Abstract: An operation unit of a treatment tool for an endoscope includes a first joining member configured to be joined to a rear end of a flexible sheath of the treatment tool, a second joining member configured such that the first joining member is fitted therearound rotatably around an axis line of the first joining member relative to the second joining member, and a pin fit hole formed between the first joining member and the second joining member such that a pin is fitted therein, the pin fit hole being configured to restrict rotational movement of the first joining member around the axis line relative to the second joining member when the pin is fitted in the pin fit hole.

Abstract: A distal end portion of an endoscope includes a distal end portion body provided to a distal end of an insertion part of the endoscope, and a hood member configured to be projected in a shape of cylinder forward from an entire outer circumferential portion of the distal end portion body, which hood member includes an accordion-like portion configured to be stretched and shrunken in an axis line direction thereof and keep a desired length thereof.

Abstract: A treatment tool for an endoscope includes a flexible sheath, with a transparent portion near a distal end thereof, which is inserted into and ejected from a treatment tool insertion channel of the endoscope, a rod-shaped treatment piece arranged into the flexible sheath, an operation wire arranged inside the flexible sheath with a distal end thereof being connected with the rod-shaped treatment piece such that the rod-shaped treatment piece is projected back and forth from the distal end of the flexible sheath by operating the operation wire, and a mobile indicator formed at the rod-shaped treatment piece or a portion of the operation wire near the distal end thereof to move along with movement of the rod-shaped treatment piece and to be visually recognized through the transparent portion of the flexible sheath from an outside of the flexible sheath.

Abstract: There is provided a treatment instrument, which is provided with a flexible sheath configured such that at least a part thereof is formed of a flexible tube, an operation wire inserted into the flexible sheath to be movable in an axial direction of the flexible sheath, a front-end treatment member connected to a leading end of the operation wire so that the front-end treatment member is allowed to protrude from a front end of the flexible sheath and retracts into the front end of the flexible sheath in accordance with movement of the operation wire, and an at least one elastic member that has elasticity and is located in a front end portion of the flexible sheath in a condition where the at least one elastic member is elastically deformed between an inner surface of the flexible sheath and an outer circumferential surface of the operation wire.

Abstract: A high-frequency treatment tool for an endoscope, having an electrically insulating flexible tube, an operating wire, a high-frequency electrode, which is provided at a distal end of the operating wire and configured to be protrusible and retractable from a distal end of the flexible tube in the axial direction of the flexible tube, and a tubular member, is provided. The tubular member is fitted on the operation wire and immovably attached thereon by plastic deformation, which is caused as at least a part of the tubular member is deformed to interfere with an inner circumferential surface of the flexible tube so that the operating wire is halted with respect to the flexible tube at an arbitrary position in the flexible tube by frictional resistance caused between an interfering part of the tubular member and the inner circumferential surface of the flexible tube.

Abstract: A bipolar high-frequency treatment tool for an endoscope comprising a flexible sheath having a multi-lumen tube which is rotatable about an axis of the flexible sheath and is formed to have a pair of guide lumens, a pair of high-frequency electrodes which are arranged to be movable at a tip end of the flexible sheath and are adapted to be electrically insulated from each other, a pair of operating wires which are made of an electrically conductive material but are adapted to be electrically insulated from each other, wherein each of the pair of operating wires is respectively arranged in each of the guide lumens, and wherein the pair of high-frequency electrodes is rotated as the pair of operating wires is rotated and as the multi-lumen tube is rotated about the axis of the flexible sheath accordingly, is provided.

Abstract: A high-frequency incision instrument for an endoscope is provided with a flexible sheath, and a rod electrode remotely operated to protrude from/retract into the distal end portion of the sheath. A stationary stopper provided at the distal end portion of the sheath and a movable stopper provided at the proximal end portion of the rod electrode, the movable stopper contacting the stationary stopper to define a maximum protruding amount of the rod electrode from the distal end of the sheath. A proximal end portion of the rod electrode is screw-engaged with a member to which the movable stopper is formed, and the rod electrode is rotatable so that screw-engaged amount of the proximal end portion of the rod electrode with respect to the member is changed, thereby a distance between the tip end of the rod electrode and the movable stopper being adjustable.

