Wire guiding component and endoscope comprising at least one pulling wire

The present invention relates to a wire guiding component for an endoscope comprising at least one pulling wire for actuating an endoscope head deflection, and to an endoscope comprising at least one pulling wire.

An endoscope comprising a control unit, an endoscope shaft, an endoscope head and a bending portion is known. The bending portion is, for example, arranged between the endoscope shaft and the endoscope head and is used for bending the endoscope head. For actuating an endoscope head deflection in the endoscope, pulling wires are used which are actuated on the proximal side of the control unit by a joystick, for example.

These pulling wires extend through the endoscope in the axial direction. The pulling wires are tensioned between a pulling wire anchoring point on the distal side and the mentioned joystick.

The tension of the pulling wires in the endoscope may decrease over time. When the pulling wires for controlling a bending portion have become loose in an endoscope, it may happen that the desired deflection movement is not achieved by the actuation of the joystick.

Then, retensioning the pulling wires can reestablish the desired relation between the desired deflection movement and the actually achieved actuation of the joystick.

The situation becomes more difficult when the tension of several pulling wires has decreased to different extents. This may occur, for example, when an endoscope is stored over a long period of time with the endoscope shaft (endoscope tube) being rolled up. Then, it may happen that the pulling wires in the rolled-up endoscope shaft are stressed to different extents and show a varying decrease in tension over time. In other words, one pulling wire may have a different change in tension compared to the originally tensioned state than another (e.g. adjacent) pulling wire. In such a case, retensioning the pulling wires becomes very complicated.

It is the object of the present invention to provide measures to improve a possible retensioning of pulling wires in an endoscope.

This object is achieved by a wire guiding component comprising the features of claim 1. An endoscope is shown in claim 11. Advantageous further developments are described in the dependent claims.

Thus, the invention relates to a wire guiding component for an endoscope, comprising at least one pulling wire for actuating an endoscope head deflection. In the wire guiding component, a pulling wire guide of the at least one pulling wire makes a transition from the axially central guide to the guide spaced apart from the axial central axis.

By means of such a wire guiding component, a transition from an axially central guide of pulling wires to a guide spaced apart from the axial central axis can be effected at an appropriate location along an endoscope. Hence, an axially central arrangement of pulling wires can be applied over a predetermined region in the endoscope. Advantageously, axially centrally arranged pulling wires are exposed to a very low tension when the endoscope is being rolled up.

The wire guiding component can comprise a wire guiding inner part having at least one wire guiding channel for a pulling wire on its outer circumferential surface, wherein the wire guiding channel makes a transition from a proximal, axially central position of the wire guiding inner part to a distal position of the wire guiding inner part, said position being spaced apart from the axial central axis. Thus, the transition of the pulling wire guide from the axially central guide to the pulling wire guide spaced apart from the axial central axis can be realized in a component, which is specifically provided for this purpose and can be arranged at an appropriate location in the endoscope. In the wire guiding component, the wire guiding inner part can have an outer diameter increasing from the proximal side towards the distal side. The wire guiding channel can be open on the radially outer side. The wire guiding component can further comprise a wire guiding outer part. The wire guiding outer part can have an inner space into which the wire guiding inner part can be inserted. The wire guiding outer part can comprise a wire guiding outer part axial guiding member for interlockingly guiding the wire guiding inner part in the axial direction of the wire guiding outer part. Further, the wire guiding inner part can, on its outer circumference, have a wire guiding inner part axial guiding member adapted to the shape of the wire guiding outer part axial guiding member. Thus, a wire guiding component in which the wire guiding channel is arranged between the wire guiding inner part and the wire guiding outer part can be used. The wire guiding component has a structure that makes it possible to realize, over a very short axial distance, the transition from the axially central pulling wire guide to the pulling wire guide spaced apart from the axial central axis.

By appropriately designing the length of the wire guiding component, the axial length, which is needed in the endoscope for the transition of the pulling wire guide from the axially central guide to the pulling wire guide spaced apart from the axial central axis, can be determined.

