Abstract: A placement method includes inserting an endoscope into a body, blocking a tubular tissue in the body with a distal end of the endoscope, pressurizing a detection target space between a placement member which is placed in the tubular tissue and blocks the tubular tissue and the distal end of the endoscope via a channel of the endoscope, and detecting a pressure state in the detection target space.

Abstract: A placement method includes inserting an endoscope into a body, blocking a tubular tissue in the body with a distal end of the endoscope, pressurizing a detection target space between a placement member which is placed in the tubular tissue and blocks the tubular tissue and the distal end of the endoscope via a channel of the endoscope, and detecting a pressure state in the detection target space.

Abstract: The invention is a sterilizing apparatus that reads information from an information recording section provided in an endoscope, sets a sterilizing process condition for sterilizing the endoscope on the basis of the read information, and controls a sterilizing process in accordance with the sterilizing process condition that is set.

Abstract: A high temperature and pressure steam sterilization container for an endoscope, which contains the endoscope to perform a high temperature and pressure steam sterilization, is contained in a cleaner so that cleaning is possible in a state in which the endoscope is stored.

Abstract: A cover glass frame as a second frame body mounting thereto a cover glass is fitted onto an objective lens frame, which is a first frame body mounting thereto a tip end lens and an objective lens as optical members, in a manner to be movable in a direction of optical axis, and is fixed after having been adjusted in position in the direction of optical axis. The objective lens frame and the cover glass frame thus fitted and fixed are fitted into and joined to a cylindrical member to constitute an imaging unit, which is then arranged in a tip end portion of an insertion part of an endoscope. Thereby, focus adjustment can be performed on the optical members, which are assembled into the imaging unit, and a tip end side portion of the insertion part of the endoscope can be made small in outer diameter to prevent entry of vapor into the imaging unit even when autoclave sterilization is carried out.

Abstract: An endoscope suitable for autoclave sterilization includes an insertion section having an objective lens section disposed at the extreme end thereof for focusing a subject image and an eyepiece section located on the base end side of the inserting section and including at least an eyepiece lens. an image guide fiber is disposed in the bundle for transmitting the subject image in an observation section focused by the objective lens section. An eyepiece lens unit is disposed in the eyepiece section, the eyepiece lens unit causing the eyepiece lens to confront the base end structure whose hermetic seal level is higher than the watertight seal level of the shell of the endoscope. A focus position changing means is disposed to the eyepiece lens unit to change the focus position of the eyepiece lens. The eyepiece section is so constructed and/or assembled that the autoclave sterilization process does not cause water vapor or the like to adversely affect the operability of the eyepiece section.

Abstract: An endoscope includes an image pickup unit 30 having a solid-state image pickup device 32 such as a CCD on a tip end side of an elongate insertion section. This image pickup unit 30 constitutes a tip end side unit 36U and a rear end side unit 43U by conducting a surface treatment (metallization) to nonmetal members such as a tip end cover glass 31 and a rear end cover glass 35, and by airtight coupling surface-treated portions of the nonmetal members to metal members such as a tip end cover glass frame 36 and a rear end cover glass frame 43 by brazing using soldering, and constitutes an optical system unit 60 by airtight coupling the metal members to metal members of an insulating unit 38U formed by airtight coupling a pipe member 41 and a ring member 42 to an insulating frame 38 by welding.

Abstract: An endoscope capable of being autoclaved in accordance with the present invention includes an insertion unit, an internal endoscope space, and contents. The insertion unit has a soft member, which is made of a soft polymeric material, as at least part of a casing thereof. The internal endoscope space includes the internal space of the insertion unit that is formed at a first sealing level at which the internal space is sealed in a watertight manner relative to an outside. The contents include at least one hermetically sealed unit composed of a plurality of airtight partition members and formed at a second sealing level higher than the first sealing level by joining the meeting portions of the airtight partition members using an airtight joining material. All or part of the airtight partition members is stowed in the internal endoscope space.

Abstract: An endoscope includes an image pickup unit 30 having a solid-state image pickup device 32 such as a CCD on a tip end side of an elongate insertion section. This image pickup unit 30 constitutes a tip end side unit 36U and a rear end side unit 43U by conducting a surface treatment (metallization) to nonmetal members such as a tip end cover glass 31 and a rear end cover glass 35, and by airtight coupling surface-treated portions of the nonmetal members to metal members such as a tip end cover glass frame 36 and a rear end cover glass frame 43 by brazing using soldering, and constitutes an optical system unit 60 by airtight coupling the metal members to metal members of an insulating unit 38U formed by airtight coupling a pipe member 41 and a ring member 42 to an insulating frame 38 by welding.

