A medical manipulator system that includes a joint, a first sensor that detects an amount of rotational motion of the joint, an actuator that drives the joint via a wire, a second sensor that detects an amount of operation of the actuator based on a rotation angle of the actuator, an input device, and a controller. The controller generates a control signal based on: an operation mode in which the control signal is generated by a transfer function that receives an input target value of the rotation angle of the joint and the amount of operation of the actuator, and a calibration mode in which the transfer function is adjusted based on comparing to a predetermined threshold value the amount of rotational motion of the joint and the amount of operation of the actuator. The controller then transmits the generated control signal to the actuator to drive the joint.

A force estimation system for calculating force information regarding forces applied to one or more positions of a flexible tubular portion having flexibility through an arithmetic operation, the force estimation system comprising: a processor configured to input the deformation state and the mechanical property at a plurality of longitudinal positions of the flexible tubular portion, and calculates the force information of the force applied to the individual positions of the flexible tubular portion based on the deformed state and the mechanical property.

A catheter for delivering a medicinal liquid or a powder in spray form into the trachea of a subject, includes a deformable body including a spray device for expelling a liquid or a powder introduced into the catheter as a spray, the body of the catheter being configured to generate an image of a zone in a longitudinal direction of the body.

Methods and apparatus for treating disorders of the ear, nose, throat or paranasal sinuses, including methods and apparatus for dilating ostia, passageways and other anatomical structures, endoscopic methods and apparatus for endoscopic visualization of structures within the ear, nose, throat or paranasal sinuses, navigation devices for use in conjunction with image guidance or navigation system and hand held devices having pistol type grips and other handpieces.

A wire-driven manipulator includes a first member and a second member into both of which a flexible member is inserted, the second member being disposed more on a base end side than the first member, wherein the first and the second members are bent by a drive of the flexible member, wherein the first member includes a bonding portion mechanically bonded with the member, wherein the second member is independent of the first member and the member, and wherein a variation of an average curvature of the first member caused by a drive of the members is larger than a variation of an average curvature of the second member.

In one embodiment of the invention, an apparatus for performing surgical procedures is disclosed including a flexible entry guide tube, and a first steering device. The flexible entry guide tube has one or more lumens extending along its length from a proximal end to substantially at or near a distal end. At least one of the one or more lumens is an instrument lumen with open ends to receive a flexible shaft of a surgical tool to perform surgery near the distal end of the flexible entry guide tube. The first steering device is insertable into the instrument lumen to shape the flexible entry guide tube as it is inserted through an opening in a body and along a path towards a surgical site. The apparatus may further include a flexible locking device to couple to the flexible entry guide tube and selectively rigidize the flexible entry guide tube to hold its shape. The flexible entry guide tube may be steered by remote control with one or more actuators.

Medical instruments such as catheter systems and endoscopic systems that exhibit reduced backlash during their operation are disclosed. The reduction of backlash avoids the use of protrusions or fins that can significantly obstruct fluid flow through working channels of the instruments. According to one embodiment, a medical instrument comprises a first member having an inside surface defining a first lumen and a second member extending in the first lumen and having an outside surface cooperating with the inner surface of the first member to define an intermediate longitudinal passage therebetween. One of the inside surface of the first member and the outside surface of the second member is permanently formed to have a sinuous shape defining predisposed locations for contacting the other one of the inner surface of the first member and the outer surface of the second member to reduce backlash during relative longitudinal movement.

A flexible-manipulator control device that controls, according to a control parameter, a drive of a flexible manipulator having a movable part at a distal end of a flexible insertion portion to be inserted into the body and having, at a proximal end thereof, the drive for driving the movable part, includes: a physical-information storage unit that stores physical information of a patient into which the insertion portion is inserted; a position-information input unit to which is input position information of the movable part in a state in which it is inserted into the patient; and a parameter adjustment unit that adjusts the control parameter on the basis of the physical information stored in the physical-information storage unit and the position information input to the position-information input unit.

Maximum hardness of a flexible tube section of an endoscope is set such that substantial maximum hardness at a time when an over-tube is attached is equal to or lower than maximum hardness of a flexible tube section of an endoscope. That is, the maximum hardness of the flexible tube section of the endoscope is set substantially equal to hardness obtained by subtracting hardness of the over-tube itself from the maximum hardness of the flexible tube section of the endoscope. In the endoscopes including a hardness changing function, maximum hardness of the endoscope, to which the over-tube is not attached, and maximum hardness of the endoscope, to which the over-tube is attached, are set substantially equal.

A treatment device used together with an endoscope, has a guide pipe and a movement mechanism. The guide pipe has a first pipe having a curving portion and a second pipe continuous with a proximal side of the curving portion. The curving portion has, in its inner circumferential surface, a bent surface bent to the second pipe, and bending the flow direction of the fluid discharged from the distal end of the sheath in a state where the distal end of the sheath is located near the distal end of the second pipe. The movement mechanism protrudes a distal surface of the insertion portion from the distal end of the sheath and brings the distal surface closer to or into abutment with the bent surface in a state where the distal end of the sheath is disposed near the distal end of the second pipe.