Moreover, the wire guiding outer part axial guiding member can have a wall extending in the axial direction. The wall can have a radially inner guiding surface on which the wire guiding inner part axial guiding member is guided; and the wall can have a radially outer surface which forms a lumen for a working channel, a fluid channel or a signal cable channel. Thus, the lumina needed for the endoscope can also be space-efficiently accommodated in the wire guiding component, without affecting the wire guide.

The wire guiding component can comprise: a wire guiding ring on whose inner circumferential surface at least one pulling wire is arranged; and a wire guiding member including a central lumen on the central axis of the wire guiding member for guiding the at least one pulling wire. The inner circumferential surface of the wire guiding ring lies at a position spaced apart from the axial central axis of the wire guiding ring. Thus, the transition of the pulling wire guide from the axi- ally central guide to the pulling wire guide spaced apart from the axial central axis takes place between the wire guiding member including the central lumen and the wire guiding ring. The axial length required in the endoscope for the transition of the pulling wire guide from the axially central guide to the pulling wire guide spaced apart from the axial central axis is defined by the distance between the wire guiding member including the central lumen and the wire guiding ring.

The wire guiding component can comprise a tube member having at least one radial slit for a pulling wire, the slit extending axially along the tube member; wherein the tube member is arranged between the wire guiding ring and the wire guiding member. Here, the length of the tube member defines the axial length required in the endoscope for the transition of the pulling wire guide from the axially central guide to the pulling wire guide spaced apart from the axial central axis. The pulling wire extends in the radial slit.

Spaced apart from the radial slit, the tube member can comprise at least one lumen extending axially along the tube member. Thus, here too, the lumina required for the endoscope can be space-efficiently accommodated without affecting the wire guide.

The wire guiding ring can be arranged on the distal side of a bending portion which can be formed by the tube member, and the wire guiding member can be arranged in an endoscope shaft.

The invention further relates to an endoscope comprising a control unit, an endoscope shaft, an endoscope head and a bending portion between the endoscope shaft and the endoscope head for bending the endoscope head, wherein at least one pulling wire for actuating an endoscope head deflection in the endoscope is arranged so as to extend in the axial direction of the endoscope. The at least one pulling wire for actuating an endoscope head deflection is guided axially centrally in the endoscope. In such an endoscope, the axially centrally arranged pulling wires are not exposed to any tension or are only exposed to very little tension when the endoscope is being rolled up.

The endoscope shaft can comprise a central lumen on the central axis of the endoscope shaft for guiding the at least one pulling wire. The transition of the pulling wire guide from the axially central guide to the pulling wire guide spaced apart from the axial central axis can be positioned at an arbitrary location between the endoscope shaft and the endoscope head.

At the bending portion, the at least one pulling wire can be arranged spaced apart from the axial central axis of the endoscope head. The transition of the pulling wire guide from the axially central guide to the pulling wire guide spaced apart from the axial central axis can thus be positioned at an arbitrary location between the endoscope shaft and the bending portion.

At the endoscope head, the at least one pulling wire can be arranged in the region of the outer circumference of the endoscope head.

In the endoscope, a region in which the pulling wire guide of the at least one pulling wire makes a transition from the axially central guide to the guide spaced apart from the axial central axis can be provided. The arrangement of this region in the endoscope can be appropriately selected. Positioning this region far towards the distal side ensures a very long central guide of the pulling wire. A maximum length of a central guide of the pulling wire is made possible by the invention.

The pulling wire transition from the axially central guide to the guide spaced apart from the axial central axis can be located between the bending portion and the endoscope shaft.

Such an endoscope may comprise the previously described wire guiding component. The previously described aspects of the present invention can be appropriately combined.

Brief description of the drawings

Figure 1 shows a side view of a distal portion of a wire guiding component of a first embodiment.

Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the distal portion of the wire guiding component of the first embodiment.

Figure 3 shows a perspective view of the distal portion of the wire guiding component of the first embodiment.

