| 主权项 |
1. An endoscope assembly for use with an endoscope and comprising:
a tubular sleeve circumferentially mountable onto a distal portion of said endoscope, said tubular sleeve having a circumferential wall in which is formed a tubular passageway, said tubular passageway comprising a plurality of non-interconnected mutually longitudinally spaced relatively rigid tubular reinforcement elements configured to permit predetermined bending of said tubular passageway and to facilitate passage of an endoscope tool therethrough within said tubular passageway and outwardly of said endoscope, said plurality of non-interconnected mutually longitudinally spaced relatively rigid tubular reinforcement elements each having a length which is greater than a longitudinal spacing therebetween; a selectably inflatable balloon arranged to be mounted over said tubular sleeve; and an external tube having a proximal end adapted to be located adjacent a proximal end of said endoscope and a distal end adapted to be located adjacent or forward of said distal portion of said endoscope, said external tube being adapted to extend outside of and alongside said endoscope from said proximal end thereof to said distal end thereof and to extend through said tubular passageway formed in said circumferential wall of said tubular sleeve, said external tube traversing said selectably inflatable balloon by passing between said selectably inflatable balloon and said distal portion of said endoscope. |
