| Entries |
| Document | Title | Date |
|---|
| 20080200763 | ENDOSCOPE - An endoscope includes an elongated insertion section inserted into a body cavity from a distal end portion, a hard base section provided on a proximal end side of the insertion section, a transmission line, a holding portion, and a connector portion. The transmission line is extended from the inside of the insertion section to the base section and signals or light is transmitted through thereof. The holding portion is disposed in the base section and holds the transmission line while restricting movement of the insertion section and the base section in a direction perpendicular to an axial direction thereof. The connector portion is provided in the base section and connects an end portion of the extended transmission line to an external device through the holding portion. | 08-21-2008 |
| 20080208003 | CURVILINEARLY CONTROLLING WIRE MEMBER OF ENDOSCOPE AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING THE SAME - A wire member | 08-28-2008 |
| 20080255423 | MEDICAL DEVICE - A medical instrument for performing a medical procedure within a body cavity includes: an insertion part which is inserted into the body cavity and has a bending part capable of bending in a predetermined range; a manipulating part which manipulates the bending part; a wire which connects the bending part with the manipulating part; and a clutch which is provided in the manipulating part and maintains a bending state of the bending part. | 10-16-2008 |
| 20080262309 | ENDOSCOPE AND ROTARY SELF-PROPELLED ENDOSCOPE - An endoscope of the present invention includes an insertion portion including a bending portion, an operation portion separate from the insertion portion, a bending operation wire that is inserted through the insertion portion and used for bending the bending portion in a predetermined direction with tugging in a forward/backward tugging direction, and connecting mechanisms that makes it possible to couple the insertion portion and the operation portion in a manner in which the bending wire is freely tugged in the operation portion. | 10-23-2008 |
| 20080275303 | OPERATION DEVICE AND BENDING OPERATION DEVICE OF ENDOSCOPE - In the present invention, there are provided a movement member which includes an engaging section, which is engaged with an intermediate part of an operation shaft of a joystick device, and operates as one body with the operation shaft at a time of performing an inclining operation of the operation shaft, and a damper case in which the movement member is movably inserted, and which holds a viscous fluid which increases a sliding resistance of the movement member when the movement member is moved. Thereby, a desired operational sensation can be always obtained, and a stable bending operation can be performed. | 11-06-2008 |
| 20080300462 | ACTIVE CONTROLLED BENDING IN MEDICAL DEVICES - A flexible endoscope includes a handle and a flexible shaft extending from the handle. The shaft includes a distal portion having a tubular wall defining a central lumen and a least two smaller lumens extending longitudinally through at least a portion of the tubular wall and a pull wire is disposed within one or more of the smaller lumens. The distal portion further includes an articulation layer disposed over the tubular wall and includes a first series of slots, which allow controlled bending of the distal portion by movement of one or more of the pull wires. | 12-04-2008 |
| 20080319264 | CONNECTION MECHANISM OF PLATE MEMEBER AND SHAFT MEMBER - A connection mechanism is provided with a plate member formed with a polygonal hole, the plate member including a first plate and a second plate overlaid with each other, each of the first plate and the second plate being formed with the polygonal hole, a shaft member formed with a polygonal column section fitted in the polygonal hole formed on the plate member, and a fixing mechanism that fixes the first plate and the second plate with each other to retain a status where the first plate and the second plate are urged oppositely in a rotational direction about a central axis of the shaft member. | 12-25-2008 |
| 20080319265 | GEAR APPARATUS - A gear apparatus includes a spur gear including teeth and to be rotated around a rotation axis, a rotation mechanism to rotate the spur gear, a limitation member including tooth to be engaged with the teeth of the spur gear, the limitation member to limit the rotation of the spur gear, a movement mechanism to move the limitation member in the radial direction of the rotation axis such that the tooth of the limitation member is engaged with the teeth of the spur gear, an input mechanism to input power to actuate the movement mechanism, a transmission mechanism to transmit the power input by the input mechanism to the movement mechanism, and an accumulation mechanism provided in the transmission mechanism and to accumulate the power input by the input mechanism when a tip of the tooth of the limitation member contacts a tip of the tooth of the spur gear. | 12-25-2008 |
| 20090012365 | ENDOSCOPE - A driving source unit is detachably coupled to a large-diameter section on a proximal end side of a scope section. When the driving source unit and the large-diameter section are coupled, working shafts of the large-diameter section are engaged with driving shafts of the driving source unit, and the driving shafts linearly move on the basis of a driving force that is generated from driving motor of the driving source unit. One of the working shafts is moved in accordance with the linear movement of the driving shafts. The movement of one of the working shafts, which is moved by the driving shaft, is transmitted via a pinion gear to the other working shaft in a direction opposite to a direction of the movement of the one working shaft. A bend operation wire is pulled by the movement of the working shaft that moves and a bending section is bent. | 01-08-2009 |
