Video endoscope with flexible tip

1 . An endoscope device, comprising:

a handle having a central cavity therein;

a shaft projecting from the handle,

wherein the shaft includes a proximal portion and a distal portion relative to a flexible tip coupled to the distal portion of the shaft;

a pair of pull wires extending from the handle portion through the shaft portion and coupled to the flexible tip;

a control wheel assembly rotationally secured within the central cavity of the handle and operatively coupled to the pair of pull wires; and

a control lever coupled to the control wheel assembly via an opening in the handle,

wherein manipulation of the control lever causes rotation of the control wheel assembly, which then causes deflection of the flexible tip via the pull wires,

wherein the control wheel assembly includes an arcuate member that covers at least a portion of the control wheel assembly to prevent external contaminants from entering the central cavity of the handle via the opening adjacent the control lever,

wherein the control wheel assembly comprises at least one control wheel that includes an annular groove on a periphery thereof to receive at least one of the pair of pull wires, and

wherein the arcuate member is further configured to overlay the annular groove to prevent at least one of the pair of pull wires from coming out of the annular groove on the periphery of the at least one control wheel.

2 . The endoscope device of claim 1 , wherein the handle comprises a first shell and a second shell joined together to form the central cavity therein, wherein the control wheel assembly is rotationally secured within the central cavity.

3 . The endoscope device of claim 2 , wherein a portion of the handle proximate to the opening has a curved configuration corresponding to the control wheel assembly, wherein the opening in the handle has a first length and a first width, and wherein the arcuate member has a second length and a second width, wherein the second length of the arcuate member is longer than a first length of the opening and wherein the second width of the arcuate member is wider than the first width of the opening.

4 . The endoscope device of claim 3 , wherein the second length of the arcuate member extends along at least half of an outer periphery of the control wheel assembly.

5 . The endoscope device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one control wheel further comprises:

a first control wheel having a first annular groove and a second control wheel having a second annular groove,

wherein a first pull wire of the pair of pull wires is received within the first annular groove of the first control wheel and a second pull wire of the pair of pull wires is received within the second annular groove of the second control wheel.

6 . The endoscope device of claim 1 , wherein the handle further comprises a pair of routing posts for directing the pair of pull wires toward the control wheel assembly.

7 . The endoscope device of claim 1 , wherein the each of the pair of pull wires comprise Bowden-style cables that include an inner wire and an outer compression coil, wherein the handle further comprises a coil stop for engaging the outer compression coil and transferring the compression load during articulation to the handle via the compression coil stop within the handle.

8 . The endoscope device of claim 1 , further comprising:

a working channel extending through the shaft,

wherein the handle further comprises an access port assembly for allowing external access to the working channel.

9 . The endoscope device of claim 8 , wherein the handle further comprises a suction valve assembly coupled to the access port assembly to enable selective application of negative pressure to the shaft via the working channel.

10 . The endoscope device of claim 1 , further comprising:

a tube engagement device adjacent a proximal end of the shaft for retaining a device tube over the shaft prior to use,

wherein the tube engagement device is configured to frictionally engage an outside diameter of the device tube.

11 . An endoscope device, comprising:

a handle having a central cavity therein;

a shaft projecting from the handle,

wherein the shaft includes a flexible tip distal from the handle;

a control wheel assembly rotationally secured within the central cavity of the handle, rotation of which causes deflection of the flexible tip; and

a control lever coupled to the control wheel assembly and projecting outwardly via through an opening in the handle,

wherein the control wheel assembly includes an arcuate member that covers at least a portion of the control wheel assembly to prevent external contaminants from entering the central cavity of the handle via the opening adjacent the control lever,

wherein the control wheel assembly includes a control wheel having an annular groove on a periphery thereof to receive a pull wire therein, and

wherein the arcuate member is further configured to overlay the annular groove to prevent the pull wire from coming out of the annular groove.

12 . The endoscope device of claim 11 , wherein the handle comprises a first shell and a second shell joined together to form the central cavity therein, and wherein the control wheel assembly is rotationally secured within the central cavity adjacent the opening.

13 . The endoscope device of claim 11 , wherein a portion of the handle proximate to the opening has a curved configuration corresponding to the control wheel assembly.

14 . The endoscope device of claim 11 , wherein the control wheel assembly comprises at least a first control wheel and a second control wheel rotationally coupled to the first control wheel, wherein the arcuate member is formed on at least a portion of an outer periphery of the second control wheel.

15 . The endoscope device of claim 14 , wherein the opening in the handle has a first length and a first width, and wherein the arcuate member has a second length and a second width, wherein the second length of the arcuate member is longer than the first length of the opening and wherein the second width of the arcuate member is wider than the first width of the opening.

16 . The endoscope device of claim 15 , wherein the second length of the arcuate member extends along at least half of the outer periphery of the second control wheel.

17 . The endoscope device of claim 11 , wherein the control wheel assembly further comprises a third control wheel rotationally coupled to the first control wheel and the second control wheel, wherein the third control wheel includes an second annular groove on a periphery thereof to receive a second pull wire therein, and wherein the arcuate member on the second control wheel is further configured to prevent the second pull wire from coming out of the second annular groove in the third control wheel.

18 . The endoscope device of claim 17 , wherein the second width of the arcuate member is sufficient to cover the annular groove in the first control wheel and the second annular groove in the third control wheel.