Patent ID: 6527705
Filing Date: 2003-03-04
Classification: A61B,G02B

Abstract:
An endoscopic system comprising:a rod-shaped endoscope body which can be entirely swallowed by a patient to be examined so as to be located in a body cavity, said rod-shaped endoscope body including two bendable portions respectively positioned adjacent to opposite ends of said rod-shaped endoscope body and each being bendable along a curve of said body cavity; and an external device provided separately from said rod-shaped endoscope body without a mechanical connection with said rod-shaped endoscope body; said rod-shaped endoscope body comprising at least one light emitter; at least one observing system; a transmitter that transmits a radio wave which carries an image formed by said observing system; and a power supplying device, said external device comprising a receiver that receives said radio wave which carries said image, each said bendable portion comprising a bending portion that is configured to be bent by radio control from the external device so as to orient said at least one light emitter and said at least one observing system in a predetermined direction, and a flexible portion that is configured to be bent by an external force so as to bend said flexible portion along a curve of the body cavity, said bending portion being configured to be more flexible than said flexible portion.