Abstract: A distal arm that holds a rigid endoscope includes a multi-joint articulated arm including first to fourth distal arm portions sequentially connected from a base portion side, and these first to fourth distal arm portions are configured so as to move on a vertical plane with horizontal rotational shafts as supports. In addition, behaviors of the respective distal arm portions are linked by a linking mechanism so that the first distal arm portion and the third distal arm portion behave in parallel to each other, and the second distal arm portion and the fourth distal arm portion behave in parallel to each other.

Abstract: A coil spring with irregular cross section according to the present invention is made by subjecting a coil wire having an irregular cross section to a fatigue-strength improving treatment including a shot peening treatment after coiling the coil wire into a spring configuration, and the coil spring with irregular cross section has a vertical cross sectional profile whose coil inner-peripheral-side section is expressed by following Equation (1) and Equation (2) in a polar coordinate system and orthogonal coordinate system: x=(LR??b)cosnxr ?+?b??(1) y=SR sinnyr ???(2) wherein ? is a deflection angle in said polar coordinate system; and 0°??<90°, 270°??<360°, 0.7?nxr?0.9, 0.8?nyr?1.0, and 0.1SR??b?0.3SR; in said Equation (1) and Equation (2). In accordance with the present invention, it is possible to provide a coil spring with irregular cross section that exhibits more uniform and higher fatigue strength along a cross-sectional peripheral direction of the coil wire.

Abstract: A distal arm that holds a rigid endoscope includes a multi-joint articulated arm including first to fourth distal arm portions sequentially connected from a base portion side, and these first to fourth distal arm portions are configured so as to move on a vertical plane with horizontal rotational shafts as supports. In addition, behaviors of the respective distal arm portions are linked by a linking mechanism so that the first distal arm portion and the third distal arm portion behave in parallel to each other, and the second distal arm portion and the fourth distal arm portion behave in parallel to each other.

Abstract: A coil spring with irregular cross section according to the present invention is made by subjecting a coil wire having an irregular cross section to a fatigue-strength improving treatment including a shot peening treatment after coiling the coil wire into a spring configuration, and the coil spring with irregular cross section has a vertical cross-sectional profile whose coil inner-peripheral-side section is expressed by following Equation (1) and Equation (2) in a polar coordinate system and orthogonal coordinate system: x=(LR??b)cosnxr?+?b??(1) y=SRsinnyr???(2) wherein ? is a deflection angle in said polar coordinate system; and 0°??<90°, 270°??<360°, 0.7?nxr?0.9, 0.8?nyr?1.0, and 0.1SR??b?0.3SR; in said Equation (1) and Equation (2). In accordance with the present invention, it is possible to provide a coil spring with irregular cross section that exhibits more uniform and higher fatigue strength along a cross-sectional peripheral direction of the coil wire.

Abstract: A medical instrument holding apparatus includes a supporting mechanism, a moving mechanism, a basal portion and a counterweight. The supporting mechanism supports a medical instrument. The moving mechanism which has first and second sides, and a shaft portion located between the first and second sides. The moving mechanism supports the supporting mechanism, allowing the medical instrument and the supporting mechanism to be moved around the shaft portion. The basal portion is coupled to the shaft portion. The basal portion supports the moving mechanism, allowing the moving mechanism to rotate around the shaft portion. The counterweight is located on the second side of the moving mechanism. The counterweight generates a first rotation moment being smaller than a second rotation moment generated from the weights of the medical instrument and the supporting mechanism and acting around the shaft portion in the opposite direction to the second rotation moment.

Abstract: An endoscope is connected optically removably to a TV camera through an adapter. A plurality of fixing pins is arranged on both sides of an insertion axis of an insertion part of the endoscope. A fixing unit to fix the endoscope removably is provided at the front end of an arm unit of an endoscope holder which supports the endoscope movably. The fixing unit has a claw and a movable claw, and grips the fixing pins of the endoscope releasably between the claw and the movable claw.

Abstract: An endoscope is connected optically removably to a TV camera through an adapter. A plurality of fixing pins is arranged on both sides of an insertion axis of an insertion part of the endoscope. A fixing unit to fix the endoscope removably is provided at the front end of an arm unit of an endoscope holder which supports the endoscope movably. The fixing unit has a claw and a movable claw, and grips the fixing pins of the endoscope releasably between the claw and the movable claw.

Abstract: A medical instrument holding apparatus includes a supporting mechanism, a moving mechanism, a basal portion and a counterweight. The supporting mechanism supports a medical instrument. The moving mechanism which has first and second sides, and a shaft portion located between the first and second sides. The moving mechanism supports the supporting mechanism, allowing the medical instrument and the supporting mechanism to be moved around the shaft portion. The basal portion is coupled to the shaft portion. The basal portion supports the moving mechanism, allowing the moving mechanism to rotate around the shaft portion. The counterweight is located on the second side of the moving mechanism. The counterweight generates a first rotation moment being smaller than a second rotation moment generated from the weights of the medical instrument and the supporting mechanism and acting around the shaft portion in the opposite direction to the second rotation moment.

Abstract: A method used during the manufacturing of a device of an optical pickup device for bonding and fixing drive coils to a lens holder or other parts of a drive device. The optical pickup device has a lens holder and a magnetic drive device for driving the lens holder in a tracking direction and a focusing direction, the magnetic drive device having a permanent magnet and drive coils fixed to the lens holder. The method includes providing a fuse wire having a wire and a fuse coating covering the wire, pressing the fuse wire on the lens holder at a predetermined position, energizing the fuse wire in the pressed position to melt the fuse coating, and curing the melt fuse coating to bond and fix the fuse wire to the lens holder to form the drive coils. Alternatively, the fuse wire may be melt first and then pressed to the desired position of the lens holder.

Abstract: An objective lens driving system comprises a lens holder retaining an objective lens, a holder supporting member for movably supporting the lens holder in focusing and tracking directions, a magnetic driving circuit for moving the lens holder in the focusing and tracking directions, in which a flat driving coil made by winding a self-welding wire coated with a heat welding layer is face-bonded on either the lens holder or holder supporting member. The driving coil is configured such that the self-welding wire is united via the heat welding layer thereof and a surface thereof is coated with a reinforcing adhesive thinly. The reinforcing adhesive has a higher thermal stability than the heat welding layer.

Abstract: An objective lens actuator including an objective lens holding body for holding an objective lens, and a sheetlike drive coil arranged on an outer circumferential surface of the objective lens holding body. The objective lens holding body is rotatable about a shaft and slidable along the shaft, and a vibration absorbing member is interposed between a portion of the objective lens holding body and the sheetlike drive coil, the portion being opposite to the objective lens with the shaft interposed therebetween.