Patent ID: 8088063

Claim:
An insertion assisting tool for an endoscope into which an insertion section of the endoscope is inserted, comprising: a liquid storing part formed at a base end part side of the insertion assisting tool; a suction device attached to the liquid storing part of the insertion assisting tool; a liquid absorbing member housed in the liquid storing part of the insertion assisting tool, the liquid absorbing member having a surface which can directly contact liquid stored in the liquid storing part to absorb liquid received from a body cavity inside the liquid storing part into the liquid absorbing member such that the liquid is held in the liquid absorbing member, and the liquid storing part is detachably attached to an insertion assisting tool body, wherein the suction device communicates with an interior of the liquid storing part and removes the liquid stored in the liquid storing part, the insertion section has a flexible part, the liquid absorbing member is formed into at least one of a donut shape and a substantially cylindrical shape, the insertion section is inserted through a hollow part of the liquid absorbing member, and an inner diameter of the hollow part through the liquid absorbing member is larger than an outer diameter of the flexible part along an entire length of the hollow part of the liquid absorbing member such that the insertion section is not restricted by the liquid absorbing member when inserting the insertion section into the hollow part of the liquid absorbing member, wherein the liquid storing part is distal to a gripping part and proximal to a tube body on the base end part of the insertion assisting tool, and the liquid storing part is formed into a spherical shape which includes an arc-shaped recessed portion inside the liquid storing part.