Abstract: An endoscope has an insertion member that includes a flexible tube. The flexible tube has a spiral tube, which is formed by spirally winding a metallic belt, sheathed with a braid, and has the braid sheathed with a resin sheathing. The resin sheathing is made of an ester-series thermoplastic elastomer, an amide-series thermoplastic elastomer, or a blend of them. Therefore, the flexural rigidity of the flexible tube of the insertion member attained at a predetermined position after the flexible tube is loaded during high-temperature high-pressure steam sterilization is equal to or lower than that attained before the flexible tube is loaded. Consequently, the flexural rigidity of the flexible tube attained after sterilization with high-temperature high-pressure steam is equal to or lower than that attained before the sterilization. Thus, the inserting smoothness of the insertion member can be optimized.

Abstract: An endoscope has built-in components, which include a spiral tube, a braid, angulation wires, and angulation coils, passed through a sheathing of a flexible tube that is an integral part of a soft insertion member. Conditions are determined so that the sum total of strengths of forces the built-in components exert in correcting their extent of deformation that is caused by sterilization with high-temperature high-pressure steam will be larger than the strength of force the sheathing exerts in correcting its extent of deformation during the high-temperature high-pressure steam sterilization (which includes a high temperature load). Thus, the extent of deformation derived from sterilization with high-temperature high-pressure steam is suppressed.

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: In an endoscope of the present invention having a feature in a flexible tube section constituting an insertion section, the flexible tube section includes a spiral tube formed by spirally winding a metal strip, a mesh-like tube covering the outside periphery of the spiral tube; and an outer sheath layer composed of resin for covering the outside of the mesh-like tube, wherein when the outer sheath layer is softened by being subjected to a thermal load caused in a high temperature/high pressure steam sterilization process, the outside diameter of the flexible tube section is the same as or smaller than the outside diameter thereof before it is subjected to the thermal load.

Abstract: The endoscope comprises a flexible insertion member with different hardness for bending in a predetermined area of longitudinal direction thereof. This insertion member includes a flexible tube having resin sheathing layer on the outside and slender inner parts passing through the flexible tube. An amount of change in hardness level for bending of the inner parts in a longitudinal direction is designed larger than an amount of change in hardness level for bending of the sheathing layer of the flexible tube in a longitudinal direction.

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.

Abstract: The endoscope comprises a flexible insertion member with different hardness for bending in a predetermined area of longitudinal direction thereof. This insertion member includes a flexible tube having resin sheathing layer on the outside and slender inner parts passing through the flexible tube. An amount of change in hardness level for bending of the inner parts in a longitudinal direction is designed larger than an amount of change in hardness level for bending of the sheathing layer of the flexible tube in a longitudinal direction.

Abstract: In an endoscope of the present invention having a feature in a flexible tube section constituting an insertion section, the flexible tube section includes a spiral tube formed by spirally winding a metal strip, a mesh-like tube covering the outside periphery of the spiral tube; and an outer sheath layer composed of resin for covering the outside of the mesh-like tube, wherein when the outer sheath layer is softened by being subjected to a thermal load caused in a high temperature/high pressure steam sterilization process, the outside diameter of the flexible tube section is the same as or smaller than the outside diameter thereof before it is subjected to the thermal load.

Abstract: An endoscope has an insertion member that includes a flexible tube. The flexible tube has a spiral tube, which is formed by spirally winding a metallic belt, sheathed with a braid, and has the braid sheathed with a resin sheathing. The resin sheathing is made of an ester-series thermoplastic elastomer, an amide-series thermoplastic elastomer, or a blend of them. Therefore, the flexural rigidity of the flexible tube of the insertion member attained at a predetermined position after the flexible tube is loaded during high-temperature high-pressure steam sterilization is equal to or lower than that attained before the flexible tube is loaded. Consequently, the flexural rigidity of the flexible tube attained after sterilization with high-temperature high-pressure steam is equal to or lower than that attained before the sterilization. Thus, the inserting smoothness of the insertion member can be optimized.

Abstract: An endoscope has elongated built-in components, which include a spiral tube, a braid, angulation wires, and angulation coils, passed through an sheathing of a flexible tube that is an integral part of a soft insertion member. Conditions are determined so that the sum total of strengths of forces the built-in components exert in correcting their deformation of bend that is derived from sterilization with high-temperature high-pressure steam will be larger than the strength of force the sheathing exerts in deforming to bend during the high-temperature high-pressure steam sterilization. Thus, deformation of bend derived from sterilization with high-temperature high-pressure steam is suppressed.

Abstract: An endoscope comprising a flexible tubular body characterized in that a coating layer of aliphatic resins is formed on at least one surface of the outermost layer portion of the flexible tubular body. The coating layer of aliphatic resins is formed by applying a coating agent containing an aliphatic prepolymer on the surface, followed by curing.