Endoscope shaft having a layered structure, and method for producing same

Abstract

The invention relates to an endoscope shafthaving a layered structure. In this shaft, formed as a curved or non-curved hollow cylinder, various layers succeed and enclose one another radially over the entire length or a substantial part of the length of the shaft. The shaft has an inner layerof plastic, and an outer layerof plastic enclosing the inner layer, and a structuring layerin the transition regionof the inner layer and the outer layer. The plastics of the inner layer and of the outer layerare different, and the inner layer and the outer layermesh together in the transition region. Thus, the inner layer and the outer layercan connect to each other particularly well, and a delamination of the inner layer and of the outer layercan thus be prevented. This is specifically because the interface between the inner layer and the outer layeris enlarged, in relation to the prior art, by the mutual meshing. Moreover, the geometry of the mutual meshing creates a particularly stable and durable mechanical connection between the layersand, which allows forces to be transmitted from one of the layersto another in a particularly reliable and permanent manner, as a result of which undesired delamination is prevented, in particular in flexible endoscope shafts The invention further relates to a method for producing such an endoscope shaftaccording to the invention.