Abstract: A balloon control apparatus which controls operations for expanding and contracting a balloon attached to an insertion portion of an endoscope, or operations for expanding and contracting a balloon attached to an insertion assist implement fitted around the insertion portion to assist insertion of the insertion portion, the apparatus comprising: a storage device which stores an operating procedure by which the operations for expanding and contracting the balloon are performed; and an execution direction device which directs execution of the expanding and contracting operations, wherein a direction is given by the execution direction device to execute the operations for expanding and contracting the balloon in accordance with the operating procedure stored by the storage device.

Abstract: A balloon control device for controlling an expansion and contraction of a balloon fixed to one of an insertion unit of endoscope and an insertion adapter by supplying and suctioning of fluid to the balloon, comprising: a channel for conveying the fluid between the balloon control device and the balloon; and a gas/liquid separator for separating gas and liquid from the fluid in the channel.

Abstract: A solid-state image pickup device has a photosensitive chip and an array of microlenses arranged on the incident side of the photosensitive chip. A correction lens is arranged on the incident side of the microlens array to reduce incident angles of light entering the microlenses. The solid-state image pickup device may be incorporated in a head of an endoscope of an endoscopic apparatus to receive light from an optical system arranged in the head. The head includes a unit for changing paths of light to the microlenses to reduce incident angles of the light entering the microlenses.

Abstract: Disclosed are a method for processing a black-and-white light-sensitive silver halide photographic material containing at least one kind of a tetrazolium compound or a hydrazine compound with a developing solution containing a polyhydroxybenzene type developing agent, wherein the developing solution is a developing solution prepared by using a solid processing agent, a solid processing agent for a black-and-white light-sensitive silver halide photographic material containing a tetrazolium compound or a hydrazine compound comprising a polyhydroxybenzene type developing agent and a solid processing agent for a black-and-white light-sensitive silver halide photographic material containing a tetrazolium compound or a hydrazine compound comprising a thiosulfate fixing agent and water in an amount of 300% or less based on an amount of the thiosulfate fixing agent.

Abstract: An endoscope system includes an endoscope section having a flexible pipe insertable into a body cavity. The flexible pipe is divided into a plurality of segments. Each segment has a mechanism, e.g. shape memory alloy, for varying the flexibility of that segment. A main frame unit has a flexibility control section for controlling the flexibility variation mechanisms to correspond to one of a plurality of flexibility control patterns stored in a database.

Abstract: A color correction device for an endoscope capable of performing color corrections in accordance with chromatic characteristics such as saturation and/or hue of image signals is disclosed. The device includes an unit that selects appropriate color corrections to be made in accordance with chromatic characteristics of image signals, and an unit that performs the selected color corrections. An endoscope incorporating such a device is also disclosed.

Abstract: In an electronic endoscope apparatus, there are provided a brightness converter for converting brightness of a color image signal of a biological body under examination while the biological body is irradiated by monochromatic light; a plurality of image memories for storing a plurality of brightness-converted image signals; and a calculating circuit for calculating the plurality of brightness-converted image signals to obtain a concentration of hemoglobin of the biological body and an oxygen saturation of hemiglobin thereof. Then, the concentration of hemoglobin and oxygen saturation of the biological body are displayed as a color image.

Abstract: An endoscopic system irradiates an object to be inspected and applied with a fluorescent material with visible radiation to obtain a visible radiation image of the object and with excitation radiation to obtain a fluorescent image thereof. The images thus obtained being alternately inputted into a television camera and displayed simultaneously on a display unit according to outputs from the television camera.

Abstract: A microchannel plate has a platelike photosensitive glass substrate and a plurality of microchannels formed separately from each other and extending across the thickness of the substrate. A secondary electron-emission surface is formed on an inner surface of each of the microchannels. Accelerating electrodes formed on two opposite sides of the photosensitive glass substrate, so as to be partially in electrical contact with the secondary-emission surface. The microchannels are formed by applying ultraviolet rays to the substrate through a mask and removing irradiated portions of the substrate by etching.

Abstract: The membranes of citrus-fruit pulp-segments may be removed in a short time without using an acid liquid by a process comprises separating pulp-segments of peeled fruits from each other, heating the separated pulp-segments with hot water or steam and then immersing the pulp-segments in a solution of a mixture of alkali and phosphate.

Abstract: A dressed body of a fish, which is obtained by cutting off the head part and removing the internal organs of the fish therefrom, is sliced into upper and lower fish fillets and a part mainly consisting of the vertebra thereof. The thus obtained upper and lower fish fillets are heated by means of very hot water, or steam or the like and then cooled forcibly by a coolant with the result that the connective tissues of the fish meats can be hardened in a short time, consumption of heat energy for hardening them is small, the quality deterioration thereof is little and high yield of product is obtained. The upper and lower fillets are heated on a plate with the fillet skins against the plate. The part containing the vertebra is heated, and white meat is later separated from bone.

Abstract: A silver halide photographic light-sensitive material is disclosed. The silver halide emulsion layer of the light-sensitive material is sensitized in infrared region of the spectrum by a cationic di- or tri-carbocyanine sensitizing dye and a compound represented by formula I, II, or III; ##STR1## The light-sensitive material is improved in stability of the coating solution of the silver halide emulsion for standing during in its production process and also improved in stability for prolonged storage after production.