Endoscope And Cleaning Instrument For An Endoscope

Abstract

An endoscope having an endoscope shaft, with a distal shaft portion, a central shaft portion and a proximal shaft portion, and a light admission face at the distal shaft portion. The cross section of the central shaft portion is smaller than the cross section of the distal shaft portion and smaller than the cross section of the proximal shaft portion.

Claims

1-18. (canceled)

19. An endoscope comprising: an endoscope shaft with a distal shaft portion, a central shaft portion, and a proximal shaft portion; and a light admission face at the distal shaft portion; wherein a cross section of the central shaft portion is smaller than a cross section of the distal shaft portion, and the cross section of the central shaft portion is smaller than a cross section of the proximal shaft portion.

20. The endoscope according to claim 19, wherein: an edge of the cross section of the distal shaft portion is circular and has a first radius; an edge of the cross section of the central shaft portion has a first circular-arc-shaped edge portion having a second radius, and a second circular-arc-shaped edge portion having a third radius; the second radius and the third radius are each equal to or smaller than the first radius; and the center points of the first and second circular-arc-shaped edge portions are spaced apart from each other.

21. The endoscope according to claim 19, wherein: in relation to a projection in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the central shaft portion, the cross section of the proximal shaft portion and the cross section of the distal shaft portion protrude in opposite directions with respect to the cross section of the central shaft portion.

22. The endoscope according to claim 19, wherein the central shaft portion merges at a first side smoothly into the distal shaft portion, and the central shaft portion merges at a second side opposite the first side smoothly into the proximal shaft portion.

23. The endoscope according to claim 19, wherein in relation to a projection in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the central shaft portion, the cross section of the central shaft portion is arranged at a portion of an edge of the cross section of the proximal shaft portion, and the cross section of the central shaft portion is arranged at an opposite portion of an edge of the cross section of the distal shaft portion.

24. The endoscope according to claim 19, further comprising: a working channel for receiving an instrument in the proximal shaft portion; wherein a distal outlet opening of the working channel is arranged beside a proximal end of the central shaft portion.

25. The endoscope according to claim 24, wherein: a cross section of the working channel in the proximal shaft portion is not circular.

26. The endoscope according to claim 25, wherein: the cross section of the working channel substantially fills the cross section of the proximal shaft portion less the cross section of the central shaft portion.

27. The endoscope according to claim 19, further comprising: a guiding mechanism for guiding an instrument at the central shaft portion.

28. A cleaning instrument for cleaning or drying a light admission face at a distal shaft portion of an endoscope, the cleaning instrument comprising: an instrument shaft; and a tool at a distal end of the instrument shaft for cleaning or drying a light admission face at a distal shaft portion of an endoscope; wherein the instrument shaft is configured to be arranged beside an endoscope shaft of an endoscope.

29. The cleaning instrument according to claim 28, wherein: a cross section of the instrument shaft is adapted to a cross section of a central shaft portion of an endoscope such that a total cross section of a parallel arrangement of the instrument shaft and of the central shaft portion of the endoscope is not greater than a cross section of a distal shaft portion of the endoscope.

30. The cleaning instrument according to claim 28, further comprising: a fluid channel in the instrument shaft; wherein the tool includes a nozzle connected to a distal end of the fluid channel; and wherein the nozzle is configured to convey a fluid to a light admission face of an endoscope.

31. The cleaning instrument according to claim 30, wherein: the nozzle is configured to form a stream of fluid directed toward a light admission face of an endoscope, at least either to remove a deposit on the light admission face or to prevent the development of a deposit on the light admission face.

32. The cleaning instrument according to claim 28, further comprising: a guiding mechanism for guiding the cleaning instrument at an endoscope shaft of the endoscope.

33. The cleaning instrument according to claim 28, wherein: the tool comprises a wiper for wiping away deposits at a light admission face of an endoscope.

