Vibratory Device, Endoscope Having Such A Device, Method For Configuring An Endoscope, And Method Of Reducing Looping Of An Endoscope.

• US 20070244354A1
• Filed: 04/17/2007
• Published: 10/18/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PSIP, LLC
• Original Assignee: Avantis Medical Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Bayer, Lex
• Granted Patent: US 8,287,446 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/106
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00147 Holding or positioning arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/005 Flexible endoscopes

Abstract

An endoscope assembly includes an insertion tube including a channel and a vibratory device inserted into the channel of the insertion tube.

Claims

1. A vibratory device for an endoscope, comprising:

a motor;

a flexible transmission cable having a longitudinal axis, the flexible transmission cable being connected to the motor for the motor to rotate the flexible transmission cable about its longitudinal axis; and

a plurality of masses, wherein each mass is attached to the flexible transmission cable in a manner that each mass'"'"'s center of mass is offset from the longitudinal axis of the flexible transmission cable.

2. The vibratory device of claim 1, wherein the flexible transmission cable includes a first section connected to the motor and a second section connected to the first section, and wherein the first section has a larger cross-section than the second section.

3. The vibratory device of claim 1, wherein the flexible transmission cable includes a first section connected to the motor and a second section connected to the first section, and wherein the masses are attached to the second section of the flexible transmission cable.

4. The vibratory device of claim 1, further includes a sheath that encloses at least a portion of the flexible transmission cable.

5. The vibratory device of claim 1, wherein each mass includes two portions, one of the portions having a greater density than the other portion.

6. The vibratory device of claim 1, wherein each mass includes two portions, one of the portions having a greater weight than the other portion.

7. A vibratory device for an endoscope, comprising:

a flexible transmission cable having a layer of metal wire, a core disposed within the layer of metal wire, and a plurality of masses disposed between the layer of metal wire and the core, wherein each mass is attached to the flexible transmission cable in a manner that each mass'"'"'s center of mass is offset from a longitudinal axis of the transmission cable.

8. A vibratory device for an endoscope, comprising:

a flexible transmission cable having a longitudinal axis; and

a plurality of masses attached to the flexible transmission cable, wherein each mass includes two portions, and wherein one of the portions has a greater density than the other portion so that each mass'"'"'s center of mass is offset from the longitudinal axis of the cable.

9. The vibratory device of claim 8, wherein the flexible transmission cable including a plurality of segments and a plurality of connectors, and wherein each connector connects two segments and includes one of the masses.

10. The vibratory device of claim 8, comprising:

a motor connected to the flexible transmission cable such that the motor rotates the flexible transmission cable about a longitudinal axis of the flexible transmission cable.

11. The vibratory device of claim 10, wherein the flexible transmission cable includes a first section connected to the motor and a second section connected to the first section, and wherein the masses are attached to the second section of the flexible transmission cable.

12. A vibratory device for an endoscope, comprising:

a flexible transmission cable having a longitudinal axis; and

a plurality of mass assemblies attached to the flexible transmission cable, wherein each mass assembly includes a housing and a mass disposed in the housing, and wherein each mass assembly'"'"'s center of mass is offset from the longitudinal axis of the cable.

13. A vibratory device for an endoscope, comprising:

a flexible transmission cable including a plurality of segments and a plurality of connectors, and wherein each connector connects two segments and includes a mass whose center of mass is offset from a longitudinal axis of the transmission cable.

14. A vibratory device for an endoscope, comprising:

a flexible transmission cable including a first section and a second section connected to the first section; and

a power switch positioned adjacent the connection between the first and second sections.

15. A vibratory device for an endoscope, comprising:

a flexible transmission cable including a first section and a second section connected to the first section; and

a seal positioned adjacent the connection between the first and second sections.

16. An endoscope assembly, comprising:

an insertion tube including a channel; and

a vibratory device inserted into the channel of the insertion tube.

17. The endoscope assembly of claim 16, wherein the insertion tube and the vibratory device are integrally formed.

18. The endoscope assembly of claim 16, wherein the vibratory device includes

a motor;

a flexible transmission cable having a longitudinal axis, the flexible transmission cable being connected to the motor for the motor to rotate the flexible transmission cable about its longitudinal axis; and

a plurality of masses, wherein each mass is attached to the flexible transmission cable in a manner that each mass'"'"'s center of mass is offset from the longitudinal axis of the flexible transmission cable.

