An endoscope as an insertion device includes an insertion portion main body extended in a direction of a longitudinal axis and having flexibility, a motor provided in an operation portion disposed on a proximal end side of the insertion portion main body, a transmission member inserted into the insertion portion main body, extended outward the insertion portion main body along the longitudinal axis, rotated around an axis by driving force of the motor, and transmitting the rotation to a distal end side of the insertion portion main body, and a detection device detecting a position along the longitudinal axis of the insertion portion main body at a predetermined site of the transmission member.

An endoscope includes: an operating portion; an insertion tube that has a central axis; a bendable tube that is bendable in a curvature direction orthogonal to the central axis, the bendable tube including a plurality of bendable tube pieces that are arrayed along the central axis, adjacent bendable tube pieces being connected to each other by a pair of connection portions, the pair of connection portions being arranged line-symmetric with respect to the curvature direction; a distal end rigid portion that is provided on a distal end side of the bendable tube; and a wire having a first end connected to the operating portion, and a second end connected to either the bendable tube or the distal end rigid portion.

An endoscope includes: an operating portion; an insertion tube that has a central axis; a bendable tube that is bendable in a curvature direction orthogonal to the central axis, the bendable tube including a plurality of bendable tube pieces that are arrayed along the central axis, adjacent bendable tube pieces being connected to each other by a pair of connection portions, the pair of connection portions being arranged line-symmetric with respect to the curvature direction; a distal end rigid portion that is provided on a distal end side of the bendable tube; and a wire having a first end connected to the operating portion, and a second end connected to either the bendable tube or the distal end rigid portion.

An articulating cannula assembly is described. The articulating cannula assembly includes: a hand piece; a proximal housing situated above the hand piece; a cannula distally extending from the proximal housing, the cannula including an articulating segment; and a trigger that, when actuated, extends or contracts the articulating segment. The proximal housing can removably couple to the hand piece. The proximal housing can include an endoscope attachment structure for removably securing a proximal portion of an endoscope.

An articulating cannula assembly is described. The articulating cannula assembly includes: a hand piece; a proximal housing situated above the hand piece; a cannula distally extending from the proximal housing, the cannula including an articulating segment; and a trigger that, when actuated, extends or contracts the articulating segment. The proximal housing can removably couple to the hand piece. The proximal housing can include an endoscope attachment structure for removably securing a proximal portion of an endoscope.

A tip section of a multi-camera endoscope includes a front-pointing camera on a planar surface of a distal end of the tip section and two side-pointing cameras positioned on a cylindrical surface in proximity to the planar surface such that the side field of view provided by the two side-pointing cameras partially overlaps with the front field of view provided by the front-pointing camera. The tip section further includes a working channel configured for insertion of a surgical tool; and a pathway fluid injector for inflating and/or cleaning a body cavity into which the endoscope is inserted.

A tip section of a multi-camera endoscope includes a front-pointing camera on a planar surface of a distal end of the tip section and two side-pointing cameras positioned on a cylindrical surface in proximity to the planar surface such that the side field of view provided by the two side-pointing cameras partially overlaps with the front field of view provided by the front-pointing camera. The tip section further includes a working channel configured for insertion of a surgical tool; and a pathway fluid injector for inflating and/or cleaning a body cavity into which the endoscope is inserted.

A method is described for performing a percutaneous operation on a patient to remove an object from a cavity within the patient. The method includes advancing a first alignment sensor into the cavity through a patient lumen. The first alignment sensor provides its position and orientation in free space in real time. The alignment sensor is manipulated until it is located in proximity to the object. A percutaneous opening is made in the patient with a surgical tool, where the surgical tool includes a second alignment sensor that provides the position and orientation of the surgical tool in free space in real time. The surgical tool is directed towards the object using data provided by both the first and the second alignment sensors.

A medical manipulator system includes: an endoscope; a first manipulator equipped with a first treatment tool at a distal end thereof; a second manipulator equipped with a second treatment tool at a distal end thereof; a display for a user to view; and a controller configured to generate an image to be displayed on the display. The controller is configured to: acquire a first image taken by the endoscope, the first image contains the first treatment tool; and in response to determining that the second treatment tool does not exist in the first image: calculate a relative distance and a relative direction between the first treatment tool and the second treatment tool; generate a second image showing the relative distance and the relative direction between the first treatment tool and the second treatment tool; and send the first image and the second image to the display.

A turn fixing mechanism portion of an endoscope apparatus includes: a turning portion connected to a turning unit turnably disposed; a fixed portion configured to turnably support the turning portion; an elastic member interposed between the turning portion and the fixed portion; and a holding member configured to fix a turned position of the turning unit by pressing the turning portion toward a side of the fixed portion to compress the elastic member in a turning axis direction to generate a predetermined frictional force.