An endoscope comprises an insertion portion including a distal end portion having a longitudinal axis. The distal end portion includes an inner surface forming a recess, a first channel extending in a first direction and configured to receive a treatment instrument, the first channel including a first opening disposed at the inner surface of the recess, a raising base disposed in the recess and configured to direct a distal end of the treatment instrument received in the first channel, and a second channel including a second opening disposed at the inner surface, the second channel configured to discharge a first liquid to inside of the recess via the second opening.

An apparatus includes a first shaft extending distally from a proximal end to a distal end. The first shaft is sized to fit within an esophagus of a patient. The first shaft includes a first shaft lumen extending distally to the distal end. The apparatus further includes a second shaft slidably positioned within the first shaft lumen. The second shaft is sized to fit within the shaft lumen and extend through the transverse bore. The second shaft is configured to receive a guide element and a sphincter augmentation device so that the sphincter augmentation device may be deployed through an interior of the esophagus to an exterior of the esophagus.

A method of molding an endoscope component has a step of forming a covering portion (150), in which a gap filling member (152) that fills a gap formed between a plurality of elemental wires (40a) is disposed, at one end portion of a stranded wire (40); a step of inserting and disposing the one end portion of the stranded wire (40) into a cavity (106) of a mold (100) such that the covering portion (150) is disposed at a boundary portion between an inner side and an outer side of the endoscope component; a step of injecting a formation material (108), which is a material of the endoscope component, into the cavity (106) and filling the cavity (106) with the formation material (108) to integrally mold the endoscope component and the stranded wire (40); and a step of removing the endoscope component integrally molded with the stranded wire (40) from the mold (100).

An endoscope system includes: an endoscope including an insertion section, a distal end member disposed on a distal end portion of the insertion section, and a ring-shaped insulation member disposed on a proximal end side of the distal end member and a distal end cover including an opening that allows exposure of a portion of the distal end member and an inner peripheral surface disposed on a proximal end side with respect to the opening and in close contact with an outer peripheral surface of the insulation member. The outer peripheral surface of the insulation member and the inner peripheral surface of the distal end cover in close contact with the outer peripheral surface are formed in a shape formed by connecting a plurality of curved surfaces having different curvatures about the axis over an entire circumference about the axis.

A braking mechanism for a rotary operating member (9) of a medical device such as an endoscope. The braking mechanism includes at least one elastic member (18) adapted for biasing a friction element (19) into a frictional engagement between a stationary shaft arranged on the endoscope handle and the rotary operating member (9). The friction element (19) includes a curved surface and the elastic member (18) comprises a spring which, as seen in the radial direction of the rotary member (9), has a cross-sectional shape with at least one U-shaped section.

An endoscope companion or coupler device comprises a proximal end configured for attachment to a working end of an endoscope and a visualization section for allowing viewing of tissue. The coupler device includes an instrument channel, such as a working channel extension or an open passageway, having an open distal end and a proximal end that is configured for alignment with a working channel of the endoscope. The coupler device is configured to constrain and/or secure an instrument that has passed through the instrument channel to ensure that the instrument remains in place at the target site and/or to facilitate instrument exchange. The coupler device also provides a protective cover to reduce the ingress of debris, fluid, bacteria, or other unwanted matter from the working end of the endoscope which could lead to infection and decreased performance of the scope.

A laparoscopic imaging apparatus is described herein. The laparoscopic imaging apparatus includes a shaft having a proximal end opposite a distal end, wherein the proximal end is configured for attachment to an actuator, and the distal end is configured for attachment of a laparoscopic tool and for insertion into patient anatomy. The laparoscopic tool pivots on a first gimbal apparatus that is actuable from the actuator at the proximal end of the shaft, to rotate the laparoscopic tool about a longitudinal axis of the shaft and, further, to rotate the laparoscopic tool about at least a second axis that is orthogonal to the longitudinal axis.

A duodenoscope protected with disposable consumables is provided. An insertion portion of a duodenoscope body (1) is covered with a cuff (3). A disposable forceps passage tube (4) is inserted into a tube of the duodenoscope body (1). A distal end of the duodenoscope body (1) is covered with an end cap (2) which is integrally connected to the cuff (3) and the disposable forceps passage tube (4). An elongated opening (2.1), which is of the same shape as the opening of a head end (1.1) of the duodenoscope body (1), is formed in a side face of the end cap (2). A forceps-lifting unit (1.2) is disposed in the head end (1.1) of the duodenoscope body (1). The end cap (2) is made of a transparent elastic material. A soft connection port (5) is disposed in the elongated opening (2.1) of the end cap (2). The soft connection port (5) is shaped like a smoking pipe and made of an elastic film. A large-orifice end of the soft connection port (5) is glued to the elongated opening (2.1) of the end cap (2), while a small-orifice end (5.2) thereof sleeves and is glued to a distal end of the disposable forceps passage tube (4). A pulley (1.4) is disposed on the head of the forceps-lifting unit (1.2), and a groove (1.5) is formed in the periphery of the pulley (1.4). The duodenoscope protected with disposable consumables can protect both the external surface of the duodenoscope and the internal surface of the tube.

An endoscope including an insertion tube for insertion into a patient's body cavity and a tip at the distal end of the insertion tube, the tip including a tip housing encapsulating an optical inspection device, a viewing window for or of the optical inspection device and a fluid spray nozzle having an outer wall providing a fluid channel surrounded by the outer wall for spraying a fluid onto the viewing window, the fluid spray nozzle having at least one fluid splitting element arranged in the fluid channel for providing a converging fluid flow out of the nozzle onto the viewing window.

A medical device such as an endoscope, a laparoscope, or other device including an entry guide uses outriggers or arms that are mounted on the distal end of the entry guide and rotationally deployed to provide separation of instruments when the entry guide reaches a work site. Deployment can be implemented with as few as one cable or actuator to operate the arms. This mechanism may achieve working separation in a short axial length without complicating instrument channels that may be used for other instruments introduced through the entry guide.