The present specification is directed towards endoscopes, such as colonoscopes, that provide a broader field of view and allow extended access of surgical tools and also enable efficient packing of all necessary elements in the tip section, while maintaining their functionality. Also described are methods and systems for capturing and displaying still and video images using an endoscope corresponding to a left-side looking, a front-looking and a right-side looking viewing element of an endoscopic tip generated in a native aspect ratio.

A linear member transfer apparatus includes: a linear member housing portion having a bottomed cylindrical shape and including: a bottom portion; an opening; a side wall; a restriction portion that is a diaphragm disposed on a position at a predetermined distance from the bottom portion and that has an inner diameter smaller than an inner diameter of the bottom portion; a first chamber configured to house a linear member in a wound state; and a second chamber configured to house the linear member in an extended state; a transfer portion configured to transfer the linear member; and a guide.

A probe for resecting and coagulating tissue comprises an outer sleeve having a tissue cutting window and an inner sleeve having a tissue cutting distal end. And RF cutting region is formed at the distal end of the inner member and an RF coagulation region is formed on an exterior surface of the inner member immediately proximal to the cutting surface. A single power supply providing a single RF energy mode can be connected to both RF applicator regions to simultaneously cut and coagulate tissue.

An endoscope achieves favorable advancing and retracting motion without causing disturbance in displacement of built-in components in bending of a bending tube by covering, out of an image pickup cable and a conduit that are cross-symmetrical built-in components disposed to intersect with each other in a radial direction of the bending tube, an outer circumference of the conduit with a second heat-shrinkable tube serving as a protective member, and removing the second heat-shrinkable tube from a partial region that includes a region (an intersection region) where the image pickup cable and the conduit intersect with each other, even when the built-in components in the bending tube are intersected with each other.

An endoscope includes a handle connected to a flexible, steerable, kink-resistant insertion tube. An endoscope insertion tube may include a shaft, a lower durometer section proximate to a distal end of the shaft, and a higher durometer section positioned between the lower durometer section and a medium durometer section. The endoscope insertion tube may further include a fourth thermoplastic laminate section proximate to a proximal end of the shaft and having a higher durometer. A method of making an endoscope insertion tube may include inserting a mandrel with one, two, or more lateral slots and a liner into a shaft, wherein the liner is positioned between the mandrel and the shaft, bonding a bonded portion of the liner to an inner surface of the shaft, separating other portion(s) of the liner from the shaft, and inserting a first deflection wire in a gap between the shaft and the unbonded portion(s) of the liner.

An elevator attachment attachable to and detachable from an endoscope including an inclined surface inclined relative to a longitudinal direction of an insertion part, an elevator recess having a first inner wall and a second inner wall that faces the first inner wall and being opened toward the inclined surface and a lever pivotally provided inside the elevator recess, and the elevator attachment comprises a holding body including an inclined surface plate covering a part of the inclined surface, a first plate raising from an edge of the inclined surface plate and located along the first inner wall and a second plate abutting against the second inner wall, and an elevator pivotally supported between the first plate and the second plate and including a lever connection part to be connected to the lever.

An elevator attachment attachable to and detachable from an endoscope including an inclined surface inclined relative to a longitudinal direction of an insertion part, an elevator recess having a first inner wall and a second inner wall that faces the first inner wall and being opened toward the inclined surface and a lever pivotally provided inside the elevator recess, and the elevator attachment comprises a holding body including an inclined surface plate covering a part of the inclined surface, a first plate raising from an edge of the inclined surface plate and located along the first inner wall and a second plate abutting against the second inner wall, and an elevator pivotally supported between the first plate and the second plate and including a lever connection part to be connected to the lever.

A method for intubation of a patient comprising: providing an LMA and an endotracheal tube, wherein the endotracheal tube comprises a visualization device and wherein the endotracheal tube is adapted for passing through the LMA; positioning the LMA in the patient; and guiding the endotracheal tube with the aid of the visualization device through the LMA for positioning in the trachea of the patient. The method preferably further comprises removing the LMA from the patient following the positioning of the endotracheal tube while leaving the endotracheal tube in position.

An elongate catheter is provided. The catheter includes an elongate shaft with a lumen and a distal end portion repositionable between a relatively straight configuration and an arcuate configuration. The distal end portion includes a plurality of rigid segments that are disposed in series and in a consistent orientation therealong and within the sheath, the plurality of rigid segments each include a top edge and a bottom edge and an inner cavity disposed therethrough. A wire is disposed through the sheath and fixed with respect to a distal tip of the catheter, the first wire extending outboard of each of the plurality of rigid segments.

A dual medical endoscope system can be constructed including a first and a second medical endoscope, where the first endoscope comprises an accessory channel with a proximal mounting port providing access thereto, and where the second endoscope comprises a handle body that is securely and removably attached to the proximal mounting port. An endoscope, which may be the second endoscope, can include an elongate, manipulable shaft with a distal-end visualization element and a handle body comprising at least one control surface for manipulating a distal region of the shaft, where the handle body includes a passage through which a length of the shaft is passable, and where the handle body includes a connection structure configured for securely and removably mounting the handle to a channel of another endoscope in a manner axially aligning the passage with the channel to provide a path of communication for the shaft.