Universal utility board for use with medical devices and methods of use

• US 20060173438A1
• Filed: 01/28/2005
• Published: 08/03/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Crowley, Peter
• Granted Patent: US 8,480,629 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/500
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00296 mounted on an endoscope
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/20 Holders specially adapted for surgical or diagnostic appliances or instruments drapes with means to hold surgical instruments A61B46/23; for catheters A61M25/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/50 Supports for surgical instruments, e.g. articulated arms

Abstract

A utility fixture secured to a proximal portion of an elongate medical device and methods of use. The utility fixture may have one or more receptacles for receiving and retaining additional medical instruments. The utility fixture may provide the operator a means to free a hand during a medical procedure. Therefore, the operator may operate a plurality of medical instruments simultaneously and/or sequentially during a medical procedure without assistance.

Claims

1. A utility fixture for use with a medical device comprising:

a utility board having a recessed portion and a block portion, wherein the recessed portion is sized to conform to a proximal portion of the medical device; and

one or more receptacles for receiving a medical instrument, wherein the one or more receptacles are disposed on the block portion during use.

2. The fixture of claim 1, wherein the recessed portion has a concave surface abutting an outer surface of the medical device.

3. The fixture of claim 1, wherein the recessed portion includes a truncated conical shell.

4. The fixture of claim 1, wherein the block portion includes one or more holes for receiving the one or more receptacles.

5. The fixture of claim 4, wherein the one or more holes are a grid of holes disposed in the block portion.

6. The fixture of claim 4, wherein the block portion includes one or more faces, wherein the one or more holes are disposed on the one or more faces.

7. The fixture of claim 4, wherein the one or more holes are threaded and the one or more receptacles include a complementary threaded portion.

8. The fixture of claim 1, wherein the one or more receptacles forms an interference fit with the block portion.

9. An apparatus for use during a medical procedure comprising:

an elongate medical device having a proximal portion and an outer surface;

a utility board disposed about the proximal portion of the elongate medical device and detachable from the elongate medical device; and

one or more receptacles for receiving a medical instrument, wherein the utility board includes a means for receiving the one or more receptacles.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the one or more receptacles are detachable from the utility board.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the utility board includes a body having one or more faces having a plurality of holes for receiving the one or more receptacles.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the plurality of holes are arranged in a regular grid pattern.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the utility board includes one or more channels for receiving the one or more receptacles and the one or more receptacles includes a protrusion sized to interlock with the one or more channels.

14. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the utility board includes a switch for selectively releasing the one or more receptacles from the utility board.

15. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the utility board includes a recessed portion having a concave surface conforming to the outer surface of the elongate medical device.

16. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the proximal portion of the elongate medical device includes a handle, wherein the utility board is disposed about a portion of the handle.

17. A method of performing a medical procedure comprising the steps of:

providing an elongate medical device having a proximal portion and an outer surface;

providing a utility board having one or more receptacles for retaining medical instruments;

securing the utility board to the proximal portion of the elongate medical device;

advancing the elongate medical device to a target location in a body;

advancing a medical instrument through the elongate medical device to the target location; and

retaining the medical instrument in the one or more receptacles of the utility board, wherein an operator may free a hand.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of:

actuating the medical instrument retained in the one or more receptacles.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of:

maneuvering the elongate medical device and medical instrument simultaneously.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of:

controlling another medical device while retaining the medical instrument in the one or more receptacles of the utility board.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the one or more receptacles are detachable from the utility board.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein the utility board includes a recessed portion having a concave surface, wherein the concave surface conforms to the outer surface of the elongate medical device.

23. The method of claim 17, wherein the medical instrument is exposed exterior of the elongate medical device at a location distal of the utility board.

24. The method of claim 17, wherein the elongate medical device has an access port disposed distal of the utility board, wherein the medical instrument is advanced through the access port

25. The method of claim 17, wherein the proximal portion of the elongate medical device includes a handle, wherein the utility board is secured to a portion of the handle.