Hoya Corporation

Pentax Corporation

Shinwa Heat Treatment Co., Ltd.

Yasuyuki Sato

Hideo Shimizu

Yoshihiro Obata

Ryoji Tokieda

Naoki Kamiya

Wataru Murai

A tightening string is used in an endoscope for firmly securing an outer cover of a flexible tube of the endoscope onto an internal member disposed inside the outer cover. The tightening string is comprised of a filament assembly formed by bundling a plurality of filaments made of a synthetic resin. The invention also provides an outer cover securing method, a flexible tube for an endoscope, and an endoscope equipped with the flexible tube. An outer cover securing method using the tightening string, a flexible tube for an endoscope equipped with the thus secured outer cover, and an endoscope equipped with the flexible tube are also provided.

Tightening string for an endoscope, outer cover securing method, flexible tube for an endoscope, and an endoscope

A tightening string is used in an endoscope for firmly securing an outer cover of a flexible tube of the endoscope onto an internal member disposed inside the outer cover. The tightening string is comprised of a filament assembly formed by bundling a plurality of filaments made of a synthetic resin. The invention also provides an outer cover securing method, a flexible tube for an endoscope, and an endoscope equipped with the flexible tube. Alternatively, the filament assembly may include a first filament having an elongation ratio at room temperature of greater than 10% and a second filament having a elongation ratio at room temperature of equal to or lower than 10%, in which the filament assembly is formed by twisting the first and second filaments. An outer cover securing method using the tightening string, a flexible tube for an endoscope equipped with the thus secured outer cover, and an endoscope equipped with the flexible tube are also provided.

A method for brazing two or more of stainless steel components for use in medical equipment, in which one component is joined to other component using a brazing material containing Au of which amount is 62.5 wt % or higher, the method comprising the steps of: a first step in which the components are subjected to a heat treatment at a temperature of 1,050 to 1,200&#xb0; C. in a hydrogen containing atmosphere or in a vacuum; a second step in which one of the components is allowed to close to the other component so as to form a gap therebetween; and a third step in which the brazing material in a molten state is supplied into the gap to join the components together to manufacture a metal assembly. The joint portions formed in the metal assembly have excellent chemical resistance and corrosion resistance, and thus the metal assembly is suitably used in an endoscope.

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Saitama, Japan

Yasuyuki Sato