| 20090030282 | CONTROLLABLE DEXTEROUS ENDOSCOPIC DEVICE - A selectively rigidizable endoscopic device is described. In one aspect, an endoscopic medical device is described that includes a flexible inner tube having a first lumen, a flexible outer tube that receives the inner tube, and a multiplicity of overlapping, rigidizable scale-like strips. Each scale-like strip is coupled with the inner tube and positioned between the inner and outer tubes. Of particular note, the overlapping strips are actuatable between a non-rigidized state in which overlapping strips are slideable relative to one another and a rigidized state in which overlapping strips are not slideable relative to one another. | 01-29-2009 |
| 20090036740 | ARRANGEMENT FOR MANIPULATING A MEDICAL DEVICE - There is a drive element to be driven by a motor. There is also a control element for controlling at least one motion of the medical device. A transmission arrangement transmits motion from the drive element to the control element, the transmission arrangement having first and second members which are frictionally engaged with one another so that motion may be transmitted from one to the other. There is a manual manipulation control, which may be grasped by a user to move the medical device manually while the first and second members remain in frictional engagement with one another. | 02-05-2009 |
| 20090069632 | MEDICAL INSTRUMENT WITH A DEFLECTABLE DISTAL PORTION - A deflection assembly of a medical instrument (such as an endoscope or a flexible ureteroscope) allows an operator to deflect a distal portion of the instrument using one or more controls located at a proximal portion of the instrument. The instrument allows the operator to achieve multi-directional deflection of the distal portion. | 03-12-2009 |
| 20090076330 | ENDOSCOPE - The endoscope includes an insertion section having a bending portion near a distal end of the insertion section, a manipulating unit that manipulates bending of the bending portion, a pulling unit that couples the manipulating unit to the bending portion and pulling the bending portion to bend in response to manipulation by the manipulating unit, an auxiliary unit that assists in the pulling of the bending portion by the pulling unit, a sensing unit that senses a manipulative force applied to the manipulating unit and a control unit that controls the assisting in the pulling of the bending portion by the auxiliary unit in accordance with the manipulative force sensed by the sensing unit. | 03-19-2009 |
| 20090088603 | ROTATION ACTUATOR FOR ENDOSCOPIC DEVICES - Methods and devices are provided for rotating an end effector on a long, flexible medical device. The methods and devices utilize an actuator mechanism that is effective to rotate an end effector on the distal end of an elongate flexible shaft. The actuator mechanism is movable between a freely rotatable position and a rotationally resistant position. When the actuator mechanism is in a freely rotatable position, the actuator mechanism can be rotated to impart torque to the end effector, and thus at least a distal portion of the elongate shaft, to cause the end effector to rotate. In order to prevent the actuator mechanism from “freewheeling,” wherein the actuator mechanism freely rotates in an opposite direction upon release rather than the end effector rotating in the desired direction, the actuator mechanism can be moved to the rotationally resistant position. | 04-02-2009 |
| 20090105542 | ENDOSCOPE AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING INSERTION SECTION OF ENDOSCOPE - A bending pipe ( | 04-23-2009 |
| 20090137875 | ENDOSCOPE INSERTION PORTION - An easy-to-manufacture endoscope is provided. | 05-28-2009 |
| 20090149710 | SELECTIVE STIFFENING DEVICES AND METHODS - Methods and devices are provided for selectively stiffening a surgical device. In one exemplary embodiment a surgical device is provided that includes a flexible elongate insertion element and a stiffening element that extends along at least a portion of the insertion element. The insertion element can be, for example, an endoscope or a sheath configured to be disposed over an endoscope. The stiffening element can be configured to selectively stiffen when an outside force, such as a vacuum force, is applied thereto. In one embodiment the stiffening element includes a plurality of elongate members disposed in a flexible sheath. When the vacuum force is applied, the sheath can be configured to engage the elongate members to maintain the elongate members in a fixed, stiffened position, thereby stiffening at least a portion of the flexible elongate insertion element coupled thereto. Various methods for stiffening an insertion instrument, such as an endoscope, are also provided herein. | 06-11-2009 |
| 20090177041 | ARTICULATING SURGICAL DEVICE AND METHOD OF USE - Various embodiments of an elongate surgical device configured to travel along a tortuous body lumen to a surgical site are provided herein. In one embodiment, the device can include a tensioning element extending through a channel formed along a length of the device and the tensioning element can translate an articulation force to the working end of the device. During such articulation of the device, a portion of the channel can be configured to allow the tensioning element to exit the channel and move away from a longitudinal axis of the device thereby optimizing a mechanical advantage relative to the distal end of the device and thus maximizing the force capable of being delivered thereto. Additionally, various embodiments of a method for articulating a working end of an elongate surgical device are provided herein. | 07-09-2009 |
| 20090192356 | ROTATABLE OPERATION DEVICE FOR ENDOSCOPE - A rotatable operation device for an endoscope includes a fixed shaft projected outward from an operating portion, a cylindrical shaft projected from a rotatable operating member. The cylindrical shaft is rotatably fitted on the fixed shaft, and an end side surface of the cylindrical shaft contacts a fixed surface defined inside the operating portion. An internal space of the operating portion and an internal space of the rotatable operating member are airtight against outside. The rotatable operation device is configured to have an air passage which is formed in the cylindrical rotary shaft, a space at a fitted portion between the fixed shaft and the cylindrical rotary shaft communicating with the inside space of the operating portion through the air passage with the end side surface and the fixed surface remaining contacted. | 07-30-2009 |