Figure 4 shows a perspective view of the distal portion of the wire guiding component of the first embodiment.

Figure 5 shows a perspective view of the distal portion of the wire guiding component of the first embodiment.

Figure 6 shows a perspective view of an intermediate portion of the wire guiding component of the first embodiment.

Figure 7 shows a perspective view of the intermediate portion of the wire guiding component of the first embodiment.

Figure 8 shows a front view of the intermediate portion of the wire guiding component of the first embodiment.

Figure 9 shows a perspective view of a proximal portion of a wire guiding component of a first embodiment. Figure 10 shows a perspective view of the proximal portion of the wire guiding component of the first embodiment.

Figure 11 shows a perspective view of the complete wire guiding component of the first embodiment.

Figure 12 shows a perspective view of the complete wire guiding component of the first embodiment.

Figure 13 shows a perspective view of a wire guiding component of a second embodiment in the disassembled state.

Figure 14 shows a perspective view of the wire guiding component of the second embodiment in the assembled state.

Figure 15 shows a perspective sectional view of the wire guiding component of the second embodiment in the assembled state.

Figure 16 shows a perspective exploded view of a part of an endoscope into which the wire guiding component of the second embodiment is installed.

Figure 17 shows a cross-sectional view of a bending portion of the second embodiment.

In the following, the present invention is described in detail with reference to the drawings by using embodiments.

Embodiment 1

Initially, a first embodiment of the present invention is described with reference to Figures 1 to 12.

In the first embodiment, an inventive wire guiding component 1 comprises a distal portion 11, an intermediate portion 12 and a proximal portion 13. Figures 1 to 5 show the distal portion 11 of the wire guiding component 1 of the first embodiment.

The distal portion 11 is formed by a ring 11A made of metal or plastic and including an inner circumferential surface 11C. The size of the ring 11A is dimensioned such that its outer circumferential surface has approximately the outer diameter of an endoscope in which the inventive wire guiding component is applied. The ring 11A forms a wire guiding ring in accordance with the invention.

On the inner circumferential surface 11C, the wire ends l lBa of a pulling wire 11B are arranged in direct contact with the inner circumferential surface 11C. The pulling wire 11B forms a pulling wire for actuating an endoscope head deflection. Here, a "pulling wire" is to be understood as a cable or wire capable of being tensioned between a pulling wire anchoring point on a distal side and a pulling wire control element (e.g. a joystick) on a proximal side to transmit a deflection movement of the pulling wire control element to the pulling wire anchoring point as a pulling movement (pulling force) or pushing movement. The material of the pulling wire is not restricted here.

In the present embodiment, wire ends l lBa of three pulling wires 11B are arranged on the inner circumferential surface 11C. Thus, three wire ends l lBa are provided on the inner circumferential surface 11C.

The wire ends l lBa can be soldered, glued, press-fitted or attached in any other suitable manner to the inner circumferential surface 11C.

On the inner circumferential surface 11C, the wire ends l lBa can be arranged such that the distances between the wire ends l lBa are irregular, as it is shown in Figure 2. More precisely, here, a wire end l lBa on the left of Figure 2 is further spaced apart from the two wire ends l lBa on the right in Figure 2 than the two right wire ends l lBa are spaced apart from each other. Alternatively, the wire ends llBa on the inner circumferential surface 11C can be arranged such that the distances between the wire ends llBa are equal (offset by 120 degrees).

The ring 11A can be arranged on the distal side of an endoscope head body. The ring 11A can be formed integrally with the endoscope head body. Alternatively, the ring 11A can be provided separately from the endoscope head body on the distal side of the endoscope head body.

Figures 6 to 8 show the intermediate portion 12 of the wire guiding component 1 of the first embodiment.

The intermediate portion 12 is cylindrically formed and has a constant outer diameter over its axial length, which may correspond to the outer diameter of an endoscope. In particular, an elastic bending portion of an endoscope can form the intermediate portion 12. Thus, in the present embodiment, the intermediate portion 12 is made of an elastic material.

