Method for collecting/transporting a medical capsule and endoscopic apparatus for the method

1. A method for collecting/transporting a medical capsule by holding the medical capsule using an endoscopic apparatus which has an endoscope having an inserting section to be inserted in a body cavity with a distal end including an observation section to observe a subject and a suction opening, a sucking device in communication with the suction opening, and a generally cylindrical hood member which is attached to the distal end of the inserting section, wherein

the hood member is a generally cylindrical member having:

at least two internal areas of a base end side internal space area and a distal side internal space area in a direction of an insertion shaft of an inserting section, and

a distal end with an outer circumferential surface of the hood member is formed with a plurality of grooves which extend along a longitudinal direction of the hood member, and each of the grooves is provided at intervals along a circumferential direction of the hood member, the method comprising:

an attaching step of fitting and attaching the distal end of the insertion section to the base end side internal space area in a direction from the base end towards the distal end along the insertion shaft,

a sucking step of storing the medical capsule into the distal side internal space area in a direction from the distal end towards the base end along the insertion shaft and actuating to suck the inside of the distal side internal space area that stored the medical capsule via the suction opening to make in said inside a low pressure vacuum; and

a holding step of attracting and holding the medical capsule to the hood member sucked by the sucking step,

wherein said grooves allow the distal end of the hood member to be deflected for holding the medical capsule.

2. An endoscopic apparatus, comprising:

an endoscope having an inserting section to be inserted in body cavity with a distal end including an observation section to observe a subject and a suction opening;

a sucking device in communication with the suction opening; and

a generally cylindrical hood member which is attached to the distal end of the inserting section, wherein

the hood member is a generally cylindrical member having

at least two internal areas of a base end side internal space area and a distal side internal space area in a direction of an insertion shaft of the inserting section, and

a distal end with an outer circumferential surface of the hood member is formed with a plurality of grooves which extend along a longitudinal direction of the hood member, and each of the grooves is provided at intervals along a circumferential direction of the hood member, the base end side internal space area is an attaching section to fit and attach the distal end of the insertion section in a direction from the base end to the distal end along an insertion shaft, and

the distal side internal space area is a holding section to attract and hold a medical capsule when storing the medical capsule in a direction from the distal end towards the base end along the insertion shaft,

wherein said grooves allow the distal end of the hood member to be deflected for holding the medical capsule, and

wherein the sucking device is actuated to suck the inside of the distal side internal space area that stored the medical capsule via the suction opening to make said inside a low pressure vacuum.

3. The endoscopic apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein

the hood member is configured to hold a medical capsule with at least a part of the medical capsule being pulled into the inside of the hood member.

4. The endoscopic apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein

at least a part of the hood member is transparent or semitransparent.

5. The endoscopic apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein

at least a part of the hood member is transparent or semitransparent.

6. The endoscopic apparatus according to claim 2 , further comprising:

a first expandable and contractible balloon which is mounted to an outer circumferential surface of a distal end of the inserting section;

an insertion assisting tool into which the inserting section is inserted to be guided in a body cavity; and

a second expandable and contractible balloon which is mounted to an outer circumferential surface of the insertion assisting tool.

7. The endoscopic apparatus according to claim 3 , further comprising:

a first expandable and contractible balloon which is mounted to an outer circumferential surface of a distal end of the inserting section;

an insertion assisting tool into which the inserting section is inserted to be guided in a body cavity; and

a second expandable and contractible balloon which is mounted to an outer circumferential surface of the insertion assisting tool.

8. The endoscopic apparatus according to claim 4 , further comprising:

a first expandable and contractible balloon which is mounted to an outer circumferential surface of a distal end of the inserting section;

an insertion assisting tool into which the inserting section is inserted to be guided in a body cavity; and

a second expandable and contractible balloon which is mounted to an outer circumferential surface of the insertion assisting tool.

9. The endoscopic apparatus according to claim 5 , further comprising:

a first expandable and contractible balloon which is mounted to an outer circumferential surface of a distal end of the inserting section;

an insertion assisting tool into which the inserting section is inserted to be guided in a body cavity; and

a second expandable and contractible balloon which is mounted to an outer circumferential surface of the insertion assisting tool.

10. The endoscopic apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein

the holding section includes a distal end of the hood member having an inner circumferential surface which has a curved portion corresponding to a curved shape of the medical capsule.

11. The endoscopic apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein

the holding section is configured to include a distal end of the hood member which is formed thinner than any other parts of the hood member.

12. The endoscopic apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein

the holding section is configured to include a distal end of the hood member having an inner circumferential surface in which a groove is formed in the circumferential direction.

13. The endoscopic apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

a plurality of the grooves are provided in a direction along a central axis of the hood member with ribs being formed between the grooves.