Advancement Techniques For Gastrointestinal Tool With Guiding Element

• US 20080161645A1
• Filed: 02/08/2006
• Published: 07/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: G.I. View Ltd.
• Original Assignee: G.I. View Ltd.
• Inventors: Gross, Yossi, Cabiri, Oz, Goldwasser, Benad
• Granted Patent: US 10,080,481 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/115
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00082 Balloons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00154 using guiding arrangements for insertion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/005 Flexible endoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/2736 Gastroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/31 for the rectum, e.g. proctoscopes, sigmoidoscopes , colonoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00292 mounted on or guided by flexible, e.g. catheter-like, means

Abstract

Gastrointestinal apparatus (200) is provided for use with a fluid pressure source (240). The gastrointestinal apparatus (200) includes a guiding element (214), adapted to be inserted into a colon, and a piston head (220) coupled to a distal portion of the guiding element (214). The piston head (220) is adapted to be inflated to form a first pressure seal between the piston head (220) and a wall of the colon after the guiding element (214) has been inserted into the colon, and be advanced distally through the colon in response to pressure from the fluid pressure source (240) applied to an external surface of the piston head (220). The apparatus (200) further includes a gastrointestinal tool (210) adapted to be advanced along the guiding element (214), and an annular balloon (228) coupled around a distal portion of the gastrointestinal tool (210), the balloon (228) expandable to form a second pressure seal between the distal portion of the gastrointestinal tool (210) and the wall of the colon. Other embodiments are also described.

Claims

1. Gastrointestinal apparatus for use with a fluid pressure source, the gastrointestinal apparatus comprising:

a guiding element, adapted to be inserted into a colon;

a piston head coupled to a distal portion of the guiding element and adapted to;

be inflated to form a first pressure seal between the piston head and a wall of the colon after the guiding element has been inserted into the colon, and

be advanced distally through the colon in response to pressure from the fluid pressure source applied to an external surface of the piston head;

a gastrointestinal tool adapted to be advanced along the guiding element; and

an annular balloon coupled around a distal portion of the gastrointestinal tool, the balloon expandable to form a second pressure seal between the distal portion of the gastrointestinal tool and the wall of the colon.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the gastrointestinal tool is adapted to be advanced along the guiding element when the annular balloon has been at least partially deflated.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the gastrointestinal tool is shaped so as to define a channel therethrough, and wherein the guiding element is shaped to pass through the channel.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the gastrointestinal tool comprises a coupling member shaped so as to define a bore therethrough, and wherein the guiding element is configured to pass through the bore and not to pass through the gastrointestinal tool.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a passageway having proximal and distal ends, the proximal end coupled to the fluid pressure source, and the distal end open to a site between the external surface of the piston head and the annular balloon.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the gastrointestinal tool is shaped so as to define a passageway therethrough having proximal and distal ends, the proximal end coupled to the fluid pressure source, and the distal end open to a site between the external surface of the piston head and the balloon.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a vent tube, adapted to facilitate passage of fluid out of the colon from a site distal to the piston head.

8. Gastrointestinal apparatus for use with an endoscope shaped so as to define a channel therethrough, the gastrointestinal apparatus comprising:

a fluid pressure source; and

a piston head adapted to be coupled to a distal portion of the endoscope, the piston head adapted to;

be inflated so as to form a piston pressure seal between the distal portion of the endoscope and a wall of a colon when the endoscope is in the colon, and be advanced distally through the colon in response to pressure from the fluid pressure source applied to an external surface of the piston head.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, comprising a guide member, adapted to:

be at least partially insertable into a rectum,

permit sliding movement of the endoscope through the guide member, and

create a rectal pressure seal between the guide member and the rectum.

10. The apparatus according to claim 8, comprising a second fluid pressure source, in fluid communication with an interior of the piston head via the channel.

11. The apparatus according to claim 8, comprising a vent tube, adapted to facilitate passage of fluid out of the colon from a site distal to the piston head.

12-15. -15. (canceled)

16. A method comprising:

inserting a guiding element into a colon;

inflating a piston head coupled to a distal portion of the guiding element, to form a first pressure seal between the piston head and a wall of the colon after the guiding element has been inserted into the colon;

inflating an annular balloon coupled around a distal portion of a gastrointestinal tool, to form a second pressure seal between the distal portion of the gastrointestinal tool and the wall of the colon;

advancing the guiding element distally through the colon by applying pressure to an external surface of the piston head; and

advancing the gastrointestinal tool along the guiding element.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein advancing the gastrointestinal tool along the guiding element comprises at least partially deflating the annular balloon, and advancing the gastrointestinal tool along the guiding element while the annular balloon is at least partially deflated.

