Patent ID: 8317678

Claim:
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: a tube having a distal portion, a proximal portion, and a lumen extending from the distal portion to the proximal portion; visualization apparatus for visualizing the interior of the bodily passageway, the visualization apparatus being disposed in the lumen of the tube; a rotatable drive collar being configured for rotation relative to the tube; a drive unit for transmitting power from the proximal portion of the tube to the rotatable drive collar so as to rotate the rotatable drive collar, wherein the drive unit is disposed in the lumen of the tube; a disposable drive tube comprising an elongated tube having a helical thread disposed on an exterior surface of the elongated tube, the elongated tube being configured for coaxial disposition about the tube; and a mount for releasably securing the disposable drive tube to the rotatable drive collar; wherein the helical thread has a sufficient structural integrity, and a sufficient surface profile, such that when the disposable drive tube is disposed in the bodily passageway so that the helical thread engages the interior side wall of the bodily passageway, rotation of the disposable drive tube will induce a relative movement between the disposable drive tube and the side wall of the bodily passageway; mounting the disposable drive tube coaxially about the tube so that the disposable drive tube is secured to the rotatable drive collar; inserting the visualization system into the bodily passageway at a location remote from the site which is to be visualized; 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.