| abstract |
Improving upon conventional endoscope patent, the proposed design (Creeping colonoscope) has a new mechanism for movement of the conventional colonoscope in the large intestine. This method of movement, which resembles climbing a ladder, where hands could assist the climbing force of the feet results from consecutive appliance of a pair of sucking arms on the tip of the colonoscope to the adjacent mucosa. The sucking arms adhere to the mucosa by vacuum power provided by an external suction device and pull the mucosa toward the tip of the fiberoptic colonoscope after mucosal adhesion. Successive repetition of this operation not only pulls the mucosa over the colonoscope but also moves the colonoscope tip onward. It should be noted that this mechanism of action is not a substitute of the primary mode of movement of the colonoscope induced by pushing of the shaft. But this minor movement help the colonoscope to pass the flexures more smoothly and with less pushing force that induce pain and discomfort for the patients. Passing the tip beyond the flexure, the endoscopist would be able to perform hooking and shortening (straightening) maneuver more easily and this leads to better transmitting of the pushing force to the tip of the colonoscope. The result is less effort and procedure time on the physicians' end and less pain and discomfort on the patients' end. |