ARTICULATING ENDOSCOPIC ACCESSORY CHANNEL

• US 20070225562A1
• Filed: 03/23/2006
• Published: 09/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Ortiz, Mark, Spivey, James, Shelton, Frederick
• Application Number:
  US11/277,324
• Publication Number:
  US 20070225562A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/121
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00042 for mechanical operation
• 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 17/068 Surgical staplers , e.g. containing multiple staples or clampsstaplers containing only one staple A61B17/10; magazines or containers for staples A61B17/105; for performing anastomosis A61B17/115; staplers in general B25C5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/32002 with continuously rotating, oscillating or reciprocating cutting instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/003 Steerable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0042 with special provisions for gripping
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2905 flexible
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/291 the position of the handle being adjustable with respect to the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2919 details of linkages or pivot points
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2927 the angular position of the head being adjustable with respect to the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2947 Pivots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/306 Wrists with multiple vertebrae
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/372 Details of monitor hardware
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/37 Surgical systems with images on a monitor during operation

Abstract

Methods and devices are provided for controlling movement of a working end of a surgical device. In one embodiment, methods and devices are provided for moving an end effector on a distal end of a surgical fastening device. Movement can include rotational movement of the end effector about an axis of the shaft, articulation of the end effector relative to the shaft, and actuation of an end effector, e.g., closing, firing, and/or cutting. In other embodiments, a single cable actuator is provided and is movable between a first position, in which it is effective to rotate an end effector without actuating (i.e., closing and firing) the end effector, and a second position, in which it is effective to actuate the end effector without rotating the end effector. In other aspects, methods and devices are provided for moving a flexible neck formed on a distal end of an accessory channel for use with an endoscope. Movement of the flexible neck can be used to control positioning of a tool extending through the flexible neck.

Claims

1. An accessory channel for releasable attachment to an endoscope, the accessory channel comprising:

an elongate tube having an inner lumen extending therethrough between proximal and distal ends thereof for receiving a tool;

a flexible neck extending from the distal end of the elongate tube and configured to flex to orient a tool extending through the elongate tube; and

a handle coupled to the proximal end of the elongate tube and being operatively associated with the flexible neck such that movement of the handle is mimicked by the flexible neck.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the flexible neck include a plurality of slits formed therein to facilitate flexion thereof.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the flexible neck includes a distal region of slits and a proximal region of slits, and wherein the slits are configured such that tension applied to the flexible neck will cause the flexible neck to bend at the proximal and distal regions.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the handle includes a stationary member and a movable member adapted to articulate relative to the stationary member.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the movable member is coupled to the stationary member by a joint selected from the group consisting of a ball and socket joint, a hinge joint, and a flexing joint.

6. The device of claim 1, further comprising an actuator extending between the handle and the flexible neck, the actuator being configured to transfer movement from the handle to the flexible neck.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the actuator comprises at least one cable extending along a length of the elongate tube.

8. The device of claim 7, further comprising a locking mechanism positioned to engage at least one of the handle and the at least one cable to lock the handle and the at least one cable in a fixed position.

9. The device of claim 7, wherein the at least one cable comprises a plurality of cables that are equally spaced apart from one another around a circumference of the elongate tube.

10. The device of claim 7, wherein the elongate tube includes at least one lumen formed in a sidewall thereof and extending along the length thereof, and wherein the at least one actuator is slidably disposed within the at least one lumen.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the elongate tube includes a mating element formed on and extending along a length of an external surface thereof for mating to a complementary mating element formed on an endoscope or endoscope sleeve.

12. An endoscopic system, comprising:

an elongate sleeve configured to be disposed around an endoscope; and

an accessory channel removably matable to the elongate sleeve, the accessory channel having an inner lumen extending therethrough between proximal and distal ends thereof for receiving a tool, a flexible portion formed on a distal portion thereof and being made flexible by a plurality of slits formed therein, and at least one handle coupled to the proximal end of the accessory channel and operatively associated with the flexible portion such that the at least one handle is configured to cause the flexible portion to articulate in at least one plane.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the at least one handle is operatively associated with the flexible portion by at least one cable, and wherein the at least one handle is configured to axially move the at least one cable relative to the accessory channel to cause the at least one cable to apply tension to the flexible portion of the accessory channel such that the flexible portion articulates in at least one plane.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the at least one handle comprises a single handle configured to cause the flexible portion to articulate in multiple planes.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the single handle includes a stationary member coupled to the proximal end of the accessory channel, and a movable member configured to articulate relative to the stationary member.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the single handle and the flexible portion are operatively associated such that movement of the single handle is mimicked by the flexible portion.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein the at least one handle includes a first member configured to cause the flexible portion to articulate in a first plane, and a second member configured to cause the flexible portion to articulate in a second plane.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the at least one handle includes a stationary member coupled to the proximal end of the accessory channel, and wherein the first and second members are rotatably coupled to the stationary member.

19. The system of claim 18, further comprising a first spool coupled to the first member and having at least one cable extending therefrom and coupled to the flexible portion, and a second spool coupled to the second member and having at least one cable extending therefrom and coupled to the flexible portion, and wherein the first and second members are effective to rotate the first and second spools and thereby move the cables axially to cause the flexible portion to articulate.

20. A method for positioning a tool, comprising:

slidably mating an accessory channel to an endoscope disposed within a body cavity to position a distal end of the accessory channel in proximity to a distal end of the endoscope;

inserting a tool through a lumen in the accessory channel such that the tool extends distally beyond the distal end of the accessory channel; and

moving a handle coupled to a proximal end of the accessory channel to cause a flexible neck on the distal end of the accessory channel to articulate, thereby causing a working end of the tool to be oriented in a desired position.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising locking the flexible neck in a fixed, articulated position.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein moving the handle comprises pivotally articulating the handle relative to the accessory channel.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the flexible neck mimics movement of the handle.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein moving the handle comprises rotating at least one rotatable member on the handle.

25. The method of claim 20, wherein, when the flexible neck articulates, the flexible neck bends at a plurality of locations along a length thereof.

26. The method of claim 20, wherein slidably mating the accessory channel to an endoscope comprises coupling a mating element formed along a length of the accessory channel with a mating element formed along a length of a sleeve disposed around the endoscope.