Alternating propulsion type endoscope and continuous drive type endoscope
First Claim
1. An alternating propulsion type endoscope, comprising an endoscope shaft (1) and an auxiliary means (5, 17), characterized in that the endoscope is adapted to be propelled into the cavity by alternately retaining the endoscope shaft (1) and the auxiliary means (5, 17) with respect to a canal-shaped cavity to be inspected and simultaneously propelling the element which is just not retained while being guided along the element retained at the moment.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An endoscope preferably comprising an alternating propulsion system in which an endoscope shaft is advanced by means of an auxiliary means (e.g. a hose preferably including fluid pads or a guiding wire/net) in a canal-shaped cavity by the fact that the endoscope shaft and the auxiliary means are alternately resting with respect to a cavity to be inspected and, at the same time, the element not at rest can be advanced while being guided along the resting element into the cavity, or are simultaneously moved forward, wherein in the latter case the basic stiffness of the auxiliary means is higher than that of the shaft.
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Citations
22 Claims
- 1. An alternating propulsion type endoscope, comprising an endoscope shaft (1) and an auxiliary means (5, 17), characterized in that the endoscope is adapted to be propelled into the cavity by alternately retaining the endoscope shaft (1) and the auxiliary means (5, 17) with respect to a canal-shaped cavity to be inspected and simultaneously propelling the element which is just not retained while being guided along the element retained at the moment.
- 17. A continuous drive type endoscope, comprising an endoscope shaft (1) and at least one guiding means (16a, 17a, 18a) which upon propulsion of the endoscope shaft (1) into a canal-shaped cavity to be examined guides the endoscope shaft (1), characterized in that the guiding means (16a, 17a, 18a) acting as stiffness adjusting means varies its stiffness depending on the cavity to be examined.
Specification