Abstract: A bending device has a simplified construction for bending a bending portion. A wire is disposed in opposed relation to a manipulation hole formed in a body. When the finger is inserted into the manipulation hole to press the wire in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the wire, the wire is pulled to bend the bending portion. Instead of the wire, an operating member can be disposed in opposed relation to the manipulating hole, in which case a manipulating force of the finger is converted through the operating member into a force to pull the wire. The operating member operatively connected to the wire may be of the type slidably supported on the body, and may be of the type integrally connected to the body through a neck portion.

Abstract: There is disclosed an endoscope incorporating a device for bending a bendable portion of the endoscope. A pair of operating wires are fixedly connected at their distal ends to a distal end of the bendable portion, and are extended respectively around a pair of engaging members. The proximal ends of the operating wires are retained by a retaining member. When an operating shaft, operatively connected to the engaging members through a connecting member, is angularly moved, one of the two engaging members is moved away from the bendable portion. As a result, one of the operating wires associated with the one engaging member is pulled to bend the bendable portion. Alternatively, first and second operating shafts, four operating wires and four engaging members can be employed so that the bendable portion can be bent in two directions generally perpendicular to each other.

Abstract: A guide tube assembly for an endoscope is disclosed which is usually flexible and which can be stiffened when necessary.The assembly comprises a flexible body which is usually flexible because its components are separable from each other, while the assembly can be stiffened when necessary by drawing the components together and a porous tube of fluorocarbon is inserted in the flexible body joining the forward ends of the components together.Usually, the assembly can freely be bent. But, the assembly can be stiffened by pulling the rear end of the porous tube for drawing the components together when necessary.In this way, the assembly can pass through the circuitous path of the body cavity with an endoscopic instrument, while it can fix the distal end of the endoscopic instrument in position toward an object to be observed for inspection.

Abstract: Apparatus for optically inspecting an object having a reflecting surface includes an irradiating device for emitting illuminating light; a shield member for reflecting the illuminating light to irradiate the object, and a light-receiving device for receiving an image of the object irradiated through the reflection of the illuminating light by the shield member. The shield member covers an extent of a field of vision of the light-receiving device through the reflection of the reflecting surface.

Abstract: An endoscope comprises an operating body and an inserting portion extending therefrom. A distal end section of the inserting portion is formed into a bendable section. An angularly movable member is mounted within the operating body for angular movement around a predetermined axis. The bendable section is operatively connected to the angularly movable member through a pair of operating wires or wire sections. A hydraulic actuator is operatively connected to the angularly movable member. An operating member located exteriorly of the operating body is operatively connected to the angularly movable member.

Abstract: An endoscope comprises an operating body and an inserting portion extending therefrom. A distal end section of the inserting portion is formed into a resiliently bendable section. An angularly movable member is mounted within the operating body for angular movement around a center of rotation. The bendable section is operatively connected to the angularly movable member through a pair of operating wire sections. An operating member located exteriorly of the operating body is operatively connected to the angularly movable member. A biasing mechanism is associated with the operating body and includes a spring spirally wound within a casing. One end of the spring drawn out of the casing applies a spring force to a point of action on the angularly movable member spaced from the center of rotation thereof.

Abstract: Apparatus for optically inspecting an object having a reflecting surface includes an irradiating device for emitting illuminating light; a shield member for reflecting the illuminating light to irradiate the object, and a light-receiving device for receiving an image of the object irradiated through the reflection of the illuminating light by the shield member. The shield member covers an extent of a field of vision of the light-receiving device through the reflection of the reflecting surface.

Abstract: In an electronic endoscope apparatus, image signals from a solid state image pickup device are converted into television picture signals, and pictures are displayed on a monitor television on the basis of the television picture signals. At least one chopper is arranged between a light source and an end of an optical system for transmitting an illuminating light from the light source to an illuminating window of an endoscope. The chopper is rotated by a motor to bring the illuminating light into the form of pulses. Rotation of the chopper is controlled in such a manner that a center of supply time duration of each illuminating light pulse is brought into coincidence with a point of time at which the image signals to be offered to either one of odd and even field scannings are transferred from a light receiving portion to a memory portion of the image pickup device.

