Self-propelled, intraluminal device with working channel and method of use

• US 20030093088A1
• Filed: 09/19/2002
• Published: 05/15/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Long, Gary L., Wales, Kenneth S.
• Granted Patent: US 6,866,626 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/129
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0008 characterised by distal tip features
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00087 Tools A61B17/00234 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00094 Suction openings
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00147 Holding or positioning arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/018 for receiving instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/041 Capsule endoscopes for imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00269 endoscopic mucosal resection EMR

Abstract

The present invention provides apparatus and method for providing access of a medical instrument, such as a surgical instrument, from a point outside the patient'"'"'s body to a point within a body lumen, such as a portion of the Gastro-intestinal tract. A self propelled device, such as a capsule having electrodes for providing contraction of lumen tissue, can be positioned within the body lumen at a desired location. The medical instrument can be directed through a working channel associated with the capsule to access the body lumen tissue through the capsule.

Claims

1. A medical device comprising:

a self propelled movable device capable of travel through a patient'"'"'s body lumen; and

a working channel associated with the movable device for providing access to at least a portion of the lumen through the movable device from a point outside the patients body.

2. The medical device of claim 1 comprising a vacuum source operatively associated with the movable device for communicating vacuum to the body lumen.

3. The medical device of claim 1 wherein movable device is self propelled by stimulation of tissue within the lumen.

4. The medical device of claim 1 comprising at least one electrode for facilitating movement of the movable device through the body lumen.

5. The medical device of claim 1 comprising an umbilicus of sufficient length to extend from the movable device to a point outside the patient'"'"'s body when the movable device is disposed within the body lumen.

6. The medical device of claim 5 wherein a portion of the working channel is disposed in the umbilicus and wherein a portion of the working channel is disposed in the movable device, and wherein the working channel communicates with at least one opening in an exterior surface of the movable device.

7. The medical device of claim 6 wherein the working channel communicates with multiple openings in the exterior surface of the movable device.

8. The medical device of claim 6 wherein at least one opening in the exterior surface of the movable device has an axis forming an angle of at least about 30 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis of a portion of the working channel.

9. The medical device of claim 6 wherein at least one opening in the exterior surface of the movable device is positioned to provide access through a side portion of the movable device.

10. A medical device comprising:

a capsule for introduction into a patient'"'"'s body lumen;

at least one electrode for electrically stimulating tissue to provide movement of the capsule;

an umbilicus attached to said capsule, said umbilicus of sufficient length to extend outside of said body lumen while said capsule is inside of said body lumen; and

at least one generally continuous working channel extending through the umbilicus and a least a portion of the capsule, wherein the working channel is adapted to provide access by a medical instrument to the lumen through the capsule from a point outside the patient'"'"'s body.

11. The medical device of claim 10 comprising a visualization device and a lighting device for visualizing inside of the body lumen.

12. The medical device of claim 10 comprising a vacuum source in operative association with the capsule.

13. The medical device of claim 10 comprising a fluid system for introducing a fluid to the inside of the body lumen.

14. The medical device of claim 10 comprising a fluid seal operatively associated with said working channel.

15. The medical device of claim 10 comprising at least one external electrode for electrical contact with an external surface of the patient.

16. The medical device of claim 10 comprising at least one electrode mounted on said capsule.

17. The medical device of claim 10 comprising a handpiece operably attached to the proximal end of said umbilicus, wherein said working channel extends through at least a portion of the handpiece.

18. The medical device of claim 17 wherein said handpiece includes at least one control selected from the group consisting of vacuum controls, fluid controls, motion controls, electrical stimulation current controls, and electrical stimulation frequency control.

19. A method of accessing tissue in a body lumen with a medical instrument, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a self propelled device;

positioning the self propelled device in the body lumen;

directing a medical instrument from a point outside the body to access tissue in the lumen through the self propelled device.

20. The method of claim 19 comprising stimulating tissue to position the self propelled device.

21. The method of claim 19 comprising drawing tissue into a portion of the self propelled device.

22. The method of claim 19 wherein the medical instrument is selected from the group consisting of surgical cutting instruments, surgical ligation instruments, surgical biopsy instruments, surgical suturing instruments, and combinations thereof.

23. The method of claim 19 comprising the step of surgically removing a portion of the patient'"'"'s body.

24. The method of claim 19 comprising surgically removing a portion of the patient'"'"'s body through the self propelled device.