Abstract: An endoscope system according to the invention includes a display device including a first connector, plural apparatuses having different functions in which placing sections, on which the display device can be detachably set from a common direction, are respectively provided, and a second connector disposed in common in each of the placing sections and electrically connected to the first connector of the display device to form a pair in a state in which the display device is set on the placing sections.

Abstract: An endoscope system according to the invention includes a display device including a first connector, plural apparatuses having different functions in which placing sections, on which the display device can be detachably set from a common direction, are respectively provided, and a second connector disposed in common in each of the placing sections and electrically connected to the first connector of the display device to form a pair in a state in which the display device is set on the placing sections.

Abstract: A measuring endoscope system includes a menu display module that selects a menu according to display data which is associated in advance with any of a plurality of optical adaptors, and a measuring program for performing measurement according to the result of the selection performed by the menu display module. Consequently, in the measuring endoscope system, when a user designates an optical adaptor using an optical adaptor selection screen image displayed on an LCD by the menu display module, a measuring technique associated with the optical adaptor is automatically selected. When a user wants to perform measurement using the measuring endoscope system, the user should merely press a measurement execution switch included in an endoscopic operation unit. Thus, measurement in which the selected measuring technique is implemented is carried out.

Abstract: An electronic endoscope having an illuminating section in which an LED for illumination that emits illuminating light to illuminate an observed site is provided and a C-MOS image sensor which has an image pickup surface on which an optical image is formed and outputs a video signal.

Abstract: A measuring endoscope system includes a menu display module that selects a menu according to display data which is associated in advance with any of a plurality of optical adaptors, and a measuring program for performing measurement according to the result of the selection performed by the menu display module. Consequently, in the measuring endoscope system, when a user designates an optical adaptor using an optical adaptor selection screen image displayed on an LCD by the menu display module, a measuring technique associated with the optical adaptor is automatically selected. When a user wants to perform measurement using the measuring endoscope system, the user should merely press a measurement execution switch included in an endoscopic operation unit. Thus, measurement in which the selected measuring technique is implemented is carried out.

Abstract: A measuring endoscope system including an optical adaptor freely attachable or detachable to or from a distal portion of an endoscope and having two objective lenses. Two images are taken by the two objective lenses and are formed at different positions on an imaging device incorporated in a main endoscope unit. A measuring unit for reading information from a recording medium on which optical data specific to the optical adaptor is recorded, correcting the optical data on the basis of an error in position of an imaging system in the main endoscope unit, performing coordinate conversion on images used for measurement on the basis of the corrected optical data, and calculating three-dimensional coordinates of any points by matching the two images having undergone coordinate conversion.

Abstract: A rigid sleeve device for an endoscope comprises an inner pipe fitted over a flexible insertion section of the endoscope and movable back and forth and a sleeve fixing unit provided in the inner pipe and detachably fixing the inner pipe at a given axial position on the outer periphery of the insertion section. The rigid sleeve device is fixed at any given position to the flexible insertion section of the endoscope.

Abstract: A multi-degree-of-freedom manipulator includes a flexible tube having a plurality of flex portions provided therealong, a plurality of actuators made of shape memory alloy and respectively provided near the flex portions to correspond to the flex portions, for flexing the flex portions, two common energy transmission paths, extending along the flexible tube, for transmitting an energy to the actuators, and selective energy supply members, provided between the common energy transmission paths and the actuators in series, for controlling the energy supplied from the common energy transmission path to the actuators, thereby respectively independently driving the actuators to bend the flexible tube.

Abstract: A line projection part provided on a distal-end part of an endoscope for projecting a light of a line toward the side of an object. A plurality of points are assigned on a line which is projected so as to pass through a recess or the like which resides in an object surface, to calculate an approximate line which expresses the line three-dimensionally. Further, a measurement point is assigned onto the line which passes through the recess, to find a three-dimensional coordinate thereof. A distance from the three-dimensional coordinate to the approximate line is found to calculate a depth of the recess or the like.

Abstract: A multi-degree-of-freedom manipulator includes a flexible tube having a plurality of flex portions provided therealong, a plurality of actuators made of shape memory alloy and respectively provided near the flex portions to correspond to the flex portions, for flexing the flex portions, two common energy transmission paths, extending along the flexible tube, for transmitting an energy to the actuators, and selective energy supply members, provided between the common energy transmission paths and the actuators in series, for controlling the energy supplied from the common energy transmission path to the actuators, thereby respectively independently driving the actuators to bend the flexible tube.

