Patent ID: 9138130
Filing Date: 2015-09-22
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. An assist assembly for propulsion of a tip device of an endoscope in a body cavity, comprising: an attachment sleeve for mounting on said tip device; a support sleeve disposed around said attachment sleeve; a deformable circulation device, disposed to extend over inner and outer surfaces of said support sleeve, for contacting a wall of said body cavity, and endlessly moving in an axial direction of said tip device; plural rollers, disposed on said support sleeve in a rotatable manner, for pressing an inner surface of said circulation device; a projection formed on said inner surface of said circulation device to project at a height L a location offset prevention groove, formed in said rollers at a depth L so as to press said projection in a radial direction of said rollers, to prevent location offset of said circulation device from said rollers; and a drive mechanism for tensioning said circulation device in cooperation with said rollers by deforming said projection in said location offset prevention groove and by pressing said inner surface of said circulation device on said rollers, endlessly to drive said circulation device by rotating.