Rigid endoscope with flexible tip

摘要

An endoscope provides a tube which is rigid enough along its length to be displaced by axial and rotational translation through open regions. The tip end of the tube is laterally flexible relative to the length of the tube. Wires connected to opposite sides of the flexible tip provide user control of the flexing of the tip. The sufficiently rigid length, flexible tip and dimensions of the tube enable placement of the tip end adjacent to kidney stones lodged in the ureter and calyxes of the kidney. The flexible tip further enables atraumatic use of the device. The tube may be multi-channeled to enable a view of the body canals and target stones in one channel, and to carry laser radiation by means of laser delivering fiber to the stones in another channel. Fiber optics may be employed between channels or within a channel of the tube to aid in the viewing of the pertinent body areas.