Medical endoscope for internal examination and/or treatment - has control at proximal end to deflect distal end of at least partially flexible shaft

摘要

At least the deflectable part of the shaft (2), with a channel (3) extending axially, consists of two or more materials of differing flexibility permanently fixed to each other at their joining faces. The part of the shaft (7) having the smallest radius of curvature during deflection is of a material of greater flexibility than the rest of the shaft (8). A catheter realisation is provided with a suction and rinsing channel (10), a channel for imaging and optical fibres (11,12) or flexible endoscopic optics and an instrument channel (13). The control element (9) is formed from a taut wire or flexible draw rod. ADVANTAGE - Outer cross-sectional dimensions can be kept so small that the instrument can be applied as a flexible catheter.