An articulated bending section body has a number of segments including a proximal end segment, a distal end segment and a number of intermediate segments. Each intermediate segment has a central passage adapted in cross-sectional shape to receive and support the exterior surface of a bendable tubular member providing a working channel of the endoscope. The cross-sectional shape includes a number of sectors of a circular periphery having a shared center and the same radius, the total length of the sectors being longer than half of the circular periphery. The cross-sectional shape comprises at least one outwardly extending lobe. The exterior surface of the bendable tubular member providing the working channel of the endoscope forms a closed lumen adjacent but separated from the working channel of the endoscope.

An endoscopic instrument (1, 134), for inserting into a body of a patient, includes a tubular shank (3, 47, 137) which is coupled or can be coupled to a handling device (5, 135), and at least two electrical, mechanical and/or optical leads (11, 13, 15, 19, 57, 59, 65, 67, 123, 181) which run through the shank (3, 47, 137). The handling device (5, 135) includes a housing (23) which at a proximal end has two limbs (141, 143) which are arranged obliquely to one another and enclose a contact surface (145). At least one of the leads (11, 13, 15, 19, 57, 59, 65, 67, 123, 181) is led outwards out of the handling device (5, 125) out of one of the limbs (141, 143).

An endoscope can include a substantially rigid elongate body. A visualization channel can extend through the elongate body. An elongate viewing instrument that can advance distally and retract proximally through a visualization channel of the elongate body. The elongate viewing instrument can include a distal portion that is pre-biased to assume a curved shape when the distal portion is unconfined. The distal portion can curve when the distal portion is advanced distally to exit the visualization channel and can straighten when the distal portion is retracted proximally to enter the visualization channel. A distal end of the elongate viewing instrument can further include a light port that is configured to illuminate a target and provide an image of the illuminated target.

Apparatus, including a tube having proximal and distal ends and an internal lumen. The distal end may bend up to 270°, and the tube may be inserted into an eye. A planar resilient strip, having proximal and distal ends, is inserted into the internal lumen, and the strip distal end is fixed to the tube distal end. A coil spring is fixed to the strip proximal end so that a coil spring symmetry axis is coplanar with the strip. A camera, mounted with the strip distal end, images the eye interior. A wire is fixed to the strip distal end, so that a predetermined force on the wire causes the tube distal end to bend by a preset angle. A magnetometer at the tube proximal end is configured, when a nonvarying magnetic field traverses it, to provide a signal that, when taken with the preset angle, indicates a camera orientation.

Herein disclosed is an endoscope that includes a handle and an elongated probe having a distal end and a proximal end. The handle abuts the proximal end of the probe and includes an articulation lever. The probe also includes a vertebrae column immediately abutting the distal end, on which at least one sensor is amounted. The vertebrae column is configured to have at least two parallel groups of gaping slits, along an axial direction of the vertebrae column. Each two of the axially adjacent gaping slits come from the two groups of gaping slits respectively and are juxtaposed in circumferential positions in the respective circumferential planes. The articulation lever and the distal end are connected by pulling wires, and when the articulation lever is maneuvered, the distal end is pulled away from the axial direction, causing the vertebrae column to deflect.

A medical probe includes a shaft for insertion into a cavity of a patient body, and a distal-end assembly. The distal-end assembly is coupled to a distal end of the shaft and includes a hollow tube having (i) a first opening, located at a first section along a longitudinal axis of the hollow tube, and having a first size that limits bending of the first section by a first local radius of curvature (LROC), and (ii) a second opening, located at a second different section along the longitudinal axis of the hollow tube, and having a second different size that limits bending of the second section by a second different LROC.

A system for accessing a body cavity, such as a paranasal sinus, may include a sinus access member and a handle. The sinus access member may include a rigid support tube, a curved shape memory member slidably disposed at least partially within the rigid support tube, a flexible tube slidably disposed over at least part of the curved shape memory member, and proximal coupling end. The handle may include an engagement mechanism at a distal end for releasably attaching to the proximal coupling end of the sinus access member, a housing for gripping with a hand, a curving slider for extending and retracting the curved shape memory member, and an extension slider for extending and retracting the flexible tube relative to the curved shape memory member and the rigid support tube. The handle may be reusable, and the sinus access member may be disposable.

An endoscope including a handle and an insertion cord having a bending section body, a first steering wire portion, and a second steering wire portion. The bending section body includes segments and hinges keeping together, and formed integrally with, the segments, a center axis and a center plane traversing the center axis, the center plane dividing the bending section into a first bending section side and a second bending section side, and the segments including passages that together form a working channel lumen having a non-circular cross-section. Steering wire lumens are displaced with respect to the center plane towards the first side and configured to accommodate the first and second steering wire portions.

A device, a method of making a device and a method of inserting a device into a tubular path. The device includes a tubular sheath with one or more helical slots formed therein and a control element that fits within the sheath. In one form, the device is an endoluminal device that simultaneously improves flexibility and structural rigidity though variations in one or both of slot width along the length of the slot and slot pitch along the length of the tubular sheath. When the operator pulls at the proximal end of the control element while holding the outer sheath in place, the slots will tend to close in a preferential manner such that more precise control of device length and bending is enabled, while simultaneously providing improvements in structural rigidity during device insertion and navigation through a body lumen or related tubular member where tortuous paths may be encountered along the member path.

A device, a method of making a device and a method of inserting a device into a tubular path. The device includes a tubular sheath with one or more helical slots formed therein and a control element that fits within the sheath. In one form, the device is an endoluminal device that simultaneously improves flexibility and structural rigidity though variations in one or both of slot width along the length of the slot and slot pitch along the length of the tubular sheath. When the operator pulls at the proximal end of the control element while holding the outer sheath in place, the slots will tend to close in a preferential manner such that more precise control of device length and bending is enabled, while simultaneously providing improvements in structural rigidity during device insertion and navigation through a body lumen or related tubular member where tortuous paths may be encountered along the member path.