To provide an endoscope corresponding to autoclave sterilization by surely preventing the infiltration of steam into an optical path between a fiber end and an optical window when autoclave sterilization is executed.
A lens frame 14 for observation is made of a metal. A front end lens 11 for observation is sapphire having high steam resistance. The outer peripheral surface of this lens 11 is subjected to a metallization treatment and is joined by brazing to the lens frame 14 to prevent the infiltration of gas via the joint surfaces. An image guide fiber 13 arranged at an observation fiber mouthpiece 15 is disposed to face the base end face of an objective lens 12b. This fiber mouthpiece 15 is integrally joined to the lens frame 14 by solder 34. The infiltration of the gas via the joint surfaces of the lens frame 14 and the fiber mouthpiece 15 is prevented. Glass portions are constituted in the spacings between the fibers and between the observation fiber mouthpiece 15 and the fiber end 13a, by which these fibers, etc., are integrally joined and the infiltration of the gas via a space between the fibers and the joint surfaces is prevented.
NAKAMURA ICHIRO
TATSUNO YUTAKA
YAMAGUCHI TAKAO
AONO SUSUMU
NAKAMURA TAKEAKI
NAKATSUCHI KAZUTAKA
KISHI TAKAHIRO
KURA YASUTO
FUTAKI YASUYUKI
YOSHIMOTO YOUSUKE
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