Endoscope with a reusable part and a disposable part

Abstract

Endoscope (1) with - a shaft element (2) which has a shaft (4), - a handpiece (3) which is connected to the shaft element (2) at a proximal end region (5) of the shaft element (2) and - a camera module (7) which is inserted in a distal end region (6) of the shaft element (2), - wherein the endoscope (1) consists of at least one reusable part (8) and at least one disposable part (9) detachable from the reusable part (8), and - wherein these two parts (8, 9) can be connected or are connected to each other via at least one interface (10), characterized in that - that the shaft (4) has at least one optical fiber (11) formed by a tube (18), wherein the tube (18) forms a cavity (19), and - that an outer diameter of the shaft (4) is determined by an outer diameter of the hose (18).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to an endoscope comprising a shaft element having a shaft, a handpiece connected, in particular detachably connected, to the shaft element at a proximal end region of the shaft element, and a camera module inserted in a distal end region of the shaft element. The handpiece can be connected or connectable to a control unit. For example, the handpiece can be connected or connectable to the control unit via a supply line.

[0002] Such endoscopes are already known in a variety of designs. What they have in common is that they comprise a shaft with a camera module, which may, for example, contain an image sensor, at its distal end. Such endoscopes have the particular advantage of eliminating the need for expensive optical components, which are usually housed in the shaft.

[0003] Previously known endoscopes of the type mentioned above are usually completely reused and therefore require extensive cleaning and sterilization after each use. To avoid the laborious cleaning and sterilization of an endoscope, attempts have been made to manufacture such endoscopes as disposable products. However, disposable endoscopes often have the disadvantage that, due to the cheaper manufacturing process, the quality of the product is so significantly reduced compared to reusable endoscopes that their use is considered disadvantageous compared to reusable endoscopes. For example, the feel and / or ergonomics of disposable endoscopes can be adversely affected.

[0004] Further disadvantages of such disposable endoscopes include a compromise in image processing and image quality due to the use of cheaper components. Furthermore, the cost per use of conventional disposable endoscopes is significantly higher than that of conventional, reusable endoscopes of the type mentioned above.

[0005] From WO 93 / 15648 A1 an endoscope with a disposable insertion element is known, wherein images are transmitted from a distal end with an optical fiber bundle and wherein an additional transmission element in the form of a full optical fiber bundle is provided laterally spaced from the optical fiber bundle for transmitting electromagnetic radiation from a control module to the distal end.

[0006] From US 2014 / 0180007 A1, a soft enveloping membrane for a camera is known, wherein light sources are formed at a distal end of a support element.

[0007] The task is therefore to create an endoscope of the type mentioned above which does not require complex cleaning and sterilization, but which has sufficiently good image processing performance and image quality.

[0008] This object is achieved according to the invention by the features of claim 1. In particular, to achieve this object, the invention proposes that the endoscope consist of at least one reusable part and at least one disposable part that can be removed from the reusable part, wherein these two parts can be connected or are connected to one another via at least one interface, in particular an electrical interface. It is further provided that the shaft has at least one light guide that is formed by a tube, wherein the tube forms a cavity, and further that an outer diameter of the shaft is determined by an outer diameter of the tube.

[0009] Such an inventive design of an endoscope has the advantage over disposable endoscopes in that it enables a technical and haptic upgrade of the reusable part while simultaneously reducing the cost of the disposable part. Furthermore, complex cleaning and sterilization of the disposable part is eliminated, as the disposable part can be discarded after a single use. In this context, this also enables significantly simplified handling of an endoscope part that has come into contact with biological material, in particular biological material contaminated by pathogens, since a disposable part that has come into contact with the biological material is easier to dispose of and does not need to be reused. Furthermore, the user of the inventive endoscope does not come into contact with the contaminated disposable part.

[0010] A further advantage of the endoscope according to the invention is that higher-quality components can be used in the reusable part, which can, in particular, lead to higher image processing performance and / or better image quality than with disposable endoscopes. Furthermore, the manufacturing costs for such an endoscope, especially for the shaft element, can be drastically reduced, so that the cost-effectiveness of the endoscope according to the invention is higher than that of previously known disposable endoscopes.

