Abstract: A propulsion apparatus for an endoscope includes a propulsion assembly for mounting on a tip device of the endoscope, for propulsion in a body cavity. First and second wire devices are disposed to extend from the tip device in a proximal direction, having a coil winding, for rotating to drive the propulsion assembly. First and second motors are connected with proximal ends of respectively the first and second wire devices, for rotating the first and second wire devices. A timer is actuated if a speed difference between rotational speeds of the first and second motors becomes equal to or more than a reference speed value, for measuring an elapsed time. A break detector detects breakage of the first wire device if the elapsed time becomes equal to or longer than a predetermined time. A controller controls the first and second motors in response to an output of the break detector.

Abstract: A gas supply apparatus includes: a gas supply conduit for supplying a gas to a digestive tract; a pressure detecting device which detects a pressure in the digestive tract; a flow regulating device which regulates a gas amount supplied from the gas supply source to the digestive tract via the gas supply conduit; a first control device which controls the flow regulating device according to a result detected by the pressure detecting device to supply the gas into the digestive tract so that the pressure inside the digestive tract becomes a set pressure; a second control device which controls the flow regulating device to supply a fixed gas amount into the digestive tract; and a gas supply mode switching device which switches between gas supply modes including a mode for executing control by the first control device and a mode for executing control by the second control device.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an endoscopic surgery device and an outer tube, capable of easily obtaining an image desired by an operator to facilitate treatment as well as of performing minimally invasive surgery. In the endoscopic surgery device and the outer tube, an endoscope and a treatment tool are inserted into a body cavity through an outer tube. The outer tube is provided with a built-in slider. The slider is provided so as to be axially movable in the outer tube body. The endoscope and the treatment tool, inserted into the outer tube, are held by the slider. Moving the treatment tool allows endoscope to be moved in conjunction with the movement of the treatment tool.

Abstract: A distal end hood for an endoscope configured to be mounted on a distal end portion of an endoscope including an observation window, and a distal end surface of the distal end portion on which an opening is formed, the opening configured to spray a feed gas, the distal end hood for an endoscope including a conduit including: a first end portion on which a first opening is formed, the first opening being fitted together by insertion with an opening of the distal end surface of the distal end portion of the endoscope and being connectable to the opening; and a second end portion on which a second opening is formed, the second opening being disposed at a position away from the distal end surface toward a proximal end side of the endoscope.

Abstract: Provided is an attachment for an endoscope, the attachment being attached to a leading end part of the endoscope having a leading end surface on which an observation window for observing an inside of a subject's body and a first opening for jetting a constant-pressure supplied gas are formed, the attachment including: a second opening provided at a position separate from the leading end surface; a pipe conduit that communicates the first opening and the second opening with each other so as to jet the constant-pressure supplied gas from the second opening; and a region separating member that separates a jetting region of the constant-pressure supplied gas jetted from the second opening from a region of view of the observation window.

Abstract: A rigid-endoscope oversheath having a leading end, a base end, a longitudinal shaft, and a lumen into which a rigid endoscope can be inserted, the oversheath including a flow path through which fluid flows from the base end toward the leading end along the longitudinal shaft, an ejection port formed in a same plane with a leading end plane of the rigid-endoscope oversheath to eject the fluid flowing through the flow path from the leading end plane of the flow path, a peripheral portion of the port being at least partially composed of an elastic member deformable by the fluid flowing through the flow path, and a valve at least partially attached to a leading end of the flow path to openably close the leading end of the flow path.

Abstract: An endoscope and an illuminator are safely placed in a body cavity without generating a noticeable postoperative scar. A method of placing medical insertion instruments into a body cavity includes a first step of inserting, into the body cavity through a first opening formed on a body wall, an endoscope together with a first illuminator; and a second step of inserting, into the body cavity through a second opening formed at a position different from the first opening, a second illuminator. Preferably, the method further includes a third step of pulling out the first illuminator from the first opening and inserting the first illuminator into the body cavity through a third opening formed at a position different from the first and second openings.

