Patent ID: 8356527

Claim:
An inspection apparatus comprising: a control and display unit comprising a display for display of data acquired by said inspection apparatus, and at least one control interface component for use in providing operator control of said inspection apparatus; and an elongated insertion tube having a proximal end and a distal end, said distal end for extending to a location in proximity with a target being subject to inspection, said elongated insertion tube being of multilayer stacked up construction having a plurality of layers, and wherein said layers of said multilayer elongated insertion tube include: a monocoil layer for providing crush resistance to said elongated insertion tube; a metallic mesh layer comprising a mesh made of metal, wherein said metallic mesh layer is disposed externally relative to said monocoil layer; a first composite layer disposed externally and adjacent to said monocoil layer and including a polymer matrix and healing agent storage structures that store healing agent material dispersed in said polymer matrix, said first composite layer being adapted so that one of said storage structures of said first composite layer can rupture to release said healing agent material when a first force is imparted to said first composite layer, and wherein said healing agent material can react with a catalyst also dispersed in said polymer matrix of said first composite layer to initiate polymerization for healing of damage caused by said first force; and a second composite layer disposed externally and adjacent to said metallic mesh layer and also including a polymer matrix and healing agent storage structures that store healing agent material dispersed in said polymer matrix, said second composite layer defining an external surface of said inspection apparatus and being adapted so that one of said storage structures of said second composite layer can rupture to release said healing agent material of said second composite layer when a second force is imparted to said second composite layer, and wherein said healing agent of said second composite layer can react with a catalyst also dispersed in said polymer matrix of said second composite layer to initiate polymerization for healing of damage caused by said second force so that forces imparted by said monocoil layer can be received by said first composite layer and further so that forces imparted by a body external to said inspection apparatus can be received at said second composite layer.