Abstract: A distal end part of an endoscope including an end cap provided with a nozzle for spouting a fluid in a predetermined direction. The end cap is detachable with respect to a distal end block which is provided at the distal end of an insert part of the endoscope. Engagement portions are provided on the end cap and the distal end block to regulate the condition in which the end cap is fitted to the distal end block. The engagement portion of the end cap and the engagement portion of the distal end block are formed such that, among different models of endoscopes in which the distal end blocks have approximately the same outer diameter, the engagement portion of the end cap off one model cannot be engaged with the engagement portion of the distal end block of another model.

Abstract: A tip ring 18 for forming a lock mechanism for locking a tip cover 51 is formed in a circumferential part with a lock projection 22 for forming a lock groove 26 which becomes a recess of the lock mechanism on the endoscope tip side between the lock projection and curved rubber 19. A lock piece which becomes a projection of the lock mechanism of the tip cover 51 is locked into the lock groove 26 made by disposing the tip ring 18 and the curved rubber 19. To enhance the attachment property of the lock piece 52 to the lock groove 26, the lock projection 22 is formed with a slant projection 27 which becomes a slope for guiding the lock piece 52 to the lock groove 26. The slant projection 27 is formed as a slope projecting to the tip side from the lock projection 22 and rising from the tip bottom face to the top face of the lock projection 22.

Abstract: A cap assembly of a front end of an inserting portion of an endoscope and a cap to be attached to the front end of the endoscope, comprising; a first engaging portion provided on the front end of the inserting portion of the endoscope; and, a second engaging portion provided on the cap being disengageably engaged with the first engaging portion of the endoscope. The front end of the inserting portion of the endoscope is provided with a projection whose diameter being smaller than a diameter of the front end, the projection being connected to the front end through a stepped portion.

Abstract: A cap assembly of a front end of an inserting portion of an endoscope and a cap to be attached to the front end of the endoscope, comprising; a first engaging portion provided on the front end of the inserting portion of the endoscope; and, a second engaging portion provided on the cap being disengageably engaged with the first engaging portion of the endoscope. The front end of the inserting portion of the endoscope is provided with a projection whose diameter being smaller than a diameter of the front end, the projection being connected to the front end through a stepped portion.

Abstract: A cap assembly of a front end of an inserting portion of an endoscope and a cap to be attached to the front end of the endoscope, comprising; a first engaging portion provided on the front end of the inserting portion of the endoscope; and, a second engaging portion provided on the cap being disengageably engaged with the first engaging portion of the endoscope. The front end of the inserting portion of the endoscope is provided with a projection whose diameter being smaller than a diameter of the front end, the projection being connected to the front end through a stepped portion.

Abstract: A cap assembly of a front end of an inserting portion of an endoscope and a cap to be attached to the front end of the endoscope, comprising; a first engaging portion provided on the front end of the inserting portion of the endoscope; and, a second engaging portion provided on the cap being disengageably engaged with the first engaging portion of the endoscope. The front end of the inserting portion of the endoscope is provided with a projection whose diameter being smaller than a diameter of the front end, the projection being connected to the front end through a stepped portion.

Abstract: An optical fibers bundle 30 for the use of illumination light transmission is received in a second receiving space 14 of an insert portion 10, and an objective unit 40 is received in a distal end portion of a first receiving space 13. A holder 60 is slidably inserted in the first receiving space 13. An image sensor 65 is supported on a distal end portion of the holder 60. Signal lines 66 from the image sensor 65 extends through the holder 60 and is introduced outside. The objective unit 40 and the holder 60 are threadingly connected with each other.

Abstract: The present invention provides an endoscopic sheath for protecting and/or changing an angle of view of an endoscope. The sheath has a distal portion configured to engage a distalmost portion of an endoscope imaging optics. The distal portion houses structure for changing the angle of view of an endoscope. In a preferred embodiment, this structure includes a prism. The distal portion may additionally house structure for changing the angle of illumination of an illumination portion of an endoscope. This structure may be a prism or a curved light guide or at least one angled optical fiber. Both the structure for changing the angle of view of an endoscope and the optical member for changing the angle of illumination of an endoscope may be positioned within the distal portion to align with the respective imaging or illumination elements of the endoscope.

Abstract: An endoscopic sheath of the present invention comprising a tubular sheath section having a distal end portion and a hole which extends throughout the length of the sheath section and through which an insert section of an endoscope having observation device can be passed, at least the distal end of the distal end portion opening, and at least the distal end portion being formed of a transparent material, and positioning device for positioning the insert section of the endoscope in the sheath section so that at least part of the distal end portion of the sheath section can be within the view range of the endoscope.

