Abstract: A capsule-type endoscope comprising a capsule body, an image pickup element, illuminating elements, an image signal processing circuit, a memory, an image information transmitting circuit and an antenna for wireless transmission. The capsule body contains the pickup element, the illuminating elements, the processing circuit, the memory, transmitting circuit and the antenna. While the capsule body remains in a living body, the image pickup element takes images of an interior of the living body. The processing circuit processes the image, generating image information. The memory stores the information. The transmitting circuit reads the information and supplies it to the antenna. The antenna transmits the information by radio, from the living body.

Abstract: The capsule-type medical device in accordance with the present invention is advanced the inside of the somatic cavities and lumens of humans being or animals for conducting examination, therapy, or treatment. The capsule-type medical device comprises a plurality of hard units and a soft linking unit which links the plurality of hard units and has a diameter less than that of any of the hard units, wherein one of the plurality of hard units is different in size from other hard units.

Abstract: A capsule-type endoscope comprising a capsule body, an image pickup element, illuminating elements, an image signal processing circuit, a memory, an image information transmitting circuit and an antenna for wireless transmission. The capsule body contains the pickup element, the illuminating elements, the processing circuit, the memory, transmitting circuit and the antenna. While the capsule body remains in a living body, the image pickup element takes images of an interior of the living body. The processing circuit processes the image, generating image information. The memory stores the information. The transmitting circuit reads the information and supplies it to the antenna. The antenna transmits the information by radio, from the living body.

Abstract: An optical imaging apparatus has an optical scanning probe configured to irradiate low-coherence light onto a subject and to perform photo-reception of light scattered at the subject, and an observation device adapted to construct a cross-section image of the subject based on information from the light received through the optical scanning probe. The optical scanning probe is detachably connected to the observation device.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a cell culturing system that cultures predetermined cells collected from a patient and supplies cultured cells to the original patient, which together with enabling correlations between the cultured cells and the supplier of the cells to be managed accurately and easily at all times, allows cultured cells and patients to be collated rapidly. In a cell culturing system 20 that carries in cells containing stem cells and contains them in an incoming transport container to which is attached unique identification information, transfers the transported cells to and cultures them in a culture container to which is attached unique identification information, and carries out the cultured cells by transferring them to an outgoing transport container to which is attached unique identification information, ID numbers attached to the containers before and after transfer are input from a barcode reader 31 whenever the cells are transferred to a different container.

Abstract: A holding member has an opening portion which opens to an distal end. The opening portion, the distal end of an endoscope and a holding member define a treatment space. A clamping member can project and retreat from and into the opening portion through the treatment space. The puncture member can move in the treatment space, in a direction that intersects with the longitudinal direction of the endoscope.

Abstract: An endoscopic suturing includes a suturing device having a curved needle to suture tissue. The endoscopic suturing device also includes a driving means to maneuver the curved needle. The curved needle and the driving means are placed at a distal end of the endoscopic suturing device. The endoscopic suturing device also includes a flexible endoscope connected to the suturing device.

Abstract: An optical imaging device includes a reference scanning unit offering a high signal-to-noise ratio and capable of scanning an object rapidly. An interference optical system can be realized inexpensively. In the optical imaging device, low coherent light passed through an optical coupler and another optical coupler, irradiated from an optical scanner probe, reflected from an observed point in a living tissue, returned to the optical coupler, propagated over a fourth SM optical fiber, and routed to another optical coupler shall be referred to as sample light. Light passed through an optical length variation optical system via the optical coupler and routed to the optical coupler shall be referred to as reference light. At this time, a difference between a delay time undergone by the sample light and a delay time undergone by the reference light is proportional to a difference between an optical length for the sample light and an optical length for the reference light.

Abstract: A container does not need a member such as a stoke and the like that are exposed to the molten metal therein, thus the necessity to replace the parts such as the stoke and the like can be eliminated. In addition, there is no structure like the stoke in the container, the operability for the preheating is improved thus the preheating can be performed effectively. In addition, since a flow passage is formed inside the lining with high heat conductivity, inner heat of the container is easily conducted to the flow passage. Thus, the decrease in temperature of the molten metal that flows inside the flow passage can be suppressed to the utmost.

Abstract: An endoscopic suturing device includes an endoscope, a curved needle detachably arranged at the distal end portion of or integrally embedded in the endoscope for suturing a tissue of the living body, a suture for suturing said tissue with the curved needle, and a drive arranged on the endoscope and operating the curved needle.

Abstract: An optical imaging device includes a reference scanning unit offering a high signal-to-noise ratio and capable of scanning an object rapidly. An interference optical system can be realized inexpensively. In the optical imaging device, low coherent light passed through an optical coupler and another optical coupler, irradiated from an optical scanner probe, reflected from an observed point in a living tissue, returned to the optical coupler, propagated over a fourth SM optical fiber, and routed to another optical coupler shall be referred to as sample light. Light passed through an optical length variation optical system via the optical coupler and routed to the optical coupler shall be referred to as reference light. At this time, a difference between a delay time undergone by the sample light and a delay time undergone by the reference light is proportional to a difference between an optical length for the sample light and an optical length for the reference light.

