A STEERABLE COLONOSCOPE PROBE WITH VARIABLE STIFFNESS

摘要

An assembly for advancing a colonoscope through the colon comprises a colonoscope (2), a tube (4) and means for steering the tube (4). The steering means comprises a series of wires (20) extending along the tube (4) to the tube distal end (5) to which the wires (20) are attached. By pulling on one or more wires (20) from a proximal end of the tube (4), the tube distal end (4) may be steered by an operator as desired. The stiffness of the colonoscope (2) may be increased or decreased in use.