Abstract: A distal end part of an endoscope which is provided at the distal end of the insert part of the endoscope, comprising an illuminating window through which illuminating light is emitted, a viewing window disposed side by side with the illuminating window to take a light image into an objective optical system, and a single transparent cover continuously covering the respective surfaces of the illuminating and viewing windows, the cover being formed such that the wall thickness thereof is gradually changed at the portion thereof which extends between the illuminating and viewing windows. Accordingly, no illuminating light enters the visual field of the viewing optical system through the transparent cover and it is therefore possible to obtain a clear observation field of view which is free from a ghost or flare.

Abstract: A flexible pipe assembly for an endoscope including a body of flexible material having both hollow grooves with side walls formed in outer wall portions thereof and cylindrical through-holes formed in a central portion of the body both of which extend along the axis of the body. Channel forming pipes are laterally arranged in any of the hollow grooves and cylindrical through-holes. The channel forming pipes may be bundled together to prevent them from being twisted. Various tube members such as multi-purpose tubes having plural channels which can convey air, water and suction as well as optical and electrical conductors may be positioned in the hollow grooves.

Abstract: An illumination device for photographing a portion of the body cavity to be examined with an endoscope having a light source using a discharge tube circuit for illuminating the portion to be examined and a mechanical shutter arranged in the optical path of illuminating light from the light source. A light quantity detecting circuit detects information on the brightness of illumination of the light source and a correct exposure time setting circuit together a correct exposure time estimating circuit receive the output from the light quantity detecting circuit. The closure of the mechanical shutter is controlled by the control operations of the correct exposure time setting circuit and correct exposure time estimating circuit. The discharge tube circuit comprises a time constant circuit, a relay circuit and a high voltage circuit. The high voltage circuit is controlled by the relay circuit to intermittently apply a voltage to start discharge until ignition takes place.

Abstract: An illuminating light control device for an endoscope for controlling both the intensity and hue of illuminating light over a wide range. A shutter mechanism is disposed between a discharge lamp light source and the receiving end of an optical fiber bundle. The shutter mechanism may be moved between at least three positions. At the first position, the light is allowed to pass directly from the light source to the optical fiber bundle and the light source is allowed to vary between its maximum and minimum limits. At the minimum limit, the shutter mechanism disposes a transmission light control means in the light path and the light source is returned to its maximum limit whereupon the output light to the optical fiber bundle is the same before the change as afterward. The light source can then be varied again between its maximum and minimum limits thereby effectively doubling the range of light output intensity.

Abstract: A slack absorbing device in the bending operation mechanism of an endoscope. Slack absorbing members are moved along the passage ways of connecting wires as the bending section is bent. Each slack absorbing member has a long groove extending along the direction of movement of said slack absorbing member and a theaded groove formed in a portion of the long groove. Threaded rods connect the ends of the wires extending to the bending section provided in the top end part of the endoscope in such a manner that the threaded rods are moved together with the wires at least when the wires are pulled towards the manual operating section. A part of each threaded groove is cut off so that the threaded rod can engage the threaded groove by aligning the theaded rod, in a direction corresponding to the direction of movement of the wire, and placing it into the groove.

Abstract: A device for bending a medical instrument inserted into the body cavity having a flexible cylindrical coil formed by winding an elastic thin wire. The flexible cylindrical coil has a coarsely wound portion at one end portion thereof, that is designed by changing configuration or material so that one side of the coarsely wound portion is different in cross sectional area from the other side which is diametrically opposite. When a pulling string directly or indirectly fastened to the coarsely wound portion of the flexible cylindrical coil is operated, the turns of said flexible cylindrical coil are brought closer to each other on the side of the coarsely wound portion greater in torsional strength to thereby bend the one end portion of the flexible cylindrical coil towards the side of the coarsely wound portion.

Abstract: The curving device in an endoscope is made highly flexible yet resistant to bending. The guide tube of the curving end section is provided with a groove or ring-shaped grooves which are formed respectively spirally or at equal intervals in the outer wall of the guide tube. The coil is made of a wire whose diameter is substantially equal to the depth of the groove or grooves and smaller than the width of the groove or grooves. The coil is fitted into the groove or grooves in a spiral manner.

Abstract: A device for controlling the curvature of an end section in an endoscope is provided with tension control members for regulating the tensions in the actuating wires and adjustment members for defining the maximum movement of the end section. The end section is connected by two wires extending through a flexible pipe to a manual operating section. The manual operating section has a knob by means of which a pinion gear is rotated. The pinion gear meshes with two parallel rack gears. The two wires are respectively connected to one of the ends of each of the two rack gears by means of the tension control members. Each tension control member includes a wire stopper secured to a corresponding wire end and a wire control cylinder engagable with the wire stopper but allowing the wire stopper to be freely movable within the wire control cylinder when the wire is slack. The wire control cylinders are threaded onto bolts extending from the rack gears.

Abstract: The manipulator end of an endoscopic tissue sampling instrument, such as a forceps, comprises a plunger 4 slidably disposed within a slotted support tube 3 and movable via a finger sleeve 6 surrounding the tube and coupled to the plunger. A control wire 1 extends through an inner coil 10 and a surrounding outer coil 8; the adjoining ends of the coils within the support tube are brazed or welded together at 13, and the other end of the outer coil is secured to the end of the support tube by set screws 9. An end stop 2 is attached to the end of the control wire and is normally seated against one end of a cavity 5 within the plunger by a spring 7. If excessive tension is exerted on the control wire in manipulating the instrument the outer coil 8 expands in a spring-like manner to prevent any breakage or damage; if excessive compression is exerted the end stop spring yields to allow the stop to unseat and move within the cavity.

Abstract: An endoscopic photography system including a side shutter 4 for a light source 3, a camera 5 including means for closing the side shutter 4 before the camera shutter is opened, an MSMV 12 for delaying the side shutter opening and the cumulative object light integration until the light source has reached a maximum intensity, and a level detector 8 for closing the side shutter to terminate the photographic exposure when the integrated light quantity signal reaches a predetermined value.

Abstract: An endoscope having control mechanism for permitting fine adjustment of the bending operation of a flexible tip. The flexible tip of an endoscope is controlled in its bending direction by rotating a knob at the opposite end of the endoscope. The knob is engageable by a braking clutch mechanism for stopping the rotation thereof and thereby fixing the position of the endoscope tip. A separate release mechanism is provided for temporarily disengaging the knob from the braking force of the clutch mechanism without requiring the release of the clutching mechanism to its disengaged state. The temporary release mechanism is operated by means of a button located on the knob thereby permitting easy operation while the physician or other operator is performing a viewing operation or the like.

Abstract: A light source for an endoscope includes a lamp for providing conventional illumination, a cold mirror for condensing the conventional illumination onto a light incident surface of a light guide, and a flash discharge tube or lamp for providing flash illumination for photography. The conventional lamp has a sealed tip portion which is adjacent a reflective coating on a part of the outer periphery of the flash discharge tube.

Abstract: A photosensitive device, for use in controlling the illumination intensity in an endoscope in response to the image light emerging from a fiber optical bundle in the tube of the endoscope, is positioned so as to provide only minimum interference with the image light emerging from the fibre optical bundle. A viewing lens and the photosensitive element are positioned relative to each other so that the viewing angle of incidence of the viewing lens is less than the aperture angle of the emerging light, and the photosensitive element is positioned so as to be within the aperture angle but outside of the viewing angle.