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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8187173 | Apparatus for advancing an endoscope and method for manipulating the apparatus for advancing an endoscope In a region where an intestine is movable in the abdominal cavity, conventional endoscope apparatus have suffered from a difficulty in moving an endoscope advancing portion toward a deep intestinal portion. An apparatus for advancing an endoscope is provided, which ... | 05/29/2012 |
| 8147401 | Endoscope insertion support tool and endoscope device An endoscope insertion support tool includes an advancing and retracting member that is disposed in an insertion section of an endoscope, capable of advancing and retracting in a hollow passage, a distal end portion of which communicates with the outside, and has le... | 04/03/2012 |
| 8016748 | Apparatus and methods for coronary sinus access Apparatus and methods for locating morphological features within a body cavity using a catheter including proximal and distal ends, a transparent balloon carried on the distal end, and an optical imaging assembly carried on the distal end for imaging through the bal... | 09/13/2011 |
| 8012084 | Endoscope device and control method for the same An endoscope device comprises: an endoscope including an insertion portion and a first balloon attached to a distal end of the insertion portion; and an insertion guide that is to be covered on the insertion portion to guide insertion of the insertion portion, the i... | 09/06/2011 |
| 8002698 | Therapeutic method that uses overtube With a first endoscope inserted through an overtube, the overtube is orally inserted into an object being examined, and a distal end portion of an insertion tube of the first endoscope is made to advance, within the object, from a jejunum via a jejunum-to-jejunum an... | 08/23/2011 |
| 7963911 | Locomotive endoscope assembly for fluid supply Apparatus for fluid supply to the interior of a portion of a tubular body portion including a locomotive endoscope head extending along a longitudinal axis and having a first selectably radially extendible sealing element and a second selectably radially extendible ... | 06/21/2011 |
| 7959559 | Endoscope insertion assisting device, endoscope apparatus, medical treatment device and endoscope insertion method The present invention includes a first balloon member having a first hollow portion that allows an insertion portion of the endoscope to pass therethrough; a first transmission member that transmits an advance/retreat action performed by an operator to the first bal... | 06/14/2011 |
| 7901347 | Balloon controller for endoscopic apparatus A balloon controller for an endoscope apparatus, which expands or shrinks a first balloon attached to an insertion portion of an endoscope by supplying fluid to the first balloon or drawing fluid from the first balloon, and which expands or shrinks a second balloon ... | 03/08/2011 |
| 7708687 | Endoscope propulsion system and method A system and method provides active propulsion of endoscopes along body lumens. The propulsion system can be attached to a commercially available endoscope, or be provide affixed together, and moves the endoscope in a lumen by pulling it forward. A rotatable toroida... | 05/04/2010 |
| 7699771 | Catheter introducer system for exploration of body cavities A catheter introducer system for endoscopy is disclosed which includes a steering section and a propulsion section located near the end of the catheter that is introduced in a body cavity, and a non-collapsible sheath defining a working channel. The propulsion secti... | 04/20/2010 |
| 7678044 | Endoscopic device A first balloon is fitted to an insertion portion of an endoscope and a second balloon is fitted to an insertion aid member. An end connector of a tube is connected to a balloon control device that supplies and sucks air into and from the first balloon and the secon... | 03/16/2010 |
| 7597661 | Medical instrument having a catheter and method for using a catheter A medical instrument includes a catheter having a distal end insertable within a body lumen and having longitudinally spaced apart and circumferentially-protruding first and second pods. The first pod has a first exterior surface with a first surface portion. The fi... | 10/06/2009 |
| 7413542 | Atraumatic arthroscopic instrument sheath A removable, resilient atraumatic sheath for arthroscopic instruments. The sheath covers sharp edges on the arthroscopic instrument, particularly the distal tip of the rigid cannula, and thereby protects tissue and objects near a surgical site from accidental trauma... | 08/19/2008 |