34. The cleaning instrument according to claim 33, wherein: the tool has a hinge, which facilitates placement of a wiping lip of the wiper at a light admission face of an endoscope.

35. (canceled)

36. (canceled)

37. (canceled)

38. An endoscopy system comprising: an endoscope having: an endoscope shaft with a distal shaft portion, a central shaft portion, and a proximal shaft portion; and a light admission face at the distal shaft portion; wherein a cross section of the central shaft portion is smaller than a cross section of the distal shaft portion, and the cross section of the central shaft portion is smaller than a cross section of the proximal shaft portion; and a cleaning instrument for cleaning or drying the light admission face at the distal shaft portion of the endoscope, the cleaning instrument having: an instrument shaft; and a tool at a distal end of the instrument shaft for cleaning or drying the light admission face at the distal shaft portion of the endoscope; wherein the instrument shaft is configured to be arranged beside the endoscope shaft of the endoscope.

39. The endoscopy system according to claim 38 further comprising: a trocar tube with a lumen for receiving the endoscope shaft; wherein the endoscope shaft and the trocar tube are configured such that the distal shaft portion of the endoscope shaft can be guided completely through the trocar tube.

40. The endoscopy system according to claim 39 wherein: the trocar tube is not longer than the central shaft portion of the endoscope.

41. The endoscopy system according to claim 39, wherein the central shaft portion of the endoscope, the instrument shaft of the cleaning instrument, and the trocar tube are configured such that the cross section of the central shaft portion of the endoscope and a cross section of the instrument shaft of the cleaning instrument substantially fills a cross section of the lumen of the trocar tube.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0106] Embodiments are explained in more detail below with reference to the attached figures, in which:

[0107] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of an endoscope,

[0108] FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of a cleaning instrument;

[0109] FIG. 3 shows a schematic view of a trocar tube;

[0110] FIG. 4 shows a schematic view of an endoscopy system composed of the endoscope from FIG. 1 and of the trocar tube from FIG. 3;

[0111] FIG. 5 shows a further schematic view of the endoscopy system from FIG. 4;

[0112] FIG. 6 shows a further schematic view of the endoscopy system from FIGS. 4 and 5;

[0113] FIG. 7 shows a further schematic view of the endoscopy system from FIGS. 4 to 6;

[0114] FIG. 8 shows a schematic view of an endoscopy system composed of the endoscope from FIG. 1, the cleaning instrument from FIG. 2 and the trocar tube from FIG. 3;

[0115] FIG. 9 shows a further schematic view of the endoscopy system from FIG. 8;

[0116] FIG. 10 shows a schematic view of a further cleaning instrument;

[0117] FIG. 11 shows a schematic view of a cross section of the endoscopy system from FIGS. 8 and 9;

[0118] FIG. 12 shows a schematic view of a cross section through a further endoscopy system;

[0119] FIG. 13 shows a schematic view of a cross section through a further endoscopy system;

[0120] FIG. 14 shows a schematic view of a cross section through a further endoscopy system;

[0121] FIG. 15 shows a schematic flow chart of a method for preparing for a use of an endoscopy system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0122] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of an endoscope 10 with a light admission face 11 at the distal end 12 of the endoscope 10, an endoscope shaft 13 and a manipulation facility 14, which forms the proximal end 15 of the endoscope 10. The endoscope shaft 13 has several cylindrical or substantially cylindrical shaft portions 20, 30, 40. Each of the shaft portions 20, 30, 40 can have a circular cross section or another cross section. In the example shown, each shaft portion 20, 30, 40 has a circular cross section, i.e. the shaft portions 20, 30, 40 have the shape of circular cylinders.

[0123] The outer edge or the contour of the cross section of the distal shaft portion 20 is congruent or substantially congruent to the outer edge of the cross section of the proximal shaft portion 40, i.e. the distal shaft portion 20 and the proximal shaft portion 40 have the same diameter or the same radius. The central shaft portion 30 has a much smaller cross section with a much smaller diameter.

