Abstract: An image transmitting optical fiber device is improved in contrast by limiting the incident angle of light applied thereto and/or by placing an antireflection member in the light path at one or both of the ends of the device.

Abstract: A fiberscope in which the cross-sectional area is maximized of a passage conveying a clear liquid through which an image of an object to be observed can be transmitted, taking into consideration constraints upon diameters of various optical fibers and a surrounding flexible tube. An image transmitting fiber is bundled together with at least one, light guiding fibers which supply illuminating light. The bundled fibers are loosely fitted within a surrounding flexible tube with a space therebetween. A cap member is provided at the end of the flexible tube and optical fiber bundle for maintaining the optical fiber bundle centered at the end of the flexible tube and for directing flows of the clear fluid around the end of the fiber bundle.

Abstract: A catheter or fiberscope for the inspection of an intracardiac area or the like is proposed which has a flexible tube and a balloon mounted on its end. The flexible tube is divided into four passageways, i.e. two fluid passageways and an illumination light transmission line and an image transmission line. A flush of a physiological saline solution is spouted from one fluid passageway outside of the balloon to form a visual field without interfering natural movement of the area to be inspected. A catheter for dissolving a thrombus is also proposed which has a porous tube, instead of a balloon, at its end portion.

Abstract: A fiberscope having a freely bendable tip and having a reduced weight and diameter. Two spaced cylindrical casted sections are provided at the forward end of the fiberscope, and the image fiber, light guides for transmitting illuminating light, and manipulating wires are inserted through the two cylindrical casted sections. Each of the manipulating wires may be inserted through a tube in coil form.

Abstract: In an inspection device having a light guide, an image fiber and a mirror for reflecting light from the light guide to an object and for reflecting an image of the object to the image fiber, the mirror is rotatable about an axis coincident with the optical axis at the end of the image fiber.

Abstract: Disclosed is an image observation system which employs a bellows expanded and contracted by fluid pressure to move an optical element, such as an image pick-up lens, within an image pick-up adapter. The bellows, which is operatively associated with the optical element, is communicated with a manually operated fluid pressure drive unit by a fluid pressure transfer pipe. Manipulating the drive unit forces a fluid into or withdraws a fluid from the bellows via the transfer pipe to expand or contract the bellows, thereby controlling the position or attitude of the optical element located at the end of an image fiber.

Abstract: A catheter or fiberscope for the inspection of an intracardiac area or the like is proposed which has a flexible tube and a balloon mounted on its end. The flexible tube is divided into four passageways, i.e. two fluid passageways and an illumination light transmission line and an image transmission line. A flush of a physiological saline solution is spouted from one fluid passageway outside of the balloon to form a visual field without interfering natural movement of the area to be inspected. A catheter for dissolving a thrombus is also proposed which has a porous tube, instead of a balloon, at its end portion.

Abstract: A monitoring device for monitoring an interior conduit wall includes a plurality of sliding members each resiliently urged by equal amounts away from the device body toward the conduit wall, so that the device can be used in conduits of different diameters while always remaining substantially centered within the conduit.

Abstract: An image fiber in which the contrast of the viewed image is improved. The image fiber of the invention is composed of a plurality of optical fiber cores with a cladding layer provided around the cores and filled into the spaces between the cores. A primary coating covers the cores and cladding layer. The primary coating contains a light-absorbing substance, for instance, carbon particles. Preferably, the primary coating is composed mainly of silicone resin.

Abstract: A composite optical fiber for use with a sensor includes an imaging optical fiber which receives information-carrying light that is reflected from a target, and a transparent material that includes the imaging optical fiber in its interior and which transmits an illuminating light from a light source to the target. The light-receiving optical fiber is an integral part of the transparent material, and it has an increased cross-sectional area for transmitting the illuminating light with respect to its overall outside diameter. The optical fiber can be produced by the extrusion technique without arranging a multiplicity of light-transmitting fibers and encasing them within a heat-shrinkable tube.

Abstract: A fiberscope for conducting observations in a region ordinarily filled with an opaque liquid, particularly, inside blood vessels or the heart. A recess is provided at a front end of a cover tube for accommodating a front end portion of an image fiber and a bundle of illuminating light transmitting optical fibers which are bonded to a light guide front end part molded to conform to a part of the inner wall of a cover tube, and an optical fiber bundle provided by bonding front end portions of the image fiber and the light guide is fixedly bonded to the inner wall of the cover tube. A transparent liquid, physiological saline in preferred embodiments, is injected from a hole near the end of the fiberscope at a flow rate determined in accordance with the flow rate of the opaque liquid to temporarily displace some of the opaque liquid to permit observation. Further, the injection of the transparent liquid may be done in synchronization with variations of the pressure and/or flow velocity of the opaque liquid.

Abstract: A fiberscope, particularly, a fiberscope adapted to be inserted into a blood vessel or the like, having a reduced diameter and reduced flow rate of flushing fluid. A cylindrically shaped inflatable balloon is disposed around the flexible tube of the fiberscope somewhat rearward of the tip end. When an observation is to be performed, the balloon is inflated to reduce the flow rate of blood in the vessel. As a result, the amount and flow rate of the flushing fluid needed to provide a clear visual field between the tip of the fiberscope and the wall of the vessel to be observed are reduced.

Abstract: A fiberscope for conducting observations in a region ordinarily filled with an opaque liquid, particularly, inside blood vessels or the heart. A recess is provided at a front end of a cover tube for accommodating a front end portion of an image fiber and a bundle of illuminating light transmitting optical fibers which are bonded to a light guide front end part molded to conform to a part of the inner wall of a cover tube, and an optical fiber bundle provided by bonding front end portions of the image fiber and the light guide is fixedly bonded to the inner wall of the cover tube. A transparent liquid, physiological saline in preferred embodiments, is injected from a hole near the end of the fiberscope at a flow rate determined in accordance with the flow rate of the opaque liquid to temporarily displace some of the opaque liquid to permit observation. Further, the injection of the transparent liquid may be done in synchronization with variations of the pressure and/or flow velocity of the opaque liquid.

Abstract: An improved apparatus for checking the inside of a pipe or the like is proposed. Two reflex mirrors are provided, one for reflecting the light from a source of light and the other for reflecting the light from the object being checked. Because respective mirrors are provided for the source of light and for the light from the object, the inside of the object can be checked clearly.

Abstract: An optical fiber gyro system provides a pair of separated optical paths containing partial common portions. A phase difference .DELTA..theta. is detected using a plurality of detectors which yield sin and cos functions in .DELTA..theta.. Functions are formed as linear couplings of these functions, and the phase difference .DELTA..theta. is obtained using the function of best sensitivity for the given range of .DELTA..theta..

Abstract: A device for accommodating bending a cable or the like by remote control is proposed. It has a cylinder with a piston rod, and two holders coupled to the cylinder and the piston rod at each end thereof. The holders through which a cable runs are bent by remote control by relative movement between the cylinder and the piston rod.

Abstract: A protective lid is provided in front of an image-forming lens mounted on the forward end of a picture image transmission line which comprises plural optical fibers bundled in alignment to be remotely controlled from the back end of the transmission line for opening/closing so that the image-forming lens may be protected from particles, vapor or poisonous gas when the transmission line is used in such atmosphere, thereby preventing deterioration of the quality of picture images to be formed.

Abstract: An optical information reading device for character recognition and processing having an array of luminous diodes to illuminate the material to be read. A sensor transmits received data signals to a pattern indentification circuit. The signals are also transmitted to a light control circuit to vary the illumination to the array to provide uniform lighting of the characters to be read.