Abstract: An assist assembly for propulsion of a tip device of an endoscope in a body cavity includes an attachment sleeve and a support sleeve. A deformable circulation device is disposed to extend over inner and outer surfaces of the support sleeve, for endlessly moving in an axial direction of the tip device. Plural rollers are disposed on the support sleeve in a rotatable manner, for pressing an inner surface of the circulation device. An alignment projection is formed on the inner surface of the circulation device to project at a height L1. A location offset prevention groove is formed in the rollers at a depth L2, for receiving the alignment projection, and satisfying a condition L1?L2, to prevent location offset of the circulation device from the rollers. Drive wheels tension the circulation device in cooperation with the rollers by deforming the alignment projection in the location offset prevention groove.

Abstract: An endoscope system includes an endoscope, having a tip device for entry in a body cavity, and a viewing window portion formed in the tip device. A sleeve-shaped condition checking device is disposed on a distal side in an axial direction, for resiliently deforming in a transverse direction crosswise to the axial direction when pushed on an inner wall of the body cavity, to enter a viewing area of the viewing window portion. Furthermore, a propulsion assembly constitutes the condition checking device, and exerts force of propulsion to the tip device, for assistance to entry in the body cavity. The condition checking device includes a resilient end ring, disposed distally of a support sleeve, covered by a propulsion assembly, and having a tapered wall of which a diameter decreases in the axial direction from the support sleeve.

Abstract: A self-propelling device includes a drive unit and a toroid unit supported thereabout. The toroid unit includes a track structure of a toroid shape and a roller support sleeve inside the track structure. Three belt portions are provided in the track structure with high rigidity. The drive unit includes an inner sleeve for mounting on an introducer of an endoscope, and an outer sleeve supported around the inner sleeve. An inner surface of the roller support sleeve and an outer surface of the outer sleeve extend triangularly. Drive wheels are disposed upstream and downstream of respectively flat portions of the outer sleeve. Two follower rollers are disposed on respectively each of flat portions of the roller support sleeve. The drive wheels and follower rollers nip the belt portions of the track structure to move the track structure endlessly.

Abstract: A self-propelling device includes a turning unit and a supporter. The supporter includes a first support sleeve, a second support sleeve and a cover formed respectively cylindrically. A drive wheel is secured to the first support sleeve in a rotatable manner. A pair of follower rollers are secured to the second support sleeve together. The cover is fitted on an outer surface of the second support sleeve externally, and disposed in the turning unit together with the second support sleeve. The turning unit is pressed by the follower rollers to the drive wheel. When the drive wheel rotates, the turning unit is circulated around the second support sleeve in a longitudinal direction of the first support sleeve. An inner wall of a body cavity will not be damaged, as the follower rollers are covered by the cover and do not appear externally even if the turning unit breaks.

Abstract: If an instruction indicating advance is input, first and second motors are driven to rotate first and second torque wires. A rotary body is circulated by the rotation of the first and second torque wires, and a propelling unit advances. The first and second TGs detect the rotating speeds of the first and second torque wires. If disconnection of the first torque wire is detected by a disconnection detecting section, a motor control section stops driving of the first motor coupled to the disconnected first torque wire, and rotates the second motor coupled to the second torque wire that is not disconnected at a low speed to rotate the second torque wire at a low speed. Through the low-speed rotation of the second torque wire, the propelling unit advances at a low speed or retreats at a low speed.

Abstract: An insertion and extraction assisting device of an endoscope has a promotion unit attached on the front end side of the endoscope and a transmission section whose one end is connected to a promotion unit, and the other end is drawn along the endoscope, and an outside unit. The other end of the transmission section is connected to the outside unit, and rotational force or a turn signal from the outside unit is transmitted to the promotion unit, so that driving force is generated by the promotion unit. When the other end of the transmission section is connected to, the outside unit reads an ID code expressing a kind of the promotion unit and controls the rotational force or the turn signal to send to the promotion unit.

