Articulated tip part for an endoscope

A method to assemble a medical device, the method comprising:

• providing a handle;
• providing a flexible tube;
• reducing a first radial cross-section area of a first section at a distal end of the flexible tube to a second radial cross-section area to form a second section of the flexible tube;
• inserting a camera assembly into a spacing defined by a peripheral wall of a front end cap;
• providing a bending section including segments comprising a proximal end segment, a distal end segment, and intermediate segments between the proximal end segment and the distal end segment, the intermediate segments hingedly connected to each other, the proximal end segment including a proximal end segment peripheral wall having an inner surface defining an internal space;
• and
• inserting the second section into the internal space to secure the flexible tube to the bending section.

An endoscope operable to obtain images of an internal cavity of a patient, the endoscope comprising:

• a handle;
• a flexible tube having a proximal end adjacent the handle and a distal end, the flexible tube including a first section having a first radial cross-section area and a second section distal of the first section and having a second radial cross-section area smaller than the first radial cross-section area, the second section having an outer surface;
• a bending section extending from the flexible tube and including segments comprising a proximal end segment, a distal end segment, and intermediate segments between the proximal end segment and the distal end segment, the segments hingedly connected to each other, the proximal end segment including a proximal end segment peripheral wall having an inner surface defining an internal space and a cavity extending radially outwardly from the inner surface, the second section positioned at least partly in the internal space with the cavity overlapping the outer surface of the second section;
• a hardened adhesive bonded to the outer surface of the second section and extending into the cavity to affix the bending section to the flexible tube;
• and
• an image sensor supported by the bending section and operable to generate images of distal views.