| 20090198104 | MEDICAL INSTRUMENT - A medical instrument, includes: an insertion section having a treatment instrument projection port and an active bending section at a position on the insertion section's proximal end portion side of the treatment instrument projection port; a joystick by which an operation of the active bending section is inputted; a driving section for driving the active bending section; and a control section for controlling the joystick and the driving section, and the control section having an active bending section which performs a control in one control mode selected from a plurality of different control modes. | 08-06-2009 |
| 20090287054 | Bending tube and medical apparatus - A bending tube, provided with a bending section capable of bending, the bending tube comprising: a main unit having a lumen; a pair of transfer members having distal ends of the transfer members being connected to a distal end of the bending section or the main unit disposed distally relative to the bending section; an operation section having proximal ends of the pair of transfer members, the operation section being configured so that a retracting operation for retracting one of the pair of transfer members proximally causes the other one of the pair of transfer members to be linked and pushed out distally, wherein the retracting operation applies a predetermined magnitude of tension to the pair of transfer members. | 11-19-2009 |
| 20090312606 | FLEXIBLE DEVICE SHAFT WITH ANGLED SPIRAL WRAP - Spiral-wound materials, spirals, and shafts made therefrom that have wraps with edges that may nest within one another are described. Such edges allow the spiral to achieve a smaller bending radius, meaning tighter turns and more flexibility due to the ability of adjacent wraps to nest within each other when the shaft is bent. Spirals having wraps with edges capable of nesting can be used in the medical field for devices that track anatomy, such as endoscopes, colonoscopes, catheters, and the like. | 12-17-2009 |
| 20090326326 | Endoscope Head Apparatus - The present invention discloses an endoscope head apparatus comprising a head mechanism, an elastic element, a support portion, a first wire, a second wire and a bilaterally flexible body. The elastic element is connected to the head mechanism and has a first accommodating space therein. The support portion is connected to the elastic element and has a second accommodating space therein. The first wire and the second wire are connected to head mechanism. The bilaterally flexible body is located at the first accommodating space, and connected to the head mechanism and the support portion respectively, and has a first bendable surface and a second bendable surface. The bilaterally flexible body can swing toward the first surface or the second surface by pulling the first wire or the second wire. | 12-31-2009 |
| 20100030029 | Instrument for endoscopic surgery with knee in shaft and shaft stable handpiece - An endoscopic surgical instrument having a handpiece supporting an operating shaft. Said shaft having a knee enabling its distal end to bend away from the shaft axis, with its operative elements at the distal end. The handpiece has a stationary rest for the web of the thumb, and a four link engagement for the fingers, enabling actuation of the instrument without off-axis whipping motion. | 02-04-2010 |
| 20100036202 | FOUR-DIRECTIONAL TIP DEFLECTION DEVICE FOR ENDOSCOPE - The present invention discloses a four-directional tip deflection device for endoscope including a tip deflecting mechanism, an elastic element, a support portion, a four-directionally flexible body, and first, second, third and fourth wires. The tip deflecting mechanism includes an endoscope lens, and first, second, third and fourth connecting portions facing the endoscope lens. The elastic element is sheathed to the tip deflecting mechanism. The support portion is sheathed to the elastic element. The four-directionally flexible body disposed in a first accommodating space has an end connected to the tip deflecting mechanism and another end connected to the support portion. The first, second, third and fourth wires are connected to the first, second, third and fourth connecting portions respectively. If the first, second, third or fourth wire is pulled, the four-directionally flexible body will be bent into an angle corresponding with a first, second, third or fourth wire direction respectively. | 02-11-2010 |
| 20100076267 | ENDOSCOPE HAVING FORCEPS CHANNEL - An endoscope of a transnasal type includes an elongated tube for entry in a patient's body. A steering mechanism is provided in the elongated tube and on a proximal side from a distal end thereof, and bendable for changing a direction of the distal end. A forceps channel is formed through the elongated tube, for passing a treatment device to advance through the distal end. A constituent component is inserted in the elongated tube, disposed outside the forceps channel, and having an uneven thickness uneven within the steering mechanism in a direction transverse to an axial direction of the elongated tube, for extending in a tube lumen within the elongated tube. Specifically, the constituent component includes an air/water supply channel, or is an optical fiber bundle. | 03-25-2010 |
| 20100099952 | Steerable Shaft Having Micromachined Tube - A shaft of a steerable medical device includes a torque tube that allows the tip of the shaft to be torqued from the proximal end. In one embodiment, the torque tube includes a metal tube having a series of opposing cuts therein to form a number of axially aligned rings that are joined by spacing beams. The cuts are oriented in different directions along the length of the torque tube to allow bending in any direction and effective transfer of rotational torque. | 04-22-2010 |