Abstract: A cylinder portion is inserted into a gap fanned between an outer peripheral surface of a tip end rigid portion of an endoscope and an inner peripheral surface of a self-propelled device from the side of a tip end face of the tip end rigid portion. A ring portion is disposed at a front end side of the cylinder portion, and a handle portion is disposed at a rear end side thereof. A position regulating portion for receiving the tip end face of the tip end rigid portion to define an insertion position of the tip end rigid portion is disposed in the cylinder portion. In some instances, the self-propelled device moves to a fixed position on the tip end rigid portion, and is fixed thereto by the ring portion. The cylinder portion is separated from the ring portion, and pulled out from the tip end rigid portion.

Abstract: An attachment jig includes a cylinder portion at one end of which a ring portion for fixing a self-propelled device to an endoscope is provided, and a handle portion which is provided at the other end of the cylinder portion and is gripped so as to rotate the cylinder portion. An O ring is brought into press-contact with the outer periphery of an insertion section of the endoscope, such that the self-propelled device is fixed to the insertion section. When the handle portion is further turned, a thin-walled breaking portion is broken, and the ring portion is separated from the cylinder portion. When the handle portion is rotated in an opposite direction, the cylinder portion is taken out from the insertion section, while the ring portion remains in the fixed position.

Abstract: A propelling device includes a traveling body that rotates in a state of being brought into contact with an inner wall of an alimentary canal, an external cylinder around which the traveling body is wound, and a mounting cylinder on which a tip end portion of an endoscope is mounted. Three driven rollers are rotatably attached to the external cylinder. The traveling body is pinched between the driven rollers and driving gears. As the driving gears rotate, the traveling body travels in a circulating manner. A rotating shaft of the driven roller located at the center among the three driven rollers is held by a shaft hole that is made long in a gear arrangement direction in which the driving gears are disposed side by side.

Abstract: An endoscope has a head assembly for entry in a body cavity. A guide apparatus for propulsion of the head assembly is provided, and includes a shaft sleeve, a support sleeve, a drive sleeve, drive gears, an endless track device, two intermediate gears, and a motor. Two wire devices are disposed to extend in an axial direction, have distal ends to which the intermediate gears are respectively secured, for transmitting rotation of the motor to the intermediate gears. In fail-safe control, if one of the wire devices is broken, the broken wire device is detected. When the broken wire device is detected, a limited mode is set for driving the endless track device with a normal one of the wire devices in limited performance relative to normal operation. In a preferred embodiment, the guide apparatus has a differential device and two brake devices.

Abstract: An endoscope includes a head assembly having a first central axis for entry in a body cavity. In combination with the endoscope, a guide assembly includes a shaft sleeve having a lumen, for mounting on the head assembly therewith. An endless track device is supported around the shaft sleeve, for endlessly moving along the first central axis, for propulsion of the head assembly inside the body cavity. A support sleeve is disposed between the shaft sleeve and the endless track device, having a second central axis different from the first central axis, for supporting the endless track device movably. Preferably, the endoscope includes an imaging window area formed in a distal surface of the head assembly and offset from the first central axis. A position shift between the first and second central axes is predetermined according to a position shift between the imaging window area and the first central axis.

Abstract: An insertion assisting device includes a rotary body in the form of toroid, and a support and drive part for supporting the rotary body in a rotatable manner and rotating it. The support and drive part has an approximately cylindrical supporting member for supporting the rotary body in a rotatable manner. The rotary body is provided with a convex portion for increasing the thickness to improve the strength thereof. A concave portion having a shape corresponding to the shape of the convex portion is formed on a portion of a front end surface of the supporting member, which is made in contact with the convex portion. The concave portion prevents the rotary body from stopping rotating, which may be caused by point contact between the convex portion and the supporting member.

Abstract: A self-propelled device includes a mounting part mounted on an insertion part of an endoscope, a hollow toroidal rotary body, and a rotary body supporting tube that is arranged in the internal space of rotary body and supports the rotary body from the inside. The rotary body supporting tube is attached to the outside of the mounting part. The mounting part is provided with a worm wheel, and the rotary body supporting tube is provided with a driven roller. The rotary body is sandwiched between the worm wheel and the driven roller, and is circulated and moved with the rotation of the worm wheel. Wipers for closing the gap formed between the mounting part and the rotary body are provided at the front and rear ends of the mounting part, and thereby preventing entering of foreign body from the gap.