[0124] A camera or a combination of an objective and an image sensor can be arranged in the distal shaft portion 20. The image sensor converts an image generated by the objective into an analog or digital signal, which is transmitted to the proximal end 15 of the endoscope 10 by means of one or more signal lines in the endoscope shaft 13. Alternatively, the distal shaft portion 20 can have an objective for capturing an intermediate real image, which is transmitted to the proximal end of the endoscope 10 by means of a relay lens system in the endoscope shaft 13.

[0125] A device for changing the viewing direction of the endoscope can additionally be arranged in the distal shaft portion 20, for example a pivotable prism, at the surface of which total reflection takes place, or other pivotable reflecting surfaces.

[0126] Beside the light admission face 11, one or more light exit faces can additionally be arranged, through which illumination light emerges for illuminating an object that is to be viewed. Cleaning of a light admission face, as described below, can also entail the cleaning of one or more adjacent light exit faces.

[0127] The distal shaft portion 20 is connected to the central shaft portion 30 in a mechanically rigid manner, in such a way that the longitudinal axis 28 of the distal shaft portion 20 is parallel to the longitudinal axis 38 of the central shaft portion 30, and such that the longitudinal axis 28 of the distal shaft portion 20 is laterally offset with respect to the longitudinal axis 38 of the central shaft portion 30. In a projection parallel to the longitudinal axes 28, 38 of the distal shaft portion 20 and of the central shaft portion 30, the distal shaft portion 20 protrudes in one direction (downward in FIG. 1), whereas at the opposite side (upward in FIG. 1) the contour of the distal shaft portion 20 is flush with the contour of the central shaft portion 30.

[0128] In the example shown, a conical or substantially conical transition area is provided between the distal shaft portion 20 and the central shaft portion 30. Alternatively, an abrupt or step-shaped transition can be provided between the distal shaft portion 20 and the central shaft portion 30.

[0129] The proximal shaft portion 40 is laterally offset with respect to the central shaft portion 30. In a projection parallel to the longitudinal axis 38 of the central shaft portion 30 and to the longitudinal axis (not shown in FIG. 1) of the proximal shaft portion 40, the contour of the central shaft portion merges smoothly at one side (downward in FIG. 1) into the contour of the proximal shaft portion 40, whereas the contour of the proximal shaft portion at an opposite side (upward in FIG. 1) protrudes with respect to the contour of the central shaft portion 30.

[0130] In the example shown, the transition between the central shaft portion 30 and the proximal shaft portion 40 is step-shaped. The cross section of the endoscope shaft 13 thus changes abruptly from the distal end (on the left in FIG. 1) to the proximal end (on the right in FIG. 1) without a transition area. Alternatively, a continuous or smooth transition can be provided between the central shaft portion 30 and the proximal shaft portion 40.

[0131] In the proximal shaft portion 40 and in the manipulation facility 14 of the endoscope 10, a working channel 50 is provided, of which the contours are indicated in FIG. 1 by broken lines. The working channel 50 is provided and designed to receive an instrument, for example a cleaning instrument for cleaning the light admission face 11 at the distal end 12 of the endoscope 10.

[0132] A sealing facility 52 is arranged in the working channel 50. The sealing facility 52 is provided and designed to close and seal off, in a fluid-tight manner, an annular gap remaining between the inner surface of the working channel 50 and an outer surface of an instrument inserted into the working channel 50. Alternatively or in addition, the sealing facility 52 is provided and designed to close the working channel 50 in a fluid-tight manner or at least to considerably reduce the cross section thereof, when no instrument is inserted in the working channel 50.

[0133] A distal outlet opening 53 of the working channel 50 is arranged beside the proximal end 34 of the central shaft portion 30. The longitudinal axis 58 of the working channel 50 is parallel to the longitudinal axis 38 of the central shaft portion 30 and parallel to the longitudinal axis (not shown in FIG. 1) of the proximal shaft portion 40.