[0011] It can be particularly advantageous if the handpiece and / or the control unit is / are designed as a reusable part / parts. This allows higher-quality components to be used in the manufacture of the reusable handpiece and / or the reusable control unit, thereby improving image quality. The reusable handpiece and / or the reusable control unit do not necessarily have to be sterile. Alternatively or additionally, it can be advantageous if the shaft element and / or the handpiece is / are designed as a disposable part / parts and / or sterile. By designing the shaft element and / or the handpiece as a disposable part, the part of the endoscope that comes into contact with biological material can be disposed of without the need for complex cleaning and / or sterilization.

[0012] It may be expedient for the shaft of the endoscope according to the invention to have at least one light guide, in particular for guiding light from the proximal end region to the distal end region of the shaft element. The use of a light guide has the advantage that a light source does not have to be arranged directly in or on the shaft, yet sufficiently good illumination of the interior of a living organism is still possible. This can be particularly advantageous if a light source used generates high levels of waste heat, which could even lead to tissue damage, especially in the case of at least indirect contact.

[0013] To ensure that the camera module can be inserted into the shaft element as cost-effectively and easily as possible, the camera module can have a socket, in particular for inserting the camera module into a holder provided for this purpose, in particular a press fit, at the distal end region of the shaft element. For example, it can be advantageous if the socket of the camera module is made of a metallic material and the holder, in particular the press fit, can be reached by heating the metal and then cooling it when the camera module is inserted. This embodiment of the invention is characterized in particular by the fact that it can be manufactured very cost-effectively and yet still enables sufficiently high image quality and / or good image processing. However, it is also conceivable for the socket to be made alternatively or additionally from at least one plastic.

[0014] It can further be provided that the camera module is designed to be reversibly insertable into the distal end region of the shaft element. This inventive design of the endoscope also makes it possible to reuse the camera module.

[0015] To simplify the separation of the reusable part from the disposable part, the endoscope according to the invention can be provided, particularly on the reusable part, with an ejection mechanism for separating the disposable part from the reusable part. The ejection mechanism can be designed such that it has a push button, the actuation of which can be used to detach the disposable part from the reusable part. This enables particularly clean work, especially with contaminated biological material, since the user does not come into contact with the disposable part when separating it from the reusable part.

[0016] To achieve a suitable sterile concept, it can be particularly advantageous if at least the disposable part is designed for gamma and / or ETO sterilization. Furthermore, a sterile cover can be provided on the proximal end region of the shaft element, in particular to cover the reusable part, so that, for example, the reusable handpiece and / or the reusable control unit, which may have sensitive technical components, do not need to be laboriously cleaned and / or sterilized, but can be covered by the sterile cover to enable sterile work on the organism, in particular on the patient. Such a sterile cover can, for example, be designed to be rollable, in particular as rollable drapes.

[0017] It can be particularly advantageous if the reusable part and the disposable part are reversibly connected or connectable to one another via at least one coupling. In particular, the at least one coupling can comprise at least one coupling element and at least one matching mating coupling element. Suitable couplings can, for example, be one or more selected from the group consisting of adhesive couplings, magnetic couplings, and / or mechanical couplings, in particular locking couplings and / or threaded couplings.

[0018] In order to enable the most cost-effective production of a shaft element of the endoscope according to the invention, which, despite low manufacturing costs, has sufficiently high image processing performance and / or image quality, it can be advantageous if the camera module is connected to the shaft element by at least one of the connection types selected from the group consisting of a material fit, a form fit, and / or a force fit, preferably reversibly or irreversibly. Suitable connection types can, for example, be one or more selected from the group consisting of adhesive bonding, welding, in particular ultrasonic and / or laser welding, and / or a mechanical connection.

[0019] The inventive design allows for the cross-sectional shape of the shaft of the inventive endoscope to be freely determined. For example, the shaft's cross-section can be round or elliptical. Alternatively or additionally, the invention also allows for the shaft to be at least partially straight and / or spiral-shaped. Furthermore, the design of the shaft element as a disposable part allows the handpiece, which is designed as a reusable part, to be combined with differently designed shaft elements.

