Abstract: The flexible endoscope 20 has a flexible insertion portion 22 to be inserted in an observation zone 11 of a MRI apparatus 10. The insertion portion 22 has an inner tube 71 made of resin, triple helical tubes 72 covering the inner tube 71 and an outer tube 73 made of resin and covering the triple helical tubes 72. The triple helical tubes 72 include a first helical band 721 helically wound around an outer peripheral surface of the inner tube 71, a second helical band 722 helically wound around an outer periphery of the first helical band 721 in a direction opposite to a winding direction of the first helical band 721 and a third helical band 723 helically wound around an outer periphery of the second helical band 722 in a direction opposite to the winding direction of the second helical band 722. The first to third helical bands 721, 722, 723 are made of phosphor bronze or copper-silver alloy, which are materials having low magnetic susceptibility.

Abstract: A clip applier includes a body 21, an insertion tube 22 extending from the body 21 and inserted in a channel of an endoscope and a clamp mechanism 24 disposed at a distal end of the insertion tube 22. The clamp mechanism 24 has a support member 28 fixed at the distal end of the insertion tube 22 and a pair of clamp members 30 rotatably supported by the support member 28. The clamp members 30 are connected to a distal end of a wire 25 via a pair of links 35. The clamp members 30 respectively include gripping portions 32 protruding form the support member 28. A clip 50 is received in receiving grooves 32a of the gripping portions 32. When the wire 25 is pulled by operating an operation member disposed on the body 21, the clamp members 30 are rotated against an elastic force of a hinge portion 51 of the clip 50, thereby causing a pair of clip portions 53 of the clip 50 to be opened.

Abstract: Means to Solve The flexible endoscope 20 has a flexible insertion portion 22 to be inserted in an observation zone 11 of a MRI apparatus 10. The insertion portion 22 has an inner tube 71 made of resin, triple helical tubes 72 covering the inner tube 71 and an outer tube 73 made of resin and covering the triple helical tubes 72. The triple helical tubes 72 include a first helical band 721 helically wound around an outer peripheral surface of the inner tube 71, a second helical band 722 helically wound around an outer periphery of the first helical band 721 in a direction opposite to a winding direction of the first helical band 721 and a third helical band 723 helically wound around an outer periphery of the second helical band 722 in a direction opposite to the winding direction of the second helical band 722. The first to third helical bands 721, 722, 723 are made of phosphor bronze or copper-silver alloy, which are materials having low magnetic susceptibility.

Abstract: A wire member 50 is received in a flexible part 22 of an endoscope 20 and adapted to remotely curvilinearly control a bendable part 27 at a distal end of the flexible insertion part 22. The wire member 50 includes a braid 51 braiding from a plurality of resin fibers and an adhesive agent 52 impregnated in the braid 51 and hardened. The impregnating and hardening of the adhesive agent 52 are carried out in a state where the braid 51 is applied with a tensile force having a predetermined magnitude.

Abstract: A clip applier includes a body 21, an insertion tube 22 extending from the body 21 and inserted in a channel of an endoscope and a clamp mechanism 24 disposed at a distal end of the insertion tube 22. The clamp mechanism 24 has a support member 28 fixed at the distal end of the insertion tube 22 and a pair of clamp members 30 rotatably supported by the support member 28. The clamp members 30 are connected to a distal end of a wire 25 via a pair of links 35. The clamp members 30 respectively include gripping portions 32 protruding form the support member 28. A clip 50 is received in receiving grooves 32a of the gripping portions 32. When the wire 25 is pulled by operating an operation member disposed on the body 21, the clamp members 30 are rotated against an elastic force of a hinge portion 51 of the clip 50, thereby causing a pair of clip portions 53 of the clip 50 to be opened.

Abstract: A wire member 50 is received in a flexible part 22 of an endoscope 20 and adapted to remotely curvilinearly control a bendable part 27 at a distal end of the flexible insertion part 22. The wire member 50 includes a braid 51 braiding from a plurality of resin fibers and an adhesive agent 52 impregnated in the braid 51 and hardened. The impregnating and hardening of the adhesive agent 52 are carried out in a state where the braid 51 is applied with a tensile force having a predetermined magnitude.

Abstract: A Raman probe for measuring Raman spectrum includes an exciting-end light guiding path for guiding excitation light from a light source to a sample; a receiving light-guide path for guiding a light signal from said sample to a detector; a band-pass filter for passing said excitation light and blocking Raman-scattered light produced from said exciting-end light guiding path; a pipe for securing said band-pass filter inside said pipe, said pipe being mounted on a light-outgoing end of said exciting-end light guiding path; and an edge filter mounted on a light-incident end of said receiving light-guide path, said edge filter passing Raman-scattered light from said sample while blocking the excitation light. The edge filter is a short-wavelength transmitting filter that permits passage of wavelengths shorter than the excitation wavelength.

