Abstract: A distal end portion successively provided from an insertion part distal end of an endoscope is provided with an air supply and water supply nozzle, an observation window, and illumination windows, and are formed with mutually parallel first and second flat surfaces. The surface of the observation window is disposed at the same position as the second flat surface. An inclined surface that connects the first flat surface and the second flat surface together is formed at a position that faces the air supply and water supply nozzle. Fluid guide surfaces are formed on both sides of the inclined surface. The fluid guide surfaces incline toward the illumination windows. A fluid jetted from the air supply and water supply nozzle impacts against the inclined surface, spreads to the observation window, and is guided to the fluid guide surfaces, and flows to the illumination windows.

Abstract: An endoscope includes a distal end part having a round-chamfered outer peripheral edge, an observation window on an end surface of the distal end part, a nozzle which jets a cleaning fluid toward the observation window, and an observation window base part on which the observation window is placed, the observation window which is formed on the end surface of the distal end part so as to protrude from a surrounding area, and has an outer peripheral shape being formed into a streamline shape in a region facing the nozzle, with respect to a flow of the cleaning fluid jetted from the nozzle.

Abstract: An endoscope includes a first flat surface formed at a distal end portion of an insertion part to be inserted into a subject, and orthogonal to an axial direction of the insertion part an observation window provided at the distal end portion for allowing image light of the subject to be taken therethrough, with the surface of the observation window as a light incidence plane, an illumination window provided at the distal end portion to irradiate a subject with illumination light, a fluid jetting nozzle arranged at the first flat surface to jet a fluid toward the observation window, and an inclined surface formed around the observation window and arranged at a position that faces the fluid jetting nozzle, wherein the distal end portion is formed with a second flat surface arranged on the distal end side of the first flat surface and parallel to the first flat surface.

Abstract: The present invention provides a balloon unit for an endoscope apparatus comprising: a balloon for an endoscope apparatus having an opening formed in a cylindrical shape in which an insert part of an endoscope or an insert supporter having the insert part inserted therein is inserted and fixed; and a cylinder body having an inner diameter larger than an outer diameter of the insert part or the insert supporter; wherein the opening of the balloon is fitted over and fixed to the cylinder body to form a unit and the unit is attached to the insert part or the insert supporter or detached from the insert part or the insert supporter.

Abstract: An endoscope includes: an insert portion having a bending portion for bending operation and a flexible soft portion connected to the proximal end of the bending portion; an inflatable/deflatable balloon attached on the proximal side from the bending portion; and a supplying/sucking opening provided in the outer surface of a ring that connects the bending portion to the soft portion, the supplying/sucking opening supplying and sucking fluid to and from the balloon.

Abstract: On a rigid tip end section at the distal end of an elongated endoscopic insertion member, an observation window washer means is provided to wash an endoscopic optical observation window, along with a fluid injection means to be used for injecting a fluid from an injection passage leading to an injection hole opened on the rigid tip end section of the insertion member. Connection ports to a wash liquid conduit and a compressed air conduit of the observation window washer means are opened at a conduit connection terminal of a multiplex connector on a proximal end of a universal connection cable. Disconnectibly connected to the conduit connection terminal is a conduit coupler member having a wash liquid conduit and a compressed air conduit to supply a wash liquid and compressed air to the wash liquid conduit and compressed air conduit on the side of the conduit connection terminal.

Abstract: A distal end portion successively provided from an insertion part distal end of an endoscope is provided with an air supply and water supply nozzle, an observation window, and illumination windows, and are formed with mutually parallel first and second flat surfaces. The surface of the observation window is disposed at the same position as the second flat surface. An inclined surface that connects the first flat surface and the second flat surface together is formed at a position that faces the air supply and water supply nozzle. Fluid guide surfaces are formed on both sides of the inclined surface. The fluid guide surfaces incline toward the illumination windows. A fluid jetted from the air supply and water supply nozzle impacts against the inclined surface, spreads to the observation window, and is guided to the fluid guide surfaces, and flows to the illumination windows.

