Fuji Photo Optical Co., Ltd.

Naotake Mitsumori

Joji Watanabe

Hitoshi Miyano

Haruo Akiba

Itsuji Minami

Yuichi Torii

Harou Akiba

The endoscope has a frame member for satisfying at a time, mechanical strength chemical resistance, size reduction, weight reduction, and workability by using carbon fiber reinforced thermoplastic resin as a frame member disposed inside the endoscope. The frame member of an at-hand operating part is formed by using carbon fiber reinforced thermoplastic resin. In the carbon fiber reinforced thermoplastic resin, substantially 20% to substantially 30% of carbon fiber is contained in a mixed material prepared by mixing crystalline resin and amorphous resin in a ratio of substantially 7:3 to substantially 8:2.

Endoscope

An endoscope with an objective lens drive mechanism for an objective lens system. The insertion instrument of the endoscope is provided with an angle section on the proximal side of the rigid tip end section for flexibly bending at least in upward and downward directions. Provided on an end face of a casing of a rigid tip end section of the insertion instrument are at least a illumination window, an observation window and an exit opening of a biopsy channel. An objective lens system includes a fixed lens mounted on a fixed lens frame, and at least a movable lens mounted on a movable lens frame. For rationally laying out internal components, the interior of the casing of the rigid tip end section is divided into right and left subsections along a center line of upward and downward flexures of the angle section. The observation window is located across the center line of upward and downward flexures to occupy part of both of the right and left subsections. The exit opening of the biopsy channel is located in one of the right and left subsections, while a lens drive shaft of the objective lens drive mechanism is located in the other one of the right and left subsections. An offset arm which is extended out from the movable lens frame is engaged with the lens drive shaft through a translating means which converts forward and reverse rotations of the lens drive shaft into back and forth linear movements of the movable lens frame. Connect to the lens drive shaft is a control cable which is constituted by a flexible transmission shaft encased in a flexible sleeve, the fore end of which is fixedly connected to the casing of the rigid tip end section.

Endoscope with objective lens drive mechanism

A fixed lens of an optical objective lens system is fixedly retained on a support member which is provided in a rigid tip end section of an endoscopic insertion instrument, along with a movable lens or lenses which are movable toward and away from the fixed lens in the direction of optical axis of the objective lens system. A drive means for the movable lenses is coupled with the support member, while an image sensor means is located at the focus of the objective lens system. A guide means which guides the support member of an optical assembly in the direction of the optical axis is connected to the image sensor means. The support member is slid along the guide means to adjust the optical objective lens system into an in-focus position with respect to the image sensor means. After adjusting the position of the optical objective lens system, the support member is fixed to the guide means by the use of an optical assembly fixation means.

Endoscopic image pickup assembly

An ultrasonic cleaning apparatus of the present invention has a cleaning vessel which is made of a synthetic resin, while an ultrasonic vibration units are respectively disposed to face a hand control part, a top end, and a connector of an endoscope which is contained in the cleaning vessel. The ultrasonic vibration units individually have a diaphragm which is disposed at an opening of the cleaning vessel and ultrasonic vibrators which are adhered at the bottom of the diaphragm. An elastic body is provided between the cleaning vessel and the diaphragm.

Ultrasonic cleaning apparatus for an endoscope

An endoscope having an objective lens drive mechanism for an optical objective lens system, which is incorporated into a rigid tip end section of an elongated insertion instrument of the endoscope and provided with at least two movable lens groups which are movable in the direction of optical axis of the objective lens system. Ring members are connected to movable lens frames which support the respective movable lens groups. A cam pin is projected radially on the inner periphery of each ring member, while a cam shaft which is formed with a plural number of cam grooves on its circumferential surface is located in parallel relation with the optical objective lens system. The members are fitted on the cam shaft with the respective cam pins in engagement with the cam grooves. The cam shaft is rotated in forward and reverse directions by a drive means.

An endoscope with an objective lens drive mechanism for an objective lens system which is mounted within a rigid tip end section of an insertion instrument of the endoscope. The objective lens system includes a fixed lens which is mounted on a fixed lens frame, and at least one movable lens which is mounted on a movable lens frame. The movable lens frame is slidable along guide surfaces which are provided on the inner periphery of the fixed lens frame in the direction of optical axis of the lens system. A nut portion, which is projected from the movable lens frame substantially in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis, is held in threaded engagement with a screw rod member which is rotatably supported on a bearing member which is in turn supported on the fixed lens frame. The screw rod member is rotatable but blocked against movements in the axial direction. Further, the screw rod is connected with a flexible transmission shaft which is sheathed in a sleeve to transmit rotation to the screw rod. A control cable of the objective lens drive is constituted by the flexible transmission shaft and the sleeve.

In an endoscope apparatus, a suction button is detachable from a manual control part, and rubber parts such as O-rings and a knob are attached to the suction button. The rubber parts are made of a perfluoromonomer rubber material that is obtained by vulcanizing a material having a perfluoromonomer structure in which an average molecular weight is not greater than 2000. Thus, the rubber parts have excellent chemical resistance, heat resistance and mechanical strength. Therefore, the suction button can be both disinfected with new types of disinfectant having powerful oxidizing properties and sterilized in an autoclave.

Endoscope rubber part having a perfluoromonomer structure

An endoscopic observation means having least a couple of illumination means are provided at a distal end portion of an endoscopic insertion instrument, the illumination means being on the opposite sides of and substantially on the same plane as an optical image pickup means. Each one of the illumination means includes a light guide for transmitting on illumination light from a light source, and an illumination lens for dispersing illumination light over an imaging area of a subject under observation. Further, the endoscopic observation means includes an objective lens system having a variable observation distance. The illumination means on the opposite sides of the observation means are spaced apart from each other by such a distance as to hold illuminance in peripheral portions of an imaging area of the subject to a level not greater than 200%, preferably, in the range of 200% to 120% of an illuminance level in portions of the imaging area.

Endoscopic observation system

An anti-fogging lens device, having a plural number of optical glass lens elements mounted within a lens barrel, including a first lens element located in a foremost position on the side of a subject and a second lens element located behind and at a space from the first lens element. A spacer ring is fitted in the lens barrel to set apart the first and second lens elements by a gap space of a predetermined width. The spacer ring is formed of a material having higher thermal conductivity than the lens elements and, on the inner peripheral side thereof, provided with a moisture depositing surface which is formed in a non-flat shape to increase its surface area. The lens barrel is fitted in a cylindrical member, and a seal pocket, to be packed with a seal material, is formed between the lens barrel and the cylindrical member to stop clearances between these two members with a secure hermetical seal.

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Omiya, Japan

Naotake Mitsumori