Abstract: The measuring endoscope includes a device for producing interference fringes, a device for projecting the interference fringes onto a surface of an object to be measured, a device for scanning the interference fringes, an imaging device for reading vibrations of brightness on the surface of the object to be measured which are caused by the scanning of the interference fringes and a processing device capable of determining depths of concavities and heights of convexities on the surface the measured object by calculating data output from the imaging device. This measuring endoscope makes it possible to determine accurately the location of internal diseases within organs of human bodies, defects in gas pipes and so on.

Abstract: A treating instrument for medical treatment, comprises an insertion section to be inserted into a body cavity of a patient, biopsying forceps provided at a distal end of the insertion section, a pair of cups provided at the forceps, a grip member connected to an operator-end side of the insertion section; a drive unit provided on the distal end of the insertion section and generating a drive force for the cups, a conduction circuit for carrying electric current through the drive unit, and an operation switch interposed at lead wires of the conduction circuit.

Abstract: The distal end of an endoscope is provided with at least an objective optical system and a torque transmission member for supporting a rotating treatment member. The distal end of the torque transmission member comprises a hollow to which a support axis formed in the rotating treatment member is fitted, a slit for guiding a protrusion formed on the external circumference of the support axis, and a locking member for locking the protrusion in the slit. Torque is transmitted from the torque transmission member to the rotating treatment member by means of the protrusion formed on the external circumference of the support axis of the rotating treatment member and the slit formed on the torque transmission member for guiding the protrusion.

Abstract: The endoscope system of this invention is formed of an endoscope having an insertable part provided in the tip part with an illuminating window and a receiving window receiving an object image illuminated by an illuminating light emitted from the illuminating window and a plurality of sheaths selectively and removably connected to the endoscope, inserted through the insertable part when connected to the endoscope and having respectively different functions.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for detecting an endoscopic inserting condition. The apparatus includes an irradiation arrangement for applying electromagnetic waves to the inside of an organism from outside the organism, an electromagnetic wave reception arrangement which is disposed in an insert section of an endoscope for producing an electromagnetic signal, and a detection arrangement receiving the electromagnetic signal produced by the electromagnetic wave reception arrangement, for detecting the insertion orientation of the endoscope on the basis of the received electromagnetic signal.

Abstract: A position and orientation state pickup is designed to detect the position and orientation state of an endoscope inserted into a living body without any adverse effect on the living body, which is often observed in X-ray analysis. The position and orientation state pickup, generating an electro-magnetic field with frequency at least lower than the visible ray range toward the body from outside; detects influence of the endoscope inserted into the body on two-dimensional energy distribution of the electro-magnetic field generated toward the body; and show the position and orientation state of the endoscope from the detection results.

Abstract: An intra-tube traveling apparatus includes a moving unit to which an endoscope is held and which is self-driven to travel in a pipe path, and a movement control section for controlling movement of the moving unit. The moving unit includes an elastic actuator which is extended/contracted in the radial direction and axial directions of the pipe path upon reception of the pressurized fluid, balloons attached to the front and rear ends of the elastic actuator. Each of the balloons is radially expanded/deformed upon reception of the pressurized fluid therein to be locked to the inner surface of the pipe path.

Abstract: An eddy current flaw detecting endoscope apparatus has an endoscope having an elongate insertable part and an objective optical system provided on the tip side of the insertable part. A flaw detecting device is provided on the tip side of the endoscope. A signal processing device processes a signal for the flaw detecting device. An eddy current flaw detecting apparatus detects a flaw in an object to be inspected and generates a flaw detecting signal. A controlling device generates a control signal controlling a controlled device with a flaw detecting signal of the eddy current flaw detecting apparatus.

Abstract: This endoscope apparatus is provided with an elongate flexible insertable part; a winding unit with a supporting structure having a winding member connected with the insertable part at the base end and capable of winding up and housing the insertable part; an illuminating device for emitting an illuminating light for the endoscope; and an observing device for producing an image of an object to be observed. An external apparatus forming one or both of the illuminating device and observing device is provided separately from the winding member. A connecting means is extended axially out of the side of the winding member and connected to the external apparatus. The endoscope apparatus also includes a driving circuit for the imaging apparatus and a signal processing circuit for processing a picture image signal output from the imaging apparatus to be a video signal.

Abstract: This endoscope apparatus is provided with an elongate flexible insertable part; a winding unit with a supporting structure having a winding member connected with the insertable part at the base end for winding up and housing the insertable part; an illuminating device for emitting an illuminating light for the endoscope; and an observing device for producing an image of an object to be observed. An external apparatus forming one or both of the illuminating device and observing device is provided separately from the winding member. A flexible connecting means is extended axially out of the side of the winding member and operatively connects the insertable part to the external apparatus.