Abstract: To simultaneously observe not only a principal part but also a surrounding wide range, the present invention provides a stereoscopic endoscope system including an endoscope including a plurality of image capturing units which photograph a subject to acquire images at a leading edge of a long narrow insertion unit insertable into the subject, an image processing apparatus that processes the images obtained by the image capturing units in the endoscope 2 to generate a display image, and an image display apparatus that displays the display image generated by the image processing in the image processing apparatus, in which the image processing apparatus generates the display image having a three-dimensional image generated from the plurality of images acquired by the plurality of image capturing units arranged in a central part of the display image and having a two-dimensional image arranged around the outer periphery of the three-dimensional image.

Abstract: An endoscope and a surgical instrument are easily manipulated to desired positions and orientations independently while the state of treatment with the surgical instrument can be easily observed using an endoscopic image.

Abstract: An image system for surgery includes: a three-dimensional imaging unit acquiring two images having parallax by capturing an image of a portion; a display unit displaying two images acquired by the three-dimensional imaging unit individually for both left and right eyes, or displaying a same image for both left and right eyes; a detection unit detecting that a treatment device that performs treatment on the portion or the three-dimensional imaging unit is in an operating state in which to initiate treatment on the portion; and a display control unit switching from displaying one of images on the display unit to displaying two images on the display unit when the detection unit detects the three-dimensional imaging unit or the treatment device is in the operating state in which to initiate treatment on the portion.

Abstract: An appropriate stereoscopic image of a subject is readily acquired. Provided is a stereoscopic endoscope device including two image capture elements spaced apart from each other and disposed at a distal end of an insertion section to be inserted into a subject; an angle changing mechanism that changes a relative angle between optical axes of the image capture elements; a distance sensor that detects the distance from the image capture elements to the subject; and a controller that controls the angle changing mechanism on the basis of the distance detected by the distance sensor.

Abstract: Provided is a medical instrument which has improved operability of an insertion portion and can guide a distal end of the insertion portion to an intended position. The medical instrument includes: an insertion portion (10) which is inserted into a body cavity; a rotor (11) which is provided in an outer circumferential surface of the insertion portion (10) and has its rotational axis arranged in a direction along an axis of the insertion portion (10); and a rotary drive unit which rotates the rotor (11) around the rotational axis.

Abstract: Provided is a guide sheath that is prevented from coming out of a body cavity so as to allow for stable operation. A tubular guide sheath that guides an insertion section of a medical device to be inserted into a body cavity includes a base-end opening that is provided at a base end of the guide sheath and into which the insertion section is inserted; a distal-end opening that is provided at a distal end of the guide sheath; a flexible bent section that is provided at the distal end of the guide sheath and is elastically bent; and an exit opening that is provided in an outer side surface of the bent section and from which the insertion section extends out.

Abstract: An endoscope and a surgical instrument are easily manipulated to desired positions and orientations independently while the state of treatment with the surgical instrument can be easily observed using an endoscopic image.

Abstract: In an optical switch, fibers in a fiber array are arranged in a row. When a region where lights input into or output from the fibers in the fiber array intersect is taken as an intersecting position C, and an axis parallel to the fibers in the fiber array and passing through the intersecting position C is taken as a Z axis, then a distance ? between a core of a desired fiber among the fibers and an optical axis of a corresponding one of the lenses varies depending on a distance S of the desired fiber from the Z axis.

Abstract: A loss of cleanliness of hands is prevented even if a user manipulates optical units by directly grabbing them. Provided is a sterilizable jacket (3) that is mounted to a head-mounted optical device provided with a head-mounting unit to be secured to the head of a user and an optical unit (7) that is attached to the head-mounting unit in a manner in which the position thereof is adjustable and that supplies viewable information to the user via an eyepiece portion (7c) disposed in front of an eye of the user, including a cover portion (3a) that is secured to the optical unit (7) in a detachable manner and that can almost entirely cover the optical unit (7), wherein the cover portion (3a) has an optically transparent window portion (3c) at a position facing the eyepiece portion (7c) when the cover portion (3a) is secured to the optical unit (7).

