Abstract: A bendable portion, which is arranged at the distal end of an insertion tube of an endoscope, comprises a plurality of tube segments, each of said tube segments having connecting means that cooperate with the connecting means of the adjacent tube segment, as well as control wires that can control the bending of the bendable portion. The respective connecting means of a tube segment are provided such that they axially protrude from the faces of the tube segment and are located within the mantle of the tube segment and such that they do not exceed the thickness of the mantle. The connecting means, which are provided on the respective faces of adjacent tube segments and which are located opposite each other, complement each other in the manner of a hinge-type connection.

Abstract: An endoscope with a coupling device for the connection of a video camera, wherein the endoscope has, at its needle-shaped tube, a distal end which is provided for insertion into the body and a lens system and has a proximal end provided for looking into the endoscope and having a field diaphragm, the coupling device being attached to the proximal end, and wherein a lens system is arranged following the field diaphragm and, like the lens system at the distal end, is sealed off from the outside completely and tightly and is constructed so as to be non-adjustable and non-focusable. The coupling device has no lenses and is adjustable with respect to its axial length in the manner of a telescope.

Abstract: An electronic endoscope with a semiconductor image sensor (CCD chip) for receiving the images received by an objective and with an The electronic circuit, wherein the endoscope substantially comprises a shaft with a distal end and a proximal end, and the objective and CCD chip are arranged at the distal end, and the proximal end is held in a housing which holds the shaft and encloses the glass-fiber optical connection. The electronic endoscope is wherein the component parts of the CCD chip unit arranged behind the objective, namely the crystal filter, IR cutoff filter and CCD chip, are arranged so as to be spaced from one another.