Abstract: An endoscope is provided with a pliable tube composed of an integument layer formed from a resin and a metal tube integrally fitted into this integument layer in an insertion portion. The inner diameter dimension of the pliable tube at ambient temperature after application of the thermal load of the high-pressure steam sterilization step is larger than the inner diameter dimension at ambient temperature before application of the thermal load.

Abstract: At least one concave portion 40 is provided as a part of a protrusion 38 of an end portion of a hood body 37a while protruding frontward from the location of a front-end lens surface 34 with a protrusion length shorter than those of the parts other than the concave portion, an inclined surface 44 divergent frontward from the location of the front-end lens surface 34 is provided on the inside surface of at least one of the concave portions 40, and the angle ? between the inside inclined surface 44b of the concave portion 40 and the front-end lens surface 34 is larger than the angle ? between the inside surfaces of the other parts adjacent to the concave portion 40 and the front-end lens surface 34.

Abstract: An endoscope comprises a plurality of members constituting the endoscope, and parts-bonded sections each having at least members thereof bonded together using an adhesive. The temperatures of thermal destruction at which the adhesives included in the parts-bonded sections are thermally destroyed are made equal to or higher than the maximum temperature attained during a high-pressure steam sterilization process. At the same time, the temperatures of thermal destruction are made equal to or lower than the heat-resistance temperatures above which members bonded using the adhesives or members located near the bonded members included in the parts-bonded sections fail to resist heat.

Abstract: An endoscope is provided with a pliable tube having an integument layer made of a resin constituting an insertion portion and at least one slender tube element inserted through the insertion portion. The amount of contraction of the pliable tube after application of a thermal load during a high-pressure steam sterilization step is set larger than the amount of contraction of the tube element after application of thermal load during the high-pressure steam sterilization step.

Abstract: An endoscope is provided with a pliable tube having an integument layer made of a resin constituting an insertion portion and at least one slender tube element inserted through the insertion portion. The amount of contraction of the pliable tube after application of a thermal load during a high-pressure steam sterilization step is set larger than the amount of contraction of the tube element after application of a thermal load during the high-pressure steam sterilization step.

Abstract: In the present invention, a distal hood component 20 is detachably provided at the distal end 11 of an insertion portion 10 of an endoscope 1. The distal hood component 20 is formed from a soft, elastic soft material. The distal hood component 20 includes a protrusion 21 protruding from the distal end 11 and an endoscope fixation portion 22 into which the distal end 11 is fitted. Convex portions 24 and 24 and concave portions 23 and 23 are provided on the protrusion 21. The shapes of the convex portions 24 and 24 and concave portions 23 and 23 are adjusted in order that the convex portions 24 and 24 of the protrusion 21 are deformed by a force of 0.29 Mpa or less applied from the end of the protrusion 21.

Abstract: At least one concave portion 40 is provided as a part of a protrusion 38 of an end portion of a hood body 37a while protruding frontward from the location of a front-end lens surface 34 with a protrusion length shorter than those of the parts other than the concave portion, an inclined surface 44 divergent frontward from the location of the front-end lens surface 34 is provided on the inside surface of at least one of the concave portions 40, and the angle &bgr; between the inside inclined surface 44b of the concave portion 40 and the front-end lens surface 34 is larger than the angle &agr; between the inside surfaces of the other parts adjacent to the concave portion 40 and the front-end lens surface 34.

Abstract: An endoscope is provided with a pliable tube composed of an integument layer formed from a resin and a metal tube integrally fitted into this integument layer in an insertion portion. The inner diameter dimension of the pliable tube at ambient temperature after application of the thermal load of the high-pressure steam sterilization step is larger than the inner diameter dimension at ambient temperature before application of the thermal load.

Abstract: An endoscope is provided with a pliable tube having an integument layer made of a resin constituting an insertion portion and at least one slender tube element inserted through the insertion portion. The amount of contraction of the pliable tube after application of a thermal load during a high-pressure steam sterilization step is set larger than the amount of contraction of the tube element after application of a thermal load during the high-pressure steam sterilization step.

Abstract: An electric bending endoscope includes a bending driving portion which bends a bending portion arranged to a distal side of an inserting portion, a bending operation input portion which instructs and inputs a bending operation of the bending portion, and a preventing device which prevents the bending operation of the bending portion which is not intended by an operator.

Abstract: An endoscope is provided with a pliable tube composed of an integument layer formed from a resin and a metal tube integrally fitted into this integument layer in an insertion portion. The inner diameter dimension of the pliable tube at ambient temperature after application of the thermal load of the high-pressure steam sterilization step is larger than the inner diameter dimension at ambient temperature before application of the thermal load.

Abstract: An endoscope comprises a plurality of members constituting the endoscope, and parts-bonded sections each having at least members thereof bonded together using an adhesive. The temperatures of thermal destruction at which the adhesives included in the parts-bonded sections are thermally destroyed are made equal to or higher than the maximum temperature attained during a high-pressure steam sterilization process. At the same time, the temperatures of thermal destruction are made equal to or lower than the heat-resistance temperatures above which members bonded using the adhesives or members located near the bonded members included in the parts-bonded sections fail to resist heat.

Abstract: An endoscope comprises a plurality of members constituting the endoscope, and parts-bonded sections each having at least members thereof bonded together using an adhesive. The temperatures of thermal destruction at which the adhesives included in the parts-bonded sections are thermally destroyed are made equal to or higher than the maximum temperature attained during a high-pressure steam sterilization process. At the same time, the temperatures of thermal destruction are made equal to or lower than the heat-resistance temperatures above which members bonded using the adhesives or members located near the bonded members included in the parts-bonded sections fail to resist heat.

Abstract: An endoscope can undergo at least one of cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization at high temperature. The endoscope includes an elongated insertion member and a control section joined to the proximal end of the insertion member. A drop in the temperature of at least part of the outer surface of the insertion member occurring when the endoscope is cooled to predetermined temperature after being processed at high temperature is substantially equal to or larger than a drop in the temperature of at least part of the outer surface of any member other than said part of the outer surface of the insertion member.

Abstract: An endoscope is provided with a pliable tube having an integument layer made of a resin constituting an insertion portion and at least one slender tube element inserted through the insertion portion. The amount of contraction of the pliable tube after application of a thermal load during a high-pressure steam sterilization step is set larger than the amount of contraction of the tube element after application of a thermal load during the high-pressure steam sterilization step.

Abstract: An endoscope is provided with a pliable tube composed of an integument layer formed from a resin and a metal tube integrally fitted into this integument layer in an insertion portion. The inner diameter dimension of the pliable tube at ambient temperature after application of the thermal load of the high-pressure steam sterilization step is larger than the inner diameter dimension at ambient temperature before application of the thermal load.

Abstract: An endoscope can undergo at least one of cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization at high temperature. The endoscope includes an elongated insertion member and a control section joined to the proximal end of the insertion member. A drop in the temperature of at least part of the outer surface of the insertion member occurring when the endoscope is cooled to predetermined temperature after being processed at high temperature is substantially equal to or larger than a drop in the temperature of at least part of the outer surface of any member other than said part of the outer surface of the insertion member.

Abstract: An endoscope comprises a plurality of members constituting the endoscope, and parts-bonded sections each having at least members thereof bonded together using an adhesive. The temperatures of thermal destruction at which the adhesives included in the parts-bonded sections are thermally destroyed are made equal to or higher than the maximum temperature attained during a high-pressure steam sterilization process. At the same time, the temperatures of thermal destruction are made equal to or lower than the heat-resistance temperatures above which members bonded using the adhesives or members located near the bonded members included in the parts-bonded sections fail to resist heat.