Locally-propelled, intraluminal device with cable loop track and method of use

• US 20040111019A1
• Filed: 12/05/2002
• Published: 06/10/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Long, Gary L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,226,410 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/407
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00156 using self propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/018 for receiving instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/041 Capsule endoscopes for imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/05 characterised by the image sensor, e.g. camera, being in the distal end portion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/31 for the rectum, e.g. proctoscopes, sigmoidoscopes , colonoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/1042 Alimentary tract A61M2210/0618 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/106 Small intestine
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/1064 Large intestine
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/1067 Anus
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0105 Steering means as part of the catheter or advancing means; Markers for positioning systems for detection of markers A61B
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0116 self-propelled, e.g. autonomous robots A61M25/0122 takes precedence

Abstract

A medical device for performing medical procedures inside a lumen (such as the GI tract) of a patient is provided comprising a capsule, a cable, and a propulsion means. The cable can have one end anchored to the patient, and can extend from this anchored portion to the capsule. The cable can include a loop forward (distal) of the capsule in the GI tract. The propulsion means is operably connected to the cable to vary the length of cable between the anchored end and the capsule, so that the capsule is repositioned inside the GI tract of the patient.

Claims

1. A medical device for use in a patient'"'"'s body lumen comprising:

an apparatus adapted for movement within a body lumen; and

a track extending proximal and distal of said apparatus within the lumen, wherein a portion of said track extending distal of said apparatus comprises a loop.

2. The medical device of claim 1 wherein said track comprises a fixed end.

3. The medical device of claim 2 wherein said fixed end is fixed relative to a portion of the patient'"'"'s body.

4. The medical device of claim 1 wherein said track comprises first and second ends, and wherein each of said ends is positioned proximal of said apparatus when said apparatus is disposed in the patient'"'"'s lumen.

5. The medical device of claim 1 wherein said track passes through said apparatus by sliding through said apparatus to extend to said loop, and wherein said track extends from said loop to re-enter said apparatus for driving engagement with said apparatus.

6. The medical device of claim 1 wherein said track is adapted to be advanced through said apparatus to provide an increase in track length distal of the apparatus.

7. The medical device of claim 1 wherein said track comprises a cable.

8. The medical device of claim 1 wherein said apparatus comprises a working channel for receiving a medical instrument.

9. The medical device of claim 1 comprising an umbilicus extending proximally from said apparatus to a position outside the patient'"'"'s body when the apparatus is disposed in the patient'"'"'s lumen.

10. A medical device for performing medical procedures inside the lumen of a hollow organ of a patient'"'"'s body, said medical device comprising:

a capsule positionable inside the lumen;

a cable coupled to said capsule, wherein said cable includes;

an anchored portion adapted to be fixed relative to the patient;

a cable loop extending from said capsule; and

a propulsion means engaging said cable for positioning said capsule along the track.

11. The medical device of claim 10 comprising a sleeve for radially constraining a segment of said cable between said anchored portion and said capsule.

12. The medical device of claim 10, wherein said capsule comprises:

a first channel for receiving said cable, wherein said cable is free to slide through said capsule; and

a second channel for receiving said cable, wherein said cable is engaged by said capsule to provide motion of said capsule along said cable.

13. The medical device of claim 10 further comprising a working channel extending through said capsule for providing access with a medical instrument from outside the body lumen to an inside wall of the body lumen.

14. The medical device of claim 13 further comprising a viewing window disposed in said capsule.

15. The medical device of claim 10 further comprising a visualization device for viewing the body lumen in the vicinity of said capsule.

16. The medical device of claim 10 further comprising an illumination device for illuminating the inside of the body lumen, wherein said illuminating device illuminates the body lumen in the vicinity of said capsule.

17. The medical device of claim 10 further comprising an umbilicus extending from said capsule, wherein said umbilicus is flexible and of sufficient length to extend outside of the body lumen while said capsule is inside the body lumen.

18. The medical device of claim 17 further comprising a handpiece operably attached to a proximal end of said umbilicus for operator control of said capsule.

19. The medical device of claim 10 wherein said propulsion means comprises:

at least one pulley rotatably supported on said capsule, said pulley for applying a traction force to said cable to move the capsule along the cable;

a flexible drive shaft for transmitting torque from a proximal end of said flexible drive shaft to a distal end of said flexible drive shaft; and

at least one gear operatively associated with said distal end of said flexible drive shaft and rotatably supported on said capsule for transmitting torque from said distal end of said flexible drive shaft to said pulley.

20. A method of moving a medical apparatus through a patient'"'"'s body comprising the steps of:

propelling the apparatus along a track disposed at least partially within the body; and

increasing the length of the track distal of the apparatus while a portion of the track stationary with respect to a part of the patient'"'"'s body.

21. The method of claim 20 comprising propelling the apparatus along a track disposed in the patient'"'"'s GI tract.

22. The method of claim 20 wherein the step of increasing the length of track distal of the apparatus comprises increasing the length of a portion of the track associated with a track loop.

23. The method of claim 20 further comprising the step of directing a medical instrument through a working channel associated with the apparatus.

24. The method of claim 20 wherein the step of increasing the length of the track distal of the apparatus comprises sliding track through the apparatus.

25. A method of moving an apparatus through a patient'"'"'s body comprising the steps of propelling the apparatus along a track disposed at least partially within the patient'"'"'s body, wherein a portion of track disposed within the patient'"'"'s body comprises a loop.

26. The method of claim 25 comprising propelling the apparatus along a portion of the track disposed in the GI tract.

27. The method of claim 26 comprising propelling the apparatus along a portion of the track disposed in the lower GI tract.

28. The method of claim 25 comprising;

propelling the apparatus along the track to a first position;

increasing the length of the portion of the track comprising the loop;

propelling the apparatus along the track to a second position distal to the first postion.

29. The method of claim 28 comprising holding a portion of the track stationary while increasing the length of the portion of the track comprising the loop.

30. A method for moving a medical apparatus through a patient'"'"'s GI tract comprising the steps of:

providing a track in the patient'"'"'s GI tract;

propelling the apparatus along the track to a position proximal of a bend in the GI tract;

providing additional track length distal of the apparatus to provide a track portion that extends distal of the bend in the GI tract; and

propelling the apparatus on the track through the bend in the GI tract.

31. A method of moving a medical apparatus through a patient'"'"'s GI tract comprising the steps of:

providing a track having two ends and an intermediate portion;

positioning the intermediate portion of the track in the GI tract distally ahead of the two track ends;

propelling a medical apparatus along the track to a first position in the GI tract;

advancing the intermediate portion of the track distally in the GI tract; and

propelling the medical apparatus along the track to a second position distal to the first position.