FLEXIBLE TUBE ANTI-FOLDING COVER AND ENDOSCOPE EQUIPPED WITH THE SAME

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent generation of a gap between a flexible tube and a cover when the flexible tube is bent, and to secure an effective length of the flexible tube.SOLUTION: A proximal section and a connection section 12a of a flexible tube 11c of an endoscope 10 are covered with a flexible tube anti-folding cover 20. The flexible tube anti-folding cover 20 has a tube body 21 made of a silicon rubber into which the flexible tube 11c is inserted and an attaching tube 22. An outer peripheral surface of the tube body 21 is tapered so that the tube body becomes thinner toward the distal end. Three circumferential grooves 28a, 28b, and 28c extending in the circumferential direction over the whole circumference are arranged in the tube core direction on a middle tapered surface 21b of the tube body 21 to form a thin section 27. Because the tube body 21 bends easily in accordance with the flexible tube 11c by means of the circumferential grooves 28a to 28c, no gap is generated between the flexible tube 11c and the distal end of the flexible tube anti-folding cover 20.