Endoscope with an endoscope head and a reciprocating movement element provided on the endoscope head, and endoscope with a cable-operated fine adjustment mechanism

Abstract

Endoscope with an endoscope head (1) having a working channel (11) for guiding micro tools, and a tool guide surface (20) on which a tool that can be guided through a working channel (11) of an endoscope can come into contact in order to be deflected in a lateral direction of the endoscope head (1), wherein a moving body (2) which is movable back and forth in the longitudinal direction of the endoscope head (1) is guided on the endoscope head (1) and which has the tool guide surface (20), wherein a protective cap (4) forms part of the moving body (2), and wherein the protective cap (4) is placed on the outer circumference of the endoscope head (1).

Description

Endoscope with an endoscope head and a reciprocating movement element provided on the endoscope head, and endoscope with a cable-operated fine adjustment mechanism The present invention relates to an endoscope. In particular, the invention relates to an endoscope with an endoscope head and a reciprocating moving body provided on the endoscope head, having a tool guide surface, and to an endoscope with a cable-operated fine adjustment structure. The moving body with the tool guide surface has a similar function to an Albarran lever. Such an Albarran lever can be used with an endoscope to examine, for example, the esophagus or the duodenum, the bile duct, the gallbladder, the pancreatic duct, the pancreas, etc. Such an endoscope has optics (lighting device and camera). The endoscope also has an Albarran lever at the exit of the working channel, which, by pivoting, allows for the targeted redirection of the tools being pushed through the working channel. After use, the endoscope undergoes reprocessing. This process must reliably prevent the transmission of all germs or microorganisms, such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, worms, and spores. Reprocessing begins with manual cleaning of the endoscope to completely remove any organic material or chemical residues. Following cleaning, it is disinfected or sterilized mechanically. This prevents the transmission of germs or microorganisms, etc., that the endoscope came into contact with during one use, to the patient during the next use. For example, DE 196 27 016 C1 discloses an endoscope with an Albarran lever. More precisely, the endoscope has a detachable carrier in which the Albarran lever is pivotably mounted on an axis supported within the carrier. The pivoting of the Albarran lever is accomplished via a pull cable anchored to the lever and guided within the endoscope. DE 26 53 661 C2 discloses an endoscope with an endoscope head having a large recess on its distal side, open to one side. A guide element is movably arranged in this recess. The guide element has a surface for guiding microtools guided in a working channel. The guide element is connected to a wire in such a way that it can be moved along the axis of the endoscope head. DE 196 27 016 C1 discloses a flexible endoscope with an Albarran lever arranged at the distal end on the head of the endoscope. The Albarran lever is arranged in a carrier that can be moved along the axis of the endoscope head. JP S56 73802 U discloses an endoscope device with a sliding element at the distal end. The sliding element has a surface for guiding microtools and is movable along the axis of the endoscope head. US 5,573,494 A discloses an endoscope with a locking mechanism consisting of a coupling element and a counter-coupling element. A wire is connected to the coupling element. The coupling element has a groove. Projections of the counter-coupling element are inserted into the groove for coupling. The present invention aims to create an endoscope that better prevents germs that have come into contact with the endoscope from being transferred to the patient during the next use. This problem is solved by an endoscope having the features of claim 1. Advantageous further developments are the subject of the dependent claims. The endoscope according to the invention has an endoscope head with a working channel for guiding micro-tools, and a tool guide surface against which a tool guided through a working channel of the endoscope can make contact in order to be deflected laterally relative to the longitudinal axis of the endoscope head. A moving body, which is movable back and forth in the longitudinal direction of the endoscope head and which has the tool guide surface, is guided on the endoscope head. The moving body is integrally formed with a protective cap. The protective cap is attached to the outer circumference of the endoscope head. Thus, in the present invention, the reciprocating moving element replaces a conventional Albarran lever. The movement of the moving element, which can be generated from the proximal side of the endoscope, is a movement in the longitudinal direction of the endoscope. The conventional pivoting movement of the Albarran lever is eliminated. The moving element can be guided at the distal end of the endoscope head on the outer