Patent ID: 8758228

Claim:
An endoscope system comprising: a first elongate member inserted into a subject; a first shape-holding section provided on the first elongate member and capable of switching at least part of the first elongate member between a flexible and deformable first state and a shape-held second state; first fixing means which, being provided at a distal end of the first elongate member, fixes the first elongate member to the subject by abutting the subject; a conduit which, being provided on the first elongate member, communicates a proximal opening and a distal opening of the first elongate member; a second elongate member which is inserted through the proximal opening, passed through the conduit in such a way that a distal end of the second elongate member can stick out of the distal opening, and movable relative to the first elongate member in a direction of the conduit; a second shape-holding section provided on at least part of the second elongate member in such a way as to include at least part of a portion which can stick out of the distal opening and capable of switching the at least part of the second elongate member between a flexible and deformable first state and a shape-held second state; and second fixing means which, being provided at the distal end of the second elongate member, fixes the second elongate member to the subject by abutting the subject; wherein the first fixing means is provided beyond the first shape-holding section of the first elongate member and is not provided at the first shape-holding section; wherein the second fixing means is provided beyond the second shape-holding section of the second elongate member and is not provided at the second shape-holding section; wherein the endoscope system further comprises a control means which switches the second shape-holding section between the first state and the second state and fixes and unfixes the second elongate member to the subject by the second fixing means; wherein the control means switches the second shape-holding section from the second state to the first state with the second elongate member fixed to the subject by the second fixing means; wherein the first fixing means and the second fixing means are both balloons; and wherein the first fixing means when inflated is in diameter larger than the second fixing means when inflated.