An endoscope is provided to examine internal organs with front and rear views. The endoscope comprises a shaft extending from a distal end in a rearward direction along a longitudinal axis towards a proximal end, with the distal and proximal ends defining a hollow channel extended there-through. The endoscope further comprises a first lens positioned adjacent to the distal end and configured to receive a first image in a forward direction along the longitudinal axis, with the forward direction generally 180 degree from the rearward direction. The endoscope further comprises a rearview module positioned adjacent to the distal end. The rearview module comprises a second lens configured to be positioned adjacent to the distal end, and receive a second image in a target direction having a directional component in the rearward direction along the longitudinal axis, independently of the first lens receiving the first image in the forward direction.

An electronic module includes: an integrated circuit including a first mounting surface; a solid wiring board including a second mounting surface and a third mounting surface within a horizontally projected area corresponding to the integrated circuit; both the second and third mounting surfaces face the first mounting surface of the integrated circuit and disposed at positions with different distances to the first mounting surface. An electrode surface of an electronic component mounted in a space formed between the first and the third mounting surfaces, and an electrode surface of the second mounting surface are arranged substantially parallel to a surface of the integrated circuit on which electrodes are aligned. The electrode on the second mounting surface and the electrodes of the integrated circuit are electrically connected to each other. The electrode of the electronic component is electrically connected to the electronic component and the electrodes of the integrated circuit.

A treatment device includes a pipeline having electrical insulation, the pipeline having an internal space through which inert gas passes; a distal-end tip attached to a distal end of the pipeline, the distal-end tip having an opening formed to communicate with the internal space such that the inert gas is disposable from the opening; and an electrode provided in the distal-end tip and configured to be energizable with a high-frequency current. The pipeline includes a proximal-end bending portion with a bending habit, and a distal-end flexible portion without a bending habit that is disposed distal to the proximal-end bending portion.

A multi-core cable includes a plurality of coaxial cables being arranged in parallel with each other, and a synthetic resin covering member that collectively covers the plurality of coaxial cables. Each coaxial cable includes a center conductor, an insulator covering an outer periphery of the center conductor, and a metal outer conductor covering an outer periphery of the insulator. The covering member holds the plurality of coaxial cables in such a manner that the plurality of coaxial cables are aligned side by side along a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the plurality of coaxial cables. At least a part of the outer conductors of the plurality of the coaxial cables respectively contacts the covering member.

An electronic module includes a first structure including a flat mounting surface on which an integrated circuit is mounted and a wiring surface including a surface including a portion that changes in a direction perpendicular to the mounting surface, a wire connected to the integrated circuit being extended on the wiring surface, a second structure disposed with a dielectric region interposed with respect to the wiring surface of the first structure, a metal pattern being provided on the second structure, and at least one spacer member that equalizes thickness of the dielectric region between the wire and the metal pattern in an entire range between the mounting surface and the wiring surface including the surface including the portion that changes in the direction perpendicular to the mounting surface.

A medical system is disclosed that includes a medical device having an optical fiber, and an interchangeable connection component configured to provide a fiber optic connection between the medical device and capital equipment. The connection component is configured to facilitate cleaning and/or polishing of fiber optic interfaces include therewith. The connection component is also configured for replacement by a medical technician while the capital equipment is operational. The capital equipment may include one or more of an optical interrogator, a patch cable, a medical probe, an ultrasound machine, a display, a magnet sensor, or an electro-cardiogram (ECG) machine. The medical device may include an elongate member configured for insertion within the patient body, where the optical fiber core extends along a length of the elongate member.

An ear ailment diagnostic device generally comprises a pair of earpieces, which both further comprise a light source, a magnification lens, an air conduction channel and a miniature camera. The earpieces may optionally comprise a thermometer and/or tympanometer. Each earpiece is coupled to an air conduction tube, an insufflator and an electrical wiring/data tube which is coupled to a computer. The insufflator may be manually, electronically, or battery powered. In the preferred embodiment the computer comprises a smart phone with data processing capability and wireless communication capability. Any data sent from the device can then be interpreted and diagnosed in a remote location so that an accurate treatment is prescribed.

An endoscope system includes: an endoscope including a bending portion that is capable of bending; a drive device that is detachably connected to the endoscope and drives the endoscope; and an operation device that is communicably connected to the drive device and has an input portion that inputs an operation for driving the endoscope, wherein the drive device can select a method of controlling the bending portion with respect to the operation input from the input portion from fine movement control and coarse movement control, and the distance at which the drive device bends the bending portion by the coarse movement control with respect to a predetermined operation input is larger than the distance at which the drive device bends the bending portion by the fine movement control.

An articulated tip part for an endoscope having a number of hingedly connected segments including a distal end segment and a second segment, wherein adjacent segments are interconnected by at least one hinge member, whereby the tip part can be bent by means of the hingedly connected segments, wherein the distal end segment comprises a first steering wire guide for accommodating and guiding a steering wire, and wherein the second segment comprises an insertion guide with an entry in an outer circumferential surface of the second segment and an exit aligned with an entry into the first steering wire guide, whereby an end of a steering wire can be guided into the entry of the first steering wire guide via the insertion guide.

A variable stiffness actuator includes a shape-memory member, and a heater configured to receive power to heat the shape-memory member so as to cause the shape-memory member to change from a first phase as a low stiffness state to a second phase as a high stiffness state showing a higher stiffness than the low stiffness state. The actuator also includes a first conductive wire having one end connected to the heater and constituting a part of a power supply line for the heater, and a second conductive wire having one end connected to the other end of the first conductive wire, thicker than the first conductive wire, and having an electrical resistance per unit length lower than that of the first conductive wire.