circumference of the endoscope head. This provides a large guide surface for the moving element, which lends high stability to its reciprocating movement. The moving element can lie close to the endoscope head. This allows the reciprocating movement of the moving element to be guided even more stably on the endoscope head. The tool guide surface can have a proximal-extending elevation on its lateral outer edge, which bends a tool guided by the tool guide surface in the proximal direction. This allows the angle at which the guided tool is advanced laterally from the endoscope head to be adjusted. In other words, the tool is advanced further proximally than without this elevation. The endoscope head can have a pull mechanism that can be actuated from the proximal side, and the moving element can be moved back and forth on the endoscope head by means of this pull mechanism. This allows for simple and familiar handling of the moving element by the operator, similar to a conventional Albarran lever. The moving element can be separated from the actuating element. This allows the moving element and the endoscope head to be physically separated. This enables the moving element to be designed as a single-use component that is disposed of after use. The endoscope head can be cleaned and reprocessed and fitted with a fresh moving element for the next use. A force transmission element can be arranged at the distal end of the traction body, which is connected to the inner circumference of the moving body. The force transmission element can be a locking lug. A magnetic element can be arranged at the distal part of the traction body, and a counter-magnetic element can be arranged at the moving body. A thread can be formed on the distal part of the pulling body, and a matching counter-thread can be formed on the moving body. The endoscope can have a cable-operated fine adjustment mechanism for an endoscope head, wherein the cable-operated fine adjustment mechanism has a locking mechanism in which a pulling element used in an endoscope can move freely in the distal direction, but the movement of the pulling element in the proximal direction is blocked. The cable-operated fine adjustment mechanism allows for fine adjustment of the body actuated (pulled) by the pulling element (e.g., an Albarran lever or a moving element) relative to the endoscope head. The locking mechanism is irreparably disabled if the pulling body is pulled in a proximal direction with a force that exceeds a predefined limit. The blocking mechanism can have at least one blocking projection that blocks movement of a locking lug attached to the pulling body in a proximal direction. The locking protrusion and / or the locking lug may break if the pulling body is pulled in a proximal direction with a force that exceeds a predefined limit. The cable-operated fine adjustment mechanism can be used for the fine adjustment of at least one pulley for deflecting an angling unit of a main or secondary endoscope, for the fine adjustment of at least one pulley of an Albarran lever deflection, or for the fine adjustment of at least one pulley of a deflectable optical module. The cable-operated fine adjustment mechanism can be used in any type of endoscope to achieve fine control of a pulley, control wire, etc. The endoscope could be a duodenoscope. The aspects of the present invention explained above can be suitably combined. Brief description of the drawings Fig. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of an endoscope head of an endoscope of an embodiment of the present invention with a cap placed on the endoscope head. Fig. 2 shows a schematic perspective view of the endoscope head with the cap in place. Fig. 3 shows a schematic side view of the endoscope head with the cap in place, the cap being in a distal position. Fig. 4 shows a schematic side view of the endoscope head with the cap in place, the cap being in a proximal position. Fig. 5 shows a schematic top view of the endoscope head of the embodiment. The present invention is described in detail below with reference to the drawings and an exemplary embodiment. Example of implementation An embodiment of the present invention is described below with reference to Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4 to 5. The endoscope according to the invention has an endoscope head 1 and a protective cap 4. A moving element 2, described below, is integrated into the protective cap 4. To facilitate understanding of the invention, the endoscope head 1 and the other elements are shown transparently in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4 to 5. First, the endoscope head 1 is described with reference to the figures. In Fig. 1, the endoscope head 1 according to the invention is shown separated from the protective cap 4. The protective cap 4 is not yet placed on the endoscope head 1. The endoscope head 1 according to the invention has a cylindrical housing 15 and includes, among other things, a working channel 11 and a rod channel 13, which each extend along the longitudinal direction of the endoscope head 1 and parallel to each other. The rod channel 13 corresponds to a