Variable shaft flexibility in endoscope

1. A flexible endoscope comprising:

a flexible shaft portion having a distal and a proximal end and including:

an outer layer comprising an electrically insulated water-tight material;

an inner layer enclosed by said outer layer;

a plurality of elongated segments disposed in said outer layer and comprising a polymer material that changes characteristics upon the application of an electrical current;

a handle portion coupled to said flexible shaft portion;

an electrical source for providing the electrical current to said at least one elongated segment; and

electrical conductors electrically connected between said plurality of elongated segments and said electrical source;

said electrical conductors extending from said flexible shaft portion through said handle portion to said electrical source;

wherein said plurality of elongated segments are positioned in said outer layer in an end-to-end fashion along a longitudinal length of said flexible shaft portion and each elongated segment has at least one end affixed to said inner layer such that upon an application of electrical current to said plurality of elongated segments, said plurality of elongated segments change physical dimension; and

wherein said inner layer moves relative to said outer layer based on the dimensional change of at least one of said plurality of elongated segments.

2. The flexible endoscope according to claim 1 wherein said inner layer is selected from the group consisting of: a braided material, a slotted tube and combinations thereof.

3. The flexible endoscope according to claim 1 wherein said elongated segments are further radially positioned around said flexible shaft portion substantially opposite each other.

4. The flexible endoscope according to claim 1 wherein said elongated segments are further radially positioned around said flexible shaft portion in a substantially staggered arrangement relative to each other.

5. The flexible endoscope according to claim 1 wherein said at least one elongated segment comprises a continuous ionic polymer material extending along a length of said flexible shaft portion.

6. The flexible endoscope according to claim 1 wherein said handle portion comprises an interface for issuing commands to said at least one elongated segment for control of said flexible shaft portion.

7. The flexible endoscope according to claim 1 wherein said endoscope comprises a video endoscope and further comprises a video system for processing video data generated by said endoscope.

8. The flexible endoscope according to claim 7 further comprising a display for displaying the video data to a user.

9. The flexible endoscope according to claim 1 wherein said endoscope further comprises a mechanically actuatable endoscope comprising cables in said flexible shaft portion such that a user may deflect said flexible shaft portion either by application of electrical current to said at least one elongated segment, or by mechanical actuation of said cables in the flexible shaft portion, or both.

10. A flexible endoscope comprising:

a flexible shaft portion having a distal and a proximal end and including:

an outer layer comprising an electrically insulated water-tight material;

an inner layer enclosed by said outer layer;

at least two elongated segments disposed in said outer layer and comprising a polymer material that changes characteristics upon the application of an electrical current, said at least one segment having first and second ends;

an electrical source for providing the electrical current to said at least two elongated segments;

said at least two elongated segments each having at least one end affixed to said inner layer;

a handle portion coupled to said flexible shaft portion;

wherein upon an application of electrical current to said at least two elongated segments, said at least two elongated segments change physical dimension; and

wherein said inner layer moves relative to said outer layer based on a dimensional change of at least one of said at least two elongated segments.

11. The flexible endoscope according to claim 10 wherein said inner layer is selected from the group consisting of: a braided material, a slotted tube and combinations thereof.

12. The flexible endoscope according to claim 10 wherein said at least one elongated segment comprises a plurality of elongated segments positioned in said flexible outer layer.

13. The flexible endoscope according to claim 10 wherein said endoscope further comprises a mechanically actuatable endoscope comprising cables in said flexible shaft portion, such that, a user may deflect said flexible shaft portion either by application of electrical current to said at least one elongated segment, or by mechanical actuation of said cables in the flexible shaft portion, or both.

14. A method for operating a flexible endoscope comprising the steps of:

providing an inner layer;

enclosing the inner layer with an outer layer, the outer layer comprising an electrically insulated water-tight material;

depositing at least two elongated segments in the outer layer;

electrically connecting electrical conductors between the at least two elongated segments and an electrical source;

affixing at least one end of each of the at least two elongated segments to the inner layer;

selectively actuating controls to apply an electrical current to the at least two elongated segments;

deflecting the flexible endoscope shaft according to the applied electrical current; and

wherein the inner layer moves relative to the outer layer based on a dimensional change of at least one of the at least two elongated segments.

15. The method according to claim 14 wherein the electrical conductor extends from the at least one elongated segment, through a handle portion to the electrical source.

16. The method according to claim 14 further comprising the steps of actuating a mechanical control that includes cables in the flexible endoscope shaft to mechanically deflect the flexible endoscope shaft with the cables.