Abstract: A curvature section provided in an insertable section is curved in response to a curving instructing signal output by the operation of a curving operating switch. In case the curving operating switch is of a joy stick type having an operating lever, in response to the operation of a switching switch, a mode in which the inclination angle of the operating lever is held and a mode in which the inclination angle of the operating lever is returned to a neutral position in which it is zero will be switched and the curvature section will be of a curvature angle following the inclination angle of the operating lever.In case the curving operating switch is of a joy pad type comprising a plurality of on/off switches, in response to the operation of the switching switch, the curvature instructing signal will be held or reset.

Abstract: In an endoscope, a curvature indicating element for curvature-indicating a curvable curvature section provided adjacent to a distal end of an elongated inserting section having elasticity is arranged at a location close to a thumb of a hand grasped by an operator in the operating section provided at a proximal end portion of an inserting section. An operating element for controlling operation of fluid such as outflow, inflow or the like is arranged at location opposite to the curvature indicating element in the operating section. Thus, operations of the curvature operation, outflow and inflow of the fluid and the like can be executed simultaneously under a condition where the operating section is grasped.

Abstract: An endoscope apparatus according to the present invention includes a warping velocity control device which receives an angle of warp detected by an angle detection device and a value of an electric current realized at this angle of warp and detected by an electric current detection device. The control device makes comparisons between the angle of warp and the value of the electric current and data about a normal state stored in a storage device. If the result is larger than data for the normal state by a predetermined value, the warping velocity is lowered while a discrimination is made that an abnormal state (the warp-enabled portion has come in contact with the body wall) takes place. Additionally, the apparatus could include a time detecting device for detecting a time in which an electric quantity supplied to a drive means is larger than a predetermined time. The warping velocity control device controls the warping velocity according to the comparison made by the time detecting device.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for detecting an endoscopic inserting condition. The apparatus includes an irradiation arrangement for applying electromagnetic waves to the inside of an organism from outside the organism, an electromagnetic wave reception arrangement which is disposed in an insert section of an endoscope for producing an electromagnetic signal, and a detection arrangement receiving the electromagnetic signal produced by the electromagnetic wave reception arrangement, for detecting the insertion orientation of the endoscope on the basis of the received electromagnetic signal.

Abstract: A position and orientation state pickup is designed to detect the position and orientation state of an endoscope inserted into a living body without any adverse effect on the living body, which is often observed in X-ray analysis. The position and orientation state pickup, generating an electro-magnetic field with frequency at least lower than the visible ray range toward the body from outside; detects influence of the endoscope inserted into the body on two-dimensional energy distribution of the electro-magnetic field generated toward the body; and show the position and orientation state of the endoscope from the detection results.

Abstract: At least one controlling unit of a controlling unit for controlling a bending driving motor bending driving a bendable portion, a controlling unit for controlling an advancing and retreating driving motor advancing and retreating moving an insert section and a controlling unit for controlling a rotating driving motor rotating driving the insert section and a camera controlling unit for processing a signal for an imaging device are made separate from each other so that such existing scope as an electronic scope or fiber scope fitted with a TV camera may be used.

Abstract: An endoscope apparatus comprises an elongate insert section including an observation window in the distal end portion and inserted into an object to be observed; an observation device for producing an endoscope image, the observation device including a focusing optical system which receives an incident light from the object through the observation window to focus the endoscope image; and a vibration device for vibrating at least a part of the insert section in a direction crossing the axial direction of the insert section, the vibration device including a vibration unit capable of vibrating in itself to vibrate at least the part of the insert section even under a condition that the insert section is not contact with the object.

Abstract: The endoscope apparatus comprises an endoscope having an elongate insertable part having a bendable part and a driving apparatus for bending and driving the bendable part, a first bending controlling apparatus for controlling the driving apparatus and a second bending controlling apparatus for controlling the driving apparatus independently of the first bending controlling apparatus when the first bending controlling apparatus is controllable.

Abstract: An endoscope, which has an insertion section with a moving part, comprises a stator for generating a surface wave as a combination of a transverse wave and a longitudinal wave; a rotor rotatably disposed facing the stator; an urging mechanism for bringing the rotor intimately into contact with the stator; a coupling member coupled to the rotor and adapted to cause the moving part of the endoscope to operate as the rotor rotates; and a disengaging mechanism for releasing the stator and the rotor from the intimate contact with each other.