Endoscope apparatus having an internal channel

An endoscope apparatus comprising:

• an insert portion which includes a flexibly bending portion having flexibility, the flexibly bending portion being provided at a distal end side, into a space which is a target of inspection;
• a manipulating device inserting channel which loads therein a predetermined manipulating device advancing from a proximal end side of the insert portion to a distal end side of the insert portion;
• a flexible bending operation portion to flexibly bend the flexibly bending portion of the insert portion remotely by a rod portion operation;
• and
• a connecting device which detachably mounts the flexible bending operation portion to the insert portion at the manipulating device inserting channel without completely surrounding the insert portion to make the flexible bending operation portion and the insert portion adjacent to each other, and links the flexible bending operation portion and the insert portion with each other such that an operating space of the rod portion operation and a loading space required for loading the predetermined manipulating device therein do not overlap each other.

An endoscope apparatus comprising:

• an elongated insert portion having flexibility, the elongated insert portion being inserted into a space which is a target of inspection;
• an intermediate linking portion whose one end is linked with a proximal end side of the insert portion and whose other end is linked with a universal cable;
• a controller comprising a flexibly bending operation portion to operate a flexibly bending portion provided at the insert portion to be flexibly bent;
• a manipulating device inserting channel which communicates between a distal opening end that opens at a distal end side of the insert portion and a proximal opening end that opens at the intermediate linking portion;
• and
• a linking portion which detachably links the controller and the intermediate linking portion without completely surrounding the intermediate linking portion, wherein the linking portion disposes the proximal opening of the manipulating device inserting channel at a position which does not interfere with an operating region of the flexibly bending operation portion in the controller in a state in which a link is established between the controller and the intermediate linking portion.

An endoscope apparatus comprising:

• an endoscope body including an elongated insert portion having flexibility and capable of being inserted into a space that is a target of inspection;
• a remote controller including an operation portion operable to bend and drive the endoscope body;
• an intermediate linking portion that communicates between a distal opening end of the insert portion and a proximal opening of the insert portion of the endoscope body, the intermediate linking portion having a manipulating device inserting channel that is open at both ends;
• and
• a connecting device that is attached to the remote controller at a position where it does not interfere with an operating region of the operation portion and into which the immediate linking portion is removably fit, the connecting device including a lock portion, into which the intermediate linking portion is removably fit, at a position where an insertion operating region of a manipulating device inserted through the proximal opening of the insert portion does not interfere with an operating region of the operation portion in the remote controller, when the intermediate linking portion is fitted into the connecting device attached to the remote controller without being completely surrounded by the connecting device.