On its inside, the intermediate portion 12 comprises a pulling wire channel 12A, a first lumen 12B, a second lumen 12C and a third lumen 12D which pass through the intermediate portion 12 in the axial direction.

The pulling wire channel 12A is formed by three radially extending slits extending from a common axis in the radial direction, see Figure 8. In other words - when viewed in cross-section - the three radially extending slits are connected to each other on their radially inner end. The common axis of the three radially extending slits is eccentric to the axis of the intermediate portion 12. Further, the radial dimensions of all three radially extending slits in the pulling wire channel 12A are selected such that the radially extending slit on the right in Figure 8 has a longer radial dimension than the two radially extending slits on the left. The radially extending slit on the right in Figure 8 is provided for the pulling wire 11B shown on the left in Figure 2. The shape of the pulling wire channel 12A is thus adapted to the arrangement of the pulling wires 11B on the ring 11A of the distal portion The intermediate portion 12 forms a tube member with three radial slits for the pulling wires 11B, the slits extending axially along the tube member.

The shape of the pulling wire channel 12A remains constant over the entire axial length of the pulling wire channel 12A, see Figure 7, which depicts the intermediate portion 12 as transparent body to demonstrate the structure of the intermediate portion 12. More precisely, the cross-sectional shape of the intermediate portion 12 remains the same over the entire axial length of the intermediate portion 12.

The first lumen 12B, the second lumen 12C and the third lumen 12D each have a circular shape in cross-section and form a camera cable channel, a working channel and a fluid channel. The lumina 12B, 12C and 12D are spaced apart from each other and from the pulling wire channel 12A. In particular, in cross-section, each one of the lumina 12B, 12C and 12D is arranged adjacent to one of the radially extending slits of the pulling wire channel 12A. Further, each one of the lumina 12B, 12C and 12D is arranged such that it is disposed in a sandwich-like manner between two of the three axially extending radial slits of the pulling wire channel 12A.

Figures 9 and 10 show the proximal portion 13 of the wire guiding component 1 of the first embodiment.

The proximal portion 13 is formed in a cylindrical shape and has a constant outer diameter over its axial length, which can correspond to the outer diameter of an endoscope. Particularly, a complete endoscope tube or at least a distal end portion of an endoscope tube can form the proximal portion 13. Thus, the proximal portion 13 is made of an elastic material in the present embodiment. It has to be noted that the intermediate portion 12 has a higher elasticity than the proximal portion 13. On its inside, the proximal portion 13 comprises a pulling wire channel 13A, a first lumen 13B, a second lumen 13C and a third lumen 13D which pass through the proximal portion 13 in the axial direction.

The pulling wire channel 13A is arranged centrically in the proximal portion 13. In other words, the pulling wire channel 13A is provided along the axis of the proximal portion 13. The pulling wire channel 13A has an inner width which is large enough to offer sufficient space for the provided pulling wires, here the three pulling wires 11B. In other words, the pulling wire channel 13A is large enough to provide sufficient space for the pulling wires to be arranged in the pulling wire channel 13A under consideration of the moving space of the pulling wires.

The proximal portion 13 forms a wire guiding member comprising a central lumen on the central axis of the wire guiding member for guiding the pulling wires. The pulling wire channel 13A forms the central lumen.

The first lumen 13B, the second lumen 13C and the third lumen 13D each have a circular shape in cross-section and form a camera cable channel, a working channel and a fluid channel. The lumina 13B, 13C and 13D are spaced apart from each other and surround the centric pulling wire channel 13A. The lumina 13B, 13C and 13D each form an extension of the mentioned lumina 12B, 12C and 12D of the intermediate portion 12.

The cross-sectional shape of the proximal portion 13 remains constant over the entire axial length of the proximal portion 13, see Figure 10, which depicts the proximal portion 13 as transparent body to demonstrate the structure of the proximal portion 13.

Figures 11 and 12 show the assembly of the entire wire guiding component of the first embodiment.

