| 摘要 |
A method for visualizing the interior of a bodily passageway at a remote location, the method comprising the steps of: providing a visualization system for deployment in the bodily passageway, the visualization system comprising: a tube having a distal end and a proximal end, at least a portion of the distal end being rotatable relative to the proximal end; visualization apparatus disposed within the lumen of the tube; and a helical thread disposed on the exterior surface of the rotatable portion of the distal end of the tube, the helical thread having a sufficient structural integrity, and a sufficient surface profile, such that when the tube is disposed in the bodily passageway so that the helical thread engages the interior side wall of the bodily passageway, rotation of the rotatable portion of the distal end of the tube will induce a relative movement between the tube and the side wall of the bodily passageway; inserting the visualization system into the bodily passageway at a location remote from the site which is to be visualized; rotating the rotatable portion of the distal end of the tube so as to bring together the site which is to be visualized and the visualization apparatus; and using the visualization apparatus to visualize the interior of the bodily passageway.
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