Abstract: A borescope apparatus comprising a flexible insertion section, a jet port formed at the insertion section, a moving device for supplying a compressed fluid to the jet port, whereby the insertion section is moved by an impellent force of the fluid ejected from the jet port, and a stabilizing device for steadily maintaining the position of the insertion section.

Abstract: A pipe-inspecting apparatus having a self-propelled unit. The self-propelled unit comprises an elastic tube which has forward and rear ends, and into which a fluid is supplied and from which the fluid is discharged, a restriction member mounted on the elastic tube, for restricting an axial expansion of the elastic tube, a bias member for biasing the elastic tube in the axial direction thereof, first and second holding members coupled to the ends of the elastic tube, respectively, for holding the ends of the elastic tube to the inner periphery of a pipe being inspected, while the fluid is being supplied into the holding members, and releasing the ends of the elastic tube from the inner periphery of the pipe, while the fluid is being discharged from the holding members. An observation device is coupled to the self-propelled unit. A display device is connected to the observation device, for displaying the image scanned by the observation device.

Abstract: A borescope apparatus comprises an insertion section having a bending portion and a flexible portion, a bending mechanism for bending the bending portion under the pressure of supplied fluid, a pressurized fluid supplying unit for supplying the fluid to the jet port and the bending mechanism and a flow control unit for controlling the fluid supplied to jet ports which are provided in the distal end of either the bending portion or flexible portion and the bending mechanism.

Abstract: A lifesaving borescope system comprises a borescope having an insertion section, sensors disposed in the vicinity of the distal end portion of the insertion section, a sensor holder for holding the sensors, and an external output device for displaying or pronouncing information detected by the sensors.

Abstract: A borescope apparatus having a borescope and a pressurized fluid supply device. The borescope has an operation unit and an insertion unit. The insertion unit comprises a bending tube portion, a jet port member coupled to a proximal end of the bending tube portion, and a flexible tube portion. The bending tube portion can be bent by operating the operation unit. The jet port member has a jet port. A pressuring fluid is supplied from the fluid supply unit to the jet port member, and is ejected through the jet port. The flexible tube portion can be bent by a jet of the fluid from through the jet port independently of the bending tube portion.

Abstract: A lithotomic apparatus includes a probe for insertion into the body cavity. A distal tip is fixed to the distal end of the probe and has nozzles. Each nozzle has a rear end communicating with a feed passage defined in the probe and a front end opening to the distal end face of the distal tip. A high-pressure fluid supplied from a source is fed to the feed passage of the probe and pulsatively ejected from the nozzles toward a calculus in the body cavity by a drive mechanism.

Abstract: A marking method for forming a mark on an outer surface of an insertable portion of an endoscope. The endoscope includes an outer cover having braided metal wires around which a fluorine-containing rubber is impregnated. A marking solution includes a urethane resin paint or an unvulcanized, fluorine-containing rubber (as a different color marking material) is dissolved in a ketone, ester or ether solvent which is applied to the outer surface and then baked or vulcanized at a temperature of 100.degree. C. or higher, to produce a mark having strong adhesiveness.

Abstract: An endoscope is disclosed which comprises an elongated insertion section and operation section, connected to one end thereof and which controls the insertion section from outside of a pipe structure. The insertion section includes an elongated flexible section, and an angle section connected thereto. The degree of curvature of the angle section is controlled by the operation section. The insertion section also includes a rigid section which is connected to the distal end of the angle section, and which incorporates an observation window which permits observation of the inner wall of the pipe structure. A guide means is attached to the rigid section, in order to guide the rigid section smoothly around a curve or bend in the pipe structure. The guide means has an elongated arm member which extends substantially along the axial direction of the rigid section and has a structural flexibility appropriate to ensure its smooth passage through the interior of the pipe structure.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting a focused condition of an optical system, in which a light-receiving means arranged at a fixed position corresponding to a focus position photometrically detects a focused condition. A light beam having a definite shape is projected onto an object to be imaged by a light projection means. The reflected light beam is conducted along an optical axis of the optical system, deflected, and detected by the light receiving means for determining whether a focused condition exists. Several embodiments are disclosed for projecting a light spot of high contrast on the object and for detecting a focused condition on the basis of the intensity distribution of light received by the light-receiving means. The apparatus may be applied to an endoscope and other optical systems.

