Patent ID: 8602974

Claim:
A gastrointestinal apparatus comprising: a guiding element carrying an inflatable mechanical gastrointestinal device and a gastrointestinal tool adapted to be advanced along the guiding element, said guiding element configured to be introduced through a return into a colon of a patient; a piston head coupled to the guiding element; a pressure generating means for generating fluid pressure in the colon when said guiding element is introduced into the colon; a vent tube shaped so as to define an opening distal to the piston head to facilitate passage of fluid out of the colon from a site distal to the piston head; and a guide member for being at least partially insertable into a proximal opening of said colon, the guide member being formed with a passageway connectable to said pressure generating means and for conveying the fluid pressure into the colon for inflating the colon when the guide member is inserted into the colon, and applying the fluid pressure on an external surface of the piston head; the gastrointestinal apparatus being configured to facilitate distal advancement of the piston head by facilitating passage of fluid out of the colon from a distal site within the colon distal to the piston head via the vent tube, and said piston head being configured to be inflated so as to form a pressure seal with a wall of the colon, and to be advanced distally due to the fluid pressure applied over an external surface of the piston head, whereby greater fluid pressure acts on a proximal side of the piston head than on a distal side of the piston head.