Cover member for roller of endoscope apparatus and method of processing endoscope apparatus

A method of processing an endoscope apparatus,

• wherein the endoscope apparatus comprises:
• an insertion portion extending along a longitudinal axis;
• a roller configured to be driven by a drive force to rotate around the longitudinal axis of the insertion portion;
• and
• a cover member configured to be attached to the insertion portion to cover the roller, wherein the cover member comprises:
• a base layer,
• wherein portions of the base layer covering the roller as the roller rotates around the longitudinal axis of the insertion portion are configured to be elastically elongated in an outer surface direction of the insertion portion, and
• wherein the base layer comprises:
• an elastomer;
• and
• a secondary material configured to change color in response to temperature change of the secondary material from a first temperature associated with a first temperature of the elastomer having a higher coefficient of friction to a second temperature associated with a second temperature of the elastomer having a lower coefficient of friction, and
• wherein the method comprises:
• performing inspection of the cover member to determine whether the secondary material has undergone the change in color;
• in response to determining that the secondary material has not undergone the change in color, performing warming the cover member;
• repeating performance of the inspection of the cover member and the warming of the cover member until determining that the secondary material has undergone the change in color;
• and
• in response to determining that the secondary material has undergone the change in color, attaching an assist tool having a tubular shape to the insertion portion at a position where the drive force is transmitted from the roller to the rotating unit via the cover member.

An endoscope apparatus comprising:

• an insertion portion extending along a longitudinal axis;
• a roller configured to be driven by a drive force to rotate around the longitudinal axis of the insertion portion;
• and
• a cover member configured to be attached to the insertion portion to cover the roller, wherein the cover member comprises:
• a base layer having:
• an outer surface direction side;
• and
• an inner surface direction side arranged to contact the roller,
• wherein portions of the base layer covering the roller as the roller rotates around the longitudinal axis of the insertion portion are configured to be elastically elongated in an outer surface direction of the insertion portion, and
• wherein the base layer comprises:
• an elastomer;
• and
• one or more secondary materials configured to change color in response to temperature change of the one or more secondary materials;
• and
• an external coating layer formed on at least one of the outer surface direction side and the inner surface direction side of the base layer.

A method of operating an endoscope apparatus,

• wherein the endoscope apparatus comprises:
• an insertion portion extending along a longitudinal axis;
• a roller configured to be driven by a drive force to rotate around the longitudinal axis of the insertion portion;
• and
• a cover member configured to be attached to the insertion portion to cover the roller, wherein the cover member comprises:
• a base layer having:
• an outer surface direction side;
• and
• an inner surface direction side arranged to contact the roller,
• wherein portions of the base layer covering the roller as the roller rotates around the longitudinal axis of the insertion portion are configured to be elastically elongated in an outer surface direction of the insertion portion, and
• wherein the base layer comprises:
• an elastomer;
• and
• one or more secondary materials configured to change color in response to temperature change of the one or more secondary materials;
• and
• an external coating layer formed on at least one of the outer surface direction side and the inner surface direction side of the base layer,
• wherein the external coating layer comprises a material selected to reduce a coefficient of friction of an outer surface of the cover member as compared to a coefficient of friction of the base layer and the roller,
• wherein the method comprises:
• performing inspection of the cover member to determine whether the secondary material has undergone the change in color;
• in response to determining that the secondary material has not undergone the change in color, performing warming the cover member;
• repeating performance of the inspection of the cover member and the warming of the cover member until determining that the secondary material has undergone the change in color:
• providing the drive force;
• and
• driving, by the drive force, the roller to rotate around the longitudinal axis of the insertion portion while covered by the cover member, wherein the material of the external coating layer of the cover member reduces a coefficient of friction of the outer surface of the cover member as compared to a coefficient of friction of the base layer and the roller.