pull cable channel (control wire channel) and guides a rod 3. The rod 3 forms a pull body according to the present invention. A pull cord (not shown) is attached to the proximal side of the rod 3. The pull cord runs through the endoscope and can be pulled on the proximal side, the so-called operator side. The pull cord is used to actuate a movement element 2, described below, via the rod 3. For this purpose, the pull cord can be actuated on the proximal side of the endoscope, for example, by a tension screw, a lever, a joystick, etc. The rod 3 can be inserted into a movement element 2, described below. Working channel 11 guides micro-tools for the examination of, for example, the esophagus or duodenum, the bile duct, the gallbladder, the pancreatic duct, the pancreas, etc. At its distal side, the endoscope head 1 has an optical extension 12, on which a lighting device 17 and a camera 18 are provided in a known manner, this optical extension 12 being shown on the right side in Fig. 1. The optical extension 12 forms a housing projection with a camera and lighting. The optical extension 12 is arranged laterally next to the moving body 2 described below, in order to ensure that the position and manipulation movement of a microtool are clearly visible in the field of view of the camera 18. The working channel 11 terminates in a section of the endoscope head 1 that is spaced apart from the distal end, forming a distal exit opening 111 of the working channel 11. Distal to the distal outlet 111 of the working channel 11 is the moving body 2, which can be moved relative to the endoscope head 1. The working channel 11 thus extends distally towards the moving body 2. The rod 3 is described in more detail below. The rod 3 is designed as an elongated cylindrical element. The rod 3 is arranged in the rod channel 13 of the endoscope head 1. On the distal side of the rod 3, the rod 3 has three locking lugs 30 arranged one behind the other in the axial direction. The locking lugs 30 form a distal end body of the rod 3. Each locking lug 30 has a tapered end section 31 on its distal side and an annular section 32 proximal to the end section 31. The end section 31 is conical and has an outer circumference that decreases distally. The annular section 32 has an outer diameter that is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the rod 3 on the proximal side of the locking lugs 30 (proximal to the end body). The annular section 32 forms a shoulder 33 on its proximal side. At the central section of the shoulder 33 of the two distal locking lugs 30, the annular section 32 transitions into the proximally adjoining end section 31, see Fig. 1. At the central section of the shoulder 33 of the proximal locking lug 30, the annular section 32 transitions into the proximal section of the rod 3. In other words, there are 30 locking recesses between the locking lugs. The locking lugs 30 can be inserted into an insertion channel 23 of the moving body 2 as described below and can lock into place on a locking projection as described below. The locking lugs 30 of the rod 3 together with the blocking projection consisting of one or more counter elements provided in the insertion channel 23 form a cable pull fine adjustment structure according to the invention. Proximal to the locking lugs 30, a diameter expansion 38 is formed on the outer circumference of the rod 3 in a section of the rod 3 located in the housing 15. The diameter expansion can be in the form of a disk 38 fixed to the outer circumference of the rod 3. The disk 38 moves with the rod 3. To allow the movement of the disk 38, the rod channel 13 has a diameter expansion 131 in a section of it within the housing 15, with a larger diameter than both proximal and distal to the diameter expansion 131. The outer diameter of the disk 38 is slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the diameter expansion 131 of the rod channel 13. The proximal surface of the disc 38 forms a contact surface for a spring 9 as a preload element, which is arranged on the outer circumference of the rod 3. The spring 9 rests against a spring seat 14 in the housing 15 of the endoscope head 1. In this embodiment, spring 9 is designed as a coil spring. Spring 9 is inserted under preload between spring seat 14 and the proximal surface of disk 38. Spring 9 preloads rod 3 in the distal direction. By pulling the rod 3 in the proximal direction using the pull rope, the preload of the spring 9, which preloads in the distal direction, can be overcome and the rod 3 can be pulled in the proximal direction. Distal to the diameter expansion 131, a seal 16 is provided on the rod channel 13. The seal 16 is designed as an annular sealing element and is seated in the housing 15, sealing against the outer circumference of the rod 3. The seal 16 is arranged between the diameter expansion 131 and the distal outlet of the rod channel 13. In other words, the seal 16 is arranged between the spring 9 and the distal outlet of the rod channel 13. Rod 3 can be made of plastic, for example by injection molding or by 3D printing. A protective cap 4 is placed on the outer circumference of the endoscope head 