Selectively rotatable shaft coupler

• US 20060111613A1
• Filed: 09/28/2005
• Published: 05/25/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Boulais, Dennis R., Dayton, Peter L., Boutillette, Michael P.
• Granted Patent: US 8,197,400 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/136
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00042 for mechanical operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00124 electrical, e.g. electrical plug-and-socket connection
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00128 mechanical, e.g. for tubes or pipes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/32213 Articulate joint is a swivel
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/32975 Rotatable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/32983 Rod in socket

Abstract

The present invention is a system for dissipating loops in an elongated medical device having one end secured to an anchor point, such as a housing. The system includes a selectively rotatable shaft coupler that connects a shaft to the anchor point that allows a limited amount of shaft rotation during use, but which sets a restriction on the maximum amount of shaft rotation. In another embodiment, the invention provides a shaft coupling system for connecting a proximal end of an endoscope shaft to an object without the use of adhesives or fasteners. In another embodiment, the invention provides a rotatable shaft coupling system for rotatably coupling a first and second shaft segment.

Claims

1. A system for dissipating torque in a shaft of a medical instrument, comprising:

a selectively rotatable coupler having a coupler housing securable to an anchor; and

a shaft adapter that is securable to a shaft of the medical instrument, the coupler further including means for allowing a limited rotation during use between the shaft adapter and the housing.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the selectively rotatable coupler comprises a lumen therein through which one or more internal components of the medical instrument are passed.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for allowing a limited rotation between the shaft adapter and the coupler housing includes a threaded section of the shaft adapter that is received within a threaded section of the coupler housing, and a stop secured to the shaft adapter that moves within a bore having closed ends on the coupler housing.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the coupler housing includes a threaded section, and the means for limiting the rotation between the shaft adapter and the housing includes a rotary adapter threadably secured to the coupler housing and a shaft adapter that is secured to and rotatably received within the coupler housing;

the shaft adapter being coupled to the rotary adapter so that rotation of the shaft adapter rotates the rotary adapter between a pair of stops.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the shaft adapter and the rotary adapter are coupled with interfacing tangs and notches.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the shaft adapter and the rotary adapter are coupled with interfacing grooves and ribs.

7. The system of claim 4, wherein the effective length of the shaft is maintained during rotation.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the selectively rotatable coupler comprises:

(i) the shaft adapter with a first end adapted to be secured to an end of the shaft and a second end adapted to be rotatably attached to a collar;

(ii) a collar securable to the anchor that rotatably receives the shaft adapter; and

(iii) means for restricting the amount of rotation of the proximal end of the elongated shaft in the collar.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the means for restricting the amount of rotation in the collar comprises a threaded portion of the collar, wherein the amount of rotation of the proximal end of the shaft is restricted by the size and pitch of the threads in the threaded portion.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the means for restricting the amount of rotation in the collar comprises one or more stop elements on the collar.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the means for restricting the amount of rotation in the collar comprises one or more stop elements on the shaft adapter.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the means for restricting the amount of rotation comprises a flange.

13. The system of claim 12, further comprising a bore within the collar and a cap secured over the bore such that the flange is moveable in the bore by rotation of the shaft.

14. A system for rotatably coupling an elongated shaft to a housing while maintaining the effective length of the shaft during rotation, the system comprising:

a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end and one or more lumens therein;

a housing;

a threaded collar attached to the housing;

means for rotatably coupling the shaft to the housing; and

means for selectively rotating the shaft with respect to the housing, wherein the effective length of the shaft is maintained during rotation.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the means for rotatably coupling the shaft to the housing includes a shaft adapter sized to rotate in the threaded collar, the shaft adapter having a first end adapted to be secured to the proximal end of the shaft, a second end adapted to slidably connect to a rotary adapter and means to prevent axial motion of the shaft.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the means for selectively rotating the shaft with respect to the housing includes a rotary adapter intermediate the shaft adapter and the housing having a hollow body with a first end adapted to slidably connect to the second end of the shaft adapter, wherein the shaft adapter and the rotary adapter cooperate to limit rotation of the shaft.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the rotary adapter comprises an engagement element adapted to engage the threads of the collar.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the threaded collar has at least one stop element.

19. A shaft coupling system for coupling an endoscope shaft to a housing, the system comprising:

(i) a housing with a first end adapted to receive a shaft retainer; and

(ii) a shaft retainer comprising a plurality of retention elements capable of securing an end of the endoscope shaft.

20. The shaft coupling system of claim 19, wherein the plurality of retention elements comprise one or more barbs.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein the plurality of retention elements include inward rearwardly extending barbs that are capable of securing an end of the endoscope shaft and outwardly extending barbs capable of securing the shaft retainer in the housing.

22. A system for rotatably coupling a first segment of an endoscope shaft to a second segment of an endoscope shaft, the system comprising:

(i) an endoscope shaft comprising a proximal end and a distal end and one or more internal components of the endoscope passing therethrough;

wherein the shaft is formed into a first and a second segment; and

(ii) a swivel joint having a housing with a first end and a second end secured to the ends of the first and second segments, wherein at least one of the first and second segments of the shaft is rotatable in the housing.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the first end of the swivel joint housing includes a threaded bore adapted to rotatably receive a threaded end of the first shaft segment.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein the second end of the swivel joint housing is fixedly secured to an end of the second shaft segment.

25. The system of claim 23, wherein the second end of the swivel joint housing is adapted to rotatably receive an end of the second shaft segment.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the second end of the swivel joint includes a threaded bore adapted to receive a threaded end of the second shaft segment.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the threads of the threaded bore included in the first end are oriented in a direction opposite from the threads of the threaded bore included in the second end.

28. The system of claim 22, wherein the first end of the swivel joint housing includes a swivel device comprising a housing surrounding a plurality of concentric, interlocking and rotating cylinders with an opening adapted to rotatably receive an end of the first shaft segment.