[0134] FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of a cleaning instrument 60 for cleaning a light admission face of an endoscope, in particular the light admission face 11 of the endoscope 10 shown in FIG. 1. The cleaning instrument 60 comprises a distal end 61, an instrument shaft 63 and a manipulation facility in the form of a wheel 64, which forms the proximal end of the cleaning instrument 60. The wheel 64 is provided in particular to manually rotate the cleaning instrument about the longitudinal axis 68 of the instrument shaft 63.

[0135] The distal end 61 of the cleaning instrument 60 is formed by a cleaning tool 70 with a wiping lip 72 for wiping away liquid or solid deposits at a light admission face of an endoscope. The cleaning tool 70 is connected to the instrument shaft 63 in an articulated manner by a hinge 76. The hinge 76 facilitates pivoting of the cleaning tool 70 about a pivot axis 78 orthogonal to the longitudinal axis 68 of the instrument shaft 63 and orthogonal to the drawing plane of FIG. 2.

[0136] In FIG. 2, the cleaning tool 70 is indicated in an insertion position by solid lines and in a working or cleaning position by broken lines. The cleaning instrument 60 comprises an elastic facility or another facility that moves the cleaning tool 70 to the working or cleaning position indicated by broken lines in FIG. 2. Counter to the elastic force of the elastic facility, the cleaning tool 70 can be moved to the insertion position shown by solid lines in FIG. 2.

[0137] FIG. 3 shows a schematic view of a trocar tube 80 with a proximal end 81 and a distal end 82. The proximal end 81 of the trocar tube 80 can be formed by a manipulation facility indicated in FIG. 3. A lumen 86 extends from the proximal end 81 to the distal end 82 of the trocar tube. In the example shown, the lumen 86 has the shape of a cylinder, in particular a circular cylinder, all the way from the proximal end 81 to the distal end 82. The contours of the lumen 86 are not visible in FIG. 3 and are therefore indicated only by broken lines.

[0138] FIG. 4 shows a schematic view of an endoscopy system which comprises an endoscope 10 and a trocar tube 80, in particular the endoscope 10 shown in FIG. 1 and the trocar tube 80 shown in FIG. 3. Only the distal shaft portion 20 and a part of the central shaft portion 30 of the endoscope 10 are visible in FIG. 4. The distal shaft portion 20 is arranged near the proximal end 81 of the trocar tube 80 and is positioned and oriented relative to the lumen 86 in the trocar tube 80 in such a way that the distal shaft portion 20, with a movement of the entire endoscope 10 relative to the trocar tube 80, can be moved in the distal direction (to the left in FIG. 4) through the lumen 86 of the trocar tube 80.

[0139] FIG. 5 shows a further schematic view of the endoscopy system from FIG. 4. FIG. 5 shows a situation or configuration that arises when the endoscope 10, starting from the position shown in FIG. 4, is moved distally relative to the trocar tube 80 parallel to the longitudinal axis 88 of the trocar tube 80, parallel to the longitudinal axis 28 of the distal shaft portion 20, parallel to the longitudinal axis 38 of the central shaft portion 30 and parallel to the longitudinal axis 48 of the proximal shaft portion 40.

[0140] In the position of the endoscope 10 relative to the trocar tube 80 in FIG. 5, one side (the upper side in FIG. 5) of the central shaft portion 30 bears at the inner surface of the lumen 86 of the trocar tube 80 or is spaced slightly apart therefrom.

[0141] FIG. 6 shows a further schematic view of the endoscopy system from FIGS. 4 and 5. The situation shown in FIG. 6 arises when the endoscope 10, starting from the position shown in FIG. 5, is moved relative to the trocar tube in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal axis 28 of the distal shaft portion 20, orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the central shaft portion and orthogonal to the longitudinal axis 88 of the trocar tube 80, specifically from the top downward in the view in FIG. 6.