Abstract: A stone disintegrator apparatus has a probe with discharge electrodes and a power supply circuit for supplying a discharge voltage to the probe for causing discharge between the discharge electrodes. An electrode life detection circuit detects the number of use or discharge operations of the probe so as to determine the remaining life of the discharge electrodes. A discharge inhibit circuit inhibits re-use or discharge of the probe when the life detection circuit detects an end of electrode life.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting a focused condition of an optical system, in which a light-receiving means arranged at a fixed position corresponding to a focus position photometrically detects a focused condition. A light beam having a definite shape is projected onto an object to be imaged by a light projection means. The reflected light beam is conducted along an optical axis of the optical system, deflected, and detected by the light receiving means for determining whether a focused condition exists. Several embodiments are disclosed for projecting a light spot of high contrast of the object and for detecting a focused condition on the basis of the intensity distribution of light received by the light-receiving means. The apparatus may be applied to an endoscope and other optical systems.

Abstract: This invention relates to means for picking up the ovum from the ovarian follicle of mother's body for external fertilization and, more especially, to endoscope means and tool for picking up the ovum wherein the ovum is picked up under visual observation by means of an endoscope and the tool for picking up the ovum is employed by inserting it through the channel of the endoscope so that the abdominal wall of the mother's body is only provided with a hole for inserting the endoscope. The tool for picking up the ovum comprises a fine tube having a small hole at the tip thereof inserted slidably through a sheath tube and having cutting edge at the tip thereof into the ovarian follicle and by aspirating an aspirator needle or fine tube protruded from the small hole.

Abstract: A surgical cutting instrument essentially comprises an outer sheath tube, an inner stationary tube which is disposed within said outer sheath tube such that the distal end of the inner tube projects from the distal end of the outer sheath tube and is provided with a cutting opening for drawing cut tissue chips at the peripheral wall of the distal end of the inner tube and a sliding member which is slidably disposed between said outer sheath tube and said inner tube so as to open and close said cutting opening and is provided with an outer cutting edge which engages an inner cutting edge of said cutting opening, on the distal end edge of the sliding member, whereby a body tissue is cut by axially and slidingly reciprocating said sliding member to open and close said cutting opening and cut tissue chips are withdrawn from the body by suction through a suction channel of the inner tube.

Abstract: The photosensor is provided with a light-receiving surface for receiving a reflected image of an object and in which an aperture is provided. The aperture is positioned so as to receive a focused image and means are provided to prevent light from leaking directly to the light-receiving surface from the aperture. Prevention of light leakage permits focusing to be detected at high precision.

Abstract: The focusing detecting device determines whether or not the optical image of an object to be photographed is in a focusing state in which the image is clearly formed on a predetermined image forming surface through a photographing or image forming optical system. The device can be used with a dark optical system.

Abstract: This invention discloses a hardness measuring probe making it possible to continuously and quickly measure the hardness around an object position by a simple operation. The pressure around the object to be measured is led from an aperture to one pressure receiving surface and such rotating and contacting means as a roller is contacted with the object and the hardness of the object is measured on the other pressure receiving surface so that the hardness may be continuously and quickly measured by a simple operation.

Abstract: A hard endoscope which can be removably fitted with a photographing device in the eyepiece part and by which, for example, a body cavity in which it is inserted can be observed and photographed is disclosed. In the case of taking a photograph with a hard endoscope fitted with a photographing device in the eyepiece part, if the optical axis of the hard endoscope and the optical axis of the photographing device do not coincide with each other and are eccentric from each other, the image obtained in the photographing device will differ from that seen by the endoscope. Therefore, the hard endoscope of this invention is provided in the eyepiece part with an eccentricity controlling means which can center the optical axis of the hard endoscope to coincide with the optical axis of the photographing device.

Abstract: An endoscope system comprises an endoscope, a camera unit, and a light source unit. A light splitting unit with a combined prism element for splitting light transmitted through an image guide is attached to an ocular section of the endoscope, and an eyepiece to which one split light travels and an additional image guide with one end face to which the other split light travels are fixed to the light splitting unit. A camera is attached to the other end of the additional image guide by means of a camera mounting unit. A light shutting plate for intercepting a light path between the prism element and the eyepiece is slidably disposed in the light splitting unit. When the light shutting plate is slid to intercept the light path, the shutter of the camera unit is released, and flash light is supplied from the light source unit to a light guide of the endoscope.

Abstract: A speed change gear apparatus for an automobile transmission including a shift lever having its one end pivotally connected with one end of a control rod, the other end of which is connected with one end of a control shaft extending from a transmission through a joint; the apparatus comprising a pair of support members in the form of links of an oscillation isolating material, one end of the support links being rigidly or pivotally connected with a car body while their other end carry a shift lever housing which supports the shift lever in suspension in a pivotal manner, and a support rod disposed substantially in parallel relationship with the control rod, the support rod having its opposite ends pivotally connected with the shift lever housing and the transmission, respectively.