A rigidizing system includes an elongate rigidizing device configured to be rigidized by vacuum or pressure from a flexible configuration to a rigid configuration and an outer tube configured to be positioned around the rigidizing device. The outer tube includes a plurality of expandable channels therein configured to enable passage of a working tool therethrough.

This disclosure relates to the minimally invasive medical technical field, and specifically, to a device of anti-fogging endoscope system including a beam of a near-infrared light for anti-fogging, which is coupled into an endoscope imaging optical channel in combination coaxially and is transmitted to the front optical window sheet, the visible light passes through the front optical window sheet, and the near-infrared light is absorbed by the absorption characteristics of the front optical window sheet to raise the temperature of the front optical window sheet. The device is also provided with a cut filter for eliminating the impact on image quality caused by the near-infrared stray light, so that the illumination light source of the prior-art endoscope is not necessary to be changed. It is suitable to integrate the coaxial coupling module with a camera handle or adapter and is more convenient to operate the device.

A stylet assembly and method of forming an in vivo image acquiring stylet assembly. The stylet assembly includes an elongate flexible body and an image acquiring device that is supported at a location that is offset from an in vivo facing terminal end of the stylet assembly. A terminal end portion of the stylet assembly is defined by a manipulator that is oriented to extend in a crossing direction relative to a longitudinal axis of the elongate body. The terminal end portion of the stylet assembly is steerable relative to the elongate body and is operable to manipulate positions or adjacent anatomy and/or effectuate guidance of the imaging device relative thereto during use.

The present invention discloses access devices and methods to create an access channel for introduction of one or more working devices into an anatomical region. The access channel is created using a visualization modality that is later removed before inserting one or more working devices through the access channel. This allows the methods and devices of the present invention to be used even in small sized natural or surgically created insertion tracts leading to the anatomical region. The access channel can be made of a device such as a sheath, a guidewire, and an elongate device comprising a lumen. Examples of visualization modalities are endoscopes and body insertable ultrasound imaging devices. The working devices can be used to perform a variety of diagnostic, therapeutic, or preventive procedures. Endometrial ablation devices and procedures have been used as an example to describe various aspects of the present invention.

An endoscope having an insertion tube with a distal optical module and a releasable handle. In a semi-robotic embodiment, the handle comprises haptic controllers and a computer configured for steering and/or adjusting physical properties of the insertion tube in response to one or more command inputs from the haptic controllers. The computer may also convert image data received from the optical module into two-dimensional images displayable on a monitor. The endoscope may have inertial measurement units (IMUs) for providing data to the computer for creating a digital three-dimensional image representation of an anatomy model and/or for facilitating handling properties of the endoscope.

TNE provides the opportunity to make the care of children with EoE and other gastrointestinal or aerodigestive conditions safer, more efficient, and less costly while simultaneously advancing our understanding of the pathophysiology and natural course of this condition. A pediatric endoscope was developed to facilitate TNE in children with EoE. The pediatric endoscope (combined gastroscope, bronchoscope, laryngoscope) includes a 3-4 mm flexible, fiber optic endoscope that allows HD TV viewing with the head of a pediatric bronchoscope that allows four way tip deflection, a scope stiffening apparatus to minimize the endoscopes flexibility when needed, a foot and hand activation to allow air/water insufflation and image/video capture, a light source, 2 mm biopsy channel.

The present invention relates to the field of medical devices and discloses an endoscope structure, which consists of a fixing ring, a connection tube and an operation tube connected in sequence, among which, the connection tube consists of braided layers, the connection tube can be bent, and the stiffness of the braided layers of the connection tube is inversely proportional to the maximum bending angle of the connection tube; the structure also consists of traction wires, the traction wires are fixed onto the fixing ring by the operation tube through the connection tube, and the connection tube will be bent by pulling the traction wires at the end of the operation tube. Main beneficial effects of the present invention are: the braided layers and traction wires are arranged inside the connection tube, so that the present invention has advantages of convenient connection, soft and controllable; the guide groove is arranged on the outer lateral walls of the support layers, the traction wires are respectively placed inside the guide groove, when the traction wires move, the guide groove plays a role of guiding and positioning to ensure that the traction wires only move along the length direction of it structure.

A stereoscopic imaging apparatus for use in a robotic surgery system is disclosed and includes an elongate sheath having a bore. First and second image sensors are adjacently mounted at the distal end to capture high definition images from different perspective viewpoints for generating three-dimensional image information. The image sensors produce an unprocessed digital data signal representing the captured images. A wired signal line transmits the unprocessed digital data signals along the sheath to a proximal end to processing circuitry. The processing circuitry is configured to perform processing operations on the unprocessed digital data signals to produce respective video signals suitable for transmission to a host system or for driving a 3D display. A secondary camera is also disclosed and includes an elongate strip of circuit substrate sized for insertion through a narrow conduit, the strip of circuit substrate connecting between an image sensor and a processing circuit substrate.

A controllable stiffness endoscope overtube includes an overtube shaft including an inner sheath defining an access lumen and an outer sheath surrounding the inner sheath from proximal to distal end of inner sheath to define an annulus therebetween having a proximal portion with a vacuum connection. The sheath distal ends are longitudinally fixed to one another and sized to receive an endoscope. The outer sheath has a constant outer diameter over at least a distal portion of the annulus proximate to the distal ends of the sheaths. A vacuum device is fluidically connected to the vacuum connection and applies vacuum to the annulus. Responsive thereto, annulus pressure is lowered, the sheaths are drawn together, and the overtube shaft is stiffened over at least the distal portion to stiffen and maintain a current shape of the overtube shaft over at least the distal portion of the annulus.

A medical signal processing device includes: an acquisition unit is configured to acquire a first image signal acquired by emission of first light onto an object, and a second image signal acquired by emission of second light onto the object, the first light being in a wavelength band including visible light, and the second light exciting a fluorescent substance included in the object; a detection unit configured to detect each of a signal level of the visible light included in the first image signal and a signal level of fluorescence included in the second image signal; and a calculation unit configured to calculate a correction coefficient to correct the signal level of the fluorescence by using a result of the detection by the detection unit.