ENDOSCOPE APPARATUS FOR ENDOTHELIAL WALL OF BLOOD VESSEL

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an endoscope apparatus capable of observing the endothelial walls of blood vessels. SOLUTION: This endoscope apparatus is provided with a lateral view endoscope 10 for lateral by viewing diametrically of a distal end structure part 14 and a balloon catheter 40. The balloon catheter 40 is inserted into a blood vessel while the insertion tube 13 of the lateral view endoscope 10 is inserted into the insertion tube 41 of the balloon catheter 40. A transparent balloon 42 is provided at the tip of the insertion tube 41 and wraps the distal end structure part 14. The balloon 42 is supplied with air (fluid) to be expanded and pressed onto the epithelial wall of the blood vessel. Thus, blood is removed from a gap between the wall of the blood vessel and the balloon 42 thereby enabling the observation of the endothelial wall of the blood vessel with the lateral view endoscope 10.