1 on the distal section. Protective cap 4 is described below. The protective cap 4 is designed as a cylinder with a base. In other words, the protective cap 4 has a cup shape. The cup shape has a base located on the distal side of the protective cap 4 and a circumferential side wall. The size of the cup shape is chosen such that the protective cap 4 can be placed on the outer circumference of the endoscope head 1 in such a way that the distal outlet 111 of the working channel 11 and the distal portion of the rod 3, which projects distally from the endoscope head 1, are covered. Thus, the optic extension 12 is also covered by the cap 4. The protective cap 4 has a window 41 that provides optical access to the lighting device 17 and the camera 18, see Fig. 2 . The protective cap 4 is made of plastic, e.g. by injection molding or by 3D printing. The moving body 2 is integrally formed in the protective cap 4 at a section of the inner circumferential surface of the moving body 2. Thus, the protective cap 4 forms part of the moving body 2 according to the invention. The moving body 2 has a tool guide surface 20, against which a microtool, guided through the working channel 11 of the endoscope head 1, can come into contact in order to be deflected laterally in the direction of the endoscope head 1 (upwards in Figs. 1-4), so that the microtool can be inserted, for example, into a bile duct. In the state installed on the endoscope head 1, the tool guide surface 20 is opposite the distal end opening 111 of the working channel 11, see Fig. 2. Thus, the moving body 2 functions like a conventional Albarran lever. On its proximal side, the moving body 2 has a base section 22. In the installed position of the moving body 2, the base section 22 extends in the proximal direction. The base section 22 has an insertion channel 23 that extends longitudinally along the moving body 2 and is designed as a blind hole. The distal section of the rod 3 is inserted into the insertion channel 23. On the inner circumference of the insertion channel 23, at least one elastic lug (not shown) is formed as a locking projection, which points inwards from the inner circumference of the insertion channel 23. The lug can be a single lug or a ring projecting inwards from the inner circumference of the insertion channel 23, having an annular surface formed perpendicular to the direction of extension of the insertion channel 23. The lug or the annular surface serves to engage in the detent recesses between the detent lugs 30 of the rod 3. In other words, the lug or the annular surface engages with the shoulder surface 33. Window 41 is provided as a side cutout in the side wall of the protective cap 3. When the protective cap 4 is positioned on the endoscope head 1, the side cutout in the side wall of the protective cap 4 is located above the movement element 2. Micro tools can be advanced through window 41. Furthermore, the cap 4 is positioned on the endoscope head 1 such that the illumination device 17 emits light through window 41 and the camera 18 captures images through window 41. The protective cap 4 has a distal opening 42. Function of the invention The endoscope according to the invention is used as follows. A new endoscope or a cleaned and sterilized endoscope is provided. A new cap 4 according to the invention is placed on the distal end section of the endoscope head 1. Simultaneously, the rod 3 is inserted into the insertion channel 23, and the locking recesses between the locking lugs 30 of the rod 3 engage with the lug or the annular surface on the inner circumference of the insertion channel 23. When attached to the endoscope head 1, the illumination device 17 and the camera 18 are exposed through the window 41. The proximal opening 42 of the cap lies close to the outer circumference of the endoscope head 1. The endoscope can be inserted into the patient for the purpose of examination or treatment. When the endoscope has been inserted to a desired location, e.g. in the duodenum opposite the opening of the bile duct, the area of ​​the opening of the bile duct can be illuminated and recorded by the illumination device 17 and the camera 18. Now a microtool can be inserted through working channel 11. The microtool could be, for example, a guide wire, biopsy forceps, a stent system, a catheter system, a papillotome, etc. The microtool is advanced through the distal exit opening 111 of the working channel 11 and reaches the tool guide surface 20 of the moving body 2. To support the further forward movement of the microtool, the movement body 2 is now moved back and forth in the longitudinal direction by pulling and releasing the rod 3, which is locked into the movement body 2, via a pull rope. For better understanding, Figs. 3 and 4 show the endoscope head 1 and the protective cap 4 with the moving body 2 as a transparent body. Fig. 4 shows the distally moved state of the moving body 2 as the first distal position of the moving body 2. In this state, the pull rope is not actuated. The disc 38, which is integrally formed on the rod 3, is located at the distal end of the diameter widening 131 of the rod channel. Fig. 5 shows