Anchoring assemblies for endoscopes

Abstract

An endoscope system including an endoscope having an instrument channel and an anchoring assembly including an inflatable/deflatable balloon assembly, the inflatable/deflatable balloon assembly being deflatable to a cross-sectional size sufficiently small to enable it to pass through the instrument channel and being positionable and inflatable without substantial stretching to have a dimension sufficiently large to enable it to anchor in the large intestine.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An endoscope system comprising:
 an endoscope having an instrument channel having an inner diameter; and   an anchoring assembly including an inflatable/deflatable balloon assembly comprising at least one balloon, said anchoring assembly also comprising a catheter and an operator controllable balloon assembly manipulator, and said inflatable/deflatable balloon assembly comprising at least one balloon arrangeable, when deflated, in a first orientation relative to a deflated balloon axis which extends generally parallel to said catheter and arrangeable by said manipulator and when inflated, in a second orientation different from said first orientation, thereby being positionable and inflatable without substantial stretching to have a dimension sufficiently large to enable it to anchor in a location within a patient's body portion.   
     
     
         2 . An endoscope system according to  claim 1  and wherein said second orientation is a folded-over orientation. 
     
     
         3 . An endoscope system according to  claim 1  and wherein said at least one balloon includes a single balloon. 
     
     
         4 . An endoscope system according to  claim 1  and wherein said at least one balloon includes plural balloons joined by at least one flexible element. 
     
     
         5 . An endoscope system according to  claim 1  and wherein said at least one balloon is manipulatable and inflatable without substantial stretching to have a dimension sufficiently large to enable it to anchor in a location within a patient's body portion having a diameter at least 13 times greater than the inner diameter of said instrument channel. 
     
     
         6 . An endoscope system according to  claim 1  and wherein said instrument channel has an inner diameter which does not exceed 5.5 mm. 
     
     
         7 . An endoscope system according to  claim 1  and wherein said inflatable/deflatable balloon assembly is inflatable to a cross sectional dimension of at least 60 mm. 
     
     
         8 . An endoscope system according to  claim 1  and wherein said anchoring assembly includes a flexible elongate element traversing said catheter and said inflatable/deflatable balloon assembly, and at least one manipulation element associated at a forward portion of said catheter with a forward portion of said flexible elongate element and at a rearward portion of said catheter with said balloon assembly manipulator. 
     
     
         9 . An endoscope system according to  claim 1  and wherein said operator controllable balloon assembly manipulator enabling selectable furling and unfurling of said at least one balloon, whereby said at least one balloon may be furled to a cross sectional size sufficiently small to enable it to pass through said instrument channel and said balloon may be unfurled and inflated for anchoring in a location within a patient's body portion. 
     
     
         10 . An endoscope system according to  claim 1  and wherein said operator controllable balloon assembly manipulator is operative for manipulating said inflatable/deflatable balloon assembly to assume a selectable stiffness. 
     
     
         11 . For use with an endoscope system including an endoscope having an instrument channel having an inner diameter, an anchoring assembly comprising an inflatable/deflatable balloon assembly including a catheter and an operator controllable balloon assembly manipulator, said inflatable/deflatable balloon assembly comprising at least one balloon arrangeable, when deflated, in a first orientation relative to a deflated balloon axis which extends generally parallel to said catheter and arrangeable by said manipulator and when inflated, in a second orientation different from said first orientation, thereby being positionable and inflatable without substantial stretching to have a dimension sufficiently large to enable it to anchor in a location within a patient's body portion. 
     
     
         12 . An anchoring assembly according to  claim 11  and wherein said second orientation is a folded-over orientation. 
     
     
         13 . An anchoring assembly according to  claim 11  and wherein said at least one balloon includes a single balloon. 
     
     
         14 . An anchoring assembly according to  claim 11  and wherein said at least one balloon includes plural balloons joined by at least one flexible element. 
     
     
         15 . An anchoring assembly according to  claim 11  and wherein said at least one balloon is manipulatable and inflatable without substantial stretching to have a dimension sufficiently large to enable it to anchor in a location within a patient's body portion having a diameter at least 13 times greater than the inner diameter of said instrument channel. 
     
     
         16 . An anchoring assembly according to  claim 11  and wherein said instrument channel has an inner diameter which does not exceed 5.5 mm. 
     
     
         17 . An anchoring assembly according to  claim 11  and wherein said inflatable/deflatable balloon assembly is inflatable to a cross sectional dimension of at least 60 mm. 
     
     
         18 . An anchoring assembly according to  claim 11  and wherein said anchoring assembly includes a flexible elongate element traversing said catheter and said inflatable/deflatable balloon assembly, and at least one manipulation element associated at a forward portion of said catheter with a forward portion of said flexible elongate element and at a rearward portion of said catheter with said balloon assembly manipulator. 
     
     
         19 . An anchoring assembly according to  claim 11  and wherein said operator controllable balloon assembly manipulator enabling selectable furling and unfurling of said at least one balloon, whereby said at least one balloon may be furled to a cross sectional size sufficiently small to enable it to pass through said instrument channel and said balloon may be unfurled and inflated for anchoring in a location within a patient's body portion. 
     
     
         20 . An anchoring assembly according to  claim 11  and wherein said operator controllable balloon assembly manipulator is operative for manipulating said inflatable/deflatable balloon assembly to assume a selectable stiffness.