| 20100125169 | DE-LOOPING TOOL FOR AN ENDOSCOPE - A method and apparatus for removing loops formed during endoscopic procedures including colonoscopy and small bowel enteroscopy. The device inserted through the biopsy channel of an endoscope reversibly engages the distal portion of the biopsy channel of the endoscope. When pressure is applied to the device handle external to the endoscope, the force is transmitted to the distal end of the endoscope advances and straightens out the loop. When the device is torqued, the distal end of the engaged endoscope torques which can remove a twist in the endoscope as well. Neither procedure requires removal of a portion of the scope or loss of position which occurs with conventional methods. | 05-20-2010 |
| 20100268031 | ELECTRIC BENDING ENDOSCOPE - An electrically bending endoscope includes a driven unit including an insertion portion extending in a longitudinally axial direction, and a driving unit to be attached to and detached from a proximal end portion of the driven unit. The driving unit includes a driving portion to produce driving force, and a driving transmission mechanism to transmit the driving force and including a driving coupling portion. The driven unit includes a bending portion provided in the insertion portion and to be operated to be bent by the driving force, and a driven transmission mechanism to transmit the driving force to the bending portion and including a driven coupling portion to be coupled with and separated from the driving coupling portion. The driving unit includes a detecting portion connected to the driving portion and to detect a load produced in the driving transmission mechanism corresponding to a load in the driven transmission mechanism. | 10-21-2010 |
| 20100280320 | FLEXIBLE AND STEERABLE ELONGATE INSTRUMENTS WITH SHAPE CONTROL AND SUPPORT ELEMENTS - An instrument having a flexible and elongated body includes at least a lumen and a flex member disposed within the lumen. The flex member may be capable of providing steering control to a first portion of the elongate body while providing load bearing support to a second portion of the elongate body. A pull wire may be disposed within the flex member, and at least a distal portion of the pull wire may be coupled to the elongate body and a proximal portion of the pull wire may be operatively coupled to a control unit. The control unit may be coupled to a proximal portion of the elongate body. In addition, a control member may be operatively coupled to the control unit such that a distal portion of the control member may be positioned near a proximal portion of the flex member. The control member may be configured to support the flex member and control the movement or displacement of the flex member. Furthermore, the flex member may be configured to selectively decouple articulation or steering forces of a first portion of the elongate body away from a second portion of the elongate body; thereby, preventing compression of the second portion of the elongate body while maintaining elasticity or flexibility of the second portion of the elongate body. | 11-04-2010 |
| 20110009700 | CONTROLLING MOVEMENT OF DISTAL PORTION OF MEDICAL DEVICE - A medical device allows movement control of a distal end portion of the medical device and is adapted for one-handed operation. The medical device is capable of omni-directional control of the distal end portion of the device. The device has an elongated member including a deflectable portion at a distal end portion of the elongated member. The device also has a control portion disposed on the elongated member. This control portion can be a handle for one-handed use by an operator of the medical device. The control portion comprises an elastic element and a flexible element. Angular movement of a first portion of the control portion with respect to a second portion of the control portion results in amplification of that angular movement in the deflectable portion of the device. | 01-13-2011 |
| 20110065994 | ENDOSCOPE - The endoscope is equipped with: a curving manipulation unit provided on the main body manipulating unit, for performing a manual operation which causes the curving portion; a curving drive unit for coupling the curving manipulation unit to the curving portion so as to curve the curving portion in response to a manipulation performed by the curving manipulation unit; a manipulating force detecting unit for detecting a manipulating force applied to the curving manipulation unit; a manipulation assisting power calculating unit for calculating manipulation assisting power corresponding to the manipulating force detected by the manipulating force detecting unit; and a rotation driving force generating unit for applying a driving force via a driving force transferring mechanism to the curving drive unit, so as to generate the manipulation assisting power calculated by the manipulation assisting power calculating unit; in which the rotation driving force generating unit is arranged in an appendix unit. | 03-17-2011 |
| 20110082337 | STEERABLE DEVICE AND SYSTEM - A system includes a steerable device, such as a sheath or shaft, having proximal and distal ends. The steerable device includes an elongated body having a proximal section, a steering section, and a distal tip. Control wires are routed through the body and connected at or near the distal end of the steerable device. The system further includes a control unit to which the proximal end of the steerable device is functionally connected. In one embodiment, the control unit includes an actuator connected to one control wire and a biasing force generating device connected to a second control wire. The steering section is controllably manipulated by the control unit to facilitate steering of the distal tip of the steerable device as the steerable device is advanced through tortuous passageways of a patient's body. | 04-07-2011 |
| 20110208002 | ENDOSCOPE APPARATUS - An endoscope apparatus includes a display portion coupled to an operation portion, configured to be moved relative to the operation portion and configured to display an observation image obtained by the endoscope apparatus, a bending operation portion provided at the operation portion and configured to be moved in a basic direction relative to the operation portion wherein the bending operation portion is configured to be moved in an additional direction different from the basic direction, and a movement driving mechanism configured to move the display portion relative to the operation portion according to movement of the bending operation portion in the additional direction relative to the operation portion. | 08-25-2011 |
