Endoscope bending section control mechanism

Abstract

An endoscope (1) having a handle (2), an insertion portion (3) arranged at the distal end of the handle, a bending portion (4) arranged at the distal end of the insertion portion, and two control wires (40, 41) used to control the bending of the bending portion via control inputs made at the handle. The handle includes at least one lever member (21) pivotable about a pivot axis (22), a pulley element (42) located between the proximal end of the handle and the pivot axis of the lever member.

1 - 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A method of manufacturing an endoscope, the method comprising:
 providing a housing having a proximal end opposite a distal end, the housing having a support pillar affixed thereto;   attaching a control lever to the housing, the control lever rotatable about a pivot axis, wherein the support pillar is affixed intermediate the pivot axis and the distal end of the housing;   attaching an insertion portion to the housing, wherein the insertion portion extends from the distal end of the housing and has a proximal end with an entrance opening;   attaching a bending portion to the insertion portion;   attaching a rigid tip portion to the bending portion;   arranging a camera in the rigid tip portion;   operably connecting steering control wires to the bending portion and the control lever, the control wires at least partially enclosed by wire sheaths having proximal ends and distal ends, wherein rotating the control lever about the pivot axis bends the bending portion; and   affixing each of the wire sheaths to the support pillar such that the proximal ends of the wire sheaths are longitudinally aligned with portions of the steering control wires extending between the control lever and the support pillar to thereby minimize friction between the steering control wires and the wire sheaths.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein affixing each of the wire sheaths to the support pillar forms arcuate wire sheath portions between the support pillar and the entrance opening of the proximal end of the insertion portion after the endoscope is finally assembled. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the support pillar has a proximal surface proximal of a distal surface and lateral surfaces extending between the proximal surface and the distal surface, and wherein affixing each of the wire sheaths to the support pillar comprises affixing the wire sheaths to the support pillar between the lateral surfaces. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising attaching a tube defining a working channel to a working channel inlet in the housing located distal of the support pillar and proximal of the entrance opening of the insertion portion, the tube extending through the insertion portion to the rigid tip portion. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising attaching the wire sheaths to the proximal end of the bending portion. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the support pillar includes two holes and the wire sheaths consist of two wire sheaths, the method further comprising inserting each proximal end of the two wire sheaths through one of the two holes to allow individual adjustment of end positions of the proximal ends of the two wire sheaths. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising attaching a tube defining a working channel to a working channel inlet in the housing located distal of the support pillar and proximal of the entrance opening of the insertion portion, the tube extending through the insertion portion to the rigid tip portion. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein affixing each of the wire sheaths to the support pillar comprises adjustably attaching the wire sheaths to the support pillar to control tensions in the control wires, and wherein affixing each of the wire sheaths forms arcuate wire sheath portions between the support pillar and the entrance opening of the proximal end of the insertion portion after the endoscope is finally assembled. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising attaching a fastening device adjacent the proximal end of the insertion portion, the fastening device comprising a body and two parallel longitudinal portions connected to and extending from the body; and passing a wire connected to the camera through the insertion portion and one of the two longitudinal portions into the housing and out of the housing through the other of the two longitudinal portions, wherein the wire is adapted to electronically connect the camera to a control device. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the support pillar includes two holes and the wire sheaths consist of two wire sheaths, the method further comprising inserting each proximal end of the two wire sheaths through one of the two holes and adjustably attaching the wire sheaths to the support pillar to control tensions in the control wires. 
     
     
         26 . A method of manufacturing an endoscope, the method comprising:
 providing a housing having a proximal end opposite a distal end, the housing having a support pillar affixed thereto;   attaching a control lever to the housing, the control lever rotatable about a pivot axis, wherein the support pillar is affixed intermediate the pivot axis and the distal end of the housing;   attaching an insertion portion to the housing, wherein the insertion portion extends from the distal end of the housing and has a proximal end with an entrance opening;   attaching a bending portion to the insertion portion;   attaching a rigid tip portion to the bending portion;   arranging a camera in the rigid tip portion;   operably connecting steering control wires to the bending portion and the control lever, the control wires at least partially enclosed by wire sheaths having proximal ends and distal ends, wherein rotating the control lever about the pivot axis bends the bending portion; and   affixing each of the wire sheaths to the support pillar forming arcuate wire sheath portions between the support pillar and the entrance opening of the proximal end of the insertion portion after the endoscope is finally assembled.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the support pillar includes two holes, the method further comprising inserting proximal ends of the steering wire sheaths through the two holes to allow individual adjustment of end positions of the proximal ends of the two steering wire sheaths. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein attaching the two steering wire sheaths to the support pillar comprises adjustably attaching the two steering wire sheaths to the support pillar to control tensions in the control wires. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the wire sheaths have proximal ends, the method further comprising attaching the proximal ends to the support pillar such that the proximal ends are longitudinally aligned with portions of the control wires extending between the user control member and the support pillar to thereby minimize friction between the control wires and the wire sheaths. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising attaching a fastening device adjacent the proximal end of the insertion portion, the fastening device comprising a body and two parallel longitudinal portions connected to and extending from the body; and passing a wire connected to the camera through the insertion portion and one of the two longitudinal portions into the housing and out of the housing through the other of the two longitudinal portions, wherein the wire is adapted to electronically connect the camera to a control device. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the support pillar has a proximal surface proximal of a distal surface and lateral surfaces extending between the proximal surface and the distal surface, and wherein affixing each of the wire sheaths to the support pillar comprises affixing the wire sheaths to the support pillar between the lateral surfaces. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising attaching a tube defining a working channel to a working channel inlet in the housing located distal of the support pillar and proximal of the entrance opening of the insertion portion, the tube extending through the insertion portion to the rigid tip portion.