Abstract: A channel replacement method to replace a first channel of an endoscope, the first channel including a first distal end and a first rear end, the channel replacement method including: sealing a flow path of the first channel by arranging a first plug at the first distal end and arranging a second plug at the first rear end, and withdrawing the first channel from inside the endoscope.

Abstract: An endoscope includes a tube including a cable, an operation section connected to the tube, and a connector unit that connects the tube and the operation section. The operation section inserts the cable. The connector unit is movable between a first state and a second state to change a separation distance between a distal end of the tube and the operation section.

Abstract: An insertion device comprises an insertion section, the insertion section including a distal portion, an operation section located on a proximal end side of the insertion section, a channel located in the insertion section and communicating with the distal portion, the channel including a transformable member on a distal end side of the channel, and a transformation unit, wherein a shape of the transformable member is changeable by operation of the operation section.

Abstract: An endoscope comprising an insertion section including a distal end portion, a distal end opening in a distal end surface of a distal end portion, a side opening in a side surface of the distal end portion, a suction channel located in the insertion section and extending proximally from the distal end portion, and a valve switchable between an open state and a closed state. When a first suctioning flow through the distal end opening is less than a minimum suctioning flow, the valve is in the open state and a second suctioning flow through the side opening is present, and when the first suctioning flow is more than the minimum suctioning flow, the valve is in the closed state and the second suctioning flow is absent.

Abstract: An endoscope system of the disclosure includes an endoscope including an insertion section, and a coupling thread extending along the insertion section. The coupling thread includes a coupling portion at a distal end of the coupling thread, and a thread portion extending proximally from the coupling portion. The endoscope system includes a distal end cover on a distal end portion of the insertion section. At least a part of the distal end cover moves on an outer surface of the distal end portion. The distal end cover partially covers the coupling portion.

Abstract: A fluid feeding and suction apparatus includes a common conduit including an endoscopic connection end and a second end, a fluid feeding conduit in fluid communication with the common conduit via the branching connector, a fluid suction conduit in fluid communication with the common conduit via the branching connector, a fluid feeding container connected to the fluid feeding conduit, a fluid suction container connected to the fluid suction conduit, a gas feeding conduit connected to the fluid feeding container, a gas suction conduit connected to the fluid suction container, and a pump connected to the gas feeding conduit and the gas suction conduit. The second end connected to a branching connector. The pump is configured to feed a supply gas to the gas feeding conduit and to suction a suction gas from the gas suction conduit.

Abstract: An endoscope comprises an insertion portion, an operation portion body provided at a proximal end side of the insertion portion, a knob provided in the operation portion body, the knob configured to rotate around a rotation shaft, and a turn locking mechanism provided in the knob. The turn locking mechanism includes a lock button reversibly translatable from a first position to a second position, a lock bar connected to the lock button, the lock bar extending from an inside surface of the lock button, and a fixed member attached to the operation portion body. When the lock button is in the second position, the lock bar engages the fixed member to prevent the knob from rotating around the rotation shaft.

Abstract: An electrode unit which performs treatment on tissue in a subject by using a high frequency current under observation with an endoscope includes: two electrode support members disposed in a separated manner in a direction along a predetermined axis; a base part extending along an axis intersecting with the predetermined axis, and having a distal end coupled with proximal ends of the two electrode support members; and an electrode having both ends supported by the two electrode support members, wherein the electrode includes an exposed portion in a region which overlaps with at least one of the two electrode support members when viewed from a second direction which is opposite to a first direction in which the two electrode support members are pushed against the subject during use of the electrode unit, the exposed portion being exposed only in the second direction.

Abstract: An endoscope snare includes a sheath, a support wire inserted into the sheath and movable advance and retraction in the sheath along an axis, a loop-shaped conductive wire connected to a distal end of the support wire, and a pressing wire inserted into the sheath, connected to the conductive wire at a position different from that of the support wire, and movable advance and retraction in the sheath independently of the support wire. The pressing wire may have a plurality of wires, and may be connected to at least the conductive wire at two points of the support wire between which the axis is interposed.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes: a lens frame internally holding a movable lens, and including a magnet provided on an outer circumferential surface; a holding frame; and a magnetic member, in which the magnet includes a plurality of magnet pairs provided at uniform angles in a circumferential direction of the lens frame, each of the magnet pairs including magnets that are respectively disposed on distal end side and proximal end side along the optical axis direction of the movable lens, the magnet disposed on the distal end side has a polarity opposite in the radial direction to a polarity of the magnet disposed on the proximal end side, and the magnetic member is provided to face the magnets that configure one of the plurality of magnet pairs.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes: a lens frame internally holding a movable lens, and including a magnet provided on an outer circumferential surface; a holding frame; and a magnetic member, in which the magnet includes a plurality of magnet pairs provided at uniform angles in a circumferential direction of the lens frame, each of the magnet pairs including magnets that are respectively disposed on distal end side and proximal end side along the optical axis direction of the movable lens, the magnet disposed on the distal end side has a polarity opposite in the radial direction to a polarity of the magnet disposed on the proximal end side, and the magnetic member is provided to face the magnets that configure one of the plurality of magnet pairs.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus for an endoscope includes: an image pickup device unit including an image pickup device; a lens unit including a moving lens; an actuator apparatus for an endoscope, the actuator apparatus including a first elastic member having an urging force that makes a moving lens frame be arranged at a first observation position, a second elastic member making the moving lens frame be arranged at a second observation position, and a shape memory alloy wire having a property of extending/contracting due to an applied current; a driving force transmitting wire arranged on a distal end side of the shape memory alloy wire; a pressing member, upon receipt of an elastic force from the second elastic member, pressing the moving lens frame to the second observation position; and a fixing portion that fixes the driving force transmitting wire and the shape memory alloy.

