Abstract: A flexible tube for an endoscope includes a spiral coil 11 as the innermost layer and a jacket 13 that is formed by applying a melt of a jacket material 1 and then curing it, in which the jacket material 1 has been allowed to penetrate through the gaps between adjacent turns of the innermost spiral coil 11 to reach the portion of its inner surface.

Abstract: A distal end part of an endoscope having a viewing window for introducing light from an object into an objective optical system for forming an observed image. An illuminating window is disposed in a side by a side relationship with the viewing window for illuminating a visual field of the objective optical system. A continuous transparent cover covers the surfaces of both the illuminating and viewing windows. A window glass is attached to the viewing window in such a manner that a virtual image of the outer edge portion of the window glass, which is produced by single reflection from the inner side of the outer surface of the transparent cover, lies outside the visual filed of the objective optical system.

Abstract: A cover device which is removably fitted over an endoscope to cover an insert part of the endoscope and a control part connected to the proximal end of the insert part. The cover device includes a tubular sheath for covering the insert part so as to isolate it form the outside, and a control part cover for wrapping the control part. The control part cover is separate from the sheath and spreadably provided in contiguity with the proximal end of the sheath. In addition, a fluid supply tube is disposed such that one end portion of the tube extends through the sheath to communicate with the distal end of the sheath. The other end portion of the tube extends from the proximal end of the sheath along the outside of the control part cover.

Abstract: An endoscope stand for supporting an endoscope having a control part where the proximal end portion of a light guide cable includes a light guide connector attached to the distal end thereof and the proximal end portion of an insert tube being connected to each other. The endoscope stand comprises a control part support member for supporting the control part of the endoscope substantially horizontally, an insert tube supporting member which is disposed substantially horizontally to place the insert tube of the endoscope thereon, cover sheets which are impermeable to water. The cover sheets are removably placed on the control part supporting member and the insert tube supporting member, respectively. A light guide connector supporting member supports the light guide connector so that the light guide cable will not touch any of the surroundings.

Abstract: A flexible tube for use in an endoscope comprises a flexible basic tubular core structure including an outer meshwork tube, and a thermoplastic synthetic resin tube bonded to the outer meshwork tube of the tubular core structure in a manner such that the resin tube maintains an inherent compressive pre-stress in the finished flexible tube. An endoscope tube having flexibility which varies in a step-wise manner from one end of the tube to the other is obtained by integrally bonding two or more thermoplastic synthetic resin tube sections formed of respective resin materials having different hardnesses to the outer surface of the tubular core structure to form a coating layer in an analogous manner.

Abstract: A flexible tube for use in an endoscope comprises a flexible basic tubular core structure including an outer meshwork tube, and a thermoplastic synthetic resin tube bonded to the outer meshwork tube of the tubular core structure in a manner such that the resin tube maintains an inherent compressive pre-stress in the finished flexible tube. An endoscope tube having flexibility which varies in a step-wise manner from one end of the tube to the other is obtained by integrally bonding two or more thermoplastic synthetic resin tube sections formed of respective resin materials having different hardnesses to the outer surface of the tubular core structure to form a coating layer in an analogous manner.

Abstract: A flexible tube for use in an endoscope comprises a flexible basic tubular core structure and a homogeneous thermoplastic synthetic resin tube bonded to the outer surface of the tubular core structure to form a coating layer by positioning the synthetic resin tube tightly over the basic tubular core structure with a contact pressure therebetween and heating the synthetic resin tube to a temperature higher than a softening point of the thermoplastic synthetic resin forming the same. A flexible tube having flexibility which varies in a step-wise manner from one end of the tube to the other is obtained by integrally bonding as a whole two or more homogeneous thermoplastic synthetic resin tube sections formed of respective resin materials having different hardnesses to the outer surface of the tubular core structure to form a coating layer in an analogous manner.