Fluid manifold for endoscope system

• US 20050245789A1
• Filed: 09/30/2004
• Published: 11/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation), Foster-Miller Incorporated (Thermo Fisher Scientific Incorporated)
• Inventors: Smith, David, Banik, Michael S., Clark, Richard Joseph
• Application Number:
  US10/955,950
• Publication Number:
  US 20050245789A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/159
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00059 provided with identification means for the endoscope
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00071 Insertion part of the endoscope body A61B1/0055 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0008 characterised by distal tip features
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00147 Holding or positioning arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0016 using motor drive units
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0051 with controlled bending of insertion part
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0052 Constructional details of control elements, e.g. handles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0055 Constructional details of insertion parts, e.g. vertebral elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/015 Control of fluid supply or evacuation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/05 characterised by the image sensor, e.g. camera, being in the distal end portion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0653 with wavelength conversion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0676 at distal tip of an endoscope
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0684 using light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/128 provided with means for regulating temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/31 for the rectum, e.g. proctoscopes, sigmoidoscopes , colonoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8376 Combined

Abstract

A video endoscope system includes a reusable control cabinet and an endoscope that is connectable thereto. The endoscope may be used with a single patient and then disposed. The endoscope includes an illumination mechanism, an image sensor, and an elongate shaft having one or more lumens located therein. An articulation joint at the distal end of the endoscope allows the distal end to be oriented by the actuators in the control cabinet or actuators in a control handle of the endoscope. Fluidics, electrical, navigation, image, display and data entry controls are integrated into the system along with other accessories.

Claims

1. A manifold for distributing fluid to a medical device, comprising:

a manifold body having a first inlet port, a first outlet port, and at least one passageway that interconnects the first inlet port and the first outlet port;

wherein a section of the passageway is configured for selective closure upon the application of external force on the section, thereby conditionally interrupting fluid passage between the inlet port and the outlet port.

2. The manifold of claim 1, wherein the external force is generated by an selectively controlled actuator.

3. The manifold of claim 2, wherein the actuator is a pinch valve.

4. The manifold of claim 1, wherein the manifold body comprises a flexible material.

5. The manifold of claim 4, wherein the flexible material is thermoplastic.

6. The manifold of claim 5, wherein the manifold body comprises two sheets of thermoplastic material that are bonded together to form the passageway therein.

7. The manifold of claim 1, wherein the manifold body is a flexible bag.

8. The manifold of claim 7, wherein the passageway is closed with one or more valves that pinch the passageway.

9. The manifold of claim 1, wherein the manifold is a single-use manifold and is discarded after use.

10. The manifold of claim 1, further comprising connector fittings attached to the inlet and outlet ports, the connector fittings adapted to be connected to either fluid supply lumens in the medical device or to a source of fluid.

11. The manifold of claim 1, further comprising a second outlet port connected in fluid communication with the first inlet port by a second passageway.

12. The manifold of claim 11, wherein a section of the second passageway is configured for selective closure upon the application of external force on the section.

13. The manifold of claim 1, further comprising a second outlet port and a second inlet port, the second inlet port being connected in fluid communication with the second outlet port by a second passageway.

14. A manifold for distributing fluid to a medical device, comprising:

a flexible manifold body defining a plurality of passageways extending therethrough, one end of each passageway being adapted to be connected to a source of fluid and the other end of each passageway being adapted to be connected to fluid lumens of the medical device;

wherein a portion of at least one of the passageways is configured to interrupt the passage of fluid upon external pressure applied thereto and further configured to permit the passage of fluid upon removal of external pressure thereto.

15. A manifold for distributing fluid to a medical device, comprising:

a flexible manifold body defining a plurality of passageways extending therethrough, one end of the passageways being adapted to be connected to a source of fluid and the other end of the passageways being adapted to be connected to fluid lumens of the medical device; and

one or more selectively controlled valves disposed adjacent to the passageways, the valves being fluidly isolated from the passageway, the valves being capable of exerting and removing pressure against the passageways;

wherein a portion of at least one of the passageways is configured to interrupt the passage of fluid upon external pressure applied thereto by actuation of the one or more valves and further configured to permit the passage of fluid upon removal of external pressure applied thereto by actuation of the one or more valves.

16. The manifold of claim 15, wherein the valves are pinch valves.