| 7264588 | Endoscopic inspection using a flexible sleeve An endoscopic apparatus including an internal unit, adapted to be advanced into a gastrointestinal tract of a patient so as to enable inspection of the tract, an anchor unit, adapted to be held in a position outside the gastrointestinal tract and a flexible sleeve, ... | 09/04/2007 |
| 7258664 | Endoscope inserting direction detecting method and endoscope inserting direction detecting system An endoscope inserting direction detecting system receives an endoscopic image, detects an endoscope inserting direction, in which an endoscope should be inserted, on the basis of the endoscopic image and produces information concerning the detected inserting direct... | 08/21/2007 |
| 7220226 | Removable operating device for a flexible endoscopic probe for medical purposes An operating device is provided which includes an instrument insertion conduit, having a distal end connectable to the operating channel input of a handle of an endoscopic probe, the proximal end of the instrument insertion conduit forming an instrument input for th... | 05/22/2007 |
| 7214229 | Radially expanding stents The present disclosure is directed to embodiments of devices for capturing obstructions within passageways. The devices disclosed herein may include a flexible tubular body forming multiple flexible members arranged in a helical pattern. These flexible members may b... | 05/08/2007 |
| 7186214 | Instruments and methods for accessing an anatomic space An anatomic space of the body, particularly the pericardial space, is accessed in a minimally invasive manner from a skin incision by an access instrument to facilitate visualization and introduction of devices or drugs or other materials, performance of medical and... | 03/06/2007 |
| 7179249 | Directional needle injection drug delivery device and method of use The invention relates to an apparatus and method for imaging and mapping various structures located at a target area within a patient's lumen using conventional IVUS technology. The mapped images are used to accurately determine and control the location of the devic... | 02/20/2007 |
| 7172552 | Catheter introducer system for exploration of body cavities A self propelling catheter introducer system for exploring a body cavity is disclosed which includes a flexible tubular catheter, an everting tube and a steering section located near the distal end of the catheter that is introduced in a body cavity. The steering se... | 02/06/2007 |
| 7112195 | Esophageal lesion treatment method Apparatus for the treatment of Barrett's esophagus, including: an inflatable balloon for insertion into the esophagus, an endoscope for passing inside the balloon on a distal end thereof, a laser fiber apparatus for insertion within the balloon in the esophagus, and... | 09/26/2006 |
| 7097614 | Endoscope suitable for autoclaving An endoscope suitable for autoclaving in accordance with the present invention has a barrier that separates an interior from an exterior. When the barrier is located at a predetermined position, consideration is taken into a displacement of the barrier between the p... | 08/29/2006 |
| 7056283 | Double sleeve endoscope Endoscopic apparatus, including a probe (9) having an anterior component (12) and a posterior component (14), and a flexible dual-sleeved tube (31). The flexible dual-sleeved tube consists of a flexible external sleeve (26) and a f... | 06/06/2006 |
| 7056306 | Fluid sampling device with retractable needle A method for withdrawing a fluid sample from a patient is disclosed comprising the steps of: a) providing a sampling device (10) having a housing (20) and a needle (40) having a sharpened tip for piercing the skin of the patient; b) withdrawing ... | 06/06/2006 |
| 7044245 | Toroidal propulsion and steering system An apparatus comprises a body having a torus skin with inner and outer layers, and a drive system configured to propel the apparatus by moving the inner layer relative to the outer layer. The active skin propulsion system allows movement and steering of a device. A ... | 05/16/2006 |
| 7022068 | Endoscope system with a hollow cylinder and a bellows moving mechanism An endoscope system with a hollow cylinder and bellows moving mechanism is provided. The system includes a cylinder having a head unit mounted by a camera devices, a front fixing unit connected to the head unit which is installed to an outer circumference of the cyl... | 04/04/2006 |