Abstract: In macroblocks to which a prediction mode determination step, which determines whether or not a prediction mode applied to the macroblocks is a predetermined prediction mode, and an encoded data selection step, which selects a predetermined type of encoded data corresponding to the pixels at predetermined positions in the macroblocks to which the predetermined prediction mode is applied, are applied, there is provided a bit distribution step for more preferentially distributing bits to a predetermined type of encoded data selected at the encoded data selection step than a predetermined type of encoded data that is not selected at the encoded data selection step in the macroblocks to which the predetermined prediction mode is applied.

Abstract: A gas supply and liquid supply apparatus includes: a first fluid pipe which is provided in a distal end part of an insertion part of an endoscope, the first fluid pipe for supplying a first fluid; a second fluid pipe which is provided in the distal end part of the insertion part of the endoscope together with the first fluid pipe, the second fluid pipe for supplying a second fluid; and a confluence pipe which is connected to the first fluid pipe and the second fluid pipe, a central axis of the confluence pipe in a connection portion to the first fluid pipe and the second fluid pipe having a skew relationship to at least any one of a central axis of the first fluid pipe and a central axis of the second fluid pipe.

Abstract: The present invention provides an endoscope comprising: an insertion unit which is to be inserted into a body; and a pipeline provided inside the insertion unit for supplying a fluid to a balloon mounted on an outer peripheral surface of the insertion unit, wherein the pipeline has a plurality of openings in an axial direction of the insertion unit on the outer peripheral surface of the insertion unit. Therefore, the endoscope of the present invention can easily fix a balloon and keep airtightness after the fixation, and can raise a degree of freedom of a mounting location of the balloon.

Abstract: Provided is an endoscope which is capable of letting a liquid drain off to a satisfactory level at the time of cleaning, while securing the degree of freedom of a layout. An observation window is placed on an observation window base part which is formed on a distal end surface of a distal end part so as to protrude from the surrounding area. An outer peripheral shape of the observation window base part is formed into a streamline shape with respect to a flow of a cleaning fluid jetted from a nozzle. With this feature, it is possible to block a liquid flow having a low flow rate from flowing on the observation window, and to allow the liquid flow which has been used for cleaning to promptly move to the outside of the observation window.

Abstract: Provided is an endoscope which is capable of preventing liquid drops from attaching onto the vicinity of an observation window even in the case where the observation window is placed in the vicinity of a round-chamfered peripheral edge part. In the case where an observation window is placed in the vicinity of a round-chamfered peripheral edge part, the peripheral edge part in the vicinity of the observation window is round-chamfered in a manner that the radius of curvature (round-chamfer) becomes larger along with an increase in distance from a starting point, the starting point being the point closest to the observation window. With this feature, it is possible to prevent the liquid drops from attaching onto the vicinity of the observation window to thereby block the field of view.

Abstract: In order to automate the positioning at respective ports at the start-up of an equipment in a semiconductor manufacturing equipment equipped with a positioning device and a carrying robot and enhance productivity, 2 points W1 and W2 at which the circumference of a disc-like object 47 such as a wafer and the locus 43 of a detection means cross are detected, and the center position A of a disc-like object is calculated using the specific point O on the perpendicular bisector 42 of the section of a line combining 2 points with these and the radius r of the disc-like object. Thereby, the carrying robot could carry out the positioning work and not only the correction of a carrying route but also the reference position teaching at the start-up of equipment could be automated using the result.

Abstract: An antireflection film comprising a transparent substrate film having thereon a hard coat, a high refractive index layer and a low refractive index layer, wherein: (i) the high refractive index layer is formed by applying a coating solution containing the following (a) to (c); (ii) the low refractive index layer is formed by applying a coating solution containing the following (d) and (e); (iii) the antireflection film is heat treated, wherein (a) metal oxide particles having an average primary particle diameter of 10 to 200 nm; (b) a metal compound; (c) an ionizing radiation curable resin; (d) an organosilicon compound having a prescribed structure, a hydrolyzed compound of the organosilicon compound, a decomposed compound of the organosilicon compound or a polycondensed compound of the organosilicon compound; and (e) hollow silica particles each having an outer shell, and a void or a porous portion in the inside.