Abstract: A high-frequency incision instrument for an endoscope configured to protect forward and retreat, through a forward end portion of a flexible over tube, a rod electrode disposed close thereto by remote operation from an operating unit connected to a proximal end portion of the over tube. The high-frequency incision instrument includes a fixed stopper and a movable stopper located close to a forward end portion of the over tube and to a proximal end portion of the rod electrode respectively, to be butted to each other to define a maximum projection length of the rod electrode from the forward end portion of the over tube. The movable stopper is axially movable with respect to the rod electrode, and the operating unit includes a stopper position adjuster that adjusts by remote operation a distance between a farthest end portion of the rod electrode and the movable stopper.

Abstract: An endoscope including an inserted portion, which is adapted to be inserted into an organ, having a distal portion with a distal surface, a liquid outlet, which is formed in the distal portion, and is adapted to eject liquid therefrom toward an object located in vicinity to the distal portion, and a flow attracting member, which is adapted to attract a flow of the liquid ejected from the liquid outlet, is provided.

Abstract: A treatment tool for an endoscope, having a flexible sheath being made of electrically insulating material to be inserted through an instrument channel of the endoscope, an operation wire, which is adapted to be advanced and retracted in an axial direction of the sheath inside the sheath, and a treatment instrument, which is arranged at a distal portion of the treatment tool and is adapted to be protruded and retracted from a distal end of the sheath, is provided. The operation wire is connected to the treatment instrument via a connecting member having a distal surface. The sheath includes a stopper surface at the distal end thereof. The stopper surface is inclined with respect to the distal surface of the connecting member when the connecting member is installed in the sheath.

Abstract: A treatment tool for an endoscope, having a flexible sheath being made of electrically insulating material to be inserted through an instrument channel of the endoscope, an operation wire, which is adapted to be advanced and retracted in an axial direction of the sheath inside the sheath, a treatment instrument, which is arranged at a distal portion of the treatment tool and is adapted to be protruded and retracted from a distal end of the sheath, and a fluid channel with an opening, through which fluid is ejected toward the treatment instrument, is provided. The operation wire and the fluid channel are arranged inside the sheath in parallel with an axis of the sheath. The treatment instrument is connected to the operation wire in a laterally displaced position with respect to the operation wire, and is arranged in front of the opening of the fluid channel.

Abstract: A high-frequency treatment tool for an endoscope including a flexible sheath being made of electrically insulating material to be inserted through an insertion channel of the endoscope, a conductive operation wire, which is adapted to be advanced and retracted inside the flexible sheath, and a partially elongated electrode being arranged at a distal end of the high-frequency treatment tool separately from the operation wire, to which high-frequency electrical current is supplied for high-frequency treatment, is provided. The electrode is adapted to be protruded and retracted in an axial direction thereof from the distal end of the high-frequency treatment tool by an operation to the operation wire. The electrode is allowed to be removed from the high-frequency treatment tool independently from the operation wire.

Abstract: A high frequency treatment tool for an endoscope includes a flexible insulating tube to be inserted into and pulled out of an accessory channel of the endoscope, the flexible insulating tube including a wire insertion channel and a water channel through which water is conveyed, a conductive wire configured to move back and forth in an axis line direction thereof through the wire insertion channel, and an electrode configured to project and recede from a distal end of the flexible insulating tube. The wire insertion channel and the water channel are separately formed in an axis line direction of the flexible insulating tube such that each of axis lines of the wire insertion channel and the water channel is eccentric with respect to the axis line of the flexible insulating tube. The electrode is coupled to the conductive wire such that an axis line of the electrode is eccentric with respect to an axis line of the conductive wire.

Abstract: A process and an apparatus for recovering a precious metal compound, in which the precious metal compound is separated from impurity metals by use of a reverse osmotic membrane, and the separated precious metal compound is recovered in a concentrated state through electrodialysis employing anion-exchange and cation-exchange membranes, whereby the precious metal compound in a process liquid can be recovered efficiently. When the recovered precious metal compound is added in the as-is form to precious metal plating solution, it is possible to control the plating solution.