Patent ID: 8152715

Claim:
An endoscope having a proximal end and a distal end comprising: an elongated shaft having a proximal end and a distal end disposed at the distal end of the endoscope connected to an endoscope handle that is disposed at the proximal end of the endoscope, the endoscope handle having a proximal end and a distal end and an exterior, an interior, and a longitudinal axis, wherein the shaft and the endoscope handle are sealed to be liquid and gas impermeable; optical components located at or near the proximal end of the endoscope handle; a solid-state light source contained within the interior of the endoscope handle; and a sealed compartment contained within the interior of the endoscope handle, wherein the sealed compartment contains at least one battery that powers a light source control circuit electrically connected to the solid-state light source; wherein the sealed compartment comprises a liquid impermeable and gas permeable vent; the liquid impermeable and gas permeable vent of the sealed compartment comprises a liquid impermeable and qas permeable membrane, the liquid impermeable and qas permeable membrane being configured to provide gaseous communication between components contained by the sealed compartment and the interior of the endoscope handle; and a leak test vent carried by the endoscope handle, the leak test vent configured to direct gas to the interior of the endoscope handle and to an interior of the sealed compartment via the liquid impermeable and gas permeable membrane of the sealed compartment.