Abstract: In order to prevent electric current from being induced in accordance with variation of magnetic force of a voice coil so that dynamic characteristics of a speaker are enhanced, a magnetic shielding member 1 composed of a magnetic material is disposed between the voice coil 12 and a detection coil 13. And by flowing magnetic force lines generated at the voice coil 13 to the magnetic shielding member 1, the magnetic force lines are prevented from reaching the detection coil 13.

Abstract: An optical fibers bundle 30 for the use of illumination light transmission is received in a second receiving space 14 of an insert portion 10, and an objective unit 40 is received in a distal end portion of a first receiving space 13. A holder 60 is slidably inserted in the first receiving space 13. An image sensor 65 is supported on a distal end portion of the holder 60. Signal lines 66 from the image sensor 65 extends through the holder 60 and is introduced outside. The objective unit 40 and the holder 60 are threadingly connected with each other.

Abstract: An optical fibers bundle 30 for the use of illumination light transmission is received in a second receiving space 14 of an insert portion 10, and an objective unit 40 is received in a distal end portion of a first receiving space 13. A holder 60 is slidably inserted in the first receiving space 13. An image sensor 65 is supported on a distal end portion of the holder 60. Signal lines 66 from the image sensor 65 extends through the holder 60 and is introduced outside. The objective unit 40 and the holder 60 are threadingly connected with each other.

Abstract: A bending device includes a bellows with an internal space, an operating wire for bending the bellows, and multiple pairs of independent limitation structures for limiting an axial compression of the bellows. The bellows includes a corrugated peripheral wall defined by first portions that bulge radially outward and are arranged alternately with second portions that bulge radially inward. The peripheral wall has first and second regions, each of which includes a predetermined number of alternating first and second portions. A pair of limitation structures are mounted on diametrically-opposite sections of each of the first regions and on diametrically-opposite sections of each of the second regions. The sections of each first region are spaced from each other in a first direction while the sections of each second region are spaced from each other in a second direction.

Abstract: An endoscope suitable for inspecting a water service pipe, etc. is disclosed. The endoscope comprises an operating body and a flexible insert tube structure extending from the operating body. The insert tube structure has a flexible insert body as in a regular endoscope. The insert tube structure further has a jacket disposed on an outer periphery of the insert body and adapted to enhance a smooth reciprocal movement of the insert tube structure. The jacket is formed in a cylindrical braid by braiding a plurality of flat straps in cross-section. These straps are formed of a resin having a small friction coefficient.

Abstract: A bending device for use in an endoscope, a catheter or the like is of a simple construction having a coil, an operating wire and a pair of limitation members for limiting an axial compression of the coil. The pair of limitation members are arranged along the length of the coil, and are mounted respectively on diametrically-opposite portions of the coil. The coil is bendable in a direction perpendicular to a plane in which the pair of limitation members are disposed. Instead of the coil, a bellows can be used.

Abstract: The distal ends of control wires of a distal tip deflection control mechanism are fixed to the distal tip of an endoscope. The distal ends of the control wires are spirally coiled up several times and form a cylinder, and the cylinder is fitted and fixed to the rear end or front end of the distal tip. In an alternate embodiment, the distal ends of the control wires are spirally coiled up several times and form a fitting body and the distal ends of an image guide, a charge coupled device (CCD), a light guide, or any other various kind of diagnostic tool or tube are fitted within the fitting body. In another version, the distal ends of the control wires are spirally coiled up several times around a bundle of distal ends of an image guide, a CCD, a light guide, or other various kinds of diagnostic tools or tubes, and the distal ends of the control wires and the bundle of distal ends of the other components are integrally fixed in the formed body.

Abstract: A bending device for use in an endoscope, a catheter or the like is of a simple construction having a coil, an operating wire and a pair of limitation members for limiting an axial compression of the coil. The pair of limitation members are arranged along the length of the coil, and are mounted respectively on diametrically-opposite portions of the coil. The coil is bendable in a direction perpendicular to a plane in which the pair of limitation members are disposed. Instead of the coil, a bellows can be used.

Abstract: A medical observation instrument has a body and an observation sleeve. The body has a grip portion, and a support portion disposed at a distal end of the grip portion. This support portion has a circular arcuate portion. The observation sleeve is made of a transparent material. The observation sleeve has a mount portion of a circular section received in and removably attached to the support portion of the body. A light emission member is received in a receiving hole formed in an inner peripheral surface of the support portion. An illumination light from the light emission member is emitted toward the mount portion of the observation sleeve, reflected by the inner peripheral surface of this mount portion, passed through a peripheral wall of a distal end portion of the observation sleeve while being reflected by inner and outer peripheral surfaces of the observation sleeve, and then output forwardly of a distal end face of the observation sleeve.

Abstract: An elongate bending device for use in an endoscope or the like includes a number of segments which are arranged in a row along a longitudinal axis of the bending device and are pivotally connected to one another, and at least one operating wire extending through the segments along the longitudinal axis of the bending device. That portion of the inner peripheral surface of the segment along which the operating wire extends serves as a wire guide surface portion. This wire surface guide portion forms an inwardly convex, continuous curved line. The distance between the wire guide surface portion and the longitudinal axis of the bending device is increasing progressively from a central portion of the wire surface guide portion toward the opposite ends of the wire surface guide portion.

Abstract: A bending device for use in an endoscope, a catheter or the like is of a simple construction having a coil, an operating wire and a pair of limitation members for limiting an axial compression of the coil. The pair of limitation members are arranged along the length of the coil, and are mounted respectively on diametrically-opposite portions of the coil. The coil is bendable in a direction perpendicular to a plane in which the pair of limitation members are disposed. Instead of the coil, a bellows can be used.

