Patent ID: 7798956
Filing Date: 2010-09-21
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. An alternating propulsion type endoscope, comprising: an endoscope shaft having a base flexibility; and a hose surrounding at least a portion of the endoscope shaft and having a variable flexibility, wherein the hose comprises a wall having an inner surface, an outer surface and a plurality of hose cavities at least one of the inner surface, the outer surface or within the wall, wherein each of the hose cavities is at least one of a canal or a fluid pad that can be variably filled with a medium having a pressure, wherein the pressure is variable to change the variable flexibility from a first temporary flexibility to a second temporary flexibility, wherein the hose cavities are radially extendable to contact a canal-shaped body cavity, wherein the first temporary flexibility is greater than the base flexibility and the second temporary flexibility is less than the base flexibility, wherein the endoscope is adapted to be propelled into the body cavity, to be inspected by alternately retaining one of the endoscope shaft or the hose with respect to the body cavity and simultaneously propelling the other one of the endoscope shaft or the hose, and wherein the endoscope shaft is guided along the hose when the endoscope shaft is not retained, and the hose is guided along the endoscope shaft when the hose is not retained, wherein flexibility of the endoscope shaft is variable by varying the pressure of the medium provided in the hose cavities, wherein the hose cavities are arranged such that at least one of the hose cavities is circumferentially offset and longitudinally displaced from a second of the hose cavities, wherein one or more of the hose cavities includes a tongue, wherein a first tongue of a first one of the hose cavities and a second tongue of a second one of the hose cavities are aligned parallel to each other about an outer circumference of the shaft at a same longitudinal position of the shaft.