Assemblies for use with an endoscope

Abstract

Mounting a double-balloon auxiliary endoscope assembly over a conventional endoscope by sliding an overtube subassembly over the conventional endoscope, and thereafter sliding over the conventional endoscope, while connected to the overtube subassembly via a flexible interconnection tube, a forward balloon support sleeve of a forward balloon subassembly also including a forward balloon fixedly mounted on the forward balloon support sleeve and defining together therewith a forward inflatable volume.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A double-balloon auxiliary endoscope assembly suitable for use with a conventional endoscope, said assembly comprising:
 a forward balloon subassembly comprising:
 a forward balloon support sleeve arranged for mounting in a fixed position over said conventional endoscope and having a forward balloon support sleeve mounted, forward balloon inflation lumen extending at least partially along said forward balloon support sleeve; and 
 a forward balloon mounted on said forward balloon support sleeve and together therewith defining a forward inflatable volume which is inflatable via said forward balloon support sleeve mounted, forward balloon inflation lumen; 
   an overtube subassembly comprising:
 an overtube sleeve arranged for slidable mounting over said conventional endoscope; and 
 an overtube balloon mounted on said overtube sleeve and together therewith defining a rearward inflatable volume, and said overtube sleeve having first and second lumens extending at least partially therealong,
 said first lumen being an overtube mounted, forward balloon inflation lumen, and 
 said second lumen being an overtube mounted, overtube balloon inflation lumen, said rearward inflatable volume being inflatable via said overtube mounted, overtube balloon inflation lumen; and 
 
   an overtube rearward displacement accommodating, flexible interconnection tube interconnecting said forward balloon support sleeve mounted, forward balloon inflation lumen and said overtube mounted, forward balloon inflation lumen.   
     
     
         2 . A double-balloon auxiliary endoscope assembly according to  claim 1  and wherein said interconnection tube is selectably extendible by being at least partially straightened. 
     
     
         3 . A double-balloon auxiliary endoscope assembly according to  claim 1  and also comprising a forward balloon inflation/deflation supply and exhaust tube connected to said first lumen and an overtube balloon inflation/deflation supply and exhaust tube connected to said second lumen. 
     
     
         4 . A double-balloon auxiliary endoscope assembly according to  claim 1  and wherein said forward balloon support sleeve includes a resilient collar. 
     
     
         5 . A double-balloon auxiliary endoscope assembly according to  claim 1  and wherein said forward balloon support sleeve includes a collar which is adapted to fixedly mount said forward balloon support sleeve onto endoscopes of varying outer diameter. 
     
     
         6 . A method for mounting a double-balloon auxiliary endoscope assembly over a conventional endoscope, the method comprising:
 sliding an overtube subassembly over said conventional endoscope; and   thereafter sliding over said conventional endoscope, while connected to said overtube subassembly via a flexible interconnection tube, a forward balloon support sleeve of a forward balloon subassembly also including a forward balloon fixedly mounted on said forward balloon support sleeve and defining together therewith a forward inflatable volume.   
     
     
         7 . A method for mounting a double-balloon auxiliary endoscope assembly over a conventional endoscope according to  claim 6  and also comprising: fixedly and removably mounting said forward balloon support sleeve onto said conventional endoscope. 
     
     
         8 . A method for mounting a double-balloon auxiliary endoscope assembly over a conventional endoscope according to  claim 6  and also comprising initially stretching and then releasing a resilient collar associated with said forward balloon support sleeve for fixedly and removably mounting of said forward balloon support sleeve onto said conventional endoscope.