Abstract: A medical visualization device for examination of an anatomical area through a body orifice for diagnosis or local therapeutic treatment. The device comprises a fiber optic handle and a distal tip which incorporates a viewing lens. The distal tip further comprises access means for insertion of hypodermic needle to perform an injection of therapeutic substances.

Abstract: An end structure of an endoscope includes a front end body of a cylindrical insertion portion to be inserted in a human body, a fluid discharge opening which opens into the front end body, a front end cap detachably attached to the front end body and having a fluid injection nozzle connected to the fluid discharge opening. A projection is provided on the end cap, is fitted in the fluid discharge port, and constitutes at least a part of the fluid injection nozzle.

Abstract: An endoscope for use with an elastomeric sheath for performing an endoscopic procedure. The endoscope includes a body, an insertion tube extending away from the body and terminating at a distal end portion, and a sheath retainer connected to the distal end portion of the insertion tube for releasably retaining the sheath on the insertion tube in a substantially fixed position during the endoscopic procedure. The sheath is an elastomeric member movable between a radially expanded position and a contracted position, and the sheath is biased toward the contracted position. The sheath retainer is a generally C-shaped member having a pair of retaining tabs spaced apart from each other and extending away from an outer surface of the insertion tube's distal end portion to define a working channel retaining area therebetween.

Abstract: A prostascope with a bridge includes a guide member which has a guide surface for a laser beam emitting end of a fiber cable at the bottom thereof and which is attached to the tip of the bridge, a reflector which is formed with a slant reflecting surface having a predetermined angle of reflection and which is detachably attached to a mounting portion of the guide member such that the reflector is prevented from rotating relative to the guide member and that a threaded end of the tip of the bride penetrates the reflector, and a cap nut which is removably screwed onto the threaded end of the bridge.

Abstract: The improved endoscope has a detachable tip cover 15 which has at the distal end a tip forming member 5 and a forceps holder 19 that is pivotally mounted in said tip forming member 5, said detachable tip cover 15 being made of an elastic material and detachably mounted over the distal end in such a way as to cover at least part thereof; the endoscope also has means for mounting said detachable tip cover 15 over said distal end and is characterized in that said tip cover 15 is provided with a reinforcement member 28 in the inside, said reinforcement member 28 having an engagement hole 32 which engages a corresponding projection 31 on the tip forming member 5.

Abstract: An endoscope system including an endoscope having an insertion section which extends from a proximal end to a distal end and is inserted into a cavity under inspection and an operation section connected to the proximal end of the insertion section, and a protection cover including an insertion section inserting channel which extends from a proximal end to a distal end and into which said insertion section of the endoscope is insertable and a conduit channel which extends from the proximal end to the distal end, the improvement being characterized in that a distal end portion of the insertion section has a non-circular cross section such as a semicircular or oval cross section and a proximal end portion of the insertion section has a substantially circular cross section. A distal end member of the insertion section inserting channel has an accommodating portion which is a corresponding non-circular cross section.

Abstract: A method for forming an arthroscope having an inclined angle of view includes providing an inner lens tube member, an outer tube member, and an annular shim member. The annular shim member is positioned about an outer peripheral portion of the inner lens tube member and includes an upper portion defining an outer positioning surface and side edges angularly offset relative to an optical axis. The inner lens tube member and annular shim member are positioned within the outer tube member while a plurality of optical fibers are positioned therebetween. The optical fibers are oriented about the outer positioning surface and side edges such that the optical fibers are angularly offset relative to the optical axis. Alternatively, a shim member may be provided that is arcuate and defines a cross-sectional dimension approximating a maximum inner dimension of the outer tube member, wherein the shim member engages the outer tube member to stabilize the inner lens tube member therein.

Abstract: An endoscope includes an endoscope tube, illumination and viewing systems disposed within the endoscope tube in a manner to define a blunt distal end, and a penetrating member coupled with an operating mechanism for moving the penetrating member between a retracted position where a distal end of the penetrating member is proximally spaced from the blunt distal end of the endoscope and an extended position where the distal end of the penetrating member protrudes beyond the blunt distal end of the endoscope. The penetrating member can be a blade, one or more needles or any other type of instrument suitable for penetrating anatomical tissue. Upon being extended, the penetrating member can be held in the extended position, automatically retracted and/or reciprocatingly moved as desired.

