| 摘要 |
<p>A flexible endoscope includes an elongate flexible extrusion. A central lumen extends longitudinally through the center of the extrusion, and a plurality of other longitudinally extending lumens are spaced around the central lumen. An optical fiber disposed in the central lumen serves as a compression member and conveys light through the flexible endoscope. One or more pairs of optical fibers disposed around the central lumen convey light and serve as tension members. Applying a tension force to one of these optical fibers causes a distal tip of the flexible endoscope to bend in a first direction, while applying a tension force to the opposite optical fiber causes the distal tip to bend in an opposite direction. The second pair of optical fibers comprising tension members are orthogonally disposed relative to the first pair, and the first and second pair control tip bending in orthogonal directions.</p> |
