System of Accessories for Use With Bronchoscopes

• US 20070276180A1
• Filed: 09/14/2004
• Published: 11/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: superDimension, Ltd. (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Griefner, Gil, Belcher, Danny, Becker, Heinrich, Greenburg, Benny
• Granted Patent: US 9,089,261 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/106
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00128 mechanical, e.g. for tubes or pipes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00137 End pieces at either end of the endoscope, e.g. caps, seals or forceps plugs
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0014 Fastening element for attaching accessories to the outside of an endoscope, e.g. clips, clamps or bands
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00147 Holding or positioning arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0052 Constructional details of control elements, e.g. handles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/012 characterised by internal passages or accessories therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/018 for receiving instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/2676 Bronchoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/50 Supports for surgical instruments, e.g. articulated arms
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/53 connected to the surgeon's body, e.g. by a belt
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/57 Accessory clamps
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2/20 Clips, i.e. with gripping action effected solely by the inherent resistance to deformation of the material of the fastening
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2/243 internal, i.e. with spreading action

Abstract

A clip or flexible handles extension facilitate simultaneous retention and operation of a bronchoscope and associated bronchoscopic tools held in one hand to allow operation by a single practitioner. Also provided is an adapter for the connection port of the working channel of a bronchoscope which performs both sealing and tool-locking functions. Also disclosed is a guide sheath arrangement with a reduced flexibility proximal portion to facilitate insertion of tools into the guide sheath.

Claims

1. A sealing and locking adapter for attachment to an access port of a working channel of a bronchoscope to allow insertion and locking of a tool while sealing the access port when not in use, the adapter comprising:

(a) a housing configured for mating with the access port of the working channel of the bronchoscope;

(b) an attachment configuration associated with said housing and configured for attaching said housing to the access port of the working channel;

(c) a sealing arrangement deployed within said housing, said sealing arrangement including an elastomeric valve elastically biased to a normally-closed state wherein said elastomeric valve forms part of a sealing arrangement for resisting passage of air through the access port of the working channel, said elastomeric valve being configured to allow insertion of the tool through said valve and into the working channel; and

(d) a clamping arrangement deployed within said housing, said clamping arrangement including an elastomeric clamping block and a tightening mechanism, said tightening mechanism being manually operable to deform said elastomeric clamping block so as to lock in position the tool inserted through said housing and into the working channel.

2. The adapter of claim 1, wherein said elastomeric clamping block is formed as a substantially cylindrical collar with a central clamping bore for passage of the tool.

3. The adapter of claim 2, wherein said central clamping bore features at least one inwardly projecting ridge.

4. The adapter of claim 2, wherein said substantially cylindrical collar has at least one conical surface portion, said tightening mechanism including an axially displaceable element deployed for engaging said at least one conical surface so as to apply an inward locking pressure on said central clamping bore.

5. The adapter of claim 1, wherein said elastomeric valve and said elastomeric clamping block are implemented as a unitary elastomeric insert deployed within said housing.

6. The adapter of claim 1, wherein said elastomeric valve is implemented as an elastomeric membrane cut along a slit.

7. A clip for temporarily retaining a substantially cylindrical body portion of an accessory in predefined relation to a handle of a bronchoscope, the clip comprising:

(a) an outer bracket configured for circumscribing at least 180°

around the handle of the bronchoscope;

(b) a flexible clamping portion deployed within said outer bracket and circumscribing at least 180°

around the handle of the bronchoscope;

(c) a tightening mechanism associated with said outer bracket and configured to flex at least part of said flexible clamping portion inwards relative to said outer bracket so as to clamp the clip onto the handle of the bronchoscope; and

(d) a pair of resilient jaws interconnected with at least one of said outer bracket and said flexible clamping portion, said pair of resilient jaws being configured for gripping an accessory.

8. The clip of claim 7, further comprising a resilient insert deployed within said clamping portion.

9. The clip of claim 7, wherein said pair of resilient jaws is integrally formed with said flexible clamping portion.

10. The clip of claim 7, wherein said pair of resilient jaws is configured to grip the substantially cylindrical body portion of the accessory substantially perpendicular to a direction of elongation of the bronchoscope handle.

11. The clip of claim 7, wherein said flexible clamping portion circumscribes at least about 200°

around the handle of the bronchoscope.

12. The clip of claim 7, wherein said flexible clamping portion circumscribes no more than about 250°

around the handle of the bronchoscope.

13. A wrap-around handle extension for use with a bronchoscope handle, the wrap-around handle extension comprising:

(a) a flexible wrap-around layer provided with complementary fastening arrangements deployed so as to form a conical sleeve for holding the bronchoscope handle; and

(b) a hand loop associated with said flexible wrap-around layer and configured for receiving the hand of a user to allow suspension of said conical sleeve from the hand of the user.

14. The handle extension of claim 13, wherein said complementary fastening arrangements are implemented as complementary regions of a Velcro fastening arrangement.

15. The handle extension of claim 13, further comprising an accessory suspension strap associated with said flexible wrap-around layer and configured for suspending an accessory from said conical sleeve.

16. The handle extension for claim 15, wherein said accessory suspension strap is configured with a releasable fastening configuration to form a releasable suspension loop.

17. A sheath for deployment via a working channel of a bronchoscope for directing a tool to a previously identified position, the sheath comprising:

(a) a primary sheath portion extending along a major portion of a length of said sheath, said primary sheath portion having a first degree of flexibility; and

(b) a reduced flexibility proximal sheath portion, said proximal sheath portion and said primary sheath portion together defining a contiguous inner lumen, said proximal sheath portion having a lower degree of flexibility than said primary sheath portion.

18. The sheath of claim 17, wherein said primary sheath portion is implemented as a tube formed from a first material, and wherein said proximal sheath portion is implemented as a continuation of said tube formed from said first material circumscribed by a reinforcing sleeve of a second material.

19. The sheath of claim 17, further comprising a distal sheath portion forming a contiguous inner lumen with said primary sheath portion, said distal sheath portion having a higher degree of flexibility than said primary sheath portion.

20. The sheath of claim 17, further comprising a proximal end piece mechanically associated with a proximal end of said proximal sheath portion, said proximal end piece defining a conical insertion guide for guiding a tool into said inner lumen.