Abstract: An endoscope device is provided with: an elongated sheath having an endoscope insertion passage that penetrates therethrough in the longitudinal direction and into which an endoscope is inserted; and a wire that is provided in the sheath and that has a bending portion that bends toward the endoscope insertion passage, wherein the wire has a deforming region that is provided in a distal end portion of the sheath and that deforms between a normal form, in which the deforming region is disposed in the interior of the sheath or along an outer circumferential surface thereof, and a loop-shaped expanded form, in which the bending portion is bended and has a diameter larger than the outer diameter of the sheath.

Abstract: An ophthalmic measurement device and measurement system include a projection unit projecting an image on tear fluid accumulated at an edge of an eyelid and a surface of a cornea and conjunctiva; an imager takes a picture of the tear fluid accumulated at an edge of an eyelid and the surface of a cornea and conjunctiva; and a calculator determines a physical quantity of the tear fluid accumulated at an edge of an eyelid. The calculator acquires a physical quantity of a first reflection of the image projected on the tear fluid accumulated at an edge of an eyelid, and calculates a curvature radius of the surface of the tear fluid, from a distance between the projection unit and the surface of the tear fluid obtained by distance measurement, a physical quantity of the image, and the physical quantity of the first reflection.

Abstract: A pericardial-cavity observing method including: a step of inserting an endoscope sheath and an endoscope into a space between the heart and the pericardium; a step of disposing a protruding portion closer to the pericardium than an optical member is so that an angle that is formed between a centerline that passes through a center of the protruding portion and a center of the optical member and a tangent of the pericardium that passes through a foot of a perpendicular line drawn, from the center of the optical member of the endoscope, to the pericardium sagging down from the protruding portion toward the heart becomes greater than an angle formed between the centerline and an external common tangent of the protruding portion and the optical member; and a step of observing the heart by means of the endoscope.

Abstract: An endoscope sheath includes: a sheath body through which an endoscope channel is formed; a projecting portion extending in the longitudinal direction from the distal end of the sheath body and provided at a portion in the circumferential direction, on the radially outer side the endoscope channel; a nozzle from which the cleaning fluid is jetted radially inward of the sheath body and that is provided at the distal end portion of the projecting portion; and a fluid channel through which the cleaning fluid is supplied to the nozzle. At the distal end of the sheath body, the side opposite the nozzle with the endoscope channel therebetween in the radial direction is open.

Abstract: An ophthalmic measurement device and measurement system include a projection unit projecting an image on tear fluid accumulated at an edge of an eyelid and a surface of a cornea and conjunctiva; an imager takes a picture of the tear fluid accumulated at an edge of an eyelid and the surface of a cornea and conjunctiva; and a calculator determines a physical quantity of the tear fluid accumulated at an edge of an eyelid. The calculator acquires a physical quantity of a first reflection of the image projected on the tear fluid accumulated at an edge of an eyelid, and calculates a curvature radius of the surface of the tear fluid, from a distance between the projection unit and the surface of the tear fluid obtained by distance measurement, a physical quantity of the image, and the physical quantity of the first reflection.

Abstract: An endoscope of the present invention is provided with: an insertion portion that possesses flexibility and that has, in a distal-end portion in order from a distal-end side along a longitudinal axis, a first bending portion that is configured to bend in a first direction that intersects the longitudinal axis and a second bending portion that is configured to bend in a second direction that is different from the first direction; and a bending drive portion that is connected to a proximal end of the insertion portion, that causes the bending portions to work together, and that causes the first bending portion to bend in the first direction and also causes the second bending portion to bend in the second direction.

Abstract: An endoscope system is provided with: a sheath; an endoscope; a field-of-view ensuring part that has an expansion member formed of a sheet curved about the longitudinal axis of the sheath and a drive member generating an expansion force for expanding the expansion member in the radial direction and that is configured to project from and retract into the distal end of the sheath. The expansion member has a slit extending from the distal end toward the base end and is deformed from an expanded form in which expansion member has a larger outer diameter than the outer diameter of the sheath into a contracted form in which expansion member has a smaller outer diameter than the inner diameter of the sheath, by being rolled about the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A pericardial-cavity observing method including: a step of inserting an endoscope sheath and an endoscope into a space between the heart and the pericardium; a step of disposing a protruding portion closer to the pericardium than an optical member is so that an angle that is formed between a centerline that passes through a center of the protruding portion and a center of the optical member and a tangent of the pericardium that passes through a foot of a perpendicular line drawn, from the center of the optical member of the endoscope, to the pericardium sagging down from the protruding portion toward the heart becomes greater than an angle formed between the centerline and an external common tangent of the protruding portion and the optical member; and a step of observing the heart by means of the endoscope.

Abstract: An endoscope device is provided with: an elongated sheath having an endoscope insertion passage that penetrates therethrough in the longitudinal direction and into which an endoscope is inserted; and a wire that is provided in the sheath and that has a bending portion that bends toward the endoscope insertion passage, wherein the wire has a deforming region that is provided in a distal end portion of the sheath and that deforms between a normal form, in which the deforming region is disposed in the interior of the sheath or along an outer circumferential surface thereof, and a loop-shaped expanded form, in which the bending portion is bended and has a diameter larger than the outer diameter of the sheath.

Abstract: A scanner unit includes: a tubular elastic part provided with marks outside a prescribed bonding region set on an outer surface thereof and; and a piezoelectric element that is bonded to the bonding region. The piezoelectric element includes: a piezoelectric body having two mutually opposing electrode faces; and marks that are different from each other, respectively provided on the two electrode faces. The mark provided on one electrode face has a shape that matches the mark provided outside the bonding region when the piezoelectric body is bonded to the bonding region so that the other electrode face contacts the outer surface.

