Deviation control mechanism for a steerable flexible endoscope, steerable flexible endoscope and procedure for controlling a flexible endoscope

摘要

The invention refers to a diversion control mechanism (29) for a steerable flexible endoscope (10),where the endoscope (10) has a long-extended flexible shaft (30) comprising a steerable section (31) which can be deflected by movement of at least one long-range control element, the deflection control mechanism (29) having a support structure, a drive wheel which is rotated in or at the support structure, and includes a handwheel (22, 23), where the deceleration control mechanism is connected to at least one longitudinal control element to cause movement of at least one longitudinal control element by rotating the drive wheel. The diversion control mechanism (29) also includes a first cylindrical element,which is coupled to the drive wheel and a second cylindrical element which is coupled to the support structure, the first and second cylindrical elements being arranged to form a essentially ring-shaped column (107), the column (107) being at least one pair of opposite wedge sections (115, 115',116,116') comprises at least one pair of clamping elements in the column (107), each clamping element being pre-tensioned to one of the wedge sections (115,115',116,116') where at least one locking element coupled to the handwheel (22,23) is provided to release one of the clamping elements. The invention also refers to a steerable flexible endoscope (10) and to a procedure for controlling a flexible endoscope (10).