Abstract: An elongated flexible tube that constitutes an insert part of an endoscope. The flexible tube comprises: a spiral tube made of a precipitation hardening metal and having a groove which is recessed inwardly from the outer surface of the tube, the groove extending in a straight line along the axis of the tube, the spiral tube being subjected to age hardening process after a solid solution treatment; a braided-wire tube formed by weaving fine metal wires into a braid, the braided-wire tube being closely fitted over the outer surface of the spiral tube; and a flexible skin closely and watertightly fitted over the outer surface of the braided-wire tube.

Abstract: An endoscope is provided with a sheath which is removably fitted over an insert tube to isolate it from the external environment. A plurality of channels are provided for passing fluids, each channel having an opening at one end near the distal end portion of the sheath and extending at the other end past the proximal end of the sheath. A channel connecting device is provided at the extending end portions of the channels. The channel connecting device is capable of simultaneously and detachably connecting at least two of the channels to respective channels in the endoscope through respective connecting conduits, which are provided in a control part of the endoscope. Respective end portions of the channels are disposed in substantially parallel relations to each other, and the connecting conduits are disposed in a direction which is perpendicular to the axes of the end portions of the channels.

Abstract: A sheath device for an endoscope comprises a sheath which is inflatable with a gas that is pumped into the inside of the sheath to allow an insert tube of the endoscope to be covered. A sheath cover, formed in the shape of a tube, surrounds the sheath with a space left therebetween to control overinflation of the sheath. A portion of the sheath cover, that surrounds the distal end portion of the sheath, is tapered toward the distal end of the sheath cover. A gas supply passage is provided for supplying a gas into the sheath to inflate it, and a gas pressure control device is provided with a bleeder which communicates with the gas supply passage and opens upwardly to the atmosphere. A ball valve is placed on the bleeder from the upper side thereof to close it.

Abstract: An elongated flexible tube that constitutes an insert part of an endoscope. The flexible tube comprises: a spiral tube made of a precipitation hardening metal and having a groove which is recessed inwardly from the outer surface of the tube, the groove extending in a straight line along the axis of the tube, the spiral tube being subjected to age hardening process after a solid solution treatment; a braided-wire tube formed by weaving fine metal wires into a braid, the braided-wire tube being closely fitted over the outer surface of the spiral tube; and a flexible skin closely and watertightly fitted over the outer surface of the braided-wire tube.

Abstract: A distal end part of an endoscope which is provided at the distal end of the insert part of the endoscope, comprising an illuminating window through which illuminating light is emitted, a viewing window disposed side by side with the illuminating window to take a light image into an objective optical system, and a single transparent cover continuously covering the respective surfaces of the illuminating and viewing windows, the cover being formed such that the wall thickness thereof is gradually changed at the portion thereof which extends between the illuminating and viewing windows. Accordingly, no illuminating light enters the visual field of the viewing optical system through the transparent cover and it is therefore possible to obtain a clear observation field of view which is free from a ghost or flare.

Abstract: A flexible tube for use in an endoscope comprises a flexible basic tubular core structure including an outer meshwork tube, and a thermoplastic synthetic resin tube bonded to the outer meshwork tube of the tubular core structure in a manner such that the resin tube maintains an inherent compressive pre-stress in the finished flexible tube. An endoscope tube having flexibility which varies in a step-wise manner from one end of the tube to the other is obtained by integrally bonding two or more thermoplastic synthetic resin tube sections formed of respective resin materials having different hardnesses to the outer surface of the tubular core structure to form a coating layer in an analogous manner.

Abstract: A fiber optic endoscope in which a bundle of optical fibers are sealed in a flexible cover tube with a lubricant. The cross section of the central part of the cover tube is about 62% of the cross section of the optical fibers when tightly bundled.

Abstract: A flexible tube for use in an endoscope comprises a flexible basic tubular core structure including an outer meshwork tube, and a thermoplastic synthetic resin tube bonded to the outer meshwork tube of the tubular core structure in a manner such that the resin tube maintains an inherent compressive pre-stress in the finished flexible tube. An endoscope tube having flexibility which varies in a step-wise manner from one end of the tube to the other is obtained by integrally bonding two or more thermoplastic synthetic resin tube sections formed of respective resin materials having different hardnesses to the outer surface of the tubular core structure to form a coating layer in an analogous manner.

Abstract: An endoscope includes a forceps-control member movably mounted in a forward region of the elongate portion which is adapted to be inserted into a body cavity for selectively projecting and retracting forceps from and into the forward region of the insertion portion and an operating wire having one end connected to the forceps-control member and extending to the manipulator unit through an operating wire guide tube such that the projection and retraction of the forceps is controlled from the manipulator unit through the displacement of the operating wire.

Abstract: A device for preventing the observing objective lens window of an endoscope from collecting moisture by directing a small flow of air over the front surface of the observing objective lens window to form a layer of air which has the same temperature as the ambient atmosphere thereby stabilizing the temperature of the window. A control valve is provided which shuts off the flow of air in the event that the pressure within the body cavity in which the endoscope is inserted becomes too high due to the flow of air. A first embodiment of the control valve includes a cylinder and piston arrangement in which at a first position of the piston air is allowed to flow through the tube to the endoscope end. At a second position of the piston, air is vented directly to the atmosphere. In a second embodiment, a lateral hole is provided in the piston with the area of the hole and hence flow of air controlled by a screw the position of which determines the area of the lateral aperture.

