Method of producing bending device

A method of producing a bending device comprising an elongated ring assembly and operating wire means for bending said ring assembly, said ring assembly comprising a row of joint rings, and connecting elements pivotally connecting adjacent ones of said joint rings, a distal end of said operating wire means being substantially fixed to a front end of said ring assembly, a proximal end of said operating wire means being adapted to receive an operating force, said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a plurality of elongated arcuate assemblies each separated from the other, each of said arcuate assemblies being formed by pivotally connecting a row of arcuate members to one another by said connecting elements, said arcuate assembly extending in a direction of the widths of said arcuate members;
• (b) connecting adjacent arcuate members to each other at intermediate portions thereof so that said adjacent arcuate members are pivotally movable relative to each other about an axis perpendicular to the direction of the widths of said arcuate members;
• and
• (c) connecting said plurality of arcuate assemblies together in such a manner that ends of corresponding ones of said arcuate members of said arcuate assemblies are fixed together to form said row of joint rings, thereby forming said ring assembly.