Patent ID: 8292803
Filing Date: 2012-10-23
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. An endoscope comprising: an insertion section including: at least one first inner component having a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end of the first inner component being secured at the endoscope distal-end portion and the first inner component passing through the bending portion and the hard tubular body; and at least one second inner component having a distal end and a proximal end, the second inner component has the same or greater flexibility than the first inner component, the second inner component passing through the bending portion and the hard tubular body and the distal end of the second inner component being secured at a position more peripherally located as compared to a more central location of the first inner component at the endoscope distal-end portion; wherein: (a) the annular rings of the annular ring assembly are rotatable relative to each other; (b) each annular ring includes: wherein an outer side surface of the bulging portions opposite a side of the center of the annular ring coincides with an outer peripheral surface opposite the side of the center of the annular ring, a first inner component storage portion defined within an imaginary circle which tangentially contacts apexes of the partitions, the storage portion serving to hold the first inner component; and a second component storage portion defined between adjacent pairs of the partitions and serving to hold the second inner component and (c) the insertion section being configured such that when the annular ring assembly receives twisting force about the axial direction of the insertion section, all annular rings rotate sequentially toward the proximal end of the bending portion about the axial direction of the insertion section, the partitions provided in each annular ring, move about the axial direction of the insertion section, describing loci that are substantially spiral, and the first inner component being configured to move and be stored within the imaginary circle as the second inner component being twisted as the second inner component moves through spiral paths defined by the partitions.