[0142] In the position of the endoscope 10 relative to the trocar tube 80 in FIG. 6, the central shaft portion 30 bears at an opposite side (the lower side in FIG. 6) compared to the situation shown in FIG. 5 on the inner surface of the lumen 86 of the trocar tube 80 or is spaced slightly apart therefrom.

[0143] FIG. 7 show a further schematic view of the endoscopy system from FIGS. 4 to 6. The situation shown in FIG. 7 arises when the endoscope 10, starting from the position shown in FIG. 6, is moved further distally relative to the trocar tube 80 in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis 28 of the distal shaft portion 20, parallel to the longitudinal axis 38 of the central shaft portion 30 and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the trocar tube 80. In doing this, the proximal shaft portion 40 is inserted into the lumen 86 of the trocar tube 80.

[0144] In the situation shown in FIG. 7, the proximal shaft portion 40 is inserted completely into a proximal area of the lumen 86 of the trocar tube 80. The manipulation facility 14 bears at the proximal end 81 of the trocar tube 80.

[0145] FIG. 8 shows a schematic view of an endoscopy system which, like the endoscopy system shown in FIGS. 4 to 7, comprises an endoscope 10 and a trocar tube 80, in particular the endoscope 10 shown in FIG. 1 and the trocar tube 80 shown in FIG. 3. Furthermore, the endoscopy system shown in FIG. 8 comprises a cleaning instrument 60, in particular the cleaning instrument 60 shown in FIG. 2.

[0146] In the situation shown in FIG. 8, the cleaning tool 70 at the distal end of the cleaning instrument 60 adopts the insertion position (shown by solid lines in FIG. 2) relative to the instrument shaft 63. The cleaning tool 70 is inserted from the proximal end completely through the working channel 50 in the endoscope 10 into the lumen 86 in the trocar tube 80. The instrument shaft 63 of the cleaning instrument 60 is inserted partially into the working channel 50 of the endoscope 50 and partially into the lumen 86 of the trocar tube 80.

[0147] FIG. 9 show a further schematic view of the endoscopy system from FIG. 8. The situation shown in FIG. 9 arises when the cleaning instrument 60, starting from the position shown in FIG. 8, is moved distally relative to the endoscope 10 and the trocar tube 80 parallel to the longitudinal axis 68 of the instrument shaft 63 and parallel to the longitudinal axis 58 of the working channel 50, as far as the working or cleaning position shown in FIG. 9.

[0148] The elastic restoring force (described with reference to FIG. 2) of an elastic facility (not shown in the figures) moves the cleaning tool to the cleaning position shown in FIG. 9, in which the wiping lip 72 bears at the light admission face 11 of the endoscope 10. The wheel 64 can be rotated manually about the longitudinal axis 68 of the instrument shaft 63. The instrument shaft 63 thus rotates together with the tool 70 about the longitudinal axis 68 of the instrument shaft 63, and the wiping lip 72 of the cleaning tool 70 is moved across the light admission face 11 of the endoscope 10. In this way, solid and liquid deposits at the light admission face 11 of the endoscope 10 and optionally at adjacent light exit faces can be wiped off or pushed aside, in order to facilitate capture of a sharp, high-contrast and bright image.

[0149] FIG. 10 shows a schematic view of a further cleaning instrument 60 which is similar, in some features, properties and functions, to the cleaning instrument shown in FIGS. 2, 8 and 9. Features, properties and functions of the cleaning instrument 60 shown in FIG. 10 are in particular described below which differentiate it from the cleaning instrument shown in FIGS. 2, 8 and 9. In contrast to the views in FIGS. 1 to 9, the cleaning instrument 60 in FIG. 10 is shown in a longitudinal section. An endoscope 10 and a trocar tube 80, in particular the endoscope 10 shown in FIG. 1 and the trocar tube shown in FIG. 3, are indicated by broken lines. The cleaning instrument 60 can form an endoscopy system together with the endoscope 10 and/or with the trocar tube 80. The position of the cleaning instrument 60 indicated in FIG. 10 is the intended working or cleaning position relative to the endoscope 10.

