Patent ID: 8892182

Claim:
A system for examining a colon comprising: a catheter having a proximal end, a distal end, and a central lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal end; a flexible tube extending through the central lumen of said catheter, said flexible tube having a proximal end that extends proximally beyond the proximal end of said catheter and a distal end that extends distally beyond the distal end of said catheter, said flexible tube being of sufficient length to extend from the anus to the sigmoid colon of an adult human; a first balloon secured to said flexible tube adjacent the distal end of said flexible tube; and a second balloon secured to and extending around said catheter, said second balloon being proximal to the distal end of said catheter, wherein the distance between said first and second balloons is adjustable by engaging the proximal end of said flexible tube that extends proximally beyond the proximal end of said catheter for sliding said flexible tube through the central lumen of said catheter, and wherein the distal end of said flexible tube that extends distally beyond the distal end of said catheter is adapted to bend for tracking the path of the colon from the anus to the sigmoid colon as said flexible tube is advanced through the colon, wherein said catheter is a rectal catheter that tapers inwardly between said second balloon and the distal end of said rectal catheter for insertion into a patient's anus so that said second balloon is located in the patient's rectum and the proximal end of said rectal catheter projects outside the patient's anus.