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Endoscope assemblyRelated Patent Categories: Surgery, Endoscope, With Tool Carried On Endoscope Or Auxillary Channel Therefore, Having Tool Moving Or Stopping MeansEndoscope assembly description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070276181, Endoscope assembly. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] Reference is made to U.S. Provisional Patent Application 60/542,680, filed Feb. 9, 2004 entitled "MICRO-ROBOT AND ACCESSORIES FOR ENDOSCOPY AND IN-PIPE LOCOMOTION" and to U.S. Provisional Patent Application 60/559,461, filed Apr. 6, 2004 entitled "DEVICES, ACCESSORIES AND METHODS FOR ENDOSCOPY AND IN-PIPE PROPAGATION", the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference and priority of which is hereby claimed pursuant to 37 CFR 1.78(a) (4) and (5)(i). FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to endoscopy generally and more particularly to locomotive endoscopes. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] The following U.S. Patent Documents are believed to represent the current state of the art: [0004] U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,040,413; 4,176,662 and 5,662,587 and [0005] U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2002/0156347 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0006] The present invention seeks to provide an improved locomotive endoscope. [0007] The terms "endoscope" and "endoscopy" are used herein in a manner somewhat broader than their customary meaning and refer to apparatus and methods which operate within body cavities, passageways and the like, such as, for example, the small intestine, the large intestine, arteries and veins. Although these terms normally refer to visual inspection, as used herein they are not limited to applications which employ visual inspection and refer as well to apparatus, systems and methods which need not necessarily involve visual inspection. [0008] There is thus provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention a locomotive endoscope assembly including a locomotive endoscope head, including a main portion extending along a longitudinal axis and having a first selectably inflatable balloon associated therewith and a selectably positionable portion, selectably axially positionable along the main portion and having a second selectably inflatable balloon associated therewith and a locomotive endoscope head controller controlling the operation of the locomotive endoscope head and being operative for controlling positioning of the selectably positionable portion relative to the main portion and selectable inflation of the first and second selectably inflatable balloons. [0009] In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention at least one of the first and second selectably inflatable balloons includes a stretchable balloon. Preferably, the locomotive endoscope assembly also includes an endoscope body associated with the locomotive endoscope head. Optionally and preferably, an instrument channel at least partially extends through the locomotive endoscope head and the endoscope body. [0010] In accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention the locomotive endoscope head has a fixed length. Preferably, the endoscope body includes a multi-lumen tube. Alternatively or additionally, the endoscope body interfaces with the locomotive endoscope head controller. [0011] In accordance with yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention the locomotive endoscope assembly also includes an endoscopy system to which the locomotive endoscope head controller is connectable. [0012] In accordance with still another preferred embodiment of the present invention the multi-lumen tube includes at least one lumen operative for at least one of balloon inflation; positioning of the selectably positionable portion of the locomotive endoscope head; passage therethrough of at least one of an optical fiber and an electrical conductor bundle and fluid communication. Preferably, the multi-lumen tube includes at least one lumen operative for each of balloon inflation; positioning of the selectably positionable portion of the locomotive endoscope head and passage therethrough of at least one of an optical fiber and an electrical conductor bundle. Typically and preferably, the at least one lumen includes at least one first lumen operative for inflation of the first selectably inflatable balloon and at least one second lumen operative for inflation of the second selectably inflatable balloon. [0013] In accordance with a further preferred embodiment of the present invention the selectably positionable portion is slidably positionable with respect to the main portion. Preferably, the locomotive endoscope head includes at least one light source and at least one imaging sensor. Additionally or alternatively, the first selectably inflatable balloon includes at least two independently inflatable balloon portions. As a further alternative, the second selectably inflatable balloon includes at least two independently inflatable balloon portions. Preferably, the at least two independently inflatable balloon portions of the second selectably inflatable balloon are azimuthally offset with respect to the at least two independently inflatable balloon portions of the first selectably inflatable balloon. [0014] In accordance with a still further preferred embodiment of the present invention the locomotive endoscope head controller provides locomotive functionality adapted to sequentially displace the locomotive endoscope head through a generally tubular body portion. Preferably, the locomotive functionality includes functionality providing the following sequential operations: inflating the first selectably inflatable balloon, thereby anchoring the first selectably inflatable balloon to an interior surface of the generally tubular body portion; axially repositioning the selectably positionable portion and the second selectably inflatable balloon relative to the first selectably inflatable balloon; inflating the second selectably inflatable balloon, thereby anchoring the second selectably inflatable balloon to an interior surface of the generally tubular body portion; deflating the first selectably inflatable balloon, thereby unanchoring the first selectably inflatable balloon from the interior surface of the generally tubular body portion; and axially repositioning the first selectably inflatable balloon relative to the selectably positionable portion and the second selectably inflatable balloon. Optionally, the first selectably inflatable balloon is arranged with respect to the generally tubular body portion to be forward of the second selectably inflatable balloon. Alternatively, the second selectably inflatable balloon is arranged with respect to the generally tubular body portion to be forward of the first selectably inflatable balloon. [0015] There is also provided in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention a locomotive endoscope assembly including a locomotive endoscope head, including a main portion extending along a longitudinal axis and having a first selectably radially extendible element associated therewith and a selectably positionable portion, selectably axially positionable along the main portion and having a second selectably radially extendible element associated therewith and a locomotive endoscope head controller controlling the operation of the locomotive endoscope head and being operative for controlling positioning of the selectably positionable portion relative to the main portion and selectable extension of the first and second selectably radially extendible elements. [0016] In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention at least one of the first and second selectably radially extendible elements includes a selectably inflatable balloon. Preferably, the selectably inflatable balloon includes a stretchable balloon. [0017] In accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention the locomotive endoscope assembly also includes an endoscope body associated with the locomotive endoscope head. Preferably, an instrument channel at least partially extends through the locomotive endoscope head and the endoscope body. More preferably the locomotive endoscope head has a fixed length. [0018] In accordance with yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention the endoscope body includes a multi-lumen tube. Preferably, the endoscope body interfaces with the locomotive endoscope head controller. Additionally and preferably, the locomotive endoscope assembly also includes an endoscopy system to which the locomotive endoscope head controller is connectable. [0019] In accordance with still another preferred embodiment of the present invention the multi-lumen tube includes at least one lumen operative for at least one of radially extending element extension; positioning of the selectably positionable portion of the locomotive endoscope head; passage therethrough of at least one of an optical fiber and an electrical conductor bundle; and fluid communication. Preferably, the multi-lumen tube includes at least one lumen operative for each of radially extending element extension; positioning of the selectably positionable portion of the locomotive endoscope head; and passage therethrough of at least one of an optical fiber and an electrical conductor bundle. Typically and preferably, the at least one lumen includes at least one first lumen operative for extension of the first selectably radially extendible element and at least one second lumen operative for extension of the second selectably radially extendible element. [0020] In accordance with a further preferred embodiment of the present invention the selectably positionable portion is slidably positionable with respect to the main portion. Preferably, the locomotive endoscope head includes at least one light source and at least one imaging sensor. Continue reading about Endoscope assembly... Full patent description for Endoscope assembly Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Endoscope assembly patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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