Abstract: The gas-supply system includes a gas supply device that automatically supplies gas on the basis of the detection result of a pressure sensor that detects the pressure within a body cavity such that the pressure within the body cavity becomes a predetermined pressure, and a gas supply pipe for supplying the gas supplied from the gas supply device into the body cavity. The gas supply pipe is provided with a side face light leakage type optical fiber, and the gas supply pipe functions as a linear light emitter by controlling lighting of an LED according to the supply state of the gas due to the gas supply device and makes the light from the LED incident on the side face light leakage type optical fiber. Therefore, the supply state of the gas supplied into the body cavity may be easily grasped.

Abstract: An auxiliary thrust device includes a membrane, a carrier tube, and a drive cylinder. First and second insertion holes into which first and second torque wires are inserted are formed in a wire sheath. First and second gears are fixed to tip portions of the torque wires, which protrudes from a tip of the wire sheath, respectively. The first gear fixed to the first torque wire meshes with a spur gear portion of the drive cylinder, and the second gear connected to the second torque wire meshes with the first gear. Since the respective torque wires are inserted into one wire sheath and are bent in the same shape, a frictional force generated between the first torque wire and the inner surface of the wire sheath is substantially the same as that generated between the second torque wire and the inner surface of the wire sheath.

Abstract: A propulsion assembly for mounting on a tip device of an endoscope includes a barrel sleeve having inner and outer surfaces. A flexible endless track device is disposed to extend along the inner and outer surfaces of the barrel sleeve, for endlessly moving in an axial direction, for propulsion by contacting a wall of a body cavity. A drive gear is engaged with the endless track device, for moving the same. A driving mechanism rotates the drive gear. Engaging teeth are formed on the endless track device at a predetermined pitch, arranged serially, moved by the drive gear in mesh therewith. A peripheral surface of the engaging teeth is curved without a sharp form. Furthermore, a support sleeve is disposed between the driving mechanism and the endless track device, for supporting the drive gear in a rotatable manner.

Abstract: An anastomotic instrument includes first and second units. The first unit is attached to a distal end portion of an insert section of an endoscope, and has a self-propellable apparatus and an anvil. The second unit is attached behind the first unit, and has a cartridge and a balloon. The insert section with the anastomotic instrument is inserted into the alimentary canal. In the alimentary canal, fluid is sucked out from space enclosed by the first and second unit through a suction port provided in the cartridge, to bring the space into negative pressure. While the alimentary canal is shrunk in the space, the second unit is shifted relative to the first unit. In a state where the shrunk alimentary canal is caught between the first and second units, a cutter resects living body tissue, and staples are struck to join edges of an incision of the alimentary canal.

Abstract: A cleaning nozzle is formed at a leading end face of a rigid-endoscope oversheath to cover a rigid endoscope. The cleaning nozzle is connected with a flow path formed in the oversheath so that fluid flowing through the flow path is ejected from an ejection port. The side surfaces of the cleaning nozzle are composed of a relatively hard material, while the upper surface is composed of a relatively soft material. When the flow rate of the fluid ejected from the ejection port is high, the upper surface of the ejection port is widened upward and thereby the direction of ejection of the fluid also changes. The direction of ejection of the fluid can thus be changed by controlling the flow rate.

Abstract: Provided is an endoscope gas-supply system which enables to measure the intraluminal pressure of a human lumen unaffectedly by body motions, and to stably perform automatic gas supply into the lumen. In the endoscope gas-supply system, a gas-supply duct for automatic gas supply from a gas-supply apparatus into the lumen includes a buffer tank which has a predetermined volume. The intraluminal pressure of the lumen is indirectly obtained from a result of measurement of a pressure sensor in the gas-supply apparatus, and pressure control is performed such that the intraluminal pressure of the lumen becomes a set value. At this time, intraluminal pressure fluctuation due to volume variation of the lumen is absorbed at the buffer tank, so the pressure sensor can perform pressure measurement stably, and stabilization of automatic gas supply into the lumen can be achieved.

