Abstract: A method for providing an insertion cord of an endoscope with graduated flexibility along a length of the insertion cord, the method including providing a main tube having a longitudinal axis, the main tube comprising a coiled core and a polymer layer; raising a temperature of the polymer layer in a portion of the main tube from a first temperature to above a second temperature that is less than a melting point of the polymer layer; bending the portion of the main tube to impose a first meander bend while the temperature is above the second temperature, wherein said bending comprises bending the portion of the main tube at at least two angles relative to a line parallel to the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A endoscope including a handle, a shaft and a distal tip unit. The shaft includes a bending section, a working channel and a steering wire for controlling a bending movement of the bending section. The bending section includes segments, flexible hinge members provided between adjacent segments, an inner lumen adapted for accommodating the working channel, and steering wire lumens adapted for accommodating the steering wire. The working channel is gradually/continuously/linearly guided away from a position close to a centerline of the endoscope shaft in the bending section.

Abstract: An endoscope includes a distal tip unit, a handle, a shaft including a bending section made of a first material, and a steering wire for controlling a bending movement of the bending section. The bending section has segments, an inner lumen accommodating a working channel, and steering wire lumens adapted for accommodating the steering wire. The endoscope further includes a disc made of a second material which is different from the first material. The disc is arranged at a distal end of the bending section adjacent a lumen end of the steering wire lumens and has a plurality of openings including steering wire lumen openings configured for guiding the steering wire coming from the steering wire lumens therethrough, and locking openings configured for threading or twisting the steering wire therethrough. The steering wire is locked to the disc by the threading or twisting of the steering wire through the openings.

Abstract: A tip part for an endoscope has a vision receptor having a vision sensor for providing an image from received light, a first lens, and a casing, the casing supporting the first lens so that the casing substantially maintains a position of the first lens in relation to the vision sensor; a first light source; an exterior housing; and a light shield positioned between the vision receptor and the first light source so as to prevent ingress of stray light from the first light source into the vision receptor by optically shielding the vision receptor; wherein the casing is formed integrally with the exterior housing so that the casing also substantially maintains the first lens in a position in relation to the exterior housing.

Abstract: A tip part for an insertable vision device, and an insertable vision device including the tip part. The tip part includes a housing accommodating an electronic vision receptor and adapted to extend from a distal end of an insertable elongate portion of the insertable vision device, and a light guide positioned within the housing, the light guide having a predetermined length in a longitudinal direction between a light reception end and a light emission end, the light reception end configured to receive light emanated from a light source and the light emission end configured to emit the light. The light guide includes, along at least a portion of the predetermined length, an expanding sector or a narrowing sector.

Abstract: A method for manufacture of a tip part for an endoscope including providing a camera assembly with an image sensor and a circuit board; providing a distal end segment having a distal end and a circumferential wall enclosing a spacing; providing an exterior housing having a circumferential wall enclosing a spacing; inserting the distal end of the camera assembly in the spacing of the exterior housing; positioning the proximal end of the exterior housing adjacent to the distal end of the distal end segment; injecting an adhesive into the spacing of the distal end segment so that at least parts of the circuit board are embedded in the adhesive; and allowing or causing the adhesive to harden; whereby the distal end segment, camera assembly and exterior housing form an assembled tip part of an endoscope attached to each other by means of the adhesive.

Abstract: A tip part for an endoscope has a vision receptor having a vision sensor for providing an image from received light, a first lens, and a casing, the casing supporting the first lens so that the casing substantially maintains a position of the first lens in relation to the vision sensor; a first light source; an exterior housing; and a light shield positioned between the vision receptor and the first light source so as to prevent ingress of stray light from the first light source into the vision receptor by optically shielding the vision receptor; wherein the casing is formed integrally with the exterior housing so that the casing also substantially maintains the first lens in a position in relation to the exterior housing.

Abstract: A method for providing an insertion cord of an endoscope with graduated flexibility along the length of the insertion cord. The method includes: providing a main tube having a proximal and a distal end, and subjecting the main tube to a conditioning process including application of heat and a temporary mechanical deformation along at least a part of the length of the main tube between said proximal end and said distal end. The magnitude of the temporary mechanical deformation is varied along said part of the length of the main tube.

Abstract: An endoscope with an articulated bending section body (1) including a number of segments including a proximal segment (2), a distal segment (3) and a number of intermediate segments (4, 4?, 4i) arranged between the proximal segment (2) and the distal segment (3). Each intermediate segment (4, 4?, 4i) comprises at least one through passage for a pull-wire (7). The intermediate segments include (4, 4?, 4i) at least one interface segment (4i) adapted to receive and retain the distal end of a tube (8) surrounding the at least one pull-wire (7).

Abstract: An endoscope including at least one operating element, a steerable deflecting element located at the distal end, an endoscope tip, and a steering wire having a first portion, a second portion and an intermediate portion, wherein the intermediate portion is attached to the deflecting element or to the endoscope tip, operation of the at least one operating element to apply a drag force to the first portion moving the endoscope tip in a first direction, and operation of the at least one operating element or another operating element to apply a drag force to the second portion moves the endoscope tip in a second direction different from the first direction, and/or wherein the intermediate portion of the steering tie element is at least in part received in a clearance provided at/in a distal end portion of the deflecting element and/or at/in the endoscope tip.

