Importance

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Abstract

An endoscope embodying this invention comprises a control section, an elongate flexible insertion section having one end connected to the control section and the other constituting a distal end part, a transparent glass cover member mounted in the front end face of the distal end part, a channel extending through both the control section and insertion section, an elongate laser guide which extends through the channel and has one end pressed against the rear face of the glass cover member and the other end is connected to a laser oscillator disposed outside of the endoscope, an urging member holder mounted on the control section, and an elastic urging member received in the holder and urging the laser guide toward the glass cover member. Application of the elastic urging member enables the distal end face of the laser guide to be always pressed against the rear face of the glass cover member, no matter how much the bend portion of the endoscope may be flexed. Therefore, the endoscope has the advantages that it is possible to prevent the burning damage of the channel and the emission of laser beams on the inner wall of the channel due to the Fresnel reflection resulting from the fall-off of the distal end face of the laser guide from the glass cover member, and the distal end face of the laser guide is rigidly pressed against the glass cover member, thereby preventing the breakage of the distal end face of the laser guide and glass cover member or the fall-off of the glass cover member from the distal end part of the endoscope.

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First Claim