| 摘要 |
A flexible tube (15) comprises a mesh tube (38) formed of a mesh of two or more metal wires so as to cover the outer circumference of a spiral tube (37), and an covering tube (39) for covering the outer side of the mesh tube (38). The covering tube (39) is formed using a high polymer material which contracts under heat of autoclave sterilizing. During autoclave sterilizing, force is generated in the flexible tube (15) which attempts to stretch in the longitudinal direction due to the pressure difference between the inside and outside of the endoscope, but this is offset by the force generated in the covering tube (39) which attempts to contract in the longitudinal direction. <IMAGE>
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