Abstract: An endoscope comprising, in a part of an insertion portion having flexibility, a bending portion formed by covering an outermost circumference with a covering rubber. Respective end portions of the covering rubber being tightly bound to a rigid portion near the bending portion with a thread and fixed by applying an adhesive. In at least one end portion of both fixed end portions of the covering rubber, hardness of at least a portion in a range from an end portion in a center portion side of a portion tightly bound with the thread to an end portion in a center portion side of a portion to which the adhesive is applied is set higher than hardness in a center portion of the covering rubber.

Abstract: An anticancer agent comprising a compound represented by the formula (I) [R1 represents hydrogen atom, hydroxyl group, a C1-6 alkoxy group and the like; R2 and R3 represents hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a C1-6 alkyl group and the like; R4 represents hydrogen atom, a C1-6 alkyl group, a C1-6 alkylsulfonyl group and the like; R5 represents hydrogen atom or a substituent; represents a single bond or a double bond; R6 and R7 represents hydrogen atom, a C1-6 alkyl group and the like; R8 represents hydrogen atom, a C1-6 alkyl group and the like; A represents —O—, —S—, or —CH2—; D represents —C? or —N?; X represents methylene group, —O—, or —CO—; Q represents —N? or —C(R8)?; and Y represents a heterocyclic group or amino group], which shows a superior inhibitory activity against pim-1 kinase.

Abstract: An anticancer agent comprising a compound represented by the formula (I) [R1 represents hydrogen atom, hydroxyl group, a C1-6 alkoxy group and the like; R2 and R3 represents hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a C1-6 alkyl group and the like; R4 represents hydrogen atom, a C1-6 alkyl group, a C1-6 alkylsulfonyl group and the like; R5 represents hydrogen atom or a substituent; represents a single bond or a double bond; R6 and R7 represents hydrogen atom, a C1-6 alkyl group and the like; R8 represents hydrogen atom, a C1-6 alkyl group and the like; A represents —O—, —S—, or —CH2—; D represents —C? or —N?; X represents methylene group, —O—, or —CO—; Q represents —N? or —C(R8)?; and Y represents a heterocyclic group or amino group], which shows a superior inhibitory activity against pim-1 kinase.

Abstract: A shift lever apparatus for changing the change-speed ranges of a transmission of an automotive vehicle. The shift lever apparatus includes an indicator panel indicating positions which respectively correspond to the change-speed ranges. A slide member is provided to be movable in relation to a shift lever. A guide device is disposed to slidably guide the slide member and includes a descending guide section which allows the slide member to be guided to separate downward from the indicator panel. A mark piece is provided to indicate one of the positions of the indicator panel to represent the present change-speed range of the transmission. Additionally, a support member is fixedly connected to at least the major part of the slide member. The support member is free from following deformation of the slide member. The mark piece is fixedly connected to the support member.

Abstract: A flexible tube for an endoscope has an elongated tubular core body, and an outer cover which is provided over the core body. The outer cover is composed of an inner layer, an outer layer and at least one intermediate layer. In this flexible tube, any one of the layers is different from one of the other layers in its property. Further, at least one of the layers has a thickness-varying region where the thickness of the layer varies in its longitudinal direction. In addition, the inner layer of the outer cover has projections which are integrally formed on the inner layer so that the projections project into holes and/or the recesses formed on the core body. This structure makes it possible to produce a flexible tube for an endoscope that has high durability, high flexibility and high chemical resistance as well as excellent operationability.

Abstract: A component of an endoscope is a flexible tube which is composed of a helical coil, a reticular tube formed of a braided thin wires and provided over the helical coil, and an outer cover provided over the reticular tube. The outer cover is formed of a resin material containing TiNxOy (where, 0.1?x?1.0, 0?y?1.9) which is a color developing agent to be colored when irradiated with laser light. The flexible tube is provided with scale formed by the colored portion. The outer surface the outer cover is black or dark color before the irradiation with laser light, but thus formed scale is white or blight color having a whiteness of 60% or more.