the moving body 2 in its second proximal position, pulled in the proximal direction. In this position, the spring 9 is compressed. The rod 3 is pulled in the proximal direction by a pull cord. The disk 38, integrally formed on the rod 3, is spaced apart from the distal end of the diameter widening 131 of the rod channel. Thus, the moving body 2 can be moved back and forth along the longitudinal direction of the endoscope head 1. The direction of the reciprocating movement of the moving body 2 is the axial direction of the endoscope head 1. The protective cap 4 also moves in the axial direction of the endoscope head 1 during the reciprocating movement of the moving body 2. Thus, the protective cap 4 guides and stabilizes the reciprocating movement of the moving body 2. By pulling and releasing the pull cord, the moving body 2 is moved back and forth between the distal and proximal positions. This alternating pulling and releasing motion of the pull cord allows the moving body 2, with its tool guide surface 20, to be moved alternately towards the proximal and distal sides. This facilitates the advancement of the microtool. Function of the cable pull fine adjustment structure The presence of multiple locking positions between the rod 3 and the insertion channel 23 of the moving body 2 allows the position of the tool guide surface 20 relative to the endoscope head 1 to be finely adjusted. The locking lugs 30 of the rod 3 can be inserted into the insertion channel 23 until the desired locking lug 30 engages with the nose or the annular surface of the insertion channel 23. The deeper the rod 3 penetrates into the insertion channel 23, i.e., the more locking lugs 30 are pushed past the proximal nose or annular surface of the insertion channel 23, the closer the moving body 2 is to the distal outlet 111 of the working channel 11. The locking lugs 30 form a blocking mechanism in which a traction element used with an endoscope (e.g., the rod 3) can be freely guided distally into the movement body 2, but the movement of the traction element 3 in a proximal direction is blocked (by the lug or the annular surface of the insertion channel 23). Then the lug or the annular surface of the insertion channel 23 breaks, or the locking lugs 30 of the rod 3 break. The locking mechanism can be irreparably disabled if the rod 3 is pulled in a proximal direction with a force that exceeds a predefined limit. The blocking mechanism 30 therefore has, with the nose or the ring surface on the inner circumference of the insertion channel 23 as a counter element, at least a blocking projection which blocks a movement of a locking nose 30 attached to the rod 3 in a proximal direction. The locking projection (nose or annular surface on the inner circumference of the insertion channel 23) and / or the locking lug 30 breaks when the rod 3 is pulled in a proximal direction with a force that exceeds a predefined limit. Since the moving body 2 is designed as a single-use item, breaking off the blocking projection (nose or annular surface on the inner circumference of the insertion channel 23) is preferable. The rod 3 can be reused. Effects and advantages of the invention The invention provides a simple and cost-effective solution for an endoscope in which a protective cap is spatially separated from a pull cord used to actuate a reciprocating movement of a tool guide surface. A conventional Albarran lever, due to its geometric design, has many undercuts where germs, etc., can accumulate during use and may remain on the lever even after intensive cleaning and sterilization. In the present invention, the moving body 2 has the tool guide surface 20. Thus, the moving body 2 assumes the function of an Albarran lever. The moving body 2 can be pulled off the rod 3 in a distal direction. The distal end of the rod 3 is easily cleanable. The protective cap 4, together with the movement element 2, can be disposed of after use. The surfaces of the optic extension 12 are flat and can be easily cleaned. Thus, the endoscope according to the invention provides the possibility of preventing the transmission of germs etc., with which the endoscope came into contact during one use, to the next patient during the next use. The protective cap 4, including its moving element, can be designed as a single-use part and disposed of. Alternatively, the protective cap 4 can be cleaned and sterilized. The cable channel in the endoscope head is sealed, and the cable itself is completely sealed from the environment. The seal between the cable channel and the cable is watertight. This prevents germs from entering the cable channel or coming into contact with the cable. Alternatives In the exemplary embodiment, the rod 3 has three locking lugs 30 arranged one behind the other in the axial direction. The number of locking lugs 30 is not limited. The rod 3 can have only one locking lug 30 to engage in the insertion channel 23 of the moving body 2. The rod 3 can have two, four, or more locking lugs 30. In the exemplary embodiment, a single lug or annular surface is provided on the inner circumference of the insertion channel 23, which engages in the detent recesses