Abstract: An actuator has a magnet moved together with a moving lens frame, an SMA wire capable of extending and contracting in a moving direction I of the moving lens frame with execution or non-execution of energization thereof, a fixing member made of a magnetic material attached to a distal end of the SMA wire, a pressing spring which urges the fixing member toward the magnet along the moving direction I, and a stopper member and a stopper portion which limits the movement of the magnet along the moving direction I at a first position or a second position.

Abstract: An endoscope system has a light source apparatus and an endoscope including an illumination optical system and an objective optical system. At least the objective optical system of the endoscope is provided with an adjustable diaphragm, and in a light path in one of the light source apparatus, the illumination optical system, and the objective optical system, an insertable/retractable filter for observation for special light is provided. The adjustable diaphragm performs a closing operation or an opening operation only when the filter for observation for special light is inserted into the light path.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus of the present invention varies optical properties by moving a part of lenses of an objective lens, and includes a solid-state image pickup device unit that is disposed at a rear-end section and that subjects a subject image to photoelectric conversion, a fixed lens frame that retains the objective lens that is disposed in front of the solid-state image pickup device unit, a movable lens frame that retains the part of lenses that moves along a photographing optical axis O inside the lens frame, and an actuator having one end connected to the movable lens frame and that moves the movable lens frame forward and backward. The actuator includes a rigid member provided so as to extend to the vicinity of the rear end at which the solid-state image pickup device unit is disposed and a shape memory alloy that is coupled to the rigid member.

Abstract: An actuator has a magnet moved together with a moving lens frame, an SMA wire capable of extending and contracting in a moving direction I of the moving lens frame with execution or non-execution of energization thereof, a fixing member made of a magnetic material attached to a distal end of the SMA wire, a pressing spring which urges the fixing member toward the magnet along the moving direction I, and a stopper member and a stopper portion which limits the movement of the magnet along the moving direction I at a first position or a second position.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus for an endoscope includes: an image pickup device unit including an image pickup device; a lens unit including a moving lens; an actuator apparatus for an endoscope, the actuator apparatus including a first elastic member having an urging force that makes a moving lens frame be arranged at a first observation position, a second elastic member making the moving lens frame be arranged at a second observation position, and a shape memory alloy wire having a property of extending/contracting due to an applied current; a driving force transmitting wire arranged on a distal end side of the shape memory alloy wire; a pressing member, upon receipt of an elastic force from the second elastic member, pressing the moving lens frame to the second observation position; and a fixing portion that fixes the driving force transmitting wire and the shape memory alloy.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes a plurality of micro pins provided to project from a back surface in an image pickup device, a plurality of electric boards capable of mounting electric components and having board surfaces provided with through-holes or through-grooves formed to enable the plurality of micro pins to pass through respectively, and solder portions that fix the plurality of micro pins and the plurality of electric boards by soldering in land portions adjacent to the through-holes or the through grooves in a state in which the plurality of electric boards with the plurality of micro pins respectively passed through the through-holes or the through-grooves of the plurality of electric boards are stacked on the back surface of the image pickup device.

Abstract: An endoscope in accordance with the present invention provides an endoscope having an image pickup apparatus and including a first connection portion provided on one side surface of a first solid-state image pickup device to connect the first solid-state image pickup device to a first circuit board, and a second connection portion provided on one side surface of a second solid-state image pickup device to connect the second solid-state image pickup device to a second circuit board, the first solid-state image pickup device and the second solid-state image pickup device being arranged in proximity to each other so that a side surface of the first solid-state image pickup device which does not have the first connection portion lies opposite to a side surface of the second solid-state image pickup device which does not have the second connection portion.