Patent Description:
Endoscopes and similar specialized instruments such as bronchoscopes, arthroscopes, colonoscopes, laparoscopes, gastroscopes and duodenoscopes are well known from the state of the art and are used for visual examination and diagnosis of hollow organs and body cavities, as well as to assist in surgery, e.g. for a targeted tissue sampling.

Therefore, known endoscopes usually contain steering/control wires within so-called Bowden cables that are pulled and released to bend a bending section, such as a flexible shaft or at least part of a flexible shaft, in order to tilt the distal tip unit of the endoscope. The rotating forces being applied to the handle wheels by a user basically have to be transmitted into pulling forces acting on the steering wires in axial direction of the steering wires, i.e. the loads in the steering wires are transferred to the handle wheels within the endoscope handle. It is to be understood, that the connection of the steering wires to the handle wheels is essential for transmitting the rotating force from the handle wheel to the steering wire.

In a conventional endoscope, such as it is disclosed in <CIT>, this can be achieved by a chain attached to the ends of the steering wires passing over a sprocket attached to the handle wheel. Alternatively, in traditional bronchoscopes, each steering wire is guided around a stop of the handle wheel and returns parallel to a crimp.

In contrary thereto, in <CIT>, each steering wire is guided around the circumference of a wire drum or a roller/pulley and fixed by a press fit in a hole achieved by inserting a mandrel into the hole which the wire runs through, so the wire is squeezed between the mandrel and a wall of the hole. Alternatively, as shown for example in <CIT> or <CIT>, the steering wires are guided around the wire drum and fixed on an axial end surface of the wire drum by fixing means, such as a clamping screw or a pin. A further example of a wire drum, on which steering wires are being fixed by axially inserted pins, is given in <CIT>. As an alternative it has been proposed to use wires directly attached to a pulley, but problems then exist with the management of the wires as they are unwrapped from, and re-wrapped to, the pulley to ensure that they remain free from tangles.

Further, the steering wires can be fixed to the wire drum by additional elements. For example, in <CIT>, the steering wires are guided around the wire drum within a groove extending in a circumferential direction of the wire drum, before being fixed to the wire drum by inserting an anchor element into this groove. This anchor element presses the steering wire to the wire drum, thereby preventing the steering wire from slipping around or off the wire drum.

<CIT> discloses an endoscope having a bending device for controlling bending of a bending section. The bending device comprises two bending operation knobs, which are coupled to a first pulley and a second pulley, respectively, such that the bending section can be bent by rotating the operation knobs. Each pulley has two outer peripheral grooves and two inner peripheral grooves. The outer peripheral grooves are provided separately from each other in the axial direction of the pulley and are respectively connected to one of the inner peripheral grooves via a respective relay groove. Each operation wire is located and wound in its own inner peripheral groove and its own outer peripheral groove, i.e. each pulley has two grooves - an inner peripheral groove and an outer peripheral groove - for each operation wire.

A major drawback of the existing solutions is that the steering wires are bent or kinked when being fixed to the wire drum, which may compromise their strength. Another drawback is that the connection of the steering wire to the handle wheel, in particular to the wire drum, must withstand high forces during use, which cannot be ensured when bending the steering wire, thereby compromising the structural integrity of the steering wires or the wire drums, in particular for single-use endoscopes.

At this point, the expressions "distal" and "proximal" are defined for the whole application (including the description of the disclosure) as follows:.

The tasks and objectives of the invention are to eliminate or at least reduce the disadvantages of the prior art. In particular, the invention provides an endoscope according to claim <NUM>. An U endoscope having at least one steering wire being fixed to a wire drum and a distal tip unit of the endoscope, in order for a user to be able to steer/bend the distal tip unit when rotating a handle wheel being connected to the wire drum, is provided, wherein the structural integrity of the bending mechanism including the wire drum, the steering wire and the handle wheel can be ensured or improved, without bending or kinking the steering wire, when fixing it to the wire drum. Additionally, the bending mechanism and thus the endoscope handle may be manufactured with smaller dimensions, in order to improve usability and holding comfort.

