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.

An endoscope includes an insertion part and an operation part. The operation part is consecutively provided at the insertion part. A bendable portion is provided at a distal end portion of the insertion part so as to be bendable. An operation part-side operation member is provided at a distal end portion of the operation part and has an operation part-side protruding portion. An insertion part-side operation member is provided at a proximal end portion of the insertion part and has an insertion part-side protruding portion and finger rest protruding portions, and the insertion part-side protruding portion and the operation part-side protruding portion indicate a rotational movement position of the insertion part with respect to the operation part.

An endoscope includes a pulley provided in an operation portion, having an outer diameter larger than an inner diameter of an endoscope insertion portion, and configured to wind a wire connected to a bending portion; and a wire guard that is arranged to cover a predetermined range of an outer peripheral portion of the pulley, and includes a guide wall arranged to extend within a range of a radius of the pulley from a contact point position at which the wire in contact with the pulley is separated from the pulley in a longitudinal axis direction of the operation portion. The wire guard includes two members each formed in a substantially semicircular plate shape, and coupling parts formed in arc shapes extending from both end portions of the two members and configured to couple the two members.

A bending section of an endoscope includes a first bending piece and a second bending piece in each of which a hole is formed, the first bending piece includes a first groove communicating with the hole and formed toward an outer side of a radial direction, the second bending piece is disposed adjacent to the first bending piece and includes a second groove formed from an outer circumference of the second bending piece toward the hole, and the wire is disposed in the first groove and the second groove.

A medical device may comprise a handle, a first shaft extending from a distal end of the handle, and a second shaft extending a lumen of the first shaft. The handle may further include a first actuator and a second actuator. The first shaft may include (1) a plurality of lumens extending therethrough, (2) a distal face, and (3) a longitudinal axis. Actuation of the first actuator may articulate a distal portion of the first shaft. The second shaft may be axially movable relative to the first shaft such that the second shaft extends out of a distal opening of the first lumen and distally of the distal face. Actuation of the second actuator may articulate a distal portion of the second shaft.

Devices and methods for treating rhinitis are provided. An integrated therapy and imaging device is provided for single handheld use. The device may have a hollow elongated cannula, a therapeutic element coupled to a distal portion of the cannula, an imaging assembly coupled to the cannula to provide visualization of the therapeutic element, and an articulating region operably coupled to the imaging assembly to articulate the imaging assembly. The imaging assembly may be articulated so as to translate vertically, laterally, axially, and/or rotationally.

An endoscope add-on assembly adapted to be attached to a target endoscope. The assembly includes an ultrasound imaging sub-assembly, including a communications cable connected to an ultrasound imaging head and an imaging head movement sub-assembly, including a conduit, holding a tension member that is attached to the ultrasound imaging head. Further included are connective elements, adapted to permit the endoscope add-on assembly to be attached to the target endoscope. Finally, the imaging head movement sub-assembly is detachable from the ultrasound imaging sub-assembly, thereby permitting the imaging head movement subassembly to be processed separately from the ultrasound imaging sub-assembly, after use.

A handle for an endoscope has a handle housing, an operating member (7) accommodated in said handle, at least one pull wire (17) attached to said operating member (7), and at least one guide tube (16) surrounding and supporting said at least one pull wire (17). The guide tube (16) is fixed with respect to said handle housing at at least a first location. A direction guide (24) adapted for directing the free end of the pull wire (17) in a desired direction during assembly of the endoscope is provided at said first location.

A surgical tool, consisting of a handle and a flexible insertion tube, having a proximal end coupled to the handle and a distal end configured to be inserted into an orifice of a living subject. The tool has an inner tube, which is bendable without breaking over a range of angles in response to a bending force, and which retains the bent shape after the bending force has been removed. The inner tube is located within the insertion tube. A flexible tubing defines a lumen and is contained within the inner tube. A tool working tip is configured to contact tissue in the subject and to mate with a distal termination of the inner tube. A rigid outer tube grips outer surfaces of the working tip and of the inner tube so as to maintain an opening of the working tip in communication with the flexible tubing lumen.

Endoscopes and methods of their use, where the endoscopes provide a low profile or cross-section which facilitates introduction through small body passages, such as patient's cervix, and into body cavities, such a patient's uterus.