Abstract: An endoscope includes: a shooting lens unit having a shooting lens and a housing which holds the shooting lens; a prism on which shooting light coming from the shooting lens shines; a prism holding structure which holds the prism and is attached to one end portion of the housing; an image area sensor which is attached to an exit face of the prism; a circuit board which drives the image area sensor; a transmission cable which is electrically connected to the circuit board; and a cable link structure one end portion of which is fastened to the transmission cable and other end portion of which is attached to a body structure having the prism holding structure and the housing, and the other end portion of the cable link structure is formed with a lock portion as defined herein.

Abstract: An endoscope includes, in a tip portion of an insertion unit: an image sensor having a photodetecting surface as defined herein; an imaging optical system as defined herein; a holding frame as defined herein; and a tip portion of a treatment tool channel as defined herein, and, in a cross section taken perpendicularly to the optical axis, a thickness, on a first axis that intersects the optical axis and a center of the treatment tool channel, of frame wall portions, located on two respective sides of the optical axis and intersecting the first axis, of at least a portion of the holding frame is smaller than a thickness, on a second axis that is perpendicular to the optical axis and the first axis, of frame wall portions, located on two respective sides of the optical axis and intersecting the second axis, of the at least portion of the holding frame.

Abstract: An endoscope includes: a solid-state imaging device for photoelectrically converting optical images formed via an imaging lens, a circuit board electrically connected to the solid-state imaging device, a signal cable electrically connected to the circuit board, an optical member holding section that holds the imaging lens or a prism, and a connection member, one end of which is fastened to the signal cable and other end of which is provided with engaging pawls to be engaged with the optical member holding section, that connects the optical member holding section to the signal cable, a mounting member that is mounted on at least part of an outer periphery of the optical member holding section is provided, and the mounting member is fastened to a body section of the endoscope.

Abstract: An endoscope includes: a solid-state imaging device for photoelectrically converting optical images formed via an imaging lens, a circuit board electrically connected to the solid-state imaging device, a signal cable electrically connected to the circuit board, an optical member holding section that holds the imaging lens or a prism, a connection member, one end of which is fastened to the signal cable and other end of which is provided with engaging pawls to be engaged with the optical member holding section, that connects the optical member holding section to the signal cable, and a mounting member that is mounted on at least part of an outer periphery of the optical member holding section, and the mounting member makes contact with the engaging pawls engaged with the optical member holding section to hold at least part of the engaging pawls between the mounting member and the optical member holding section.

Abstract: An endoscope includes, in a tip portion of an insertion unit: an image sensor having a photodetecting surface as defined herein; an imaging optical system as defined herein; a holding frame as defined herein; and a tip portion of a treatment tool channel as defined herein, and, in a cross section taken perpendicularly to the optical axis, a thickness, on a first axis that intersects the optical axis and a center of the treatment tool channel, of frame wall portions, located on two respective sides of the optical axis and intersecting the first axis, of at least a portion of the holding frame is smaller than a thickness, on a second axis that is perpendicular to the optical axis and the first axis, of frame wall portions, located on two respective sides of the optical axis and intersecting the second axis, of the at least portion of the holding frame.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes: an image sensor having a photodetecting surface which crosses a longitudinal axis of an insertion unit of an endoscope; and a circuit board which is mounted with the image sensor and includes: a sensor mounting portion which has plural sensor connection lands to which respective terminals of the image sensor are connected and faces a back surface, opposite to the photodetecting surface, of the image sensor; and a polygonal-prism-shaped cable connection portion which has plural cable connection lands being electrically continuous with the respective sensor connection lands and extends parallel with the longitudinal axis, wherein an outline of the cable connection portion is smaller than an outline of the sensor mounting portion when viewed from a distant point on an axis of the cable connection portion, and the cable connection lands are formed on plural side surfaces of the cable connection portion in a distributed manner.

