Positioning system for manipulating a channel within a medical device

• US 20070197871A1
• Filed: 02/21/2006
• Published: 08/23/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Tinkham, Brian, Geitz, Kurt
• Granted Patent: US 7,815,564 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/117
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00066 Proximal part of endoscope body, e.g. handles A61B1/0052 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00098 Deflecting means for inserted tools
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00133 Drive units for endoscopic tools inserted through or with the endoscope
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0052 Constructional details of control elements, e.g. handles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0057 Constructional details of force transmission elements, e.g. control wires
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/018 for receiving instruments

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention include a medical device for accessing a patient'"'"'s body portion and used for diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions. Embodiments of the invention may include a particular endoscopic positioning mechanism for placing an endoscope and an additional treatment device within desired body portions in order to assist in diagnosis and treatment of anatomical diseases and disorders. In particular, a medical device according to an embodiment of the invention includes a positioning mechanism configured for movement through at least two degrees of freedom.

Claims

1. A medical device, comprising:

an elongated flexible tube including a distal end and a proximal end, the tube defining a longitudinal axis and a channel extending from the proximal end to an aperture at the distal end; and

a positioning mechanism positionable at the distal end of the flexible tube proximate the aperture, the positioning mechanism configured for rotation relative to the longitudinal axis of the flexible tube and lateral deflection at and relative to the distal end of the flexible tube to control a direction at which a treatment instrument extending through the tube extends from the aperture.

2. The medical device of claim 1, wherein a distal portion of the positioning mechanism is housed within a recess at the distal end of the flexible tube, the positioning mechanism being configured for rotation about a pin within the recess.

3. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the positioning mechanism comprises a tube housed within the channel.

4. The medical device of claim 3, wherein a distal portion of the positioning mechanism is configured for lateral deflection through actuation of a pull wire connected to the positioning mechanism and extending proximally within the elongated flexible tube.

5. The medical device of claim 3, wherein a distal portion of the positioning mechanism is connected to the flexible tube by at least one spring, the distal portion of the positioning mechanism being configured for lateral deflection upon movement of a wedge between the flexible tube and the distal portion of the positioning mechanism.

6. The medical device of claim 3, wherein a living hinge connects a distal portion of the positioning mechanism to a remaining portion of the positioning mechanism.

7. The medical device of claim 4, wherein a pin extends through the distal portion of the positioning mechanism and a distal portion of the tube housed within the channel.

8. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the aperture is a side facing aperture opening laterally along the flexible tube.

9. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the positioning mechanism is configured for movement through at least two degrees of freedom.

10. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the positioning mechanism is configured for movement through at least three degrees of freedom.

11. The medical device of claim 9, wherein the positioning mechanism is rotatable about two axes.

12. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the positioning mechanism is configured for rotating a treatment instrument extended through the aperture relative to the longitudinal axis of the flexible tube.

13. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the medical device is an endoscope that includes visualization components therein.

14. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the medical device is an endoscope that includes illumination components therein.

15. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the medical device is an endoscope that includes an additional positioning mechanism for controlled deflection of the elongated flexible tube.

16. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the positioning mechanism comprises a sleeve configured to receive a treatment instrument therein, the sleeve being slidably housed and rotatable within the channel and having a distal end extendable beyond the aperture;

and

a deflection control mechanism connected to a distal end of the sleeve and moveable longitudinally and laterally within and relative to the flexible tube such that the distal end of the sleeve deflects relative to the flexible tube.

17. The medical device of claim 16, wherein the deflection control mechanism comprises a pull wire connected to a distal end of the sleeve and housed within a pull wire lumen within the flexible tube.

18. The medical device of claim 17, wherein the pull wire lumen exhibits an arc shape configured to allow the pull wire to be moved from one end of the arc-shaped lumen to another end of the arc-shaped lumen.

19. The medical device of claim 16, wherein the sleeve is configured for movement through at least two degrees of freedom.

20. The medical device of claim 19, wherein the sleeve is rotatable about two orthogonal axes.

21. The medical device of claim 16, wherein the sleeve is configured for movement through at least three degrees of freedom.

22. The medical device of claim 16, wherein the sleeve is configured for rotating a treatment instrument extended therein and beyond the aperture through an angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the flexible tube.

23. The medical device of claim 1, further comprising a handle at the proximal end of the flexible tube, the handle including a control mechanism connected to a proximal end of the positioning mechanism configured for rotating the positioning mechanism within the channel of the flexible tube.

24. The medical device of claim 23, wherein the control mechanism comprises a post extending from the handle and connected to a proximal end of the positioning mechanism.

25. The medical device of claim 23, wherein the control mechanism of the handle includes a locking mechanism for fixing the orientation of the positioning mechanism within the channel of the flexible tube.

26. A method of positioning a treatment instrument in a body comprising:

providing a medical device comprising;

an elongated flexible tube including a distal end and a proximal end, the tube defining a longitudinal axis and a channel extending from the proximal end to an aperture at the distal end; and

a positioning mechanism positionable at the distal end of the flexible tube proximate the aperture, the positioning mechanism configured for rotation relative to the longitudinal axis of the flexible tube and lateral deflection at and relative to the distal end of the flexible tube to control a direction at which a treatment instrument extends from the aperture;

inserting the medical device into an anatomical lumen of the body,

inserting a treatment instrument through the channel;

positioning the treatment instrument by rotating the positioning mechanism relative to the working channel of the flexible tube; and

positioning the treatment instrument by laterally deflecting a distal portion of the positioning mechanism.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising extending the treatment instrument beyond the aperture of the flexible tube and into the anatomical lumen.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising retracting the treatment instrument into the medical device, repositioning the medical device within the anatomical lumen, applying torque to the positioning mechanism to rotate the treatment instrument housed therein, and extending the treatment instrument through the aperture.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein the treatment instrument is positioned within a bile duct during an ERCP procedure.

30. The method of claim 26, wherein the positioning mechanism is rotated up to 360 degrees relative to the longitudinal axis of the flexible tube.

31. The method of claim 26, wherein a distal portion of the positioning mechanism is housed within a recess at the distal end of the flexible tube, and the distal portion of the positioning mechanism is rotated about a pin within the recess.

32. The method of claim 26, wherein the positioning mechanism comprises a tube housed within the channel and a distal portion of the positioning mechanism is laterally deflected through actuation of a pull wire connected to the positioning mechanism and extending proximally within the elongated flexible tube.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein a pin extends through the distal portion of the positioning mechanism and a distal portion of the tube housed within the channel.

34. The method of claim 26, wherein the positioning mechanism comprises a sleeve receiving a treatment instrument therein, the sleeve being slidably housed and rotatable within the channel and having a distal end extendable beyond the aperture;

and

a deflection control mechanism connected to a distal end of the sleeve and moveable longitudinally and laterally within and relative to the flexible tube such that the distal end of the sleeve deflects relative to the flexible tube.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the deflection control mechanism comprises a pull wire and wherein deflection of the sleeve is controlled by proximal actuation of the pull wire.