Importance

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Abstract

A protective tube covering an insertion portion of an endoscope is shorter than an inner structure of the insertion portion, and a protective tube covering a bending portion is longer than an inner structure of the bending portion. The front end of the protective tube of the insertion portion, as well as the rear end of the protective tube of the bending portion, is disposed a predetermined distance rearwardly from a portion of connection between the inner structure of the insertion portion and the inner structure of the bending portion. The protective tube of the bending portion covers not only the inner structure of the bending portion but also the above connection portion and the front end portion of the inner structure of the insertion portion. Since the protective tube of the bending portion is softer than the protective tube of the insertion portion, the front end portion of the insertion portion covered by the former protective tube is more flexible and bendable than the other portion of the insertion portion, and serves as an insertion guide portion. In order to restrain a slack of the protective tube of the bending portion, a portion of this protective tube intermediate the opposite ends thereof is fixed to the outer periphery of at least one of the inner structure of the insertion portion, the inner structure of the bending portion and the connection portion.

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First Claim