Dilation systems and related methods

• US 20010012950A1
• Filed: 03/22/2001
• Published: 08/09/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Scimed Life Systems Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Ward, Tim, Smith, Jeff, Nishtala, Srinivas, Gobron, Stephane
• Granted Patent: US 6,616,678 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/198
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3421 Cannulas
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3439 with means for changing the inner diameter of the cannula, e.g. expandable A61B17/3423, A61B17/3431 take precedence; catheters A61M25/0662
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0024 Expandable catheters or sheaths
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0662 Guide tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 29/02 Dilators made of swellable material balloon catheters for angioplasty A61M25/104

Abstract

Devices and methods permit dilation of a track of a body to any of a plurality of diameters using a single integrated device that can reach any of a plurality of expanded diameters upon actuation by a user of an actuating mechanism which directs and controls the dilation of a dilating element to which it is connected by a dial and transmission mechanism. A variety of dials, transmission mechanisms and dilating elements are disclosed which may be combined in a variety of ways.

Claims

1. A dilation system for dilating a natural or created track of a body, the dilation system comprising:

a dilating element for insertion into the track of the body, said dilating element being radially expandable to any of a plurality of diameters; and

an actuating mechanism connected to said dilating element for controlling the radial expansion of said dilating element to any of the plurality of diameters.

2. The dilation system of

claim 1

, wherein said dilating element comprises a spiral shaped foil.

3. The dilation system of

claim 2

, wherein said dilating element comprises a plurality of locking elements.

4. The dilation system of

claim 3

, wherein said plurality of locking elements comprise at least two series of bumps and recesses extending longitudinally, one of said at least two series of bumps and recesses is disposed at least on an interior surface of an outer segment of the foil and the other of said at least two series of bumps and recesses is disposed at least on an exterior surface of an inner segment of the foil, said at least two series of bumps and recesses overlaying spatially to provide any of a plurality of locked positions.

5. The dilation system of

claim 3

, wherein said locking elements comprise a series of intermitting tongues and recesses disposed longitudinally along the foil.

6. The dilation system of

claim 5

, wherein said tongues are partially cut out from an outer segment of the foil and pointing toward an inner segment of the foil, and said recesses are disposed on an outer surface of an inner segment of the foil.

7. The dilation system of

claim 5

, wherein said tongues are partially cut out from an inner segment of the foil and pointing toward an outer segment of the foil, and said recesses are disposed on an inner surface of an outer segment of the foil.

8. The dilation system of

claim 3

, further comprising a trigger engaging between said at least two series of bumps and recesses, for engaging or releasing engagement of one of said at least two series of bumps and recesses with the other of said at least two series of bumps and recesses.

9. The dilation system of

claim 3

, wherein said locking elements provide unidirectional locking of motion.

10. The dilation system of

claim 3

, wherein said locking elements provide bidirectional locking of motion.

11. The dilation system of

claim 2

, wherein the dilating element further comprises a second spiral shaped foil.

12. The dilation system of

claim 11

, wherein said second foil acts as a dilating element.

13. The dilation system of

claim 11

wherein said second foil act as a sheath.

14. The dilation system of

claim 2

, wherein the dilating element further comprises a second dilating element selected from the group consisting of malecots, jacks, parallelograms, balloons, wire baskets, pivots, chain links, meshes and braids.

15. The dilation system of

claim 2

, wherein said dilating element further comprises a balloon.

16. The dilation system of

claim 1

, wherein said dilating element comprised a balloon and a mesh or a braid.

17. The dilation system of

claim 1

, wherein said dilating element comprises at least one malecot.

18. The dilation system of

claim 1

, wherein said dilating element comprises at least one jack having at least two series of radially articulated rods.

19. The dilation system of

claim 1

, wherein said dilating element comprises a series of telescopic cannulas.

20. The dilation system of

claim 1

, wherein said actuation mechanism comprises a dial and a transmission mechanism connected proximally to said dial and distally to said dilating element.

21. The dilation system of

claim 20

, wherein said actuation mechanism further comprises indices.

22. The dilation system of

claim 20

wherein said transmission mechanism transfers a longitudinal motion, rotational motion, or a combination thereof of said dial to said dilating element.

23. The dilation system of

claim 22

, wherein said transmission mechanism comprises at least one tubular member selected from the group consisting of a cannula, a rod, a shaft, and a needle.

24. The dilation system of

claim 22

wherein said transmission mechanism converts and transfers a rotational motion of said dial to said dilating element.

25. The dilation system of claims 24, wherein said transmission mechanism comprises at least one tubular member having at least one thread.

26. The dilation system of

claim 25

, wherein said thread is disposed on a proximal portion of said at least one tubular member for engagement with said dial.

27. The dilation system of

claim 25

, wherein said thread is disposed on a distal portion of said at least one tubular member for engagement with said dilating element.

28. The dilation system of

claim 25

wherein said transmission mechanism further comprises a second thread.

29. The dilation system of

claim 1

, further comprising an expandable covering disposed around said dilating element.

30. The dilation system of

claim 29

, wherein said expandable covering is selected from the group consisting of meshs, braids, membranes, and foils.

31. A method for dilating a track of a body, said method comprising the steps of:

a. inserting a dilating element capable of expanding to any of a plurality of diameters;

b. expanding said dilating element to any of the plurality of diameters by proximally actuating an actuation mechanism connected distally to said dilating element, thereby causing said dilating element to reach a dilated state and dilating the track of a body to any of the plurality of diameters.

32. The method of

claim 31

further comprising the step of:

c. introducing a sheath over said dilating element in a dilated state to maintain the track of a body dilated to said any of a plurality of diameters.

33. The method of

claim 32

further comprising the step of:

d. removing said dilating element from the track of a body.

34. The method of

claim 33

further comprising the step of:

c′

. deflating the dilating element from said dilated state to any of a plurality of diameters inferior to the diameter of said dilated state.

35. The method of

claim 31

wherein step a is performed before step b.

36. The method of

claim 31

wherein step a is performed after step b.