Abstract: A pericardial-cavity observing method including: a step of inserting an endoscope sheath and an endoscope into a space between the heart and the pericardium; a step of disposing a protruding portion closer to the pericardium than an optical member is so that an angle that is formed between a centerline that passes through a center of the protruding portion and a center of the optical member and a tangent of the pericardium that passes through a foot of a perpendicular line drawn, from the center of the optical member of the endoscope, to the pericardium sagging down from the protruding portion toward the heart becomes greater than an angle formed between the centerline and an external common tangent of the protruding portion and the optical member; and a step of observing the heart by means of the endoscope.

Abstract: An endoscope sheath includes: a sheath body through which an endoscope channel is formed; a projecting portion extending in the longitudinal direction from the distal end of the sheath body and provided at a portion in the circumferential direction, on the radially outer side the endoscope channel; a nozzle from which the cleaning fluid is jetted radially inward of the sheath body and that is provided at the distal end portion of the projecting portion; and a fluid channel through which the cleaning fluid is supplied to the nozzle. At the distal end of the sheath body, the side opposite the nozzle with the endoscope channel therebetween in the radial direction is open.

Abstract: An endoscope of the present invention is provided with: an insertion portion that possesses flexibility and that has, in a distal-end portion in order from a distal-end side along a longitudinal axis, a first bending portion that is configured to bend in a first direction that intersects the longitudinal axis and a second bending portion that is configured to bend in a second direction that is different from the first direction; and a bending drive portion that is connected to a proximal end of the insertion portion, that causes the bending portions to work together, and that causes the first bending portion to bend in the first direction and also causes the second bending portion to bend in the second direction.

Abstract: An endoscope system is provided with: a sheath; an endoscope; a field-of-view ensuring part that has an expansion member formed of a sheet curved about the longitudinal axis of the sheath and a drive member generating an expansion force for expanding the expansion member in the radial direction and that is configured to project from and retract into the distal end of the sheath. The expansion member has a slit extending from the distal end toward the base end and is deformed from an expanded form in which expansion member has a larger outer diameter than the outer diameter of the sheath into a contracted form in which expansion member has a smaller outer diameter than the inner diameter of the sheath, by being rolled about the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A pericardial-cavity observing method including: a step of inserting an endoscope sheath and an endoscope into a space between the heart and the pericardium; a step of disposing a protruding portion closer to the pericardium than an optical member is so that an angle that is formed between a centerline that passes through a center of the protruding portion and a center of the optical member and a tangent of the pericardium that passes through a foot of a perpendicular line drawn, from the center of the optical member of the endoscope, to the pericardium sagging down from the protruding portion toward the heart becomes greater than an angle formed between the centerline and an external common tangent of the protruding portion and the optical member; and a step of observing the heart by means of the endoscope.

Abstract: A medical device includes: a sheath that is provided with a flexible section configured to have flexibility so as to be deformed between a first shape extending along the longitudinal axis and a second shape bent in a direction intersecting the longitudinal axis; a deformation assisting member attached to the sheath so as to be movable along a surface of the sheath; a position adjustment part connected to a proximal end section of the sheath, the position adjustment part being configured to adjust a relative position of the deformation assisting member with respect to the sheath; and a curved section provided at one of the flexible section and one longitudinal section of the deformation assisting member and having a bent shape. The deformation assisting member disposed at the flexible section imparts to the flexible section a driving force for causing deformation between the first shape and the second shape.

Abstract: A scanner unit includes: a tubular elastic part provided with marks outside a prescribed bonding region set on an outer surface thereof and; and a piezoelectric element that is bonded to the bonding region. The piezoelectric element includes: a piezoelectric body having two mutually opposing electrode faces; and marks that are different from each other, respectively provided on the two electrode faces. The mark provided on one electrode face has a shape that matches the mark provided outside the bonding region when the piezoelectric body is bonded to the bonding region so that the other electrode face contacts the outer surface.

Abstract: An optical fiber scanner including: an optical fiber that guides illumination light; a piezoelectric element that is disposed at an intermediate position on the optical fiber in the long-axis direction and that displaces, due to a bending vibration, an emission end of the optical fiber in a direction intersecting the long axis; a wiring part that is electrically bonded to the piezoelectric element at a location between the piezoelectric element and the optical fiber; a tube-shaped electrically conductive frame that has an inner hole for accommodating the piezoelectric element and the optical fiber; and a holding section that fixes the frame and the piezoelectric element and that conducts electricity between the frame and the piezoelectric element.

Abstract: Provided is an endoscope sheath including an elongated body having flexibility, the body having a first lumen through which an endoscope passes in a longitudinal direction of the body and a second lumen through which a guide wire passes in the longitudinal direction. A direction in which the second lumen opens at the distal end of the body gradually diverges from a direction in which the first lumen opens at the distal end, in a forward direction from the distal end.

Abstract: This optical fiber scanner has an elongated optical fiber, a vibration transmission member which has a column-like shape and has a penetrating hole through which the optical fiber penetrates, and a piezoelectric element provided on an outer surface of the vibration transmission member, wherein the penetrating hole is a fitted hole which is formed from a proximal end of the vibration transmission member to a middle of the vibration transmission member and the optical fiber is fitted, and the penetrating hole is an accommodation hole which is formed from the middle to a distal end of the vibration transmission member, which has a large inner diameter than an outer diameter of the optical fiber, and which accommodates a distal end portion of the optical fiber with a gap between the optical fiber and the accommodation hole.

