Side-viewing optical adapter

1. An adapter for use with an endoscope, the adapter comprising:

first and second axis-shifted lenses, each of the first and second axis-shifted lenses including a truncated surface formed on an outer cylindrical surface of each of the first and second axis-shifted lenses, the first and second axis-shifted lenses being arranged side by side so that respective first and second optical axes are parallel to each other;

a prism arranged further distally than the first and second axis-shifted lenses, the prism being configured to change a viewing direction of each of the first and second axis-shifted lenses; and

a holder having a portion configured to attach to and detach from a distal end of the endoscope, the holder including a housing hole in which the first and second axis-shifted lenses are disposed;

wherein the housing hole includes first and second cut-out receiving surfaces configured to abut the truncated surface of each of the first and second axis-shifted lenses, respectively;

the holder further includes one or more prism positioning surfaces having at least a portion that is further outward in a radial direction than the first and second cut-out receiving surfaces, the prism abutting on the one or more prism positioning surfaces to position the prism in the holder;

at least a portion of each of the truncated surfaces of the first and second axis-shifted lenses is arranged further outward in the radial direction than the prism; and

the first and second cut-out receiving surfaces are inclined relative to a horizontal plane passing through a center of each of the first and second axis-shifted lenses, the first and second cut-out receiving surfaces being inclined such that an outer portion of the first and second cut-out receiving surfaces is closer to the horizontal plane than an inner portion of the first and second cut-out receiving surfaces.

2. The adapter according to claim 1 , further comprising:

at least one backside lens arranged proximally to the first and second axis-shifted lenses; and

a main body configured to hold the at least one backside lens;

wherein the holder having a wall defining the housing hole, the wall having a first portion and a second portion, the second portion being proximal to the first portion;

the first portion having a first thickness in a radial direction that is constant in a longitudinal direction of the holder;

the second portion having a second thickness in the radial direction greater than the first thickness to form a step at a transition between the first portion and the second portion;

the first and second axis-shifted lenses being accommodated in the first portion; and

the main body being accommodated in the second portion.

3. The adapter according to claim 1 , wherein the truncated surface of each of the first and second axis-shifted lenses extends parallel with the optical axis.

4. The adapter according to claim 1 , wherein the truncated surface of each of the first and second axis-shifted lenses forms a concave surface extending in parallel with the optical axis.

5. The adapter according to claim 4 , wherein the concave surface is a curved concave surface.

6. The adapter according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second axis-shifted lenses are arranged so that a distance between center axes of the first and second axis-shifted lenses is equal to or longer than a diameter of each of the first and second axis-shifted lenses.

7. The adapter according to claim 1 ,

wherein the prism positioning surfaces includes a bottom surface, and

the first and second cut-out receiving surfaces are formed on a plane which is offset from a parallel plane and from a vertical plane of the bottom surface.

8. The adapter according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second axis-shifted lenses are arranged at positions at which respective outer cylindrical surfaces of the first and second axis-shifted lenses are in contact with each other.

9. The adapter according to claim 1 , wherein:

the one or more prism positioning surfaces includes a base end surface perpendicular to a longitudinal axis and configured to determine a position of the prism in a longitudinal axis direction; and

the base end surface and a distal surface of the first and second axis-shifted lenses are arranged to be in parallel to each other.