| 20110213206 | FIBER OPTIC IMAGING CATHETER - A steerable imaging catheter is provided, including an elongated catheter tube, at least one steering cable extending along the catheter tube to control the movement of the distal end thereof, and a fiber optic cable extending along the catheter tube. The fiber optic cable transmits illumination light from its proximal end to its distal end and transmits an image from its distal end to its proximal end. In one embodiment, two or more steering cables are used, and the catheter tube is configured to have greater flexibility near its distal end than its proximal end so as to concentrate the movement (flexing) of the catheter tube at its distal end. The use of two or more steering cables, together with the catheter tube having varying flexibility, permit better control of the distal end of the catheter tube while reducing undue twisting of the remainder of the catheter tube. | 09-01-2011 |
| 20110230718 | MEDICAL FLEXIBLE SECTION AND INSERTION SECTION OF MEDICAL APPARATUS - A medical flexible section includes an inner tube body which has a first bend allowing section configured to allow bending in a predetermined direction provided on a side surface thereof and forms a duct and an outer tube body which has a second bend allowing section configured to allow bending in a predetermined direction provided on a side surface thereof and in which the inner tube body is inserted. The medical flexible section includes an operation ring configured to change bendability of an insertion section constituted of the outer tube body and the inner tube body by rotating the inner tube body in a periaxial direction with respect to the outer tube body to adjust a relative positional relationship between the first bend allowing section and the second bend allowing section. | 09-22-2011 |
| 20110245615 | BENDING-INSERTION ASSISTING INSTRUMENT AND INSERTION PATH SECURING APPARATUS - An insertion path securing apparatus includes a bending-insertion assisting instrument and a sheath tube that includes a first lumen where the bending-insertion assisting instrument is inserted. The bending-insertion assisting instrument includes a bendable tip bending portion, an intermediate extension portion being connected to the tip bending portion, and a bending operation portion being disposed at a base end of the intermediate extension portion. The state of the intermediate extension portion can be selectively switched to a variable-shape state where the bent shape of the intermediate extension portion can be freely changed and a shape retaining state where the bent shape of the intermediate extension portion is retained. The sheath tube includes a tube-like insertion portion of which the state can be selectively switched to a variable-shape state and a shape retaining state, and an operation portion that is disposed at a base end of the tube-like insertion portion. | 10-06-2011 |
| 20110295069 | ENDOSCOPE - An endoscope includes an elongated insertion portion inserted in a subject; a bending portion including an independently bendable first bending part and a second bending part bendable together with the first bending part in the same direction as a bending direction of the first bending part; a flexible tube portion; a first wire inserted through the insertion portion and having a distal end fixed to a distal end of the first bending part; a first guide pipe through which the first wire is inserted so as to be advanceable/retractable with respect to an insertion direction S, which has a distal end fixed between the bending portion and the flexible tube portion; a second wire inserted in the insertion portion and having a distal end fixed between the first and second bending parts, which causes the second bending part to be rigid when pulled; and a second guide pipe. | 12-01-2011 |
| 20110306836 | TENDON-DRIVEN ENDOSCOPE AND METHODS OF USE - A steerable, tendon-driven endoscope is described herein. The endoscope has an elongated body with a manually or selectively steerable distal portion and an automatically controlled, segmented proximal portion. The steerable distal portion and the segment of the controllable portion are actuated by at least two tendons. As the endoscope is advanced, the user maneuvers the distal portion, and a motion controller actuates tendons in the segmented proximal portion so that the proximal portion assumes the selected curve of the selectively steerable distal portion. By this method the selected curves are propagated along the endoscope body so that the endoscope largely conforms to the pathway selected. When the endoscope is withdrawn proximally, the selected curves can propagate distally along the endoscope body. This allows the endoscope to negotiate tortuous curves along a desired path through or around and between organs within the body. | 12-15-2011 |
| 20120130173 | CONTROL DEVICE - A control device is provided, particularly for use in endoscopes or the like. The control device has proximal and distal end sections which each incorporate an articulation zone and a bending resistant central section arranged therebetween. The control device also comprises outer and inner hollow cylindrical shafts and a control element arranged between the shafts. Force transmitting longitudinal elements extend substantially from the proximal to the distal end section. The longitudinal elements are arranged at angular intervals in the circumferential direction of the control device and are connected together in the regions of their proximal and distal ends in the circumferential direction. The control device further comprises a holding device with the aid of which a part of an articulation zone is fixable, in a bending resistant manner, with respect to the longitudinal direction of the central section or to a functional unit adjoining the proximal or distal end section. | 05-24-2012 |
| 20120165609 | BENDING DEVICE - A bending device includes a bendable unit which has a bendable body extending in a direction and a soft pipe extending in the same direction and fixed to the bendable body. The soft pipe is stretchable in said direction relative to the bendable body in response to changes of pressure inside the soft pipe, which results in the bendable body and the soft pipe bending. | 06-28-2012 |