Abstract: A self-propelled device nips an endless belt between a worm wheel and a driven roller. The endless belt is circulated by rotating the worm wheel, and thereby an insertion section of an endoscope advances and retreats inside a body cavity. The driven roller has a width larger than the worm wheel, and is provided with a pair of flanges at both ends. The worm wheel is disposed between the pair of flanges. When the endless belt is nipped between the worm wheel and the driven roller, the endless belt is deformed by the pair of flanges.

Abstract: An insertion assisting device includes a rotary body formed in a toroidal shape, and a support and drive unit that rotatably supports and rotates the rotary body. The support and drive unit has two supports, a first support and a second support. The first support is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape, and rotatably supports the rotary body. The second support is formed in a substantially triangular tubular shape, is arranged inside the first support, and supports driving gears that transmit a driving force to the rotary body. The second support is shorter than the first support, and is arranged so that front and rear end portions thereof are located inside front and rear end portions of the first support.

Abstract: A propulsion assembly for an endoscope having a section of an elongated tube for entry in a tube of a body cavity is provided. The propulsion assembly includes a shaft sleeve, an endless track device, a support sleeve and a control wire. A first bevel gear is supported on the shaft sleeve, secured to a distal end portion of the control wire, for rotating about a first axis extending in an axial direction of the elongated tube upon rotation of the control wire. A second bevel gear is supported on the shaft sleeve in a rotatable manner about a second axis extending in a transverse direction of the elongated tube, meshed with the first bevel gear, engaged with the endless track device, for moving the endless track device in the axial direction. Preferably, the first bevel gear has a diameter smaller than a diameter of the second bevel gear.

Abstract: A propelling device includes a rotary body, an external cylinder for supporting a rotary body in a circulating manner, a first drive mechanism, and a second drive mechanism. The first drive mechanism has a torque wire and a pinion gear that are provided in a distal portion of the insertion part. The second drive mechanism has an internal cylinder mounted on the distal portion of the insertion part, a transmission gear rotatably supported outside the internal cylinder, and a housing cylinder provided outside the transmission gear. The transmission gear has a worm gear on the outer peripheral surface thereof, and a gear tooth portion that meshes with a pinion gear on an inner peripheral surface thereof. The housing cylinder has drive gears that mesh with the worm gear. Although the second mechanism is replaced at each inspection, the first mechanism provided at the insertion part is repeatedly used.

Abstract: A propulsion assembly is for an endoscope having an elongated tube for entry in a tube of a body cavity. The propulsion assembly includes endless belts for contacting a surface of the body cavity, for propulsion by turning around in an axial direction of the elongated tube. A support sleeve supports the endless belts movably. A distal cover frame is secured to a distal side of the support sleeve. An idler roller is contained in the distal cover frame, engaged with a distal end of the endless belts, for regulating the endless belts in the axial direction. A proximal cover frame is secured to a proximal side of the support sleeve. A driving roller is contained in the proximal cover frame, engaged with a proximal end of the endless belts, for regulating the endless belts in the axial direction. The driving roller drives the endless belts.

Abstract: A guide assembly for an endoscope includes a shaft sleeve, barrel sleeve, support sleeve and endless track device for propulsion by endlessly moving in an axial direction of an elongated tube. A rotation wheel is supported on the barrel sleeve, for driving the endless track device by rotating. An idler roller is supported on the support sleeve in a rotatable manner, for keeping the endless track device movable in cooperation with the rotation wheel. A small diameter portion is formed with two axial ends of the rotation wheel by decreasing a wheel diameter thereof along a wheel axis, for allowing leaving of the idler roller from the rotation wheel upon rotationally shifting the support sleeve around the barrel sleeve, so that the endless track device is released from tight contact therewith, and separated from the barrel sleeve in the axial direction with the support sleeve.

Abstract: A propelling unit of a self-propellable apparatus is attached to a front end portion of an insert section of an electronic endoscope. The propelling unit includes feeding rollers disposed at its front. On each feeding roller, one end of a belt is wound. A winding roller and a worm wheel are provided behind each feeding roller. When the worm wheel rotates, the belt is drawn out from the feeding roller, and wound up onto the winding roller. The belts move while making contact with an interior wall of a body lumen, and hence produce propulsive force to the front end portion of the insert section. When the contact between the belts and the interior wall is insufficient, a balloon is inflated to press the belts against the interior wall.