Abstract: A method of producing a bending device is disclosed. There are provided a plurality of elongated arcuate assemblies each formed by pivotally connecting a row of arcuate members to one another by connecting elements, the arcuate assembly extending in a direction of the widths of the arcuate members. Subsequently, the plurality of arcuate assemblies are connected together in such a manner that ends of corresponding ones of the arcuate members of the arcuate assemblies are fixed together to form the row of joint rings, thereby forming the ring assembly.

Abstract: A bending device for use in an endoscope, a catheter or the like includes a frame of a generally cylindrical shape, a limitation member and an operating wire. The frame has annular portions disposed respectively in planes substantially perpendicular to an axis of the frame, and the annular portions are juxtaposed in an axial direction of the frame. The limitation member is received in an internal space of the frame, and engaging recesses are formed in each of opposite lateral edges of the limitation member and juxtaposed in a longitudinal direction of the limitation member. The annular portions of the frame are engaged in the engaging recesses, so that any adjacent ones of the annular portions are spaced a predetermined distance from each other. The limitation member has a number of arcuate portions bulged generally perpendicularly to the direction of the length of the limitation member, and the arcuate portions are juxtaposed in the longitudinal direction of the limitation member.

Abstract: There is disclosed a bending device for use in an endoscope or the like. A rear end portion of an insertion tube is supported on a front portion of the body for movement relative thereto along the axis of the insertion tube. The tension of a wire is adjusted by adjusting the position of the insertion tube in its axial direction. A fixing member releaseably fixes the rear end portion of the insertion tube to the front portion of the body at a desired position within a predetermined range of the axial movement of the insertion tube. A rear end of a guide tube guiding the wire therethrough is retained by the rear end portion of the insertion tube, and is moved together with the rear end portion of the insertion tube during the above adjustment of the position of the insertion tube.

Abstract: An endoscope cover comprising a cylindrical end rigid cover portion composed a flexible material, which is fitted to an endoscope to cover a distal end rigid portion of the endoscope. A transparent window arranged on a closed face formed on the distal end of the rigid cover to confront at least an observation port and an illuminating port, which are arranged on the distal end of the endoscope, and a bag-shaped covering member having a length covering at least an intermediate conduit portion of the endoscope, which is attached to the rear part of the endoscope. A groove or notched face is formed in the longitudinal direction of the outer periphery of the distal end rigid portion of the endoscope and an anchoring groove is formed on the circumferential face portion. Anchoring projections are formed at confronting positions on the inner circumferential face of the rigid cover and are fitted in the anchoring groove formed in the distal end rigid portion to attach the rigid cover to the top end rigid portion.

Abstract: An endoscope cover comprising a cylindrical rigid cover composed of an elastic material, which is fitted to an endoscope to cover a top end rigid portion of the endoscope. A transparent window arranged on a closed face formed on the top end of the rigid cover to confront at least an observation port and an illuminating port, which are arranged on the top end of the endoscope, and a bag-shaped covering member having a length covering at least an intermediate conduit portion of the endoscope, which is attached to the rear part of the endoscope. A groove or notched face is formed in the longitudinal direction of the outer periphery of the top end rigid portion of the endoscope and an anchoring groove is formed on the circumferential face portion.

Abstract: An anchoring structure for an endoscope cover comprising a cylindrical rigid cover composed of an elastic material, which is fitted to an endoscope to cover a front end rigid portion of the endoscope. A transparent window is arranged on a closed face formed on the front end of the rigid cover to face at least an observation port and an illuminating port, which are arranged on the top end of the endoscope. A bag-shaped covering member having a length covering at least an intermediate conduit portion of the endoscope is attached to a rear part of the endoscope. An anchoring concave portion is formed at a predetermined part of the intermediate conduit portion, a notched face is formed on the circumferential face of the top end rigid portion and an anchoring groove is formed on the circumferential face.

Abstract: There is disclosed a bending device for use in an endoscope or the like. The bending device includes an articulation assembly constituted by a number of segments. In order to increase the rigidity of the articulation assembly in its radial direction, each segment has such a simple configuration that the segment can be formed by bending a hard metal plate such, for example, as a hard spring metal. More specifically, the segment has a semi-cylindrical portion and a pair of extension portions extending respectively from opposite circumferential ends of the semi-cylindrical portion in a direction of the circumference of the semi-cylindrical portion. A pair of notches are formed respectively in opposite axial ends of the segment at the boundary between each of the opposite circumferential ends of the semi-cylindrical portion and each of the extension portions.

Abstract: A bending device for use in an endoscope, a catheter or the like is of a simple construction having a frame, a resilient thin plate, and operating wires. The frame has a generally cylindrical shape as a whole, and has annular portions disposed respectively in planes substantially perpendicular to the axis of the frame, the annular portions being juxtaposed in an axial direction of the frame. The resilient thin plate is received in an internal space of the frame. Recesses are formed in each of opposite lateral edges of the resilient thin plate, and are juxtaposed in a longitudinal direction of the resilient thin plate. The annular portions of the frame are engaged respectively in the recesses in each of the opposite lateral edges of the resilient thin plate, so that any adjacent ones of the annular portions are spaced a predetermined distance from each other.

Abstract: A flexible tube structure includes a coil assembly including a plurality of coils which are combined together in such a manner that turns of the plurality of coils alternate with each other. Any two adjacent turns of the plurality of coils are disposed in substantially point-to-point contact relation to each other. There is also disclosed a bending device in which an operating wire is passed through at least one axially-extending space formed between peripheries of the plurality of coils. A distal end of the operating wire is fixed relative to a distal end of the coil assembly.