Patent ID: 8083670
Filing Date: 2011-12-27
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. An endoscope comprising: an insertion unit which is to be inserted into a body; a balloon mounted on an outer peripheral surface of the insertion unit; and a pipeline provided inside the insertion unit for supplying a fluid to the mounted balloon, wherein a plurality of openings are provided in an axial direction of the insertion unit on the outer peripheral surface of the insertion unit and communicating with the pipeline for expanding the balloon, from the plurality of openings, at least one of a tip side opening located at a tip in the axial direction and a base end side opening located at a base end in the axial direction is closed by a cylindrical band integrally formed with the balloon at a tip portion or a base end portion of the balloon to prevent the fluid from leaking from the closed opening, and wherein, according to an application of said endoscope, one of the plurality of openings is selected and a mounting location of the balloon to the insertion unit is changed in accordance with the selected opening, the plurality of openings exist in a concave groove formed over an entire circumference of an outer peripheral surface of the insertion unit, a depth of the concave groove is substantially the same as a thickness of the balloon, and when the band is attached to the concave groove, a surface of the insertion unit and a surface of the balloon become substantially flush at a part of the concave groove where the band is attached, and when the fluid is fed through the pipeline, the fluid is supplied from openings other than the opening closed by the band, and the balloon is expanded by the fluid.