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and a positioning mechanism configured to be coupled with an imaging device and to be slidably inserted into and/or withdrawn from the catheter body through the tool channel.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.

An endoscopic instrument (1, 134) for inserting into a body of a patient includes a tubular shank (3, 47, 137) 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). A fluid channel (7, 53) is formed in the shank (3, 47, 137). The instrument includes a sealing device (89) which forms a proximal end of the fluid channel and comprises feed-throughs (93, 97, 99, 101, 103) for the leads (11, 13, 15, 19, 57, 59, 65, 67, 123, 181).

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 is with a working channel (15). A shank tool can be led through the working channel (15). The working channel (15) includes a proximal working channel opening (153) for inserting the shank tool and a fluid inlet (148) which is separate from the proximal working channel opening.

An endoscope having a proximal end, a distal end, a handle, and an insertion tube that terminates in a tip section. The tip section includes a bending section and an articulated tip part, and the bending section includes articulated segments, each articulated segment including a guide passage for a control member. The proximal end of the elongated control member is attached to an operating member arranged at the handle and the distal end of the elongated control member is attached to the most distal articulated segment of the bending section. An intermediate section of the elongated control member passes through said guide passages. The intermediate section has a reduced overall cross-sectional area as compared to the majority of said elongated control member.

An intraluminal retractor includes a shapeable element formed by a series of shaping segments. The shaping segments may be associated with one another in a relaxed configuration that imparts the shapeable element with a linear, substantially linear or curvilinear shape to enable its insertion into an interior space within a subject's body. When actuated, the shaping segments may assume a contracted configuration that imparts the shapeable element with a desired shape, which may move an organ within which or against which the shapeable element is positioned, change a path of the organ and/or alter a shape of the organ. Methods for altering the locations, paths and/or shapes of organs are also disclosed.

A steerable shaft for an endoscope includes a plurality of shaft segments extending about an axis and positioned in axially end-to-end and pivotable relationship with one another between a first shaft end and a second shaft end. Each of the plurality of shaft segments define at least one wire lumen, with the wire lumens disposed in axially aligned relationship with one another in a neutral position of the steerable shaft. At least one control wire extends through the aligned wire lumens between t for pivoting the plurality of shaft segments relative to one another and moving the steerable shaft from the neutral position to a deflected position in response to tensioning of the control wire. At least one spine element is connected to the plurality of shaft elements for limiting the pivoting movement of the shaft segments and related movement of the steerable shaft to an articulation plane.

A lens assembly includes an adjustable lens assembly including a handle. A telescopic tube is inserted at one end of the handle. A threaded rod is disposed inside the handle at an end close to the telescopic tube. An end of the threaded rod away from the telescopic tube penetrates through an outer wall of the handle and is connected to a turn button. An end of the telescopic tube inside the handle is sleeved with a driven gear. A driving gear is embedded in a surface of the handle above the driven gear. The driving gear and the driven gear enable the telescopic tube to rotate, thereby adjusting a direction of an insertion head at one end. The threaded rod and the turn button enable the telescopic rod to move within the handle, thereby adjusting the insertion head at one end to stretch out or draw back.

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 including a hollow tube, which is configured to deflect relative to a longitudinal axis of the hollow tube and to rotate about the longitudinal axis. The hollow tube having (i) an intrusion, having at least a first surface, and (ii) a protrusion, which is facing the intrusion and having a second surface. When the hollow tube is deflected, at least part of the protrusion protrudes into the intrusion so that a first section of the first surface and a second section of the second surface are facing one another, and when the hollow tube is deflected and rotated, the first and second sections of the first and second surfaces apply force to one another and thus resist rotation of the hollow tube.

An endoscopic cannula includes an elongate shaft having a distal end portion sized for insertion in a body cavity and a camera secured to the distal end portion of the elongate shaft. The camera is configured for viewing the body cavity. The distal end portion of the elongate shaft is adjustable between a straight configuration and a bent configuration to examine the body cavity.