Abstract: A video endoscope including an operating handle; an insertion tube extending distally from the operating handle; a camera at the distal end of the insertion tube; a working channel extending from the housing to the distal end of the insertion tube; and control cables; the operating handle including: a housing; a control lever comprising a wall and trunnions extending laterally from the wall; a first wall comprising a first support aperture; a second wall comprising a second support aperture, the first support aperture and the second support aperture receiving the trunnions to facilitate rotation of the control lever; a sealed compartment; and lateral grooves configured to receive guiding cables.

Abstract: A method for manufacture of a tip part for an endoscope including providing a camera assembly with an image sensor and a circuit board; providing a distal end segment having a distal end and a circumferential wall enclosing a spacing; providing an exterior housing having a circumferential wall enclosing a spacing; inserting the distal end of the camera assembly in the spacing of the exterior housing; positioning the proximal end of the exterior housing adjacent to the distal end of the distal end segment; injecting an adhesive into the spacing of the distal end segment so that at least parts of the circuit board are embedded in the adhesive; and allowing or causing the adhesive to harden; whereby the distal end segment, camera assembly and exterior housing form an assembled tip part of an endoscope attached to each other by means of the adhesive.

Abstract: An articulated tip part for an endoscope, and an endoscope, including segments including a distal end segment having an outer wall defining an inner spacing adapted to accommodate a camera assembly therein and a proximal wall having a proximal surface, the distal end segment having an outer surface, wherein adjacent of the segments are interconnected by at least one hinge member to enable bending of the articulated tip part; and an insertion guide adapted to guide a steering wire and including an entry provided in the outer surface of the distal end segment, the insertion guide also including an exit fluidly coupled with and leading to the inner spacing of the distal end segment, whereby an end of a steering wire can be guided into the inner spacing of the distal end segment via the entry of the insertion guide.

Abstract: A video endoscope including an operating handle; an insertion tube extending distally from the operating handle; a camera at the distal end of the insertion tube; a working channel extending from the housing to the distal end of the insertion tube; and control cables; the operating handle including: a housing; a control lever comprising a wall and trunnions extending laterally from the wall, the wall comprising a control lever immobilization aperture; a first wall comprising a first support aperture and a first immobilization aperture; a second wall comprising a second support aperture, the first support aperture and the second support aperture receiving the trunnions to facilitate rotation of the control lever, and the control lever immobilization aperture and the first immobilization aperture being alignable to receive a tool and thereby immobilize the control lever in a neutral position during attachment of the control cables to the control lever.

Abstract: An articulated tip part for an endoscope having a number of hingedly connected segments including a distal end segment and a second segment, wherein adjacent segments are interconnected by at least one hinge member, whereby the tip part can be bent by means of the hingedly connected segments, wherein the distal end segment comprises a first steering wire guide for accommodating and guiding a steering wire, and wherein the second segment comprises an insertion guide with an entry in an outer circumferential surface of the second segment and an exit aligned with an entry into the first steering wire guide, whereby an end of a steering wire can be guided into the entry of the first steering wire guide via the insertion guide.

Abstract: A method for manufacture of a tip part for an endoscope including providing a camera assembly, an exterior housing including a circumferential wall enclosing a spacing and a distal end wall integral with the circumferential wall and having an opening; inserting a lens barrel of the camera assembly in the spacing so that a distal end of the lens barrel of the camera assembly extends into the opening, and so that an axially extending adhesive spacing is provided between the opening and the lens barrel along a circumference of the lens barrel, a radial extent of the adhesive spacing gradually being reduced in a direction towards the spacing of the exterior housing; injecting an adhesive into the adhesive spacing; and allowing or causing the adhesive to harden so as to adhere the lens barrel to the distal end wall of the exterior housing.

Abstract: An endoscope (1) having a handle with a handle housing (2) and an insertion tube (3) extending from said handle (2) and terminating in a tip part (4) at the distal end of the endoscope (1). A working channel and having a distal end and a proximal end extends within the insertion tube (3). The endoscope further comprises motion transfer means (53, 54) extending within said working channel and adapted to operate a tool (55) at the exit port of the tip part (4) in response to the activation of an operating member (22). The working channel comprises a generally tubular working channel wall. The distal working channel end comprises an exit port at the tip part (4) at the distal end of the endoscope (1). The proximal working channel end comprises an end sealing means accommodated within the handle housing (2). An entry port is provided between the distal working channel end and the proximal working channel end.

Abstract: A tip part for an endoscope has a vision receptor having a vision sensor for providing an image from received light; a first light source; an exterior housing; and a first lens positioned in front of the first light source so that a portion of light emitted from the first light source travels towards and propagates through the first lens; the exterior housing comprising a window consisting essentially of a transparent material, so that light emitted from the first light source can pass through the window to the exterior, the window comprising an exterior surface positioned at in front of the first light source, wherein the first lens is a convex lens and has a convex lens surface integrally provided on an interior surface of the window.

Abstract: An endoscope tip part for an endoscope for visually inspecting inaccessible places, including a tip housing enclosing a sealed interior space and including a transparent portion; an image sensor viewing in an optical direction through the transparent portion of the tip housing; a light guide component having a light entry surface and a light exit surface; a first light source having a light-emitting surface and being configured to emit light from the light-emitting surface in a central illumination direction; and an electrical circuit in electrical communication with the image sensor and the first light source, wherein the first light source, the image sensor, and the electrical circuit are accommodated in the sealed interior space of the tip housing, wherein the first light source is attached to the light guide component.