Instrument and method for making the same

An instrument for endoscopic applications, the instrument comprising:

• an intermediate cylindrical member;
• an inner cylindrical member inserted in the intermediate cylindrical member;
• and
• an outer cylindrical member surrounding the intermediate cylindrical member such that the intermediate cylindrical member and the outer cylindrical member are positioned against each other,
• wherein:
• the instrument has a first end portion and a second end portion opposing the first end portion,
• the intermediate cylindrical member has a handling end portion with a flexible portion at the first end portion and actuating means located at the second end portion,
• the actuating means comprises a first cylindrical part,
• the handling end portion has a second cylindrical part connected to the actuating means by longitudinal elements for transferring a movement of the actuating means to a bending of the handling end portion,
• the longitudinal elements are separated from one another by longitudinal slits defined in the intermediate cylindrical member,
• each of the longitudinal elements is composed of a strip, adjacent strips being separated by a gap,
• a plate is located in the gap and is arranged to move in a longitudinal direction of the gap but has a circumferential width filling a width of the gap so as to guide the strip, and
• the plate is connected either to the outer cylindrical member or to the inner cylindrical member.