[0150] The cleaning instrument 60 has a fluid channel 73 in the instrument shaft 63, which fluid channel 73 is connected to a nozzle 74 at the distal end of the cleaning instrument 60. A gas, a saline solution or another cleaning liquid or another cleaning fluid can be conveyed through the fluid channel 73 to the nozzle 74, emerge through the nozzle 74 and form a stream 75 of fluid. The nozzle 74 is arranged and designed such that the stream 75 of fluid strikes the light admission face 11 and carries off solid or liquid deposits at the light admission face 11. Alternatively or in addition, the nozzle 74 can be designed such that a stream 75 of gas formed by the nozzle 74 and moving along the light admission face 11 of the endoscope 10 suppresses the formation of solid or liquid deposits at the light admission face 11.

[0151] FIG. 11 shows a schematic view of a cross section through the endoscopy system shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, or through an endoscopy system with the cleaning instrument shown in FIG. 10, along the section plane A-A indicated in FIGS. 9 and 10.

[0152] The cross section of the central shaft portion 30 and the cross section of the instrument shaft 63 of the cleaning instrument 60 (cf. FIGS. 8 to 10) are each shown without inner structure. The distal shaft portion 20 of the endoscope 10 (cf. FIGS. 1 and 8 to 10) lies in front of the section plane A-A and is therefore not visible in FIG. 11. In order to visualize the position of the distal shaft portion 20 relative to the central shaft portion 30 and relative to the proximal shaft portion 40, the edge 21 of the cross section of the distal shaft portion 20 is indicated in FIG. 11 by a broken line. This corresponds to a projection in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axes 28, 38, 48, 58, 68, 88 (cf. FIGS. 1 to 5).

[0153] The edge 21 of the cross section of the distal shaft portion 20, the edge 31 of the cross section of the central shaft portion 30 and the edge 41 of the cross section of the proximal shaft portion 40 are each circular, while the cross section of the trocar tube 80 has the shape of a circular ring. The distal shaft portion 20, the central shaft portion 30 and the proximal shaft portion 40 are arranged relative to one another such that the cross section of the central shaft portion 30 lies at the edge of the cross section of the distal shaft portion 20 and at the edge 41 of the cross section of the proximal shaft portion 40. The cross sections of the distal shaft portion 20 and of the proximal shaft portion 40 are offset relative to the central shaft portion 30 such that the distal shaft portion 20 and the proximal shaft portion 40 protrude in opposite directions relative to the central shaft portion 30.

[0154] FIG. 12 shows a schematic view of a cross section through a further endoscopy system which is similar, in some features, properties and functions, to the endoscopy systems shown in FIGS. 1 to 11. The section plane of FIG. 12 corresponds to the section plane A-A of FIG. 11. Features, properties and functions of the endoscopy system shown in FIG. 12 are in particular described below which differentiate it from the endoscopy systems shown in FIGS. 1 to 11.

[0155] The endoscopy system shown in FIG. 12 differs from the endoscopy systems shown in FIGS. 1 to 11 in particular in that the central shaft portion 30 of the endoscope does not have a circular cross section. Instead, the central shaft portion 30 has an edge which is formed by two edge portions 31, 32 that each have the shape of an arc of a circle. The circular-arc-shaped edge portions 31, 32 each have the same radius as the edge 21 of the cross section of the distal shaft portion 20 and the edge 41 of the cross section of the proximal shaft portion 40.

