Abstract: An insertion device includes an insertion portion in which a movable member is held in contact with an outer circumferential surface of a hollow cylindrical member. When drive power is transmitted from the hollow cylindrical member to the movable member as the hollow cylindrical member is rotated about a longitudinal axis of the insertion portion, the movable member is rotated around its own axis parallel to the longitudinal axis and moved around the longitudinal axis. The insertion portion includes a membrane covering the movable member from an outer circumferential side thereof. The membrane urges the movable member toward the longitudinal axis, thereby pressing the movable member against the outer circumferential surface of the hollow cylindrical member.

Abstract: In an insertion equipment, a cover film forming part of an outer periphery surface of an insertion section has flexibility and is formed of a resilient material. In the insertion section, a protrusion protruding to an outer periphery side is covered by the cover film from the outer periphery side, and the protrusion moves around a longitudinal axis with respect to the cover film due to a transmission of a drive force for rotating an attachment tool. A ring member of the attachment tool is attached to the outer periphery side of the cover film in a state that the protrusion is pressed to an inner periphery side by the ring member via the cover film, and is rotatable around the longitudinal axis with respect to the cover film.

Abstract: A drive shaft extends inside a tubular section along a shaft axis, and the drive shaft rotates around the shaft axis while transmitting a driving force generated in a driving source to a driven portion. The drive shaft includes multiple extension sections, and a hard section. Each of the extension sections extends along the shaft axis. The hard section is interposed between two of the extension sections in a direction along the shaft axis, and has a higher rigidity in comparison to that of the extension sections.

Abstract: An insertion tool includes a drive power transmitting mechanism disposed on a proximal-end portion of an insertion portion, for transmitting drive power to a driven member disposed on a distal-end side of the insertion portion. The drive power transmitting mechanism includes a gear train for transmitting drive power from a drive source that generates the drive power, and a joint mechanism for joining the drive source to the gear train to transmit the drive power from the drive source to the gear train and unjoining the drive source from the gear train.

Abstract: An insertion device includes an insertion portion in which a movable member is held in contact with an outer circumferential surface of a hollow cylindrical member. When drive power is transmitted from the hollow cylindrical member to the movable member as the hollow cylindrical member is rotated about a longitudinal axis of the insertion portion, the movable member is rotated around its own axis parallel to the longitudinal axis and moved around the longitudinal axis. The insertion portion includes a membrane covering the movable member from an outer circumferential side thereof. The membrane urges the movable member toward the longitudinal axis, thereby pressing the movable member against the outer circumferential surface of the hollow cylindrical member.

Abstract: In an insertion equipment, a cover film forming part of an outer periphery surface of an insertion section has flexibility and is formed of a resilient material. In the insertion section, a protrusion protruding to an outer periphery side is covered by the cover film from the outer periphery side, and the protrusion moves around a longitudinal axis with respect to the cover film due to a transmission of a drive force for rotating an attachment tool. A ring member of the attachment tool is attached to the outer periphery side of the cover film in a state that the protrusion is pressed to an inner periphery side by the ring member via the cover film, and is rotatable around the longitudinal axis with respect to the cover film.

Abstract: An insertion device includes a first rotating member, and a second rotating member coaxially arranged with a rotational axis of the first rotating member and rotating about the rotational axis to bend a bending section. The insertion device includes a moving member arranged inside the first rotating member and the second rotating member along the rotational axis and being movable between a state where an electrical driving force is transmitted to the second rotating member and a state where the electrical driving force is not transmitted to the second rotating member.

Abstract: An insertion apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention includes: an insertion portion to be inserted into a subject; a bending operation apparatus to be moved by an operator to input an operation instruction; a bending drive section that generates a drive force based on the movement of the bending operation apparatus; a pulling member to be pulled by the drive force from the bending drive section; a bending portion provided in the insertion portion, the bending portion being connected to the pulling member and being bent upon the pulling member being pulled; and a haptic section that connects the pulling member and the bending operation apparatus via an elastic portion.

Abstract: A drive shaft extends inside a tubular section along a shaft axis, and the drive shaft rotates around the shaft axis while transmitting a driving force generated in a driving source to a driven portion. The drive shaft includes multiple extension sections, and a hard section. Each of the extension sections extends along the shaft axis. The hard section is interposed between two of the extension sections in a direction along the shaft axis, and has a higher rigidity in comparison to that of the extension sections.

Abstract: An insertion instrument includes an insertion section extending from a proximal side to a distal side along a longitudinal axis, and the insertion section includes an assistance tool attaching portion to which an assistance tool is attached. A dimension index indicating a dimension from a distal end of the insertion section is provided on an outer surface of the insertion section. A position index provided at a reference position, which is spaced from a proximal end of the assistance tool attached to the assistance tool attaching portion at a predetermined dimension to the proximal side, on the outer surface of the insertion section, the position index being an index indicating a position is the reference position.

Abstract: An endoscope has a bending portion operation apparatus at an operation portion, the bending portion operation apparatus being for bending and operating a bending portion, and the bending portion operation apparatus includes a dial for bending operation which bends the bending portion by pivoting about a shaft, a portion of the dial for bending operation provided at the operation portion being protruded at a position where the dial for bending operation is operated with a thumb grasping the operation portion, and an auxiliary dial for bending operation which has a meshing portion meshing with the dial for bending operation and a protruding portion protruding at a position where the auxiliary dial for bending operation is operable with a finger other than the thumb, an operation input entered at the protruding portion with the finger other than the thumb being transmitted to the bending operation dial via the meshing portion.

