Endoscope having an element positioned in a beam path, endoscope arrangement, method for providing information and/or for identifying an endoscope, use of an element positioned in a beam path of an endoscope, element

A method for at least one of providing information or for identifying an endoscope (1) having a camera (12) and an element (2) positioned in a beam path, which adjoins an element-free area (3) to the beam passage, wherein the element (3) is made planar having various surface areas (5), the method comprising:

• before normal operation of the endoscope (1), using at least one of a label (16) or coding (17) formed via at least two different coefficients of transmission (15) of the various surface areas (5), and which contain at least one of a unique identifier of the endoscope (1) or the information, to at least one of identify the endoscope (1) or the information.

An element (2), which is positioned in a beam path of an endoscope (1) and is adapted to be positioned in an element-free area (3) to a beam passage, the element (2) comprising:

• at least two planar layers having various surface areas (5), a second one of the layers, having a different coefficient of transmission (15) in comparison to a first one of the layers, is applied to a first transparent (18) or semitransparent layer to form at least one of a label (16) or coding (17) on the element (2).