Endoscope with adjacently positioned guiding apparatus

Abstract

An endoscope with guiding apparatus is provided. The endoscope has an elongate body with a steerable distal portion, an automatically controlled portion, a flexible and passively manipulated proximal portion, and an externally controlled and manipulatable guiding apparatus. The guiding apparatus may be positioned within the endoscope or may be positioned adjacent to the endoscope. An interlocking device is provided to slidably interlock the guiding apparatus and the endoscope. When the guide is in a flexible state, it can conform to a curve or path defined by the steerable distal portion and the automatically controlled portion. The guide can then be selectively rigidized to assume that curve or path. Once rigidized, the endoscope can be advanced along the guide in a monorail or “piggy-back” fashion so that the flexible proximal portion follows the curve held by the guide until the endoscope reaches a next point of curvature within a body lumen.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 087,100 entitled “Endoscope With Guiding Apparatus” filed Mar. 1, 2002, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09 / 969,927 entitled “Steerable Segmented Endoscope and Method of Insertion” filed Oct. 2, 2001, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09 / 790,204 entitled “Steerable Endoscope and Improved Method of Insertion” filed Feb. 20, 2001, which claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60 / 194,140 entitled the same and filed Apr. 3, 2000, all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates generally to endoscopes and endoscopic procedures. More particularly, it relates to a method and apparatus to facilitate insertion of a flexible endoscope along a tortuous path, such as for co...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0024] The guide is generally used to impart a desired curvature initially defined by the steerable portion and/or by the optional controllable portion to the passive proximal portion when the endoscope is advanced. If advanced into the steerable portion, the guide is preferably advanced to or near the distal tip of the portion. It is also used to impart some column strength to the proximal portion in order to maintain its shape and to prevent any buckling when axially loaded. Preferably, the guide is slidably disposed within the length of the endoscope body and

Problems solved by technology

Insertion of the colonoscope is complicated by the fact that the colon represents a tortuous and convoluted path.

Considerable manipulation of the colonoscope is often necessary to advance the colonoscope through the colon, making the procedure more difficult and time consuming and adding to the potential for complications, such as intestinal perforation.

However, as the colonoscope is inserted farther and farther into the colon

Images