An image quality is improved although a medical stereomicroscope optical system and a medical observation apparatus are small and light. An objective optical system and a plurality of imaging optical systems are arranged in an order from an object side to an image side, and the imaging optical system has at least a single aspheric surface. Accordingly, a spherical aberration and a field curvature are improved, and the image quality is improved although the medical stereomicroscope optical system and a medical observation apparatus are small and light.

An optical system for an endoscope includes an objective and a reversal system arranged after the objective. The reversal system includes at least one reversal stage for projecting the distal intermediate image as a proximal intermediate image into a proximal intermediate image plane. The reversal system imprints on the proximal intermediate image a first longitudinal chromatic aberration referred to a predetermined wavelength from the visible spectrum and a predetermined wavelength from the near infrared range. The objective imprints on the distal intermediate image a second longitudinal chromatic aberration referred to the predetermined wavelength from the visible spectrum and the predetermined wavelength from the near infrared range. The second longitudinal chromatic aberration has the opposite sign relative to the first longitudinal chromatic aberration, which reduces the longitudinal chromatic aberration caused by the reversal system in the proximal intermediate image.

An endoscope includes: an image pickup portion including an image pickup device; an optical axis bending optical system; an operation input portion which pivots; an operation conversion portion that resolves an input of the operation input portion and generate a plurality of outputs; and an operation transmission portion that transmits the outputs of the operation conversion portion to a plurality of movable portions. The optical axis bending optical system includes a first prism rotatably supported around a second optical axis, and a second prism rotatably supported around a third optical axis. The operation transmission portion includes: an image pickup portion interlocking portion rotatably supporting the image pickup portion; and a prism rotation transmission portion including a first transmission member that rotates the first prism around the second optical axis, and a second transmission member that rotates the second prism around the third optical axis integrally with the first prism.

Techniques, systems, and devices are disclosed for obtaining optical images of a targeted object or scene such as a person's organ or tissue based on a fiber bundle having imaging optical fibers and optical phase modulation for improved imaging quality without using an objective lens to receive light from a target. Among its applications is an endoscope that bears no lens at the distal end, which affords miniaturization and bendability, and that has adjustable focal distance.

An endoscope has an imaging unit at a tip portion of an insertion unit to be inserted into a body cavity, the imaging unit includes: a solid-state imaging device which performs photoelectric conversion on an optical image formed on a photodetecting surface thereof; a circuit board having a connection surface which is opposed to a surface, opposite to the photodetecting surface and formed with terminals, of the imaging device and which serves for electrical connection to the terminals; and a case member which covers part of the imaging device and part of the circuit board, the circuit board has a wide portion and a narrow portion that are different in length in a width direction perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the insertion unit, and the case member is formed with first cuts in such a range as to correspond to the wide portion in the longitudinal direction.

The present invention relates to an optical element for use in a camera system for the inspection of passageways, a camera system for the inspection of passageways and a method of illuminating a passageway during inspection with a camera. An optical element for use in a camera system for the inspection of passageways comprises a first optical portion arranged to transmit light into a camera, a second optical portion arranged to transmit light emitted from a light source, the second optical portion located adjacent the first optical portion, and barrier means arranged to prevent light being transmitted from the second optical portion into the first optical portion.

An endoscope according to the present invention includes an elongated insertion section that is inserted into a subject, an attachment portion that is provided on the insertion section, and to which a circular cylindrical external appliance is attached, and a locking member that is disposed on a more distal end side of the insertion section than the attachment portion, and that prevents removal of the external appliance from the insertion section by abutting against a surface, of the external appliance, facing a distal end.

There is provided an adapter tip to be employed with an optical-fiber connector endface inspection microscope and an optical-fiber connector endface inspection microscope system suitable for imaging the optical-fiber endface of an angled-polished optical-fiber connector deeply recessed within a connector adapter. The adapter tip or microscope system comprises a relay optical system comprising a Rhomboid prism. The Rhomboid prism being disposed so as to receive light reflected from said optical-fiber endface during inspection and laterally shift the light beam reflected from the angled-polished optical-fiber endface.

An optics arrangement for an endoscope is provided. The optics arrangement images an object situated in front of its distal end to the proximal end of the optics arrangement along a principal beam path having an optical axis. The optics arrangement is designed both for light from the visible spectrum and for light from the near infrared. The optics arrangement includes an aperture stop with a reflection layer in the principal beam path. The reflection layer reflects light from the visible spectrum and transmits light from the near infrared. The reflection layer is inclined in relation to the optical axis.

The invention relates to a relay set for an endoscope that includes a plurality of relay sets of the same type, having two plano-convex rod lenses which face one another with their planar end surfaces, and an achromat that is arranged between these rod lenses, particularly in a central aperture plane of said relay set. Said achromat takes the form of an arrangement of at least two lenses which have different refractive indices and Abbe numbers, and is located at a distance from the rod lenses. The invention also relates to a corresponding endoscope. The claimed relay set is improved in that one lens of said achromat consists of ED glass that has an Abbe number of at least 75, in particular at least 77.