The tasks and objectives are solved with regard to a generic endoscope according to the subject matter of claim <NUM>. So the disclosure is based on the knowledge that due to interaction of frictional forces and tension, the tension on a wire wrapped around a cylinder is different on either side of the cylinder. A small holding force exerted on one side can carry a much larger loading force on the other side.

In other words, the present disclosure is based on the Capstan principle and involves the steering wire running around a cylindrical wire drum by at least one full turn, preferably at least two turns. The wire drum rotates around its center axis to tension a steering wire to effect bending of the distal tip unit. By running the wire around the wire drum, the wire fixing is relieved of some of the load which is instead transferred by friction to the wire drum. Further, the wire receiving unit comprises a first groove, a second groove and a third groove, the grooves extending in a circumferential direction of the wire receiving unit and guiding/ accommodating two steering wires. In other words, the wire receiving unit includes a plurality of grooves extending in the circumferential direction of the wire receiving unit and guiding the at least one steering wire so that the at least one steering wire runs only once within each of the plurality of grooves.

According to the disclosure, the endoscope is accordingly configured/adapted, so that the proximal end portion of the at least one steering wire is wound on/ around the wire drum for at least one full turn, i.e. at least <NUM>°.

This configuration makes it possible to reduce the holding force of the steering wire fixing, which can thus be made smaller.

Advantageous embodiments are claimed in the dependent claims and are explained below.

In a preferred embodiment, two steering wires can be wound around on the wire receiving unit, so that when rotating the operating unit in a first circumferential, preferably clockwise, direction one of the two steering wires is pulled and the distal tip unit tilts in the defined first direction and when rotating the operating unit in a second circumferential, preferably counter-clockwise, direction opposite of the first circumferential direction, the other one of the two steering wires is pulled and the distal tip unit tilts in a second defined direction opposite of the first defined direction. Thus, by fixing two steering wires on the wire drum, the distal tip unit can be steered/bent in two opposite directions, i.e. in a bending plane being defined by the first and second direction, which enables improved manoeuvrability for the distal tip unit.

Additionally, in this regard, it can be conceivable, if the endoscope handle comprises two operating units and two wire receiving units, i.e. two operating units are arranged at the endoscope handle, and two wire drums are arranged within the endoscope handle. Thereby, each of the wire receiving units can have two steering wires wound on/ around the same and can be connected to one of the operating units, so that the distal tip unit tilts in a first bending plane defined by the first defined direction and the second defined direction when operating one of the operating units and the distal tip unit tilts in a second bending plane, preferably perpendicular to the first bending plane, when operating the other one of the operating units.

According to a beneficial design of the disclosure, the at least one steering wire can be fixed to the wire receiving unit via a press fit connection. Thereby, at least one, preferably circumferentially extending, fixation hole is formed on the wire receiving unit, in particular in a block-shaped fixation protrusion of the wire drum, the at least one steering wire being fixed to the wire receiving unit by means of a mandrel or fixation pin inserted in said fixation hole such that the at least one steering wire and the mandrel form the press fit connection. When the at least one steering wire is fixed in the fixation hole by inserting the mandrel, wire bends are avoided, which increases the reliability of the at least one steering wire.

Further, the first groove can be arranged closest to a flange portion of the wire receiving unit, the third groove can be arranged farthermost from the flange portion and the second groove can be arranged between the first groove and the third groove, wherein one of the two steering wires runs around the wire receiving unit within the first groove and the second groove in the first circumferential direction and the other one of the two steering wires runs around the wire receiving unit within the first groove and the third groove in the second circumferential direction.

According to the disclosure, the two steering wires both enter the same circumferential groove among the first groove, the second groove and the third groove, in particular at diametrically opposed positions of the respective circumferential groove, and transition/ transfer to their respective own groove among the first groove, the second groove and the third groove when wound around/ on the wire receiving unit.