[0020] It may be expedient if the camera module is connected or connectable to the handpiece and / or one or the aforementioned control unit via at least one conductor. In particular, it may be provided that two conductor parts of the at least one conductor are connected via one or the aforementioned interface. Alternatively or additionally, the invention may provide for the shaft element to have at least one conductor that runs from the distal to the proximal end region of the shaft element, preferably within the shaft end.

[0021] As already mentioned, an inventive design of an endoscope can be achieved in that the shaft element is formed at least partially from a tube, in particular a hollow fiber tube. The tube can, for example, have optical fibers and / or be designed as a transparent light guide. Furthermore, it can be expedient if a tube wall is designed to be light-conducting. The tube can, in particular, be formed from several light guides, preferably plastic light guides, assembled to form a bundle that forms a hollow space. This inventive design can, for example, make it possible to replace a fiber bundle assembly with a shaft housing with hollow fiber illumination that enables sufficiently high image processing performance and / or image quality in a cost-effective manner.The production of such a shaft element can be particularly cost-effective, since such a tube can be sold by the meter. A further reduction in manufacturing costs can be achieved by using as few components and / or as few different materials as possible to manufacture the endoscope according to the invention.

[0022] Alternatively or additionally, it can be provided that an outer diameter of the shaft is defined by an outer diameter of one or the aforementioned tubes. It can be provided that the shaft, in particular the tube, has a suitable sheath for use in the clinical-medical field. Such a design has the advantage over complete disposable endoscopes that the shaft diameter, in particular at the distal end region of the shaft element, can be made narrower than in previously known disposable endoscopes, whereby the patient can be protected due to the smaller shaft required for insertion. This makes it possible to achieve less postoperative trauma. In particular, previously known disposable endoscopes often have a disadvantageous, design-related widening of the shaft outer diameter, in particular at the distal end region.

[0023] It may also be expedient if the handpiece and / or one or the aforementioned control unit of the endoscope according to the invention has at least one light source. The light generated by the at least one light source can, for example, be guided from the handpiece and / or the control unit to the distal end region of the shaft element through one or the at least one aforementioned light guide. It may also be advantageous if no optical components are arranged between the camera module and the proximal end region, particularly in a cavity of the shaft element. This allows the overall costs of manufacturing the endoscope according to the invention, particularly the shaft element, to be reduced without any disadvantage in image processing and / or image quality.

[0024] The interface of the endoscope according to the invention can be designed, for example, as an optical and / or electrical interface.

[0025] The invention further relates to a method for producing a shaft element, for example, a shaft element of the endoscope according to the invention, as described and claimed herein. In the method according to the invention for producing a shaft element, a camera module is inserted into a first end of a tube section, and a coupling part for connecting the shaft element to a handpiece or a control unit is arranged at a second end of the tube section. Here, too, an outer diameter of a shaft of the shaft element is determined by an outer diameter of said tube.

[0026] The method according to the invention makes it possible to produce cost-effective and high-quality shaft elements as disposable parts of an endoscope with a reusable part, in particular with a handpiece designed as a reusable part and / or with a control unit designed as a reusable part.

[0027] It can be particularly advantageous in the method according to the invention if the camera module is provided with a socket with which it is inserted into a holder provided for it, in particular into a press holder. In particular, it can be provided according to the invention that the socket is heated before insertion and cooled after insertion in order to establish a press holder. Suitable types of connection of the hose piece and the socket can, for example, be selected from the group consisting of gluing, welding, in particular ultrasonic and / or laser welding, and / or mechanical connection. In particular, it can be advantageous if locking elements, for example locking knobs and / or barbs, are formed on the outer circumference of the socket of the camera module, which are locked onto the inner circumference of the hose piece, in particular by inserting the socket at the second end of the hose piece.Alternatively or additionally, the outer diameter of the camera module mount can be larger than the inner diameter of the hose section, so that the hose expands when the mount is inserted into the hose. Furthermore, the hose can also be designed to be shrinkable, so that after the camera module mount is inserted, the hose can be shrunk to secure the camera module in the hose.

