A dilator releasably connected with an endoscope to dilate a stricture as the dilator that is releasably connected to a portion of a cylindrical body of the endoscope passes through the stricture. The endoscopic dilator is moveable between an open position and a closed position configured to enable the dilator to be secured to the endoscope. When the dilator is in the closed position, an inner surface or a component on the inner surface of the dilator frictionally secures dilator to the portion of the cylindrical body of the endoscope. When in the open position, the dilator is not frictionally secured to the portion of the cylindrical body of the endoscope.

The present disclosure is directed to a device, system, and related methods for providing visual assistance to the placement of an endoscopic device acts as a cover for protecting both the probe and tube body of an endoscopic device form bacterial biofilm build-up during use. The device comprises a flexible sleeve, the sleeve being at least partially elastic, which is fitted over and encloses the tip of an endoscopic device such as a TEE probe, with the only opening in the sleeve tip being placed to expose the sensor apparatus of the probe. The tip of the sleeve comprises an image capture device which is coupled, via a wired connection that runs through the sleeve, to a control unit having a transceiver, such that captured image data can be transmitted to external devices, or an integrated display device, in real-time, without the transmission being obstructed by the patient’s body. The design of the sleeve also allows it to be used as a conduit for various other transmissions such as fluid and fibre optics.

Devices, systems, and methods can be used to deliver photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) to the GI tract. For example, this document describes battery-enabled LED light source devices that can be deployed through or over an endoscope and anchored directly to the GI tract. Significant systemic effects can be produced by PBMT with application to one part of the body promoting beneficial anti-inflammatory and metabolic benefits in other remote sites promoted by enhanced mitochondrial function and mitokine signaling.

A removable and replaceable sheath may be coupled to a medical instrument used during a procedure, and may enable one or more functional features of the medical instrument while maintaining a sterile barrier between the instrument itself and the treatment site. The sheath may be replaced prior to a subsequent use, and sterilization of the medical instrument is not required due to the sterile barrier. Sheaths may include an embedded memory that stores procedure configurations and procedure results, longitudinal channels for delivering power or irrigation, optical elements for providing procedure specific endoscopic views, and other features. One sheath may be fitted to an endoscope for imaging and tissue ablation. Another sheath includes a balloon usable during sinuplasty procedures. Yet another sheath may be fitted to a sonic ablation instrument to provide improved transmission of sonic power to tissue.

A system for visualizing a tissue region of interest comprises a deployment catheter defining a lumen and a hood coupled to and extending distally from the deployment catheter. The hood has a low-profile configuration within a delivery sheath and a deployed configuration when extended distally of the delivery sheath. The hood in the deployed configuration defines an open area in fluid communication with the lumen. A distal portion of the deployment catheter extends into the open area. An imaging element is coupled to an imager support member. When in the deployed configuration, the imaging element is configured to extend distally of the distal portion while the imager support member extends within the deployment catheter. The imaging element comprises a tapered surface and the deployment catheter comprises a complementary tapered surface. Retraction of the imaging element causes the imaging element to shift radially outward from a longitudinal axis.

Systems and methods for visualizing ablated tissue are disclosed. In some embodiments, a system for imaging tissue comprising: a catheter having a distal end and a proximal end; an inflatable balloon disposed about the distal end of the catheter; and an optical housing extending from the distal end of the catheter into the balloon, the optical housing being configured to position inside the balloon a light source for illuminating a tissue outside the balloon and a camera for imaging the illuminated tissue.

A probe is configured with a flushing port and an evacuation port to establish a flow path to remove blood from a resected tissue. The probe comprises a balloon configured to expand and contact the resected tissue to compress filaments and improve access to the underlying blood vessels for coagulation with an energy source. An endoscope can be used to view the tissue, and the balloon may comprise a transparent material or a viewing port to allow imaging of the bleeding tissue through the balloon. The probe may have a light source to illuminate the tissue with a beam oriented at an oblique angle to the tissue surface, which can decrease interference from blood and may allow more localized coagulation of the blood vessel.

An artificial intelligence system is trained and used to detect regions of interest on mechanically-enhanced or otherwise mechanically-altered tissue. An internal imaging device (e.g., endoscope) with a mechanical enhancement element alters tissue from its natural state or orientation such that regions of interest on the tissue may be more clearly distinguished from the surrounding tissue. Images of such mechanically-altered tissue are used to train an artificial intelligence system to detect regions of interest with greater accuracy.

Provided are ultrasonic endoscope and a balloon with improved balloon detachment resistance.

An ultrasonic endoscope includes an ultrasound oscillator unit disposed in a distal end part of an insertion part, and a balloon attachably and detachably attached to the distal end part to cover an outside surface of the ultrasound oscillator unit, the distal end part is provided on at least one of a distal end side or a proximal end side of the ultrasound oscillator unit and has balloon attachment grooves formed in an outer peripheral surface of the distal end part along a peripheral direction, the balloon has a balloon body provided with openings, and a first annular locking part and a second annular locking part that are provided in the opening of the balloon body and are locked in the balloon attachment grooves, and the first annular locking part and the second annular locking part have a detachment prevention shape for restraining detachment from the balloon attachment grooves.

A medical device comprising a handle, a shaft extending from the handle, and an inflatable module at a distal portion of the shaft, the module including a camera, wherein the shaft includes a body defining a first channel extending between a first end configured to be in fluid communication with a fluid source, and a second end in fluid communication with the module, and wherein inflation of the module alters a viewing angle of the camera relative to an axis of the distal portion of the shaft.