Abstract: An electric bending endoscope apparatus includes an electric bending endoscope, a bending control device for controlling a bending direction and the amount of bending of a bending portion based on a bending instructing signal outputted from a track ball in the electric bending endoscope, an image processing device for generating an observing image captured by the electric bending endoscope to a video signal, and a display device for displaying the video signal generated by the image processing device as an endoscope image, wherein the electric bending endoscope includes a bending driving portion for bending the bending portion arranged at an inserting portion, a bending motive portion for driving the bending driving portion, a portion for restoring transmission and disconnection of driving force that reversibly switches a status for transmitting the driving force by transmitting the driving force of the bending motive portion to the bending driving portion and a status for disconnecting the driving force, a p

Abstract: A treatment apparatus to treat a tissue in a body cavity is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a base disposed in the vicinity of a tip-end portion of an endoscope, and an in-tissue inserting portion including a base end supported by the base and a tip end insertable in the tissue in the body cavity in a direction substantially parallel to the surface of the tissue, and extending to the tip end from the base end in a tapered shape. The in-tissue inserting portion has an inner side disposed in the vicinity of the surface of the tissue when inserted into the tissue. The apparatus further comprises a high-frequency electrode, for treating the tissue, supported by the base and disposed in the vicinity of the inner side of the in-tissue inserting portion, and a cable which supplies power to the high-frequency electrode from a high-frequency power source outside the body.

Abstract: A tissue puncturing system used to suture tissues in a body cavity including: an endoscope; a flexible sheath having a distal portion provided with at least a side opening and a lumen, through which an endoscope may pass; at least one mechanism for puncturing tissue disposed in the flexible sheath, and having a pointed end, which is movable from a first position to a second position; and an operation mechanism for moving the mechanism for puncturing between the first and second positions.

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: A treatment apparatus to treat a tissue in a body cavity is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a base disposed in the vicinity of a tip-end portion of an endoscope, and an in-tissue inserting portion including a base end supported by the base and a tip end insertable in the tissue in the body cavity in a direction substantially parallel to the surface of the tissue, and extending to the tip end from the base end in a tapered shape. The in-tissue inserting portion has an inner side disposed in the vicinity of the surface of the tissue when inserted into the tissue. The apparatus further comprises a high-frequency electrode, for treating the tissue, supported by the base and disposed in the vicinity of the inner side of the in-tissue inserting portion, and a cable which supplies power to the high-frequency electrode from a high-frequency power source outside the body.

Abstract: An endoscope is provided which has a first forceps raising base and a second forceps raising base. The first forceps raising base is provided at a distal end opening of a first treating tool insertion channel formed at a distal end of an insertion section, and is adapted to be raised in a first direction. The second forceps raising base is provided at a distal end opening of a second treating tool insertion channel formed at the distal end of the insertion section, and is adapted to be raised in a second direction different from the first direction. The first and second raising directions of the first and second forceps raising bases are different from each other in at least two combinations.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an endoscopic surgery apparatus for performing treating operation in a body cavity of a patient with the use of treating tools in combination with an endoscope, in which insertion sections allowing the insertion of treating tools are externally arranged in a side-by-side fashion with an insertion section of the endoscope set between these insertion sections and a balloon is provided near a distal end of the insertion section of the endoscope to adjust a relative distance between the insertion sections relative to the insertion section of the endoscope. The balloon is provided on the insertion section of the endoscope and, when the endoscope and treating tools are introduced into the body cavity of the patient, it is possible to easily and properly lead the endoscope and treating tools to a region of interest of the patient.

Abstract: An endoscope system having a cover type endoscope provided with an elongate inserting section having therein an observation device and an illuminating device and bulge portions formed on the outer periphery at the side of a forwardmost end of the inserting section; and an endoscope cover having an endoscope inserting passage for covering and protecting the inserting section. The endoscope inserting passage receives the inserting section using the bulge portions as a guide. The bulge portions project more than the outer periphery of the inserting section.

Abstract: In an endoscope system including an endoscope having an insertion section insertable into a cavity under inspection and an operation section having at least one operation switch, the operation section being connected to a proximal end of the insertion section and a disposable protection cover having an insertion section cover for covering said insertion section of the endoscope and an operation section cover for covering the operation section of the endoscope, the insertion section cover includes a forceps channel through which existing forceps for use in ordinary coverless endoscopes can be inserted. An inner diameter of the forceps channel is determined to be slightly larger than an outer diameter of most frequently used forceps or standard forceps whose number is maximized in the outer diameter series of the forceps.

Abstract: An endoscope system provided with an electronic or optical endoscope is provided therein with an illuminating optical system, an observation optical system, a flow passage system and a forceps channel. Cleaning and disinfection operations are performed on the endoscope so that the endoscope is reusable. An electronic or optical cover type endoscope is provided therein with an illuminating optical system and an observation optical system. The cover type endoscope is used with an endoscope cover having a flow passage system and a forceps channel mounted on the cover type endoscope. The endoscope cover is discarded and replaced whereby the cover type endoscope is reused. Peripheral equipment for endoscope inspection used in combination with the endoscopes is capable of being selectively connected to any of the endoscopes.

Abstract: A flexible, multilayered tube with superior chemical resistance, heat resistance, and airtightness, as well as superior flexibility and resistance of the inner surface to staining. The tube comprises a flexible, multilayered tube having a first layer comprised of a non-porous polytetrafluoroethylene structure and a second layer comprised of a porous polytetrafluoroethylene structure laminated onto the outer peripheral surface of said first layer. The tube is useful as a medical tubing and in particular useful as an endoscope tube.

Abstract: In an endoscope system including an endoscope having an insertion section insertable into a cavity under inspection and an operation section having at least one operation switch, said operation section being connected to a proximal end of said insertion section and a disposable protection cover having an insertion section cover for covering said insertion section of the endoscope and an operation section cover for covering said operation section of the endoscope, said insertion section cover includes a forceps channel through which existing forceps for use in ordinary without-cover endoscopes can be inserted. An inner diameter of the forceps channel is determined to be slightly larger than an outer diameter of most frequently used forceps or standard forceps whose number shows a peak in the outer diameter series of the forceps.

Abstract: An actuator apparatus for driving a focus adjusting lens of a focus adjusting mechanism of an endoscope comprises a moving member put in slidable frictional engagement with a base of the endoscope, the moving member having coupling means for coupling with the movable portion within the endoscope, a piezoelectric element coupled to the moving member, the piezoelectric element and the moving member alone constituting a body of the actuator apparatus, and actuator control circuit for causing quick deformation in the piezoelectric element, enabling the piezoelectric element to apply an impulse force to the moving member, thereby moving the moving member against a frictional engagement force acting between the base and the moving member.

Abstract: A cover type endoscope apparatus includes a cover, a covered endoscope which is inserted into this cover and used, and a cover holder for holding various peripheral units connected to the covered endoscope and the cover, wherein an indication device for indicating whether or not an apparatus should handle a clean area in a sterile state or other area is provided in each of the components.

Abstract: An endoscope comprises a tubular operating section, a clamp inserting section provided on the operating section, an operating tool being inserted into the patient's body cavity through the clamp inserting section, and a channel tube having one end connected to the clamp inserting section and extending through the clamp inserting section into an inserting section. The clamp inserting section is rotatable in the circumferential directions of the operating section by an angle less than 360.degree..