Sterilisation of endoscopes

An apparatus for sterilising an interior surface of an elongate endoscope tube by an atmospheric plasma, the apparatus comprising a flexible elongate atmospheric plasma generator for generating a transverse atmospheric plasma within, and along a length of, an elongate endoscope tube into which the atmospheric plasma generator has, in use, been inserted, the flexible elongate atmospheric plasma generator being configured for insertion into an end of, and along a length of, an internal channel of an elongate endoscope tube, the flexible elongate atmospheric plasma generator comprising an elongate body of dielectric material, an elongate first electrode centrally located within the body of dielectric material and an elongate second electrode around an elongate external surface of the body of dielectric material, wherein the second electrode comprises a plurality of electrically conductive elements forming a mesh defining holes in the second electrode, wherein the atmospheric plasma generator is configured such that application of a potential difference across the first and second electrodes can generate a plasma within atmospheric air surrounding the atmospheric plasma generator, wherein the atmospheric plasma generator comprises a plurality of elongate modules which are connectable along a length direction to form the elongate atmospheric plasma generator, wherein the elongate modules comprise a first end module comprising a pair of first and second electrical connectors each connected to a respective one of the first and second electrodes, the pair of first and second electrical connectors being located at a first end of the first end module, the first end module having a second end opposite to the first end, a central module having a first end for interlocking electrical connection to the second end of the first end module and an opposite second end, and a second end module comprising a first end for interlocking electrical connection to the second end of the central module and an opposite second end which is electrically insulated.