Abstract: An endoscope includes an insertion portion including a distal end portion in which an image pickup unit is disposed, the insertion portion being configured to be inserted into an organ of a subject, an operation portion disposed at a proximal end of the insertion portion, and a sensor disposed in the operation portion, the sensor being configured to detect a pressure of a fluid in a flow passage passing through from the operation portion to a first opening of the distal end portion, the flow passage being configured to allow the fluid flowed into the operation portion to be flowed out from the first opening.

Abstract: An endoscope includes an insertion portion including a distal end portion in which an image pickup unit is disposed, the insertion portion being configured to be inserted into an organ of a subject, an operation portion disposed at a proximal end of the insertion portion, and a sensor disposed in the operation portion, the sensor being configured to detect a pressure of a fluid in a flow passage passing through from the operation portion to a first opening of the distal end portion, the flow passage being configured to allow the fluid flowed into the operation portion to be flowed out from the first opening.

Abstract: An endoscope includes: an imaging unit disposed at a distal end portion of an insertion section inserted into a body of a subject; and a built-in component provided parallel with the imaging unit at the distal end portion, and extending substantially parallel with an axial direction of the insertion section. The imaging unit includes: a solid state image sensor including a light receiving unit; a flexible circuit board electrically connecting the solid state image sensor; and a rigid circuit board at least partially disposed on a proximal end side of the endoscope relative to the solid state image sensor, and electrically connected to the flexible circuit board.

Abstract: An endoscope includes: an imaging unit disposed at a distal end portion of an insertion section inserted into a body of a subject; and a built-in component provided parallel with the imaging unit at the distal end portion, and extending substantially parallel with an axial direction of the insertion section. The imaging unit includes: a solid state image sensor including a light receiving unit; a flexible circuit board electrically connecting the solid state image sensor; and a rigid circuit board at least partially disposed on a proximal end side of the endoscope relative to the solid state image sensor, and electrically connected to the flexible circuit board.

Abstract: An endoscope apparatus includes an image pickup unit comprising a plurality of image pickup devices and an optical path dividing member for dividing an entering light beam into a plurality of optical paths, wherein respective optical path lengths are different from one another; a contrast comparing member for comparing contrasts of a plurality of images; an image selecting member for selecting and outputting only one image signal from one image pickup device among the plurality of image pickup devices, on a basis of comparison result by the contrast comparing member; and a driving member for moving a movable lens so that a difference among the contrasts of the plurality of images is largest, wherein a part of an objective lens is configured to be movable in an optical axis direction.

Abstract: A solid-state image pickup apparatus includes an image pickup device electrically connected to a flexible printed board, a rigid board electrically connected to an image pickup device via the flexible printed board, and a signal cable incorporating a plurality of coaxial lines. The rigid board includes a first surface including a core-wire connecting section to which core wires of the coaxial lines are connected and a second surface including an external-conductor connecting section to which external conductors of the coaxial lines are connected and including a step having a height dimension substantially the same as a dimension difference between an outer diameter section of the core wires and an outer diameter section of the external conductors of the coaxial lines substantially parallel to the first surface. The plurality of coaxial lines are connected substantially in parallel to the first and second surfaces of the rigid board.

Abstract: An imaging module includes: a solid-state imaging element including a light receiving face for receiving light; a mounting substrate including a connection portion which is located inside an imaging element projection area that is a projection area where the solid-state imaging element is projected in an optical axis direction and which is connected to a back surface of the solid-state imaging element on a distal end side of the mounting substrate, the mounting substrate on a rear end side being extended in the optical axis direction; and a metallic reinforcing member that has a sleeve shape open at both ends and covers the solid-state imaging element and the connection portion of the mounting substrate along the optical axis direction in a state where an inner circumferential surface of the reinforcing member is away from the solid-state imaging element and the mounting substrate.

Abstract: An endoscope apparatus includes: a solid-state imaging element including a light receiving surface on a front face thereof; a circuit board arranged on a rear face side of the solid-state imaging element, the circuit board including a wiring pattern a part of which is exposed on a distal end side of the circuit board, the distal end side facing the solid-state imaging element; a first heat dissipation member arranged between the solid-state imaging element and the exposed part of the wiring pattern, the first heat dissipation member being in contact with the rear face of the solid-state imaging element and the exposed part of the wiring pattern; and a cable electrically connected to the wiring pattern. A width of the exposed part of the wiring pattern in contact with the first heat dissipation member is wider than that of the wiring pattern at a central part of the circuit board.

Abstract: An endoscope apparatus includes an image pickup unit comprising a plurality of image pickup devices and an optical path dividing member for dividing an entering light beam into a plurality of optical paths, wherein respective optical path lengths are different from one another; a contrast comparing member for comparing contrasts of a plurality of images; an image selecting member for selecting and outputting only one image signal from one image pickup device among the plurality of image pickup devices, on a basis of comparison result by the contrast comparing member; and a driving member for moving a movable lens so that a difference among the contrasts of the plurality of images is largest, wherein a part of an objective lens is configured to be movable in an optical axis direction.

Abstract: An imaging module includes: a solid-state imaging element including a light receiving face for receiving light; a mounting substrate including a connection portion which is located inside an imaging element projection area that is a projection area where the solid-state imaging element is projected in an optical axis direction and which is connected to a back surface of the solid-state imaging element on a distal end side of the mounting substrate, the mounting substrate on a rear end side being extended in the optical axis direction; and a metallic reinforcing member that has a sleeve shape open at both ends and covers the solid-state imaging element and the connection portion of the mounting substrate along the optical axis direction in a state where an inner circumferential surface of the reinforcing member is away from the solid-state imaging element and the mounting substrate.

