Handle for an endoscope

A handle for an endoscope, the handle having a proximal end, a distal end, a front and a back, and the handle comprising a gripping section separated by a transition section from an operation section, wherein the operating section comprises at least one protruding operating member adapted for operation by the thumb of the hand of the operator, the gripping section is adapted for being gripped by three or four fingers of a hand of an operator, and the gripping section has an outer gripping section surface surrounding a longitudinal axis of the handle,

• wherein the outer gripping section surface defines a periphery with a predetermined curvature of cross-sectional gripping section shapes in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis at points along the longitudinal axis, where said cross-sectional gripping section shapes vary along the longitudinal axis,
• wherein the cross-sectional gripping section shapes are generally mirror symmetrical about a major axis defined by the intersection of the cross-sectional gripping section shape with a longitudinal plane coincident with the longitudinal axis,
• wherein the operating section has an outer operating section surface surrounding a longitudinal axis of the handle, said outer operating section surface defines the periphery of cross-sectional operating section shapes in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis at points along the longitudinal axis,
• wherein the length of the periphery of a cross-sectional gripping section shape adjacent the transition section is smaller than the length of the periphery of a cross-sectional operating section shape adjacent the transition section,
• wherein the cross-sectional gripping section shapes are mirror asymmetrical about the minor axis defining the maximum width of the cross-sectional gripping section shape, and
• wherein the radius of curvature of the periphery varies along the length thereof so as to present a minimum value at a radius coincident with the major axis at the front of the handle.