Patent ID: 7250027

Claim:
An endoscope comprising: a first segment having a proximal end and a distal end thereof wherein the first segment is symmetric about an axis of the segment body; and a second segment comprising a first set of interconnected links having a first length, pivotably coupled to the first segment and bendable away from the axis; and a second set of interconnected links having a second length that is different from the first length and connected to the first set of links and bendable away from the axis in the same radial direction as the first set of links to a smaller radius of curvature than the first set of links, the second set of links having at least one angle of articulation different than the first set of links; a set of guide wires for applying a force to the first and second set of links, the guide wires circumferentially positioned at varying rotational angles about the axis for each individual link; and wire guides for guiding the set of guide wires along the first and second set of links, said wire guides circumferentially positioned at varying rotational angle about the axis for each individual link, the varying rotational angle being variable for each individual link.