| 摘要 |
An endoscope comprises an image fibre (4) for transmitting an image of a surface (H) to be observed, a light guide (5, 6) for transmitting light to illuminate the surface (H) and a transparent liquid supply tube (7) arranged generally side by side along part of their length. A balloon (3) covers the distal ends of the image fibre (4), the light guide (5,6) and the liquid supply tube (7) and can be inflated with transparent liquid supplied through the tube (7 by a syringe (F). In addition to the supply tube (7) there is a liquid outlet tube (8) having a closure valve (G) which, when open allows transparent liquid supplied to the balloon (3) through the tube (7) to be discharged through the tube (8) while the supply still continues, thus providing a flow of liquid through the balloon (3). This enables air bubbles in the balloon and in the liquid supply tube (7) to be removed much more easily than was previously possible with only a single liquid tube leading to the balloon. |