between the detent lugs 30 of the rod 3. Alternatively, several lugs or annular surfaces can be provided along the extension direction of the insertion channel 23, which are spaced at the same intervals as the detent recesses between the detent lugs 30 of the rod 3. This allows for a higher holding force between the rod 3 and the moving body 2. The proximal opening of the insertion channel 23 can be closed by a seal designed as a thin plate, which is only opened by piercing with the rod 3. The nose or annular surface on the inner circumference of the insertion channel 23 acts as a toothing that engages with the locking lugs of the rod 3. Such toothing can be designed to form due to material deformation when the seal is pierced, with the toothing material flowing into the spaces left between the locking lugs 30. In this embodiment, spring 9 is designed as a coil spring. Any other suitable preloading device can be selected instead of spring 9. The preloading device simply needs to be capable of preloading the moving body 2 in the distal direction. Instead of a pretensioning device that pretensions in the distal direction, a pretensioning device that pretensions in the proximal direction can also be used. In this case, the pull cable must be designed as a sufficiently rigid sliding element that can overcome the pretension of the pretensioning device that pretensions in the proximal direction and push the moving body 2 in the distal direction. In the exemplary embodiment, the rod 3 of the moving body 2 can be pulled in the proximal direction by a pull cord actuated from the proximal side and moved in the distal direction by the spring. Alternatively, the rod channel in the endoscope can extend to the proximal operator side, and the rod can be elastic and extend to the proximal operator side. In this case, the pull cord and the pre-tensioning device can be omitted. The reciprocating movement of the moving body 2 is then generated directly at the proximal operator side of the endoscope by pushing and pulling the proximal end of the elastic rod forward and backward. In another alternative, a proximal-extending projection can be provided at the upper end of the tool guide surface 20 shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 to 4. This projection can bend a microtool, which is pushed along the tool guide surface 20 through the working channel 11, in the proximal direction. The projection causes the advanced microtool to be bent more strongly in the proximal direction. In the exemplary embodiment, the seal 16 is provided on the rod channel 13. This means that the seal 16 is located in the housing 15, sealing against the outer circumference of the rod 3, and the rod 3 moves relative to the seal 16. Alternatively, a design can be chosen in which the seal 16 is fixed to the outer circumference of the rod 3 and moves with the rod 3 relative to the housing, i.e., relative to the rod channel 13. In this case, the seal 16 should provide a seal from the proximal to the distal position of movement of the moving body 2. In the exemplary embodiment, the moving body 2 is integrated into the cap 4. Alternatively, the moving body 2 can be separate from the cap 4. In this alternative, it is not the cap 4 that is moved back and forth relative to the endoscope head 1 by the rod 3, but only the moving body 2, housed in the cap 4 and pushed onto the distal end of the rod 3. In the exemplary embodiment, a snap-fit ​​connection is made between the locking lugs 30 of the rod 3 and the corresponding locking means (nose or ring surface) on the inner circumference of the insertion channel 23 of the moving body 2. Alternatively, an external thread can be provided at the distal end of the rod 3, and an internal thread can be provided on the inner circumference of the insertion channel 23 of the moving body 2, and the rod 3 is screwed into the insertion channel 23. Alternatively, instead of the snap-fit ​​connection between the locking lugs 30 of the rod 3 and the corresponding locking means (lug or ring surface) on the inner circumference of the insertion channel 23, a magnetic connection can be provided. A magnetic element can be arranged on the distal region of the rod 3, and a counter-magnetic element can be arranged on the region of the moving body 2 that surrounds the insertion channel 23. In the exemplary embodiment, the rod 3 forms the pulling element. Alternatively, a pulling cable or a pulling wire (control wire) can form the pulling element, at the distal end of which an end body arranged on the distal side of the distal exit opening 111 is connected to the locking lugs 30. Such an alternative pulling element has a smaller outer diameter in the endoscope. The rod channel 13 then becomes a pulling cable channel. The cable-operated fine adjustment structure according to the invention, formed by the locking lugs 30 of the rod 3 and the lug or annular surface provided on the inner circumference of the insertion channel 23, can be used with any type of cable-operated control for an endoscope. For example, the cable-operated fine adjustment structure according to the invention can be used for the fine