Abstract: A cutter for a blood vessel tissue harvesting instrument is disposed at the distal end of an insertion member. A cutter body projecting from the distal end of the insertion member includes a slit that extends from the distal end toward a base edge. High-frequency electrodes are disposed along the sides of the slit. A feeding mechanism has rotating surfaces which are rotated as a result of being pressed by the tissue, and which feed the tissue toward the base edge of the slit. The rotating surfaces are provided by two rotary members disposed opposite each other along the two side edges of the slit, respectively, so that the first and second rotating surfaces move in a direction from the opening of the slit toward the base edge of the slit.

Abstract: A method of collecting a specimen of the present invention detects upper digestive system disease. The method of collecting a specimen includes: a step of administering a stimulant of pancreatic juice secretion or a stimulant of bile secretion to a subject; a step of positioning sampling equipment in the duodenum of the subject into which duodenal juice is secreted, the sampling equipment being used to collect and store the duodenal juice; a step of starting collection of the duodenal juice by the sampling equipment within five minutes from the administration of the stimulant of pancreatic juice secretion or the stimulant of bile secretion; and a step of stopping collection of the duodenal juice such that collection time for the duodenal juice is within five minutes from the start of collection.

Abstract: The body tissue harvesting instrument is provided with a cutter which is disposed at the distal end of an insertion member that is inserted into the body to sever tissue inside the body. The cutter includes a slit that extends from the distal end toward the base end; a first high-frequency electrode disposed along the two side edges of the slit on the outer surface of the cutter body and a second high-frequency electrode disposed at the base end of the slit; and a mechanism which is disposed on both sides of the distal end of the slit in the projection of the cutter body which rotates as a result of being pressed by the tissue, and which feeds the tissue toward the interior of the slit. Parts located on both sides of the distal end of the slit in the projection may mutually separate in the thickness direction.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to enable clearly identifying whether a body-cavity image displayed on a display unit is based on data which is directly received by a viewer itself, or whether the body-cavity image displayed on the display unit is based on data received by another receiving device. An identification notifying unit presents different identification modes such as a capsule mark and a cable mark 41 which are sensory recognizable between the case where a body-cavity image based on body-cavity image data which a first receiving unit has received directly from a capsule endoscope is displayed, and the case where a body-cavity image 40 based on body-cavity image data which a second receiving unit has received via another receiving device is displayed. Thus, it is possible to clearly identify which receiver has received the body-cavity image data based on which the body-cavity image is displayed.

Abstract: A condition for determining that an examination by a capsule endoscope 3 (body insertable device) completes is set in advance. When a predetermined time period has passed since the examination starts, and when received electric-field strength of receiving antennas A1 to An detected during a predetermined time period is not higher than a predetermined value, the examination is determined to have been completed. An examination completion determining unit C1 determines whether the condition is satisfied or not. According to the result of determination, a notification controller C2 makes a notifying unit 15 notify that the examination completes, and a power supply controller C3 stop power supply to a radio unit 2a. Thus, unnecessary power consumption is prevented and the completion of the examination by the body insertable device is recognized.

Abstract: An endoscope system comprises an endoscope, medical instrument, operating unit, first and second drive units, and control unit. The endoscope comprises a flexible insertion tube being inserted into an object being examined. The medical instrument is partially inserted into the object through the insertion tube and the operating unit is used for commanding the medical instrument to operate. The first drive unit drives the medical instrument to enable an inserting and pulling-out operation of the medical instrument with the object through the insertion tube. The second drive unit drives the medical instrument to enable the medical instrument to perform a therapeutic operation in the object. The control unit controls drive of the first and second driving devices depending on both an operated state of the operating device and an interference state caused between the medical instrument and the insertion tube when the instrument is actually used.

Abstract: An endoscope accessory, used with an endoscope including a suction conduit communicating with a suction device, an accessory insertion channel, and an operation portion at which entrances of the conduit and channel are formed, includes a tubular insertion unit to be inserted into the channel through the entrance of the channel and to be movable along the channel, and a tubular connection unit provided at a proximal end of the insertion unit and detachably connected to the entrance of the suction conduit. An endoscope system is constituted by combining the accessory with the endoscope. In a method for mounting the accessory onto the endoscope, the insertion unit of the accessory is inserted into the channel through its entrance in the operation portion of the endoscope to be movable along the channel, and the connection unit of the accessory is detachably connected to the entrance of the conduit.

Abstract: A rotating self-traveling endoscope system of the invention comprising an insertion portion having an image pickup unit at its distal end portion and a helical structure formed on the outer surface, a rotating driving device for rotating the insertion portion around a long axis, and a rotating self-traveling insertion assisting tool through which the insertion portion can be freely inserted and which is provided with a flexible tube having a bending portion disposed therein is capable of passage of the insertion portion through a space in a body cavity and passage through a valve in the body cavity, which improves insertion performance into a small intestine.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus and an image processing method which can improve efficiency of observation by a user are provided. The image processing apparatus of the present invention includes an image inputting unit configured to input a medical image including a plurality of color signals; a determining unit configured to determine whether the biological mucosa is sufficiently captured in the inputted medical image or not; and a controlling unit configured to control at least either of display or storage of the medical image based on the determination result in the determining unit.

Abstract: An apparatus for washing and disinfecting an endoscope is provided. First and second chemicals and dilution water, which dilutes the chemicals to be used for disinfecting the endoscope, are charged into a tank. The tank includes a first portion, a second portion having an area of base smaller than that of the first portion, a first sensor detecting that the dilution water is charged into the first portion up to a first level, a second sensor detecting that the first chemical is charged into the second portion up to a second level, and a third sensor detecting that the second chemical is charged into the second portion up to a third level. A unit measures a first volume of the first chemical based on a result of the second sensor and measures a second volume of the second chemical based on results of the third sensor and the second sensor.