Abstract: A device for measuring the size of targets viewed with a borescope having a housing with a longitudinal axis and a distal viewing end with an optically transparent window set therein, a source of target illumination which projects a cone of illumination so that the axis of the cone of illumination is at an angle of less than 90.degree. with the housing axis, a contrasting shadow generated in association with the illumination source so as to project the contrasting shadow on the target, an image detector disposed adjacent to the source of illumination, directed so as to detect the image of the target and the contrasting shadow, a display for viewing the target and shadow as detected by the image detector, and a measuring device for measuring the parameters of the contrasting images on the display so that the actual size of the target can be determined.

Abstract: An endoscope comprising an elongated endoscope body having a distal end, an objective carried by the endoscope body adjacent the distal end and an elongated fiberoptic image guide in the endoscope body for transmitting an image proximally. The objective has a curved proximal surface and the image guide has a curved distal end surface which has a shape which generally conforms to the shape of the curved proximal surface of the objective. These surfaces are in close proximity to provide an interface and an index matching medium is in the interface. The objective provides a curved image plane substantially at the interface and the image plane has a shape which generally conforms to the shape of the curved proximal surface of the objective.

Abstract: A stereo laparoscope for producing a stereoscopic optical image of an intracorporeal region comprises an elongate tubular casing having side walls in which an illuminating window and left and right observation windows are disposed. A single, elongate, image transmitting optical fiber bundle is disposed within the casing, as are light emitting fibers for illuminating the intracorporeal region through the illuminating window. Left and right images are collected from the observation windows and alternately passed along the casing to the fiber bundle by a relay means comprising objective lenses, mirrors, a polarizing beam splitter and an optical switch. The left and right images are carried one at a time by the fiber bundle to a video display means which displays them to a viewer. Optical valves provide that the left image is viewed by the viewer's left and the right image is view by the viewer's right eye, to thereby produce a stereoscopic optical image.

Abstract: The present invention is an instrument (10) which includes a tubular section (12) having a wall (13) made of a material exhibiting superelastic characteristics and a delivery tube (14) having a bore (15) through which the tubular section (12) passes. The instrument (10) may be adapted for use in medical/dental and non-medical procedures. The superelastic character of the wall material is used in combination with the delivery tube (14) to alternately restrict the shape of the wall (13) and allow it to change to its unconstrained shape. Thus, the wall (13) can be sufficiently deformed to permit the tubular section (12) to pass in and out of and through the delivery tube (14) while at the same time enabling the tubular section (12) to have a shape when extended outside of the delivery tube (14) that is sufficiently bent or curved to be suitable for performing a desired function, for example a medical or dental procedure inside a patient's body.

Abstract: A structure of the end portion of a side-looking type electronic endoscope in which an irradiation window is disposed closer to the end than an observation window, thereby enabling a better observation of a deceased part at the time of treatment. The structure also facilitates the removal of a light guide. The observation window is disposed on the side surface of the endoscope, and a solid-state image sensor is attached to the observation window via the objective system member and the rectangular prism. A light guide is disposed in the space formed on the back side of the prism; and an irradiation window which is connected to the light guide is disposed closer to the end of the end portion than the observation window. It is therefore possible to observe the internal body as an object of inspection with the light irradiated from the portion closer to the end than the observation window.

Abstract: A disposable rigid arthroscope having an inclined angle of view includes a frame member, an outer tube member extending distally from the frame member, an inner lens tube member eccentrically disposed within the outer tube member, an optical system disposed within the inner lens tube member and having a mechanism for altering the field of view of the optical system with respect to the optical axis and an illumination system including a plurality of optical fibers. The optical fibers of the illumination system are oriented by a shim member to emit light in the general direction of the inclined field of view to sufficiently illuminate the surgical field. The shim member includes opposed side edges that are angularly oriented relative to the optical axis and a proximal end portion extending along an inner periphery of the outer tube member to define a major cross-sectional dimension approximating a maximum inner dimension of the outer tube member.

Abstract: An optical surgical device includes a detachable, disposable semi-flexible sheath for insertion into a patient's body. The sheath is provided with plurality of channels. One of the channels receives an endoscope for optical examination of an operative site within the patient. The remaining channels may be used for suction, drainage or irrigation of the operative site. The distal end of the sheath defines a hook-like scraping tool for removing tissue from the patient in the field of view of the endoscope.

