Endoluminal introducer with contamination avoidance
First Claim
1. An introducer device for a solid endoluminal instrument, the introducer device comprising:
- a tubular member having an inner wall that defines a channel configured to receive at least a portion of the endoluminal instrument;
an insufflation port coupled to the tubular member and configured to pass insufflation gas into the channel; and
a plurality of projections disposed in the channel at circumferentially spaced apart locations around the inner wall;
wherein the projections extend inward and are configured to offset the endoluminal instrument from the inner wall, thereby creating a space between the endoluminal instrument and the inner wall.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Described herein are introducer devices and methods for using an introducer device to facilitate passing an endoluminal instrument to a target region of a body cavity. An introducer device may include a tubular member having an inner wall that defines a channel configured to receive the endoluminal instrument and a plurality of projections disposed in the channel at perimetrically spaced apart locations around the inner wall, where the projections extend inward and are configured to offset the endoluminal instrument from the inner wall, thereby creating a space between the endoluminal instrument and the inner wall. A method for using an introducer device may include passing the endoluminal instrument to a first instrument insertion depth within the introducer device, advancing the introducer device in the body cavity, and advancing the endoluminal instrument to a second instrument insertion depth within the introducer device.
254 Citations
21 Claims
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1. An introducer device for a solid endoluminal instrument, the introducer device comprising:
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a tubular member having an inner wall that defines a channel configured to receive at least a portion of the endoluminal instrument; an insufflation port coupled to the tubular member and configured to pass insufflation gas into the channel; and a plurality of projections disposed in the channel at circumferentially spaced apart locations around the inner wall; wherein the projections extend inward and are configured to offset the endoluminal instrument from the inner wall, thereby creating a space between the endoluminal instrument and the inner wall. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for using an introducer device to facilitate passing a solid endoluminal instrument to a target region of a body cavity, the method comprising:
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passing the endoluminal instrument within a channel defined by an inner wall of a tubular member of the introducer device to a first instrument insertion depth, wherein the introducer device comprises an insufflation port coupled to the tubular member and configured to pass insufflation gas into the channel; advancing the introducer device toward the target region of the body cavity while the endoluminal instrument is positioned within the introducer device at the first instrument insertion depth; and advancing the endoluminal instrument within the introducer device to a second instrument insertion depth that is distal to the first instrument insertion depth, wherein when the endoluminal introducer is at the second instrument insertion depth there is a space between the endoluminal instrument and the inner wall of the introducer device, wherein the introducer device comprises a plurality of projections disposed in the channel at circumferentially spaced apart locations around the inner wall that extend inward and are configured to offset the endoluminal instrument from the inner wall, thereby creating the space between the endoluminal instrument and the inner wall. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification