A control system for a colonoscope having a shaft deflectable via two rotatable knobs is provided. The system includes a first drive unit mounted externally to a housing of the colonoscope. The first drive unit includes a first drive mechanism for engaging the two rotatable knobs or gears replacing the two rotatable knobs. The system further includes a second drive unit attachable to the shaft of the endoscope. The second drive unit is capable of linearly translating the shaft forward and backward. A user interface engageable by a palm of a hand controls the first drive mechanism.

Systems and methods are provided for treating cervical and/or uterine cancers in brachytherapy with an intracavitary brachytherapy applicator. The system comprises a tandem adapted for insertion into a cervix of a patient. An ovoid assembly comprises first and second inflatable ovoids and an ovoid support mechanism. The first and second inflatable ovoids are adapted for insertion within fornices of a patient. First and second retractors are adapted to be coupled to the ovoid assembly. The first retractor is adapted to be positioned to retract the bladder of a patient during treatment. The second retractor is adapted to be positioned to retract the rectum of a patient during treatment. The tandem and the first and second inflatable ovoids are adapted to be coupled to a radioactive source to deliver an implant radiation dose suitable for cancer treatment at a cancerous cervical treatment site in a patient.

Systems and methods are provided for treating cervical and/or uterine cancers in brachytherapy with an intracavitary brachytherapy applicator. The system comprises a tandem adapted for insertion into a cervix of a patient. An ovoid assembly comprises first and second inflatable ovoids and an ovoid support mechanism. The first and second inflatable ovoids are adapted for insertion within fornices of a patient. First and second retractors are adapted to be coupled to the ovoid assembly. The first retractor is adapted to be positioned to retract the bladder of a patient during treatment. The second retractor is adapted to be positioned to retract the rectum of a patient during treatment. The tandem and the first and second inflatable ovoids are adapted to be coupled to a radioactive source to deliver an implant radiation dose suitable for cancer treatment at a cancerous cervical treatment site in a patient.

A medical device includes a handle portion downwardly extending from an examination portion. The handle portion has opposing upper and lower open ends and a through cavity extending therebetween. An illumination assembly mounted within the open upper end of cavity includes a housing, at least one battery disposed within the housing, and an LED disposed at the distal end of an arm extending from the housing. The housing is mounted through the open upper end of the through cavity. According to at least one version, the at least one battery can be removed without removing the housing from the handle portion. The extending arm is supported by the examination portion and configured to provide illumination to a medical target. The medical device can include a vaginal speculum, sigmoidoscope, laryngoscope, anoscope, or other hand-held medical device.

A medical device includes a handle portion downwardly extending from an examination portion. The handle portion has opposing upper and lower open ends and a through cavity extending therebetween. An illumination assembly mounted within the open upper end of cavity includes a housing, at least one battery disposed within the housing, and an LED disposed at the distal end of an arm extending from the housing. The housing is mounted through the open upper end of the through cavity. According to at least one version, the at least one battery can be removed without removing the housing from the handle portion. The extending arm is supported by the examination portion and configured to provide illumination to a medical target. The medical device can include a vaginal speculum, sigmoidoscope, laryngoscope, anoscope, or other hand-held medical device.

A system for performing minimally invasive procedures in a working space within a body lumen of a patient including a flexible catheter configured to receive a working instrument therethrough. The flexible catheter has a working space expanding system positioned at the distal portion, the working space expanding system including first and second flexible elements movable from a non-expanded insertion position to an expanded position forming an expanded region to expand the working space within the body. The first and second flexible elements are connected at a distal region by a coupling structure. A stabilizing member stabilizes the distal portion of the flexible catheter.

A system for performing minimally invasive procedures in a working space within a body lumen of a patient including a flexible catheter configured to receive a working instrument therethrough. The flexible catheter has a working space expanding system positioned at the distal portion, the working space expanding system including first and second flexible elements movable from a non-expanded insertion position to an expanded position forming an expanded region to expand the working space within the body. The first and second flexible elements are connected at a distal region by a coupling structure. A stabilizing member stabilizes the distal portion of the flexible catheter.

A detachable endoscope includes: an operation part for operating the front end of an insertion part having a lighting photographing part to be bent and a detachable unit for detachably coupling the operation part and the insertion part, wherein the detachable unit includes: a first detachable module connected to first, second, third, and fourth operation wires arranged parallel to each other so that the respective one ends are connected to the front end inside the insertion part and provided on the rear end of the insertion part, a second detachable module connected to first, second, third, and fourth connection wires of a direction conversion part for converting a rotational motion into a linear motion in the operation part and provided on the front end of the operation part, and a bending control part for adjusting an angle at which the front end of the insertion part is bent and displaced vertically or horizontally.

Generating a structured medical record from endoscopy data includes obtaining image data including endoscopic images representing portions of a gastrointestinal tract (GI) of a patient; determining features to extract from the image data, the features each representing a physical parameter of the GI tract; extracting the features from the image data; generating anatomical location data specifying a location within the GI tract of a portion of the GI tract represented in the image data; associating the anatomical location data with images that represent the portion of the GI tract; storing, in a node of a data store, data entries including the anatomical location data and the associated one or more images. The data store is configured to receive structured queries for the data entries in the data store and provide the data entries including the transformed features in response to receiving the structured queries.

A method of analysis using mass spectrometry and/or ion mobility spectrometry is disclosed. The method comprises: using a first device to generate smoke, aerosol or vapour from a target comprising or consisting of a microbial population; mass analysing and/or ion mobility analysing said smoke, aerosol or vapour, or ions derived therefrom, in order to obtain spectrometric data; and analysing said spectrometric data in order to analyse said microbial population.