Abstract: An image-capturing apparatus and a repair method thereof are provided. The image-capturing apparatus includes a lens frame to which one or more lenses are fixed; an image-capturing frame to which an image-capturing device is fixed; and a fixing member for fixing the lens frame and the image-capturing frame to each other without adhering a fitted portion between the lens frame and the image-capturing frame. The repair method for the image-capturing apparatus includes destructing a fixing member for fixing to each other a lens frame to which one or more lenses are fixed and an image-capturing frame to which an image-capturing device is fixed, and releasing fixing between the frames; replacing at least either of the lens frame and the image-capturing frame; and fixing to each other the lens frame and the image-capturing frame.

Abstract: An electronic endoscope includes a distal end portion of an insertion portion which incorporates electronic components, a metal frame which holds an observation window, an earth member which is connected to a patient-side ground of an external device, and a static-protective member which is disposed in the distal end portion to have a predetermined clearance from the metal frame and is electrically connected to the earth member to let static electricity applied to the distal end portion flow to the earth member. With the configuration, the electronic endoscope prevents occurrence of trouble, a fault, and the like in an electronic component incorporated in the distal end portion due to applied static electricity.

Abstract: An electronic endoscope includes a distal end portion of an insertion portion which incorporates an image pickup unit, a first metal frame which holds an observation window, a second metal frame which holds an objective optical system, a third metal frame which is made to fit with a rear portion of the second metal frame and holds an electronic component, an anti-fogging unit which prevents fogging of the observation window, and a thermal insulation member which thermally insulates the anti-fogging unit and the second metal frame from each other to inhibit transmission of heat generated in the anti-fogging unit to the third metal frame, an outer circumferential face of which fits with an inner circumferential face of the first metal frame, and an inner circumferential face of which fits with an outer circumferential face of the second metal frame.

Abstract: An electronic endoscope includes a distal end portion of an insertion portion which incorporates an image pickup unit, a first metal frame which holds an observation window, a second metal frame which holds an objective optical system, a third metal frame which is made to fit with a rear portion of the second metal frame and holds an electronic component, an anti-fogging unit which prevents fogging of the observation window, and a thermal insulation member which thermally insulates the anti-fogging unit and the second metal frame from each other to inhibit transmission of heat generated in the anti-fogging unit to the third metal frame, an outer circumferential face of which fits with an inner circumferential face of the first metal frame, and an inner circumferential face of which fits with an outer circumferential face of the second metal frame.

Abstract: An image pickup unit according the present invention includes: a solid-state image pickup device which photoelectrically converts a photographic light and thereby outputs a video signal; and a lens barrel which, being approximately cylindrical in shape and being fastened to the solid-state image pickup device by a light-curing adhesive, holds a plurality of objective lenses, wherein a tapered surface is formed on a rear end face which opposes front part of the solid-state image pickup device of the lens barrel, with distance between the tapered surface and the front part of the solid-state image pickup device increasing toward outer circumference.

Abstract: An electronic endoscope includes a distal end portion of an insertion portion which incorporates electronic components, a metal frame which holds an observation window, an earth member which is connected to a patient-side ground of an external device, and a static-protective member which is disposed in the distal end portion to have a predetermined clearance from the metal frame and is electrically connected to the earth member to let static electricity E applied to the distal end portion flow to the earth member. With the configuration, the electronic endoscope prevents occurrence of trouble, a fault, and the like in an electronic component incorporated in the distal end portion due to applied static electricity.

Abstract: The present invention has a configuration that an observing portion observing an area to be examined and first and second illumination portions performing irradiation of illumination light are disposed on a distal end face of an insertion portion to be inserted into the area to be examined, and a first lens which is a distal end observation lens of an observation window of the observation portion is disposed at a position projecting to a distal end side beyond the distal end face. With the abovementioned configuration, an endoscope provided with an observation optical system of an object contact type performing contact observation to a live body where a sharp observation image can be obtained is provided.

Abstract: An image forming lens includes a lens element having a flange part that is integral with the lens element. When assembled with an image pickup element to form an image pickup module, an outside perimeter portion of the lens element having a flange part, at a region nearest an image pickup element, is inclined so that outer diameters thereof increase when successively measured at positions nearer to the image pickup element. A frame of the image forming lens according to the invention has an inclined portion on the object side with an outer diameter that becomes smaller when successively measured nearer the object side. Satisfying one or more conditions insures accuracy in assembly and that there will be sufficient room near the object side outside the inclined portion to mount a light source, such as an LED, without having to increase the maximum outer diameter of the image pickup module.

Abstract: There is provided an endoscope capable of observing cells at a desired position existing in the depth direction with a simple structure as compared to the conventional configuration. The endoscope includes an insert unit to be inserted into a biological body, a low-scaling observation system for observing an observation position in a biological body with a low scaling, and a high-scaling observation system for observing a target position of the aforementioned observation position as a local position with a high scaling. The high-scaling observation system includes a plurality of illumination units for applying illumination light for high-scaling observation of the target position. The illumination units are arranged at predetermined positions of the end face of the insert unit.

Abstract: An endoscope includes an inserted unit for being inserted into a celomic cavity of a body and having therein at least one channel, and an ultrasonic treatment apparatus including a transmitting member that transmits an ultrasonic wave produced by an ultrasonic vibrator, and a treatment unit provided on a distal end of the transmitting member and for being inserted, together with the transmitting member, into the channel. The ultrasonic treatment apparatus is arranged within the channel by positioning a distal end of the treatment unit within a field of vision of the endoscope.