Endoscope operating spindle sealing sleeve - has watertight seal or secured bellows sleeve between housing and knob

摘要

An endoscope has an operating knob (2) at the operating end which is rotated to actuate a device at the other end. The knob is mounted on a spindle (4) which also carries a pulley (5) around which passes a wire to actuate the device. The exposed part of the spindle between the end of the endoscope housing (1) and the knob is enclosed by a water proof sleeve (7). The sleeve can fit over spacer rings (5, 6) each end of the spindle, and secured by wire rings (8) on the outside. Alternatively the sleeve can be secured around a spacer ring one end, and directly onto the spindle at the other end. Alternative designs also include a bellows sleeve.