| 20120209073 | IN-VIVO VISUALIZATION SYSTEM - Several embodiments of the present invention are generally directed to medical visualization systems that comprise combinations of disposable and resuable components, such as catheters, functional handles, hubs, optical devices, etc. Other embodiments of the present invention are generally directed to features and aspects of an in-vivo visualization system that comprises an endoscope having a working channel through which a catheter having viewing capabilities is routed. The catheter may obtain viewing capabilities by being constructed as a vision catheter or by having a fiberscope or other viewing device selectively routed through one of its channels. The catheter is preferably of the steerable type so that the distal end of the catheter may be steered from its proximal end as it is advanced with the body. A suitable use for the in-vivo visualization system includes but is not limited to diagnosis and/or treatment of the duodenum, and particularly the biliary tree. | 08-16-2012 |
| 20120245419 | Devices, Systems and Methods For Diagnosing and Treating Sinusitis and Other Disorders of the Ears, Nose and/or Throat - Sinusitis, enlarged nasal turbinates, tumors, infections, hearing disorders, allergic conditions, facial fractures and other disorders of the ear, nose and throat are diagnosed and/or treated using minimally invasive approaches and, in many cases, flexible catheters as opposed to instruments having rigid shafts. Various diagnostic procedures and devices are used to perform imaging studies, mucus flow studies, air/gas flow studies, anatomic dimension studies, endoscopic studies and transillumination studies. Access and occluder devices may be used to establish fluid tight seals in the anterior or posterior nasal cavities/nasopharynx and to facilitate insertion of working devices (e.g., scopes, guidewires, catheters, tissue cutting or remodeling devices, electrosurgical devices, energy emitting devices, devices for injecting diagnostic or therapeutic agents, devices for implanting devices such as stents, substance eluting devices, substance delivery implants, etc. | 09-27-2012 |
| 20120265016 | ENDOSCOPE - An endoscope has an insertion part including a bending part bending with a remote operation and a soft part connected to the bending part, the insertion part having: a first outer coat with an integral structure provided in at least part of the soft part and in the bending part; and a second outer coat with which the first outer coat is coated in the soft part only. | 10-18-2012 |
| 20120277535 | BENDING OPERATION DEVICE FOR ENDOSCOPE AND THE ENDOSCOPE - A bending operation device includes a bending operation knob, a friction plate, two tabular fastening members, an annular member including a cam groove for moving the two tabular members from a first position to a second position, and a fixing lever configured to actuate the annular member. | 11-01-2012 |
| 20120323077 | STEERABLE TUBE, ENDOSCOPIC INSTRUMENT AND ENDOSCOPE COMPRISING SUCH A TUBE, AND AN ASSEMBLY - A steerable tube for endoscopic applications includes a first, a second and a third part. The first part includes a first movable portion and the third part includes a second movable portion. The steerable tube includes longitudinal elements that are constructed and arranged such that a change in orientation of the first movable portion of the first part with respect to the second part results in a change in orientation of the second movable portion of the third part with respect to the second part. The longitudinal elements are constructed and arranged such that they are twisted and/or that they are twistable. An endoscopic instrument and an endoscope including the steerable tube, and an assembly including an endoscopic instrument and the endoscope are also described. | 12-20-2012 |
| 20130060088 | BENDING PORTION-EQUIPPED MEDICAL APPARATUS - A bending portion-equipped medical apparatus includes: a bending portion; a grasping portion having a long axis and including a sheath portion to be grasped by a finger other than a thumb of a grasping hand; an operation portion including the grasping portion; and an operation element for performing an operation to bend the bending portion, the operation element including a shaft portion including a distal end portion and a proximal end portion, the shaft portion being provided in a standing manner in the operation portion, a tilting direction and an tilting angle of the shaft portion being changeable, and a finger contact portion provided at the distal end portion and including inclined surfaces each inclined from the proximal end direction side of the shaft portion to the distal end direction side of the shaft portion along a tilting direction in which the tilting angle of the shaft portion increases. | 03-07-2013 |
| 20130184528 | ENDOSCOPE, AND TREATMENT INSTRUMENT FOR ENDOSCOPE - A medical instrument system includes an elongated member having an inner space in a direction of a longitudinal axis, an insertion section installed at the inner space and having a bending section capable of being bent, a manipulation section configured to manipulate the bending section, a first manipulation member transmitting a driving force of the bending section in accordance with the manipulation by the manipulation section, a second manipulation member arranged in the direction of a longitudinal axis, a connecting section having a first connecting section and a second connecting section and capable of connecting the first manipulation member and the second manipulation member, and a switching mechanism having a first acting section and a second acting section and switching between a connection state and a release state in accordance with a relative movement between the elongated member and the insertion section. | 07-18-2013 |
