Endoscope with adjacently positioned guiding apparatus
First Claim
1. A method of advancing an instrument along an arbitrary path using a guiding apparatus adjacently positioned to the instrument, comprising:
- selectively steering a distal portion of the instrument to assume a selected shape along an arbitrary path;
advancing an elongate guide adjacent to the instrument such that a portion of the guide conforms to and assumes the selected shape; and
maintaining a position of the guide while advancing the instrument adjacent to the guide such that a proximal portion of the instrument assumes the selected shape defined by the guide, wherein the elongate guide is freely slidable along the instrument such that advancing of the instrument along the guide is unconstrained.
5 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
An endoscope with guiding apparatus is provided. The endoscope has an elongate body with a steerable distal portion, an automatically controlled portion, a flexible and passively manipulated proximal portion, and an externally controlled and manipulatable guiding apparatus. The guiding apparatus may be positioned within the endoscope or may be positioned adjacent to the endoscope. An interlocking device is provided to slidably interlock the guiding apparatus and the endoscope. When the guide is in a flexible state, it can conform to a curve or path defined by the steerable distal portion and the automatically controlled portion. The guide can then be selectively rigidized to assume that curve or path. Once rigidized, the endoscope can be advanced along the guide in a monorail or “piggy-back” fashion so that the flexible proximal portion follows the curve held by the guide until the endoscope reaches a next point of curvature within a body lumen.
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Citations
59 Claims
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1. A method of advancing an instrument along an arbitrary path using a guiding apparatus adjacently positioned to the instrument, comprising:
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selectively steering a distal portion of the instrument to assume a selected shape along an arbitrary path;
advancing an elongate guide adjacent to the instrument such that a portion of the guide conforms to and assumes the selected shape; and
maintaining a position of the guide while advancing the instrument adjacent to the guide such that a proximal portion of the instrument assumes the selected shape defined by the guide, wherein the elongate guide is freely slidable along the instrument such that advancing of the instrument along the guide is unconstrained. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An apparatus for insertion into a body cavity, comprising:
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an elongate body having a proximal portion and a selectively steerable distal portion and defining a lumen therebetween, the steerable distal portion being configurable to assume a selected shape along an arbitrary path;
an elongate guide having a proximal section, a distal section, and a length therebetween, the guide being slidably disposed without constraint adjacent to the elongate body for selectively supporting the body, wherein the guide is configured to conform to and selectively maintain the selected shape assumed by the steerable distal portion, and wherein the proximal portion of the elongate body when advanced distally is configured to conform to the selected curve maintained by the guide. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
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48. A device for slidably interlocking an elongate body and an elongate guide adjacent to one another comprising:
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a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen therethrough, the lumen configured to receive an elongate body and an elongate guide therein; and
a mechanism configured to provide pressure sufficient to slidably interlock the elongate guide and elongate body to one another while advancing the elongate guide and elongate body through the lumen. - View Dependent Claims (49, 50, 51)
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52. A method for slidably interlocking an elongate body and an elongate guide adjacent to one another comprising the steps of:
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providing an interlocking device having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen therethrough;
advancing an elongate body into the lumen of the interlocking device; and
advancing an elongate guide into the lumen of the interlocking device. - View Dependent Claims (53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59)
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Specification