CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of Europe Patent Application No. EP18152532.0, filed Jan. 19, 2018 and of Denmark Patent Application No. PA 2018 70530, filed Aug. 16, 2018. The foregoing patent applications are expressly incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to steerable endoscopes, and more specifically to a method for fixation of a steering wire.

BACKGROUND

Endoscopes are well known inspection devices. Generally, an endoscope comprises an insertion tube attached to a handle, and visual inspection means, such as a built-in camera, at a distal end of the endoscope. Electrical wiring for the camera and other electronics such as LED lighting typically runs along an inside of the insertion tube from the handle to the tip at the distal end. Instead of using cameras, endoscopes may also be fibre-optic, in which case optical fibres typically run along an inside of the insertion tube. A working channel may run along the inside of the insertion tube from the handle to the tip, e.g. allowing liquid to be removed from the body cavity or allowing for insertion of surgical instruments or the like into the body cavity.

In order to be able to maneuver a camera or the like of the endoscope inside the body cavity, the distal end of the endoscope may, in addition to the camera, comprise a section with increased flexibility, specifically an articulated or bendable tip allowing the operator to bend this section to thereby move the camera. Typically, maneuvering is carried out by tensioning or slacking steering wires in a guide tube also running along the inside of the elongated insertion tube from the articulated tip part to a control element with an operating member in the handle in an arrangement commonly known as a Bowden cable.

The steering wire running along the inside of the guide tube in a Bowden cable arrangement normally extends with a predetermined length over either end, allowing an operating member to be attached to a free (proximal) end of the wire, and an operated member to be attached to the other free (distal) end. When the ends of the guide tube are held stationary, movement of the proximal end of the steering wire with respect to the guide tube is transmitted to the distal end as a corresponding movement of the distal end of the steering wire with respect to the guide tube, so as to effect a movement of the operated member. The fastening of the proximal end of the guide tube to the operating handle is generally achieved with mechanical means where the guide tube is clamped, terminated in a block member, or adhered to the operating handle.

In order for the operator to have a good and responsive experience controlling the endoscope, the amount of play experienced by the operator during articulation of the steerable tip should be as small as possible. The amount of play may depend on many factors, including the tension and friction of the steering wire. To achieve a suitable tension of the steering wire, the wire is usually maintained in a pre-tensioned state. However, if the maintained tension of the steering wire is too high, the steerable tip may be non-straight, or mechanical parts of the endoscope may break. On the other hand, if the tension of the steering wire is too low, the steering wire will have too much play and be partly or wholly unresponsive to the control of the operator.

On this background, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved endoscope, preferably a disposable endoscope. Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved method for fixation of a wire portion of an endoscope.

SUMMARY

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved endoscope, preferably a disposable endoscope, and an improved method for fixation of a wire portion of an endoscope. In some embodiments, a method for fixation of a wire portion of an endoscope is provided, the method comprising: passing a steering wire through an insertion tube, the steering wire having a first wire portion, a second wire portion, a third wire portion and a fourth wire portion, the second wire portion being between the first wire portion and the third wire portion, and the third wire portion being between the second wire portion and the fourth wire portion; connecting the first wire portion of the steering wire to a steerable tip part of the endoscope; positioning the second wire portion adjacent the third wire portion; applying an adhesive on at least one of the second wire portion and the third wire portion; positioning the crimp shell in proximity of the second wire portion and the third wire portion with the crimp shell at least partly enclosing the adhesive, the second wire portion, and the third wire portion; and crimping the crimp shell to form a crimp securing the second wire portion to the third wire portion.

In some embodiments, an endoscope is provided, the endoscope comprising: an operating handle; an insertion tube with a proximal end and a distal end, and with a steerable tip part located at the distal end; a control element movable in relation to the operating handle; a steering wire having first, second, and third wire portions, the first wire portion being connected to the steerable tip part, and the second wire portion being located between the first and third wire portions; an adhesive on at least one surface of at least one of the second and third wire portions; and a crimp shell fixating and at least partly enclosing the second wire portion, the third wire portion, and at least a portion of the adhesive.

