Abstract: An endoscope, in particular an athroscope, comprising a shaft carrying an optical unit and optical fibers arranged concentrically around the shaft, in which the shaft (5) carrying the optical unit is part of an observation component (1) and the optical fibers (14) are part of an illunination component (2), whereby the illumination component (2) comprises a double-walled sheath made of two hollow cylinders and the optical fibers (14) pass between the walls (15a and 15b) formed by the hollow cylinders and the observation component (1) can be inserted into the illumination component (2).

Abstract: A thin covering is used for protecting an elongated surgical instrument, and is initially in a telescopically folded configuration prior to insertion of the surgical instrument therein, comprising: an elongated tube having an insertion opening region; two resiliently deformable leaf-shaped lining members connected to the elongated tube disposed in the insertion region, the lining members each having a central portion and a pair of sides edges. A first of the pair of side edges of one of the lining members is substantially congruent to a first of the pair of side edges of the other of the lining members, and a second of the pair of side edges of the one of the lining members is substantially congruent to a second of the pair of sides edges of the other of the lining members. Upon application of forces urging each of the first and the second pair of side edges together, the central portions are spread apart to form a jaw for receiving the surgical instrument.

Abstract: Endoscope equipped with a protective tube including a hollow cylindrical tube body made of plastic and equipped with an optical flat glass which is inserted into a circular, annular recess whose inner diameter becomes smaller toward its end near the object, with the region of reduced inner diameter extending to behind the optical flat glass.