Abstract: A medical system including: a plurality of medical instruments each including an elongated insertion section that can be inserted into the body from the body surface; fixing parts that are provided in the insertion sections of the plurality of medical instruments, respectively, at positions away from the distal ends toward the proximal end side and that can be coupled with or separated from each other; and manipulation parts that are provided at the proximal end side of the insertion sections and that are used to manipulate coupling and separation of the fixing parts.

Abstract: An optical fiber scanner including: an optical fiber that guides illumination light; a piezoelectric element that is disposed at an intermediate position on the optical fiber in the long-axis direction and that displaces, due to a bending vibration, an emission end of the optical fiber in a direction intersecting the long axis; a wiring part that is electrically bonded to the piezoelectric element at a location between the piezoelectric element and the optical fiber; a tube-shaped electrically conductive frame that has an inner hole for accommodating the piezoelectric element and the optical fiber; and a holding section that fixes the frame and the piezoelectric element and that conducts electricity between the frame and the piezoelectric element.

Abstract: A scanner unit includes: a tubular elastic part provided with marks outside a prescribed bonding region set on an outer surface thereof and; and a piezoelectric element that is bonded to the bonding region. The piezoelectric element includes: a piezoelectric body having two mutually opposing electrode faces; and marks that are different from each other, respectively provided on the two electrode faces. The mark provided on one electrode face has a shape that matches the mark provided outside the bonding region when the piezoelectric body is bonded to the bonding region so that the other electrode face contacts the outer surface.

Abstract: An optical fiber scanner includes: an elongated optical fiber; driving piezoelectric elements that are provided on an outer circumferential surface of the optical fiber and produce bending oscillation at a distal-end portion of the optical fiber as a result of an alternating voltage being applied thereto; detecting piezoelectric elements provided on the outer circumferential surface at the distal-end portion of the optical fiber; and a control unit that controls an alternating voltage to be applied to the driving piezoelectric elements on the basis of the voltages produced by the detecting piezoelectric elements.

Abstract: An atrial-appendage ligation treatment tool including: a shaft provided with a lumen having, at a distal end thereof, an opening having an opening diameter that allows passage of a thread of a ligation loop formed in a ring shape, which can be tightened, by connecting an end of the thread at an intermediate position by means of a knot and that does not allow passage of the knot; and a cutting part that is provided at a distal end of the shaft and that cuts, at an inner side of the opening and in the vicinity of the opening, the thread passing through the lumen.

Abstract: This optical fiber scanner has an elongated optical fiber, a vibration transmission member which has a column-like shape and has a penetrating hole through which the optical fiber penetrates, and a piezoelectric element provided on an outer surface of the vibration transmission member, wherein the penetrating hole is a fitted hole which is formed from a proximal end of the vibration transmission member to a middle of the vibration transmission member and the optical fiber is fitted, and the penetrating hole is an accommodation hole which is formed from the middle to a distal end of the vibration transmission member, which has a large inner diameter than an outer diameter of the optical fiber, and which accommodates a distal end portion of the optical fiber with a gap between the optical fiber and the accommodation hole.

Abstract: Completion of atrial-appendage ligation using a ligation loop is confirmed easily and more reliably. Provided is an atrial-appendage ligation treatment tool including: an insertion portion that is introduced into a cardiac sac through a sheath penetrated through a pericardium; a securing part that secures a distal end of the insertion portion to an atrial appendage; and a sensor that is provided at the distal end of the insertion portion and that detects the state of the atrial appendage.

Abstract: Even if atrial-appendage tissue is damaged due to an excessive force unintentionally exerted during ligation of the atrial appendage, the effect of the damage is minimized. Provided is an atrial-appendage ligation treatment tool that is used, together with an atrial-appendage ligation tool having a ligation part, to perform atrial-appendage ligation treatment. The atrial-appendage ligation treatment tool includes: a compressing portion that is introduced, separately from the ligation part, to a cardiac sac through a sheath penetrated through a pericardium and that compresses the atrial appendage from outside to occlude an internal space therein; and a shaft that is disposed in the sheath in an inserted manner and that supports, at a distal end thereof, the compressing portion.

Abstract: An atrial appendage ligation surgical tool that includes: a tubular loop shaft having an inner hole that penetrates therethrough in a longitudinal direction; and a ligature loop that is in an inserted state in the inner hole of the loop shaft and formed of a wire that forms a loop closed with a knot at a distal end of the loop shaft, the loop being contractible in size by being pulled from a proximal end of the loop shaft. The ligature loop is given a tendency to form a flat ring-shaped loop having a size an atrial appendage is insertable when in a free state, and the knot is placed near an end of the loop in a long axis direction thereof.

Abstract: An atrial-appendage ligation surgical tool that includes a pressing part and a shaft, in which the pressing part is guided into a pericardium via a sheath penetrating through a pericardial membrane, and includes contact portions that press the vicinity of a base of an atrial appendage and have a circular cross-sectional shape and round distal ends, and in which the shaft is in an inserted state in the sheath, supports the pressing part at a distal end, and has a rigidity that enables transmission of a pressing force acting in the longitudinal direction, applied from the proximal end side of the sheath.