Patent ID: 8808166

Claim:
An endoscope, comprising: an insertion portion having a bendable portion; a controller for controlling the movement of the bendable portion, comprising; a pulley which is rotatable about a rotational axis; a plurality of elastically deformable annular members located at axially spaced positions around the pulley; a plurality of pulling members; each annular member being associated with a respective one of the pulling members and: having a substantially C-Shape including a cut-out; and two groove paths, the first groove path including a common first groove and a second groove, the second groove path including the common first groove and a third groove, the second and third grooves being axially spaced from one another and from said first groove such that when the pulling member is placed in the first groove path it enters the first groove at a start position and exits the second groove at a first end position which is axially spaced from the start position and when the pulling member is placed in the second groove path it enters the first groove at the start position and exits the third groove at a second end position which is axially spaced from the start position, the first and second end positions being axially spaced apart; each pulling member being located in the first or the second groove path of its associated annular member; and each pulling member extending through the first or second groove path of its associated annular member to the bendable portion.