Low-cost instrument for endoscopically guided operative procedures

• US 10,362,926 B2
• Filed: 03/08/2017
• Issued: 07/30/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Coopersurgical Incorporated (The Cooper Cos., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Coopersurgical Incorporated (The Cooper Cos., Inc.)
• Inventors: Ouyang, Xiaolong, Indman, Paul D., Deckman, Robert K., Wang, Shih-Ping
• Primary Examiner(s): Neal, Timothy J
• Application Number:
  US15/453,036
• Publication Number:
  US 20170188794A1
• Time in Patent Office: 874 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00052 positioned at proximal end of the endoscope body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00066 Proximal part of endoscope body, e.g. handles A61B1/0052 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00098 Deflecting means for inserted tools
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00103 designed for single use
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00105 characterised by modular construction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0011 Manufacturing of endoscope parts
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00128 mechanical, e.g. for tubes or pipes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00133 Drive units for endoscopic tools inserted through or with the endoscope
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/015 Control of fluid supply or evacuation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/018 for receiving instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/05 characterised by the image sensor, e.g. camera, being in the distal end portion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0676 at distal tip of an endoscope
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0684 using light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/303 for the vagina, i.e. vaginoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00234 for minimally invasive surgery A61B17/0218, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3478 Endoscopic needles, e.g. for infusion biopsy needles A61B10/0233; catheters with injection needles A61M25/0067
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/42 Gynaecological or obstetrical instruments or methods ligaturing clamps or clips for the umbilical cord A61B17/122; curettage A61B17/320708; dilators A61M29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/24 with a catheter A61B18/26, A61B18/28 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00115 with audible or visual output with imaging means A61B90/37, A61B34/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00199 with a console, e.g. a control panel with a display
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0034 : adapted to be inserted through a working channel of an endoscope
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0046 : with a releasable handle; with handle and operating part separable for prosthetic joint-implanting tools A61F2/4603
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00738 : part of the tool being offset with respect to a main axis, e.g. for better view for the surgeon
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/4216 : Operations on uterus, e.g. endometrium
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/4233 : Operations on Fallopian tubes, e.g. sterilization A61B2017/1125 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1861 : with an instrument inserted into a body lumen or cavity, e.g. a catheter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0807 : Indication means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2217/005 : with suction drainage system
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2217/007 : with irrigation system
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/361 : Image-producing devices, e.g. surgical cameras
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/00 : Devices for bringing media into the body in a subcutaneous, intra-vascular or intramuscular way; Accessories therefor, e.g. filling or cleaning devices, arm-rests vaccination appliances for veterinary use A61D1/025 ; tube connectors, tube couplings, valves or branch units specially adapted for medical use A61M39/00; containers specially adapted for medical or pharmaceutical purposes A61J1/00; combinations of vial and syringe for mixing or transferring their contents A61J1/20; holders for containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/16

Abstract

Installments and methods are described for performing endoscopically guided operative procedures. According to some embodiments, a re-usable portion of the instrument includes a handle, electronics and an integrated display screen while a fluid hub and a cannula which includes a CMOS imaging module and LED lighting, form a single use portion of the instrument. The cannula includes a working channel configured to accept an operative device for performing the operative procedures.

Claims

1. An endoscopic device, comprising:

a single-use portion, comprising;

an elongate conduit comprising a proximal portion and comprising a distal portion configured for insertion into a uterus of a patient, the distal portion defining a distal opening through which fluid can be delivered to the uterus,

an imaging system disposed along the distal portion of the elongate conduit for imaging the uterus,

an electrical cable extending from the proximal portion of the elongate conduit to the imaging system,

a fluid hub connected to the proximal portion of the elongate conduit, the fluid hub comprising a fluid connection port and a gasket at which a first seal is provided, and

a sliding connector attached to a proximal end of the fluid hub that isolates fluid to the single-use portion, the sliding connector comprising;

an outer shell, and

a fluid barrier disposed within the outer shell and surrounding the electrical cable, wherein the fluid barrier and the electrical cable together form a second seal at a distal end of the fluid barrier, and wherein the fluid barrier and the electrical cable together form a third seal located proximal to the second seal and along a radial projection of the electrical cable that seats within a radial recess of the fluid barrier; and

a multiple-use portion configured to be attached to and detached from the single-use portion, the multiple-use portion comprising;

a handle coupled to the proximal end of the outer shell of the sliding connector and being located proximal to the sliding connector and to the fluid hub such that the handle, the sliding connector, the fluid hub, and the elongate conduit are arranged in an in-line configuration, and

an integral image display located proximal to the handle and electrically coupled to the imaging system by the electrical cable.

2. The endoscopic device of claim 1, wherein the elongate conduit defines a fluid channel in fluid communication with the distal opening at the distal portion of the elongate conduit and with the fluid connection port of the fluid hub, the first fluid channel being configured to deliver fluid through the distal opening to the uterus.

3. The endoscopic device of claim 2, wherein the distal opening is positioned close to the imaging system such that fluid flowing through the distal opening pushes debris away from the imaging system and thereby aids in imaging.

4. The endoscopic device of claim 2, further comprising an illumination system disposed along the distal portion of the elongate conduit and configured to illuminate the uterus at an illumination field viewed by the imaging system.

5. The endoscopic device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first, second, and third seals is at least partially formed by one or more ultrasonic bonding processes during manufacture.

6. The endoscopic device of claim 1, wherein the outer shell is fabricated as two pieces that are bonded together using one or more ultrasonic bonding processes during manufacture.

7. The endoscopic device of claim 1, wherein the elongate conduit defines a working channel configured to allow passage of an operative device to the uterus, the working channel including an entry port formed in the fluid hub and an exit port formed along the distal portion of the elongate conduit.

8. The endoscopic device of claim 1, wherein the distal portion of the elongate conduit is bent at an angle of between about 15 degrees and about 35 degrees from a central longitudinal axis of the elongate conduit.

9. The endoscopic device of claim 1, wherein the handle includes a plurality of buttons to control a plurality of features of the endoscopic device, wherein when the single-use and multiple-use portions, the display, the handle, the elongated conduit, and the imaging system are mounted in a fixed relationship so as to rotate in alignment about a longitudinal axis defined by the elongated conduit.

10. The endoscopic device of claim 1, further comprising one or more LED devices along the distal portion of the elongate conduit.

11. The endoscopic device of claim 1, wherein the fluid hub surrounds the proximal portion of the elongate conduit.

12. The endoscopic device of claim 1, wherein the handle seats within the proximal end of the outer shell of the sliding connector.