Passage-travelling device
US6709388B1 · kind B1 · utility
62Cited by
5References
16Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 9, 2002 |
| Grant date | Mar 23, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 9, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61M25/0105
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A self-propelling device (1) is adapted to travel through a passage (3) having walls containing contractile tissue, the device (1) comprising a body (2) and at least one contractile tissue-stimulating means for stimulating the walls to urge the device selectively in both a forward direction (7). The stimulating means may be electrodes (5,8), and the passage can be the gut of an animal or human. The device is particularly useful as an enteroscope.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.