Furthermore, when one of the two steering wires enters the first groove at a first position, e.g. twelve o'clock when viewing the wire receiving unit in axial direction, runs around the wire receiving unit for approximately a quarter turn within the first groove, transitions to the second groove and runs within the second groove for approximately a full turn before being fixed to the wire receiving unit, and the other one of the two steering wires enters the first groove at a second position, preferably diametrically opposed to the first position, e.g. six o'clock, runs around the wire receiving unit for approximately a quarter turn within the first groove, transitions to the third groove and runs within the third groove for approximately a full turn before being fixed to the wire receiving unit.

In other words, both of the two steering wires enter the same (first) circumferential groove of the wire drum at diametrically opposed positions of the respective groove and transition to their respective own groove (e.g. the first steering wire transitions to the second groove, and the second steering wire transitions to the third groove, or the other way round).

Moreover, the one of the two steering wires and the other one of the two steering wires can transition from the first groove to the second groove or the third groove, respectively, within a transition zone being formed radially inside the fixation protrusion. This preferable configuration ensures that each steering wire is guided in a separate groove, i.e. the respective grooves are only occupied by a single steering wire.

In other words, a the present disclosure relates to an endoscope, the wire drum of which is provided with grooves preferably for each turn of the wire so that a groove is only occupied by a single wire. The wire can be fixed by running the wire around the wire drum in the grooves a number of times and then guiding the wire through a circumferential hole and back through another parallel fixing hole. A mandrel is then inserted into the last (fixing) hole to fix the wire.

Further, the present disclosure relates to a method of assembling an endoscope according to claim <NUM>.

According to a beneficial configuration, the method may further comprise the following steps:.

Preferably, the method may comprise the steps:.

The present disclosure further provides an exemplary, non-claimed, a method of assembling an endoscope having a proximal endoscope handle accommodating at least one rotatable operating unit, preferably a handle wheel, a distal tip unit to be inserted into a patient's body cavity and a (flexible) endoscope shaft connecting the endoscope handle and the distal tip unit. The method according to the disclosure comprises the following steps:.

Thereby, it may be useful, when two steering wires are connected to the distal tip unit and guided along the flexible shaft to the proximal endoscope handle, and when one of the two steering wires is wound around the wire receiving unit in a clockwise direction and the other one of the two steering wires is wound around the wire receiving unit in a counter-clockwise direction.

In a beneficial embodiment, the wire receiving unit can comprise a plurality of circumferential grooves, preferably three grooves, in which the two steering wires are accommodated when being wound around the wire receiving unit, so that each of the plurality of grooves is only occupied by one of the two steering wires. Additionally, the two steering wires can overlap when being guided between two respective grooves, and the below one of the two steering wires can be tensioned before the above one of the two steering wires.

The disclosure is explained in more detail below using preferred embodiments and referring to the accompanying figures.

The figures are schematic in nature and serve only to understand the disclosure. Identical elements are marked with the same reference signs. The features of the different embodiments can be exchanged among each other.

In <FIG>, an endoscope <NUM> according to a preferred embodiment is shown. The endoscope <NUM> is configured preferably as a single use endoscope, and comprises a handle unit <NUM> designed to be held by an user and a preferably flexible endoscope shaft <NUM> extending from the handle unit <NUM> to a distal tip unit <NUM>, which is intended to be inserted into a patient's body cavity. As described below, the handle unit <NUM> is configured as a housing for accommodating operating parts of the endoscope <NUM> and comprises two handle shells, only one of which is shown in <FIG>.

At the distal tip unit <NUM>, image capturing means such as a miniature video camera and illuminating means such as light-emitting diodes or fibre optic light guides connected to a proximal source of light are arranged/installed, such that the patient's body cavity can be illuminated and inspected. Further, the endoscope <NUM> according to the preferred embodiment may have an internal working channel being formed within the endoscope shaft <NUM> and guiding a surgical instrument from the proximal end portion into the patient's body cavity, such that the user is able to perform medical operations such as exploration within the patient's body cavity with the surgical instrument. Additionally, at the distal tip unit <NUM>, a rinsing device can be arranged for rinsing or cleaning the image capturing means or parts of the image capturing means.

As indicated in <FIG> by dashed lines, the distal tip unit <NUM> is configured to be tilted/bent/moved by operating a bending mechanism <NUM>. The bending mechanism <NUM> comprises two steering wires <NUM>, <NUM> being fixed to a wire drum <NUM>, which is accommodated rotatably in the handle unit <NUM>, and being connected to the distal tip unit <NUM>. Further, the wire drum <NUM> is connected to an operating unit in form of a handle wheel <NUM>, which is arranged on an outside surface of the handle unit <NUM> and is configured to be turned/rotated by the user. By turning the handle wheel <NUM>, the wire drum <NUM> rotates thereby pulling and releasing the steering wires <NUM>, <NUM>, so that the distal tip unit <NUM> tilts according to the direction in which the handle wheel <NUM> is rotated.

In particular, as can be seen from <FIG>, if the user rotates the handle wheel <NUM> counter-clockwise (direction A in <FIG>), the steering wire <NUM> is pulled and the steering wire <NUM> is released, so that the distal tip unit <NUM> tilts downwards in <FIG> (direction D in <FIG>). Hence, if the user rotates the handle wheel <NUM> clockwise (direction B in <FIG>), the steering wire <NUM> is released, the steering wire <NUM> is pulled and the distal tip unit <NUM> tilts upwards (direction U in <FIG>). In other words, by operating the handle wheel <NUM> the user is able to tilt the distal tip unit <NUM> in one bending plane, i.e. the U-D bending plane.

The endoscope <NUM> according to the preferred embodiment is configured as a two-plane bending endoscope. That means, in addition to the two steering wires <NUM>, <NUM>, the wire drum <NUM> and the handle wheel <NUM> for controlling bending in the U-D bending plane, two further steering wires <NUM>, <NUM> are connected to the distal tip unit <NUM> and fixed to a second wire drum <NUM> being accommodated in the handle unit <NUM>. Further, as can be seen in <FIG>, a second handle wheel <NUM> is arranged at the handle unit <NUM> and connected to the second wire drum <NUM>. The steering wires <NUM>, <NUM> are configured so that the distal tip unit <NUM> bends in a bending plane perpendicular to the U-D bending plane, i.e. when rotating the handle wheel <NUM> in a counter-clockwise direction, the steering wire <NUM> is pulled so that the distal tip unit <NUM> bends out of the drawing plane of <FIG>, and when the handle wheel <NUM> is rotated in a clockwise direction, the steering wire <NUM> is pulled thereby bending the distal tip unit <NUM> into the drawing plane of <FIG>. In other words, by operating the handle wheel <NUM> the user is able to tilt the distal tip unit <NUM> in a second bending plane, i.e. the L-R bending plane, perpendicular to the U-D bending plane. It is understood, that the handle wheel <NUM> can also be configured to control bending in the L-R bending plane, whereas the handle wheel <NUM> can be configured to control bending in the U-D bending plane. Further, in the endoscope <NUM> according to the preferred embodiment, the handle wheels <NUM>, <NUM> and the wire drums <NUM>, <NUM> are arranged coaxially, i.e. being rotatably around a common rotational axis.

For manually tilting the distal tip unit <NUM>, a so-called deflecting portion (not shown in <FIG>) is provided between the distal end of the endoscope shaft <NUM> and the distal tip unit <NUM> and comprising a number of distally separated segments being hinged to each other such that the deflection portion is bendable/tiltable in accordance with the operation of the handle wheels <NUM>, <NUM>.

<FIG> show a perspective view and a side view of the wire drum <NUM>. However, both of the wire drums <NUM>, <NUM> are configured similarly, wherein, as indicated in <FIG>, the wire drum <NUM> facing the handle wheels <NUM>, <NUM> is designed with bigger dimensions in comparison to the wire drum <NUM>. Therefore, the following description is focussed on the wire drum <NUM>. However, it is understood, that the configuration and the features described below apply to the wire drum <NUM>, as well, if not stated otherwise explicitly.

The wire drum <NUM> has a substantial cylindrical shape divided by a circumferential flange portion <NUM> into an upper or first portion <NUM> and a lower or second portion <NUM>. On the lower portion <NUM>, two snap fits <NUM> are arranged diametrically opposed to each other, i.e. on opposite sides of the wire drum, and configured to lock with corresponding recesses formed on a rotating shaft (not shown) being connected with the handle wheel <NUM>, so that a rotation of the handle wheel <NUM> is transmitted via the rotating shaft and the locking means, i.e. the snap fits <NUM> interlocking with the recesses, onto the wire drum <NUM>. In other words, the wire drum <NUM> is connected with the handle wheel <NUM> by form closure between the snap fits <NUM> and the recesses formed on the rotating shaft. The snaps/ snap fits <NUM> lock the parts, i.e. the wire drum <NUM> and the handle wheel <NUM>, together in the axial direction. Radial/rotational locks between the two parts, i.e. the wire drum <NUM> and the handle wheel <NUM>, are created by multiple splines inside the cylinder/ cylindrical lower portion <NUM>, and outside of a (handle) wheel cylinder (not shown).

On the upper portion <NUM> of the wire drum <NUM>, three grooves <NUM> are formed, which extend circumferentially around the wire drum <NUM>, in order to guide the steering wires <NUM>, <NUM>, as described below in detail. Thereby, the groove 18a being arranged closest to the flange portion <NUM> is defined as the "first groove 18a". Accordingly, the groove 18c located at the upper edge of the upper portion <NUM> is defined as the "third groove 18c" and the groove 18b formed between the first groove 18a and the third groove 18c is defined as the "second groove 18b". Further, a block-shaped fixation protrusion <NUM> is formed on the upper portion <NUM>. According to the preferred embodiment, the fixation protrusion <NUM> is arranged at a circumferential position between the two snap fits <NUM>. when viewing the wire drum <NUM> from above, the snap fits <NUM> are arranged at twelve and six o'clock (diametrically opposed), whereas the fixation protrusion <NUM> is arranged at three o'clock (approximately a quarter circle distanced from the snap fits <NUM>).

As can be seen from <FIG>, the fixation protrusion <NUM> is formed as a solid block being shifted outwards in a radial direction relative to (a remainder of) the upper portion <NUM>, and a hollow space is formed radially inside of the fixation protrusion <NUM>. As described below, this hollow space, where no grooves are formed, functions as a transition zone <NUM> for the steering wires <NUM>, <NUM>. Further, the three grooves <NUM> open to the transition zone <NUM>, i.e. six circumferential holes 21a, 21b, 21c, 22a, 22b, 22c are formed at the locations, where the three grooves <NUM> enter the transition zone <NUM>. Thereby, the two circumferential holes 21a, 22a correspond to the first groove 18a, the circumferential holes 21b, 22b correspond to the second groove 18b and the circumferential holes 21c, 22c correspond to the third groove 18c. Furthermore, two circumferentially extending fixation holes 23a, 23b are formed in the fixation protrusion <NUM>. These fixation holes <NUM> are implemented as through-holes, i.e. the fixation holes <NUM> penetrate the fixation protrusion <NUM> completely in the circumferential direction. Similarly to the grooves <NUM>, the one fixation hole 23a located closer to the flange portion <NUM> is referred to as the "first fixation hole 23a" and the other fixation hole 23b is referred to as the "second fixation hole 23b".

Additionally, six protrusions <NUM> are formed protruding from a radially inward facing circumferential surface of the upper portion <NUM> of the wire drum <NUM>. The number of protrusions <NUM> may also be different. The number could e.g. be four. These protrusions <NUM> function as guiding or distancing means for the wire drum <NUM> and/or the rotating shaft connecting the wire drum <NUM> with the corresponding handle wheel <NUM>, i.e. the lower portion of the wire drum <NUM> and/or the rotating shaft assigned to the handle wheel <NUM> is arranged inside the wire drum <NUM>, wherein the protrusions <NUM> support the wire drum <NUM> against the wire drum <NUM>. Therefore, the protrusions <NUM> are formed only on the upper portion <NUM> of the wire drum <NUM>.

