Abstract: A biological fluorescence diagnostic apparatus having a device for irradiating a biological tissue with light which excites the tissue to generate fluorescent light, and a device for taking a fluorescence image of the biological tissue passing through an ocular optical system of an endoscope. The apparatus further has a television camera unit including a television camera for taking an ordinary endoscopic observation image passing through the ocular optical system, and a television camera with an image intensifier for taking a fluorescence observation image passing through the ocular optical system after amplifying the light intensity of the image. An optical path switching system which includes a reflective surface is selectively inserted and withdrawn from the optical path of light passing through the ocular optical system so as to selectively produce ordinary and fluorescence images in the television camera unit.

Abstract: An illuminating apparatus of an endoscope having a bulb disposed to face an entrance end surface of a light guide for illumination to supply illuminating light to the light guide. A concave mirror surrounds side and rear portions of the bulb to converge light emitted peripherally from the bulb in the vicinity of the entrance end surface of the light guide. A convex lens is formed at the distal end of the bulb to allow light emitted forwardly and obliquely forward from the bulb to be incident on the entrance end surface of the light guide.

Abstract: A portable endoscope system has an illuminating light guide for transmitting light for illuminating an object. The light guide has an entrance end portion disposed in an endoscope control part. A light source lamp is contained in an illuminating light supply unit for supplying illuminating light to the light guide. A filament serving as a light emission source in the lamp is disposed such that the longitudinal direction of the filament is approximately perpendicular to an entrance end surface of the light guide. A spheroidal reflecting mirror converges illuminating light emitted from the lamp onto the entrance end surface of the light guide. A bore is provided in a side of the mirror for receiving a head portion of the lamp. A reflecting surface is provided on an inner surface of a rear end portion of the mirror.

Abstract: A portable endoscope system has an illuminating light guide for transmitting light for illuminating an object. A light source lamp contained in an illuminating light supply unit supplies light to the illuminating light guide. The entrance end portion of the illuminating light guide is disposed in an endoscope control part. The illuminating light supply unit is detachably attached to the control part. The portable endoscope system includes a connecting cable which connects the light source lamp with an external battery to supply electricity to the light source lamp from outside the endoscope system.

Abstract: A fluoroscopic apparatus in which an object image formed by an objective optical system provided at a front end of an insertion portion of an endoscope is transmitted to an ocular optical system through a first bundle of image guiding optical fibers to view the object image includes an excitation light filter which permits light having a wavelength band for exciting fluorescence from an object to be viewed to pass therethrough. The excitation light filter is retractably inserted in an optical path of illuminating light with which the object is illuminated. A beam splitter is provided in the ocular optical system to split the object image transmitted to the ocular optical system into an image for normal observation and for an image for fluorescence observation. A second bundle of image guiding optical fibers is provided in an optical path of the image for fluorescence observation to transmit the image to an image intensifier.

Abstract: A portable endoscope system including an illuminating light guide for transmitting light for illuminating an object, and an illuminating light supply unit for supplying illuminating light to the illuminating light guide. The entrance end portion of the illuminating light guide is disposed in an endoscope control part. The illuminating light supply unit is detachably attached to the control part. The portable endoscope system includes an AC/DC conversion adapter which is connected to an AC power supply to output a predetermined DC voltage and is connectable to the illuminating light supply unit.

Abstract: A bendable portion for an endoscope includes a bending mechanism which minimizes the bendable portion diameter and allows a large degree of bending. A first bending mechanism embodiment uses fluid pressure in an axially oriented chamber in a elastic body of the bendable portion. Expansion restraining members are used to restrict the expansion of the bendable portion to only the axial direction, and to protect internal members in the bendable portion. A second bending mechanism embodiment uses a shape memory alloy coil encircling the elastic body of the bendable portion. The shape memory alloy coil is heated to define the shape of the bendable portion.

Abstract: A light source apparatus for an endoscope having a light source for emitting a bundle of illuminating light rays which are to be supplied to a light guide of the endoscope. The apparatus includes at least a pair of light-blocking plates disposed in the bundle of illuminating light rays to face each other across the optical axis of the ray bundle, and a device for supporting the light-blocking plates such that the plates are rotatable about an axis extending therebetween at right angles to the optical axis. At least one of the light-blocking plates has such a cross-sectional configuration as viewed in the optical axis direction that the light-blocking plate is bent at an angle to the axis of rotation near the center of the illuminating optical path.

Abstract: A thermographic endoscope having an insert part that is inserted into a body cavity. The thermographic endoscope includes an infrared image forming device disposed in the distal end of the insert part so as to form an infrared image of a part under inspection, and a device for transmitting the infrared image formed by the infrared image forming device to the outside of the insert part. The thermographic endoscope further includes a device for converting the infrared image, which is transmitted by the infrared image transmitting device, into a visible image and for displaying the visible image, and a device for injecting low-temperature gas outwardly from the distal end of the insert part of the endoscope.

Abstract: A condenser lens is provided between a light source and the incident end of an illumination light guide, and at least one pair of plane-parallel plates are disposed on the illumination light path at a position between the light source and the condenser lens in such a manner that the plates are in symmetry with each other with respect to the optical axis of the illumination light path. The plane-parallel plates are pivoted by a pivoting device about an axis of rotation which extends perpendicular to the optical axis of illumination light and parallel with the plane-parallel plates, thereby partially intercepting the illumination light path, and thus adjusting the quantity of light which is applied from the light source to the illumination light guide.

Abstract: An optical fiber bundle for an endoscope or the like which can be subjected to cyclic bending at a small radius of curvature without causing fiber breakage. The fiber bundle includes a plurality of optical fibers bound at both ends but with individual fibers being freely movable inside the middle portion of the bundle, which is covered by a flexible tube. A gelling fluid coating the fibers is filled in the flexible tube.

Abstract: A device for introducing illuminating light that is emitted from a light source to an illuminating light guide fiber bundle associated with an endoscope. The device has an incident end face of the light guide fiber bundle that is disposed at a position where the light from the light source is converged, and a lens which is disposed in close proximity to the incident end face of the light guide fiber bundle. That lens has a convex surface which faces the light source and a concave surface which faces the light guide fiber bundle.Accordingly, the illuminating light is refracted by the concave surface of the lens so as to enter the light guide fiber bundle at a small angle to the optical axis. Thus, the illuminating light is transmitted through the light guide fiber bundle with a considerably small number of times of reflection.

Abstract: In an eyepiece or photographing device for a fiberscope having a bundle of optical fibers for image transmission and an eyepiece or photographing optical system for observing or photographing the exit end face of the bundle, an optical monocrystalline plate having a double refraction characteristic is disposed to obtain separate images from the images at the ends of the various fibers. The result is an image in which high frequency spatial interference, such as moire fringing, is eliminated. The monocrystalline plate may further be provided with a low-pass filter characteristic.

Abstract: A miniaturized telephoto camera lens assembly comprises a first positive lens, a second negative lens, and a third positive meniscus lens having a higher object side curvature. These lenses are disposed close together, and relatively remote from closely spaced fourth and fifth positive and negative meniscus lenses, respectively, each having higher object side curvatures. The optical parameters of the lens assembly are chosen to satisfy seven specified conditions relating to composite focal distances, spacing distances, Abbe numbers, and refractive index to optimize miniaturization while still achieving a high level of optical performance.