The pulling wires 11B are inserted into the pulling wire channel 12A of the intermediate portion 12, pass through the pulling wire channel 12A of the intermedi- ate portion 12 and are inserted into the pulling wire channel 13A of the proximal portion 13 and pass through the proximal portion 13 up to a control element (not shown). In the assembled state, the intermediate portion 12 is arranged between the distal portion 11 and the proximal portion 13, as it is shown in Figure 11.

Here, the radial location of the respective pulling wire 11B extends in the distal direction from a radially inner position at the distal end of the centric pulling wire channel 13A of the proximal portion 13 to a radially outer position on the ring

11 A.

The respective pulling wire 11B is led from an axially central guide on the proximal portion 13 to a guide spaced apart from the axial central axis on the ring 11A.

The intermediate portion 12 acts as a spacing piece between the proximal portion 13 and the ring 11A. The length of the intermediate portion 12 thus influences the inclination angle of the respective pulling wire 11B from the proximal portion 13 to the ring 11A. In other words, shortening the intermediate portion

12 entails a steeper inclination angle of the respective pulling wire 11B from the proximal portion 13 to the ring 11A. On the other hand, a long intermediate portion 12 causes a flat inclination angle of the respective pulling wire 11B from the proximal portion 13 to the ring 11A.

The wire guiding component of the first embodiment can be applied to an endoscope comprising a control unit, an endoscope shaft, an endoscope head and a bending portion between the endoscope shaft and the endoscope head for bending the endoscope head. In this endoscope, the three pulling wires 11B for actuating an endoscope head deflection in the endoscope are arranged so as to extend in the axial direction of the endoscope. The ring 11 can be arranged on the distal side of the endoscope head. The intermediate portion 12 can function as bending portion. The proximal portion 13 can form the endoscope shaft or the endoscope tube. In such an endoscope, the three pulling wires 11B are guided axially centrally in the endoscope in the endoscope shaft or in the endoscope tube. Seen in the distal direction, the pulling wires 11B leave the axially central guide only just before the endoscope head and turn radially outwards to the ring 11 on the endoscope head.

Since the pulling wires 11B are positioned axially centrally in the endoscope, they are not exposed to any tension or only to very little tension, even in the rolled-up state of the endoscope.

In a conventional case, in which the pulling wires in the endoscope are guided eccentrically, the pulling wires are subjected to different tensions in the rolled-up endoscope shaft. In the rolled-up endoscope shaft, a pulling wire located further to the outside is tensioned more than a pulling wire located further to the inside.

In contrast thereto, in the present invention, the pulling wires in the rolled-up endoscope shaft are tensioned to approximately the same extent, since they are located centrically in the endoscope and close to each other. Thus, if the pulling wires show a certain decrease in tension over time, retensioning the pulling wires becomes easy.

Embodiment 2

Subsequently, a second embodiment of the present invention is described with reference to Figures 13 to 17.

In the first embodiment, the transition from the centric to the eccentric guide of the pulling wires takes place between the proximal portion 13 and the distal portion 11 (more precisely, the ring 11A). In the present second embodiment, however, the transition from the centric to the eccentric guide of the pulling wires takes place on a specifically designed shape of a wire guiding component 101. This wire guiding component 101 of the second embodiment consists of a wire guiding inner part 110 and a wire guiding outer part 120. The wire guiding outer part 120 has an inner space into which the wire guiding inner part 110 can be inserted.

The wire guiding inner part 110 has a cone-like structure with an outer diameter increasing from the proximal side toward the distal side. On its outer circumferential surface, the wire guiding inner part 110 has a wire guiding channel 112 formed as a groove. Thus, the wire guiding channel 112 formed as a groove is open on the radially outer side of the wire guiding inner part 110. The wire guiding channel 112 extends in the axial direction of the wire guiding inner part 110. The wire guiding channel 112 extends on the outer circumference so that it makes a transition from a proximal axially central position of the wire guiding inner part 110 to a distal position of the wire guiding inner part 110, said position being spaced apart from the axial central axis, as it is shown in Figure 13. At the position of the wire guiding inner part 110 spaced apart from the axial central axis, i.e. at the distal end portion of the wire guiding inner part 110, the wire guiding channel 112 extends in the distal direction on an outer circumferential portion 116 of the wire guiding inner part 110. Thus, the wire guiding channel 112 ascends from the proximal side, on which the wire guiding channel 112 is arranged in the region of the central axis of the wire guiding inner part 110, radially outward toward the distal side.