Abstract: An endoscope includes: a solid-state imaging device for photoelectrically converting optical images formed via an imaging lens, a circuit board electrically connected to the solid-state imaging device, a signal cable electrically connected to the circuit board, an optical member holding section that holds the imaging lens or a prism, and a connection member, one end of which is fastened to the signal cable and other end of which is provided with engaging pawls to be engaged with the optical member holding section, that connects the optical member holding section to the signal cable, a mounting member that is mounted on at least part of an outer periphery of the optical member holding section is provided, and the mounting member is fastened to a body section of the endoscope.

Abstract: An endoscope includes: a solid-state imaging device for photoelectrically converting optical images formed via an imaging lens, a circuit board electrically connected to the solid-state imaging device, a signal cable electrically connected to the circuit board, an optical member holding section that holds the imaging lens or a prism, a connection member, one end of which is fastened to the signal cable and other end of which is provided with engaging pawls to be engaged with the optical member holding section, that connects the optical member holding section to the signal cable, and a mounting member that is mounted on at least part of an outer periphery of the optical member holding section, and the mounting member makes contact with the engaging pawls engaged with the optical member holding section to hold at least part of the engaging pawls between the mounting member and the optical member holding section.

Abstract: An endoscope includes: a shooting lens unit having a shooting lens and a housing which holds the shooting lens; a prism on which shooting light coming from the shooting lens shines; a prism holding structure which holds the prism and is attached to one end portion of the housing; an image area sensor which is attached to an exit face of the prism; a circuit board which drives the image area sensor; a transmission cable which is electrically connected to the circuit board; and a cable link structure one end portion of which is fastened to the transmission cable and other end portion of which is attached to a body structure having the prism holding structure and the housing, and the other end portion of the cable link structure is formed with a lock portion as defined herein.

Abstract: An electronic endoscopic apparatus includes an endoscopic scope, an imaging device provided in the endoscopic scope, a signal processing unit processing a captured image signal obtained by the imaging device to generate an observation image, a monitor device displaying the observation image, and a control unit controlling the signal processing unit to generate a high definition observation image and a high sensitivity observation image as the observation image, in which the control unit makes the signal processing unit generate the high sensitivity observation image at the time of screening the inside of the biological body, and generate the high definition observation image at the time of precise inspecting for an interest area in the body.

Abstract: One end of a cable connecting fitting is fixed to a transmission cable. After a locking claw provided on the other end of the cable connecting fitting is locked to the tip surface of a mounting tube portion of a prism holder, the mounting tube portion and the cable connecting fitting are fixed to each other. An image area sensor is close to the inner circumferential surface of a distal end hard portion, and a camera module is disposed in the distal end hard portion. The cable connecting fitting can be disposed at a free space between the inner circumferential surface of the distal end hard portion and the image area sensor. The size of the cable connecting fitting can be increased within a range of the free space, connection strength is secured, and separation of the prism or junctions and rupture of the transmission cable can be suppressed.

Abstract: In an endoscope system, a light guide for conducting illumination light from a light source to an endoscope distal end consists of a first fiber bundle and a second fiber bundle. Optical fibers of the first fiber bundle have a smaller numerical aperture than optical fibers of the second fiber bundle. A light volume control mechanism is controlled to project the illumination light only from the first fiber bundle in a close-up inspection mode. In an ordinary inspection mode, the illumination light is projected only from the second fiber bundle. When the volume of light projected from the second fiber bundle toward a target site is insufficient in the ordinary inspection mode, the light volume control mechanism is controlled to let the illumination light be projected from the first fiber bundle.

Abstract: A distal portion of an electronic endoscope is formed with a cutaway portion and a distal end surface. The distal portion is provided with side-viewing and front-viewing capturing optical systems. The side-viewing capturing optical system has a side-viewing objective lens, a prism with a half mirror surface, and a varifocal lens. Light incident on the half-mirror surface from the side-viewing objective lens is reflected to be incident on a CCD through the varifocal lens. Moving the varifocal lens allows the side-viewing capturing optical system to switch from normal observation to magnifying observation and vice versa. In the magnifying observation, a best focus position resides on an extension, of an outer circumferential surface of the distal portion, facing the cutaway portion.