Abstract: Disclosed is an endoscope having a long flexible image guide, such as a colon endoscope, in which a shape memory alloy is built in a flexible tube in which the image guide is inserted. When the flexible tube is inserted in the deep portion of a complicatedly bent organ such as the colon, the flexible tube which is partially bent according to the bending of the colon or the like is straightened by utilizing the restoring property of the shape memory alloy to straighten the correspondingly bent portion of the colon or the like, whereby the flexible tube can easily be inserted in the complicatedly bent portion of the colon or the like while straightening this portion.

Abstract: The present invention discloses herewith guide tube with favorable flexibility and water-tightness. A water-tight coating is provided on at least one side of the inner and exterior surface of a porous tube which bends continuously keeping its tubular shape. By these provisions, a guide tube is obtained which is easily inserted with an endoscope into a body cavity or is smoothly inserted into bronchia as an anesthetic tube.

Abstract: A guide tube assembly is disclosed which serves both as a guide tube for an endoscope and a suction tube for anesthesia. The guide tube assembly comprises a tube, said tube being made of a porous fluoric resin on which a fluorocarbon elastomer is coated for a sealing material, a mouthpiece which is a body of revolution, said mouthpiece comprising a connector portion for holding the tube, an extended portion which spreads from the connector portion and a mouthpiece portion. By these constructions, the assembly can be freely curved by the endoscope and effectively serves both as the guide tube for the endoscope and the anesthetic suction tube.

Abstract: The present invention discloses herewith measuring apparatus for measuring the dimension of an object or the distance to said object, said measuring apparatus utilizing an optical characteristic of a focusing glass fiber, a line or a circle or a focus being indicated on said object. The invention comprises a rod lens composed of said focusing glass fiber of suitable length, a non-diffusive light beam, for example a laser beam, being fed to the radial side of said rod lens, said light beam being scattered radially by said rod lens, said scattered light beam being applied to said object directly or by way of reflecting means, and a line or a circle or a focus is indicated on said object. By these provisions, the dimension of the object, for example a cancer in a body cavity, can be easily measured in order to observe time transfiguration of said cancer. In addition, the distance to bleeding position can be correctly measured in order to adjust an output of a laser surgical instrument.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a device for preventing clouding of an observing window, utilizing heat rays of a light source. A converter is provided near the observing window for changing light into heat and the light is guided to said converter from light transmitting optic bundles. Then, a part of the light is changed into heat by this converter and the observing window is warmed by the heat in order to prevent the clouding.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a construction of a pressure-tight endoscope for observing a high-pressure place. The construction aims at balancing the inner and exterior pressures of the hermetic endoscope through letting in the high-pressure which bears on the exterior of the endoscope into the inner side of it through an aperture which is provided on a cover. The high-pressure also may enter through a bellows which is attached to the aperture, or from the bellows and a pipe which transmits the high-pressure on a tip portion of the endoscope to the rearward portion. In this way, the present invention prevents deformation of the endoscope due to high-pressure, or breakage of a hermetic construction, or difficulty of operation of a flexible sheath.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a side view type or a direct view type endoscope which is used not only for examining the inner portion of stomachs and bowels, but also for cutting out or treating polyps on the wall of stomachs and bowels by an extractor which is inserted through an extractor leading tube of the endoscope. In said endoscope, the rear end portion of a wire guide tube of the extractor operating device is opened or can be opened for washing and sterilization of said wire guide tube.

Abstract: A flat tubular structure, which comprises two tubes arranged side by side and enclosed within an outer tube, with each of the inner tubes having a structure capable of bending but incapable of transmitting a twisting effort through the whole length when a torque is applied at one end, behaves such that when it is twisted at its one end, while holding its intermediate portion, its other end is twisted by the same amount, with its intermediate portion remaining flat without being twisted.Such a flat tubular structure is used as a flexible tube portion of an endoscope. When the intermediate portion of such a flexible tube portion is located within the gullet, by turning a grip portion outside the body the tip portion within the body is turned by the same amount, as the grip portion and the intermediate portion is prevented from turning since it bears against the gullet.