Bearing system to support a rotatable operating head in an intracorporeal device

• US 20040181249A1
• Filed: 01/20/2004
• Published: 09/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Medical Device Limited (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Pathway Medical Technologies, Inc. (Bayer AG)
• Inventors: Torrance, Casey, Wulfman, Edward I., Hefner, Matt
• Granted Patent: US 7,674,272 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/170
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/32002 with continuously rotating, oscillating or reciprocating cutting instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/320725 with radially expandable cutting or abrading elements A61B17/32075 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/320758 with a rotating cutting instrument, e.g. motor driven A61B17/320725, A61B17/32075 and A61B17/320783 take precedence; for removing intra-ocular material A61F9/00763; endoscopic rotatable cutting instruments A61B17/32002
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3462 with means for changing the diameter or the orientation of the entrance port of the cannula, e.g. for use with different-sized instruments, reduction ports, adapter seals expandable cannulas A61B17/3417
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00017 Electrical control of surgical instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00199 with a console, e.g. a control panel with a display
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00973 pedal-operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22049 Means for locking the guide wire in the catheter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2927 the angular position of the head being adjustable with respect to the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320032 Details of the rotating or oscillating shaft, e.g. using a flexible shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2217/005 with suction drainage system
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/061 Determining position of a probe within the body employing means separate from the probe, e.g. sensing internal probe position employing impedance electrodes on the surface of the body A61B1/00158 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/415 the glands, e.g. tonsils, adenoids or thymus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/418 lymph vessels, ducts or nodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/12 in body cavities or body tracts, e.g. by using catheters catheters per se A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4209 by using holders, e.g. positioning frames
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/062 used with a catheter
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0147 with movable mechanical means, e.g. pull wires
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/06 Haemostasis valves, i.e. gaskets sealing around a needle, catheter or the like, closing on removal thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/0606 without means for adjusting the seal opening or pressure A61M39/0693 takes precedence

Abstract

A bearing system useful in an intracorporeal device connects an operating head, a rotatable drive shaft and a catheter. The bearing system includes a static member in fixed communication with the distal end of the catheter, an interior shaft that is in rotatable communication with the drive shaft and the operating head, and at least one connecting structure. The static member has at least one opening through which the connecting structure moveably rests against a seat of the interior shaft. The position of the connecting structure within the seat enables the bearing to accept a rotational load of the rotating drive shaft and/or thrust load in the direction of the longitudinal length of the catheter. The connecting structure further retains the internal shaft and static member of the bearing system. A clearance space between the internal shaft and the catheter may permit the interior shaft to tilt relative to the catheter and flexibly orient the operating head at different angles about longitudinal axis of the catheter.

Claims

1. A bearing system for supporting an operating head in an intracorporeal device, the bearing system comprising:

an internal shaft rotatably mountable to a drive shaft at a proximal end of the internal shaft and for translating rotational torque to the operating head mountable at a distal end of the internal shaft, the internal shaft including a seat;

a static member fixedly mountable to a catheter enclosing the drive shaft, the static member including at least one opening; and

at least one connecting structure, each connecting structure having a contact portion resting through the opening in the static member and being received by the seat of the internal shaft.

2. The bearing system of claim 1, wherein the contact portion of the at least one connecting structure is capable of repositioning within the seat as the internal shaft changes orientation of the operating head about a longitudinal axis of the catheter.

3. The bearing system of claim 2, wherein the internal shaft further comprises a contact surface to restrict the orienting of the operating head beyond an angle limit.

4. The bearing system of claim 3, wherein the static member further comprises a stop and at least a portion of the stop being capable of meeting the contact surface when the operating head is oriented to the angle limit.

5. The bearing system of claim 3, wherein the angle limit is between about 5 to 20 degrees.

6. The bearing system of claim 1, wherein the static member surrounds an enclosed portion of the internal shaft.

7. The bearing system of claim 1, wherein the at least one connecting structure comprises cold drawn stainless steel and the seat comprises a material harder than the connecting structure.

8. The bearing system of claim 1, wherein the seat comprises cold drawn stainless steel and the at least one connecting structure comprises a material harder than the seat.

9. The bearing system of claim 1, wherein the internal shaft further comprises a lumen to provide a passageway.

10. The bearing system of claim 9, wherein the internal shaft comprises at least one port in fluidic communication with the lumen, the port opening to a conduit in the catheter.

11. The bearing system of claim 1, wherein the at least one opening is within an indentation having opposing raised ends to receive ends of each connecting structure.

12. An intracorporeal device comprising:

a drive shaft that is rotatable within a catheter;

an operating head; and

a bearing system comprising;

an internal shaft for rotatable mounted to the drive shaft at a proximal end of the internal shaft and for rotatably mounted the operating head at the distal end of the internal shaft, the internal shaft including a seat;

a static member in fixed communication with the catheter; and

at least one connecting structure for resting through the static member, wherein a contact portion of each connecting structure rests through an opening of the static member and is received by the seat.

13. The intracorporeal device of claim 12, wherein the at least one connecting structure is made of a material with a different hardness than material comprising the seat.

14. The intracorporeal device of claim 13, wherein the material comprising the connecting structure or seat includes cold drawn stainless steel.

15. The intracorporeal device of claim 12, wherein the internal shaft further comprises a lumen extending from the operating head to the catheter or drive shaft to provide a passageway.

16. The intracorporeal device of claim 15, wherein the internal shaft comprises at least one port in fluidic communication with the lumen, the port opening to a conduit in the catheter.

17. The intracorporeal device of claim 12, wherein the internal shaft further comprises a contact surface to restrict the orienting of the operating head beyond an angle limit.

18. The intracorporeal device of claim 17, wherein the static member further comprises a stop, at least a portion of the stop capable of meeting the contact surface when the operating head is oriented to the angle limit.

19. The intracorporeal device of claim 16, wherein the angle limit is about 5 to 20 degrees.

20. The intracorporeal device of claim 12, further comprising a drive system and a control system.

21. An intracorporeal device comprising:

a catheter;

a drive shaft that is rotatable within the catheter;

a cutting head; and

a bearing system comprising;

an internal shaft fixedly coupled to the drive shaft at a proximal end of the internal shaft and fixedly coupled to the cutting head at the distal end of the internal shaft, the internal shaft including a seat;

a static member fixedly coupled to the catheter, the static member having at least one opening; and

at least one connecting structure, each connecting structure having a contact portion resting through one opening and being received by the seat,

wherein the internal shaft is capable of orienting the cutting head about a longitudinal axis of the catheter and communicating rotational torque from the drive shaft to the cutting head.

22. The intracorporeal device of claim 21, wherein the at least one opening is within an indentation having opposing raised ends to receive ends of each connecting structure.

23. The intracorporeal device of claim 21, wherein the at least one connecting structure is made of a material with a different hardness than material comprising the seat.

24. The intracorporeal device of claim 21, wherein the seat is concave such that one connecting structure relocates toward the back or front ends of the seat as the cutting head is oriented about the longitudinal axis of the catheter.