| abstract |
An inspection tube ( 20 ) for use in the medical practice, in which sensors, such as a miniature electronic camera, are incorporated in the distal face of the tube. The sensors receive energy supplied via conduits ( 24, 26, 28 ) running along the length of the tube, preferably embedded within the wall. Signals of the sensors are transmitted to the rear of the tube where they are fed into receivers. Sensor cleaning can be affected in some embodiments by conducting cleaning agents through a channel in the wall of the tube. An alarm procedure can be affected by comparing sensed pattern with a reference base pattern and defining a critical deviation from the reference base . |