Positioning System for Manipulating a Treatment Instrument at the End of a Medical Device

• US 20080021269A1
• Filed: 07/18/2007
• Published: 01/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brian Tinkham, Kevin Richardson
• Original Assignee: Brian Tinkham, Kevin Richardson
• Inventors: Tinkham, Brian, Richardson, Kevin
• Granted Patent: US 9,427,139 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/104
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00098 Deflecting means for inserted tools
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0052 Constructional details of control elements, e.g. handles
• 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, and defining a lumen extending from the proximal end to an aperture at the distal end; and

a positioning mechanism positioned at the distal end of the flexible tube proximate the aperture, the positioning mechanism configured for movement through at least two degrees of freedom to transmit force to a treatment instrument extending through the lumen and to control a direction at which a treatment instrument extends from the aperture.

2. The medical device of claim 1, wherein 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 2, wherein the positioning mechanism is configured for lateral displacement within the recess and along the pin.

4. The medical device of claim 3, wherein the positioning mechanism is configured for longitudinal displacement within the recess.

5. The medical device of claim 4, wherein the positioning mechanism includes an elongated slot extending therethrough that receives the pin such that the positioning mechanism is configured for longitudinal movement relative to the pin.

6. The medical device of claim 5, wherein a resilient sponge material is included within a portion of the elongated slot such that the positioning mechanism returns to a resting longitudinal position when longitudinally directed actuation forces are no longer applied to the positioning mechanism.

7. The medical device of claim 4, wherein the positioning mechanism is configured for angular displacement through combined lateral and longitudinal displacement of the positioning mechanism.

8. The medical device of claim 7, wherein the pin comprises a resilient, flexible material such that the positioning mechanism is configured for further angular displacement through combined lateral and longitudinal displacement of the positioning mechanism.

9. The medical device of claim 3, wherein the positioning mechanism is configured for lateral displacement in a first direction through actuation of a pull wire connected to a first side of the positioning mechanism.

10. The medical device of claim 9, further comprising a spring connected at one end to a second side of the positioning mechanism, opposite the first side of the positioning mechanism, and connected at another end to the flexible tube such that after actuation of the pull wire the positioning mechanism returns to a resting position.

11. The medical device of claim 9, wherein the positioning mechanism is configured for lateral displacement in a second direction, opposite the first direction, through actuation of a pull wire connected to a second side of the positioning mechanism, opposite the first side of the positioning mechanism.

12. The medical device of claim 11, wherein the pull wires connected to the first and second sides of the positioning mechanism extend laterally from the positioning mechanism and wrap around and extend proximally from posts located within the recess.

13. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the positioning mechanism includes a concave surface configured to maintain contact with a treatment instrument extended distally beyond the lumen.

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

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

16. The medical device of claim 15, wherein the positioning mechanism is rotatable about three orthogonal axes.

17. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the positioning mechanism comprises a roller rotatable relative to the aperture, the roller including a lumen therethrough configured for receiving a treatment instrument extended distally beyond the lumen.

18. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the positioning mechanism comprises a movable positioning sleeve having a roller positioned on the distal end thereof, the roller being rotatable relative to the sleeve and including a lumen therethrough configured for receiving a treatment instrument extended distally beyond the lumen.

19. The medical device of claim 17, wherein a proximal end of the lumen through the roller is configured to maintain communication with the lumen of the elongated flexible tube when the roller rotates relative to the aperture.

20. The medical device of claim 17, wherein the lumen through the roller has a distal opening more narrow than a proximal opening.

21. The medical device of claim 17, further comprising a sleeve extending within the lumen of the roller and movable within and distally beyond the lumen of the roller.

22. The medical device of claim 17, wherein the sleeve is configured for receiving a treatment instrument and imparting rotation to the treatment instrument upon rotation of the sleeve.

23. The medical device of claim 17, wherein the roller is configured for rotation about three orthogonal axes.

24. The medical device of claim 23, wherein rotation of the roller relative to the aperture is achieved through the actuation of pull wires fixedly attached to the roller.

25. The medical device of claim 24, further comprising a wedge having an inclined surface positioned distally of the roller and wherein the rotation of the roller relative to the aperture is achieved through proximal movement of the inclined wedge surface beneath the roller.

26. The medical device of claim 25, further comprising a movable base positioned distally of the roller and wherein the rotation of the roller relative to the aperture is achieved through longitudinal and lateral movement of the base beneath the roller.

