US Patent 7537562 Endoscope apparatus

An endoscope apparatus, comprising:an endoscope with a balloon attached to a tip end part of an insertion section, andan insertion assisting tool into which the insertion section of the endoscope is inserted and which assists the insertion section in being inserted into a body cavity,wherein a tip end part of the insertion assisting tool is constructed to have a diameter enlarging structure capable of being enlarged in diameter, and by enlarging a diameter of the tip end part, a balloon of the insertion section protruded from a tip end of the insertion assisting tool is made extractable from the insertion assisting tool.