Abstract: A multicore optical fiber that includes: a core that is formed of silica glass doped with at least fluorine, the core having a relative refractive index difference with respect to a refractive index of silica as a reference being ?0.30% to ?0.10%; and a clad that is formed of silica glass doped with at least fluorine. The clad includes a first clad surrounding an outer periphery of the core and a second clad provided outside the first clad. A relative refractive index difference between the first clad and the core is 0.8% or more. A refractive index of the second clad is higher than a refractive index of the first clad and lower than a refractive index of the core.

Abstract: A small bowel endoscopic system of an ileus tube type using a monolithic composite optical fiber that can be applied with an ileus tube employed to administer a contrast agent or the like to a patient suffering from ileus and which is an integral assembly of a large-diameter optical fiber with a core/cladding structure intended for laser light transmission and a multi-core image fiber section surrounding that optical fiber to enable image transmission.

Abstract: An endoscope system of the present invention includes: an image fiber with an image fiber main body made of a plurality of cores for forming pixels and a cladding common thereto; and an optical system connected to an eyepiece side of the image fiber for causing laser light to enter the image fiber and for taking in an image from the image fiber, in which the image fiber has the cores arranged substantially uniformly over a cross-section of the image fiber main body, the cross-section being perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the image fiber main body.

Abstract: An optical fiber bundle unit is provided for transmitting ultraviolet light in which the increase of the transmission loss caused by radicals generated in the optical fiber by irradiation or transmission of ultraviolet light is suppressed and a stable energy state is maintained even after the irradiation or transmission of ultraviolet light. The optical fiber bundle unit for transmitting ultraviolet light includes an optical fiber bundle and a sealed container in which the optical fiber bundle is held. A diffusion of hydrogen gas is suppressed by putting the optical fiber bundle pretreated in a hydrogen atmosphere into the sealed container, followed by filling the sealed container with a mixed gas including a hydrogen gas and a gas which is not combustible, will not support combustion, and will not explode.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing an optical probe which uses optical fibers arranged in parallel which can be easily bent by application of a heat source to improve the performance of the optical probe. The bend may be created by application of heat by a heat source and then forcing a change in the shape of the optical probe. Alternatively, an optical probe may be bent in room temperature and then by applying heat from a heat source, a bend can be created in the optical probe.

Abstract: An endoscope system of the present invention includes: an image fiber with an image fiber main body made of a plurality of cores for forming pixels and a cladding common thereto; and an optical system connected to an eyepiece side of the image fiber for causing laser light to enter the image fiber and for taking in an image from the image fiber, in which the image fiber has the cores arranged substantially uniformly over a cross-section of the image fiber main body, the cross-section being perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the image fiber main body.

Abstract: Endoscopic system 40 comprises composite optical fiber 34 that consists of a large-diameter, laser light transmitting optical fiber surrounded by a large number of image transmitting fibers that are bundled together to form an integral assembly with the central fiber, laser applying and image observing optical unit 42 that is connected to the eyepiece portion of said composite optical fiber such that it launches laser light into said large-diameter optical fiber and that the image being transmitted through said image transmitting optical fiber is focused on a camera to become observable, and an illuminating light transmitting unit that transmits illuminating light to the tip of the objective portion of said composite optical fiber for irradiation purposes.

Abstract: A small bowel endoscopic system of an ileus tube type using a monolithic composite optical fiber that can be applied with an ileus tube employed to administer a contrast agent or the like to a patient suffering from ileus and which is an integral assembly of a large-diameter optical fiber with a core/cladding structure intended for laser light transmission and a multi-core image fiber section surrounding that optical fiber to enable image transmission.

Abstract: An optical fiber bundle unit is provided for transmitting ultraviolet light in which the increase of the transmission loss caused by radicals generated in the optical fiber by irradiation or transmission of ultraviolet light is suppressed and a stable energy state is maintained even after the irradiation or transmission of ultraviolet light. The optical fiber bundle unit for transmitting ultraviolet light includes an optical fiber bundle and a sealed container in which the optical fiber bundle is held, wherein the sealed container contains a hydrogen gas.

Abstract: Endoscopic system 40 comprises composite optical fiber 34 that consists of a large-diameter, laser light transmitting optical fiber surrounded by a large number of image transmitting fibers that are bundled together to form an integral assembly with the central fiber, laser applying and image observing optical unit 42 that is connected to the eyepiece portion of said composite optical fiber such that it launches laser light into said large-diameter optical fiber and that the image being transmitted through said image transmitting optical fiber is focused on a camera to become observable, and an illuminating light transmitting unit that transmits illuminating light to the tip of the objective portion of said composite optical fiber for irradiation purposes.

Abstract: An optical fiber bundle unit is provided for transmitting ultraviolet light in which the increase of the transmission loss caused by radicals generated in the optical fiber by irradiation or transmission of ultraviolet light is suppressed and a stable energy state is maintained even after the irradiation or transmission of ultraviolet light. The optical fiber bundle unit for transmitting ultraviolet light includes an optical fiber bundle and a sealed container in which the optical fiber bundle is held, wherein the sealed container contains a hydrogen gas.

Abstract: An optical fiber bundle unit is provided for transmitting ultraviolet light in which the increase of the transmission loss caused by radicals generated in the optical fiber by irradiation or transmission of ultraviolet light is suppressed and a stable energy state is maintained even after the irradiation or transmission of ultraviolet light. The optical fiber bundle unit for transmitting ultraviolet light includes an optical fiber bundle and a sealed container in which the optical fiber bundle is held, wherein the sealed container contains a hydrogen gas.

Abstract: An airtight adapter to be mounted to an airtight unit requiring airtightness, e.g. a glove box, with which it is possible to easily replace a part of the airtight adapter while maintaining airtightness. The adapter has an outer-cylinder adapter body, an internal adapter body inserted into and fitted in the outer-cylinder adapter body and at least two annular sealing members positioned between the internal adapter body and the outer-cylinder adapter body.