Pass-through duodenal enteroscopic device
First Claim
1. An enteroscope comprising a generally oblong body having a viewing end and a tail end, said viewing end having camera means and illumination means adapted to view and illuminate a small intestine interior,a cable storable in the body and adapted to unreel as the body moves through the small intestine, said cable enclosing electrical means connected to the body, andsaid body sized and shaped for movement through the small intestine in response to the natural wave of the small intestine in moving objects therethrough.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A pass-through duodenal enteroscopic device utilizes the natural contraction wave of the small intestine to propel the device through the small intestine at about the same speed as any other object therein. The exterior of the device is streamlined over the greater portion thereof with a video camera and illumination source at the forward end of the device. Covering the camera lens and illumination source is a transparent inflatable balloon adapted to gently expand the small intestine immediately forward the camera for better viewing. A small diameter communication and power cable is wound within the device and unwinds through an aperture in the rear of the device as the device moves through the small intestine. Upon completion of movement through the small intestine the cable is automatically separated from the device permitting the cable to be withdrawn through the stomach and intestine. The device continues through the large intestine and passes from the patient through the rectum.
-
Citations
21 Claims
-
1. An enteroscope comprising a generally oblong body having a viewing end and a tail end, said viewing end having camera means and illumination means adapted to view and illuminate a small intestine interior,
a cable storable in the body and adapted to unreel as the body moves through the small intestine, said cable enclosing electrical means connected to the body, and said body sized and shaped for movement through the small intestine in response to the natural wave of the small intestine in moving objects therethrough.
-
11. The method of inspecting the interior of the small intestine comprising the steps of:
-
placing a body having a video camera and illumination means therein at the entrance to the small intestine, allowing the entire body to be propelled through the small intestine in response to the natural contraction wave of the small intestine, viewing the interior of the small intestine as the entire body proceeds through the small intestine in response to the natural contraction wave of the small intestine and terminating viewing by the video camera and allowing the body to pass into and through the large intestine. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. An enteroscope comprising a generally oblong body having a viewing end and a tail end, said viewing end having camera means and illumination means adapted to view and illuminate a small intestine interior,
an inflatable transparent membrane covering at least a portion of the viewing end of the body, said body shaped and sized for movement through the small intestine in response to the natural wave of the small intestine in moving objects therethrough, and automatic termination means adapted to cause deflation of the membrane.
-
21. An enteroscope comprising a generally oblong body having a viewing end and a tail end, said viewing end having camera means and illumination means adapted to view and illuminate a small intestine interior, said tail end having a cable attached thereto,
said body shaped and sized for movement of the entire body including the tail end through the small intestine in response to the natural wave of the small intestine in moving objects therethrough, and automatic termination means adapted to detach the cable upon completion of viewing of the small intestine.
Specification