[0028] Furthermore, the invention relates to a use of a shaft element which can be coupled to a handpiece and which has been produced by means of the method according to the invention as described herein and as claimed in claim 11, as a disposable part of an endoscope, in particular an endoscope according to the invention.

[0029] Finally, the invention relates to the use of a handpiece and / or a control unit that can be coupled to a disposable shaft element as a reusable part / reusable parts of an endoscope according to the invention according to claim 1.

[0030] The invention will now be described in more detail using an exemplary embodiment, but is not limited to this exemplary embodiment. Further exemplary embodiments of the invention result from the combination of individual or multiple features of the claims with one another and / or with individual or multiple features of the exemplary embodiment.

[0031] It shows Fig. 1 a simplified, schematic sectional view of an endoscope according to the invention, wherein the shaft element and the handpiece are coupled together, Fig. 2 a first embodiment of the mount of the camera module and the holder on the shaft element in a simplified, schematic sectional view, Fig. 3 a second embodiment of the mount of the camera module and the holder on the shaft element in a simplified, schematic sectional view, Fig. 4 a third embodiment of the mount of the camera module and the holder on the shaft element in a simplified, schematic sectional view, Fig. 5 an embodiment of the invention with a control unit in which the handpiece and the control unit are designed as reusable parts and the shaft element as a disposable part, Fig. 6 a further embodiment of the invention with a control unit, in which the control unit is designed as a reusable part and the handpiece and the shaft element are designed as disposable parts.

[0032] In the Fig. 1, Fig. 5 and Fig. 6 shows an endoscope according to the invention, designated as a whole as 1, in a simplified, schematic and partially sectioned representation.

[0033] The endoscope 1 according to the invention comprises a shaft element 2 with a shaft 4 and a handpiece 3. The handpiece 3 is connected to the shaft element 2 at a proximal end region 5 of the shaft element 2. At the distal end region 6 of the shaft element 2, the endoscope 1 has a camera module 7 inserted into the shaft element 2. Using the camera module 7, it is possible to display and / or record images from the interior of a living organism.

[0034] The endoscope 1 comprises a reusable part 8 configured as a handpiece 3 and a disposable part 9 configured as a shaft element 2. It is advantageous if at least the shaft element 2 configured as a disposable part 9 is sterile and / or suitable for gamma and / or ETO sterilization. The reusable part 8 and the disposable part 9 are connected or connectable to each other via at least one interface 10.

[0035] The shaft 4 of the endoscope 1 according to the invention has at least one light guide 11. In the present embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the light guide 11 is formed by a tube 18, in particular a hollow fiber tube, from several plastic light guides forming a bundle of hollow space 19. The embodiment according to the invention according to Fig. 1 has the advantage that a particularly cost-effective yet high-quality production of the endoscope 1 according to the invention is possible. By means of the light guide 11, 18, light can be guided from the proximal end region 5 of the shaft element 2 to the distal end region 6 of the shaft element 2.

[0036] For simple and cost-effective production of the shaft element 2, the illustrated embodiment of the invention provides that the camera module 7 has a socket 12, by means of which the camera module 7 is inserted into and held in a holder 13 on the distal end region 6 of the shaft 4. A particularly advantageous embodiment of the holder 13 can be achieved by designing it as a press-fit holder. Alternatively or additionally, it is possible for the camera module 7 and the shaft element 2, in particular the distal end region 6 of the shaft 4, to be connected to one another in a materially bonded, positively bonded and / or force-bonded manner, in particular by at least one of the connection types selected from the group consisting of gluing, welding, in particular ultrasonic and / or laser welding, and / or mechanically connecting. A reversible connection can have the advantage that the camera module 7 is reusable.An irreversible design of the connection can have the advantage that particularly cost-effective production can be achieved.

[0037] The interior of living organisms is examined by means of an endoscope. It may happen that at least part of the endoscope comes into contact with contaminated biological material, such as tissue or blood infected by pathogens. To achieve better protection and increased comfort for the user, it may therefore be advantageous if the endoscope 1 according to the invention has an ejection mechanism for separating the disposable part 9 from the reusable part 8. A suitable ejection mechanism can, for example, be designed as a push and / or slide mechanism, wherein actuation of the ejection mechanism releases the removable disposable part 9 from its coupling with the reusable part 8 and thus separates it from the reusable part 8.