Abstract: An insertion device includes a first rotating member, and a second rotating member coaxially arranged with a rotational axis of the first rotating member and rotating about the rotational axis to bend a bending section. The insertion device includes a moving member arranged inside the first rotating member and the second rotating member along the rotational axis and being movable between a state where an electrical driving force is transmitted to the second rotating member and a state where the electrical driving force is not transmitted to the second rotating member.

Abstract: An insertion apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention includes: an insertion portion to be inserted into a subject; a bending operation apparatus to be moved by an operator to input an operation instruction; a bending drive section that generates a drive force based on the movement of the bending operation apparatus; a pulling member to be pulled by the drive force from the bending drive section; a bending portion provided in the insertion portion, the bending portion being connected to the pulling member and being bent upon the pulling member being pulled; and a haptic section that connects the pulling member and the bending operation apparatus via an elastic portion.

Abstract: An endoscope includes a control method input section provided in a bending operation input unit and configured to input a control method of a bending operation, and a control method detector provided in an operation section body and configured to detect the input control method of the bending operation. The endoscope includes an activated portion provided in the bending operation input unit and configured to change its activated state in response to the bending operation in a bending operation input section, an activated state detector provided in the operation section body and configured to detect the activated state of the activated portion, and a drive member provided in the operation section body and configured to be driven in accordance with the detected control method and the detected activated state, thereby bending a bending section.

Abstract: A bending mechanism includes a vertical driving portion with a central axis that extends along an X-axis direction, a horizontal driving portion with a central axis that extends along the X-axis direction and is adjacent to the vertical driving portion in a Y-axis direction, a vertical rotary portion that is coupled to the vertical driving portion and is rotated, and a horizontal rotary portion adjacent to the vertical rotary portion in the Y-axis direction that is coupled to the horizontal driving portion and is rotated. The binding mechanism further includes a holding portion holding a vertical operation wire extending from the vertical rotary portion to a rear surface on the side where the horizontal rotary portion is disposed, and holding a horizontal operation wire extending from the horizontal rotary portion to the rear surface on the side of the vertical rotary portion and further intersecting with a vertical operation wire.

Abstract: An endoscope has a bending portion operation apparatus at an operation portion, the bending portion operation apparatus being for bending and operating a bending portion, and the bending portion operation apparatus includes a dial for bending operation which bends the bending portion by pivoting about a shaft, a portion of the dial for bending operation provided at the operation portion being protruded at a position where the dial for bending operation is operated with a thumb grasping the operation portion, and an auxiliary dial for bending operation which has a meshing portion meshing with the dial for bending operation and a protruding portion protruding at a position where the auxiliary dial for bending operation is operable with a finger other than the thumb, an operation input entered at the protruding portion with the finger other than the thumb being transmitted to the bending operation dial via the meshing portion.

Abstract: An attachment and detachment mechanism includes convex and concave engaging portions provided in first and second couplings respectively and extending in a radial direction of first and second shaft portions, the convex engaging portion is to be slidably inserted into and removed from the concave engaging portion along a longitudinal direction of the concave engaging portion, the convex and concave engaging portions includes basic positions where the longitudinal directions of the convex and concave engaging portions correspond to the attachment and detachment direction of the first and second main body portions and the convex and concave engaging portions are insertable into and removable from each other, and the attachment and detachment mechanism further includes a guide mechanism to guide one engaging portion such that the one engaging portion is disposed at the basic position in conjunction with the attachment or detachment of the first and second main body portions.

Abstract: An endoscope includes an insertion portion having a bending portion, a base portion connected to the insertion portion, an operation wire extending from the bending portion toward the base portion, a drive source unit which is provided in the base portion, and a drive force transmission unit which is connected to the operation wire and the drive source unit. The drive source unit includes a first frame, a second frame, a motor, a gear box and a potentiometer. The gear box includes a horizontal power transmission mechanism for horizontally transmitting power from the motor, and an epicyclic gear mechanism for vertically transmitting power from the horizontal power transmission mechanism.

Abstract: An endoscope 2 includes an insertion body 3 equipped with a potentiometer 26 for detecting a bending state of a bending portion 3B which is allowed to be bent and inserted into a subject and an electric connector 18c for outputting an electric signal as a detection result of the potentiometer 26, and a motor unit 4 detachable with respect to the insertion body 3 via an attachment/detachment portion 14, which is equipped with an electric motor 23 for bending the bending portion 3B.

Abstract: An endoscope includes a control method input section provided in a bending operation input unit and configured to input a control method of a bending operation, and a control method detector provided in an operation section body and configured to detect the input control method of the bending operation. The endoscope includes an activated portion provided in the bending operation input unit and configured to change its activated state in response to the bending operation in a bending operation input section, an activated state detector provided in the operation section body and configured to detect the activated state of the activated portion, and a drive member provided in the operation section body and configured to be driven in accordance with the detected control method and the detected activated state, thereby bending a bending section.