Abstract: To more reliably secure the space in the pericardial cavity to comply with the change in viewing area range of an endoscope, an endoscope adaptor is attached to an endoscope having a bending portion near a distal end, the endoscope adaptor including a projecting portion that projects from a position on a proximal end side of the bending portion so as to project in one part in a circumferential direction of the endoscope and in a direction along a longitudinal axis of the endoscope with the bending portion in an un-bent state; and a guide through hole, which is formed in the projecting portion and penetrates through the projecting portion in the projecting direction and through which a long thin guide member for guiding the endoscope to a desired observation site can pass in the projecting direction.

Abstract: An optical fiber scanner including: an optical fiber that guides illumination light; a piezoelectric element that is disposed at an intermediate position on the optical fiber in the long-axis direction and that displaces, due to a bending vibration, an emission end of the optical fiber in a direction intersecting the long axis; a wiring part that is electrically bonded to the piezoelectric element at a location between the piezoelectric element and the optical fiber; a tube-shaped electrically conductive frame that has an inner hole for accommodating the piezoelectric element and the optical fiber; and a holding section that fixes the frame and the piezoelectric element and that conducts electricity between the frame and the piezoelectric element.

Abstract: Provided is an endoscope sheath including an elongated body having flexibility, the body having a first lumen through which an endoscope passes in a longitudinal direction of the body and a second lumen through which a guide wire passes in the longitudinal direction. A direction in which the second lumen opens at the distal end of the body gradually diverges from a direction in which the first lumen opens at the distal end, in a forward direction from the distal end.

Abstract: The sheath includes a protruding section that protrudes from a ring-shaped distal end surface of a sheath body and a lifting part that lifts the protruding section within the pericardial cavity to a position separated from the surface of the heart toward the pericardium. The protruding section includes a pressing surface disposed toward the pericardium when the protruding section is lifted by the lifting part, and also includes an opening that is provided at a position facing the pressing surface in a radial direction and at which a distal end surface of the endoscope is capable of appearing in the radial direction as an endoscope bending section operates.

Abstract: This optical fiber scanner has an elongated optical fiber, a vibration transmission member which has a column-like shape and has a penetrating hole through which the optical fiber penetrates, and a piezoelectric element provided on an outer surface of the vibration transmission member, wherein the penetrating hole is a fitted hole which is formed from a proximal end of the vibration transmission member to a middle of the vibration transmission member and the optical fiber is fitted, and the penetrating hole is an accommodation hole which is formed from the middle to a distal end of the vibration transmission member, which has a large inner diameter than an outer diameter of the optical fiber, and which accommodates a distal end portion of the optical fiber with a gap between the optical fiber and the accommodation hole.

Abstract: A medical device is provided. The medical device includes a puncture needle that is inserted into body tissue from outside a body and pierces membranous tissue near pulsating tissue inside the body tissue; a tubular protection member that is disposed on the outer side of the puncture needle; a pulse-information acquisition portion that acquires pulse information of the pulsating tissue; and a driving unit that moves the puncture needle and the protection member relative to each other in synchronization with the pulse information of the pulsating tissue acquired by the pulse-information acquisition portion, in such a manner that a tip of the puncture needle is retracted toward a proximal end from a distal end of the protection member when the pulsating tissue expands and that the tip of the puncture needle is projected farther forward from the distal end of the protection member when the pulsating tissue contracts.

Abstract: A medical instrument including: an elongated insertion portion having flexibility and being insertable into a living body; a suctional attachment section provided on an outer circumferential surface of the insertion portion at an intermediate position in a longitudinal direction of the insertion portion and having a suction opening at an outer side in a radial direction relative to the insertion portion, opening in the radial direction, and suctionally attaching tissue in the living body; and a rotation mechanism that attaches the suctional attachment section to the insertion portion in such a manner as to be rotatable about an axis in a direction substantially the same as the radial direction.

Abstract: An optical fiber scanner including: an optical fiber that guides light produced by a light source; an actuator that is fixed at an intermediate position of the optical fiber in the long-axis direction and that displaces a distal end of the optical fiber through a bending vibration; and an electrically conductive detection wire member that extends in a state in which it is attached to the outer periphery of the optical fiber at least between the actuator and the distal end of the optical fiber, over a predetermined range in the long-axis direction.

Abstract: An optical fiber scanner including: an optical fiber that guides illumination light; a piezoelectric element that is disposed at an intermediate position on the optical fiber in the long-axis direction and that displaces, due to a bending vibration, an emission end of the optical fiber in a direction intersecting the long axis; a wiring part that is electrically bonded to the piezoelectric element at a location between the piezoelectric element and the optical fiber; a tube-shaped electrically conductive frame that has an inner hole for accommodating the piezoelectric element and the optical fiber; and a holding section that fixes the frame and the piezoelectric element and that conducts electricity between the frame and the piezoelectric element.

Abstract: A scanner unit includes: a tubular elastic part provided with marks outside a prescribed bonding region set on an outer surface thereof and; and a piezoelectric element that is bonded to the bonding region. The piezoelectric element includes: a piezoelectric body having two mutually opposing electrode faces; and marks that are different from each other, respectively provided on the two electrode faces. The mark provided on one electrode face has a shape that matches the mark provided outside the bonding region when the piezoelectric body is bonded to the bonding region so that the other electrode face contacts the outer surface.