[0038] The reusable handpiece 3 and the shaft element 2 designed as a disposable part 9 are reversibly connected to one another in the position of use, i.e. for examining an organism, via two couplings 14, each consisting of a coupling element 15 and a mating coupling element 16. The coupling 14 can be designed, for example, as an adhesive coupling, magnetic coupling and / or mechanical coupling. A suitable mechanical coupling can be, for example, a locking coupling and / or a threaded coupling. In this case, the coupling element 15 can be designed, for example, as a locking lug and the mating coupling element 16 as a locking projection into which the locking lug engages. A design in which the coupling element 15 is designed as a thread 11 and the mating coupling element 16 as a matching mating thread is also conceivable.

[0039] In the illustrated embodiment in the Fig. 1 to 4, the shaft 4 of the endoscope 1 according to the invention has a round cross-section. However, it is also conceivable for the shaft 4 to have a different cross-sectional shape, such as an elliptical cross-section. The shaft 4 of the embodiment of the invention according to Fig. 1 is straight. However, it is also conceivable for the shaft 4 to be curved, kinked and / or spiral-shaped. The endoscope 1 has a conductor 17 which runs within the cavity 19 of the shaft 4 from the distal end region 6, at which the camera module 7 is arranged, to the proximal end region 5 of the shaft element 2. The conductor 17 is interrupted by an interface 10 designed as an electrical plug connection 25, wherein the two parts of the conductor 17 can be connected to one another by connecting the electrical plug connection 25. The closed conductor 17 therefore makes it possible for the camera module 7 to be reversibly connected to the handpiece 3.

[0040] An outer diameter of the shaft 4 is defined by an outer diameter of the hose 18.

[0041] The handpiece 3 has a light source, particularly arranged inside a housing. The light source can also be arranged separately and / or connected via a light guide 11 or the aforementioned light guide 11. The light source enables adequate illumination of the area to be examined inside the living organism. The mount 12 of the camera module 7 is preferably made of metal. A particularly advantageous press fit can be achieved by heating the metal, then inserting the mount 12 into the holder 13 at the distal end region 6 of the shaft 4, and subsequently cooling the mount 12.

[0042] The endoscope 1 according to the invention from Fig. 1 comprises a shaft element 2 in which no optical components are inserted between the inserted camera module 7 and the proximal end region 5 of the shaft element 2. This enables a particularly cost-effective production of the shaft element 2.

[0043] The endoscope 1 according to the invention has a sterile cover 24 arranged on a coupling part 26 of the shaft element 2. By means of the sterile cover 24, the handpiece 3, designed as a reusable part 8, can be covered, thus enabling sterile work on the living organism. This has the advantage that only the shaft element 2, designed as a disposable part 9, needs to be sterile. It can be provided that the shaft element 2 is designed in sterile packaging. This has the advantage that the sterile shaft element 2 is removed from the packaging and coupled to the reusable handpiece 3 only shortly before use of the endoscope 1 according to the invention.

[0044] In the Fig. 2 to 4 show several embodiments of a mount 12 of a camera module 7 of the endoscope 1 according to the invention, shown in simplified, schematic sectional representations. Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 shows a mount 12 of a camera module 7 with several locking elements 20 arranged on the outer circumference of the mount. Fig. The locking elements 20 shown in Figure 2 are designed as knobs projecting into the space. The socket 12 of the embodiment shown in Figure 2 Fig. 3 has several locking elements 20 designed as barbs 21. The barbs 21 can, as in Fig. 3, for example, extend in a ring shape around the outer circumference of the socket 12.

[0045] The locking elements 20, 21 allow for simple and stable fixation of the camera module 7 within the shaft 4, in particular within the tube 18. Fixation can be achieved, for example, by a frictional force generated by the interaction of the locking elements 20 with the inner surface of the tube 18 and / or by locking the locking elements 20 on the inner circumference of the shaft 4, in particular on the inner circumference of the tube 18, preferably in complementary counterparts formed to the locking elements 20.

