Patent ID: 8916090

Claim:
A method of manufacturing an endoscope having at least one lens holder comprising the steps of: forming at least one green metal blank using metal injection molding of a feedstock having metal powders and polymer binders, said at least one green metal blank comprising a sprue, a post and an outer shell, said at least one green metal blank having inside dimensions and outer dimensions, and said at least one green metal blank substantially similar in size and shape to said at least one lens holder; debinding said at least green metal blank to remove said polymer binders using a low temperature oven to form at least one debinded green metal blank; sintering said at least one debinded green metal blank in a high temperature furnace to form at least one brown metal blank; holding said at least one brown metal blank from said outer shell and machining said at least one brown metal blank to form said at least one lens holder, wherein said sprue, said post and said outer shell are removed during or at the end of the machining; installing a lens in each of said at least one lens holder; and assembling said at least one lens holder installed with said lens into said endoscope.