Abstract: The endoscope is provided with the forceps elevator which is erectably provided in the distal end part of the insertion part of the endoscope and guides a treatment tool led out from the distal end part. The forceps elevator has an erecting motion range from a minimum angular position to a maximum angular position. If a state in which the treatment tool is not led out from the distal end part is assumed, the erecting operation lever for operating the movement of the forceps elevator has: a first operation range where the erecting operation lever is operated within the erecting motion range of the forceps elevator; and a second operation range where the erecting operation lever is operated beyond the first operation range. When the erecting operation lever is operated into the second operation range, the locking mechanism locks the movement of the erecting operation lever.

Abstract: An endoscope includes an insertion part that includes a distal end and a proximal end, and a distal-end-portion body that is provided on a distal end side of the insertion part and formed with a treatment tool outlet from which a treatment tool is led out. The distal-end-portion body includes an observation window, a nozzle that ejects washing water to the observation window, a standing base that is disposed in a standing base-housing portion adjacent to the treatment tool outlet and is rotationally moved between a standing position and a falling position, and a guide wall that is disposed at a position facing the nozzle with the observation window interposed therebetween and guides the washing water to the standing base-housing portion. Washing water, which has been ejected from the nozzle and has passed the observation window, is guided to the standing base-housing portion by the guide wall.

Abstract: An endoscope includes an insertion part that includes a distal end and a proximal end, a distal-end-portion body that is provided on a distal end side of the insertion part, and an ultrasound transducer that is provided on a distal end side of the distal-end-portion body. The distal-end-portion body includes a pair of walls, a standing base that is disposed in a space formed by the pair of walls and connected to a treatment tool outlet, an observation window that is disposed on one wall of the pair of walls, and a nozzle that is provided on the flat surface opposite to the space across the observation window and ejects washing water to the observation window. The wall surface of the other wall of the pair of walls is positioned on an extension of an ejection direction of the washing water to be ejected from the nozzle.

Abstract: There is provided an endoscope apparatus which can achieve the improvement of operability with a simple configuration related to the operation of a forceps elevator. The endoscope includes: a forceps elevator which is erectably provided at the distal end part of an operation part that is provided to the insertion part, in an erecting motion range from the minimum angular position to the maximum angular position, and which guides a treatment tool led out from the distal end part; and a locking mechanism which locks the movement of the forceps elevator. An amount of force for locking the movement of the forceps elevator may be varied depending on a direction of that movement and a position of the forceps elevator.

Abstract: A fixing sleeve that is fitted outward on a connecting portion between a connecting pipe and a treatment tool inserting tube for fixation of the connecting portion comprises a cylindrical sleeve body, an arc-shaped portion that is connected to a proximal end side of the sleeve body, is formed to be coaxial with a sleeve center axis of the sleeve body and has a center angle smaller than 180°, and a projection portion that is formed along a peripheral direction of the sleeve center axis on an inner peripheral surface in the arc-shaped portion in a radial inside of the sleeve center axis. A part of the treatment tool inserting tube is flexibly deformed in a convex shape by the projection portion, and the part thereof is supported by the projection portion.

Abstract: The present invention provides an ultrasonic endoscope in which wiring can be reliably fixed to a wire housing space of an ultrasonic-oscillator housing part, and a method of manufacturing the ultrasonic endoscope. According to the present invention, a wire housing space is encapsulated from the outside by sealing a gap formed between an ultrasonic oscillator and an ultrasonic-oscillator housing part with sealing members. With this configuration, the wire housing space can be sufficiently filled with filling agent for fixing wires in the wire housing space. This achieves an ultrasonic endoscope in which the wires can be reliably fixed to the wire housing space of the ultrasonic-oscillator housing part.

