Endoscope

Claim 2

An endoscope comprising: an elongated insert section including a distal end portion to be inserted into a body cavity and a proximal end portion; an operation section connected to the proximal end of the insert section, and including a holding portion which is gripped by the third and little finger of a single hand of an operator, a central axis extending along the longitudinal direction of the holding portion and means for permitting operation of the endoscope without requiring unnatural movements of an operator's fingers, said means including a mounting surface located adjacent to the holding portion and within reach of at least one finger of the operator's hand; a rising wall on the operation section between the mounting surface and the holding portion to enable the third finger gripping the holding portion to abut against the rising wall to define a holding position; an eyepiece section mounted on one end portion of the operation section such that the optical axis of the eyepiece section is inclined from the central axis of the holding portion toward the side opposite to that on which the mounting surface is located; said mounting surface having a first end located adjacent to said rising wall and a second end located adjacent to said eyepiece section and being inclined from said first end toward said central axis so that said second end is closer to the central axis than said first end; and operating buttons mounted on the mounting surface to extend outwardly from said inclined mounting surface such that they can be depressed toward said mounting surface in the direction of the central axis of the operating buttons, said inclined mounting surface orienting said buttons such that they are lower in height relative to the central axis of the holding portion as they are positioned further away from the rising wall, said buttons being positioned in a row along the central axis of the holding portion; in which the central axis of the operating buttons are at an angle of between greater than 90° and less than 150° to the central axis of the holding portion wherein the operating buttons are provided on the holding portion in a manner such that the central axis of the operating buttons intersects the central axis of the holding portion at an angle of greater than 90° for access by an operator.

Claim 3

The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the central axes of the operating buttons are parallel with each other and are at an angle of between 90° and 102° to the central axis of the holding portion.

Claim 4

The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the central axes of the operating buttons are at an angle of between 100° and 110° to the central axis of the holding portion.

Claim 5

An endoscope comprising: an elongated insert section including a distal end portion to be inserted into a body cavity and a proximal end portion; an operation section connected to the proximal end of the insert section, and means for permitting operation of the endoscope without requiring unnatural movements of an operator's fingers, said means including a holding portion which is selectively gripped by proper fingers including at least the third and little finger of a single hand of an operator, a central axis extending along the longitudinal direction of the holding portion and a mounting surface located adjacent to the holding portion and within reach of at least one finger of the operator's hand; a rising wall on the operation section between the mounting surface and the holding portion to enable the proper finger, close to a thumb, gripping the holding portion to abut against the rising wall to define a holding position; an eyepiece section mounted on one end portion of the operation section such that the optical axis of the eyepiece section is inclined from the central axis of the holding portion toward the side opposite to that on which the mounting surface is located, said mounting surface having a first end located adjacent to said rising wall and a second end located adjacent to said eyepiece section and being inclined from said first end toward said central axis so that said second end is located closer to said central axis than said first end; and operating buttons mounted on the mounting surface to extend outwardly from said mounting surface and being mounted such that they can be depressed in the direction of said mounting surface in the direction of the central axis of the operating buttons, said inclined mounting surface orienting said buttons such that they are lower in height relative to the central axis of the holding portion as they are positioned further away from the rising wall, said buttons being positioned in a row along the central axis of the holding portion; in which the central axis of the operating buttons are at an angle of between greater than 90° and less than 150° to the central axis of the holding portion wherein the operating buttons are provided on the holding portion in a manner such that the central axis of the operating buttons intersects the central axis of the holding portion at an angle of greater than 90° for access by an operator.

Claim 6

An endoscope comprising: an elongated insert section including a distal end portion to be inserted into a body cavity and a proximal end portion; an operation section connected to the proximal end of the insert section, and means for permitting operation of the endoscope without requiring unnatural movements of an operator's fingers, said means including a holding portion which is selectively gripped by proper fingers including at least the third and little finger of a single hand of an operator, a central axis extending along the longitudinal direction of the holding portion and a mounting surface located adjacent to the holding portion and within reach of at least one finger of the operator's hand; a rising wall on the operation section between the mounting surface and the holding portion to enable the proper finger, close to a thumb, gripping the holding portion to abut against the rising wall to define a holding position; an eyepiece section mounted on one end portion of the operation section such that the optical axis of the eyepiece section is inclined from the central axis of the holding portion toward the side opposite to that on which the mounting surface is located, said mounting surface having a first end located adjacent to said rising wall and a second end located adjacent to said eyepiece section and being inclined from said first end toward said central axis so that said second end is located closer to said central axis than said first end; and operating buttons mounted on the mounting surface to extend outwardly from said mounting surface and being mounted such that they can be depressed in the direction of said mounting surface in the direction of the central axis of the operating buttons, said inclined mounting surface orienting said buttons such that they are lower in height relative to the central axis of the holding portion as they are positioned further away from the rising wall, said buttons being positioned in a row along the central axis of the holding portion; in which the central axis of the operating buttons are at an angle of between greater than 90° and less than 150° to the central axis of the holding portion wherein the operating buttons are provided on the holding portion in a manner such that the central axis of the operating buttons intersects the central axis of the holding portion at an angle of greater than 90° for access by an operator.