Abstract: A first bendable section which can be bent in an arbitrary direction and a second bendable section which can be bent in the bending direction of this first bendable section are provided at the tip end side of an insertion portion. A balloon which is inflated/contracted by feed/discharge of a fluid is provided in this second bendable section so that hardness of this second bendable section can be varied and insertion work into a curved portion is facilitated.

Abstract: An insertion apparatus includes: an introducing duct including; insertion portion cover portion for covering an insertion portion extending from a distal side portion of a handling portion constituting an endoscope; and a spiral duct which is disposed on an inner circumferential surface side of the insertion portion cover portion, and has on a circumferential surface of the spiral duct, a propulsion power generating portion for applying a propulsion power for introducing the insertion portion into a deep portion in a body cavity, to the insertion portion covered by the insertion portion cover, and a rotating device comprising a rotating portion for rotating the spiral duct equipped to the introducing duct.

Abstract: An insertion apparatus includes: a tubular member equipped with a propulsion power generating portion; a rotating portion for rotating the tubular member provided with the propulsion power generating portion around the longitudinal axis of the tubular member; and a distal portion which is provided on a more distal side than the tubular member rotated by the rotating portion, is slidably provided to the tubular member, and is disposed with an observation portion for observing a body to be examined.

Abstract: An insertion device comprises a long-sized insertion portion to be inserted into a subject, a propulsion force generating portion provided on the outer peripheral face of the insertion portion, a rotating portion for rotating the propulsion force generating portion on the longitudinal axis of the insertion portion, an image capturing device for observing the image of the subject, provided at the tip of the insertion portion so as to be rotatable according to the rotation of the propulsion force generating portion, a first electric contact which is connected electrically to the image capturing device and moves rotationally according to the rotation of the propulsion force generating portion provided on the insertion portion, and a second electric contact, on which the first electric contact which moves rotationally according to the rotation of the propulsion force generating portion, is provided slidably, and is connected electrically to the first electric contact.

Abstract: An easy-to-manufacture endoscope is provided.

Abstract: To realize an endoscope insertion portion and endoscope system capable of providing a significant propulsive function by reducing a friction between a propulsive force generation section and an insertion portion, an endoscope insertion portion comprising: an introductory tube as an insertion portion; a spiral tube as a propulsive force generation section mounted on an outer peripheral surface of the introductory tube and rotating around the longitudinal axis of the introductory tube; and a plurality of ring members provided on an outer peripheral surface of an elastic cover tube at predetermined intervals between an inner peripheral surface of a spiral tube and the elastic cover tube 21, as a friction reduction section positioned between the spiral tube and the outer peripheral surface of the introductory tube (elastic cover tube) and reducing a contact resistance between an outer peripheral surface of the introductory tube (elastic cover tube) and the spiral tube.

Abstract: In order to realize an endoscope insertion portion and an endoscope system easily inserted into the body cavity such as a large intestine and is capable of improvement of invertibility into the body cavity without imposing pain on a patient, an endoscope insertion portion of the present invention includes an endoscope insertion portion capable of being inserted into a subject; a spiral tube as a propulsive force generation section mounted on the outer periphery side of the endoscope insertion portion and rotating around the longitudinal axis of the endoscope insertion portion; and a friction reduction spiral portion provided at a predetermined position on the outer periphery of a spiral-formed portion, for example, on the proximal end side, the friction reduction spiral portion being provided as a frictional force reduction member mounted on the spiral tube, reducing a frictional force generated between the spiral tube and a body-cavity inner wall.

Abstract: An insertion device includes a flexible insertion portion guiding section formed with a helically shaped portion around the outer circumferential surface thereof, a guiding section rotating device for rotating the insertion portion guiding section in a predetermined direction around the longitudinal axis thereof, and a propulsive force generating device for generating propulsive force in the insertion portion guiding section in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the insertion portion guiding section.

Abstract: An insertion support tool which is detachably attached to a large-intestine endoscope including an elongated inserting portion which is inserted into a lumen is provided, and an external sheath which is extendable and contractible in an inserting direction of the inserting portion and a cover member which is arranged outside the external sheath and held in a state where it covers the external sheath when the external sheath is contracted are provided to this insertion support tool.