Abstract: A connector for an endoscope mounting a waterproof cap on a connection port for a connector having electrical connection member disposed therein in which an O ring providing waterproof characteristics by making close contact with an inner periphery of the connection port and a second seal member providing waterproof characteristics by making close contact with a front face of a rotating ring used for fixing a connector receiving part disposed on an outer periphery of the connection port are provided. The second seal member has a size which does not exceed the outer periphery of the rotating ring due to being formed in a bell shape having a flared section. A third seal member (O ring, V ring or oil seal) maintaining a watertight condition is provided between the rear end of the rotating ring and the rear member of the main body of the connector.

Abstract: Disclosed is a low noise pneumatic tire having a configuration where, while installation work of a strip-shaped sound absorbent is simple, it is possible to simultaneously reduce cavity resonance and high-frequency noise, and thereby to effectively reduce noise when a vehicle is traveling. In the low noise pneumatic tire of the present invention, the strip-shaped sound absorbent is attached to an annular elastic fixing band, and then is installed onto an inner surface of a tread of the tire taking advantage of the elastic force of the annular elastic fixing band. The strip-shaped sound absorbent is formed of at least two kinds of porous materials whose sound absorption characteristics with respect to frequencies are different from one another.

Abstract: In an endoscope system, a nasal endoscope for entry in a first external nostril of a patient includes a first elongated tube, a first distal portion thereof, an imaging window, an instrument channel, a handle section, and a steering section. An assist device for entry in a second nostril includes a second elongated tube, a second distal portion thereof, and a working channel with a greater inner diameter than the instrument channel. A retaining device retains the second distal portion on the first distal portion removably and equidirectionally, to cause a second distal end surface to contact a lower peripheral part outside a first distal end surface lower than a horizontal line passing a center point of the imaging window when the first distal end surface is viewed in a state of orienting an upper side of steering of the steering section in an upward direction.

Abstract: Provided is a tire wheel assembly making it possible to effectively reduce cavity resonance noise without causing either negative influence on deformation of a tire or deterioration in rim assembling workability. A tire wheel assembly of the present invention includes a pneumatic tire, and a wheel provided with a rim fitted with the pneumatic tire, and forms a cavity portion between the pneumatic tire and the rim. The tire wheel assembly comprises at least one tube, which has one end thereof closed while having a length of 55% to 110% of a reference length L0 corresponding to one fourth of a cavity resonance wavelength, is provided so as to open to the cavity portion.

Abstract: A tire cavity resonance restricting device to be mounted on the inner surface of the tread portion facing to the cavity of a pneumatic tire. The tire cavity resonance restricting device includes a cross-sectional area changing member for changing the cross-sectional area of the cavity in tire meridian cross section, and an elastic fixing member in the form of a ring for fixing the cross-sectional area changing member to the inner surface of the tread portion. The elastic fixing member has an attachment portion to which the cross-sectional area changing member is attached and a non-attachment portion to which the cross-sectional area changing member is not attached. The non-attachment portion is greater in mass than the attachment portion.

Abstract: A connector for an endoscope mounting a waterproof cap on a connection port for a connector having electrical connection member disposed therein in which an O ring providing waterproof characteristics by making close contact with an inner periphery of the connection port and a second seal member providing waterproof characteristics by making close contact with a front face of a rotating ring used for fixing a connector receiving part disposed on an outer periphery of the connection port are provided. The second seal member has a size which does not exceed the outer periphery of the rotating ring due to being formed in a bell shape having a flared section. A third seal member (O ring, V ring or oil seal) maintaining a watertight condition is provided between the rear end of the rotating ring and the rear member of the main body of the connector.