An articulated tip part for an endoscope, and an endoscope, including segments including a distal end segment having an outer wall defining an inner spacing adapted to accommodate a camera assembly therein and a proximal wall having a proximal surface, the distal end segment having an outer surface, wherein adjacent of the segments are interconnected by at least one hinge member to enable bending of the articulated tip part; and an insertion guide adapted to guide a steering wire and including an entry provided in the outer surface of the distal end segment, the insertion guide also including an exit fluidly coupled with and leading to the inner spacing of the distal end segment, whereby an end of a steering wire can be guided into the inner spacing of the distal end segment via the entry of the insertion guide.

A deflectable catheter includes an elongate member having a wall defining a longitudinally extending lumen extending from a proximal end to a distal end, a fixation member coupled to a distal portion of the elongate member, and a pull wire extending through the wall of the elongate member from the proximal end of the elongate member to the fixation member. The pull wire is coupled to the fixation member and constrained along its length such that the elongate member is configured to deflect from an initial configuration to a deflected configuration in response to a pull force applied to the pull wire and actively return from the deflected configuration to the initial configuration in response to a push force applied to the pull wire.

A handle for a medical device includes a rotatable knob assembly and a slide assembly. The knob assembly is couplable to the slide assembly to drive movement of the slide assembly by rotation of the knob assembly. A slip clutch assembly is between the knob and slide assemblies. The slip clutch assembly includes a first disc and a second disc. The first disc is secured to the knob assembly and is rotatable with the knob assembly. The second disc is configured to transmit rotation to the slide assembly. The first disc and/or the second disc is translatable between a first position and a second position. In the first position, the first and second discs are moved into engagement to couple the rotatable knob to the slide assembly. In the second position, the first and second discs are moved out of engagement to decouple the rotatable knob from the slide assembly.

Several embodiments of the present invention are generally directed to medical visualization systems that comprise combinations of disposable and resuable components, such as catheters, functional handles, hubs, optical devices, etc. Other embodiments of the present invention are generally directed to features and aspects of an in-vivo visualization system that comprises an endoscope having a working channel through which a catheter having viewing capabilities is routed. the catheter may obtain viewing capabilities by being constructed as a vision catheter or by having a fiberscope or other viewing device selectively routed through one of its channels. The catheter is preferably of the steerable type so that the distal end of the catheter may be steered from its proximal end as it is advanced with the body. A suitable use for the in-vivo visualization system includes but is not limited to diagnosis and/or treatment of the duodenum, and particularly the biliary tree.

A catheter has a metal deflection beam with rectangular cross-section and one or two fiber puller members for predictable on-plane bi-directional deflection. Each fiber puller member is anchored at its distal end to a respective surface of the beam by a metal ferrule that is crimped onto the distal end. The ferrule is shaped to provide a flat outer underside that can lie flat against a beam surface and a thin planar distal section that is welded to the beam. With a distal end of the beam sandwiched between the thin planar distal section of two ferrules, the ferrules and the beam can be welded together by a single laser pulse.

A lead delivery catheter having a slittable pull ring is described. The lead delivery catheter includes a deflection wire attached to the slittable pull ring to deflect the catheter. The slittable pull ring has several ring holes arranged in a pattern. The pull ring is located distal to a tubular braid of the lead delivery catheter, and a size and pattern of the ring holes can be similar to a size and pattern of holes in the tubular braid. The structural similarity between the pull ring and the tubular braid facilitates use of a consistent cutting force to slit through the tubular braid and the pull ring of the lead delivery catheter. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

An improved bi-directional steerable catheter is provided. The catheter generally comprises a catheter body, tip section and control handle. The catheter further comprises first and second puller wires extending from the control handle, through the catheter body and into the tip section. The control handle has deflection means for each puller wire that include a gear, and a carrier to which the proximal end of a puller wire is anchored. The gear is rotatably coupled to a lever controlled by an operator and the gear engages the carrier such that rotation of the gear by the lever results in longitudinal movement of the carrier, which results in deflection of the tip section.

Aspects of articulating devices and methods are disclosed. An exemplary articulating device may comprise an interior core with a reinforcing extending along a central axis, an exterior layer bonded to the interior core by an interface, and a lumen extending through the exterior layer, exterior of the reinforcing element, and parallel to the central axis. A steering wire may be moveable in the lumen to articulate a distal end of the device relative to the central axis in response to a force applied to the steering wire. Related methods of manufacturing an articulating device are also described.

A delivery device 100 includes a catheter assembly 120 and an operating handle 130. The operating handle 130 may include a nose 131 affixed to the catheter assembly 120, an axial shaft 180, a base 132 translationally fixed to a proximal end of the axial shaft, a screw 160 having external threads and a non-circular lumen 161, the axial shaft extending through the non-circular lumen, a proximal end 171 of a pull wire 170 being affixed to the screw, a knob 150 having internal threads engaged with the external threads of the screw, and a collar 140 extending at least partially around the axial shaft. When the collar 140 is in a proximal position, rotation of the knob 150 may deflect the distal end 121 of the catheter assembly 120. When the collar is in a distal position, rotation of the knob 150 may rotate the catheter assembly 120.

A steerable sheath with a deflection mechanism assembly is provided. The assembly includes a tubular shaft that receives first and second longitudinal movement wires at a distal end. A control handle includes a main body configured to receive first and second bevel gears. The first longitudinal movement wire is coupled to the first bevel gear and the second longitudinal movement wire is coupled to the second bevel gear. A rotatable adjustment knob is engageable with the control handle and has an external geared portion matingly engageable with the first and second bevel gears and the rotatable adjustment knob is moveable between a first and second position.