| 20130237760 | CONTROLLABLE ENDOSCOPIC SHEATH APPARATUS AND RELATED METHOD OF USE - A controllable sheath for optimizing the control of surgical instruments at the operation site includes a flexible sheath surrounding an endoscope and including a lumen extending along the walls of the sheath and adjacent to the endoscope. The lumen permits the passage of surgical instruments from the proximal end of the endoscopic device to the operation site. The lumen extends beyond the distal end of the endoscope and deflects at the distal end as desired by the operator's manipulation of a controller device. This distal end deflection may occur through various different techniques where the ability to deflect the lumen gives the operator increased control and maneuverability over the surgical implements located in the lumen. Depending upon the particular requirements of the surgical procedure, the controllable sheath may include any number of lumens capable of distal end deflection. | 09-12-2013 |
| 20130303855 | ENDOSCOPE - An endoscope has a bending portion operation apparatus at an operation portion, the bending portion operation apparatus being for bending and operating a bending portion, and the bending portion operation apparatus includes a dial for bending operation which bends the bending portion by pivoting about a shaft, a portion of the dial for bending operation provided at the operation portion being protruded at a position where the dial for bending operation is operated with a thumb grasping the operation portion, and an auxiliary dial for bending operation which has a meshing portion meshing with the dial for bending operation and a protruding portion protruding at a position where the auxiliary dial for bending operation is operable with a finger other than the thumb, an operation input entered at the protruding portion with the finger other than the thumb being transmitted to the bending operation dial via the meshing portion. | 11-14-2013 |
| 20130331652 | INSERTION APPARATUS - An insertion portion, an operation portion, a pull wire, a joy stick, and a guide roller that is provided outside an action range of a frame body that acts by being linked with tilt of an operation element and a shaft in the operation portion, and changes a travel direction of the pull wire that is extended in a height direction Z from the frame body so that the pull wire travels outside the action range of the frame body to a front side in an insertion direction. | 12-12-2013 |
| 20130338441 | ENDOSCOPE - An endoscope includes an insertion portion, a bending portion bendable in an up-down direction and a left-right direction, a traction member for bending the bending portion, an operation portion provided at a proximal end of the insertion portion, an operation input portion provided in the operation portion, tiltable with respect to a first direction for bending the bending portion in the up-down direction and a second direction for bending the bending portion in the left-right direction, and for performing an operation input for acting on the traction member according to tilting operation and bending the bending portion, and an operation force amount adjusting portion configured to adjust an operation force amount for tilting the operation input portion in the first direction and an operation force amount for tilting the operation input portion in the second direction to be different. | 12-19-2013 |
| 20140012087 | ENDOSCOPE - In an embodiment of the present invention, an endoscope includes an insertion unit having a bending portion on a distal end side thereof, an endoscope main body provided on a proximal end side of the insertion unit, a left-and-right direction bending mechanism coupled with the bending portion, a left-and-right direction bending drive unit generating drive force to bend the bending portion in a left-and-right direction, a drive force transmission mechanism transmitting the drive force to the left-and-right direction bending mechanism and a cord portion extending from the endoscope main body and supplies electrical power from the outside to the left-and-right direction bending drive unit, wherein the left-and-right direction bending drive unit is provided on the endoscope main body and arranged along an extending direction of the cord unit. | 01-09-2014 |
| 20140221751 | Endoscopic Instrument - Endoscopic instrument with a control element, an instrument shaft, an adjustment element, a pull element, an actuator, an intermediate element which is operatively connected to the control element and to the adjustment element such that a force applied to the control element by the user can be transmitted to the adjustment element via the intermediate element in order to move the adjustment element, a detection device for detecting a torsion of the intermediate element, and an abutment device, which defines a free rotatory movement range of the control element relative to the adjustment element. | 08-07-2014 |
| 20140296639 | ENDOSCOPE APPARATUS - An endoscope apparatus includes: an insertion portion to be inserted into a living body, an optical fiber that is inserted through the insertion portion and emits light from a light source, a fixing member that holds the optical fiber in the insertion portion in a state where the optical fiber is protruded in a distal end direction of the insertion portion, an actuator that causes the distal end of the optical fiber to swing, and a distal end optical system having an optical characteristic in which a focal point position of the light is behind a distal end of the insertion portion when the optical fiber protruded from the fixing member is shortened by a predetermined length. | 10-02-2014 |
| 20140296640 | BENDING OPERATION APPARATUS FOR ENDOSCOPE AND ENDOSCOPE INCLUDING THE BENDING OPERATION APPARATUS - A bending operation apparatus for an endoscope includes a bending operation knob, a first movable disk, a second movable disk, a cam member, a fixed disk, an annular member, and a step portion that is provided at the annular member and comes into contact with a base portion of the cam member as the cam member is pivoted in another direction to cause the second movable disk to move from a second position to a first position. | 10-02-2014 |
| 20140316202 | Surgeon Controlled Endoscope Device and Method - A medical apparatus including an endoscopic tool including first and second members longitudinally slideable relative to each other; and a control connected to a proximal end of the endoscopic tool. The control includes a housing and a slider. The slider is longitudinally slideably connected to the housing. The slider has the first member and/or the second member connected thereto. The housing includes a connector configured to removeably connect the housing to a control section of an endoscope. | 10-23-2014 |
