| 摘要 |
<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To achieve optimum hardness distribution for insertion by reducing the variation in hardness of an insertion unit so as to prevent sudden bending thereof. <P>SOLUTION: An endoscope is characterized in that an endoscope flexible portion includes: a flexible hardness varying portion which is located in a predetermined region extending from a distal end of the flexible portion, and has hardness varying from the lowest hardness in the flexible portion to a predetermined hardness higher than the lowest hardness, the hardness being the lowest hardness at the distal end of the flexible portion, the hardness being the predetermined hardness at a proximal end of the flexible portion; a hard portion which is located in a predetermined region extending from a proximal end of the flexible portion, and has the highest hardness in the flexible portion; and an intermediate-hardness varying portion which is located between the flexible hardness varying portion and the hard portion, and has hardness gradually varying in a region extending from the proximal end of the flexible hardness varying portion to a distal end of the hard portion. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2012,JPO&INPIT |