[0046] A further embodiment of the invention can provide, as in Fig. 4 shows that the outer diameter 22 of the socket 12 of the camera module 7 is larger than the inner diameter 23 of the shaft 4, in particular of the tube 18. By inserting the socket 12 into the shaft 4, in particular into the tube 18, it is possible to fix the camera module 7 at the distal end region 6 by the frictional force acting from the inside of the shaft 4 on the outside of the socket 12, which is achieved by expanding the shaft 4, in particular of the tube 18.

[0047] The endoscope 1 according to the invention, as described and claimed herein, therefore has, among other things, the advantage over reusable endoscopes that increased patient safety is achieved by avoiding contamination, for example due to inadequate cleaning and / or sterilization of at least individual endoscope parts, since in the endoscope 1 according to the invention only those parts are actually in direct contact with the living organism, which is designed as a sterile disposable part 9.

[0048] Furthermore, the inventive design, in which the handpiece 3 is designed as a reusable part 8 and the shaft element 2 as a disposable part 9, advantageously reduces the cost per use to such an extent that the inventive endoscope 1, as described and claimed herein, has significantly improved cost-effectiveness compared to conventional disposable endoscopes. Furthermore, it is not necessary to replace defective parts of a shaft element 2 through expensive repairs, as is the case, for example, with fully reusable endoscopes.

[0049] In Fig. Figure 5 depicts an endoscope 1 according to the invention, which comprises a shaft element 2 configured as a disposable part 9 and a handpiece 3 configured as a reusable part 8, as well as a control unit 27 configured as a reusable part 8. The handpiece 3 is connected or connectable to the control unit 27 via a supply line 28. At the proximal end 5 of the shaft 4, the shaft element 2 has a sterile cover 24, with which at least the handpiece 3 can be kept sterile by being able to cover it. The control unit 27 can also be covered by the sterile cover 24.

[0050] In Fig.Figure 6 shows a further variant of the endoscope 1 according to the invention, wherein the shaft element 2 and the handpiece 3 are designed as disposable parts 9 and the control unit 27 as a reusable part 8. The shaft element 2 is or can be connected directly to the control unit 27, preferably via an interface 10, in particular an electrical and / or optical plug connection 25. The handpiece 3 encloses the shaft element 2 on the shaft 4. At the proximal end 5 of the shaft 4, the shaft element 2 has a sterile cover 24, with which at least the control unit 27 can be kept sterile by being able to cover it.

[0051] The control unit 27 may include a light source, for example, a cold light source. Furthermore, it may include a data processing device, for example, for controlling the camera module 7 and / or for further processing the images captured by the camera module 7. The control unit 27 may further include a power connection for connecting the endoscope 1 to a power grid.

[0052] The supply line 28 may comprise a conductor 17 and / or at least one optical fiber 11. Furthermore, the shaft element 2 and the handpiece 3 may be or can be connected to an energy source via the supply line 28. List of reference symbols 1 endoscope 2 shaft element 3 Handpiece 4 shaft 5 proximal end region 6 distal end area 7 Camera module 8 reusable part 9 Disposable part 10 Interface 11 light guides 12 Camera module socket 13 Bracket on the shaft element 14 Clutch 15 Coupling element 16 Counter coupling element 17 leaders 18 hose 19 Cavity 20 locking element 21 barbs 22 outer diameter of the socket 23 inner diameter of the shaft 24 Sterile cover 25 electrical and / or optical connectors 26 Coupling part 27 Control unit 28 supply line

