Endoscope with quick-change tubes

An endoscope for the minimal invasive examination or surgical treatment of a patient, the endoscope comprising:

• a flexible tubular shaft for insertion into the patient, the shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, and at least one groove extending axially along an outer face of the shaft from a vicinity of the proximal end and ending in a recess in the distal end;
• a grip for holding the endoscope, the grip having a distal end attached to the proximal end of the shaft;
• and
• at least one hollow tube removably housed in the groove of the shaft, the tube comprising at least one working channel for internally guiding a surgical instrument and/or carrying water or air to or providing suction at the distal end of the shaft;
• wherein a convex hull or a completion of the shaft without the hollow tube is the same as a convex hull or completion of the shaft with the hollow tube;
• wherein the groove of the shaft and the tube are dimensioned relative to one another such that at least one free section of the tube housed in the groove of the shaft has, in the straight extended state of the shaft, an exterior cross-section which is smaller than an interior cross-section of the groove;
• and
• wherein the at least one free section of the tube has a higher deformability by being shaped in a bellows-like or spiral tube-like manner, and/or by being made of a material of higher elasticity, and/or by having a lower wall thickness.