Laser endoscope

Claim 2

A laser endoscope comprising an endoscope body having two ends, a distal end portion fixed to one end of the endoscope body, a control section fixed to the other end of the endoscope body, and a channel extending through the distal end portion, endoscope body and control section and having a distal end, characterized by comprising a holder which is detachably provided in the distal end portion, and, when applied, covers the distal end of the channel in a liquid-tight state, and in which a glass cover (known per se) is so disposed as to face the distal end of the channel when said holder is put to use.

Claim 3

The laser endoscope according to claim 1, characterized in that said holder is a hollow cylindrical member, one end of which is fitted with the glass cover, and the other end of which is provided with external screw threads, and internal screw threads are formed in the distal end portion for engagement with the external threads.

Claim 4

The laser endoscope according to claim 2, characterized in that notches are formed at one end of the holder to allow for detachably attachment of said holder to the distal end portion.

Claim 5

The laser endoscope according to claim 2, characterized in that said holder has at said one end thereof a ring-shaped cap supporting the glass cover.

Claim 6

The laser endoscope according to claim 4, characterized in that said holder and cap are threadedly engaged with each other.

Claim 7

The laser endoscope according to claim 5, characterized in that the distal end portion is provided with a cavity which is formed concentrically with the glass cover and has a larger diameter than the cap, and encloses said cap when it is applied.

Claim 8

The laser endoscope according to claim 1,. characterized in that said distal end portion is provided with a holder receiving space through which the channel extends; and said holder comprises a plate-like main portion having two ends and capable of closing the space, and a rising portion provided at one end of said main portion and holding the glass cover, the other end of said main portion being rotatably supported by the distal end portion.

Claim 9

The laser endoscope according to claim 7, characterized by comprising a pair of arms which extend substantially in parallel with the rising portion from both sides of the other end of the main portion of the holder and in the same direction as that in which said rising portion extends, intermediate parts of said arms being rotatably supported by the distal end portion, and a pair of control wires, both of which extend through the endoscope body, one of which is connected at one end to one lateral side of the corresponding arm and the other of which is connected at one end to the opposite lateral side of the corresponding arm as viewed from the intermediate part of the arm, said paired control wires being so arranged as to be alternately pulled and loosened at the other end by the control section of the endoscope body.