Abstract: A guiding apparatus to be used when inserting an airway tube from a mouth of a patient includes a body (A) and an endoscope (B) disposed through the body (A). The body (A) includes a blade (10). The blade (10) is inserted from the mouth of the patient to depress the epiglottis with a distal end portion thereof, exposing the glottis. The endoscope (B) includes an objective end portion (65), an ocular end portion (55) and an image guide (70) optically connecting the objective end portion (65) and the ocular end portion (55). The objective end portion (65) is disposed on the blade (10). The ocular end portion (55) is positioned out of alignment with the blade (10) either to the right or the left behind a rear end of the blade (10).

Abstract: A fluororesin tube body (10) of an endoscope flexible tube (1) is small in diameter and thin in wall thickness to such a degree that it is difficult to maintain its cross-sectional shape by itself when the flexible tube (1) is bent to the limit. A braid (20) woven from a plurality of flat bands (21) to form a tubular shape is disposed around the tube body (10). The mesh openings of the braid (20) are filled with filling adhesive (30), which bonds the tube body (10) and the braid (20) together. The filling adhesive (30) has enough elasticity to allow deformation of the braid (20) during the bending operation and enough adhesive strength to maintain the bond between the tube body (10) and the braid (20) even when the filling adhesive (30) is elastically deformed. Consequently, the braid (20) restricts the cross-sectional deformation of the tube body (10). Thus, the limit curvature of the flexible tube (1) can be increased.

Abstract: An endoscope 10 comprises an insert portion 30 having outer tubing 35, a light guide 31, an image guide 32 and an objective optical member 33. Peripheral side surfaces of these components 31,32,33,35 adjacent to each other are bonded together by an adhesive 36 at a distal end portion of the insert portion 30. The adhesive 36 contains fine particles 36b comprising a roentgenopaque material such as Pt or Au. The adhesive 36 fills among optical fibers 31a inside the light guide 31, thereby roentgenopaque property is conferred not only among the above-mentioned components 31,32,33,35 at the distal end of the insert portion 30 but also on the inside of the light guide 31. This enables the distal end of the endoscope 10 to be traced with X-rays without enhancing the diameter of the insert portion 30. Therefore, the endoscope 10 can easily be inserted into human small vessels such as blood vessels.

Abstract: An analysis system comprises an endoscope 10 insertable into the vessel and a Raman analysis apparatus 40. An insert cable 54 of the Raman analysis apparatus 40 is inserted into a channel 10a of the endoscope 10. An excitation optical fiber 60 and a bundle 70A of a plural number of light receivingoptical fibers 70 are received in the insert cable 54. A transparent small piece 63 having a film-like excitation optical filter 64 is abutted against the distal end of the fiber 60. A transparent plate 71 having a film-like light reciving optical filter 72 is abutted against the distal end of fibers bundle 70A. The plate 71 has a center hole 71a and the piece 63 is fitted into the hole 71a.

Abstract: An omnidirectional endoscope device 1 is provided at a distal end part of an insertion section 12 of an endoscope 10 with an omnidirectional light receiving unit 20 for receiving an incident light from all around the periphery in the peripheral direction and reflecting the light toward a relay lens optical system 13. The insertion section 12 slidably pierces through a retaining cylinder 33. A light guide 35 (illumination light transmitting means) is embedded in the retaining cylinder 33, and an outgoing surface at the distal end of this light guide 35 is faced with a distal end face of the retaining cylinder 33. The retaining cylinder 33 can be operated in a sliding manner by a grip 31 disposed at the basal end. By this, the illumination light can strike upon the view field of the omnidirectional light receiving mechanism regardless whether the inside space of an image to be observed is large or small.

Abstract: A Raman probe that does not produce Raman scattering that interferes with measurement, and a Raman spectrum measuring apparatus utilizing the Raman probe. The Raman probe comprises a hollow wave-guide path 10 with a light-transmitting medium (core) that is evacuated or filled with a gas that does not produce Raman scattering, such as air.

