Patent ID: 9241611
Filing Date: 2016-01-26
CPC Classification: A61B

Claim Text:
1. A track-forming device that forms an insertion route in a body cavity for insertion of one of a soft endoscope and a soft sheath into the body cavity, the track-forming device comprising: a plurality of track-forming segmented members that are arranged in a longitudinal direction with spaces therebetween; a soft connecting member that connects the plurality of track-forming segmented members; and a contacting section that brings the plurality of track-forming segmented members into contact with each other in the longitudinal direction, wherein, when the plurality of track-forming segmented members are brought into contact with each other by the contacting section, a predetermined track is formed, the connecting member is a soft wire that is inserted into all the track-forming segmented members in the longitudinal direction and that is secured to one of the track-forming segmented members that is located at a distal end; the contacting section is a wire pulling section that pulls the wire toward a base end, and each of the track-forming segmented members has, at one end portion thereof, a wire locking unit that locks onto the wire and has, at the other end portion thereof, a wire unlocking unit that unlocks the wire locking portion from the wire by being engaged with the wire locking unit of an adjacent one of the track-forming segmented members.