Endoscopes

Claim 1

An endoscope for inserting an implant liner into an opening through a stricture in the urethra, said endoscope comprising a telescope for viewing internal anatomy and further comprising the following: (a) an outer barrel having a telescope eyepiece at the proximal end thereof which is remote from the opposite or distal end, a tensioning tube having both proximal and distal ends and being displaceable axially in the distal direction within said outer barrel and against a resilient means, said resilient means being suspended from said outer barrel, and external annular ridge and longitudinal slots at the distal end of said tensioning tube and the sections of said tube situated between said slots being arranged to spring radially inwards, (b) a holding tube having a proximal end and a distal end, and said holding tube having a proximal portion and a distal portion, and which extends through said tensioning tube to receive the telescope, and said holding tube being fixed in relation to said outer barrel, said distal portion of said holding tube being of reduced diameter, and there being an annular ridge adjacent the distal end of said holding tube, and (c) an implant liner which comprises a distal bushing and a proximal bushing between which are resilient bridges formed by strips which are sprung to arch outwards, the inside diameter of said distal bushing being smaller than the external diameter of said annular ridge on said distal portion of reduced diameter of the said holding tube, and the inside diameter of said proximal bushing being such that said proximal bushing can be inserted over said annular ridge of said tensioning tube, and the outside diameter of said proximal bushing being such that the proximal bushing is carried in the barrel by being fitted into the distal end thereof.