Endoscope and system and method of operation thereof

An endoscopic imaging system comprising:

• an endoscope comprising:
• a rigid section having opposed first and second ends and an opening situated between the first and second ends, the rigid section defining a longitudinal axis,
• first and second scissor-type handles suitable for grasping by a user and located adjacent to a first end of the rigid section;
• a base part having an image capturing device situated at a second end of the rigid section and configured to provide a front view when pointed in a front direction, wherein the base part is coupled to the first scissor-type handle such that displacement of the first handle causes a change in a viewing direction of the image capturing device including providing a rear view which is opposite to the front view, wherein the base part is pivotably coupled to the rigid section;
• a rigid shaft located in the opening and operatively coupling the first handle and the base part, the rigid shaft being pivotably coupled to the base part at a first pivot portion of the base part;
• and
• a fixing member having an adjustable position relative to the rigid section, the fixing member being rigidly coupled to the rigid section and pivotably coupled to the base part at a second pivot portion of the base part.

An endoscopic imaging system comprising:

• an endoscope comprising:
• a rigid section having opposed first and second ends and an opening situated between the first and second ends, the rigid section defining a longitudinal axis,
• a handle portion coupled to a first end of the rigid section;
• a base part having an image capturing device situated at a second end of the rigid section and configured to provide a front view when pointed in a front direction, wherein the base part is coupled to the handle portion such that displacement of the handle portion causes a change in a viewing direction of the image capturing device including providing a rear view which is opposite to the front view, wherein the base part is pivotably coupled to the rigid section;
• a rigid shaft located in the opening and operatively coupling the handle portion and the base part, the rigid shaft being pivotably coupled to the base part at a first pivot portion of the base part;
• and
• a fixing member having an adjustable position relative to the rigid section, the fixing member being rigidly coupled to the rigid section and pivotably coupled to the base part at a second pivot portion of the base part,
• wherein the base part further comprises a reflective optical element configured to reflect images from portions of the object of interest located behind the image capturing device in a rear direction for providing the rear view when the image capturing device is pointed in the front direction which is opposite the rear direction.