Abstract: An ultrasonic transducer cell according to the present invention includes: a substrate; a charge holding portion provided on the substrate; a lower electrode provided on the charge holding portion and used to input and output a signal; and a vibration membrane provided above the lower electrode to be separated from the lower electrode with a cavity, and configured to include at least an insulating film and an upper electrode provided on the insulating film.

Abstract: An endoscope apparatus of the invention includes an endoscope, camera control unit (CCU), and a trocar. The endoscope includes a heater and a temperature sensor. The CCU is configured to include a resistance value-voltage value conversion section, an analog-digital conversion section, voltage value-temperature table conversion section, a control voltage calculation section, an digital-analog conversion section, a voltage amplification section, a switch control section, and a switch. The trocar 5 includes an insertion detection sensor.

Abstract: An ultrasonic treatment apparatus includes a sheath which has an opening at a distal-end thereof; an ultrasonic transducer which is connected to the sheath, the ultrasonic transducer being able to generate ultrasonic vibration which is of treatment energy; an ultrasonic power supply unit which supplies electric power for driving the ultrasonic transducer; a treatment unit which is connected to the ultrasonic transducer, the treatment unit transmitting the ultrasonic vibration to a living tissue; and a high-frequency power supply unit which supplies high-frequency current which is of the treatment energy to the treatment unit.

Abstract: There is provide an apparatus for washing and disinfecting an endoscope having a duct for detecting a water leakage, the duct having an opening to which a fitting is attached. The apparatus comprises a nozzle unit having a nozzle to supply a gas into the duct via the fitting in a case where the nozzle is inserted into the fitting and a base member holding the nozzle member. The apparatus further comprises a gas supplying unit capable of supplying the gas to the nozzle, a shifting unit capable of shifting the base member toward the fitting of the endoscope, and a controlling unit controlling drive of the shifting unit to shift the base toward the fitting and to drive of the gas supplying unit to allow the nozzle to blow the gas from before the nozzle reaches the fitting.

Abstract: An endoscope system comprises an endoscope, manipulating unit, and controlling unit. The endoscope is equipped with an elongated and flexible insertion tube being inserted into an object being examined and formed to be used in combination with a therapeutic instrument. The insertion tube has a distal section accommodating therein at least an optical system for imaging and presenting a longitudinal direction. The manipulating unit is manually manipulated for commanding operations of at least the therapeutic instrument and formed to be loaded to the insertion tube and slidable along the insertion tube in the longitudinal direction thereof. The controlling unit controls at least the therapeutic instrument based on a command from the manipulating unit.

Abstract: A blunt dissector for endoscopic vein harvesting has a generally-cylindrical sheath for retaining an elongated endoscope. The sheath is elongated between a distal end and a proximal end. A transparent tip is disposed at the distal end of the sheath. A handle is disposed at the proximal end of the sheath. The sheath includes a selectably closable longitudinal slot having an opened configuration such that the endoscope can be inserted radially into the sheath. The longitudinal slot has a closed configuration that retains the endoscope within the sheath and presents a substantially smooth outer surface for use during dissection.

Abstract: A bipolar cutter has a cutter main body for inserting into the interior of a body and a treating electrode that is positioned against an object of examination (such as a blood vessel or a bleeding site) to be electrically cut and cauterized. A guiding member guides the object of examination toward the treating electrode as it is displaced in the axial direction of the cutter main body. The guiding member is comprised of a pair of protruding members and a notched groove or gap that leads to the treating electrode while in a first configuration. A gap adjusting mechanism causes the guiding member or the treating electrode to be displaced in the axial direction to reduce or eliminate the length of the gap so that the treating electrode can better reach flat tissue surfaces for treatment.

Abstract: An endoscope includes an operation portion side member, an insertion portion side member rotatable integrally with the insertion portion, an elastic member provided in one of the operation portion side member and the insertion portion side member, a frictional surface which is provided in the other of the operation portion side member and the insertion portion side member and which generates a frictional force between the frictional surface and the elastic member when the frictional surface is pressed onto the elastic member and the insertion portion is rotated, and a movement adjusting mechanism which relatively moves the operation portion side member and the insertion portion side member to continuously adjust press force acting between the elastic member and the frictional surface while deforming the elastic member.

Abstract: A method for suturing a perforation of the present invention comprises the steps of: inserting an observation device into the hollow organ and confirming a proposed incision line for incising the hollow organ; determining a position to be sutured before incising the hollow organ along the proposed incision line; and suturing the perforation by tightening up a suture thread that penetrates through the hollow organ via the position to be sutured after incising the hollow organ along the proposed incision line and performing a medical treatment in an abdominal cavity through the perforation.

Abstract: An ultrasonic coagulation and cutting apparatus includes: an ultrasonic transducer for a treatment using ultrasonic vibrations on body tissue; a probe for transmitting generated ultrasonic vibrations to the distal end thereof; a movable gripping member for cooperating with the outer surface of the probe in gripping therebetween body tissue; an operation unit operated to move the gripping member; an operation transmitting member for transmitting the operation of the operation unit to the gripping member; and high frequency power supply connecting portions for electrically connecting the probe and the gripping member to predetermined portions of a high frequency power supply for a treatment using high frequency current on the body tissue. At least coagulation of the body tissue using high frequency current is started in a first gripping state. Cutting of the body tissue using ultrasonic vibrations generated by the ultrasonic transducer is started in a second gripping state.