Endoscopic guide, in particular for colonoscopy, and system for endoscopy comprising such a guide

An endoscopic guide comprising:

• a proximal end,
• a distal end,
• a tubular guiding element comprising:
• a body comprising a single lumen having an inner diameter of at least 1 mm,
• a longitudinal cavity,
• an anchoring head comprising an endoscopic balloon configured to accommodate a magnetic or ferromagnetic agent, the endoscopic balloon expandable and retractable between a retracted condition, in which the endoscopic balloon is adherent to the body of the tubular guiding element, to an expanded condition, in which the endoscopic balloon protrudes externally from the body of the tubular guiding element, the endoscopic balloon being in communication with the longitudinal cavity of the tubular guiding element, and
• a magnetic or ferromagnetic agent movable in the longitudinal cavity of the tubular guiding element and configured to fill and empty the endoscopic balloon, the magnetic or ferromagnetic agent comprising a liquid and a plurality of magnetizable bodies in dispersion in the liquid, the expanded condition of the expandable balloon corresponding to a volume of the magnetic or ferromagnetic agent contained therein;
• and
• a magnetic field source comprising a permanent magnet, the magnetic field source configured to generate a magnetic field equivalent to that generated by a permanent discoid magnet with N45 magnetization having a diameter between 50 mm and 80 mm and a thickness between 30 mm and 60 mm to exert a retaining force on the magnetic or ferromagnetic agent contained in the endoscopic balloon, with respect to a transverse pulling direction, greater than 3 Newton at a distance between 2 cm and 10 cm when a pulling force of at least 3 Newton is applied on the proximal end of the endoscopic guide.