Abstract: An insert cover portion having channels including an air-supply tubular passage, a water-supply tubular passage and a suction tubular passage sidewards extending from a joint adjacent to an operator in a direction of the longitudinal axis of the insert cover portion, the insert cover portion having channels further including an external tubular passage extending outwardly. The insert cover portion has the operation facility realized by considering to prevent hindering of the operation by various tubular passages extending from the joint.

Abstract: An endoscope apparatus of a type having a cover for covering the endoscope composed of a cover for an insert, a cover for a control unit, and a universal-cord cover, and the endoscope which uses the endoscope cover to cover the control unit having a handle in the body of the control unit, an elongated insert extending from the control unit to the leading portion and a universal cord extending from the control unit. At least two members of all members that form the cover for the insert of the endoscope cover, for example, a leading unit and an acceptor for fixing the control unit of the endoscope, are made of the same material such as polysulfone which is a thermoplastic resin which can be recycled, or all members forming the cover for the insert are made of a material which can be subjected to a combustion process, or the cover for the control unit integrally covers the insert and the handle of the endoscope with the endoscope cover.

Abstract: A suction operating apparatus in an endoscope consisting of an outer cylinder connected to a sucking channel of the endoscope, an inner cylinder removably fitted to this outer cylinder and having a sucking hole on the side, a valve body made of an elastic material and having a slit in a closing part provided in the lower end part of this inner cylinder and closing a lower end opening of the inner cylinder, an operating member provided so as to be free to advance and retreat within the inner cylinder, and to be pushed into the slit of the valve body to open and close this slit, thus forming a fluid flow path communicating with the sucking hole in the axial direction, and an elastic cover for elastically returning the operating member to the fixed position from the pushed-in position.

Abstract: An endoscope includes a cylinder body having an opening leading to a suction channel and an opening of the suction channel leads to a suction device both of side bath of these openings are provided in an adjacent, parallel relation. A cap member is detachably mounted on the cylinder body and is made of an elastic member. A piston is provided on the cap member to allow one of the openings to be opened or closed through the movement of the piston. A suction control unit thus achieved has a simpler arrangement and enables easy and positive cleaning.

Abstract: A suction operating apparatus in an endoscope consisting of an outer cylinder connected to a sucking channel of the endoscope, an inner cylinder removably fitted to this outer cylinder and having a sucking hole on the side, a valve body made of an elastic material and having a slit in a closing part provided in the lower end part of this inner cylinder and closing a lower end opening of the inner cylinder, an operating member provided so as to be free to advance and retreat within the inner cylinder, and to be pushed into the slit of the valve body to open and close this slit, thus forming a fluid flow path communicating with the sucking hole in the axial direction, and an elastic cover for elastically returning the operating member to the fixed position from the pushed-in position.

Abstract: In a suction control unit used with an endoscope having a channel, a tubular main body has a suction port in the side wall and a bore and in the bore, an inner tube with a through hole communicating with the channel of the endoscope is installed. A sliding tube is located slidably in the axial direction between the main body and the inner tube. The proximal end portion of an operating lever is secured at an upper position of the sliding the tube while the distal end portion extends outside the main body. This suction control unit is equipped with passage switching unit to connect the suction port with the endoscope channel or the outside of the main body through a relief port when the operating lever is operated.

Abstract: Disclosed is a construction of an endoscopic fluid changing device which, attached to an endoscope, regulates the flow of a fluid in a channel of the endoscope.

Abstract: An endoscope capable of being autoclaved in accordance with the present invention includes an insertion unit, an internal endoscope space, and contents. The insertion unit has a soft member, which is made of a soft polymeric material, as at least part of a casing thereof. The internal endoscope space includes the internal space of the insertion unit that is formed at a first sealing level at which the internal space is sealed in a watertight manner relative to an outside. The contents include at least one hermetically sealed unit composed of a plurality of airtight partition members and formed at a second sealing level higher than the first sealing level by joining the meeting portions of the airtight partition members using an airtight joining material. All or part of the airtight partition members is stowed in the internal endoscope space.