18. The method according to claim 16, wherein advancing the gastrointestinal tool along the guiding element comprises passing the guiding element through a channel defined in the gastrointestinal tool.

19. The method according to claim 16, wherein advancing the gastrointestinal tool along the guiding element comprises passing the guiding element through a bore defined in a coupling member coupled to the tool, and not passing the guiding element through the gastrointestinal tool.

20. The method according to claim 16, wherein applying the pressure comprises applying the pressure via a passageway having proximal and distal ends, the proximal end coupled to a fluid pressure source, and the distal end open to a site between the external surface of the piston head and the annular balloon.

21. The method according to claim 16, wherein applying the pressure comprises applying the pressure via a passageway defined in the gastrointestinal tool, the passageway having proximal and distal ends, the proximal end coupled to a fluid pressure source, and the distal end open to a site between the external surface of the piston head and the balloon.

22. The method according to claim 16, wherein advancing the guiding element comprises facilitating passage of fluid out of the colon from a site distal to the piston head.

23. The method according to claim 16, wherein advancing the guiding element and advancing the gastrointestinal tool along the guiding element comprise alternatingly advancing the guiding element and the gastrointestinal tool along the guiding element until the gastrointestinal tool is advanced to a desired site in the colon.

24. A method comprising:

inserting, into a colon, an endoscope shaped so as to define a channel therethrough;

inflating a piston head coupled to a distal portion of the endoscope, to form a piston pressure seal between the distal portion of the endoscope and a wall of the colon when the endoscope is in the colon; and

advancing the piston head distally through the colon by applying pressure to an external surface of the piston head.

25. The method according to claim 24, comprising:

at least partially inserting a guide member into a rectum;

sliding the endoscope through the guide member; and

creating a rectal pressure seal between the guide member and the rectum.

26. The method according to claim 24, wherein inflating the piston head comprises applying pressure to an interior of the piston head via the channel.

27. The method according to claim 24, wherein advancing the piston head comprises facilitating passage of fluid out of the colon from a site distal to the piston head.

28-31. -31. (canceled)

32. A method comprising:

(a) inflating a mechanical device disposed in a colon of a patient;

(b) pulling a guiding element through the colon using the inflated mechanical device;

(c) advancing a gastrointestinal tool along the guiding element; and

(d) repeating steps (b) and (c), until the gastrointestinal tool is advanced to a desired site in the colon.

33. The method according to claim 32, wherein inflating the mechanical device comprises forming a first pressure seal between the mechanical device and a wall of the colon, and wherein pulling the guiding element comprises advancing the mechanical device distally through the colon by applying pressure to an external surface of the mechanical device.

34. The method according to claim 33, wherein advancing the mechanical device comprises facilitating passage of fluid out of the colon from a site within the lumen distal to the mechanical device.

35. The method according to claim 33, wherein applying the pressure to the external surface of the mechanical device comprises inflating an annular balloon coupled around a distal portion of the gastrointestinal tool, to form a second pressure seal between the distal portion of the gastrointestinal tool and the wall of the colon, 36. The method according to claim 35, wherein advancing the gastrointestinal tool comprises:

deflating the annular balloon; and

after deflating the annular balloon, advancing the gastrointestinal tool, and wherein pulling the guiding element through the colon comprises;

inflating the annular balloon to form the second pressure seal; and

after inflating the annular balloon, pulling the guiding element through the colon using the inflated mechanical device.

37. The method according to claim 35, wherein advancing the gastrointestinal tool comprises advancing the gastrointestinal tool while maintaining the second pressure seal.

38. A method comprising:

facilitating advancing of an endoscope through a colon by applying a pressure via a channel of the endoscope; and

after the endoscope has been advanced to a desired site in the colon, using the channel to facilitate performance of a procedure.

39. The method according to claim 38, wherein applying the pressure comprises applying the pressure to inflate a piston head coupled to a distal portion of the endoscope.

40. The method according to claim 39, and comprising applying a pressure to an external surface of the piston head.