Patent ID: 7967759

Claim:
An endoscope system, comprising: an endoscopic probe, the endoscopic probe having a proximal end, a distal end, and an elongate passageway extending between the proximal and distal ends; the elongate passageway configured to route at least one of an illumination system or a visualization system, wherein at least a distal end portion of the endoscopic probe is configured for insertion into a natural orifice of a body and routable through a tortuous natural lumen of the body; and a sampling device attached to the endoscopic probe at a position proximate the distal end portion of the endoscopic probe such that the sampling device is configured for insertion into the body, wherein the sampling device includes a capnographic sensor capable of generating signals indicative of CO 2 gas concentration during endoscopic use, and wherein the capnographic sensor includes an infrared LED light associated with an infrared detector, and a reference light emitter associated with a reference light detector.