| CPC A61B 1/053 (2013.01) [A61B 1/00045 (2013.01); A61B 1/00105 (2013.01); A61B 1/00114 (2013.01); A61B 1/00181 (2013.01); A61B 1/018 (2013.01); A61B 1/0676 (2013.01); A61B 1/00091 (2013.01); A61B 1/00124 (2013.01); A61B 1/0638 (2013.01); A61B 1/126 (2013.01)] | 20 Claims |

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1. An endoscope system comprising a shaft defined by a longitudinal axis, wherein the shaft comprises:
a permanent section including (i) a distal portion, wherein the distal portion includes a distally-facing first front face, (ii) a protruding portion extending distally from the first front face and including a distally-facing second front face, and (iii) a first lumen extending through the protruding portion, wherein the first lumen includes an opening positioned entirely on the distally-facing second front face, and
a removable section releasably connectable to the permanent section, wherein the removable section includes at least one electronic component and a second lumen extending entirely through the removeable section, wherein the second lumen is configured to receive the protruding portion of the permanent section such that the protruding portion of the permanent section extends to a distal front face of the removable section when the removable section is coupled to the permanent section;
wherein the endoscope system further comprises:
a display device, wherein the removable section is configured to be released from the permanent section upon command from a control on the display device.
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