Abstract: An endoscope air-supply system comprising: a gas supply device which supplies predetermined gas to a lumen of a subject through an air-supply duct; a pressure measurement device which measures pressure in the lumen and which is connected through a duct for pressure measurement communicating with the lumen; a flushing device which supplies gas for flushing to the duct for pressure measurement; and an instruction device which instructs the pressure measurement device to perform pressure measurement and which instructs the flushing device to supply the gas for flushing in synchronism with the pressure measurement by the pressure measurement device.

Abstract: Provided is an attachment for an endoscope, the attachment being attached to a leading end part of the endoscope having a leading end surface on which an observation window for observing an inside of a subject's body and a first opening for jetting a constant-pressure supplied gas are formed, the attachment including: a second opening provided at a position separate from the leading end surface; a pipe conduit that communicates the first opening and the second opening with each other so as to jet the constant-pressure supplied gas from the second opening; and a region separating member that separates a jetting region of the constant-pressure supplied gas jetted from the second opening from a region of view of the observation window.

Abstract: A distal end hood for an endoscope configured to be mounted on a distal end portion of an endoscope including an observation window, and a distal end surface of the distal end portion on which an opening is formed, the opening configured to spray a feed gas, the distal end hood for an endoscope including a conduit including: a first end portion on which a first opening is formed, the first opening being fitted together by insertion with an opening of the distal end surface of the distal end portion of the endoscope and being connectable to the opening; and a second end portion on which a second opening is formed, the second opening being disposed at a position away from the distal end surface toward a proximal end side of the endoscope.

Abstract: An endoscope cleaning system of one aspect of the subject matter includes: a first cleaning device configured to clean an endoscope; a second cleaning device configured to clean the endoscope according to a method different from that of the first cleaning device; and a cleaning evaluation device configured to determine whether or not a cleaning level of the endoscope cleaned by one of the first cleaning device and the second cleaning device satisfies a predetermined criterion, wherein one of the first cleaning device and the second cleaning device cleans the endoscope in accordance with a determination result of the cleaning evaluation device.

Abstract: An endoscope system, comprising: a mantle tube into which an insertion part of an endoscope is inserted; a fluid flow channel which is formed of a space between an outer surface of the endoscope inserted into the mantle tube and an inner surface of the mantle tube; a sealing member which seals the fluid flow channel; and a pipe line which is formed inside of the insertion part so as to communicate between the fluid flow channel and a nozzle formed on a leading end surface of the insertion part, and supply a fluid from the fluid flow channel to the nozzle.

Abstract: An anastomotic instrument includes first and second units. The first unit is attached to a distal end portion of an insert section of an endoscope, and has a self-propellable apparatus and an anvil. The second unit is attached behind the first unit, and has a cartridge and a balloon. The insert section with the anastomotic instrument is inserted into the alimentary canal. In the alimentary canal, fluid is sucked out from space enclosed by the first and second unit through a suction port provided in the cartridge, to bring the space into negative pressure. While the alimentary canal is shrunk in the space, the second unit is shifted relative to the first unit. In a state where the shrunk alimentary canal is caught between the first and second units, a cutter resects living body tissue, and staples are struck to join edges of an incision of the alimentary canal.

Abstract: A torque transmission device is a steerable device for an endoscope, and includes a first link element having a first guide lumen. A second link element is disposed at a distal end of the first link element in a longitudinal axis direction, and has a second guide lumen. A control wire is disposed through the first and second guide lumens movably in the longitudinal axis direction. A pivot mechanism couples the first link element to the second link element in a rotatable manner about a pivot axis being perpendicular to the longitudinal axis direction. The control wire through the first and second guide lumens extends in a coplanar manner with the pivot axis and crosswise thereto. Preferably, there is a flexible section having the first and second link elements. A steering unit has third and fourth link elements.