Patent ID: 8333691

Claim:
An endoscope comprising a flexible catheter probe having a plurality of lumens, a handle provided at a proximal end of the flexible catheter probe, an optical system provided removably in at least one optical system lumen of the flexible catheter probe, at least one working lumen for a surgical instrument and a control element which is fixed to a distal end of the flexible catheter probe or in proximity thereof for bending the distal end of the flexible catheter probe and is guided movably in an axial direction of the flexible catheter probe, wherein: the optical system which projects beyond the proximal end of the flexible catheter probe is guided movably in a flexible tube which is elastically resilient in a longitudinal direction thereof to prestress the optical system toward the distal end of the flexible catheter probe and a proximal end of the flexible tube is fixedly connected at a fixing location to the optical system projecting beyond the proximal end of the flexible catheter probe and its distal end is releasably connected to a proximal end of the optical system lumen of the flexible catheter probe; a distal end of the optical system is pressed by the tube against a translucent cover which closes the distal end of the optical system lumen; a rotary bearing is provided on the handle; at its proximal end, the flexible catheter probe is non-rotatably connected by a releasable fixing device to a manually actuatable rotary portion which is mounted rotatably to the handle by the rotary bearing, and wherein the flexible catheter probe rotates 360° with respect to the handle; the control element is displaceably guided in the rotary bearing; a proximal end of the control element is releasably connected to a slider mounted to the handle so as to permit movement of the control element in the axial direction; and the flexible catheter probe is a disposable component.