Patent ID: 7833150
Filing Date: 2010-11-16
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A balloon control apparatus, comprising: an insertion auxiliary member which is bendable and placed over an insertion portion of an endoscope to help insertion of the insertion portion, the insertion auxiliary member having a balloon for the insertion auxiliary member at a tip end thereof that expands and contracts by supplying and sucking air; a holding device which has an insertion auxiliary member holder for holding the insertion auxiliary member and an endoscope holder for holding a hand operation portion of the endoscope, a driving device for the insertion auxiliary member to move the insertion auxiliary member in an insertion direction or a withdrawal direction, and a driving device for the endoscope to move the endoscope holder in an insertion direction or a withdrawal direction; an air supplying and sucking device for the insertion auxiliary member which supplies and sucks air to and from the balloon for the insertion auxiliary member; an operation device; and a control device which controls, in accordance with operation of the operation device, driving of the air supplying and sucking device for the insertion auxiliary member and the driving device for the endoscope, wherein the operation device includes a step advancement instruction device which instructs advancing of steps so that the predetermined operation steps advance in sequence and; wherein the predetermined operation steps comprise: a first step of moving, in accordance with a next instruction by the step advancement instruction device to advance steps, the insertion portion in the insertion direction by a predetermined amount by driving the driving device for endoscope to move the endoscope holder in the insertion direction by a predetermined amount; a second step of contracting, in accordance with a next instruction by the step advancement instruction device to advance steps, the balloon for insertion auxiliary member by driving the air supplying and sucking device for insertion auxiliary member to suck air from the balloon for insertion auxiliary member; a third step of moving, in accordance with a next instruction by the step advancement instruction device to advance steps, the insertion auxiliary member in the insertion direction by a predetermined amount by driving the driving device for insertion auxiliary member to move the insertion auxiliary member holder in the insertion direction by a predetermined amount; a fourth step of expanding, in accordance with a next instruction by the step advancement instruction device to advance steps, the balloon for insertion auxiliary member by driving the air supplying and sucking device for insertion auxiliary member to supply air to the balloon for insertion auxiliary member; a fifth step of moving, in accordance with a next instruction by the step advancement instruction device to advance steps, the insertion portion and the insertion auxiliary member in a direction opposite to the insertion direction by a predetermined amount by driving the driving device for endoscope and the driving device for insertion auxiliary member to move the endoscope holder and the insertion auxiliary member holder in a direction opposite to the insertion direction by a predetermined amount; and a sixth step of moving, in accordance with a next instruction by the step advancement instruction device to advance steps, the insertion portion in the insertion direction by a predetermined amount by driving the driving device for endoscope to move the endoscope holder in the insertion direction by a predetermined amount; where after the sixth step, the second to sixth steps are repeated in accordance with a next instruction by the step advancement instruction device to advance steps; and wherein the control device controls, in accordance with the instruction by the step advancement instruction device, driving of the air supplying and sucking device for the insertion auxiliary member, the driving device for the insertion auxiliary member, and the driving device for the endoscope, so that the operation steps advance in sequence.