Patent ID: 8414477

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 plurality of concentric telescoping shafts; visualization apparatus disposed within the innermost of the plurality of concentric telescoping shafts; and a helical thread disposed on the exterior surface of each of the plurality of concentric telescoping shafts, each of the helical threads having a sufficient structural integrity, and a sufficient surface profile, such that when the plurality of concentric telescoping shafts are disposed in the bodily passageway so that each of the helical threads engage the interior side wall of the bodily passageway, rotation of the plurality of concentric telescoping shafts induces a relative movement between the plurality of concentric telescoping shafts and the side wall of the bodily passageway; wherein the plurality of concentric telescoping shafts are configured so as to be selectively (i) coupled together so that they are rotated in unison with one another, and (ii) de-coupled from one another so that they may be rotated independently of one another; inserting the visualization system into the bodily passageway at a location remote from the site which is to be visualized; rotating the plurality of concentric telescoping shafts so as to draw the bodily passageway onto the plurality of concentric telescoping shafts in a pleating fashion, whereby to bring the site which is to be visualized toward the visualization apparatus; de-coupling the plurality of concentric telescoping shafts from one another; rotating the innermost concentric telescoping shaft so as to draw the bodily passageway onto the innermost concentric telescoping shaft in a pleating fashion, whereby to bring the site which is to be visualized toward the visualization apparatus; and using the visualization apparatus to visualize the interior of the bodily passageway.