Abstract: A flexible tube for use in an endoscope comprises a flexible basic tubular core structure and a homogeneous thermoplastic synthetic resin tube bonded to the outer surface of the tubular core structure to form a coating layer by positioning the synthetic resin tube tightly over the basic tubular core structure with a contact pressure therebetween and heating the synthetic resin tube to a temperature higher than a softening point of the thermoplastic synthetic resin forming the same. A flexible tube having flexibility which varies in a step-wise manner from one end of the tube to the other is obtained by integrally bonding as a whole two or more homogeneous thermoplastic synthetic resin tube sections formed of respective resin materials having different hardnesses to the outer surface of the tubular core structure to form a coating layer in an analogous manner.

Abstract: A device for changing a direction of the top end part of an endoscope in which a manual operating section is coupled to a top end part curving section through wires and the top end part curving section is curved vertically and horizontally by pulling the wires. A pair of wires are adapted to drive the top end part curving section vertically and horizontally, respectively, and a pair of drive members pull the wires directly or through intermediate members. Rotating knobs are integrally coupled to the pair of drive members so as to control the top end part curving section vertically and horizontally. A pair of brake drums confront one another, and a frictional member or brake shoe is mounted on a stationary member of the device in such a manner that it is movable with respect to the pair of brake drums. An external operating lever controls the movement of the brake shoe and the brake shoe abuts against the pair of brake drums by operation of the external operating lever so that simultaneous braking occurs.

Abstract: A direction changing device for a bioptic instrument having a protrusion provided at the top opening edge of an insertion passage into which a bioptic member or the like of an endoscope is inserted. The top opening edge is positioned in the vicinity of an objective lens of the endoscope or before the objective lens. The protrusion serves as a fulcrum to bend a pipe of bioptic instrument.A depressing member is located adjacent the protrusion to deflect an element of the instrument over the protrusion.The inserted member may be a device for taking samples or a fluid injection system. The instrument body may have a hood attached to the outer end with a direction changing protrusion on it. The hood may be rotatable relative to the instrument body. Deflection of the sample device of fluid stream is accomplished by positioning the deflection member relative to the passage in the instrument. A valve may be employed to seal the passage from contaminating elements.

Abstract: In an endoscope having an optical fibre bundle for illumination communicating with an illumination window, an optical fibre bundle for observation communicating with a viewing window, an opening through which an implement, such as forceps for collection of vital tissue or tube for observation or photography of pancreatic duct or bile duct, is projected out, and a raiser adapted to bend the forward end of the implement to be guided into the visual field of the viewing window, wherein the opening is formed laterally of the viewing window and in parallel to the vertical plane including the optical central axis of the viewing window, and the raiser which is pivotally supported in the opening is adapted to be rotated in the vertical plane including the optical central axis of the viewing window and having a groove inclined towards the viewing window for guiding the implement into the visual field.

Abstract: A curvable tube assembly for an endoscope which can be inserted through insertion paths of different curvature and along narrow and zigzag paths in a body cavity. First and second curvable tube sections are arranged in succession with one another with each of the first and second curvable sections including a plurality of articulation rings supporting one another at at least two points so as to make the curvable sections bendable in at least two directions. The free end of the second curvable section is connected to a flexible tube. At least one pair of stay coils is provided having ends fastened to the connecting point of the first and second curvable sections. Pull strings are disposed in the stay coils having first ends fastened to the first curvable section and extending to a manual operation unit of the endoscope.

Abstract: An air and water supplying device for an endoscope, having air supplying tubes connecting an air pump and an endoscope provided with an air and water switching valve. A water storing tank is provided with a compressed air receiving inlet and a cleaning water delivering outlet, and a water supplying tube connects the endoscope and the water supplying tank to supply air and water to the top end part of said endoscope. An inlet receives the compressed air in the air pump in a water supplying path made up of the water supplying tube and a water pumping-up tube in the water storing tank in such a manner that the particular inlet is normally closed by an operating valve mechanism provided therefore. When the particular inlet is opened by the operating valve mechanism, the compressed air introduced into the particular inlet causes to discharge the water left in the water supplying path.

Abstract: An air and water supplying device for an endoscope, having air supplying tubes connecting an air pump and an endoscope provided with an air and water switching valve. A water storing tank is provided with a compressed air receiving inlet and a cleaning water delivering outlet, and a water supplying tube connects the endoscope and the water supplying tank to supply air and water to the top end part of said endoscope. An inlet receives the compressed air in the air pump in a water supplying path made up of the water supplying tube and a water pumping-up tube in the water storing tank in such a manner that the particular inlet is normally closed by an operating valve mechanism provided therefore. When the particular inlet is opened by the operating valve mechanism, the compressed air introduced into the particular inlet causes to discharge the water left in the water supplying path.

Abstract: A plurality of spaced blood serum samples are disposed on a serum-bearing film having a leading and trailing edge. The blood serum samples are disposed in an array and each blood serum sample has a leading and a trailing edge. A position-indicating mark is disposed forward of the leading edge of the sample closest to the leading edge of the film by a distance representative of the spacing between adjacent ones of the samples.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatic application of blood serum to a serum bearing film for use in a cataphoretic process includes a serum supply station, a serum application station, a rinsing station and a drip station. The apparatus also comprises a guide along which a serum applicator is sequentially moved through each of these stations, as well as operation controlling microswitches and a cam assembly.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatic application of blood serum comprises an applicator, a rinsing unit and a drip both associated with the applicator, means for conveying a blood serum bearing film while maintaining it in opposing relationship with the applicator, and means for supplying a buffer solution for wetting the film with a buffer solution prior to the application of a blood serum thereto. Blood serum is automaticaly applied to the film which is previously wetted with the buffer solution in an automatic manner.