Abstract: An endoscopic insertion aid includes a hollow member having a communication path which provides communication between openings at the distal and proximal ends thereof. The hollow member includes a hollow member, an exposure portion and a guide portion. The hollow member insertion portion is inserted into a body cavity, having distal and proximal ends. The exposure portion is provided at the proximal end of the hollow member insertion portion and is exposed outside the body. The guide portion is provided in at least the exposure portion of the hollow member insertion portion and the exposure portion. The guide portion allows a distal end of an insertion section of an endoscope to pass through the communication path laterally from the hollow member and project from the opening at the distal end of the hollow member.

Abstract: An endoscopic insertion aid includes a tube member, a pipeline and a plurality of balloons. The tube member allows an insertion section of an endoscope to be inserted therethrough, and guides the longitudinal movement of the insertion section. The pipeline is provided in the tube member, and communicates with a supply/discharge unit to supply a fluid to or discharge the fluid from the distal end of the tube member. The balloons are disposed on the outer periphery of the distal end of the tube member longitudinally along the tube member, communicate with the pipeline, and inflate/deflate in accordance with the supply/discharge of the fluid via the pipeline. The balloon disposed on the distal side of the tube member is inflated to have an outside diameter larger than that of the balloon disposed closer to the proximal side than the balloon disposed on the distal side when the balloons are inflated.

Abstract: An endoscope system for retrieving a capsule endoscope includes an endoscope and a receptacle. The endoscope includes an insertion section having a distal end and a proximal end and configured to be inserted into a body cavity of a patient, and an operation section arranged at the proximal end of the insertion section. The receptacle is provided in the distal end of the insertion section of the endoscope and configured to hold the capsule endoscope in order to retrieve the same.

Abstract: A fluid-supplying/discharging system for use in medical devices includes a supplying/discharging device and a tubular-path-resistance changing mechanism. The supplying/discharging device includes a pump capable of supplying and discharging fluid, a tubular path having two ends, connected at one end to the pump and at the other end to a medical device, and a control device connected to the pump and configured to control the supplying and discharging of the fluid to and from the pump. The tubular-path-resistance changing mechanism changes resistance to the fluid flowing through the tubular path.

Abstract: An endoscope according to the present invention includes an endoscope main body, in which a channel having at least one end communicated with the outside is inserted and which is covered with an exterior member, and a communicating hole which is arranged in the halfway of the channel and which introduces vapor in the channel so as to sterilize the channel with the vapor.

Abstract: An endoscope includes an observation window for observing an image of a photographic subject; an illumination window for emitting illumination light for illuminating the photographic subject; a suction port connected to a suction channel are provided on a distal end surface of an insertion portion; an observation window peripheral edge portion which is formed so that a surface having the observation window is vertical to an observation light axis; an illumination window peripheral edge portion which is formed so that a surface having the illumination window is vertical to an illumination light axis which tilts outward with respect to the observation light axis; and a suction port peripheral edge portion which is formed so that a surface having the suction port is flush with the observation window peripheral edge portion.

Abstract: Distal ends of the LG fiber bundles are held in a state of being inclined outwardly with respect to an insertion direction of the distal end rigid portion, an observation hole for holding the image-pickup unit is formed at the distal end rigid portion, illumination holes for holding the distal ends of the LG fiber bundles are formed around the observation hole, the illumination holes are inclined outwardly with respect to an insertion direction of the distal end rigid portion, extended lines of inclined angles of the illumination holes are set to pass through backward of the observation hole, and a space after removal of the image-pickup unit from the observation hole is secured as a space for withdrawal of the LG fiber bundles.

Abstract: An endoscope includes an illumination lens which is fitted in a frame while a distal end face of the illumination lens is exposed, the frame being arranged in an insertion portion distal end, a bonded portion in an outer periphery of the illumination lens being fixed to an inner periphery of the frame with a bonding agent; and a light guide which is arranged in the frame while a distal end face of the light guide is orientated toward a rear end face of the illumination lens. A non-bonding portion which prevents adhesion of the bonding agent is formed between the bonded portion of the illumination lens and the distal end face of the light guide in the frame.

Abstract: An endoscope system includes a first endoscope and a second endoscope. The first endoscope includes a first insertion portion having a first bendable portion that is bendable over a first range, and a first distal end portion including a first observation optical system, the first observation optical system having a first viewing angle and an optical axis changing depending on bending of the first bendable portion. The second endoscope includes a second insertion portion having a second bendable portion that is bendable over a second range narrower than the first range, and a second distal end portion including a second observation optical system, the second observation optical system having a first viewing angle wider than the first viewing angle and an optical axis changing depending on bending of the second bendable portion.

Abstract: An endoscope distal end part of the invention includes a first illumination hole in which a first light guide is to be placed, a second illumination hole in which a second light guide is to be placed, a third illumination hole in which a third light guide is to be placed, and an observation hole which is at least partially positioned in an area surrounded by each of the illumination holes and in which an image pickup unit is to be placed.

