Patent ID: 9655502
Date: 2017-05-23
CPC Classifications: A61B

Claim:
1. An endoscope comprising: an elongated shaft, defined by a longitudinal axis, having a distal section, wherein said distal section comprises: a permanent section fixedly connected to the elongated shaft and comprising a first semi-cylindrical portion that extends along said longitudinal axis and a second semi-cylindrical portion that extends along said longitudinal axis, wherein said first semi-cylindrical portion is longer than said second semi-cylindrical portion, at least one recess in said first semi-cylindrical portion, a cylindrical recess in the second semi-cylindrical portion, at least one working channel positioned between a top surface of the first semi-cylindrical portion of said permanent section and said recess; a semi-cylindrical removable section comprising at least one protrusion adapted to be slidably inserted into the recess in the first semi-cylindrical portion and a cylindrical protrusion adapted to be slidably inserted into said cylindrical recess, thereby securely connecting the removable section to both the first semi-cylindrical portion and the second semi-cylindrical portion of the permanent section, wherein the removable section comprises at least one capture device and at least one light source and wherein, upon attachment of the removable section to the permanent section, a substantially cylindrical endoscope tip is formed; a locking mechanism configured to form a connection between the permanent section and the semi-cylindrical removable section; a button positioned in a recess located on a side of the permanent section or semi-cylindrical removable section, wherein the button is configured to release the connection, wherein the connection is configured to only be released if a corresponding command is provided from a control on a display device and wherein said corresponding command is configured to cause an electrical or mechanical effect required for releasing the connection.