Portable cystoscope

A cystoscope comprising:

• an elongated handle having a proximal end and a distal end;
• a viewing port located at the proximal end;
• a tube extending from the distal end, constructed and arranged for placement in a body, the tube being flexible so as to conform to curved portions within the body;
• a steering control located in the handle interconnected with steering cables that extend from the handle through the tube to a distal end of the tube remote from the handle, the steering controls and the steering cable being constructed and arranged so that movement of the cables by means of the steering control causes a bend to form in a portion of the tube;
• a fiber optic light conduit extending from the viewing port to the distal end of the tube for transmitting viewed images from the distal end of the tube to the viewing port;
• a fiber optic light conduit extending from a predetermined location on the handle to the distal end of the tube, constructed and arranged to project illuminating light at the distal end of the tube;
• a light bulb, in optical communication with the fiber optic light conduit, mounted at the predetermined location on the handle and a battery electrically connected with the light bulb, the battery being mounted on the handle and being operable by a switch located on the handle;
• and
• a fluid conduit extending from the handle to the distal end of the tube in communication with a gas cartridge and a valve interconnected between the gas cartridge and the fluid conduit for delivering gas through the fluid conduit to the distal end of the tube at predetermined times and wherein the handle includes a compartment for receiving the cartridge so that the cartridge is enclosed by the handle and wherein the handle is grippable over the compartment.

A cystoscope comprising:

• a handle having a proximal end and a distal end, the handle including a compartment thereon;
• a viewing port located at the proximal end;
• a flexible tube extending from the distal end, constructed and arranged for passage into a body;
• a steering control located on the handle and steering cables interconnected with the steering control and passing from the handle into the tube the steering cables being attached adjacent a distal end of the tube wherein movement of the steering control causes an associated movement of the steering cables which causes a portion of the tube to define a predetermined curve to conform to a curve of the body;
• a light source in communication with the handle, providing illuminating light to a fiber optic light conduit extending from the handle to a light outlet at a distal end of the tube;
• a fiber optic viewing conduit that transmits viewed light from the distal end of the tube to the view port;
• and
• a fluid conduit extending from the compartment of the handle to the distal end of the tube and a gas cartridge located within the compartment on the handle and in communication with the fluid conduit, the gas cartridge being operable at predetermined times to deliver gas at the distal end of the tube for insufflation of a portion of the body adjacent the distal end of the tube.