Abstract: An advancing mechanism for an endoscope constituted of: a generally tubular shaped sheath exhibiting an inner diameter and a length sufficient to at least partially encase an articulating section of the endoscope, the sheath comprising a plurality of deployable members arrayed thereabout, each exhibiting a first end attached to the sheath and a second end longitudinally extending away from the first end, each of the deployable members movable from a closed position to an open position, wherein in the closed position the deployable members do not substantially extend past an outer surface of the sheath and in the open position the second end of each of the deployable members extend past the outer surface of the sheath, and wherein in the open position each of the deployable members exhibit an angle in relation to the outer surface of the sheath of up to 60 degrees.