Rotate-to-advance catheterization system

A method for visualizing the interior of a bodily passageway at a remote location, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a visualization system for deployment in the bodily passageway, the visualization system comprising:
• an endoscope comprising a rotatable drive collar configured for rotation relative to the endoscope;
• a disposable drive tube comprising an elongated tube having a deformable helical thread disposed on an exterior surface of the elongated tube, the elongated tube being configured for coaxial disposition about the endoscope;
• and
• a mount for releasably securing the disposable drive tube to the rotatable drive collar of the endoscope;
• wherein (i) the deformable helical thread is operable such that the deformable helical thread transforms between a reduced profile configuration and an expanded profile configuration, and (ii) when in its expanded profile configuration, the deformable helical thread has a sufficient structural integrity, and a sufficient surface profile, such that when the disposable drive tube is disposed in the bodily passageway so that the deformable helical thread engages the interior side wall of the bodily passageway, rotation of the disposable drive tube will induce a relative movement between the disposable drive tube and the side wall of the bodily passageway;
• mounting the disposable drive tube coaxially about the endoscope so that the disposable drive tube is secured to the rotatable drive collar of the endoscope;
• inserting the visualization system into the bodily passageway at a location remote from the site which is to be visualized;
• rotating the disposable drive tube so as to bring together the site which is to be visualized and the visualization apparatus;
• using the visualization apparatus to visualize the interior of the bodily passageway;
• transforming the deformable helical thread to the reduced profile configuration;
• and
• withdrawing the visualization system from the bodily passageway.

Apparatus for visualizing tissue, the apparatus comprising:

• an endoscope comprising a rotatable drive collar configured for rotation relative to the endoscope;
• a disposable drive tube comprising an elongated tube having a deformable helical thread disposed on an exterior surface of the elongated tube, the elongated tube being configured for coaxial disposition about the endoscope;
• and
• a mount for releasably securing the disposable drive tube to the rotatable drive collar of the endoscope;
• wherein (i) the deformable helical thread is operable such that the deformable helical thread transforms between a reduced profile configuration and an expanded profile configuration, and (ii) when in its expanded profile configuration, the deformable helical thread has a sufficient structural integrity, and a sufficient surface profile, such that when the disposable drive tube is disposed in the bodily passageway so that the deformable helical thread engages the interior side wall of the bodily passageway, rotation of the disposable drive tube will induce a relative movement between the disposable drive tube and the side wall of the bodily passageway;
• and
• wherein the disposable drive tube is mounted coaxially about the endoscope so that the disposable drive tube is secured to the rotatable drive collar of the endoscope.

Apparatus for inducing relative movement between an endoscope and the side wall of a bodily passageway within which the endoscope is disposed, wherein the endoscope comprises a rotatable drive collar configured for rotation relative to the endoscope, the apparatus comprising:

• a disposable drive tube comprising an elongated tube having a deformable helical thread disposed on an exterior surface of the elongated tube, the elongated tube being configured for coaxial disposition about the endoscope;
• and
• means for releasably securing the disposable drive tube to the rotatable drive collar of the endoscope;
• wherein (i) the deformable helical thread is operable such that the deformable helical thread transforms between a reduced profile configuration and an expanded profile configuration, and (ii) when in its expanded profile configuration, the deformable helical thread has a sufficient structural integrity, and a sufficient surface profile, such that when the disposable drive tube is disposed in the bodily passageway so that the deformable helical thread engages the interior side wall of the bodily passageway, rotation of the disposable drive tube will induce a relative movement between the disposable drive tube and the side wall of the bodily passageway;
• and
• wherein the disposable drive tube is mounted coaxially about the endoscope so that the disposable drive tube is secured to the rotatable drive collar of the endoscope.