Assist assembly for propulsion of endoscope

摘要

An assist assembly for propulsion of a tip device of an endoscope in a body cavity includes an attachment sleeve and a support sleeve. A deformable circulation device is disposed to extend over inner and outer surfaces of the support sleeve, for endlessly moving in an axial direction of the tip device. Plural rollers are disposed on the support sleeve in a rotatable manner, for pressing an inner surface of the circulation device. An alignment projection is formed on the inner surface of the circulation device to project at a height L1. A location offset prevention groove is formed in the rollers at a depth L2, for receiving the alignment projection, and satisfying a condition L1≧L2, to prevent location offset of the circulation device from the rollers. Drive wheels tension the circulation device in cooperation with the rollers by deforming the alignment projection in the location offset prevention groove.

主权项

1. An assist assembly for propulsion of a tip device of an endoscope in a body cavity, comprising:
an attachment sleeve for mounting on said tip device; a support sleeve disposed around said attachment sleeve; a deformable circulation device, disposed to extend over inner and outer surfaces of said support sleeve, for contacting a wall of said body cavity, and endlessly moving in an axial direction of said tip device; plural rollers, disposed on said support sleeve in a rotatable manner, for pressing an inner surface of said circulation device; a projection formed on said inner surface of said circulation device to project at a height L1; a location offset prevention groove, formed in said rollers at a depth L2, for receiving said projection, and satisfying a condition:
L1>L2 so as to press said projection in a radial direction of said rollers, to prevent location offset of said circulation device from said rollers; and a drive mechanism for tensioning said circulation device in cooperation with said rollers by deforming said projection in said location offset prevention groove and by pressing said inner surface of said circulation device on said rollers, endlessly to drive said circulation device by rotating.