[54] SELF-PROPELLED COLONOSCOPE
[76] Inventor: Masazumi Takada, 622-26,
Takatsukashinden, Matsudo-shi,
Chiba-ken, Japan
[21] Appl. No.: 09/207,424
[22] Filed: Dec. 8, 1998
[30] Foreign Application Priority Data
Jun. 3, 1998 [JP] Japan 10-154601
[51] Int. CI.7 A61B 1/01
[52] U.S. CI 600/114; 600/101; 600/152
[58] Field of Search 600/101, 114,
600/118, 139, 146, 149, 152; 604/95, 96,
172, 271
[56] References Cited
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
4.066.071 I/I978 Nagel 600/114
4,176.662 12/1979 Frazer 600/114
4,561,427 12/1985 Takada 600/114
5,345,925 9/1994 Allred, III et al 600/114
A sell-propelled colonoscope comprises control part and an insertion tube including a distal part, a bending part, and a flexible part. The distal part is equipped with an image pickup element. Two or more endless belts each ol which is circular in cross section extend along the surface ol the flexible part from a guide hole positioned at a distance ol less than 3 cm from the distal end ol the flexible part to the control part. The endless belts are driven by a driving mechanism located at the control part. They are guided from the inner surface ol the flexible part to the outer surface through the guide hole. The endless belts are held by guide hooks which are arranged on the outer surface ol the flexible part. The length ol each endless belt is equal to about 105% to 150% ol an imaginary endless belt frilly tensioned and extending from said control part to a respective guide hole. The colonoscope can be easily, salely and rapidly inserted into the colon without causing pain to a patient.
2 Claims, 5 Drawing Sheets
