Provided is an endoscope capable of effectively suppressing breakage of a channel while sufficiently exhibiting performance of a plurality of portions having different degrees of bending. The endoscope includes an insertion portion and a channel arranged inside the insertion portion. The insertion portion includes a bending section that is bendable based on an operation, and a flexible tube portion that is bendable by an external force unrelated to the operation. The channel includes an inner layer and an outer layer formed outside the inner layer, the inner layer is made of polytetrafluoroethylene having a solid structure, and the outer layer is made of polytetrafluoroethylene having a porous structure. A porosity of the outer layer in the bending section is smaller than a porosity of the outer layer in the flexible tube portion.

A medical device includes a handle including an axle, a device shaft extending from the handle to a distal end, and a control device. The control device is coupled to the handle, and the control device includes a knob. The knob is rotatable relative to the handle. The control device also includes a control shaft extending from the knob, at least one spring clutch including two legs, and a spool. The spool is rotatable relative to the axle. The control device also includes one or more wires coupled to the spool. Rotation of the knob is configured to rotate the control shaft, causing the at least one spring clutch to loosen, the spool to rotate, and the one or more wires to move.

Systems and methods for treating a patient may include accessing an anatomical structure with a single use visualization device, using the imaging capabilities of the single use visualization device within the anatomical structure, and in some cases, advancing the single use visualization device beyond the anatomical structure to and toward another anatomical structure within the patient. Disposable elements may be used with or added to the single use visualization device to accomplish tasks normally performed with reusable devices.

Embodiments of the present invention may be used to perform measurement of surfaces, such as external and internal surfaces of the human body, in full-field and in 3-D. Embodiments of the present invention may include an electromagnetic radiation source, which may be configured to project electromagnetic radiation onto a surface. The electromagnetic radiation source may be configured to project the electromagnetic radiation in a pattern corresponding to a spatial signal modulation algorithm. The electromagnetic radiation source may also be configured to project the electromagnetic radiation at a frequency suitable for transmission through the media in which the radiation is projected. An image sensor may be configured to capture image data representing the projected pattern. An image-processing module may be configured to receive the captured image data from the image sensor and to calculate a full-field, 3-D representation of the surface using the captured image data and the spatial signal modulation algorithm. A display device may be configured to display the full-field, 3-D representation of the surface.

Embodiments of the present invention may be used to perform measurement of surfaces, such as external and internal surfaces of the human body, in full-field and in 3-D. Embodiments of the present invention may include an electromagnetic radiation source, which may be configured to project electromagnetic radiation onto a surface. The electromagnetic radiation source may be configured to project the electromagnetic radiation in a pattern corresponding to a spatial signal modulation algorithm. The electromagnetic radiation source may also be configured to project the electromagnetic radiation at a frequency suitable for transmission through the media in which the radiation is projected. An image sensor may be configured to capture image data representing the projected pattern. An image-processing module may be configured to receive the captured image data from the image sensor and to calculate a full-field, 3-D representation of the surface using the captured image data and the spatial signal modulation algorithm. A display device may be configured to display the full-field, 3-D representation of the surface.

A medical manipulator including an insertion portion, where the insertion section including a bending portion and an end effector disposed on a distal end side of the insertion portion. The medical manipulator further including an actuator configured to generate a first drive force for moving the bending portion; a lever configured to generate a second drive force for moving the bending portion, the lever being used to move the bending portion instead of the actuator; a wire configured to transmit the first drive force or the second drive force to the bending portion; and a transmission blocking device configured to switch from the first drive force to the second drive force.

A scope system is provided including an elongate tube with a distal portion and a lumen extending therethrough. The scope system also includes at least one accessory channel extending from a proximal end to a distal end and having with an accessory lumen extending therethrough, the at least one accessory channel movably disposed at least partially within the lumen of the elongate tube. The at least one accessory channel includes a distal section and a forward-viewing configuration and a side-viewing configuration. In the forward-viewing configuration, the distal section of the at least one accessory channel is substantially parallel to the distal portion of the elongate tube and in the side-viewing configuration, the distal section of the at least one accessory channel is arced at a radius greater than a radius of the distal portion of the elongate tube.

This invention relates to an endoscopic device, and more particularly but not exclusively to an endoscopic device suitable for use in diagnostic and/or surgical procedures. The endoscopic device includes a base and a shaft extending from the base. The shaft is at least partially flexible and includes a bending section that is selectively displaceable between a straight configuration and a bent configuration. The endoscopic device also includes an actuation arrangement for selectively displacing the bending section between the straight and bent positions. The actuation arrangement includes at least one actuator which is at least partially made from a shape memory alloy, and which is configured to displace the bending section of the shaft when electric current is passed therethrough. The actuator is located inside the base of the device.

A flexible tube insertion apparatus includes a flexible tube having flexibility and configured to be inserted into an object to be inserted, one or more external force detectors disposed on the flexible tube and configured to detect a force of an external force applied to the flexible tube when the flexible tube is twisted in at least one direction, and a providing device configured to provide twisting information regarding a twisting direction of the flexible tube for releasing a loop section formed in the flexible tube, according to a direction in which the flexible tube is twisted and the detected force of the external force.

Integrated hysteroscopic treatment systems which includes an endoscopic viewing system, a fluid management system, a resecting device and a controller for operating all the systems.