Curving device in an endoscope

Claim 1

In an endoscope of the type comprising a flexible end section which is inserted into a part to be examined, a manual operating section for controlling the curving of said flexible end section, a flexible connecting pipe connecting said flexible end section to said manual operating section and connecting means in said flexible pipe coupling said manual operating section and flexible end section, the improvement in a curving device for said flexible end section comprising: a guide tube having a smooth interior surface and having a groove in the exterior surface thereof, said groove being shaped such that a wire can be fitted into said groove and wrapped around the tube in the form of a coil; a hard wire wrapped around said tube and fitted within and in direct contact with the surface of said groove along the length of said tube and forming a coil, the diameter of said wire being substantially equal to the depth and smaller than the width of said groove so that said wire is slidable across the width of said groove during flexing of said tube.