[0156] The distal shaft portion 20, the central shaft portion 30 and the proximal shaft portion 40 are arranged such that, in the projection shown in FIG. 12, the first circular-arc-shaped edge portion 31 of the cross section of the central shaft portion 30 overlaps the edge 21 of the distal shaft portion 20, and such that the second circular-arc-shaped edge portion 32 of the central shaft portion 30 overlaps the edge 41 of the proximal shaft portion 40. Thus, a part of the surface of the central shaft portion 30 is flush with a part of the surface of the distal shaft portion 20 and merges smoothly into the latter. Another part of the surface of the central shaft portion 30 is flush with a part of the surface of the proximal shaft portion 40 and merges smoothly into the latter.

[0157] FIG. 13 shows a schematic view of a cross section through a further endoscopy system which is similar, in some features, properties and functions, to the endoscopy systems shown in FIGS. 1 to 11 and in particular to the endoscopy system shown in FIG. 12. The section plane of FIG. 13 corresponds to the section plane A-A of FIG. 11 and to the section plane of FIG. 12. Features, properties and functions of the endoscopy system shown in FIG. 13 are described below which differentiate it from the endoscopy systems shown in FIGS. 1 to 12.

[0158] The endoscopy system shown in FIG. 13 differs from the endoscopy systems shown in FIGS. 1 to 12, and especially from the endoscopy system shown in FIG. 12, in that, among other things, the cross section of the working channel 50 in the proximal shaft portion 40 and the corresponding cross section of the instrument shaft 63 each have a crescent shape. The edges of the cross sections of the working channel 50 and of the instrument shaft 63 are each composed substantially of two circular-arc-shaped edge portions. The radius of one circular arc portion is slightly greater, and the radius of the other circular arc portion slightly smaller, than the radii of the edges or edge portions 21, 31, 32, 41 of the cross sections of the shaft portions 20, 30, 40. The cross section of the central shaft portion 30 and the cross section of the instrument shaft 63 together fill the cross section of the lumen 86 of the trocar tube 80 substantially, in particular except for a structurally required wall thickness of the proximal shaft portion 40.

[0159] The endoscopy system shown in FIG. 13 moreover differs from the endoscopy systems shown in the figures in that the instrument shaft 63 is guided with form-fit engagement at the central shaft portion 30 and optionally also at the distal shaft portion. For this purpose, the central shaft portion 30 has a groove 93 and the instrument shaft 63 has a web 96. The groove 93 and the web 96 have corresponding T-shaped cross sections. The web 96 engages in the groove 93. Form-fit engagement between the groove 93 and the web 96 suppresses a movement of the instrument shaft 63 relative to the central shaft portion 30 substantially or, except for unavoidable play, completely.

[0160] As an alternative to T-shaped cross sections, the groove 93 and the web 96 can have dovetail-shaped cross sections.

[0161] A distal end of the groove 93 and a distal end of the web 96 can form a mechanical stop, which by form-fit engagement defines a working or cleaning position (cf. FIGS. 9 and 10).

[0162] FIG. 14 shows a schematic view of a cross section through a further endoscopy system which is similar, in some features, properties and functions, to the endoscopy systems shown in FIGS. 1 to 13. The section plane of FIG. 14 corresponds to the section planes of FIGS. 11 to 13. Features, properties and functions of the endoscopy system shown in FIG. 14 are in particular described below which differentiate it from the endoscopy systems shown in FIGS. 1 to 13.

[0163] The endoscopy system shown in FIG. 14 differs from the endoscopy systems shown in FIGS. 1 to 12, and in particular from the endoscopy system shown in FIG. 13, in that, among other things, the cross section of the central shaft portion 30 and the cross section of the instrument shaft 63 together fill the lumen 86 of the trocar tube 80 substantially completely. For this purpose, the proximal shaft portion 40 (cf. FIGS. 1 and 5 to 13) can be omitted. In this case, the endoscope is then guided with little play in the trocar tube 80 only if at the same time the instrument shaft 63 is inserted into the working channel 50 in the manipulation facility 14 of the endoscope 10 (cf. FIGS. 1 and 5 to 10) and at least partially into the lumen 86 of the trocar tube 80.