Abstract: A covered endoscope system according to the present invention comprises a cover and a coverable endoscope to be inserted into the cover for use. Herein, an optical filter is mounted in the distal part of a cover abutting on the front of an observation optical system of the coverable endoscope.

Abstract: A coupling cartridge and end cap for protecting an endoscope from contamination during use. The coupling cartridge provides fluid communication between a pair of external fluid conduits and respective channels formed in an endoscope insertion tube, and between a biopsy channel port projecting from the cartridge and an additional insertion tube channel. In one embodiment, fluid flow through the external fluid conduits is controlled by an external fluid control unit that is electrically controlled by respective switches mounted on the control handle of the endoscope. In another embodiment, fluid flow through the external fluid conduits is controlled by a valve mechanism in the coupling cartridge that is controlled by either an actuator on the cartridge or an actuator on the control handle that is mechanically coupled to the valve mechanism. The coupling cartridge may be removed from endoscope after an endoscopic procedure for disposal or rigorous cleaning.

Abstract: An endoscopic instrument, particularly a continuous flushing cysto-urethroscope, has an oval cross-sectioned outer shaft and an inner shaft having a contour formed by two semi-circular arcs with different diameters, the arcs having their openings facing each other and connected by two approximately straight sides. The inner shaft is so dimensioned that it contacts the inside of the outer shaft at three points in a linear manner along essentially the entire shaft length, thus forming three free spaces between the inner shaft and the outer shaft for conveying rinsing or flushing fluids. The free spaces may be closed off at their distal ends with flanges projecting from the outer surface of the inner shaft.

Abstract: In accordance with one form of the present invention, a stereoscopic endoscope is provided which has an elongated thin cylindrical barrel with a pair of CCDs mounted transversely within the barrel adjacent the distal end thereof. A pair of objective optics are mounted within the barrel between the distal end thereof and the respective CCDs for focusing an image observed through the endoscope on the CCDs. Image signal transmitting wires connected to each CCD extend longitudinally through the barrel and out the proximal end thereof for transmitting an image signal to a remote location. Light transmitting fibers are tightly packed around the objective optics and the CCDs. A first connector is secured to the proximal end of the wires for connection to a stereoscopic image producing device and a second connector is secured to the proximal of the light transmitting fibers for connection to a light source.

Abstract: An endoscope for insertion into a patient's inner body cavity has a shell with lumens for (1) illuminating a lens and (2) passing light from an imaging (or objective) lens, each lens being disposed on the distal face of the shell. The shell also has a lumen, preferably off-round, for receiving a resilient disposable core. The resilient core has passageways for introducing a pressurized fluid (e.g. air or water) to selective ones of the lenses to clean the lenses. The core may also have another passageway for removing material from the patient's inner body cavity for analysis. This passageway may communicate with two (2) conduits for removing specimens from the body cavity (1) as by a vacuum or (2) as by an instrument. The second conduit may be closed except when the instrument is to be inserted into a patient's inner body cavity. The core may be drawn through the shell lumen to position the core in the lumen.

Abstract: An electronic endoscope having an internal circuit board bearing an electronic circuit arrayed thereon and coupled with a solid-state image pick-up element, with wires of the circuit board connected to lead wires passing through the insertion portion of the endoscope. The circuit board is folded along lines extending the axial direction of the distal end of the insertion portion, so as to divide the circuit board into a plurality of planar surfaces. The electronic circuit wiring portion and the lead wire connecting portion are laid out on the different planar surfaces.

Abstract: An improved endoscope assembly for exploratory and general surgery which permits exceptional vision while eliminating the requirement of both washing of the lense and expansion of the body cavity. Using a standard endoscope, a housing is placed over the end of the endoscope. The housing is equipped with a window for viewing through by the endoscope's viewing tip. The window is arranged at an angle different from the angle of the viewing tip so that light is reflected back into the housing, and not into the viewing tip. The interior of the housing is coated with a light absorbing material to eliminate back-scattering of light into the viewing tip of the endoscope which degrades the endoscope's vision. An air-chamber between the viewing tip of the endoscope and the window assures the crispest vision possible. Further, fogging of the window is eliminated through the use of heating wires, dry gases, or the like so that the endoscope is also useful for cadaver lessons.

Abstract: The invention described herein provides a surgical apparatus for use in endoscopic or laparoscopic procedures having a hand manipulatable proximal end portion, a working distal end portion, and a and a hinge member disposed between the end portions. The hinge member provides articulation of the distal end and is made from a temperature-responsive material which is substantially rigid at ambient temperatures and which is tractable above a predetermined temperature.