19. The endoscope assembly of claim 18, wherein the flexible transmission cable includes a first section connected to the motor and a second section connected to the first section, and wherein the first section has a larger cross-section than the second section.

20. The endoscope assembly of claim 18, wherein the flexible transmission cable includes a first section connected to the motor and a second section connected to the first section, and wherein the masses are attached to the second section of the flexible transmission cable.

21. The endoscope assembly of claim 18, wherein the vibratory device includes a sheath that encloses at least a portion of the flexible transmission cable.

22. The endoscope assembly of claim 18, wherein each mass includes two portions, one of the portions having a greater density than the other portion.

23. The endoscope assembly of claim 18, wherein each mass includes two portions, one of the portions having a greater weight than the other portion.

24. The endoscope assembly of claim 16, wherein the vibratory device includes a flexible transmission cable having a layer of metal wire, a core disposed within the layer of metal wire, and a plurality of masses disposed between the layer of metal wire and the core, wherein each mass is attached to the flexible transmission cable in a manner that each mass'"'"'s center of mass is offset from a longitudinal axis of the transmission cable.

25. The endoscope assembly of claim 16, wherein the vibratory device includes

a flexible transmission cable having a longitudinal axis;

and

a plurality of masses attached to the flexible transmission cable, wherein each mass includes two portions, and wherein one of the portions has a greater density than the other portion so that each mass'"'"'s center of mass is offset from the longitudinal axis of the cable.

26. The endoscope assembly of claim 25, wherein the flexible transmission cable including a plurality of segments and a plurality of connectors, and wherein each connector connects two segments and includes one of the masses.

27. The endoscope assembly of claim 25, wherein the vibratory device includes a motor connected to the flexible transmission cable such that the motor rotates the flexible transmission cable about a longitudinal axis of the flexible transmission cable.

28. The endoscope assembly of claim 27, wherein the flexible transmission cable includes a first section connected to the motor and a second section connected to the first section, and wherein the masses are attached to the second section of the flexible transmission cable.

29. The endoscope assembly of claim 16, wherein the vibratory device includes

a flexible transmission cable having a longitudinal axis;

and

a plurality of mass assemblies attached to the flexible transmission cable, wherein each mass assembly includes a housing and a mass disposed in the housing, and wherein each mass assembly'"'"'s center of mass is offset from the longitudinal axis of the cable.

30. The endoscope assembly of claim 16, wherein the vibratory device includes a flexible transmission cable including a plurality of segments and a plurality of connectors, and wherein each connector connects two segments and includes a mass whose center of mass is offset from a longitudinal axis of the transmission cable.

31. The endoscope assembly of claim 16, wherein the vibratory device includes

a flexible transmission cable including a first section and a second section connected to the first section;

and

a power switch positioned adjacent the connection between the first and second sections.

32. The endoscope assembly of claim 16, wherein the vibratory device includes

a flexible transmission cable including a first section and a second section connected to the first section;

and

a seal positioned adjacent the connection between the first and second sections.

33. A method for configuring an endoscope, comprising:

inserting a vibratory device into a channel of an endoscope.

34. The method of claim 33, further comprising:

connecting a torque transmission cable of the vibratory device to a motor assembly of the vibratory device.

35. The method of claim 34, further comprising:

powering on a motor of the motor assembly.

36. The method of claim 33, wherein the inserting step includes inserting the vibratory device into only a non-steerable region of the endoscope.

37. A method for reducing looping of an endoscope, comprising:

inserting an endoscope into a body cavity; and

powering on a motor of a vibratory device of the endoscope to oscillate the endoscope to reduce looping of the endoscope.

38. The method of claim 37, further comprising:

inserting the vibratory device into a channel of the endoscope before inserting the endoscope into the body cavity.

39. The method of claim 37, further comprising:

inserting the vibratory device into a channel of the endoscope after inserting the endoscope into the body cavity.

40. The method of claim 37, further comprising:

inserting the vibratory device into a channel of the endoscope after inserting the endoscope into the body cavity and after the looping has taken place.