Patent ID: 8574220
Filing Date: 2013-11-05
Classification: A61M

Abstract:
1. A method for visualizing the interior of a bodily passageway at a remote location, the method comprising the steps of: providing a visualization system for deployment in the bodily passageway, the visualization system comprising: mounting the disposable drive tube coaxially about the endoscope so that the disposable drive tube is secured to the rotatable drive collar of the endoscope; inserting the visualization system into the bodily passageway at a location remote from the site which is to be visualized, with the deformable helical thread being in the reduced profile configuration; transforming the deformable helical thread into the expanded profile configuration; rotating the disposable drive tube so as to bring together the site which is to be visualized and the visualization apparatus; and using the visualization apparatus to visualize the interior of the bodily passageway.