Patent ID: 6537206
Filing Date: 2003-03-25
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
A self-propelled colonoscope, comprising an insertion tube having a distal section, a bending section, and a flexible section having an outer surface, a throughbore and a tip;said distal section being provided with a lattice of the fiber of an image sensor element or an image-guide and a lattice of the fiber is of a light-guide; said flexible section being provided with an endless belt; a driving unit mounted at a driving casing for driving the endless belt; said endless belt extending within said throughbore from the driving unit to a guide hole near the tip of the flexible section, and then extending on the outer surface of the flexible section through the guide hole back to the driving unit, whereby the colonoscope will be self-propelled into a colon by driving said endless belt; wherein the length of said endless belt is 102 to 104% of an imaginary endless belt fully tensioned and held at one end by the guide hole near the tip of said flexible section and at another end by the driving unit, while the insertion tube is maintained straight.