Abstract: An insertion apparatus includes a tubular member equipped with a propulsion power generating portion, a rotating portion for rotating the tubular member around the longitudinal axis of the tubular member, a distal end which can be slidingly moved with respect to a rotation of the tubular member rotated by the rotating portion and is equipped with an observation portion for observing a body to be examined, and a propulsion power receiving portion for receiving propulsion power generated by the propulsion power generating portion equipped in the tubular member.

Abstract: An insertion device comprises a long-sized insertion portion to be inserted into a subject, a propulsion force generating portion provided on the outer peripheral face of the insertion portion, a rotating portion for rotating the propulsion force generating portion on the longitudinal axis of the insertion portion, an image capturing device for observing the image of the subject, provided at the tip of the insertion portion so as to be rotatable according to the rotation of the propulsion force generating portion, a first electric contact which is connected electrically to the image capturing device and moves rotationally according to the rotation of the propulsion force generating portion provided on the insertion portion, and a second electric contact, on which the first electric contact which moves rotationally according to the rotation of the propulsion force generating portion, is provided slidably, and is connected electrically to the first electric contact.

Abstract: An insertion apparatus includes: a tubular member equipped with a propulsion power generating portion; a rotating portion for rotating the tubular member provided with the propulsion power generating portion around the longitudinal axis of the tubular member; and a distal portion which is provided on a more distal side than the tubular member rotated by the rotating portion, is slidably provided to the tubular member, and is disposed with an observation portion for observing a body to be examined.

Abstract: An insertion device includes a long insert section inserted to a subject body, a propulsion force generation section provided at an outer circumferential surface of the insert section, a rotation section having a guide tube rotation device for rotating the insert section at which the propulsion force generation section is provided about a longitudinal axis, and a rotation control section for controlling the rotation section.

Abstract: An insertion device comprises a long-sized insertion portion to be inserted into a subject; a propulsion force generating portion provided on the outer peripheral face of the insertion portion; a rotating portion for rotating the propulsion force generating portion on the longitudinal axis of the insertion portion; an observation portion for observing an image of the subject; and a display control portion for displaying, on a screen of a display device, the image of the subject based on an observation signal outputted from the observation portion in a manner corresponding to a rotation of the propulsion force generating portion.

Abstract: An insertion apparatus includes: an introducing duct including; insertion portion cover portion for covering an insertion portion extending from a distal side portion of a handling portion constituting an endoscope; and a spiral duct which is disposed on an inner circumferential surface side of the insertion portion cover portion, and has on a circumferential surface of the spiral duct, a propulsion power generating portion for applying a propulsion power for introducing the insertion portion into a deep portion in a body cavity, to the insertion portion covered by the insertion portion cover, and a rotating device comprising a rotating portion for rotating the spiral duct equipped to the introducing duct.

Abstract: An insertion device includes an insertion unit to be inserted into a subject and a rotating unit for rotating the insertion unit. The insertion unit assists insertion into the subject of medical equipment which performs medical activity in the subject. The insertion unit advances and retreats relatively as to the medical equipment in the insertion direction into the subject. The insertion unit is rotated by the rotating unit centered on the insertion axis direction, and advances and retracts inside of the subject by propulsion generated by the rotation.

Abstract: An insertion device comprises an insertion unit to be inserted into a subject, a spiral-shaped portion to be in contact with an inner wall of a lumen of a subject along with the insertion unit being inserted into the subject, and a rotating unit for rotating the insertion unit provided with the spiral-shaped portion. The spiral-shaped portion is partially provided in a plurality of portions in a portion to be in contact with an inner wall of a lumen of a subject, or provided across the entire portion to be in contact with the inner wall of the lumen of the subject. Propulsion at the time of inserting the insertion unit into a subject is obtained by rotating the insertion unit provided with the spiral-shaped portion.

Abstract: A first bendable section which can be bent in an arbitrary direction and a second bendable section which can be bent in the bending direction of this first bendable section are provided at the tip end side of an insertion portion. A balloon which is inflated/contracted by feed/discharge of a fluid is provided in this second bendable section so that hardness of this second bendable section can be varied and insertion work into a curved portion is facilitated.

Abstract: An insertion device comprises an insertion unit to be inserted into a subject, an observation unit to be disposed at the tip side of this insertion unit, and a rotating unit for rotating the insertion unit further toward the base side than this observation unit centered on the insertion axial direction of this insertion unit. Propulsion is generated at the time of inserting the insertion unit into the subject by rotating the insertion unit by the rotating unit.