Endoscopes

Claim 1

An endoscope comprising, in combination: a rigid stem elongated axially and having at least approximately ovel crossseCtional shape and provided with an enclosed space; a viewingtube element provided within the enclosed space and extending longitudinally linearly therein providing free-viewing access to an area of endoscopic examination and having opposite proximal and distal ends, cross-sectionally the tube element being positioned eccentrically within the stem enclosed space such that a sickle-shaped space is defined between inner walls of the stem and outer walls of the viewing-tube element; fiber light conductor providable of illumination of an area of endoscopic examination, enclosed within and extending axially through said sickle-shaped area; and a light-deflecting prism of semicylindricular shape mounted behind the distal end of the viewing tube element at about right angle to the longitudinal direction of light being emitted from the light conductor, the lightdeflecting prism being of a shape produceable of wide angle light illumination in a lateral direction upon receipt of light from a direction at about right-angle to the lateral direction, the light-deflecting prism having a flat surface exposed laterally through which radiated light is emitted, with the flat surface being about parallel to the longitudinal axis of the viewing-tube element; and a thin tube in said sickle-shaped space, said fiber light conductor at least partially surrounding the thin tube, said thin tube being arranged for the insertion therethrough of surgical instruments and the viewing tube element having at about its distal end in a lateral wall thereof a port defined therein defining a through passage to space external to the viewing tube element and to the stem, and said thin tube opening through said port laterally.