Pressure-Propelled System For Body Lumen
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus (10) is provided for use with a biologically-compatible-fluid pressure source (16), the apparatus (10) including an elongate carrier (26), adapted to be inserted through a proximal opening (18) of a body lumen (20), and a piston head (30) coupled to a distal portion of the carrier (26). The piston head (30) is adapted to form a pressure seal with a wall of the lumen (20) after the carrier (26) has been inserted into the lumen (20), and to be advanced distally through the body lumen (20) in response to pressure from the fluid pressure source (16). The apparatus (10) is configured to facilitate distal advancement of the piston head (30) by facilitating passage of fluid out of the lumen (20) from a site within the lumen (20) distal to the piston head (30). The apparatus (10) additionally includes an optical system (32), coupled to the carrier (26) in a vicinity of the distal portion, the optical system (32) having distal and proximal ends. The optical system (32) includes an image sensor (232), positioned at the proximal end of the optical system (32); an optical member (234) having distal and proximal ends, and shaped so as to define a lateral surface, at least a distal portion of which is curved, configured to provide omnidirectional lateral viewing; and a convex mirror (240), coupled to the distal end of the optical member (234), wherein the optical member (234) and the mirror (240) have respective rotational shapes about a common rotation axis.
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Citations
392 Claims
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1-56. -56. (canceled)
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57. Apparatus for use with a biologically-compatible-fluid pressure source, comprising:
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an elongate carrier, adapted to be inserted through a proximal opening of a body lumen; and a piston head coupled to a distal portion of the carrier and adapted to; form a pressure seal with a wall of the lumen after the carrier has been inserted into the lumen, and be withdrawn proximally through the body lumen in response to pressure from the fluid pressure source. - View Dependent Claims (58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 69, 70, 74, 78, 82, 381, 382, 389)
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67-68. -68. (canceled)
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71-73. -73. (canceled)
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75-77. -77. (canceled)
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79-81. -81. (canceled)
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83-124. -124. (canceled)
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125. Apparatus for use with a biologically-compatible-fluid pressure source, comprising:
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an elongate carrier, adapted to be inserted through a proximal opening of a body lumen; and a distal piston head coupled to a distal portion of the carrier and adapted to; form a pressure seal with a wall of the lumen after the carrier has been inserted into the lumen, and be advanced distally through the body lumen in response to pressure from the fluid pressure source applied to an external surface of the distal piston head. - View Dependent Claims (126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131, 132, 138, 140, 141, 146, 147, 148, 152, 156, 157, 163, 167, 168, 375, 376, 377, 378, 379, 380, 383, 384, 390)
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133-137. -137. (canceled)
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139. (canceled)
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142-145. -145. (canceled)
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149-151. -151. (canceled)
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153-155. -155. (canceled)
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158-162. -162. (canceled)
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164-166. -166. (canceled)
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169-224. -224. (canceled)
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225. A method comprising:
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forming a pressure seal between a wall of a body lumen and a piston head shaped so as to define a proximal lobe and a distal lobe in fluid communication with each other; and advancing the piston head distally through the body liunen by applying fluid pressure to an external surface of the piston head. - View Dependent Claims (226, 227, 228, 229, 385, 391)
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230-238. -238. (canceled)
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239. A method comprising:
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forming a pressure seal between a piston head and a wall of a body lumen; and applying fluid pressure to an external surface of the piston head to withdraw the piston head proximally through the body lumen. - View Dependent Claims (240, 241, 242, 243, 244, 386, 392)
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245-374. -374. (canceled)
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387. Apparatus for use with a biologically-compatible-fluid pressure source, comprising:
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an elongate carrier, adapted to be inserted through a proximal opening of a body lumen; and an inflatable head portion coupled to a distal portion of the carrier and adapted to; be in contact with a wall of the lumen after the carrier has been inserted into the lumen, and be withdrawn proximally through the body lumen in response to pressure from the fluid pressure source applied to an external, distal surface of the inflatable head portion.
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388. Apparatus for use with a biologically-compatible-fluid pressure source, comprising:
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an elongate carrier, adapted to be inserted through a proximal opening of a body lumen; and an inflatable head portion coupled to a distal portion of the carrier and adapted to; be in contact with a wall of the lumen after the carrier has been inserted into the lumen, and be advanced distally through the body lumen in response to pressure from the fluid pressure source applied to-an external, proximal surface of the inflatable head portion.
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Specification