Device for intubation of human passages for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes

Abstract

A device for rapid intubation of devices into internal human passages for both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. The device includes a conduit surrounded by a thin walled, inflatable and longitudinally and radially expandable member which will initially drive the device into the selected passages such as the lower bowel, colon, esophagus or upper bowel. Controlled inflation of such member provides the driving, positioning force for proper intubation even through particularly difficult transition portions of the selected passage. Partial or total deflation of the expandable member allows sealing for therapeutic utilization, evacuation of the passage for passage inspection or combinations of such useages. The device is easily adapted to accomodate diagnostic or treatment devices while allowing cooperative control thereof exteriorally of the body.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.