Patent ID: 8821385
Filing Date: 2014-09-02
Classification: A61B,G02B

Abstract:
1. An endoscope comprising: an insertion unit which is inserted into a lumen and has a longitudinal axis; a rotation drive mechanism which is arranged inside the insertion unit; a tubular first rotation member which is arranged inside the insertion unit, coupled with the rotation drive mechanism, and rotates around the longitudinal axis by the rotation drive mechanism; a tubular second rotation member which is attached to an outer peripheral surface of the insertion unit in such a manner that the second rotation member is adjacent to the first rotation member and a central axis of the first rotation member and a central axis of the second rotation member are coaxially arranged each other, and rotates around the longitudinal axis; a helical rotation member comprising: a tubular main body portion which allows the insertion unit to be inserted therethrough and is rotatable around the longitudinal axis in accordance with rotation of the second rotation member; and a fin portion which is arranged on an outer peripheral surface of the main body portion and helically arranged around the longitudinal axis; and a magnetic force generation mechanism which is arranged in each of the first rotation member and the second rotation member and generates a magnetic force that enables the first rotation member and the second rotation member to be attracted to and coupled with each other and a magnetic force which enables the second rotation member to rotate in accordance with rotation of the first rotation member when the first rotation member rotates in a state that the first rotation member and the second rotation member are attracted to each other, wherein the magnetic force generation mechanism is arranged at a tubular end portion of the first rotation member and a tubular end portion of the second rotation member adjacent to the end portion of the first rotation member.