Patent ID: 8485965
Filing Date: 2013-07-16
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. An endoscope main body for use in combination with an elongated observation optical system which is attachable to and detachable from the endoscope main body, wherein the elongated observation optical system includes a distal end portion formed asymmetrically with respect to an axis in a plane crossing a longitudinal direction of the observation optical system at right angles, the endoscope main body comprising: an insertion section including: an operating section provided at a proximal end of the insertion section to operate the bending portion of the arm section; another operating section provided at the proximal end of the insertion section to operate the other bending portion separately from the operating section which operates the bending portion of the arm section; a wire disposed in the insertion section and connecting the bending portion of the arm section to the operating section; another wire disposed in the insertion section and connecting the other bending portion to the other operating section, wherein the another wire is arrayed with the wire; a branch member which includes a connection part connected to the proximal end of the insertion section, and which is provided at the proximal end of the insertion section such that (i) the operating section and the other operating section are branched from each other and (ii) the wire connected to the operating section and the other wire connected to the other operating section are branched from each other, the branch member having an opening as an inlet which guides the distal end portion of the observation optical system to the hard portion of the insertion section; and a guide member which is provided between the opening and the connection part of the branch member, and which guides the distal end portion of the observation optical system to be disposed in the hard portion from the opening of the branch member to the connection part; wherein the guide member includes a direction regulating portion on at least one of a side close to the opening of the branch member and a side close to the connection part such that (i) the distal end portion of the observation optical system to be disposed in the hard portion is guided from the opening to the connection part when the distal end portion of the observation optical system has a predetermined direction and (ii) the distal end portion of the observation optical system is prevented from being guided from the opening to the connection part when the distal end portion of the observation optical system has a direction different from the predetermined direction; and wherein the guide member is cylindrically formed, and an inner shape of the guide member is tapered along an outer shape of the distal end portion of the observation optical system from the side close to the opening of the branch member to the side close to the connection part.