| 6988986 | Self-propelled imaging system An imaging system comprising an imaging device assembled on a carrier tube, and a first outwardly expandable element and a second outwardly expandable element mounted on the carrier tube, wherein the second expandable element is expandable both radially and axially,... | 01/24/2006 |
| 6988988 | Endoscopic inspection using a flexible sleeve An endoscopic apparatus including an internal unit, adapted to be advanced into a gastrointestinal tract of a patient so as to enable inspection of the tract, an anchor unit, adapted to be held in a position outside the gastrointestinal tract and a flexible sleeve, ... | 01/24/2006 |
| 6979290 | Apparatus and methods for coronary sinus access An apparatus for locating morphological features within a body cavity includes a catheter including proximal and distal ends, a transparent balloon carried on the distal end, and an optical imaging assembly carried on the distal end for imaging through the balloon. ... | 12/27/2005 |
| 6962564 | Systems and methods for providing gastrointestinal pain management The present invention includes systems and methods for decreasing the pain and discomfort commonly associated with endoscopic procedures, where such procedures may be performed with lower dosage levels of sedative and analgesic drugs. The invention includes use of a... | 11/08/2005 |
| 6953431 | Eccentric dilation balloons for use with endoscopes The dilation balloon of the subject invention preferably comprises a balloon portion mounted about a shaft that, when inflated, produces a configuration comprising a tapered distal end and a proximal end or butt that is substantially flat (preferably truncated) and ... | 10/11/2005 |
| 6949069 | Endoscope An endoscope assembly is disclosed having a housing adapted to be manipulated by medical personnel, such as a surgeon. An elongated lens tube has one end secured to the housing while an elongated stage is removably secured to the housing so that the stage encompasse... | 09/27/2005 |
| 6939291 | Endoscopic device for locomotion through the gastro-intestinal tract An endoscopic device for locomotion in a body cavity according to a prefixed advancing direction (A) comprising at least a variable length intermediate section (1a, 21a) extending between a front end section (1b, 21 | 09/06/2005 |
| 6936003 | In-vivo extendable element device and system, and method of use An in-vivo device, such as an autonomous imager or other suitable in-vivo device, includes a moveable arm, extendible element, or proboscis. The in-vivo device may include sensors, such as imagers, etc. The device may transmit sensing information via, for example, w... | 08/30/2005 |
| 6908427 | Flexible endoscope capsule An endoscopic capsule adapted for selective attachment to the distal end portion of an endoscopic device. The capsule is designed for insertion with an interconnected endoscopic device into a patient body to provide an open space in front of the distal end of the en... | 06/21/2005 |
| 6899674 | Endoscope shaft comprising a movable end portion The present invention relates to an endoscope shaft comprising a movable distal end portion which is bendable by means of an operating device, the distal end portion having at least one decentralized hose member extending along the distal end portion, said hose memb... | 05/31/2005 |
| 6808492 | Endoscopic cannula fixation system A cannula fixation system that allows for easy insertion and removal. A flexible sleeve with corrugations and proximal flange is attached distally to the cannula. The flange serves as a splashguard and a finger retention device. The corrugations have a variable diam... | 10/26/2004 |
| 6790173 | Shape lockable apparatus and method for advancing an instrument through unsupported anatomy Apparatus and methods are provided for placing and advancing a diagnostic or therapeutic instrument in a hollow body organ of a tortuous or unsupported anatomy, comprising a handle, an overtube, a distal region having an atraumatic tip. The overtube may be removable... | 09/14/2004 |
| 6764441 | Peristaltically self-propelled endoscopic device Expandable actuators surround a central conduit. Each actuator comprises a bladder that, when fluid is introduced, expands laterally while contracting longitudinally. A restorative spring can be placed inside a bladder and between the two ends to restore the actuato... | 07/20/2004 |
| 6740082 | Surgical instruments for treating gastro-esophageal reflux Instruments for thermally-mediated treatment of a patient's lower esophageal sphincter (LES) to induce an injury healing response to thereby populate the extracellular compartment of walls of the LES with collagen matrices to altere the biomechanics of the LES to pr... | 05/25/2004 |