Importance

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Abstract

An endoscope has a shaft (4) detachably connected to a handle (2) to enable the shaft (4) to be detached for repair or maintenance. The shaft (4) and handle (2) are detachably connected by spring-loaded latches (10) in the handle which are frictionally engageable with pins (8) projecting from the coupling face of the shaft (4). An external locking sleeve (20) prevents inadvertent separation of the shaft and handle. Illuminating light and the image to be viewed are coupled across the handle/shaft interface by abutting ends of fiber optic bundles (76, 80, 86, 92). The shaft (4) can be flexed by adjustment of manual controls on the handle as a result of racks (40, 44) in the handle (2) exerting a pushing motion on racks (50, 52) in the shaft (4), this pushing motion being transmitted into a pulling action applied to flexure wires (66, 62) extending in the shaft by virtue of pinions (54, 56) interconnecting the two racks of each pair of racks (50, 52) in the shaft (4). An alternative embodiment (FIGS. 14 and 15) has meshing gears on the shaft and handle to transmit across the handle/shaft interface the motion which flexes the shaft.

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First Claim