Medical retrieval device and related methods of use

• US 20060200171A1
• Filed: 03/04/2005
• Published: 09/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Teague, James A.
• Application Number:
  US11/071,438
• Publication Number:
  US 20060200171A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/127
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/22 Implements for squeezing-off ulcers or the like on the inside of inner organs of the body; Implements for scraping-out cavities of body organs, e.g. bones; Calculus removers; Calculus smashing apparatus; Apparatus for removing obstructions in blood vessels, not otherwise provided for dilators A61M29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/221 Gripping devices in the form of loops or baskets for gripping calculi or similar types of obstructions surgical snare instruments A61B17/32056
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00867 shape memory effect for prostheses A61F2210/0014

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention are directed to a medical device for extracting material from a patient'"'"'s body. The device may include a core element including a proximal portion extending substantially longitudinally and a distal portion capable of transforming between a coil configuration and a substantially straight configuration. An outer housing having a distal portion enclosing the distal portion of the core element is capable of attaining the coil and substantially straight configurations of the distal portion of the core element. The distal portions of the outer housing and the core element transform between the coil configuration and the substantially straight configuration when the core element is moved relative to the outer housing.

Claims

1. A medical device comprising:

a core element including a proximal portion extending substantially longitudinally and a distal portion capable of transforming between a coil configuration and a substantially straight configuration;

an outer housing having a distal portion enclosing the distal portion of the core element and capable of attaining the coil and substantially straight configurations of the distal portion of the core element; and

wherein the distal portions of the outer housing and the core element transform between the coil configuration and the substantially straight configuration when the core element is moved relative to the outer housing.

2. The medical device of claim 1 wherein a distal tip of the core element extends outside the outer housing.

3. The medical device of claim 2 wherein the distal tip provides a compressive force to the outer housing to achieve the substantially straight configuration.

4. The medical device of claim 1 wherein the distal portions of the outer housing and the core element attain the substantially straight configuration upon proximal movement of the core element relative to the outer housing.

5. The medical device of claim 1 wherein the distal portions of the outer housing and the core element attain the coil configuration upon distal movement of the core element relative to the outer housing.

6. The medical device of claim 1 wherein the core element comprises a shape-memory material.

7. The medical device of claim 1 wherein the coil configuration is adapted to ensnare an object in an anatomical lumen.

8. The medical device of claim 2 wherein the distal tip of the core element includes a retaining element having a diameter greater than an inner diameter of the outer housing.

9. The medical device of claim 1 further comprising a handle connected to a proximal end of the outer housing and a proximal end of the core element for providing relative movement between the core element and the outer housing.

10. The medical device of claim 9 wherein the handle includes a first piece connected to a proximal end of the core element and a second piece connected to a proximal end of the outer housing, and the first and second pieces are engaged for relative movement therebetween upon actuation of the handle.

11. The medical device of claim 10 wherein rotation of the second piece relative to the first piece results in longitudinal movement of second piece relative to the first piece.

12. The medical device of claim 1 wherein the distal portion of the outer housing includes a series of interconnected discrete segments.

13. The medical device of claim 12 wherein adjacent discrete segments are connected by linked engagement.

14. The medical device of claim 13 wherein each discrete segment includes a protruding portion on one end and a receiving portion on another end, and adjacent discrete segments are linked by the engagement of respective protruding portions and receiving portions.

15. The medical device of claim 12 wherein adjacent discrete segments are pivotally movable relative to each other.

16. The medical device of claim 12 wherein a proximal portion of the outer housing includes a flexible cannula extending proximally from the series of interconnected discrete segments.

17. The medical device of claim 1 wherein proximal movement of the core element relative to the outer housing generates a compressive force along the outer housing that substantially straightens the distal portion of the core element.

18. The medical device of claim 8 wherein the distal portion of the outer housing includes a series of interconnected discrete segments.

19. The medical device of claim 18 wherein adjacent discrete segments are connected by linked engagement.

20. The medical device of claim 19 wherein each discrete segment includes a protruding portion on one end and a receiving portion on another end, and adjacent discrete segments are linked by the engagement of respective protruding portions and receiving portions.

21. The medical device of claim 18 wherein adjacent discrete segments are pivotally movable relative to each other.

22. A method for retrieving material in a body comprising:

providing a medical device comprising;

a core element including a proximal portion extending substantially longitudinally and a distal portion capable of transforming between a coil configuration and a substantially straight configuration; and

an outer housing having a distal portion enclosing the distal portion of the core element and capable of attaining the coil and substantially straight configurations of the distal portion of the core element;

inserting the medical device into an anatomical lumen of the body, with the distal portions of the core element and the outer housing in the substantially straight configuration;

positioning the distal portions of the core element and the outer housing beyond the material to be retrieved within the lumen;

transforming the distal portions of the core element and the outer housing to the coil configuration by moving the core element relative to the outer housing; and

retrieving the material with the distal portions of the outer housing and core element.

23. The method of claim 22 further comprising pulling the medical device proximally when the material is retrieved with the distal portions of the outer housing and core element.

24. The method of claim 22 further comprising performing a lithotripsy procedure on the material.

25. The method of claim 22 further comprising transforming the medical device from the substantially straight configuration to an intermediate configuration between the substantially straight configuration and the coil configuration.

26. The method claim 25, wherein the core element exerts a first compressive force on the outer housing when the distal portions of the core element and the outer housing are in the substantially straight configuration, exerts a second compressive force less than the first compressive force on the outer housing when the distal portions of the core element and the outer housing are in the intermediate configuration, and exerts a third compressive force less than the second compressive force on the outer housing when the distal portions of the core element and the outer housing are in the coil configuration.

27. The method claim 26, wherein the third compressive force is substantially zero force.

28. The method of claim 22 further comprising, after retrieving the material, transforming the distal portions of the core element and the outer housing to the substantially straight configuration.

29. The method of claim 22 wherein a distal tip of the core element extends outside the outer housing.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein the distal tip of the core element includes a retaining element having a diameter greater than an inner diameter of the outer housing.

31. The method of claim 22 wherein the distal portion of the outer housing includes a series of interconnected discrete segments.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein transforming the distal portions of the core element and outer housing to the coil configuration includes pivoting a discrete segment relative to an adjacent discrete segment.

33. The method of claim 22 further comprising a handle connected to a proximal end of the outer housing and a proximal end of the core element for providing relative movement between the core element and the outer housing.

34. The method of claim 33 wherein the handle includes a first piece connected to a proximal end of the core element and a second piece connected to a proximal end of the outer housing, and the first and second piece are engaged for relative movement therebetween upon actuation of the handle.

35. The method of claim 34 wherein transforming the distal portions of the core element and the outer housing includes rotating the second piece relative to the first piece.

36. The method of claim 35 wherein rotating the second piece relative to the first piece controls an amount of compressive force the core element exerts on the outer housing.