Endoscope cover with cavity that accommodates a hand piece of an endoscope and a hollow cannula extending distally from the cavity that accommodates a probe of the endoscope when the hand piece is inserted into the cavity of the cover. A reusable endoscope with a hand piece and a probe is provided with a retractable shield covering at least a portion of the probe. A system includes a cover with a cavity and a hollow cannula extending distally from the cavity, a reusable endoscope with a hand piece and a probe extending distally from the hand piece, and a retractable shield covering at least a portion of the probe, where the cannula is configured to accommodate therein the probe when the hand piece is inserted into the cavity of the cover.

A method for cleaning a medical instrument and for detecting residue thereon is provided in which method a non-sterile or conventionally sterilized medical instrument is exposed to pressure below 100 hPa, and, subsequently, exposed to at least one gas reactive to the residue.

Removable barrier devices (e.g., sleeves) for covering medical scanning devices to reduce the chance of cross-contamination between patients and/or to protect the scanning devices from physical damage. The barrier device can include a cover that has an integrated window for passing optical signals between the scanning device and an external environment. The cover can include a sleeve that covers a handle portion of the scanning device to prevent contamination of the handle from a user's hand or glove. The cover and sleeve may both be formed of the same flexible material, or the cover may be rigid to maintain the window in a fixed position and the sleeve may be flexible to allow a user to activate a button or touchpad on the handle. An interface region between the cover and sleeve may provide a hermetic seal. The window may include a nanostructured antireflective material to limit internal reflections.

An embodiment herein includes a device comprising a tubular drape for covering surgical equipment and furthermore comprising a container adapted to accommodate a substantial portion of the drape in an axially compressed state in a ring-shape, the container comprising a first sheet and a second sheet, wherein the first sheet and the second sheet are oppositely arranged, the first sheet having a first opening and the second sheet having a second opening, wherein the first opening is configured for withdrawal of the drape from the container, and wherein the first and the second openings are configured for passing the surgical equipment to be covered therethrough, wherein the accommodated ring-shaped drape portion has a mechanical stiffness substantially contributing to the overall stiffness of the device. A method for manufacturing a device comprising a tubular drape and a container is disclosed herein.

According to the present invention, there is provided an endoscopy system comprising an endoscope guide and an endoscope. The endoscope of the system comprises a proximal end and a distal end. The endoscope guide of the system comprises a proximal end, a mid-section comprising at least one endoscope entry port, a distal end comprising at least one endoscope exit port, a lumen capable of receiving an endoscope extending from the at least one entry port to the at least one exit port and at least one bend located between the at least one entry port and the at least one exit port. The endoscope guide is capable of directing the insertion of the distal end of the endoscope into a body cavity when the distal end of the endoscope exits the endoscope exit port and the distal end of the endoscope guide is also configured so as to be capable to be retained within the body cavity during a surgical procedure so as to control the positioning of the distal end of the endoscope within the body cavity.

An intraoral scanner comprises an optical element for transmission of optical signals and a primary housing that houses the optical element, the primary housing comprising a head configured for insertion into a patient oral cavity, the head of the primary housing defining an aperture for transmission of the optical signals, wherein the primary housing comprises a longitudinal axis, and wherein a vector normal to a plane defined by the aperture is at a right angle or an acute angle to the longitudinal axis. The intraoral scanner further comprises a defogging element coupled to the primary housing, the defogging element comprising a transparent substrate aligned with the aperture, at least one side of the transparent substrate facing an external environment, and a transparent conductive layer on a surface of the transparent substrate, wherein responsive to application of electrical power to the transparent conductive layer, the transparent conductive layer generates heat.

Provided is an article for protection configured with at least one perforable, modifiable access point positioned to allow airway management procedures. Also provided is a method for maintaining the sterile environment during airway management procedures by covering a subject in need thereof with the article for protection.

A visualization device for a robotic surgery apparatus includes a housing configured to be removably attached to a mounting interface of the apparatus and be positioned adjacent an insertion device of the apparatus. The housing includes first and second openings positioned on an exterior of the housing. The housing includes a substantially flexible camera tube with a first end attached to the housing and a second end including at least one camera. The second end is inserted through the first opening in the housing, pass through interior of the housing, and exit the housing through the second opening in the housing. The second end extends away from the housing toward a region of interest outside the housing or retract away from the region of interest and back toward the housing. The camera tube forms a loop around a portion of the housing.

An endoscope device is provided with: an elongated sheath having an endoscope insertion passage that penetrates therethrough in the longitudinal direction and into which an endoscope is inserted; and a wire that is provided in the sheath and that has a bending portion that bends toward the endoscope insertion passage, wherein the wire has a deforming region that is provided in a distal end portion of the sheath and that deforms between a normal form, in which the deforming region is disposed in the interior of the sheath or along an outer circumferential surface thereof, and a loop-shaped expanded form, in which the bending portion is bended and has a diameter larger than the outer diameter of the sheath.

An endoscope with a handle and an insertion shaft. The insertion shaft has solid state illumination and imaging circuitry at or near a tip designed to provide illumination and imaging of a body cavity for a surgeon during surgery. At least a portion of the insertion shaft is flexible or articulated. Controls on the handle permit control of flex or articulation of the insertion shaft to permit direction of illumination and field of view of the imaging circuitry. Control force transfer elements permit a surgeon to direct a direction of the imaging circuitry by transfer of mechanical force directed by a surgeon to the bendable distal portion to cause the bendable portion to bend under the surgeon's control.