Apparatus and methods for guiding an endoscope via a rigidizable wire guide
First Claim
1. Apparatus for intubation of a body cavity or lumen, the apparatus comprising:
- an endoscope having a steerable tip; and
a wire guide, wherein the apparatus is configured to preclude advancement of the wire guide to the steerable tip.
2 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides methods and apparatus for guiding an endoscope during an endoluminal procedure via one or rigidizable wires. Ridgidizable, or shape-lockable, wires of the present invention have multiple states: they may be flexible to conform to various curvilinear paths, ridgidized to shape-lock in any path they obtain, and may be cycled between states. A rigidizable wire of the present invention advantageously may serve as a shape-lockable “backbone” within an endoscope, overtube, or endoscopic tool. In its flexible state, the wire can assume whatever shape the endoscope, overtube, or tool assumes as it is maneuvered. Once stiffened or rigidized, the wire forms the backbone to maintain the static shape of the endoscope, overtube, or tool. Methods of using apparatus of the present invention are also provided.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. Apparatus for intubation of a body cavity or lumen, the apparatus comprising:
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an endoscope having a steerable tip; and
a wire guide, wherein the apparatus is configured to preclude advancement of the wire guide to the steerable tip. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. Apparatus for guiding an endoscope having a working channel with a substantially rigid tortuous section, the apparatus comprising:
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a shape-lockable wire guide configured for advancement through the working channel, wherein the wire guide is configured for relative advancement of the endoscope when the wire guide is shape-locked and disposed within the rigid tortuous section. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. Apparatus for guiding an endoscope, the apparatus comprising a shape-lockable overtube configured for advancement relative to the endoscope,
wherein the overtube comprises a seam for reversibly opening the overtube.
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19. A method for intubating a body cavity or lumen, the method comprising:
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advancing an endoscope within the body cavity or lumen;
advancing a wire guide within the body cavity or lumen along the endoscope;
shape-locking the wire guide; and
advancing the endoscope along the shape-locked wire guide, wherein a steerable tip of the endoscope always extends beyond the shape-locking wire guide. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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22. A method for intubating a body cavity or lumen, the method comprising:
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advancing an endoscope within the body cavity or lumen;
advancing a split sheath overtube within the body cavity or lumen over the endoscope;
shape-locking the overtube; and
advancing the endoscope along the shape-locked split sheath overtube.
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Specification