Provided is an endoscope system including an elongated tube with one or more channels extending in a longitudinal direction along the elongated tube. The channels allow inserting of a viewing device for obtaining images from the distal end, inserting of surgical instruments to operate at the distal end, or passing of materials such as air or water. The channel for inserting the viewing device is enclosed or has a cover at the distal end of the elongated tube, such that the viewing device has no direct contact of body tissues, thereby eliminating the need for sterilization. Also provided is a safe and economical method for conducting endoscopy involving one-time use of a tube to keep the viewing device from directly contacting the body tissues.

Provided is an endoscope system including an elongated tube with one or more channels extending in a longitudinal direction along the elongated tube. The channels allow inserting of a viewing device for obtaining images from the distal end, inserting of surgical instruments to operate at the distal end, or passing of materials such as air or water. The channel for inserting the viewing device is enclosed or has a cover at the distal end of the elongated tube, such that the viewing device has no direct contact of body tissues, thereby eliminating the need for sterilization. Also provided is a safe and economical method for conducting endoscopy involving one-time use of a tube to keep the viewing device from directly contacting the body tissues.

A medical device may comprise a handle portion; an insertion portion having a proximal end portion at the handle portion, wherein the insertion portion includes a lumen therein and a distal end having a distal opening in communication with the lumen; and a member disposed within the lumen, the member having a distal end portion with an imaging device. The member may be configured to transition between a first configuration and a second configuration. In the first configuration, the imaging device may face distally, and, in the second configuration, the imaging device may face proximally. Extending the distal end portion of the member distally past the distal opening may cause the member to transition from the first configuration to the second configuration.

An endotracheal tube includes a main tubular portion including a distal end and a proximal end opposite the distal end, the main tubular portion including a central lumen at least in part defined by a wall of the main tubular portion; a wire lumen disposed within the wall of the main tubular portion, the wire lumen defined at least in part by a sidewall portion of the wire lumen and extending from about the proximal end of the main tubular portion to about the distal end of the main tubular portion; a wire disposed in the wire lumen; and one or more cutouts extending along a portion of the wall of the main tubular portion, the cutouts comprising openings in the sidewall portion of the wire lumen, wherein the cutouts are not in fluid communication with the central lumen.

An endotracheal tube includes a main tubular portion including a distal end and a proximal end opposite the distal end, the main tubular portion including a central lumen at least in part defined by a wall of the main tubular portion; a wire lumen disposed within the wall of the main tubular portion, the wire lumen defined at least in part by a sidewall portion of the wire lumen and extending from about the proximal end of the main tubular portion to about the distal end of the main tubular portion; a wire disposed in the wire lumen; and one or more cutouts extending along a portion of the wall of the main tubular portion, the cutouts comprising openings in the sidewall portion of the wire lumen, wherein the cutouts are not in fluid communication with the central lumen.

A light applicator (5) for examining and/or treating an organic body includes a minimal-invasive, rigid, semi-flexible or flexible insertion section (11) which extends along a longitudinal direction (L) and at its distal end includes an LED (19). The light applicator (5) includes a first electrical lead (61a) for the supply of electricity to the LED (19). The lead extends in the insertion section (11) in the longitudinal direction (L) and there has a cross-sectional area of at least 70% of the cross-sectional area of the light applicator (5). The light applicator (5) in the insertion section (11) is thermally insulated in the radial direction in a manner such that the radial thermal insulation reduces proximally.

An endoscope is provided to examine internal organs with front and rear views. The endoscope comprises a shaft extending from a distal end in a rearward direction along a longitudinal axis towards a proximal end, with the distal and proximal ends defining a hollow channel extended there-through. The endoscope further comprises a first lens positioned adjacent to the distal end and configured to receive a first image in a forward direction along the longitudinal axis, with the forward direction generally 180 degree from the rearward direction. The endoscope further comprises a rearview module positioned adjacent to the distal end. The rearview module comprises a second lens configured to be positioned adjacent to the distal end, and receive a second image in a target direction having a directional component in the rearward direction along the longitudinal axis, independently of the first lens receiving the first image in the forward direction.

Exemplary embodiments of devices and method for affecting at least one anatomical tissue can be provided. A configuration can be provided that includes a structure which is expandable (i) having and/or (ii) forming at least one opening or a working space through which the anatomical tissue(s) is placed in the structure. For example, the structure, prior to being expanding, can have at least one partially rigid portion. In addition, or as an alternative, upon a partial or complete expansion thereof, the structure can be controllable to have a plurality of shapes. Further, the structure can be controllable to provide the working space with multiple shapes and/or multiple sizes.

Systems and methods are provided for injecting one or more agents into tissue within a patient's body that includes a catheter. A needle guide extends from a distal end of the catheter and terminates at a distal tip, e.g., including a foot with an atraumatic contact surface, the needle guide having a cross-section smaller than the distal end and being biased to a curved shape. The needle guide includes a passage communicating from a lumen of the catheter to an outlet at the distal tip, and a needle device is disposed within the passage that may be deployed from the outlet to inject one or more agents into tissue. The catheter also includes an imaging assembly on the distal end configured to acquire images of tissue adjacent the needle guide distal tip.

Provided are an elevator that can be reliably attached by a simple operation and an endoscope including the elevator. An elevator engages with and attached to an engagement end of a rotation shaft protruding from a distal end portion of the endoscope by being pushed in from a direction intersecting with an axial length direction, and is elevated according to rotation of the rotation shaft. A jig is connected to the elevator, and the jig has a grip portion that is gripped when the elevator is attached and can be separated after the attachment.