Endoscopic device insertable into a body cavity and movable in a predetermined direction, and method of moving the endoscopic device in the body cavity

Abstract

In an endoscopic device insertable into a body cavity attachable elements are moved over one another to move forwardly of each other and to leave each other behind, and to move along different paths so as not to be attached to the same areas of a wall of the body cavity.

1 . An endoscopic device insertable into a body cavity movable in a predetermined direction, comprising a housing having an axis extending in a direction substantially corresponding to a direction of movement of the device; movable attaching means which is movable relative to said housing and is attachable to a wall of the body cavity under the action of vacuum in an interior of said movable attaching means and detachable from the wall of the cavity under the action of pressure provided in the interior of said movable attaching means; and immovable attaching means which is immovably connected with said housing and is attachable to a wall of the body cavity under the action of vacuum in an interior of said immovable attaching means and detachable from the wall of the cavity under the action of pressure provided in the interior of said immovable attaching means, said immovable attaching means and said movable attaching means being alternatingly attachable to the wall of the cavity; so that when said movable attaching means is attached to the wall of the cavity and said immovable attaching means is not attached to the wall of the cavity, said housing can be displaced in the direction of movement, while when said immovable attaching means is attached to the wall of the cavity, said movable attaching means can be displaced in a longitudinal direction without displacement of said housing, said movable attaching means and immovable attaching means being arranged so that they are attachable to different locations on the wall of the intestine as considered in a direction transverse to said axis of said housing. 
     
     
         2 . An endoscopic device as defined in  claim 1 , wherein one of said movable and immovable attaching means including one first attaching element extending substantially coaxially with said axis of said housing and centrally of the latter, while the other of said movable and immovable attaching means including at least two second attaching elements which are located at opposite sides of said axis of said housing laterally of the latter. 
     
     
         2 . An endoscopic device as defined in  claim 1 , wherein each of said attaching elements has a cup-shaped form with one convex side provided with an opening to be in contact with a wall of an intestine. 
     
     
         3 . An endoscopic device as defined in  claim 1 , wherein each of said attaching elements has a side provided with an opening an adapted to face a wall of an intestine, said side of each of said attaching elements being provided with an element preventing introduction of the wall of intestine into said attaching element under the action of vacuum. 
     
     
         4 . An endoscopic device as defined in  claim 3 , wherein said element is an element selected from the group consisting of a grate, a perforated wall, and a ribbed assembly. 
     
     
         5 . An endoscopic device as defined in  claim 1 , wherein at least some of said attaching elements are movable in a direction transverse to said axis for adaptation to sides of intestine. 
     
     
         6 . An endoscopic device as defined in  claim 1 ; and further comprising means for removing mucus from said attaching elements. 
     
     
         7 . An endoscopic device as defined in  claim 6 , wherein said means for removing mucus include means for supplying a liquid into said attaching elements 
     
     
         8 . An endoscopic device as defined in  claim 1 ; and further comprising means for creating a vacuum and pressure in said attaching elements and including pipe means. 
     
     
         9 . An endoscopic device as defined in  claim 7 ; and further comprising means for creating a vacuum and pressure in said attaching elements and including pipe means, said liquid supplying means including liquid supplying pipes selected from the group consisting of liquid supplying pipes separate from said pipe means and liquid supplying pipes integral with the latter. 
     
     
         10 . An endoscopic device as defined in  claim 1 ; and further comprising means for supplying vacuum and pressure into each of said attaching elements and selected from the group consisting of pneumatic, hydraulic, and hydropneumatic means. 
     
     
         11 . An endoscopic device as defined in  claim 1 ; and further comprising means for supplying vacuum and pressure in said attaching elements including means for supplying washing liquid into said attaching elements and means for filtration of washing liquid. 
     
     
         12 . An endoscopic device as defined in  claim 1 ; and further comprising means for displacing said housing and selected from the group consisting of means arranged in said housing and means located outside of said housing and connected with the latter by a flexible connection. 
     
     
         13 . An endoscopic device as defined in  claim 1 ; and further comprising means for displacing said housing in a manner selected from the group consisting of automatic mode and a stepped mode, and in a direction selected from the group consisting of a forward direction and a reverse direction. 
     
     
         14 . An endoscopic device as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the device is composed of a material allowing the device to be disposable. 
     
     
         15 . An endoscopic device as defined in  claim 1 , wherein all components of the device are connectable with one another to jointly from the device. 
     
     
         16 . An endoscopic device as defined in  claim 1 , wherein all components of the device are formed of one-piece with one another. 
     
     
         17 . An endoscopic device insertable into a body cavity movable in a predetermined direction, comprising a housing having an axis extending in a direction substantially corresponding to a direction of movement of the device; first attaching means which is attachable to a wall of the body cavity under the action of first in an interior of said movable attaching means and detachable from the wall of the cavity under the action of pressure provided in the interior of said first attaching means; second attaching means which is attachable to a wall of the body cavity under the action of vacuum in an interior of said second attaching means and detachable from the wall of the cavity under the action of pressure provided in the interior of said second attaching means, said first attaching means and said second attaching means being alternatingly attachable to the wall of the cavity; so that and means for alternating attaching said first attaching means and said second attaching means to the wall of the cavity one of said attaching means is attached to the wall of the cavity, then the other of said attaching means is moved forwardly of said one attaching means behind, then the one of said attaching means is moved forwardly of said other attaching means behind, et. 
     
     
         18 . A method of inserting an endoscopic device into a body cavity and moving in a predetermined direction, comprising the steps of providing a housing having an axis extending in a direction substantially corresponding to a direction of movement of the device; providing first attaching means which is movable relative to said housing and is attachable to a wall of the body cavity under the action of vacuum in an interior of said first attaching means and detachable from the wall of the cavity under the action of pressure provided in the interior of said first attaching means; providing second attaching means which is attachable to a wall of the body cavity under the action of vacuum in an interior of said second attaching means and detachable from the wall of the cavity under the action of pressure provided in the interior of said second attaching means; alternating attaching said first attaching means and said second attaching means to the wall of the cavity by attaching one of said attaching means to the wall of the cavity, then moving the other of said attaching means forwardly of said one attaching means to leave said one attaching means behind, then moving said one attaching means forwardly of said other attaching means to leave said other attaching means behind, etc.