Abstract: The present invention provides an ultrasonic endoscope in which the position of an ultrasonic oscillator can be easily adjusted with respect to a surgical-tool guide opening provided to a leading end part body of an insertion unit, and a method of manufacturing the ultrasonic endoscope. According to the present invention, an ultrasonic oscillator can be positioned with respect to and temporarily fixed to an ultrasonic-oscillator housing part by using spacers and or protrusions. With this configuration, in an ultrasonic endoscope according to the present invention, the position of the ultrasonic oscillator can be adjusted with respect to the ultrasonic-oscillator housing part by using the spacers or the protrusions. Accordingly, the position of the ultrasonic oscillator can be adjusted with respect to a surgical-tool guide opening provided to a distal end part body of an insertion unit.

Abstract: An elevator provided in a treatment tool leading section of a leading end section of the endoscope includes a wide body portion that is provided on a distal end side with respect to a rotation shaft, and has a width more than that of a narrow body portion provided on a proximal end side. The wide body portion projects through an opening in an upper portion in an elevator accommodation groove in a state where the elevator rises most. The wide body portion prevents the treatment tool from dropping into a gap in a side when the elevator is lying. Meanwhile, when the elevator is cleaned with a cleaning brush, raising the elevator enables side faces of the elevator to be easily cleaned.

Abstract: An elevator assembly to be accommodated in the leading end section of the endoscope includes an assembly body, an elevator, and an elevation lever. The elevator includes an elevator rotation shaft portion, the elevation lever includes a lever rotation shaft portion, and the assembly body includes a bearing hole for supporting the rotation shaft portions and. The elevator rotation shaft portion is inserted into the bearing hole from a recessed portion of the assembly body, and the lever rotation shaft portion is inserted into the bearing hole from a side opposite to the recessed portion, and then the shaft portions are coupled to each other.

Abstract: The ultrasonic endoscope includes: an insertion part that includes a tip, a base end, and a longitudinal axis; an ultrasonic transducer that is provided at the tip of the insertion part; a locking groove that is a balloon mounting portion which is disposed closer to the base end of the insertion part than the ultrasonic transducer is and on which a balloon wrapping the ultrasonic transducer is detachably mounted; a balloon pipe line that extends in the insertion part; a tip-side opening surface of the balloon pipe line that is provided closer to the tip than the locking groove and has components normal to a direction of the longitudinal axis; and a groove portion which is formed toward the tip from the tip-side opening surface as a starting point and of which at least a part overlaps the ultrasonic transducer in the direction of the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: An observation unit can be stably held in a state where the observation unit is mounted on a distal portion, and can be easily removed without interfering with a connection pipe. A mounting hole for mounting an observation unit on a distal end body which constitutes a distal portion is formed. The mounting hole is formed with a first holding portion into which the distal portion of the lens barrel is inserted, a second holding portion into which a prism holder is inserted, and a releasing portion having a space larger than the external diameter of the lens barrel between the first and second holding portions.

Abstract: The endoscope is provided with the forceps elevator which is erectably provided in the distal end part of the insertion part of the endoscope and guides a treatment tool led out from the distal end part. The forceps elevator has an erecting motion range from a minimum angular position to a maximum angular position. If a state in which the treatment tool is not led out from the distal end part is assumed, the erecting operation lever for operating the movement of the forceps elevator has: a first operation range where the erecting operation lever is operated within the erecting motion range of the forceps elevator; and a second operation range where the erecting operation lever is operated beyond the first operation range. When the erecting operation lever is operated into the second operation range, the locking mechanism locks the movement of the erecting operation lever.

Abstract: There is provided an endoscope apparatus which can achieve the improvement of operability with a simple configuration related to the operation of a forceps elevator. The endoscope includes: a forceps elevator which is erectably provided at the distal end part of an operation part that is provided to the insertion part, in an erecting motion range from the minimum angular position to the maximum angular position, and which guides a treatment tool led out from the distal end part; and a locking mechanism which locks the movement of the forceps elevator. An amount of force for locking the movement of the forceps elevator may be varied depending on a direction of that movement and a position of the forceps elevator.

Abstract: There is provided an endoscope apparatus in which a forceps elevator can be operated according to the operator's intention even when a treatment tool has large bending stiffness. The forceps elevator is erectably provided in a distal end part of the insertion part of the endoscope apparatus and guides the treatment tool led out from the distal end part. The forceps elevator has an erecting motion range from a minimum angular position to a maximum angular position. If a state in which the treatment tool is not led out from the distal end part is assumed, the erecting operation lever for operating the movement of the forceps elevator has: a first operation range where the erecting operation lever is operated within the erecting motion range of the forceps elevator; and a second operation range where the erecting operation lever is operated beyond the first operation range.