Abstract: In an optical switch, fibers in a fiber array are arranged in a row. When a region where lights input into or output from the fibers in the fiber array intersect is taken as an intersecting position C, and an axis parallel to the fibers in the fiber array and passing through the intersecting position C is taken as a Z axis, then a distance ? between a core of a desired fiber among the fibers and an optical axis of a corresponding one of the lenses varies depending on a distance S of the desired fiber from the Z axis.

Abstract: A wavelength selective switch includes a port array including three or more input and output ports arranged on a first plane in which first and second axes lie along the first axis, a dispersive element to disperse a light beam launched from an input port in a second plane in which the second axis and a third axis lie, a focusing optical element to focus dispersed light beams, and a mirror array to couple a focused light beam to an output port through the elements. The array has a mirror substrate arranged across the second plane. The substrate includes movable mirrors arranged in a line and allowed to be two-dimensionally tilted. The substrate is arranged so that its surface facing the focusing optical element has a tilt angle about the first axis with respect to a third plane in which the third and first axes lie.

Abstract: A packaging case 1 is formed of a unitary blank 1a of paper material. The unitary blank 1a has at least two fold lines 2a, 2b between which a back side wall 6a is formed and both sides of which a bottom wall 10 and a top wall 11 are formed. The unitary blank 1a has also incisions 3a, 3b formed on both ends of the fold lines 2a, 2b. The unitary blank is deep drawn to form side walls 6 on each periphery of the bottom wall 10 and the top wall 11 and form rims 8a, 8b protruding outwardly from each upper end of the side walls 6. The unitary blank is folded along the fold lines 2a, 2b so that the rims 8a, 8b come into contact with each other, whereby the bottom wall 10, the top wall 11, the back side wall 6a and the side walls 6 constitute an inner space.

Abstract: A packaging case 1 is formed of a unitary blank 1a of paper material. The unitary blank 1a has at least two fold lines 2a, 2b between which a back side wall 6a is formed and both sides of which a bottom wall 10 and a top wall 11 are formed. The unitary blank 1a has also incisions 3a, 3b formed on both ends of the fold lines 2a, 2b. The unitary blank is deep drawn to form side walls 6 on each periphery of the bottom wall 10 and the top wall 11 and form rims 8a, 8b protruding outwardly from each upper end of the side walls 6. The unitary blank is folded along the fold lines 2a, 2b so that the rims 8a, 8b come into contact with each other, whereby the bottom wall 10, the top wall 11, the back side wall 6a and the side walls 6 constitute an inner space.

Abstract: An optical thin film for an optical element is disclosed, which includes at least one layer containing at least one compound selected from the group consisting of MoO.sub.3 and WO.sub.3. A material for use in evaporation coating to prepare a thin film includes a mixture of at least one compound selected from the group consisting of MoO.sub.3 and WO.sub.3 and another dielectric. A further optical thin film includes a substrate and superimposed thereon are alternate layers. One such alternative layer having a high refractive index, and composed of a material containing at least one compound selected from the group consisting of MoO.sub.3 and WO.sub.3. Another of such alternative layers having a low refractive index, and composed of SiO.sub.2. Another thin film includes a substrate and, superimposed thereon, at least one dielectric layer. The at least one dielectric layer being at least one layer containing at least one compound selected from the group consisting of MoO.sub.3 and WO.sub.

Abstract: A moldable pulp material, which contains a main constituent of pulp comprising strips of paper having a size of millimeters and a fibrous component defibrated from waste paper, a starch binder in which a portion of the hydroxyl group in molecules of starch is modified, and thermally expandable hollow particles, is mixed with water which is effective to gelatinize the starch binder. The moldable pulp material is filled in a mold assembly and compressed in the mold assembly. The compressed moldable pulp material is then heated to at least a gelatinization temperature at which the starch binder is gelatinized, for thereby gelatinizing the starch binder to produce a molded pulp product for use as a shock absorbing material.