The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 08, 1992
Filed:
Nov. 02, 1990
Nobuaki Uenishi, Kodaira, JP;
Mitsugu Nagayoshi, Hachioji, JP;
Hirofumi Miyanaga, Hachioji, JP;
Tomoaki Sato, Higashiyamato, JP;
Katsunori Sakiyama, Hachioji, JP;
Yasuhiro Ueda, Kokubunji, JP;
Hideyuki Adachi, Hachioji, JP;
Olympus Optical Co., Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
An intra-tube traveling apparatus includes a moving unit to which an endoscope is held and which is self-driven to travel in a pipe path, and a movement control section for controlling movement of the moving unit. The moving unit includes an elastic actuator which is extended/contracted in the radial direction and axial directions of the pipe path upon reception of the pressurized fluid, balloons attached to the front and rear ends of the elastic actuator. Each of the balloons is radially expanded/deformed upon reception of the pressurized fluid therein to be locked to the inner surface of the pipe path. The movement control section includes a pressurized fluid supply unit, a switching control section, a stop signal output switch for outputting a stop signal for stopping a movement operation of the moving unit, and a unit fixing portion for supplying the pressurized fluid to the balloons upon reception of the stop signal from the stop signal output switch to expand/deform the lock portions, thereby fixing the moving unit to the inner surface of the pipe path.