Abstract: There is provided an endoscope apparatus which can notify an operator whether or not a forceps elevator is in a reclined state by simple and inexpensive means. The endoscope includes: a forceps elevator which is erectably provided at the distal end part of an operation part that is provided to the insertion part. The forceps elevator has an erecting motion range from a minimum angular position to a maximum angular position. The operation part includes an index which is shielded by the erecting operation member when the forceps elevator is in the minimum angular position, and which is exposed when the forceps elevator is in a position in which the forceps elevator is erected from the minimum angular position.

Abstract: The present invention provides a hood for an ultrasonic endoscope and an ultrasonic endoscope that prevent a body wall from getting into close contact with an observation window at a time such as when an ultrasonic transducer is brought into close contact with the body wall. In a hood for an ultrasonic endoscope to be attached to the ultrasonic endoscope, a notch is formed at a front edge of the hood, and a front edge corner at an observation window side along the notch is provided as an eaves-shaped part. The eaves-shaped part protrudes in front of the observation window, and when an ultrasonic transducer is brought into close contact with the body wall, the eaves-shaped part lies between the body wall and the observation window, thereby preventing the body wall from getting into close contact with the observation window.

Abstract: Provided is an ultrasonic endoscope. A treatment tool lead-out portion having an erecting base that erects a treatment tool led out of a treatment tool channel is arranged on a base end side of an ultrasonic transducer in a tip part rigid portion of an endoscope insertion section. The ultrasonic transducer and the treatment tool lead-out portion are arranged at a position shifted in the direction orthogonal to a scanning plane (scanning center plane) of an ultrasonic wave, and the erecting base is rotated around a rotational axis in a direction orthogonal to the scanning plane, and a guide surface is formed so as to guide the treatment tool in a direction intersecting the scanning plane.

Abstract: A switching valve assembly for an endoscope includes a cylinder, a piston unit, a button device, a flow channel in the piston unit, and plural flow openings. The piston unit changes over plural flow lines between communication and interruption by changing a combination of the flow openings with the flow channel for communication. The switching valve assembly includes a cylinder cap device and a slide device of a cup shape. A ring projection of the button device is directed downwards. A cup plate portion of the slide device contacts the ring projection when the piston unit is slid down to a halfway position. Seal packing deforms resiliently to seal the ring projection and cup plate portion together in an air-tight manner. A vent hole is formed through the cup plate portion, surrounded by the seal packing, for connection with one of the plural flow lines to come open to atmosphere.

Abstract: A switching valve assembly for an endoscope includes a cylinder, a piston unit, a button device, a flow channel in the piston unit, and plural flow openings. The piston unit changes over plural flow lines between communication and interruption by changing a combination of the flow openings with the flow channel for communication. The switching valve assembly includes a cylinder cap device and a slide device of a cup shape. An end ring keeps the slide device contained in the cylinder cap device. A first coil spring is disposed between the slide device and cylinder cap device, for biasing the slide device in an upward direction from the cylinder. A second coil spring is disposed between the button device and slide device, for biasing the button device in the upward direction with smaller force of bias than the first coil spring. The slide device includes an inner guide sleeve.

Abstract: A switching valve assembly for an endoscope has a cylinder and a piston unit, which includes a valve head, a flow channel, an end rod and a button device. The piston unit is settable in an initial position, a down position and a halfway position to change over flow lines. A biasing unit of a two-stage type is secured to the cylinder on an upper side of the cylinder passage, biases the piston unit, and stops the piston unit in the halfway position when the button device is pushed in a downward direction from the initial position. A first regulating device prevents the piston unit from rotating relative to the biasing unit. A second regulating device prevents the biasing unit from rotating relative to the cylinder, so as to ensure alignment of a channel opening of the flow channel with one of the flow openings upon sliding the piston unit.