Abstract: A manufacturing method of a bending part coupling assembly for an endoscope insertion portion having a high manufacturing efficiency is provided.

Abstract: First stepped portions are provided on both sides of each of two front-side projection portions of a front end portion of a node ring. Second stepped portions are provided on both sides of each of two rear-side projection portions of a rear end portion of the node ring. At a time of bending of a bending section, when two front and rear node rings of a bending tube are rotated to a maximum rotational position, the pivotal angle ? between the front and rear node rings is restricted to a predetermined restriction angle that prevents, when the bending section is bend-operated, an outer sheath tube from being bitten between the node rings, by the restriction due to contact between the second stepped portion of the front-side node ring and the first stepped portion of the rear-side node ring.

Abstract: An endoscope main body of an endoscope includes a body cavity insert ion section, at least one operating arm section, a main body operating section, an arm section operating section, and an observation unit attachment/detachment mechanism. The insertion section includes a main body bending portion at the distal end portion of the endoscope main body. The operating arm section includes arm section bending portion connected to the distal end of the insertion section. The main body operating section includes a first operation mechanism provided on the proximal end side of the insertion section. The arm section operating section includes a second operation mechanism provided on the proximal end side of the insertion section. The observation unit attachment/detachment mechanism detachably attaches, to the insertion section, an observation unit provided in the insertion section and having a camera section and a signal transmission section which transmits video data.

Abstract: An endoscope main body constituting an endoscope in a state in which an elongated detachable observation optical system is attached to the endoscope main body, and in a proximal end of an insertion section of the endoscope main body, a branch member is disposed. The branch member is provided so that a first extended section and a second extended section are branched from each other and thereby first and second operating sections are separately arranged. Furthermore, the branch member has an opening as an inlet which guides an imaging module in a distal end of the observation optical system to a hard portion of the insertion section.

Abstract: An easy-to-manufacture endoscope is provided.

Abstract: A bending pipe (52) of a bending portion of an endoscope includes a plurality of node rings (62) each formed into a ring-like shape and arranged in an axial direction of an insertion section in a juxtaposed state, and connection parts (64) for connecting the node rings to each other so as to allow the node rings to be flexibly bent with respect to each other. The node ring includes connection arcuate divisions (72) formed by dividing the node ring into a plurality of pieces, a joint (74a) provided at ends of the connection arcuate divisions and connecting the connection arcuate divisions to each other so as to allow the divisions to be movable with respect to each other in a circumferential direction, and guides (82, 84) provided at ends (74b) of the connection arcuate divisions on the released side, causing these ends to be in contact with each other, and forming the plural connection arcuate divisions into the ring-shaped node ring.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an endoscopic insertion portion with high manufacturing efficiency is provided.

Abstract: A manipulator apparatus equipped with a manipulating implement which manipulates a cell, and a holding part holding the manipulating implement and a presuming device, in which an image including the holding part was read to obtain the location of the tip of the manipulating implement to the holding part from the image information of the holding part.

Abstract: In order to prevent the opening of the dispensing head from being blocked, the liquid pipetting apparatus having the strengthened washing capability is provided. A liquid pipetting apparatus for sucking and discharging a minute amount of liquid, comprising, has first opening 54 for sucking and discharging liquid at one end and second opening 45a for draining the liquid at an another end. The apparatus comprises a dispensing head 2 for holding the liquid inside thereof, washing tanks 7, 8 for holding cleaning solution to wash the inside of the dispensing head 2, and a head inside washing means for washing inside of the dispensing head, by sucking the cleaning solution from the opening 46a, under the state of soaking the one end of the dispensing head 2 in washing tanks 7 and 8 and for dispensing sucked cleaning solution from the opening 46a (for example, the decompressing tank 22 and the vacuum pump 25).