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Method for producing an endoscope, and such an endoscopeRelated Patent Categories: Surgery, Endoscope, Having Imaging And Illumination Means, Light Transmitting Fibers Or ArrangementsMethod for producing an endoscope, and such an endoscope description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20080097160, Method for producing an endoscope, and such an endoscope. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS REFERENCE TO FOREIGN APPLICATION [0001] The present application claims priority of German patent application No. 10 2006 030 521.3 filed on Jul. 1, 2006. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] The invention relates to a method for producing an endoscope, the endoscope comprising an endoscope head and an optic tube. [0003] Such a method, and an endoscope produced by this method, are generally known. [0004] Endoscopes are mainly used in minimally invasive surgery in order to examine body cavities or hollow organs. For this purpose, an endoscope comprises an endoscope head, on whose distal end an elongate endoscope shaft is mounted that comprises an optic tube. Connector pieces, for an external lighting source and irrigation/suction lines, and an eyepiece can be provided on the endoscope head. By way of the connector piece for the lighting source, light is coupled into an optical waveguide system extending through the endoscope head and the endoscope shaft and is guided to the distal end of the endoscope shaft. The endoscope also comprises an optics system for imaging purposes. The imaging optics can be made from optical fibres, rod lenses or the like, but can also include an image sensor with electrical signal transmission. [0005] Depending on the material of the endoscope shaft, endoscopes can be made rigid or flexible. A rigid endoscope has a shaft made from a non-flexible material, for example stainless steel or metal. [0006] To examine a cavity of the body, a distal end area of the endoscope is introduced into the latter, while the endoscope head, and the part of the endoscope shaft not inserted into the body cavity, remain outside the body. [0007] The production of an endoscope comprises, among other things, connecting a proximal end area of the shaft to a distal end area of the endoscope head. [0008] Known methods involve preparing the endoscope head and the optic tube of the endoscope and pushing the two parts into one another in such a way that the optic tube is received with its proximal end area in the distal end area of the endoscope head. The contact surfaces of both end areas are connected to one another by soldering, welding or adhesive bonding. [0009] A disadvantage of these known methods is that connecting the endoscope head and the optic tube is technically very complicated. In the endoscope production process, suitable machines have to be provided that permit welding, soldering or adhesive bonding of the contact surfaces of the endoscope head and of the optic tube. Moreover, these known methods of connecting the endoscope head to the optic tube require a great deal of time. In particular, when bonding the two endoscope parts to one another, care must be taken to ensure that the optic tube and the endoscope head are held in a fixed position until the adhesive has dried. [0010] Another disadvantage of these methods is the difficulty in keeping the optic tube and the endoscope head exactly positioned relative to one another during the production process, such that the length of the endoscope is reproducible. If the resulting overall length of the produced endoscope deviates just slightly from the desired length, this difference in length has to be taken into account in the design of the optical waveguide system and the imaging optics. [0011] In the known production methods by means of welding and soldering, a further disadvantage is that, during the production process, heat develops in the area of the connecting site between the two endoscope parts. The heating of the material of the optic tube can cause said material to become brittle, thus reducing the strength of the optic tube in the area where it is affected by heat, with the result that the optic tube may already break under the effect of slight flexural stresses. [0012] A further disadvantage is that, in endoscopes that are produced by the known methods, the connection between the endoscope head and the optic tube is not stable. If, during an operation, the optic tube is subjected to a considerable leverage on account of a flexural stress, it is possible that the endoscope will break at the connecting site, i.e. the welding, soldering or adhesive bonding site, between the endoscope head and the optic tube. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0013] It is therefore an object of the present invention to remedy this situation and to make available a method that is of the type mentioned at the outset and that permits a technically simple and stable connection between the endoscope head and the optic tube. [0014] It is also an object of the present invention to make available an endoscope of the type mentioned at the outset, in which the endoscope head is of a simple construction and is connected in a stable manner to the optic tube. [0015] According to an aspect to the invention, a method for producing an endoscope, the endoscope comprising an endoscope head and an optic tube, is provided, the method comprising the steps of providing the endoscope head, providing the optic tube, pushing a proximal end area of the optic tube into a distal end area of the endoscope head, and press-fitting the distal end area of the endoscope head with the proximal end area of the optic tube. [0016] According to another aspect of the invention, an endoscope is provided, comprising an endoscope head and an optic tube, wherein a proximal end area of the optic tube is press-fitted with a distal end area of the endoscope head. [0017] The method according to the invention and the endoscope according to the invention permit a technically very simple connection between the endoscope head and the optic tube. Press-fitting the two endoscope parts together advantageously requires no further auxiliaries, for example soldering tin or adhesive. Moreover, the method according to the invention can be carried out in less time than soldering, welding or adhesive bonding of the endoscope head to the optic tube. Therefore, during production of the endoscope, it is possible to omit process steps such as cooling or drying of the connecting site between the endoscope head and the optic tube. [0018] Also, by press-fitting the optic tube with the endoscope head, which pressing operation can be carried out cold and without heating, no material weakness is caused by the effect of heat, as does occur in the case of welding or soldering. [0019] A further advantage of the method according to the invention compared to the known methods is the fact that the connection between the optic tube and the endoscope head is stable, and remains so over the course of time. Since the two endoscope parts are pressed together, the endoscope is not sensitive to external influences, such as water. Consequently, the optic tube does not come loose, not even after a large number of cleaning processes of the endoscope, with the result that expensive repair work is avoided. [0020] The pressing together of the endoscope head and optic tube also permits a stable connection between both parts. In this way, the endoscope advantageously withstands even considerable flexural stresses of the optic tube that generate a considerable leverage on the optic tube. [0021] In a preferred embodiment, the proximal end area of the optic tube is press-fitted by axial compressing. Continue reading about Method for producing an endoscope, and such an endoscope... Full patent description for Method for producing an endoscope, and such an endoscope Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Method for producing an endoscope, and such an endoscope patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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