Patent ID: 8226551

Claim:
A scanning endoscope comprising: a first transmitter that has a first emission end, the first transmitter emitting a beam of radiant light from the first emission end, the beam of the radiant light being shined on an observation area; an actuator that moves the first emission end in a direction perpendicular to an emission direction, the beam of the radiant light being emitted from the first emission end of the first transmitter in the emission direction; and a mirror that is arranged from the first emission end to the first direction, the first direction being the emission direction when the emission end is on a standard point, the mirror comprising a through-part and a reflection surface, the radiant light emitted from the first emission end passing through the through-part when the first emission end is within a first circumference, a center of the first circumference being in agreement with the standard point, the radius of the first circumference being a first length, the reflection surface being formed around a first straight line, the first straight line being parallel to the first direction and including the standard point, the distance between a first position on the first straight line and any second position on the reflection surface increasing as the first position is moved in the first direction, the reflection surface reflecting the radiant light emitted from the first emission end toward the observation area around the first straight line when the first emission end is outside of the first circumference, a line connecting the first and second positions being perpendicular to the first straight line.