A cholangioscope includes a catheter that is to be inserted into a body and has a curved shape, a camera shaft that can be inserted into the catheter and is formed in a curved shape, and a CMOS image sensor that is provided at a distal end portion of the camera shaft. The catheter further includes a forceps channel into which a medical instrument can be inserted, and a camera channel that is provided in an outer side portion of the catheter having the curved shape outer than the forceps channel and into which the camera shaft can be inserted. Curvature of the camera shaft is less than curvature of the catheter. The camera shaft is formed into a curved shape by using a shape memory alloy.

A detachable endoscope including: an insertion unit whose one end is to be inserted into a body; an operation unit coupled to another end of the insertion unit and operating the one end of the insertion unit to perform a bending motion using an operation module; and a detachment unit which detachably couples the operation unit and the insertion unit, and locks the insertion unit in a coupled state simultaneously when being coupled, so that the insertion unit is secured to the operation unit.

A medical device inspection system may include a base, a medical device holder on the base, a fiber scope holder on the base, a moveable roller moveably attached to the base such that it is free to rotate around an axis and move from a first position to a second position along the base, and a feeder coupled with the base for feeding a flexible portion of the fiber scope into a lumen of the medical device. During use, the flexible portion of the fiber scope may extend from the handle, around the moveable roller, and through the feeder to enter an opening in the lumen of the medical device.

An image processing apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention acquires a first image and a second image in a first image acquisition mode, or a second image acquisition mode in which a second image acquisition ratio is higher than in the first image acquisition mode, on the basis of a detection result of a specific target (whether or not a specific target has been detected, what type of specific target). For example, in accordance with whether or not a specific target has been detected and the type of specific target, the first image and the second image can be acquired in the first image acquisition mode in a case where the necessity for acquiring the second image is low, whereas the first image and the second image can be acquired in the second image acquisition mode, in which the second image acquisition ratio is high, in a case where the necessity for acquiring the second image is high.

The present invention discloses an insertion unit, a bending section and an intubation system for use in a body lumen of a patient. The insertion unit comprises an inner elongated shaft structure being capable of torque transmission around its length axis and having spring-like and flexibility properties and an outer elongated shaft structure at least partially surrounding the inner elongated shaft structure and having spring-like properties and a continuous and flat outer surface. The inner elongated shaft structure has a distal end, and is capable of being connected to an optical head. The insertion unit is configured to transmit pushing and rotation forces along a length of the insertion unit. The integral insertion unit is configured and operable to bend the distal tip in all directions and to fully rotate the distal tip.

A detachable endoscope for a duodenum including an insertion unit whose one end is intended to be inserted into a body, and which is provided with a force applying module pivotably disposed on the one end; an operation unit coupled to another end of the insertion unit, and operating the one end of the insertion unit to perform a bending motion with use of an operation module; and a detachment unit including a first detachment module disposed within the operation unit, and a second detachment module disposed within the insertion unit and detachably coupled to the first detachment module.

Presently disclosed is an endoscope comprising of an insertion tube sheath, which comprises one or more mechanical layers having a mechanical contraption, wherein one or more of the mechanical contraptions is made of shape memory material.

A deflectable endoscope including an imaging structure, an outer member having a proximal portion and a distal portion, an elongated column member extending distally from the outer member and an inner member positioned coaxial with the outer member and attached to the column member. The inner member extends distally of the outer member and has a distal tip portion. A reinforcement member is positioned over the column member to restrict axial movement of the column member such that when one of the inner member or outer member is moved with respect to the other, axial compression of the column member is restricted by the reinforcement member causing the distal tip portion of the inner member to deflect laterally.

A motorized actuation module actuates an endoscopic instrument. It is made up of a mounting plate able to be attached to the ulnar-palmar grasping zone of a handgrip of an endoscope, the mounting plate having an ulnar-palmar bearing surface extended by a heel extending in a direction that makes an angle of 90°±25° with respect to the perpendicular to the plane of the ulnar-palmar bearing surface. The heel includes an electromechanical sensor that delivers a control signal controlling the movement of an endoscopy instrument.

In an endoscope operation portion, a first finger placement portion and a second finger placement portion are disposed at positions where at least a pressing force of a first finger placed on the first finger placement portion, a pressing force of a second finger placed on the second finger placement portion, and an operation force amount of a third finger placed on a third finger placement portion when operating a bending operation lever are balanced.