A system for inspecting a patient's orifice (especially the ear, nose or throat), to components of the system, and to methods of inspecting a patient's orifice. In one embodiment, the orifice inspection system includes: an orifice inspection device for illuminating a patient's orifice; and an image capture device for capturing a photograph of the patient's orifice as illuminated by the orifice inspection device; wherein the orifice inspection device is mountable relative to the image capture device, or wherein the image capture device is mounted on the orifice inspection device.

A system for inspecting a patient's orifice (especially the ear, nose or throat), to components of the system, and to methods of inspecting a patient's orifice. In one embodiment, the orifice inspection system includes: an orifice inspection device for illuminating a patient's orifice; and an image capture device for capturing a photograph of the patient's orifice as illuminated by the orifice inspection device; wherein the orifice inspection device is mountable relative to the image capture device, or wherein the image capture device is mounted on the orifice inspection device.

An access device for accessing an intervertebral disc having an outer shield comprising an access shield with a larger diameter (˜16-30 mm) that reaches from the skin down to the facet line, with an inner shield having a second smaller diameter (˜5-12 mm) extending past the access shield and reaches down to the disc level. This combines the benefits of the direct visual microsurgical/mini open approaches and the percutaneous, “ultra-MIS” techniques.

An access device for accessing an intervertebral disc having an outer shield comprising an access shield with a larger diameter (˜16-30 mm) that reaches from the skin down to the facet line, with an inner shield having a second smaller diameter (˜5-12 mm) extending past the access shield and reaches down to the disc level. This combines the benefits of the direct visual microsurgical/mini open approaches and the percutaneous, “ultra-MIS” techniques.

A surgical instrument for use on a patient. A tube assembly comprises an outer tube having a curved region, an inner tube disposed within the outer tube and comprising a single lumen, and a handle coupled to the outer tube. A viewing assembly is disposed within the single lumen. An actuation assembly is coupled to the inner tube and configured to steer the viewing assembly. The handle and the actuation assembly are complimentarily arranged such that the outer tube is positionable and the viewing assembly is steerable a user grasping the tube assembly with a single hand. The single lumen may define an irrigation flow path in communication with a fluid source and provide pressurized irrigation flow. An interior tube may be provided comprising an articulating region configured to articulate between a substantially curved condition and a substantially straight condition. Methods of manipulating an instrument are also disclosed.

A surgical instrument for use on a patient. A tube assembly comprises an outer tube having a curved region, an inner tube disposed within the outer tube and comprising a single lumen, and a handle coupled to the outer tube. A viewing assembly is disposed within the single lumen. An actuation assembly is coupled to the inner tube and configured to steer the viewing assembly. The handle and the actuation assembly are complimentarily arranged such that the outer tube is positionable and the viewing assembly is steerable a user grasping the tube assembly with a single hand. The single lumen may define an irrigation flow path in communication with a fluid source and provide pressurized irrigation flow. An interior tube may be provided comprising an articulating region configured to articulate between a substantially curved condition and a substantially straight condition. Methods of manipulating an instrument are also disclosed.

An endoscope system includes a light source configured to generate either one of first illumination light and second illumination light, an image pickup apparatus configured to obtain an image by picking up an image of an object, and a processor. The processor is configured to make an instruction to set an observation mode of the endoscope system at either one of a first observation mode and a second observation mode, detect an observation state at a time of observing the object based on a feature value calculated from pixel values included in pixels forming a first image, and invalidate an instruction to set the observation mode of the endoscope system at the second observation mode when the observation state at the time of observing the object is not an appropriate observation state.

A multi-organ imaging system including a camera lens, a stationary, multi-examination illumination unit (SMEIU), and an attachment holder is provided. An industrial camera unit (ICU) for imaging multiple organs, for example, ear, nose, throat, and skin, is housed in a camera body. The camera lens has a fixed focal length and an iris for optimizing examination and imaging of the organs. The SMEIU is integrated to the camera body and includes illuminators arranged in a geometrical configuration. The attachment holder accommodates an organ examination attachment selected for examining an organ. The illuminators, in optical communication with one or more reflective surfaces in the organ examination attachment, produce shadowless illumination during examination and imaging of each organ, without requiring replacement of the SMEIU for examining each organ. A display unit, accommodated in a display holder detachably attached to the camera body, assists in aiming the camera lens and visualizing each organ.

A multi-organ imaging system including a camera lens, a stationary, multi-examination illumination unit (SMEIU), and an attachment holder is provided. An industrial camera unit (ICU) for imaging multiple organs, for example, ear, nose, throat, and skin, is housed in a camera body. The camera lens has a fixed focal length and an iris for optimizing examination and imaging of the organs. The SMEIU is integrated to the camera body and includes illuminators arranged in a geometrical configuration. The attachment holder accommodates an organ examination attachment selected for examining an organ. The illuminators, in optical communication with one or more reflective surfaces in the organ examination attachment, produce shadowless illumination during examination and imaging of each organ, without requiring replacement of the SMEIU for examining each organ. A display unit, accommodated in a display holder detachably attached to the camera body, assists in aiming the camera lens and visualizing each organ.

A medical probe includes a shaft for insertion into a cavity of a patient body, and a distal-end assembly. The distal-end assembly is coupled to a distal end of the shaft and includes a hollow tube having (i) a first opening, located at a first section along a longitudinal axis of the hollow tube, and having a first size that limits bending of the first section by a first local radius of curvature (LROC), and (ii) a second opening, located at a second different section along the longitudinal axis of the hollow tube, and having a second different size that limits bending of the second section by a second different LROC.