Patent ID: 7201717
Filing Date: 2007-04-10
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. An electronic endoscope comprising: an elongated and flexible inserting section; a hard distal component formed at the distal part of the insertion section; a bending section proximal to the distal component and having a plurality of bending pieces concatenated so that the bending pieces can rotate freely by a plurality of rotatable concatenating portions, respectively; a joint pipe having the distal part thereof fixed to the outer periphery of the distal component and having the rear part thereof fixed to the inner periphery of a leading bending piece included in the bending section, so as to concatenate the distal component and the leading bending piece, the joint pipe being formed of a cylindrical-shaped hard member placed toward the distal part from a leading rotatable concatenating portion of the leading bending piece; built-in components placed in the joint pipe and including at least a circuit substrate connected to an imaging device and a signal cable connected to the circuit substrate; and a filler sealingly poured into a space formed between the inner surface of the joint pipe and the surroundings of the built-in components inclusive of the connecting portion of at least the circuit substrate and the signal cable of the built-in components, the filler hardening after pouring into the space thereby to lock in the joint pipe, the connecting portion of the circuit substrate and the signal cable placed in the joint pipe, and the filler being formed of a material differing from that of the hard member.