[0164] In contrast to the view in FIGS. 3 to 10, the lumen 86 of the trocar tube 80 can alternatively have a widened cross section near the proximal end 81, in order to receive a correspondingly larger proximal shaft portion 40.

[0165] The endoscopy system shown in FIG. 14 moreover differs from the endoscopy systems shown in FIGS. 1 to 13, and in particular from the endoscopy system shown in FIG. 13, in that a guiding of the instrument shaft 63 with form-fit engagement at the central shaft portion 30 of the endoscope is provided in another way. The central shaft portion 30 has a groove 93 at each of its two edges facing away from each other. An associated L-shaped web 96 at the instrument shaft 63 engages in each of the two grooves 93.

[0166] FIG. 15 shows a schematic flow chart of a method for preparing an endoscopy system for use. The method is also usable for endoscopy systems, or implementable with endoscopy systems, which differ from the endoscopy systems shown in FIGS. 1 to 14. Nonetheless, reference signs from FIGS. 1 to 14 are used below to make matters easier to understand.

[0167] In a first step 101, an endoscope 10 is inserted into a lumen 86 of a trocar tube 80 as far as a predetermined position. This predetermined position corresponds in particular to the position shown in FIG. 5.

[0168] In a second step 102, the endoscope 10 is moved in the lumen 86 of the trocar tube 80, and relative to the trocar tube, in a direction orthogonal to the direction of movement of the first step 101 and orthogonal to the longitudinal axes 28, 38, 48 of the endoscope 10 and to the longitudinal axis 88 of the trocar tube 80. In the second step 102, the endoscope 10 is moved relative to the trocar tube 80 in particular from the position shown in FIG. 5 to the position shown in FIG. 6.

[0169] In an optional third step 103, the endoscope 10 is moved relative to the trocar tube as far as a working position. The direction of movement of the third step 103 is in particular parallel to the direction of movement of the first step 101 and to the longitudinal axes 28, 38, 48 of the endoscope 10 and to the longitudinal axis 88 of the trocar tube 80. In the third step, a proximal shaft portion 40 can be inserted into the lumen 86 of the trocar tube 80. The third step 103 can in particular be omitted if the proximal shaft portion 40 of the endoscope 10 is not intended to be inserted into the lumen 86 of the trocar tube 80, or if the endoscope 10 has no proximal shaft portion 40.

[0170] In an optional fourth step 104, an instrument, for example a cleaning instrument 60, is guided partially through a working channel 50 of the endoscope 10. The direction of movement of the fourth step 104 corresponds in particular to the directions of movement of the first step 101 and of the third step 103 and is parallel to a longitudinal axis 58 of the working channel 50, parallel to a longitudinal axis 68 of the instrument 60 and in particular also parallel to a longitudinal axis 38 of a shaft portion 30 of the endoscope 10.

[0171] In a fifth step 105, the instrument 60 is guided partially past a shaft portion, in particular past a central shaft portion 30 of the endoscope 10. The direction of movement of the fifth step 105 corresponds to the direction of movement of the fourth step 104 and is in particular parallel to a longitudinal axis 38 of a shaft portion 30 of the endoscope 10. The fifth step 105 can follow on directly from the fourth step 104, such that the fourth step 104 transitions into the fifth step 105. At the end of the fifth step 105, a working or cleaning position of the instrument 60 is reached.

[0172] If the instrument 60 is a cleaning instrument, a light admission face 11 of the endoscope 10 can be cleaned in a sixth step 106. For this purpose, for example, deposits are wiped from the light admission face 11 by means of a wiping lip 72 moved across the light admission face 11, or they are flushed away from the light admission face 11 by means of a stream 75 of fluid formed by a nozzle 74. Alternatively, in the sixth step 106, a stream 75 of fluid that prevents the formation of deposits can be generated at the light admission face 11 of the endoscope 10.