Contact endoscope

Claim 1

An endoscope for contact endoscopy, said endoscope having a proximal end and a distal end, and comprising an optical system with an optical axis, said optical system terminating with an exposed transparent surface located at or adjacent to said distal end, said transparent surface intended to be pressed directly into surface-to-surface contact with an area of tissue to be observed and to be severed at that area for biopsy purposes while still in surface-to-surface contact with said transparent surface, elongated structure having an axis of elongation and mounting said optical system by which the optical system can be physically manipulated, said axes being parallel; and means for severing a layer of tissue including said area while in contact with said surface comprising a slideway spaced from and straddling said transparent surface, and having an aperture therethrough which enables said area of said tissue to pass through said slideway to make said surface-to-surface contact with said transparent surface thereby to be observed, a strip-shaped cutter blade slidably mounted in said slideway adapted to be moved across said aperture whereby to sever a layer of said tissue including said area while in contact with said transparent surface and still in view therethrough while being cut off, and actuating means so as to move said blade in said slideway.