Abstract: A cleaning brush for endoscopes is used for cleaning an inner surface of a channel formed inside an endoscope and it is capable of preventing splash of dirt or cleaning liquid caused by removing a brush portion from a channel reliably. The cleaning brush includes an elongated body portion having flexibility so as to be able to bend along an inner wall of the channel when being inserted into the channel, at least one brush portion provided on the body portion at the side of the tip end thereof; and a protruding portion provided on the body portion so as to protrude from the tip end of the body portion in a longitudinal direction thereof, the protruding portion being adapted to make contact with the inner surface of the channel to prevent or suppress the brush portion from swinging or springing when the brush portion is removed from the channel, wherein the length of the protruding portion is longer than the length of the brush portion.

Abstract: An flexible tube for an endoscope having excellent resilience and durability is provided. The flexible tube for an endoscope includes a spiral coil formed by helically winding a band-shaped member, a reticular tube formed by braiding a plurality of fine wires and provided over the spiral coil, and a flexible outer cover provided over the reticular tube. The fine wires include at least one first fine wire having a coating layer mainly made from a resin material and at least one second fine wire having no such a coating layer, and the first fine wire is made more flexible than the second fine wire. The difference between the flexibilities of the first fine wire and the second fine wire can be obtained in such a way (method) that the first fine wire is made from a constituent material softer than a constituent material of the second fine wire, or that the diameter of the first fine wire is made to be smaller than the diameter of the second fine wire, or the like.

Abstract: A shift lever apparatus for changing the change-speed ranges of a transmission of an automotive vehicle. The shift lever apparatus includes an indicator panel indicating positions which respectively correspond to the change-speed ranges. A slide member is provided to be movable in relation to a shift lever. A guide device is disposed to slidably guide the slide member and includes a descending guide section which allows the slide member to be guided to separate downward from the indicator panel. A mark piece is provided to indicate one of the positions of the indicator panel to represent the present change-speed range of the transmission. Additionally, a support member is fixedly connected to at least the major part of the slide member. The support member is free from following deformation of the slide member. The mark piece is fixedly connected to the support member.

Abstract: An endoscope which has small bending resistance and is hard to be damaged or broken even when it is repeatedly used is disclosed. The endoscope includes a flexible insertion section 2 and an operation section 7 provided on the proximal end of the insertion section 2. The insertion section 2 has a sheath constructed from an outer layer 382 and the like, and elongated members such as an image guide 31 and light guides 32, 32 and the like are housed in lumens in the sheath. Further, each light guide 32 has an optical fiber bundle and a protective sheath 321 for protecting the optical fiber bundle. In the interior space of the protective sheath 321, a lubricant 5 containing a silicone oil and a solid lubricant is provided. The solid lubricant contains at least one of boron nitride, poly tetrafluoroethylene, and molybdenum disulfide. The solid lubricant is preferably formed into powder having an average grain size of 0.1 to 15 ?m.

Abstract: An endoscopic measuring tool used while being inserted in an endoscope, the measuring tool comprising a long portion, and a measuring portion provided at a front end portion of the long portion. The measuring portion contains TiNxOy in which 0.1≦x≦1.0, 0≦y≦1.9 and which is provided as a color former for forming a color by irradiation with laser light, in at least a part of an external surface of the measuring portion and the neighborhood of the part of the external surface. Calibrations constituted by color forming portions with the color of the color former are provided in the external surface of the measuring portion.

Abstract: A flexible tube for an endoscope has an elongated tubular core body, and an outer cover which is provided over the core body. The outer cover is composed of an inner layer, an outer layer and at least one intermediate layer. In this flexible tube, any one of the layers is different from one of the other layers in its property. Further, at least one of the layers has a thickness-varying region where the thickness of the layer varies in its longitudinal direction. In addition, the inner layer of the outer cover has projections which are integrally formed on the inner layer so that the projections project into holes and/or the recesses formed on the core body. This structure makes it possible to produce a flexible tube for an endoscope that has high durability, high flexibility and high chemical resistance as well as excellent operationability.

