Gastrointestinal tract examining apparatus
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A gastrointestinal tract examining apparatus comprising:
- a capsular endoscope which examines the gastrointestinal tract;
a flexible tube;
a connecting portion arranged on the capsular endoscope, anda flexible string which is inserted in the flexible tube and releasably engages the connecting portion to connect the flexible tube to the capsular endoscope;
wherein the flexible tube is separated from the capsular endoscope by detaching the flexible string from the connecting portion, andwherein the connecting portion is a through-hole which is arranged to the capsular endoscope, and the capsular endoscope is detachably connected to the tube by inserting the flexible string in the through-hole, and wherein the peripheral portion of the through-hole has a sharp portion which cuts the flexible string by towing the flexible string with a force of a certain level or more, or has a thin portion which will break, or which will fall down from the peripheral portion of the through-hole by towing the flexible string with force of a certain level or more.
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Abstract
A gastrointestinal tract examining apparatus includes a capsular endoscope which examines the gastrointestinal tract, a flexible tube member, a flexible string member which is inserted in the tube member, and a connecting portion which is arranged to the capsular endoscope. In the gastrointestinal tract examining apparatus, the tube member is separated from the capsular endoscope by detachably connecting the string member to the connecting portion.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A gastrointestinal tract examining apparatus comprising:
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a capsular endoscope which examines the gastrointestinal tract; a flexible tube; a connecting portion arranged on the capsular endoscope, and a flexible string which is inserted in the flexible tube and releasably engages the connecting portion to connect the flexible tube to the capsular endoscope; wherein the flexible tube is separated from the capsular endoscope by detaching the flexible string from the connecting portion, and wherein the connecting portion is a through-hole which is arranged to the capsular endoscope, and the capsular endoscope is detachably connected to the tube by inserting the flexible string in the through-hole, and wherein the peripheral portion of the through-hole has a sharp portion which cuts the flexible string by towing the flexible string with a force of a certain level or more, or has a thin portion which will break, or which will fall down from the peripheral portion of the through-hole by towing the flexible string with force of a certain level or more. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. An examining method comprising the steps of:
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releasably connecting a capsular endoscope to a flexible tube by a flexible string arranged in the flexible tube, wherein the entirety from a distal end to a proximal end of the flexible string is formed by a single flexible member, and the flexible string engages a connecting portion of the capsular endoscope; swallowing the connected capsular endo scope; performing the endoscope examination of a desired portion by towing or loosening the flexible tube after the capsular endoscope passes through the throat; and separating the flexible tube from the capsular endoscope by pulling out the flexible string at a desired position. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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23. An examining method comprising the steps of:
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releasably connecting a capsular endoscope to a flexible tube by a flexible string arranged in the flexible tube, wherein the entirety from a distal end to a proximal end of the flexible string is formed by a single flexible member, and the flexible string engages a connecting portion of the capsular endoscope; swallowing the connected capsular endoscope; performing the endoscope examination of a desired portion by towing or loosening the flexible tube after the capsular endoscope passes through the throat; transmitting a fluid to a tube from the outside of the body, and discharging the fluid near the rear end of the capsular endoscope from the distal end of the flexible tube; performing the endoscope examination after discharging the fluid; and separating the flexible tube from the capsular endoscope by detaching the flexible string from the connecting portion at a desired position. - View Dependent Claims (24)
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25. An examining method comprising the steps of:
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connecting a capsular endoscope to a flexible tube by a plurality of flexible strings arranged in the flexible tube, wherein the entirety from distal ends to proximal ends of the plurality of flexible strings are formed by a single flexible member; swallowing the capsular endoscope connected to the flexible tube; changing the direction of the field of view of the capsular endoscope by operating one or more of the plurality of flexible strings after the capsular endoscope passes through the cardia or throat and while the capsular endoscope is connected to the flexible tube; separating the flexible tube from the capsular endoscope by pulling the flexible strings at a desired position; and pulling only the flexible tube to the outside of the body.
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26. A gastrointestinal tract examining apparatus comprising:
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a capsular endoscope which examines the gastrointestinal tract; a flexible tube member; a flexible string member which is inserted in the tube member; and a connecting portion which is arranged to the capsular endoscope, wherein the tube member is separated from the capsular endoscope by detachably connecting the string member to the connecting portion, the connecting portion is a through-hole which is arranged to the capsular endoscope, and the capsular endoscope is detachably connected to the tube member by inserting the string member in the through-hole and the peripheral portion of the through-hole has a sharp portion which cuts the string member by tensioning the string member with a force of a predetermined magnitude.
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27. A gastrointestinal tract examining apparatus comprising:
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a capsular endoscope which examines the gastrointestinal tract; a flexible tube member; a flexible string member which is inserted in the tube member; and a connecting portion which is arranged to the capsular endoscope, wherein the tube member is separated from the capsular endoscope by detachably connecting the string member to the connecting portion, the connecting portion is a though-hole which is arranged to the capsular endoscope, and the capsular endoscope is detachably connected to the tube member by inserting the string member in the though-hole and the peripheral portion of the though-hole has a thin portion which will one of break and release from the peripheral portion of the though-hole by tensioning the string member with a force of a predetermined magnitude.
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28. A gastrointestinal tract examining apparatus comprising:
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a capsular endoscope which examines the gastrointestinal tact; a flexible tube member; a flexible string member which is inserted in the tube member; and a connecting portion which is arranged to the capsular endoscope, wherein the tube member is separated from the capsular endoscope by detachably connecting the string member to the connecting portion, the connecting portion comprises a caved portion which is arranged to the capsular endoscope and a fitting member which is fit into the caved portion, and the capsular endoscope is detachably connected to the tube member by locking the string member into the caved portion with the fitting member and wherein the fitting member fit into the caved portion releases from the caved portion by tensioning the string member with a force of a predetermined magnitude.
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Specification