In the present embodiment, the wire guiding inner part 110 has three wire guiding channels 112 distributed on the circumference of the wire guiding inner part 110 at regular intervals, i.e. spaced apart by 120°.

The wire guiding part 110 further comprises three axial grooves 114 on the outer circumference which extend straight in the axial direction. The three grooves 114 and the three wire guiding channels 112 are alternately arranged on the outer circumference of the wire guiding inner part 110. In other words, the grooves 114 and the wire guiding channels 112 are arranged on the outer circumference in a sandwich-like manner so that a groove 114 is always provided between two wire guiding channels 112 and a wire guiding channel 112 is provided between two grooves 114.

On the wire guiding inner part 110, the grooves 114 form an axial guiding member for the subsequently described wire guiding outer part 120, i.e. a wire guiding inner part axial guiding member.

The wire guiding outer part 120 has a sleeve-like structure. In other words, the wire guiding outer part 120 forms a cylinder with an outer circumferential surface 126. A cavity 121 into which the wire guiding inner part 110 can be inserted is provided inside the wire guiding outer part 120. The cavity 121 tapers in the proximal direction and is adapted to the outer shape of the wire guiding inner part 110.

More precisely, the cavity 121 is adjacent to an axially extending cylindrical wall 122. The cylindrical wall 122 forms an outer wall of a lumen 124 extending in the axial direction of the wire guiding outer part 120.

Three cylindrical walls 122 provided on the circumference of the wire guiding outer part 120 are provided at regular intervals, i.e. spaced apart by 120°, in the wire guiding outer part 120, as it is shown in Figure 13. Thus, three lumina 124 are provided in the wire guiding outer part 120, e.g. one respective lumen 124 for a working channel, a fluid channel and a camera cable channel.

The wire guiding outer part 120 thus comprises a respective counter piece for each of the wire guiding channels 112 of the wire guiding inner part 110. As it can be seen in Figure 15, the wire guiding channels 112 extend in the assembled wire guiding component 101 from the distal side to the proximal side in such a manner that they make a transition from an axially central guide to a guide radially offset to the outside axially from the center. The transition from the axially central guide to the guide radially offset to the outside axially from the center preferably takes place in an approximate S-shape, see Figure 15. On the wire guiding outer part 120, the respective wire guiding channel 112 emerges radially to the outside on a cutout 127 on the outer circumferential surface 126 to then extend in the distal direction in parallel to the axis of the assembled wire guiding component 101, see Figure 14.

Figure 16 shows a perspective exploded view of a portion of an endoscope in which the wire guiding component of the second embodiment is installed.

This endoscope comprises an endoscope shaft (endoscope tube) 130 including an axially central wire guiding channel 131 for pulling wires 109. The endoscope shaft 130 is surrounded by a mesh 140 which is, in turn, surrounded by a sheath 150.

The pulling wires 109 guided centrally in the endoscope shaft 130, i.e. in the region of the central axis of the endoscope shaft 130, extend in the distal direction from the endoscope shaft 130 into the wire guiding component 101. Seen from the distal direction, the transition from the axially central guide to the guide of the pulling wires 109 radially offset to the outside axially from the center takes place in the wire guiding component 101. The bending portion 108 is arranged distally from the wire guiding component 101.

On its outer circumferential surface, the bending portion 108 includes pulling wire lumina 108A extending in the axial direction, in which the pulling wires 109 are provided, and axial lumina for other purposes.