Abstract: An encapsulated endoscope system in accordance with the present invention comprises: an encapsulated endoscope that rotates to develop a thrust; a controller that moves the encapsulated endoscope in an intended direction of advancement; an imaging unit incorporated in the encapsulated endoscope; and an image processing unit that receives image data sent from the imaging unit, and produces an image, which results from rotation of the received image data, according to the rotational phase of the encapsulated endoscope.

Abstract: A capsule-type medical device comprises a capsule main unit having functions for being inserted into the body cavity and performing medical acts such as taking images or the like. The capsule main unit comprises therein a magnet which is acted upon by external magnetism, and a spiral portion on the outer perimeter, so that rotating force acting upon the magnet is readily converted into a propelling force for propelling the capsule-type medical device. A flexible insertion portion which is long and small in diameter is provided to the capsule main unit to allow smooth progression through the body cavity, and the center of gravity of the device is placed upon the longitudinal center axis of the capsule main unit, thus facilitating smooth progression through the body cavity.

Abstract: An endoscope device is provided which includes a manipulation portion and an inserted portion connected thereto, and an endoscope holder is provided at an elevated position, for example, on a ceiling. The endoscope device is rotatably suspended from the endoscope holder with its inserted portion extending downward. The endoscope holder has an endoscope manipulation unit for operating the endoscope device and peripheral equipment.

Abstract: An endoscope device includes an inserting portion having a curving portion, electric motors for generating driving forces for curving the curving portion, an operation unit for controlling the drive of the electric motors, a universal cord the base end of which is connected to an endoscope external unit, a coupling member with which the respective one ends of the inserting portion and the universal cord are coupled and which has a treatment tool inserting port, a holding unit for holding the coupling member, and a holding member for disposing the holding unit at a predetermined position of an operation bed. According to this arrangement, the operability of a surgeon can be improved by improving not only a curving operability but also the insertion operability of an inserting portion and the operability of a treatment tool.

Abstract: A battery self-containing body, which self-contains a battery or a battery accommodating body, which accommodates a battery removably is attached to a capsule body including a drive circuit for driving an imaging device and an illuminating device. Thus, the power supply can be turned ON easily. In addition, the inside portion is sealed water-tightly. Thus, the battery self-containing body or a battery can be exchanged easily, which allows the easy reuse. The direction of the visual field of the imaging device is diagonal with respect to the axis of the capsule body. Furthermore, spiral-shape projections are provided on the peripheral surface of the cylinder form. Thus, the rotation allows the surface of canal cavity wall to be examined easily.

Abstract: The capsule-type medical device in accordance with the present invention is advanced the inside of the somatic cavities and lumens of humans being or animals for conducting examination, therapy, or treatment. The capsule-type medical device comprises a plurality of hard units and a soft linking unit which links the plurality of hard units and has a diameter less than that of any of the hard units, wherein one of the plurality of hard units is different in size from other hard units.

Abstract: On the side at hand of an optical probe, a whole rotation transfer connector rotates while being supported by a ball bearing and a slide bearing and, therefore, rotation is transferred to a flexible shaft. The relative position between the flexible shaft and an optical sheath is changed in accordance with the amount of screwing of a sheath stopping member on the side at hand into an outer cylinder by an external thread portion and an internal thread portion. When the optical sheath is moved furthermore, the flexible shaft is elongated due to elastic deformation because the length of the flexible shaft is regulated by the interval between a locking part of a locking member at the tip and a shaft stopping member. A tip housing is made to contact with the locking member while tension is applied to the flexible shaft by the rear end surface in the direction of the side at hand.

Abstract: An endoscope system has an electronic endoscope, a signal processing section and a data transmitting and receiving section. The electronic endoscope has an image pickup element at a distal end portion of an insert section thereof to be inserted in a body. The other end portion of the endoscope is located outside the body. The signal processing section processes an image signal obtained by the image pickup element. The data transmitting and receiving section transmits and receives data to and from a network environment by radio.

Abstract: A capsule-type endoscope comprising a capsule body, an image pickup element an illuminating elements, an image signal processing circuit, a memory, an image information transmitting circuit and an antenna for wireless transmission. The capsule body contains the pickup element, the illuminating elements, the processing circuit the memory, transmitting circuit and the antenna. While the capsule body remains in a living body, the image pickup element takes images of an interior of the living body. The processing circuit processes the image, generating image information. The memory stores the information. The transmitting circuit reads the information and supplies it to the antenna. The antenna transmits the information by radio, from the living body.