A catheter with a distal end that rotates through the conversion of linear motion to rotational motion, thus the distal end may be rotated without longitudinally advancing or retracting the distal end. The catheter includes a tube with a single helix or a dual chirality helix cut into the tube, a distal end segment, means for linear displacement of the helix, and means for coupling the junction point of the helix to the distal segment.

A surgical access port comprises an instrument guide. The instrument guide comprises a proximal end, a distal end, a plurality of instrument guide channels between the proximal and distal ends, and an outside surface that fits closely to an inner wall surface of a cannula into which the instrument guide is inserted. The instrument guide also comprises a first guide channel opening defined along a length of a first guide channel of the plurality of instrument guide channels. The instrument guide also comprises a second guide channel opening defined along a length of a second guide channel of the plurality of instrument guide channels. The instrument guide also comprises an insufflation channel defined between the first and second guide channel openings. The insufflation channel extends from a position between the proximal and distal ends of the instrument guide to the distal end of the instrument guide.

An endoscope includes a plate member to which a member be operated to bend a bendable portion is fixed and which includes a through hole, and a tubular unit formed in a tubular shape to make a fluid flow and including a coupling portion which functions as a protruding portion disposed so as to be protruded from an outer surface. The endoscope further includes a positioning mechanism which positions the plate member and the tubular unit relative to each other so as to dispose the protruding portion around a periphery of the through hole including the through hole.

An ultrasound endoscope includes: an ultrasound probe arranged in a distal end rigid portion; a suction and forceps port provided in a vicinity of the ultrasound probe; a treatment instrument insertion channel and a negative pressure channel communicating with the suction and forceps port; and a control valve configured to variably regulate a negative pressure for suction that is transmitted to the suction and forceps port through the treatment instrument insertion channel and the negative pressure channel to two or more states.

A spool and gear mechanism for tensioning and manipulating the steering/deflection control wires of a steerable catheter device provides for a desired level of tension that will allow operation of the device without too little or too much tension in those wires. In a wire-tensioning mechanism for a steerable catheter, the mechanism includes at least a first and second steering/deflection control wire each attached to the spool by winding around its own detent-engaged rotatable gear in the spool and extending out through a radial wall of the spool to engage into a steerable catheter body. In a multi-spool system, the wire-tensioning/winding gears of each spool preferably are accessible for adjustment via apertures of an adjacent spool.

Embodiments of the disclosure may include a medical device comprising an elongate member and a handle assembly connected to the elongate member. The handle housing may house a steering mechanism movable relative to the handle assembly and configured to steer the elongate member along a first plane and a second plane different from the first plane, a camera system configured to capture images from a distal end of the elongate member, and an illumination system configured to provide illuminating light from the distal end of the elongate member.

A hermetic seal between an optical element and a metal mount or housing using a fluoropolymer. The fluoropolymer is dispersed along the interior edge of the metal mount. The metal mount and fluoropolymer are then heated to a temperature exceeding the melting point of the fluoropolymer. Once heated the optical element is pressed into the metal mount and allowed to cool. The metal mount, optical element and thickness of fluoropolymer are sized to provide an interference fit between the metal mount and optical element.

Embodiments of the disclosure may include a medical device comprising an elongate member and a handle assembly connected to the elongate member. The handle housing may house a steering mechanism movable relative to the handle assembly and configured to steer the elongate member along a first plane and a second plane different from the first plane, a camera system configured to capture images from a distal end of the elongate member, and an illumination system configured to provide illuminating light from the distal end of the elongate member.

A medical device may include a spool element, including a channel to receive or store a coiled element, and a handle element. The handle element may be coupled to the spool element and include a lumen that at least partially opens into the channel. The medical device may also include an introducer element coupled to the handle, and relative rotation of the spool element and the handle element may dispense or retract the coiled element from the introducer.

In accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, device and method can be provided which can facilitate imaging of biological tissues, e.g., luminal organs in vivo, using optical techniques. The exemplary device can include different designs an features of one or more catheters, which can illuminate the tissues, and collect signals from the inside of the lumen. In another exemplary embodiment according to the present disclosure, a balloon-catheter can be provided with the flexible neck, which can absorb most of the bending. According to still another exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, a balloon-catheter tethered capsule can be provided, and according a yet further exemplary embodiment, a structured balloon design can be provided with one or more protuberances, thus enabling imaging of the structures in close contact, e.g., without compressing of the tissue.