Abstract: A component of an endoscope is a flexible tube which is composed of a helical coil, a reticular tube formed of a braided thin wires and provided over the helical coil, and an outer cover provided over the reticular tube. The outer cover is formed of a resin material containing TiNxOy (where, 0.1≦x≦1.0, 0≦y≦1.9) which is a color developing agent to be colored when irradiated with laser light. The flexible tube is provided with scale formed by the colored portion. The outer surface the outer cover is black or dark color before the irradiation with laser light, but thus formed scale is white or blight color having a whiteness of 60% or more.

Abstract: An flexible tube for an endoscope having excellent resilience and durability is provided. The flexible tube for an endoscope includes a spiral coil formed by helically winding a band-shaped member, a reticular tube formed by braiding a plurality of fine wires and provided over the spiral coil, and a flexible outer cover provided over the reticular tube. The fine wires include at least one first fine wire having a coating layer mainly made from a resin material and at least one second fine wire having no such a coating layer, and the first fine wire is made more flexible than the second fine wire. The difference between the flexibilities of the first fine wire and the second fine wire can be obtained in such a way (method) that the first fine wire is made from a constituent material softer than a constituent material of the second fine wire, or that the diameter of the first fine wire is made to be smaller than the diameter of the second fine wire, or the like.

Abstract: An flexible tube for an endoscope having excellent resilience and durability is disclosed. The flexible tube is composed of a tubular core boy obtained by covering the outer periphery of a coil with a reticular tube of a braided thin wires and an outer cover formed of a synthetic resin and provided over the outer periphery of the tubular core boy. At least one of the thin wires has a coating layer and the flexible outer cover has a portion which is in contact with the coating layer of the thin wire of the reticular tube, in which the coating layer is formed of a material containing the material of the portion of the outer cover, and the material of the coating layer has a higher melting point than that of the material of the portion of the outer cover. The outer cover may be formed into a multi-layered structure including an inner layer, an intermediate layer and an outer layer.

Abstract: A flexible tube for an endoscope is provided with a spirally-wound tube, a braided tube covering the spirally-wound tube, and a sheath provided on the braided tube. The sheath material is fused and coated on the braided tube to form the sheath. When the sheath material is fused and applied on the braided tube, the sheath material passes through interstices of the braided tube, at the positions facing the clearances between windings, to form a plurality of protruded portions which protruded inward with respect to the braided tube.

Abstract: An endoscope which has small bending resistance and is hard to be damaged or broken even when it is repeatedly used is disclosed. The endoscope includes a flexible insertion section 2 and an operation section 7 provided on the proximal end of the insertion section 2. The insertion section 2 has a sheath constructed from an outer layer 382 and the like, and elongated members such as an image guide 31 and light guides 32, 32 and the like are housed in lumens in the sheath. Further, each light guide 32 has an optical fiber bundle and a protective sheath 321 for protecting the optical fiber bundle. In the interior space of the protective sheath 321, a lubricant 5 containing a silicone oil and a solid lubricant is provided. The solid lubricant contains at least one of boron nitride, poly tetrafluoroethylene, and molybdenum disulfide. The solid lubricant is preferably formed into powder having an average grain size of 0.1 to 15 &mgr;m.

Abstract: An endoscopic flexible tube that allows for easy fabrication of a jacket of a multi-layered structure that is adequately protected against separation of overlying layers. Two adjacent layers in the multi-layered structure portion of the jacket are integrally combined via an area that comprises a mixture of the constituent materials of the two layers.

Abstract: An flexible tube for an endoscope having excellent resilience and durability is disclosed. The flexible tube is composed of a tubular core boy obtained by covering the outer periphery of a coil with a reticular tube of a braided thin wires and an outer cover formed of a synthetic resin and provided over the outer periphery of the tubular core boy. At least one of the thin wires has a coating layer and the flexible outer cover has a portion which is in contact with the coating layer of the thin wire of the reticular tube, in which the coating layer is formed of a material containing the material of the portion of the outer cover, and the material of the coating layer has a higher melting point than that of the material of the portion of the outer cover. The outer cover may be formed into a multi-layered structure including an inner layer, an intermediate layer and an outer layer.

Abstract: An external component of an endoscope includes an aluminum alloy base member whose surface is subjected to anodic oxidation, and thereafter, is subjected to an electrolytic deposition thereon.