The invention refers to an endoscope including at least one channel which may be contaminated in use, wherein the channel wall of the at least one channel is formed of a material having properties capable of photocatalysis. The invention further refers to a method for cleaning such an endoscope including the steps of: connecting the endoscope to a reprocessing device, performing a photocatalytic treatment at least in the at least one channel for the purpose of the decomposition of organic residues on the surface of the channel, and rinsing the endoscope. The invention further refers to a cleaning device for cleaning such an endoscope.

An arrangement, and associated method, for cleaning and disinfecting an endoscope having an internal channel accessible via an opening. The arrangement includes: a support structure; at least one tray including at least one fixture arranged to maintain the endoscope in the desired position within the tray; a rack arranged to support the tray; a control unit arranged to control and operate the arrangement; a user interface connected to the control unit and arranged to make it possible for an operator to indicate the type of endoscope arranged in the tray; an optical device connected to the control unit and configured to confirm the type of endoscope arranged in the tray; a robotic device operated by the control unit and arranged to clean the at least one channel in the endoscope arranged in the tray; and a disinfector device arranged to enclose the tray and disinfect the endoscope.

An endoscope includes a light source coupled to emit light, and a lens disposed proximate to a distal tip of the endoscope tube and structured to absorb at least some of the light. A controller is coupled to the light source, and the controller includes logic that when executed by the controller causes the endoscope to perform operations, including adjusting an emission profile of the light source to heat the lens with the light, and heating the lens mitigates formation of fog on the lens.

An endoscope apparatus includes a processor. The processor conducts analysis whether an endoscope image has been appropriately captured or not on the basis of the endoscope image. The processor acquires correction restriction information that is at least one of a restriction regarding a size of a lumen of an image-captured portion or a restriction regarding a submucosa state of the image-captured portion. The processor generates correction information regarding correction of image-capturing conditions for allowing the endoscope image to be appropriately captured under a restriction of the correction restriction information in a case where it is analyzed that the endoscope image has not been appropriately captured, and outputs the correction information on a monitor.

Devices and methods for cleaning and/or drying endoscopic instruments, such as endoscopes, are provided. A drying device for use with an endoscopic instrument comprises an elongate member configured for advancement through an internal lumen within the endoscopic instrument and a drying member removably coupled to a portion of the elongate member. The drying element comprises a variable pressure region shaped and configured to increase the hydrodynamic fluid friction force and fluid pressure force applied to the wall of the internal lumen of the endoscope to more effectively remove all of the moisture and fluid from the internal surfaces of an endoscopic instrument.

An endoscope includes a distal end surface provided at a distal end of an insertion part; an observation window provided on the distal end surface; a nozzle; and a first protective projection, a second protective projection, and a third protective projection disposed at an outer peripheral part of the distal end surface and provided to project forward of the observation window. In all combinations of imaginary planes capable of coming into contact with the first protective projection, the second protective projection, and the third protective projection from a front side, the imaginary planes are disposed forward of the observation window, the imaginary planes are disposed at the same height as or forward of the nozzle, and the observation window and a portion of the nozzle are included within an outer ring region surrounded by the first protective projection, the second protective projection, and the third protective projection.

An endoscope includes a distal end surface provided at a distal end of an insertion part; an observation window provided on the distal end surface; a fluid jetting nozzle; and a first protective projection, a second protective projection, and a third protective projection disposed at an outer peripheral part of the distal end surface and provided to project forward of the observation window. In all combinations of imaginary planes capable of coming into contact with the first protective projection, the second protective projection, and the third protective projection from a front side, the imaginary planes are disposed forward of the observation window, the imaginary planes are disposed at the same height as or forward of the fluid jetting nozzle, and the observation window and a portion of the fluid jetting nozzle are included within an outer ring region surrounded by the first protective projection, the second protective projection, and the third protective projection.

The present disclosure relates to an image capturing device configured to capture an image of a target. The image capturing device includes a probe and a housing. The probe includes an optical component and is configured to receive light from the target. The housing includes electronic components each configured to process the light received from the probe. Moreover, the housing includes an air sending unit, and a controller configured to control driving of the air sending unit. The air sending unit is provided at a position above the electronic components in the housing when a user holds the housing during utilization of the image capturing device, and is configured to supply air to the optical component provided in the probe.

A cleaning sheath for an endoscope includes an open ended sheath coupled to a fluid line via a hub. The sheath is configured to receive an endoscope within the interior of the sheath wherein both the sheath and the endoscope may be inserted into a trocar during use. The sheath is configured to direct a cleaning fluid onto the optics end of the endoscope to clear away any visual obstructions without requiring the removal of the endoscope from the trocar. The hub is configured to hold the endoscope in a desired position during use to allow a user to selectively adjust and fix the position of the optics end of the endoscope relative to the distal end of the sheath during use at a location extending beyond the distal end of the sheath, aligned with the distal end of the sheath, or withdrawn into the distal end of the sheath.

An endoscope cleaning device is applied to an endoscope having a main body and a tube body connected to the main body. The endoscope cleaning device includes a frame, a receiving tank for receiving the tube body, a circulating module, and an operating module that is electrically connected to the circulating module. The receiving tank and the operating module are disposed on the frame. The circulating module is connected to a source of first solution supply, a source of second solution supply, and the receiving tank. The operating module is manipulated by a user to control the circulating module to transmit the solution provided by the source of first solution supply and the solution provided by the source of second solution supply to the receiving tank and then to drain the solution in the receiving tank out. A cleaning method of an endoscope by using the endoscope cleaning device is provided.