Method for forming an endoscope articulation joint

• US 20070049800A1
• Filed: 08/30/2005
• Published: 03/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Boulais, Dennis
• Granted Patent: US 8,052,597 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/142
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00071 Insertion part of the endoscope body A61B1/0055 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00103 designed for single use
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0011 Manufacturing of endoscope parts
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/005 Flexible endoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0051 with controlled bending of insertion part
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0055 Constructional details of insertion parts, e.g. vertebral elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0057 Constructional details of force transmission elements, e.g. control wires
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/008 Articulations
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/003 Steerable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00305 Constructional details of the flexible means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00309 Cut-outs or slits
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00314 Separate linked members
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0133 Tip steering devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0138 having flexible regions as a result of weakened outer material, e.g. slots, slits, cuts, joints or coils
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4998 Combined manufacture including applying or shaping of fluent material

Abstract

In one aspect, the present invention is an articulation joint for use in a low cost medical device such as an endoscope intended for a single use. In one embodiment, the articulation joint comprises a plurality of interconnected segments. In another embodiment, the articulation joint comprises an elongated tubular body. In another aspect, the present invention provides methods of manufacturing an articulation joint for use in a medical device.

Claims

1. An articulation joint for use in a medical device, the articulation joint comprising a tubular body comprising:

a plurality of interconnected adjacent segments, wherein each segment comprises a cylinder with an outer wall and a central lumen, and wherein the outer wall of each segment includes at least one hinge element therein and at least one slot therethrough;

at least one cable guide element comprising a passage capable of extending through the slot and means for retaining a portion of the cable guide element from passing through the slot; and

one or more control cables threaded through the cable guide element comprising the passage.

2. The articulation joint of claim 1, wherein the passage of the at least one cable guide element extends through the at least one slot and into the central lumen of the segment.

3. The articulation joint of claim 1, wherein the means for retaining a portion of the cable guide element comprises a retaining head connected to the passage, wherein the retaining head prevents the cable guide element from passing through the slot.

4. The articulation joint of claim 1, wherein the at least one cable guide element comprises an annular ring comprising an outer circumference with a first end and a second end having a space therebetween, wherein the space is sized to allow the annular ring to be fitted around the circumference of the tubular body at spaced intervals.

5. The articulation joint of claim 4, wherein the annular ring comprises at least one pair of inwardly extending cable guide passages adapted to be inserted through the slots and into the central lumen.

6. The articulation joint of claim 1, wherein each segment includes at least one opposing pair of hinge elements therein and a series of slots therethrough.

7. The articulation joint of claim 6, wherein each segment includes at least one opposing pair of V-shaped slits oriented to provide flexibility along a first axis.

8. The articulation joint of claim 7, wherein each segment further includes at least one opposing pair of V-shaped slits oriented to provide flexibility along a second orthogonal axis.

9. The articulation joint of claim 8, wherein the V-shaped slits each have a closing angle of about 30 degrees.

10. The articulation joint of claim 6, wherein each segment includes a first end and a second end, wherein the first end has a counter-bored detail adapted to receive a cooperating shape of the second end.

11. The articulation joint of claim 10, wherein adjacent segments comprise interfacing tangs and notches that connect with one another to form a non-articulating interface.

12. The articulation joint of claim 1, wherein the articulation joint comprises at least six interconnected adjacent segments.

13. The articulation joint of claim 1, wherein the plurality of segments are molded.

14. The articulation joint of claim 13, wherein the plurality of segments are molded from a biocompatible polymeric material.

15. The articulation joint of claim 1, wherein the articulation joint comprises at least two segments molded from polymeric materials having durometer values that differ from one another.

16. The articulation joint of claim 1, wherein the one or more control cables threaded through the at least one cable guide element are tensioned to couple the plurality of adjacent segments together to form the tubular body.

17. An articulation joint for use in a medical device, the articulation joint comprising:

a tubular body comprising a cylinder with an outer wall and a central lumen, wherein the outer wall includes a plurality of hinge elements therein and a series of slots therethrough;

a plurality of annular rings around the circumference of the tubular body at spaced intervals, each annular ring comprising at least one pair of inwardly extending cable guide passages adapted to be inserted into the slots on the tubular body; and

at least two cables, wherein each cable is threaded through the plurality of cable guide passages on the annular rings that extend through the slots and into the central lumen.

18. The articulation joint of claim 17, wherein each annular ring comprises an outer circumference with a first end and a second end having a space therebetween sized to allow the annular ring to be snap-fitted over the tubular body.

19. The articulation joint of claim 18, wherein the tubular body further comprises a series of circumferential grooves formed in the outer wall, wherein the circumferential grooves are adapted to receive the annular rings.

20. The articulation joint of claim 17, wherein the tubular body includes at least one opposing pair of V-shaped slits oriented to provide flexibility along a first axis.

21. The articulation joint of claim 17, wherein the hinge elements comprise a series of opposing pairs of V-shaped slits that are oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tubular body.

22. The articulation joint of claim 21, wherein the tubular body further includes at least one opposing pair of V-shaped slits oriented to provide flexibility along a second orthogonal axis.

23. The articulation joint of claim 22, wherein a number of the slots on the tubular body are circumferentially disposed between one opposing pair of V-shaped slits oriented to provide flexibility along the first axis and one opposing pair of V-shaped slits oriented to provide flexibility along the second orthogonal axis.

24. The articulation joint of claim 17, wherein the tubular body is molded.

25. The articulation joint of claim 24, wherein the tubular body is molded from a biocompatible polymeric material.

26. The articulation joint of claim 17, wherein the plurality of annular rings are metal.

27. A method of manufacturing an articulation joint for use in a medical device, the method comprising:

injection molding a plurality of segments having interconnecting structures, wherein each segment comprises a cylinder with an outer wall and a central lumen, wherein the outer wall includes at least one hinge element therein and at least one slot therethrough;

injection molding a plurality of cable guide elements, wherein each cable guide element comprises a passage adapted to be inserted through selected slots of the segments;

interconnecting at least two segments;

inserting the cable guide elements through the selected slots in the segments; and

threading at least two control cables through the passages on the cable guide elements and tensioning the control cables to form the articulation joint.

28. A method of manufacturing an articulation joint for use in a medical device, the method comprising:

injection molding a tubular body comprising a cylinder with an outer wall and a central lumen, wherein the outer wall includes at least one hinge element therein and at least one slot therethrough;

forming a plurality of annular rings, wherein each annular ring includes at least one pair of inwardly extending guide passages sized to be received in the slots on the tubular body;

fitting one or more annular rings over the tubular body such that the guide passages are fitted through the slots and into the central lumen; and

threading at least two cables through the guide passages on the annular rings and tensioning the control cables to form the articulation joint.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein each annular ring comprises an outer circumference with a first end and a second end having a space therebetween sized to allow the annular ring to be snap-fitted over the tubular body.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the plurality of annular rings are metal.