PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a bending section of an endoscope capable of preventing disengagement of linkage between joint rings even if the bending section is deformed by impact or crushing, capable of preventing fracture even if the bending section is excessively curved, and capable of returning to the original straight state even if the bending section is curved.SOLUTION: The bending section 23 includes a plurality of joint rings 31 arranged side by side rotational linking parts 41 which are integrated with the joint rings 31 to rotatably link adjacent joint rings 31 with each other, and connection parts 51 which are integrated with the joint rings 31 to connect adjacent joint rings 31 with each other. The rotational linking parts 41 are disposed at ends of the joint rings 31, and separate from each another in the circumferential direction of the joint rings 31. Each connection part 51 is disposed between the rotational linking parts 41 in the circumferential direction of the joint rings 31. The connection parts 51 are flexible, and are extended/contracted according to the rotation of the joint rings 31.COPYRIGHT: (C)2012,JPO&INPIT【課題】 衝撃や潰れによって変形しても節輪同士の連結が外れることを防止し、過度に湾曲しても破断が防止され、湾曲しても元の直線状態に戻る内視鏡の湾曲部を提供すること。【解決手段】 湾曲部23は、並設された複数の節輪31と、節輪31と一体で、隣り合う節輪31同士を回動可能に連結する回動連結部41と、節輪31と一体で、隣り合う節輪31同士を接続する接続部51とを有している。回動連結部41同士は、節輪31の端部に配設され、節輪31の周方向において互いに離れて配設されている。接続部51は、節輪31の周方向において、回動連結部41の間に配設されている。接続部51は、柔軟性を有し、節輪31同士の回動に応じて伸縮する。【選択図】 図2
