Bougie with illuminating and imaging means

摘要

A bougie 10 for dilating strictures and stenoses in humans and animals comprises a distal introducer portion 12, a dilator portion 16 proximal to the introducer portion 12, an elongate body portion 18 proximal to the dilator portion 16, a proximal portion 20, at least one imaging means (28), at least one light source 30, a power supply, supporting electronic circuitry and external imaging equipment including monitoring means. The dilator portion 16 may be continuous with the distal introducer portion 12 and the elongate body portion 18. The bougie 10 may be provided with a wireless transmitting module. The external imaging means may be connected by wireless means. The imaging means may be a CMOS camera chip or a CCD device.