In <FIG>, the endoscope <NUM> according to the preferred embodiment is shown in various states of assembly. In particular, <FIG> show an example for mounting steering wires on the wire drum of the endoscope <NUM> according to the preferred embodiment. If not stated otherwise, the following description of the process of mounting the steering wires can be applied for both of the above described wire drums <NUM>, <NUM>, even if in <FIG> the wire drum <NUM> corresponding to the U-D bending plane is shown, whereas <FIG> shows the wire drum <NUM> for bending the distal tip unit <NUM> in the L-R bending plane. Thus, in the below description, the mounting process is described exemplary for the wire drum <NUM> corresponding to the U-D bending plane.

First, as can be seen in <FIG>, the steering wire <NUM> runs from the distal tip unit <NUM> to the wire drum <NUM> (cf. arrow C in <FIG>) and is accommodated in the first groove 18a, where it is guided to the transition zone <NUM> through the circumferential hole 21a (cf. arrow D in <FIG>) for about a quarter turn. After traversing the transition zone <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>, the steering wire <NUM> enters the second groove 18b through the circumferential hole 22b (cf. arrow E in <FIG>) and is guided within the second groove 18b to the circumferential hole 21b for almost a full turn around the wire drum <NUM> in the clockwise direction (cf. arrow F in <FIG>). Through the circumferential hole 21b, the steering wire <NUM> is guided along and out of the transition zone <NUM> via the circumferential hole 22b. After exiting the transition zone <NUM> through the circumferential hole 22b, the steering wire <NUM> is led back to and through the first fixation hole 23a (cf. arrow G in <FIG>).

In other words, for mounting the steering wire <NUM> on the wire drum, a distal end portion of the steering wire <NUM> is connected to the distal tip unit <NUM> and a proximal end portion of the steering wire <NUM> is guided to the wire drum <NUM>, where it is accommodated in the first groove 18a, led through the circumferential hole 21a, via the transition zone <NUM>, through the circumferential hole 22b, within the second groove 18b around the wire drum <NUM> for almost a full turn in the clockwise direction, through the circumferential hole 21b to the transition zone <NUM>, out of the transition zone <NUM> through the circumferential hole 22b and back through the first fixation hole 23a in the counter-clockwise direction. the steering wire <NUM> is wound up on the wire drum <NUM> in the clockwise direction for about one and a quarter turns, i.e. approximately <NUM>°.

<FIG> shows the wire drum <NUM> with both of the steering wires <NUM>, <NUM> being wound up. Thereby, for sake of explanation, the steering wire <NUM> is shown by a dashed line. As described above, the steering wire <NUM> is led around the wire drum <NUM> in the clockwise direction. Accordingly, a distal end portion of the steering wire <NUM> is connected to the distal tip unit <NUM> and a proximal end portion of the steering wire <NUM> is guided to the wire drum <NUM>, where it is accommodated in/ enters the first groove 18a. In contrary to the steering wire <NUM> being accommodated in/ entering the first groove 18a at a location corresponding to twelve o'clock when viewing the wire drum <NUM> from above, the steering wire <NUM> is accommodated in/ enters the first groove 18a at a location diametrically opposite/ opposed of the accommodating spot of the steering wire <NUM>, i.e. at six o'clock. Within the first groove 18a, the steering wire <NUM> is guided in the counter-clockwise direction for about a quarter turn through the circumferential hole 22a to the transition zone <NUM>. Then, the steering wire <NUM> is led through the circumferential hole 21c out of the transition zone <NUM> and into the third groove 18c, within which the steering wire <NUM> is led around the wire drum <NUM> for almost a full turn in the counter-clockwise direction to the circumferential hole 22c. Through the circumferential hole 22c, the steering wire <NUM> is led back to the transition zone <NUM>. After exiting the transition zone <NUM> through the circumferential hole 21c, the steering wire <NUM> is led back to and through the second fixation hole 23b in the clockwise direction. Thus, the grooves <NUM> are occupied only by a single steering wire <NUM>, <NUM>.

