, 67, 123, 181) which run through the shaft (3, 47, 137) is formed in the shaft (3, 47, 137).

A steerable catheter driven by a robotic controller comprises: a catheter body having a tool channel extending from a proximal to a distal end; and a positioning mechanism configured to be coupled with an imaging device and to be slidably inserted into and/or withdrawn from the catheter body through the tool channel. The positioning mechanism and/or the catheter body include an anti-twist feature configured to interlock the catheter body to the imaging device at the distal end of the catheter body so as to prevent rotation of the imaging device within the tool channel. Anti-twist features include bumps or recesses formed in the tool channel inner surface to be interlocked with one or more features formed on the positioning mechanism outer surface. Position and/or orientation of the imaging device remain substantially unchanged with respect to the tool channel when the catheter body is steered by an actuating force.

Medical devices that provide for selected curve deflection in multiple planes such that three-dimensional shapes can be formed in the medical devices by placing a pull wire extending through the catheter in tension, as well as methods of manufacturing and using the medical devices. The medical devices may include selected portions in which the location of the pull wire changes circumferentially and/or radially to provide for the selected curve deflection. The medical devices may include, in addition to, or in place of changes in pull wire location, selected portions having exhibiting changes in rigidity to provide for the selected curve deflection.

Medical devices that provide for selected curve deflection in multiple planes such that three-dimensional shapes can be formed in the medical devices by placing a pull wire extending through the catheter in tension, as well as methods of manufacturing and using the medical devices. The medical devices may include selected portions in which the location of the pull wire changes circumferentially and/or radially to provide for the selected curve deflection. The medical devices may include, in addition to, or in place of changes in pull wire location, selected portions having exhibiting changes in rigidity to provide for the selected curve deflection.

A resiliently deformable joint (2) having a proximal end (4), a distal end (6) and art axis (8), the resiliently deformable joint comprising a helical structure (12) comprising a plurality of integrally formed body portions (10), each of which body portions comprising a turn of the helical structure and being moveable relative to adjacent body portions, the resiliently deformable joint further comprising a plurality of body joint components (14), each of which body joint components is formed on a respective body portion such that adjacent body joint components are abuttable with one another to folly a body joint, the resiliently deformable joint further comprising first and second guides (22, 24) extending axially from the distal end to the proximal end of the resiliently deformable joint.

In the case of an endoscope, it is proposed that an investment composition consisting of a flexible, controllable section be anchored in a counter bearing, which forms a support surface for the respective flexible section.

It is proposed that, in the case of an endoscope, a skeleton be formed in a flexible, controllable section with guide elements that are movable relative to one another, each of which guides at least one tension cord laterally.

According to some embodiments, the device comprises a tubular member with a longitudinal axis having a proximal end and a distal end, at least one partial cut located at, along or near the distal end of the tubular member, wherein the distal end of the tubular member is configured to at least partially rotate when the force imparting element is advanced relative to the tubular member so at to facilitate placement of the distal end in a particular location of a subject's intraluminal network. The device further includes a transition section intermediate to the at least one partial cut and the non-cut portion of the tubular member.