Abstract: An endoscope electric connection device accommodated within a scope connector for connecting an electronic endoscope and an external apparatus, the device including a first band having a first contact portion to which a signal line of a transmission cable for transmitting an image signal from an image pickup unit of the electronic endoscope is connected and a second contact portion to which a ground line of the transmission cable is connected, a second band having a third contact portion connecting to a connector for electrically connecting to the external apparatus and having flexibility, and a transmitting portion provided in the first band and second band for electrically connecting the first contact portion and second contact portion to the third contact portion, wherein the transmitting portion can keep electric connection between the first contact portion and second contact portion and the third contact portion even with the second band bent.

Abstract: An endoscope hole sealing part including a body portion which seals a screw hole into which a fixing member is inserted, the fixing member fixing a built-in part in an endoscope, and an end face which is one surface of the body portion and is the outer surface of the endoscope.

Abstract: An endoscope includes an insertion unit having an inclined portion in a distal surface of the insertion unit; an illuminating unit provided in the inclined portion of the distal surface, and illuminating an inside of a body cavity; an observation window provided in the distal surface to observe the inside of the body cavity; and an air and water feeding nozzle provided in the distal surface to supply at least one of air and water to the observation window and the illuminating unit. A first contact distal portion and a second contact distal portion are formed in the distal surface. The first contact distal portion comes into contact with a flat surface and is provided in the air and water feeding nozzle, and the second contact distal portion is provided in except for at least one of the observation window and the illuminating unit.

Abstract: An endoscope includes an insertion unit; an observation optical system arranged at an end surface of the insertion unit in an inserting axis direction and having a wide viewing angle for observing a body cavity; and a plurality of illumination optical systems arranged on an axis slanted with respect to the inserting axis direction of the insertion unit and used when illuminating the body cavity. An illumination lens of at least one of the illumination optical systems is subjected to light diffusion process.

Abstract: An endoscope system includes a first endoscope that includes a first distal end portion, a first observation window provided at the first distal end portion, a first objective optical system optically coupled to the first observation window and having a first viewing angle, and a first treatment instrument channel opening positioned at a first distance away from the first observation window; and a second endoscope that includes a second distal end portion, a second observation window provided at the second distal end portion, a second objective optical system optically coupled to the second observation window and having a second viewing angle wider than the first viewing angle, and a second treatment instrument channel opening positioned at a second distance longer than the first distance.

Abstract: An endoscope includes an insert part that is inserted into body cavity; an imaging element that has an imaging region of a substantially rectangular shape at the insert part; an observation window that is provided at a distal end part of the insert part to introduce light from an object to the imaging element; and first, second, and third illumination members that are provided around the observation window on a distal end face of the distal end part to illuminate the object. The first illumination member is arranged near a first side of the substantially rectangular shape. Each of the second and the third illumination members is arranged near two angles at both ends of a second side of the substantially rectangular shape that opposes to the first side.

Abstract: An endoscope device in accordance with the present invention consists mainly of an endoscope, a light source apparatus, a video processor, and a monitor. The endoscope includes an insertion unit, an operation unit, a linkage cord, a connector unit, and an electric connector. The insertion unit is flexible and elongated. The operation unit is coupled to the proximal end of the insertion unit. The endoscope can undergo at least one of cleansing, disinfection, and sterilization that is performed at a high temperature. Furthermore, a drop in the temperature of at least part of the external surface of the operation unit of the endoscope occurring when the endoscope is cooled within a predetermined domain of temperatures is substantially equal to or larger than a drop in the temperature of at least part of the external surface of the insertion unit.

Abstract: A method for autoclave sterilization of an endoscope 2 of the present invention includes the step of making a space, which is defined by the outer side of a channel and an outer covering member of the endoscope 2, communicate with the outside of the endoscope, while at least one end of the channel communicates with the outside of the endoscope 2 and the channel is inserted through the inside 47 of the endoscope. The space 47 and the outside of the endoscope are once brought into the negative pressure. Thereafter, steam is introduced in the space 47 and the outside of the endoscope, and the endoscope 2 is sterilized.

Abstract: An endoscope according to the present invention includes an endoscope main body, in which a channel having at least one end communicated with the outside is inserted and which is covered with an exterior member, and a communicating hole which is arranged in the halfway of the channel and which introduces vapor in the channel so as to sterilize the channel with the vapor.

Abstract: An endoscope of the present invention includes a flexible tube section having an outer sheath layer composed of resin for constituting an endoscope insertion section and a slender tube member inserted into the endoscope insertion section, wherein the amount of shrink of the tube member after the completion of a high temperature/high pressure steam sterilization process is set as much as or greater than the amount of shrink of the flexible tube section after the completion of the high temperature/high pressure steam sterilization process.