As described above and shown in <FIG>, the steering wire <NUM> is wound up on the wire drum <NUM> in the clockwise direction and guided within the first groove 18a and the second groove 18b. Further, the steering wire <NUM> is wound up on the wire drum <NUM> in the counter-clockwise direction within the first groove 18a and the third groove 18c. At the transition zone <NUM>, both of the steering wires <NUM>, <NUM> are transitioned from the first groove 18a to the second groove 18b and the third groove 18c, respectively. Thereby, the steering wires <NUM>, <NUM> cross each other when transitioning at the transition zone <NUM>. In particular, the steering wire <NUM> being led from the first groove 18a to the third groove 18c lies on top of the steering wire <NUM>.

After mounting the steering wires <NUM>, <NUM> on the wire drum <NUM>, as described above, the steering wires <NUM>, <NUM> are tensioned by pulling the loose proximal end portions of the respective steering wires <NUM>, <NUM>, which are guided through the corresponding fixation holes 23a, 23b, with a tensioning force of about <NUM> to <NUM> N (indicated by arrows in <FIG>). When tensioning the steering wires <NUM>, <NUM>, it is important that the steering wire <NUM> lying below the steering wire <NUM> at the transition zone <NUM> is tensioned first. As stated above, the above mounting process is exemplarily described for the wire drum <NUM> corresponding to the U-D bending plane and holding the steering wires <NUM>, <NUM>, even if in <FIG> the wire drum <NUM> corresponding to the L-R bending plane and holding the steering wires <NUM>, <NUM> is shown. It is to be understood, that the above-described mounting process is equivalent for both of the wire drums <NUM>, <NUM> and the respective steering wires, <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM>, <NUM>.

After tensioning the steering wires <NUM>, <NUM>, fixation pins/mandrels are inserted in the first fixation hole 23a and the second fixation hole 23b, respectively, in order to fix the steering wires <NUM>, <NUM>, in particular the proximal end portions of the steering wires <NUM>, <NUM>, to the wire drum <NUM>. the steering wires <NUM>, <NUM> are fixed to the wire drum <NUM> by fixation pins being press-fitted in the fixation holes 23a, 23b.

Claim 1:
An endoscope (<NUM>) comprising:
a proximal endoscope handle (<NUM>) comprising at least one rotatable operating unit (<NUM>; <NUM>), preferably a handle wheel, and at least one wire receiving unit (<NUM>; <NUM>), preferably a wire drum, the wire receiving unit (<NUM>; <NUM>) being rotatably connected to the operating unit (<NUM>; <NUM>);
a distal tip unit (<NUM>) configured to be inserted into a patient's body cavity;
an endoscope shaft (<NUM>) connecting the endoscope handle (<NUM>) and the distal tip unit (<NUM>); and
at least one steering wire (<NUM>; <NUM>; <NUM>; <NUM>), a proximal end portion of which being held by or fixed to the wire receiving unit (<NUM>; <NUM>), the steering wire (<NUM>; <NUM>; <NUM>; <NUM>) being guided from the wire receiving unit (<NUM>; <NUM>) to the distal tip unit (<NUM>) and being configured to be pulled by rotating the operating unit (<NUM>; <NUM>), thereby tilting the distal tip unit (<NUM>) in at least a defined first direction,
wherein
the proximal end portion of the at least one steering wire (<NUM>; <NUM>; <NUM>; <NUM>) is wound around/on the wire receiving unit (<NUM>; <NUM>) for at least one full turn, and
the wire receiving unit (<NUM>; <NUM>) comprises a first groove (18a), a second groove (18b) and a third groove (18c), the grooves (18a, 18b, 18c) extending in a circumferential direction of the wire receiving unit (<NUM>; <NUM>) and guiding/accommodating two steering wire end portions,
characterized in that
the two steering wire end portions both enter the same circumferential groove among the first groove (18a), the second groove (18b) and the third groove (18c), in particular at diametrically opposed positions of the respective circumferential groove, and transition to their respective own groove among the first groove (18a), the second groove (18b) and the third groove (18c) when wound around the wire receiving unit (<NUM>; <NUM>).