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:
Jun. 24, 2003
Filed:
Sep. 21, 2001
Yuichi Komachi, Akishima, JP;
Katsuo Aizawa, Yokohama, JP;
Shin Ishimaru, Tokyo, JP;
Tsuneyuki Nagae, Tokyo, JP;
Atsushi Utsumi, Kawanishi, JP;
Machida Endoscope Co., Ltd., , JP;
Abstract
An endoscope apparatus has a side view endoscope for side viewing an object in a radial direction of a distal end constitutional portion and a balloon catheter . With an insert portion of a side view endoscope inserted in an insert tube of the balloon catheter , the balloon catheter is inserted into a blood vessel B. The insert tube is provided at its distal end with a transparent balloon . This balloon encloses the distal end constitutional portion . By feeding air (fluid) to this balloon , the balloon is expanded so as to be urged against an inside wall of the blood vessel B. This causes the blood to be discharged between the inside wall of the blood vessel B and the balloon , thus enabling to observe the inside wall of the blood vessel B through the side view endoscope