Self-propelled, intraluminal device with hollow, cylindrical head and method of use

• US 20030153866A1
• Filed: 10/28/2002
• Published: 08/14/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Long, Gary L., Stefanchik, David, Bally, Kurt R.
• Application Number:
  US10/281,930
• Publication Number:
  US 20030153866A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/28
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0008 characterised by distal tip features
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00082 Balloons
• 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 1/015 Control of fluid supply or evacuation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/018 for receiving instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/041 Capsule endoscopes for imaging

Abstract

A medical device is provided for use in the lumen of a patient, such as in the Gastro-Intestinal Tract (GI Tract). The medical device can include a through channel for permitting passage of solid material, such as fecal material in the GI tract. In one embodiment, the device includes a self propelled capsule with a through channel, and a balloon disposed inside of the channel of the capsule. When inflated, the balloon provides occlusion of the channel.

Claims

1. A medical device comprising:

an apparatus adapted for movement through a bodily lumen by stimulation of tissue, wherein the apparatus comprises a channel passing longitudinally therethrough, and wherein the channel is sized to pass solid material.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the device is adapted to provide at least partial occluding of the channel.

3. The device of claim 2 comprising an inflatable member for providing at least partial occluding of the channel.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the apparatus comprises at least one electrode for stimulating tissue.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the device comprises an umbilicus associated with the apparatus.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the channel has a maximum radial dimension which is at least half the maximum radial dimension of the apparatus.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein the channel has a maximum radial dimension which is at least two-thirds the maximum radial dimension of the apparatus.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein the channel has a diameter of at least about one-half inch.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein the channel has a diameter of at least about three-quarters of an inch.

10. The device of claim 1 further comprising a balloon disposed inside of said channel, said balloon fluidly connected to an inflater for inflating said balloon with a fluid in order to at least partially occlude said channel.

11. The device of claim 10 further comprising a valve for providing selective inflation and deflation of said balloon.

12. The medical device of claim 1 further comprising an expandable body portion disposed between a leading end and a trailing end of the apparatus.

13. The medical device of claim 1 comprising a first distal electrode having a first electrical polarity and a second distal electrode having a second electrical polarity, wherein said electrodes are operable for propelling the apparatus through the lumen.

14. The medical device of claim 13 wherein said first and second electrodes are flexibly mounted on a trailing end of said apparatus.

15. The medical device of claim 13 wherein said first and said second electrodes are flexibly mounted on a leading end of said apparatus.

16. The medical device of claim 1 wherein said apparatus comprises a capsule, said capsule comprising a body portion disposed between a trailing end and a leading end, and a first sealing ring and a second sealing ring mounted circumferentially on said body portion, wherein said first and second sealing rings are fluidly connected to an inflater and are inflatable to an inflated configuration to isolate the circumferential portion of the wall of the bodily lumen between said first and second sealing rings from the remainder of said bodily lumen.

17. The medical device of claim 16 further comprising a recess located on said body portion of said capsule between said first and second sealing rings, said recess having a port connected to a working channel in said capsule and said umbilicus, wherein said recess is positionable over a tissue structure on the wall of the bodily lumen and said recess creates a working space over the tissue structure.

18. The medical device of claim 1 further comprising an endoscope adapter for removably attaching the distal end of a flexible endoscope to said apparatus.

19. A medical device, the device comprising:

an apparatus sized and shaped to pass through the lower gastro-intestinal tract, the apparatus comprising a through channel extending the length of the apparatus; and

at least one electrode associated with the apparatus for stimulating tissue to propel the apparatus through the GI tract;

wherein the through channel is sized and shaped to permit passage of fecal material through the apparatus when the apparatus is propelled through the GI tract.

20. A method of removing material from a bodily lumen, the method comprising the steps of:

providing an apparatus sized and shaped to pass through the lumen, the apparatus having a through channel;

moving the apparatus through the lumen wherein material in the lumen upstream of the apparatus passes through the through channel in the apparatus to be positioned downstream of the apparatus;

at partially occluding the through channel to restrict further passage of material in the lumen through the through channel;

withdrawing the apparatus from the lumen.

21. The method of claim 21 wherein the step of moving the apparatus through the lumen comprises stimulating tissue in the lumen.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the step of moving the apparatus through the lumen comprises electrically stimulating tissue in the lumen.

23. The method of claim 21 wherein the step of at least partially occluding the through channel comprises inflating a member associated with apparatus.

24. The method of claim 21 comprising moving the apparatus through the gastro-intestinal tract.

25. The method of claim 21 performed as a portion of a bowel preparation procedure prior to a subsequent medical procedure.

26. A method of removing fecal material from the lower gastro-intestinal tract, the method comprisng:

providing an apparatus sized and shaped to pass through the gastro-intestinal tract;

moving the apparatus through fecal material in the gastro-intestinal tract;

expanding a member associated with the apparatus; and

withdrawing the apparatus from the gastro-intestinal tract.

27. A medical device, the medical device comprising:

an umbilicus;

an apparatus associated with the distal end of the umbilicus, the apparatus sized and shaped to be positioned in a portion of the gastro-intestinal tract, the capsule having an outer surface facing the tissue of the gastro-intestinal tract;

wherein the apparatus comprises a recess disposed in the outer surface for providing working access to a portion of gastro-intestinal tract.

28. The device of claim 27 further comprising a tissue stimulator for moving the apparatus in the gastro-intestinal tract.

29. The device of claim 27 further comprising a working channel associated with umbilicus and communicating with the recess in the outer surface of the apparatus.

30. The device of claim 27 further comprising at least one seal disposed on the apparatus, the seal positioned to isolate tissue associated the recess in the outer surface of the apparatus.

31. The device of claim 30 comprising a first seal disposed upstream of the recess and a second seal disposed downstream of the recess.

32. A method of treating the wall of a bodily lumen, the method comprising the steps of:

providing an apparatus sized and shaped for movement through the lumen, wherein the apparatus has an outer surface and a recess disposed in the outer surface;

moving the apparatus in the lumen to position the recess in the outer surface over a portion of the lumen to be treated;

sealing the portion of the lumen to be treated from an adjacent portion of the lumen; and

treating the portion of the lumen.

33. The method of claim 32 wherein the step of moving the apparatus comprises stimulating lumen tissue to move the apparatus.

34. The method of claim 33 wherein the step of stimulating lumen tissue comprises electrically stimulating lumen tissue.

35. The method of claim 32 wherein the step of treating the portion of lumen comprises directing fluid into the recess in the outer surface of the apparatus.