Importance

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Abstract

An endoscope has an elongated flexible guide the distal end of which can be introduced into a selected chamber of a human or other animal heart or into the internal space of another body organ. The tube confines a major portion of an elongated flexible sheath the distal end of which carries an inflatable balloon for the distal end portions of elongated flexible optical conductors some of which serve to illuminate selected portions of a surface bounding an internal space. The remaining conductors serve to transmit images of the illuminated portions of the surface toward the proximal end of the tube. When inflated, the ballon shields the distal ends of the conductors from contact with the body fluid in the internal space. A three-dimensional frame is provided to maintain the inflated balloon in any one of a number of different positions in a body cavity. The frame as well as the inflated balloon are constructed, assembled and dimensioned in such a way that the balloon and the frame cannot interfere with pulsating, respiratory and/or other movements of the body organ while the endoscope is in actual use.

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First Claim