DEFLECTION CONTROL MECHANISM FOR A STEERABLE FLEXIBLE ENDOSCOPE, STEERABLE FLEXIBLE ENDOSCOPE, ENDOSCOPE ASSEMBLY SET, AND METHOD FOR ASSEMBLING A FLEXIBLE ENDOSCOPE

摘要

The invention relates to a deflection control mechanism (29) for a steerable flexible endoscope (10), the endoscope (10) having an elongate flexible shaft (30) comprising a steerable section (31) that is deflectable by movement of at least one pair of counteracting control wires (37, 37', 38). The deflection control mechanism (29) comprises a support structure, a drive wheel rotatably supported in the support structure, and an elongate traction element having a flexible section, a first coupling section connected to a first end of the flexible section, and a second coupling section connected to a second end of the flexible section, wherein the flexible section of the traction element engages with the drive wheel, wherein the first and second coupling sections each comprise a fixation element for fixing a respective proximal end of each wire of the at least one pair of control wires (37, 37', 38), wherein at least one of the first and second coupling sections comprises a movable stop element co-operating with a fixed stop of the support structure, and wherein the movable stop element is adjustably connected to the fixation element of the respective coupling section. The invention also relates to a steerable flexible endoscope (10), to an endoscope assembly set, and to a method for assembling a flexible endoscope (10).