| 20140316203 | Surgeon Controlled Endoscope Device and Method - A medical apparatus including an endoscopic tool including first and second members longitudinally slideable relative to each other; and a control connected to a proximal end of the endoscopic tool. The control includes a housing and an actuation mechanism. The actuation mechanism is longitudinally slideably connected to the housing. The actuation mechanism has the first member and/or the second member connected thereto. The housing includes a connector configured to removeably connect the housing to a control section of an endoscope. | 10-23-2014 |
| 20150087910 | ENDOSCOPE - An endoscope includes an insertion portion, a first bending portion, a second bending portion, a bending operation wire, a first coil sheath, a switching mechanism, a guide, a first region of the guide, a second region of the guide, and a central part formed between the first region and the second region on an inner surface of the guide, protruding inside more than the first region and the second region and formed to be longer than a coil elemental wire making up the first coil sheath. | 03-26-2015 |
| 20150141756 | CONTINUUM STYLE MANIPULATOR ACTUATED WITH PHASE CHANGE MEDIA - A continuum style manipulator is actuated by jammable media within an envelope of a module, which is also actuated by a tensile element, such as a cable and spooler motor. Multiple modules may be reversibly added. Two or more tensile elements may also be used. Three or more actuated tensile elements can actuate three DOFs of each module, and the terminal module, as well as the entire manipulator. Jammable media may be granular, actuated by a pressure change. Coarsely ground coffee works well. Rather than a jammable media, tensile elements may alternatively be used with other phase change media, such as magnetorheological and electrorheological media. A high friction angle of the granular media is desirable, and has been achieved with a particle size dispersion including both small and relatively larger particles. Applications include endoscopes, proctoscopes, laparoscopic instruments, manufacturing and medical manipulators. Methods of actuating include unjamming all modules, positioning the manipulator with tensile elements or otherwise, jamming the base-most module, and then repositioning remaining, not-jammed modules, followed by jamming the base-most not-jammed module, and so on, until all modules are positioned and jammed. | 05-21-2015 |
| 20150313447 | INSERTION INSTRUMENT AND ENDOSCOPE - An insertion instrument includes an insertion portion, an operation portion connected to the insertion portion, a first bending region and a second bending region on a distal end side of the insertion portion, a bending wire that is inserted through the inside of the insertion portion and the operation portion and that causes the bending portion to perform a bending operation, a wire movement restriction portion that restricts the bending wire, a bending state switching mechanism that switches between a first bending state in which the first bending region and the second bending region perform a bending operation and a second bending state in which only the first bending region performs a bending operation, and a wire movement restriction portion switching mechanism that switches the wire movement restriction portion in synchrony with an operation that switches to the first bending state or the second bending state. | 11-05-2015 |
| 20150313450 | Stopper for the Cables of a Bending Section of An Endoscope - The present specification discloses an endoscope with a plurality of steering cables for maneuvering the bending section, some of which are positioned on the internal walls of the bending section using cable guides. Cable stoppers placed in the last vertebra (proximal articulated segment) of the bending section are used to secure the cable close to the distal tip at one end, and to the knobs located in the endoscope handle at the other end. In one embodiment, one of the cable stoppers is located such that it is flanged to the proximal end of the distal tip. This design leaves more free space in the internal diameter of the last vertebra and does not cause obstruction or interference in the proper functioning of other components, such as the front working channel, during the movement of the four steering cables for maneuvering the bending section. | 11-05-2015 |
| 20160066771 | INTRODUCTION DEVICE AND ENDOSCOPIC APPARATUS - An introduction device includes, a grip portion which has a first wall portion, and a second wall portion, a curving portion which is configured to curve in a first surface and in a second surface that intersects at right angles with the first surface, a first dial portion which is rotatably provided in the first wall portion and which curves the curving portion in the first surface in accordance with a rotation amount, and a dial unit includes a shaft rotatably provided on the second wall portion, and a second dial portion which is fixed to the shaft and which curves the curving portion in the second surface in accordance with a rotation amount, the shaft being oblique to the longitudinal axis when seen from the side of the second wall portion. | 03-10-2016 |
| 20160157699 | INTRODUCTION DEVICE - An introduction device includes an operation main body, a bending section capable of bending in a first direction and a second direction, a first rotary body configured to be operated at a time of bending the bending section in the first direction, and a second rotary body configured to be operated at a time of bending the bending section in the second direction, the second rotary body being configured such that a part of an outer edge is located on an extension plane which is defined by extending the first surface, or the part of the outer edge is located more on the distal-end direction side of the first shaft portion than the extension plane. | 06-09-2016 |
| 20160174815 | INTRODUCTION DEVICE | 06-23-2016 |
