ADVANCEMENT TECHNIQUES FOR GASTROINTESTINAL TOOL WITH GUIDING ELEMENT

摘要

Gastrointestinal apparatus ( 200 ) is provided for use with a fluid pressure source ( 240 ). The gastrointestinal apparatus ( 200 ) includes a guiding element ( 214 ), adapted to be inserted into a colon, and a piston head ( 220 ) coupled to a distal portion of the guiding element ( 214 ). The piston head ( 220 ) is adapted to be inflated to form a first pressure seal between the piston head ( 220 ) and a wall of the colon after the guiding element ( 214 ) has been inserted into the colon, and be advanced distally through the colon in response to pressure from the fluid pressure source ( 240 ) applied to an external surface of the piston head ( 220 ). The apparatus ( 200 ) further includes a gastrointestinal tool ( 210 ) adapted to be advanced along the guiding element ( 214 ), and an annular balloon ( 228 ) coupled around a distal portion of the gastrointestinal tool ( 210 ), the balloon ( 228 ) expandable to form a second pressure seal between the distal portion of the gastrointestinal tool ( 210 ) and the wall of the colon. Other embodiments are also described.