Low-cost semi-disposable endoscope

A disposable member for an endoscope comprising:

• an elongated, flexible shaft means having a distal end and a proximal end,
• strand means disposed in said shaft means operable to deflect the distal end of the shaft,
• a first end of said strand means terminating at said distal end and a second end of said strand means terminating at said proximal end,
• movable means within said shaft means at the proximal end of said shaft means making a fixed connection with the strand means whereby said movable means is operable to move said strand means to deflect the distal end of said shaft means.

An endoscope comprising:

• a control handle means,
• a flexible shaft means,
• connector means for connecting the shaft means and the control handle means releasably,
• articulation means within said shaft means, and,
• power means in said handle means for driving said articulation means, said power means and said articulation means making areal, surface contact when the handle means and the shaft means are connected.

In an endoscope having a control handle unit and a separable, disposable, flexible shaft unit, a method for making the disposable unit articulable while preserving the disposable character of the shaft unit comprising:

• providing a control handle unit;
• providing a disposable, flexible shaft unit separable from said control handle unit,
• placing shaft flexure means in the shaft unit,
• placing power means in the control handle unit for driving the shaft flexure means, and,
• positioning the power means and the shaft flexure means in their respective units so that when the units are connected the power means contacts the flexure means whereby operation of the power means is effective to drive the shaft flexure means.