Abstract: A hollow optical fiber 10 has an intermed ate dielectric layer 12 interposed between an inner periphery side dielectric layer 11 facing a hollow core portion 10a and a metal layer 13. The inner periphery side dielectric layer 11 is formed of calcium fluoride. The intermediate dielectric layer 12 is formed of yttrium fluoride. Metal of the metal layer 13 can be prevented from dispersing into the dielectric layers 12, 11 by the intermediate dielectric layer 12 formed of yttrium fluoride. The hollow optical fiber 10 is manufactured by vapor depositing calcium fluoride on an outer peripheral surface of an acid-soluble glass tube 20 (base material), then vapor depositing yttrium fluoride on its outer peripheral surface, then vapor depositing a metal layer formed of silver, gold or the like on its outer peripheral surface, and thereafter, dissolving the glass tube 20 with acid.

Abstract: An endoscope apparatus has a side view endoscope 10 for side viewing an object in a radial direction of a distal end constitutional portion 14 and a balloon catheter 40. With an insert portion 13 of a side view endoscope 10 inserted in an insert tube 41 of the balloon catheter 40, the balloon catheter 40 is inserted into a blood vessel B. The insert tube 41 is provided at its distal end with a transparent balloon 42. This balloon 42 encloses the distal end constitutional portion 14. By feeding air (fluid) to this balloon 42, the balloon 42 is expanded so as to be urged against an inside wall of the blood vessel B. This causes the blood to be discharged between the inside wall of the blood vessel B and the balloon 42, thus enabling to observe the inside wall of the blood vessel B through the side view endoscope 10.

Abstract: A guiding apparatus M comprises a stopper 30 for restricting the depth of insertion of a sheath 10. The sheath 10 is slidingly movably inserting into the stopper 30. Moreover, a lock bar 40, which is generally in orthogonal relation to the sheath 10, is received in the stopper 30. One end portion of the lock bar 40 projects from the stopper 30 and serves as a control portion 41, while the other end portion thereof is provided with slits 42a and serves as a biasing portion 42. A recess 43 for partly receiving therein the sheath 10 is formed in an intermediate section of the lock bar 40. An inner surface of the recess 43 is urged against an outer periphery of the sheath 10 under the effect of the biasing portion 42, thereby locking the stopper 30 to the sheath 10. By pressing the control portion 41 against the force of the biasing portion 42, the stopper 30 is unlocked.

Abstract: A bendable tube used for an endoscope or the like, includes a plurality of joint pieces 11 arranged in a row. Each of the joint pieces is provided at one end portion thereof with a pair of first connecting portions 12 and at the other end portion with a pair of second connecting portions 13. The first connecting portions 12 are projected in a center axis direction of the joint piece and arranged 180 degrees away from each other in a peripheral direction, and the second connecting portions 13 are projected in the opposite direction to the first connecting portions 12 and arranged 180 degrees away from each other in the peripheral direction. The first connecting portion 12 is formed with a through-hole 12a (retaining portion) and the second connecting portion 13 is formed with a protrusion 13a. The first and second connecting portions 12, 13 of the adjacent joint pieces 11 are connected together only by fitting engagement between the protrusion 13a and the through-hole 12a.

Abstract: After a number of optical fibers are inserted into a tubular member of a shape memory alloy, the tubular member is returned to its memorized shape by heating to reduce a cross-sectional area of a reception space of the tubular member, thereby uniting the optical fibers received in the tubular member. In a modified form of the invention, a number of optical fibers are inserted into a reception space between two tubular members at least one of which is made of a shape memory alloy, and then the one tubular member is heated to be returned to its memorized shape to reduce a cross-sectional area of the reception space between the two tubular members, thereby uniting the optical fibers.

Abstract: After a number of optical fibers are inserted into a tubular member of a shape memory alloy, the tubular member is returned to its memorized shape by heating to reduce a cross-sectional area of a reception space of the tubular member, thereby uniting the optical fibers received in the tubular member. In a modified form of the invention, a number of optical fibers are inserted into a reception space between two tubular members at least one of which is made of a shape memory alloy, and then the one tubular member is heated to be returned to its memorized shape to reduce a cross-sectional area of the reception space between the two tubular members, thereby uniting the optical fibers.

Abstract: A hard endoscope used for assisting a micro-operation includes a body and an insert portion extending from the body. The insert portion includes a first linear portion, and a second linear portion longer than the first linear portion. The first and second linear portions are arranged forwardly in order from the body. A connecting portion is disposed between the first linear portion and the second linear portion. The insert portion thus constructed exhibits a bent configuration. The first and second linear portions have a first and a second relay lens, respectively, therein. The connecting portion has a prism therein. This prism transmits the light coming through the first relay lens to the second relay lens.