adjustment of a pull element for deflecting an angling unit of a main endoscope or secondary endoscope, for the fine adjustment of a pull element of an Albarran lever deflection, or for the fine adjustment of a pull element of a deflectable optical module. The cable-operated fine adjustment structure can have an inwardly projecting projection as a stop on a proximal inner circumferential section of the cap 4, which rests against the distal end of the housing 15 of the endoscope head 1 when the rod is pulled in a proximal direction to break the blocking projection (nose or annular surface on the inner circumference of the insertion channel 23). The principle of the cable pull fine adjustment structure can be used with any type of cable pull system applicable in an endoscope. The invention is applicable to a duodenoscope. The principle of the invention can also be applied to an ultrasound endoscope and any other type of endoscope. Reference symbol list 1 Endoscope head 2 Moving body 3 Rod 4 Protective cap 9 Spring 11 Working channel 12 Optic extension 13 Rod channel 14 Spring seat 15 Housing 16 Seal 17 Illumination device 18 Camera 20 Tool guide surface 22 Base section 23 Insertion channel 30 Locking lug 31 Tapered end section 32 Ring section 33 Shoulder surface 38 Disc 41 Window 42 Distal opening 111 Distal exit opening of the working channel 131 Diameter expansion of the rod channel

Claims

Endoscope with an endoscope head (1) having a working channel (11) for guiding micro tools, and a tool guide surface (20) on which a tool that can be guided through a working channel (11) of an endoscope can come into contact in order to be deflected in a lateral direction of the endoscope head (1), wherein a moving body (2) which is movable back and forth in the longitudinal direction of the endoscope head (1) is guided on the endoscope head (1) and which has the tool guide surface (20), wherein a protective cap (4) forms part of the moving body (2), and wherein the protective cap (4) is placed on the outer circumference of the endoscope head (1). Endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the moving body (2) is guided at the distal end region of the endoscope head (1) on the outer circumference of the endoscope head (1). Endoscope according to one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the moving body (2) is in close contact with the endoscope head (1). Endoscope according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the tool guide surface (20) has a proximal-extending elevation on the lateral outer edge region, through which a tool guided on the tool guide surface (20) is bent in the proximal direction. Endoscope according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the endoscope head (1) has a traction body (3) that can be actuated from the proximal side, and the moving body (2) on the endoscope head (1) can be moved back and forth by the traction body (3). Endoscope according to claim 5, wherein the moving body (2) is separable from the pulling body (3) for actuating the moving body (2). Endoscope according to claim 5 or 6, wherein a force transmission element (30) is arranged on the distal region of the traction body (3) which is connected to the inner circumference of the moving body (2). Endoscope according to claim 5 or 6, wherein a magnetic element is arranged on the distal region of the traction body (3) and a counter-magnetic element is arranged on the moving body (2). Endoscope according to claim 5 or 6, wherein a thread is formed on the distal region of the traction body (3) and a matching counter-thread is formed on the movement body (2). Endoscope according to any one of claims 1 to 9, with a cable-operated fine adjustment structure for the endoscope head (1), wherein the cable-operated fine adjustment structure has a locking mechanism (30) in which a traction body (3) applied to an endoscope can be guided freely in a distal direction, but the movement of the traction body (3) in a proximal direction is blocked, wherein the locking mechanism (30) is irreparably disabled if the traction body (3) is pulled in a proximal direction with a force that exceeds a predefined limit value. Endoscope according to claim 10, wherein the blocking mechanism (30) has at least one blocking projection which blocks movement of a locking lug attached to the traction body (3) in a proximal direction. Endoscope according to claim 11, wherein the locking projection and / or the locking lug breaks when the pulling body (3) is pulled in a proximal direction with a force exceeding a predefined limit. Endoscope according to one of claims 10 to 12, wherein the cable pull fine adjustment structure is a cable pull fine adjustment structure for fine adjustment of at least one pull body (3) for deflection of an angling unit of a mother endoscope or secondary endoscope, for fine adjustment of at least one pull body of an Albarran lever deflection or for fine adjustment of at least one pull body of a deflectable optical module. Endoscope according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the endoscope is a duodenoscope.

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