27. The medical device of claim 24, wherein attachment of each pull wire to the roller occurs at a substantially equal distance from a distal point of exit of the lumen of the roller.

28. The medical device of claim 24, wherein at least three pull wires are fixedly attached to the roller.

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

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

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

32. A medical device, comprising:

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

a deflection mechanism housed within the distal end of the flexible tube opposite the aperture, the deflection mechanism being configured for rotation about a pin extending within the recess and for lateral displacement along the pin.

33. The medical device of claim 32, wherein the deflection mechanism is configured for longitudinal displacement within the recess.

34. The medical device of claim 33, wherein the deflection mechanism includes an elongated slot extending therethrough that receives the pin such that the deflection mechanism is configured for longitudinal movement relative to the pin.

35. The medical device of claim 34, wherein a resilient sponge material is included within a portion of the elongated slot such that the deflection mechanism returns to a resting longitudinal position when longitudinally directed actuation forces are no longer applied to the deflection mechanism.

36. The medical device of claim 33, wherein the deflection mechanism is configured for angular displacement through combined lateral and longitudinal displacement of the deflection mechanism.

37. The medical device of claim 36, wherein the pin comprises a resilient, flexible material such that the deflection mechanism is configured for further angular displacement through combined lateral and longitudinal displacement of the deflection mechanism.

38. The medical device of claim 32, wherein the deflection mechanism includes a concave surface configured to maintain contact with a treatment instrument extended distally beyond the lumen.

39. The medical device of claim 32, wherein the aperture is a side facing aperture opening laterally along the flexible tube.

40. The medical device of claim 32, wherein the deflection mechanism is configured for lateral displacement in a first direction through actuation of a pull wire connected to a first side of the deflection mechanism.

41. The medical device of claim 40, further comprising a spring connected at one end to a second side of the positioning mechanism, opposite the first side of the positioning mechanism, and connected at another end to the flexible tube such that after actuation of the pull wire the positioning mechanism returns to a resting position.

42. The medical device of claim 40, wherein the deflection mechanism is configured for lateral displacement in a second direction, opposite the first direction, through actuation of a pull wire connected to a second side of the deflection mechanism, opposite the first side of the deflection mechanism.

43. The medical device of claim 42, wherein the pull wires connected to the first and second sides of the deflection mechanism extend laterally from the deflection mechanism and wrap around and extend proximally from posts located within the recess.

44. A medical device, comprising:

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

a roller positioned at the distal end of the flexible tube and rotatable relative to the aperture, the roller including a lumen therethrough configured for receiving a treatment instrument extended distally beyond the lumen.

45. The medical device of claim 44, further comprising a movable sleeve and wherein the roller is positioned on the distal end thereof, the roller being rotatable relative to the sleeve.

46. The medical device of claim 44, further comprising a sleeve extending within the lumen of the roller and movable within and distally beyond the lumen in the roller.

47. The medical device of claim 46, wherein the sleeve is configured for receiving a treatment instrument and imparting rotation to the treatment instrument upon rotation of the sleeve.

48. The medical device of claim 44, wherein the roller is configured for rotation about three orthogonal axes.

49. The medical device of claim 44, wherein rotation of the roller relative to the aperture is achieved through the actuation of pull wires fixedly attached to the roller.

50. The medical device of claim 44, further comprising a wedge having an inclined surface positioned distally of the roller and wherein the rotation of the roller relative to the aperture is achieved through proximal movement of the inclined wedge surface beneath the roller.

51. The medical device of claim 44, further comprising a movable base positioned distally of the roller and wherein the rotation of the roller relative to the aperture is achieved through longitudinal and lateral movement of the base beneath the roller.

52. The medical device of claim 49, wherein attachment of each pull wire to the roller occurs at a substantially equal distance from a distal point of exit of the lumen of the roller.

53. The medical device of claim 49, wherein at least three pull wires are fixedly attached to the roller.

54. The medical device of claim 44, wherein the medical device is an endoscope that includes visualization components therein.

55. The medical device of claim 44, wherein the medical device is an endoscope that includes illumination components therein.

56. The medical device of claim 44, wherein the medical device is an endoscope that includes an additional positioning mechanism for achieving controlled deflection of the elongated flexible tube.

57. The medical device of claim 44, wherein the roller has a spherical shape.

58. The medical device of claim 44, wherein a proximal end of the lumen through the roller is configured to maintain communication with the lumen of the elongated flexible tube when the roller rotates relative to the aperture.

59. The medical device of claim 44, wherein the lumen through the roller has a distal opening more narrow than a proximal opening.