Patent ID: 7714885

Claim:
An endoscope imaging apparatus, comprising: an optical system including at least one optical lens for obtaining an optical image of a subject; an optical system support member for supporting the optical system; an imaging element for capturing an optical image from the optical system; an imaging element support member for supporting the imaging element; a tubular member comprising a first end and a second end that oppose each other, the tubular member defining an inner space extending therethrough and between the first end and the second end, the optical system support member being hermetically joined to the first end and the imaging element support member being hermetically joined to the second end in order to—airtightly seal the inner space, the tubular member further comprising an airtightness-maintaining and position-adjusting portion between said first and second ends adapted to maintain the airtight seal of the inner space in response to relative movements of the optical system support member and the imaging element support member and adapted to allow adjustment of relative positions of the optical system support member and the imaging element support member, the airtightness-maintaining and position-adjusting portion expanding and contracting for distance adjustment and deforming for position adjustment such that an optical axis of said at least one optical lens of the optical system support member and an optical axis of an imaging surface of said imaging element of the imaging element support member coincide with each other in the tubular member; an adjustment mechanism for adjusting relative positions of the optical system support member and the imaging element support member in three dimensions, said three dimensions being a direction of the optical axis optical system, a direction orthogonal to the direction of the optical axis and a tilt direction to the optical axis and for maintaining a state of adjustment after performing the adjustment; and an adjustment frame having the adjustment mechanism dispose through the adjustment frame, the adjustment frame connecting the optical system support member and the imaging element support member so as to form a space where a deformed part of the airtightness-maintaining and position-adjusting portion in the direction orthogonal to the direction of the optical axis which is caused by movements of the optical system support member and the imaging element support member is located.