Endoscope with multiple section image transmitting rod.

摘要

An endoscope (11) comprising a body, including an elongated tubular distal section (13) adapted for insertion into a patient and optics (33, 29, 31, 25) for transmitting an image through the distal section so that the image can be viewed at a viewing location (27). The image-transmitting optics include an elongated image-transmitting rod (28) for transmitting the image to at least a region of the distal section. The image-transmitting rod is subject to breakage by bending forces and is divided longitudinally into discrete elongated rod (29, 31) sections to thereby reduce the likelihood of breakage by bending forces.