Figure 17 shows a cross-sectional view of the bending portion 108. In particular, a lumen 124A for a working channel, a lumen 124B for a fluid channel and a lumen 124C for a camera cable are shown here as the mentioned lumina. Each one of the lumina 124A, 124B and 124C is arranged so that it is disposed in a sandwich-like manner between two of the three axially extending pulling wire lumina 108A.

Also in the endoscope of this embodiment the three pulling wires 109 are axially centrally guided in the endoscope in the endoscope shaft or the endoscope tube. Seen in the distal direction, the pulling wires 109 in the wire guiding component 101 leave the axially central guide only just before the bending portion 108 and turn radially outward to further extend axially in the distal direction.

Since the pulling wires 109 are located axially centrally in the endoscope, they are, even in the rolled-up state of the endoscope, not exposed to any or only to a slight tension. Thus, also here, retensioning of the pulling wires is made easy if the pulling wires show a certain decrease in tension over time.

Alternatives

In embodiment 1, the intermediate portion 12 is arranged between the distal portion 11 (the ring) and the proximal portion 13, wherein the pulling wire passes through the inner space of the intermediate portion 12 formed by the pulling wire channel 12A. In an alternative, the intermediate portion 12 can be omitted and a spacer element can be arranged between the distal portion 11 (the ring) and the proximal portion 13. The spacer element does not have to comprise a specific pulling wire channel, but may include the lumina 12B - 12D. In a further alternative, a spacer element can be arranged between the distal portion 11 and the proximal portion 13, the spacer element including neither a pulling wire channel nor lumina. Tube elements which are separate from this spacer element and arranged between the respective lumen on the distal portion 11 and the respective lumen on the proximal portion 13 can be used for the lumina 12B - 12D.

In the first and second embodiments, the wire guiding component comprises three lumina. The number of lumina is yet not limited. No lumen, one lumen, two lumina or four or more lumina can be provided in an axially extending manner. The type of the lumina is not restricted, either. The lumina may also be used for other purposes than the ones mentioned.

In the first and second embodiments, the respective wire guiding component comprises three pulling wires. The number of pulling wires is yet not limited. Only one pulling wire or two pulling wires or four or more pulling wires may be provided. In embodiment 1, the common axis of the three radially extending slits is eccentric to the axis of the intermediate portion 12. If an alternative embodiment is chosen, in which the wire ends llBa are arranged on the inner circumferential surface 11C at the distal portion 11 so that the distances between the wire ends llBa are equal (offset by 120 degrees), the common axis of the three radially extending slits can be congruent with the axis of the intermediate portion 12. In this case, the radial dimensions of all three radially extending slits in the pulling wire channel 12A can be identical.

In the embodiments, the pulling wires are guided centrally in the endoscope, i.e. in the region of the central axis of the endoscope, at least in the endoscope shaft. The transition from the centric guide of the pulling wires to the eccentric guide (or attachment) of the pulling wires is achieved by the wire guiding component. The wire guiding component is arranged on the distal side of the endoscope head or the bending portion. The invention is not restricted thereto. The wire guiding component may be arranged on an arbitrary location along the wire guide along the endoscope. Already a short section of centrally guided pulling wires in the endoscope has the effect of a certain advantageous low tension of the pulling wires for this region of the endoscope.

The present invention may not only be applied to a flexible endoscope, but also to a rigid endoscope. The principle of the present invention may be applied to all types of endoscopes.

The described alternatives may be appropriately combined. List of reference signs

I wire guiding component

II distal portion

11A ring

11B pulling wire

llBa wire end llC inner circumferential surface

12 intermediate portion

12A pulling wire channel

12B lumen

12C lumen

12D lumen

13 proximal portion

13A pulling wire channel

13B lumen

13C lumen

13D lumen

101 wire guiding component

108 bending portion

108A pulling wire lumen

109 pulling wire

110 inner part

112 wire guiding channel, groove

114 radial cutout

116 outer circumferential surface

120 outer part

122 lumen outer wall surface

124 lumen inner wall surface

126 outer circumferential surface

127 wall cutout

130 endoscope shaft

131 wire guiding channel 140 mesh

150 sheath