Claims

[1] Endoscope (1) with - a shaft element (2) having a shaft (4), - a handpiece (3) which is connected to the shaft element (2) at a proximal end region (5) of the shaft element (2) and - a camera module (7) which is inserted in a distal end region (6) of the shaft element (2), - wherein the endoscope (1) consists of at least one reusable part (8) and at least one disposable part (9) which can be removed from the reusable part (8), and - wherein these two parts (8, 9) are connectable or connected to each other via at least one interface (10), characterized by , - that the shaft (4) has at least one light guide (11) which is formed by a tube (18), wherein the tube (18) forms a cavity (19), and - that an outer diameter of the shaft (4) is determined by an outer diameter of the hose (18). [2] Endoscope (1) according to claim 1, wherein the handpiece (3) and / or a control unit (27) is / are designed as a reusable part (8) / reusable parts (8) and / or non-sterile and / or - wherein the shaft element (2) and / or the handpiece (3) is / are designed as a disposable part (9) and / or sterile. [3] Endoscope (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the shaft (4) has at least one light guide (11) for guiding light from the proximal end region (5) to the distal end region (6) of the shaft element (2) and / or - wherein the camera module (7) has a socket (12), in particular for inserting the camera module (7) into a holder (13), in particular into a press holder, at the distal end region (6) of the shaft element (2). [4] Endoscope (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the camera module (7) is designed to be reversibly insertable into the distal end region (6) of the shaft element (2) and / or - wherein the endoscope (1), in particular on the reusable part (8), has a release mechanism for separating the disposable part (9) from the reusable part (8). [5] Endoscope (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the reusable part (8) and the disposable part (9) are reversibly connected or connectable to one another via at least one coupling (14), in particular consisting of at least one coupling element (15) and at least one counter-coupling element (16), - preferably wherein the coupling (14) is selected from the group consisting of adhesive coupling, magnetic coupling and / or mechanical coupling, in particular locking coupling and / or threaded coupling, and / or - wherein the camera module (7) and the shaft element (2) are connected to one another, preferably reversibly or irreversibly, by at least one of the connection types selected from the group consisting of materially bonded, positively bonded and / or non-positively bonded, in particular by at least one of the connection types selected from the group consisting of adhesive bonding, welding, in particular ultrasonic and / or laser welding or mechanical bonding. [6] Endoscope (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the shaft (4) has a round or elliptical cross-section and / or - wherein the shaft (4) is at least partially straight and / or spiral-shaped. [7] Endoscope (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the camera module (7) is or can be connected to the handpiece (3) and / or to one or more of the control units (27) via a conductor (17), in particular via a conductor (10) connected to the interface (10), and / or - wherein the shaft element (2) has a conductor (10) which runs from the distal (6) to the proximal end region (5) of the shaft element (2), preferably within a cavity (19) of the shaft (4). [8] Endoscope (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7, - wherein the tube (18) is designed as a hollow fiber tube consisting of several optical fibers (11) which are assembled to form a bundle forming the hollow space (19), preferably wherein the optical fibers (11) are plastic optical fibers or - wherein the tube (18) is designed as a transparent light guide (11) and / or wherein a tube wall of the tube (18) is designed to be light-conducting. [9] Endoscope (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the handpiece (3) and / or one or the control unit (27) has at least one light source and / or - wherein one or the frame (12) of the camera module (7) is made of metal and / or plastic. [10] Endoscope (1) according to one of claims 1 to 9, wherein between the camera module (7) and the proximal end region (5), in particular in a cavity (19) of the shaft element (2), there are no optical components and / or - wherein the at least one interface (10) is designed as a mechanical, optical and / or electrical interface (10). [11] Method for producing a shaft element (2) of an endoscope (1), in particular a shaft element (2) of an endoscope (1) according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized by , - that in a first end of a hose piece (18) of a hose (18), - in particular which has several joined light guides (11), preferably several joined plastic light guides, a camera module (7) is used and - that at a second end of the hose piece (18) there is a coupling part (26) for connecting the shaft element (2) to a reusable part (8), - in particular a handpiece (3) or a control unit (27), - wherein an outer diameter of a shaft (4) of the shaft element (2) is determined by an outer diameter of the hose (18). [12] Method according to claim 11, wherein the camera module (7) is designed with a socket (12) with which it is inserted into a holder (3) provided for it, in particular a press holder. [13] Use of a shaft element (2) which can be coupled to a handpiece (3) and which was produced by means of the method according to claim 11 or 12, as a disposable part (9) of an endoscope (1) and / or use - a handpiece (3) which can be coupled to a disposable shaft element (2) and / or - a control unit (27) as a reusable part (8) / as reusable parts (8) of an endoscope (1) according to claim 1.

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