A light guide unit includes a light guide member and a protection member surrounding the light guide member. The light guide member includes an optical fiber having an outer diameter. The protection member is formed in a network structure by knitting a metal member having a flat cross-sectional shape by bending the metal member in a direction in which the thickness of the metal material is thin, and a gap smaller than the outer diameter is formed along the axial direction.

A light guide unit includes a light guide member and a protection member surrounding the light guide member. The light guide member includes an optical fiber having an outer diameter. The protection member is formed in a network structure by knitting a metal member having a flat cross-sectional shape by bending the metal member in a direction in which the thickness of the metal material is thin, and a gap smaller than the outer diameter is formed along the axial direction.

An endoscope includes an imager unit loading region formed in a distal end barrel member formed of a resin material, a cable connection surface provided on a proximal end side, a wall provided to connect an opening of the imager unit loading region and an opening of the cable connection surface, a plurality of contact patterns formed on a wall surface of the imager unit loading region, and configured to be electrically connected to electric contacts of an imager unit, a plurality of wiring patterns formed on a front surface of the cable connection surface from the wall, and configured to electrically continue to the plurality of contact patterns, and a plurality of connection patterns formed on the cable connection surface with larger intervals than intervals of the plurality of wiring patterns formed on the wall, with core wires of cables being electrically connected to the plurality of connection patterns.

An endoscope includes an imager unit loading region provided on a distal end side of a distal end barrel member provided at a distal end portion of an insertion portion and formed of a resin material, a cable connection surface provided on a proximal end side, a wall provided to connect an opening of the imager unit loading region and an opening of the cable connection surface, a contact pattern formed on a wall surface, a wiring pattern formed on a front surface of the cable connection surface from the wall, and configured to electrically continue to the contact pattern, and a connection pattern formed on the cable connection surface, and configured to electrically continue to the wiring pattern, with a core wire of a cable being electrically connected to the connection pattern, in a space formed in the distal end portion by the cable connection surface.

An endoscope includes an imager unit loading region provided on a distal end side of a distal end barrel member provided at a distal end portion of an insertion portion and formed of a resin material, a cable connection surface provided on a proximal end side, a wall provided to connect an opening of the imager unit loading region and an opening of the cable connection surface, a contact pattern formed on a wall surface, a wiring pattern formed on a front surface of the cable connection surface from the wall, and configured to electrically continue to the contact pattern, and a connection pattern formed on the cable connection surface, and configured to electrically continue to the wiring pattern, with a core wire of a cable being electrically connected to the connection pattern, in a space formed in the distal end portion by the cable connection surface.

The endoscope herein described has a unique steering capability allowing the highly flexible distal end of the shaft of the device to be moved to a full range angular positions without rotating the device on its long axis, thus enabling the device to be steered within the cavity of interest. The relative lengths of the control cables used to move the distal end of the bendable shaft can be changed whenever the flexible or malleable shaft is to be re-shaped to a new configuration thus preventing the distal end or the steering mechanism from assuming an undesired angular position. When used as an endotracheal device, a novel tongue retractor is described which forms an internal conduit, allowing passage of the bendable shaft of the endotracheal intubation device and an endotracheal tube therethrough. Methods for performing a tracheal intubation and changing the relative lengths of the cables are disclosed.

The endoscope herein described has a unique steering capability allowing the highly flexible distal end of the shaft of the device to be moved to a full range angular positions without rotating the device on its long axis, thus enabling the device to be steered within the cavity of interest. The relative lengths of the control cables used to move the distal end of the bendable shaft can be changed whenever the flexible or malleable shaft is to be re-shaped to a new configuration thus preventing the distal end or the steering mechanism from assuming an undesired angular position. When used as an endotracheal device, a novel tongue retractor is described which forms an internal conduit, allowing passage of the bendable shaft of the endotracheal intubation device and an endotracheal tube therethrough. Methods for performing a tracheal intubation and changing the relative lengths of the cables are disclosed.

An endoscope for removing tissue at a surgical site includes an elongated tubular body insertable within a mammalian cavity of a patient. An instrument channel extends between a first opening at a distal end and a second opening at a proximal end of the tubular body and is sized and configured to receive a surgical cutting assembly that includes an aspiration channel configured to remove material entering the endoscope via a distal end of the surgical cutting assembly. A torque generation component configured to generate torque is positioned within the distal end and configured to provide the generated torque to a coupling component. The coupling component is positioned at the distal end of the elongated tubular member and configured to actuate a cutting component of the surgical cutting assembly responsive to actuation of the torque generation component.

An endoscope for removing tissue at a surgical site includes an elongated tubular body insertable within a mammalian cavity of a patient. An instrument channel extends between a first opening at a distal end and a second opening at a proximal end of the tubular body and is sized and configured to receive a surgical cutting assembly that includes an aspiration channel configured to remove material entering the endoscope via a distal end of the surgical cutting assembly. A torque generation component configured to generate torque is positioned within the distal end and configured to provide the generated torque to a coupling component. The coupling component is positioned at the distal end of the elongated tubular member and configured to actuate a cutting component of the surgical cutting assembly responsive to actuation of the torque generation component.

An articulating stylet usable with a tracheal intubation system is disclosed. Methods for using the articulating stylet and systems that incorporate the articulating stylet are also disclosed. In some examples, a stylet adapted for mounting an endotracheal tube comprises a shaft and a control wire. The shaft comprises a distal shaft portion, a proximal shaft portion, and an expanding connection joining the distal shaft portion to the proximal shaft portion. The proximal shaft portion has a body portion and a tip portion. The tip portion includes a tip and has greater flexibility than the body portion. The control wire is at least partially disposed within both the distal shaft portion and the proximal shaft portion and is configured to cause the tip portion of the proximal shaft portion to deform.