Abstract: An electronic endoscope has an insert section to be introduced into a human body cavity. A distal portion of the insert section contains a CCD and a printed circuit board to which the CCD is bonded. In the insert section, a cable bundle being a bundle of coaxial cables extends. Each coaxial cable consists of a signal line, insulation surrounding the signal line, a braided wire surrounding the insulation, and an insulating jacket. The cylindrical braided wire is stranded into a single line, and is soldered as a ground line to a ground terminal of the printed circuit board. The signal line is pulled out of the coaxial cable with a length longer than the ground line. The signal line is soldered to an input/output terminal of the printed circuit board with a larger sag than the ground line.

Abstract: A distal portion of an electronic endoscope is formed with a cutaway portion and a distal end surface. The distal portion is provided with side-viewing and front-viewing capturing optical systems. The side-viewing capturing optical system has a side-viewing objective lens, a prism with a half mirror surface, and a varifocal lens. Light incident on the half-mirror surface from the side-viewing objective lens is reflected to be incident on a CCD through the varifocal lens. Moving the varifocal lens allows the side-viewing capturing optical system to switch from normal observation to magnifying observation and vice versa. In the magnifying observation, a best focus position resides on an extension, of an outer circumferential surface of the distal portion, facing the cutaway portion.

Abstract: A lighting optical device is disposed in a distal portion of an endoscope, and illuminates a target with light transmitted through a light guide. An optical element has an incident surface facing the light guide, an outer circumferential portion having light reflection function, and a convex exit surface. In a lens mounting hole formed in the distal portion, a lens is housed in front of and at a predetermined distance away from the optical element fixed in a lens barrel. An outer diameter of the lens is greater than that of the optical element. To allow light rays, coming out of a peripheral portion of the exit surface of the optical element and traveling parallel with an optical axis, to be incident on the lens, a diameter of a space between the optical element and the lens is greater than or equal to the outer diameter of the optical element.

Abstract: In an endoscope system, a light guide for conducting illumination light from a light source to an endoscope distal end consists of a first fiber bundle and a second fiber bundle. Optical fibers of the first fiber bundle have a smaller numerical aperture than optical fibers of the second fiber bundle. A light volume control mechanism is controlled to project the illumination light only from the first fiber bundle in a close-up inspection mode. In an ordinary inspection mode, the illumination light is projected only from the second fiber bundle. When the volume of light projected from the second fiber bundle toward a target site is insufficient in the ordinary inspection mode, the light volume control mechanism is controlled to let the illumination light be projected from the first fiber bundle.

Abstract: In an endoscope in which light transmitted from an optical fiber bundle using a positive lens is irradiated as illumination light, a glass rod having a diffusion face disposed on one of end faces is arranged between an aperture diaphragm that adjusts an amount of light from a light source and the optical fiber bundle that guides the light from the aperture diaphragm to a distal end portion of the endoscope, and light without a biased angular component is supplied to the optical fiber bundle so as to eliminate illumination light unevenness.

Abstract: In an endoscope in which light transmitted from an optical fiber bundle using a positive lens is irradiated as illumination light, a glass rod having a diffusion face disposed on one of end faces is arranged between an aperture diaphragm that adjusts an amount of light from a light source and the optical fiber bundle that guides the light from the aperture diaphragm to a distal end portion of the endoscope, and light without a biased angular component is supplied to the optical fiber bundle so as to eliminate illumination light unevenness.

Abstract: Out of optical elements that are provided to the top end side of an inserting portion of an endoscope, a first optical element arranged closest to an observation object side and a second optical element joined hermetically to the first optical element via an air layer are joined at joined surfaces by a first adhesive. Also, peripheries of end portions of the joined surfaces are covered with a second adhesive whose moisture permeability is lower than the first adhesive.