ENDOSCOPE HEAD, ENDOSCOPE AND ALBARRAN LEVER HOLDING MEMBER

1 . An attachment for an endoscope attachable to and detachable from an endoscope head body, which is provided on a distal side of an insertion portion of an endoscope, the attachment for the endoscope comprising:

a plate-shaped portion;

an Albarran lever pivotally supported by the plate-shaped portion; and

an attachment unit detachably attached to the endoscope head body, wherein the plate-shaped portion extends from the attachment unit.

2 . The attachment for the endoscope according to claim 1 , wherein

the plate-shaped portion has a through-hole penetrating in a thickness direction, and

the Albarran lever has an Albarran lever shaft inserted into the through-hole.

3 . The attachment for the endoscope according to claim 1 , wherein

the attachment unit is provided with a tool opening cut out in a U-shape, and

the Albarran lever is disposed to face the tool opening.

4 . The attachment for the endoscope according to claim 3 , wherein

the attachment unit is a hollow cylinder that is open at an attachment opening provided along a longitudinal direction of the hollow cylinder, and

the tool opening is disposed at a location facing the attachment opening.

5 . The attachment for the endoscope according to claim 4 , wherein

the plate-shaped portion protrudes toward the attachment opening from one side of an edge of the tool opening, wherein the plate-shaped portion extends along the longitudinal direction of the attachment unit.

6 . The attachment for the endoscope according to claim 4 , further comprising

a fixing means that detachably engages with the endoscope head body at an edge of the attachment opening.

7 . The attachment for the endoscope according to claim 6 , wherein

the fixing means is a rib that engages with a groove provided in the endoscope head body.

8 . The attachment for the endoscope according to claim 6 , wherein

the fixing means includes a hinge member connected to one edge of the attachment opening, and an engagement member which is provided on another edge of the attachment opening and engages with an end portion of the hinge member.

9 . The attachment for the endoscope according to claim 6 , wherein

the fixing means includes two hinge members that are connected to both edges of the attachment opening and include engagement members engaging with each other.

10 . The attachment for the endoscope according to claim 4 , wherein

the attachment unit is an elastic attachment unit and is capable of expanding a space of the attachment opening by spreading apart parts of the attachment unit.

11 . The attachment for the endoscope according to claim 1 , wherein

the endoscope is an ultrasonic endoscope in which an ultrasonic head transmitting and receiving an ultrasonic signal is disposed at an end portion of the endoscope head body.

12 . An ultrasonic endoscope comprising:

an endoscope head body that is disposed on a distal side of an insertion portion of the ultrasonic endoscope and is provided with an Albarran lever chamber which is open continuously at an end portion and a side surface of the endoscope head body; and

a convex-shaped ultrasonic head that is disposed at the end portion of the endoscope head body and capable of transmitting and receiving ultrasonic signals in a lateral viewing direction corresponding to the side surface of the endoscope head body,

wherein an attachment for the ultrasonic endoscope, which includes a plate-shaped portion, an Albarran lever pivotally supported by the plate-shaped portion, and an attachment unit detachably attached to the endoscope head body wherein the plate-shaped portion extends from the attachment unit, is attachable to and detachable from the endoscope head body, and

the Albarran lever chamber accommodates the Albarran lever when the attachment for the ultrasonic endoscope is attached.

13 . An attachment for an endoscope comprising an endoscope head in which at least one working channel is formed, wherein an Albarran lever capable of being pivoted is provided at the distal working channel end portion of the endoscope; the attachment including:

a sheath element,

a plate-shaped portion extending from the sheath element, and

an Albarran lever pivotally supported at the plate-shaped portion,

said attachment being attachable to the endoscope head and being detachable from the endoscope head.

14 . The attachment according to claim 13 , wherein

the sheath element forms a common assembly with the Albarran lever, wherein the common assembly of the sheath element and the Albarran lever can be attached at and removed from the endoscope head as one single unit.

15 . The attachment according to claim 13 , wherein

the sheath element is formed as a laterally open cylinder whose open side can be attached to the endoscope head,

the Albarran lever pivotally supported in the sheath element has an opening adapted to be able to engage in an operating element supported on the endoscope head.