Abstract: An endoscopic length-measuring tool for measuring the size of a diseased part within patient's body cavity. A plurality of splits are formed in a front end portion of a flexible tube of the tool so as to extend in parallel to an axial direction of the tube and to have equal lengths. Each of the plurality of strips is defined between adjacent splits. Radially outwardly bendable portions and radially inwardly bendable portions are formed on each strip. An operating wire is axially and movably disposed within the tube. The front end of the operating wire is retained on a portion of the tube located forwardly from the splits. When the operating wire is moved axially and rearwardly relative to the tube, the strips are bent at the bendable portions and spread radially outwardly, so that a length-measuring section on the strip is disposed within an observation visual field of an endoscope.

Abstract: A length-measuring device comprises a flexible tube having a first slit and a second slit disposed rearwardly of the first slit, said tube being bendable at each of the first and second slit, and said tube further having a length-measuring portion extending forwardly from the first slit to a distal end of said tube; and means for bending said tube at the first and second slits. Typically, the bending means is a wire which has a connection relation with the length-measuring portion to pull the same. The length-measuring portion is coated with regularly arranged scale marks. After being projected from a forceps channel of an endoscope, the length-measuring portion is pulled to assume a T-shape. The length-measuring portion can be disposed at the center of a field of vision of the endoscope, and also can be easily brought into intimate contact with a target affected part. In a reference color display device, the length-measuring portion is replaced by a distal end portion coated with three primary colors.

Abstract: An endoscope system is provided in which air is pumped into a first channel into the endoscope in order to pressurize the body cavity and a forceps channel is connected to a suction pump in order to drain the body cavity of fluid, air and debris. Either a second suction pump or a second supply of air is connected to the forceps channel along with a pressure detector for controlling suction. Further, a suction tube is also provided which is connected to, and which communicates with, a forceps channel in which a medical tool is adapted to be inserted, and a suction device is, in turn, connected to and communicates with the suction tube. Pressure within the suction tube is detected by a pressure detecting device, and the detected pressure is indicated on the display.

Abstract: A laser beam generating device that can vary its output by mechanical means. The laser output can selectively be chopped by selectively moving a chopping wheel into the path of the laser beam, whereby full power is obtained without the chopper and reduced power is obtained with the chopper.

Abstract: A closed, hollow connector housing mounts a pair of laser fibers in end facing position internally within the hollow connector housing for immersion in a light-transmissible liquid. A pump drives the light-transmissible liquid within a circulation loop through pipes opening to opposite sides of the connector housing such that the liquid flows across the interface between the end to end facing optical fibers. Heat generated by scattered light reflections is dissipated by circulation of the liquid and the occurrence of scattered reflections is minimized by the presence of the liquid. A flow rate sensor responsive to the rate of flow of the light-transmissible liquid feeds an electrical signal through a drive circuit to a shutter mechanism for preventing light-transmission from the power laser light source to one of the laser fibers absent a sufficient of circulation flow rate of the light-transmissible liquid through the connector housing.

Abstract: An apertured reflection plate obliquely oriented with respect to a fiber optical axis allows light to be introduced through the aperture to a condenser lens for introduction to the fiber. Light reflected from the exit face of the fiber will come out of the entrance end face, be spread by the lens and be reflected by the outer regions of the reflection plate to a light detecting element. In response to an abnormal detection signal, the laser can be disabled.

Abstract: A laser knife which supplies water to a rod member applying laser radiation to tissue or the like by means of using the air supply passing air between a fiber optic laser transmitting member and a hollow tube. Air issuing from the tube may be bled to the atmosphere through a bleed valve. Closure of the bleed valve pressurizes an annular space in flow communication with the upper portion of a fluid supply tank. Pressurization of the tank forces fluid from the tank into an annular space within the device through orifices in flow communication with grooves adjacent the rod member. In such a manner, the pressurization of the air supply system causes fluid to flow over the rod member to prevent adherence of tissue and the like to the end of the rod transmitting the laser radiation.

Abstract: A safety device for detecting troubles in an optical transmission fiber of a medical laser application to prevent accidents characterized by using either a laser light reflector from the exit end surface of the fiber or a secondary light. When trouble is detected, the safety device operates a mechanism for interrupting the coupling of a beam of laser light into the transmission fiber. The safety device includes an electrical circuit which allows appropriate use of the apparatus with the tip of the fiber in water or a physiological salt solution for treatment of a tumor in a urinary bladder. The electrical circuits will include amplifiers, comparators and logic circuits.

Abstract: An endoscopic laser coagulator provides laser beam irradiation in an oblique direction relative to the axis of the insertion tube of the endoscope and includes an insertion tube having a leading end adapted to be introduced into the body and an elongate laser beam conducting fibre extending through the insertion tube. The laser beam conducting fibre is bent at a region proximate to the leading end of the insertion tube such that an oblique laser beam irradiation is obtained relative to the axis of the insertion tube.

Abstract: A retaining device having a cylindrical centering portion and a conical chucking portion for holding a bundle of optical fibers for use with a medical laser scalpel.

Abstract: A device for detecting damage in an optical fiber for transmitting high power laser beams. The optical fiber has an incident end face and an emergent end face with the emergent end face being coated with either a transmission increasing or a reflection increasing coating. A focusing optical system is provided between the laser light source and the incident end face of the optical fiber to focus the laser light reflected from the emergent end face back through the incident end face. A detector for detecting damage is disposed in path of the reflected laser light focused by the focusing optical system and outside the path of the laser light applied to the incident face.

Abstract: A lens grinding apparatus which is particularly suitable for grinding aspheric lenses has a rotary shaft which carries the lens which is to be ground and which is supported for rotation about the axis of the shaft by a support structure which has a support axis parallel to but spaced from the shaft axis. A mounting structure mounts the support structure on an oscillating structure which carries a template which determines the curvature of the lens surface which is ground and which has an oscillating axis around which the template is oscillated while the mounting structure, support structure and shaft supported thereby are all oscillated also about the oscillating axis. This oscillating axis is perpendicular to the shaft axis. By turning the support structure about its support axis with respect to the mounting structure it is possible to adjust the shaft axis so that it intersects the oscillating axis.