Gastrointestinal Tool Over Guiding Element

• US 20080167524A1
• Filed: 02/10/2005
• Published: 07/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/2003
• 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 8,602,974 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/115
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00082 Balloons
• 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 1/00156 using self propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/01 Guiding arrangements therefore
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/31 for the rectum, e.g. proctoscopes, sigmoidoscopes , colonoscopes

Abstract

Gastrointestinal apparatus (10) is provided, including a guiding element (16) and an inflatable mechanical device (96), adapted to pull the guiding element (16) through a colon of a patient. A gastrointestinal tool (12) is shaped to define a bore (14) therethrough, and the guiding element (16) is adapted to pass through the bore (14). Other embodiments are also described.

Claims

1. Gastrointestinal (GI) apparatus comprising:

a guiding element;

an inflatable mechanical device, adapted to pull the guiding element through a colon of a patient;

a gastrointestinal tool shaped to define a bore therethrough, the guiding element passing through the bore; and

a biologically-compatible-fluid pressure source,

wherein the inflatable mechanical device comprises a piston head coupled to a distal portion of the guiding element and adapted to;

be inflated so as to form a pressure seal with a wall of the colon when the guiding element 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.

2. The gastrointestinal apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the guiding element comprises a distal stop that prevents movement of the gastrointestinal tool therepast.

3. The gastrointestinal apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the gastrointestinal tool is shaped to define a chamfer for facilitating passage through a lumen.

4. The gastrointestinal apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the gastrointestinal tool comprises a cutting tool.

5. The gastrointestinal apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the gastrointestinal tool comprises a sampling device.

6. The gastrointestinal apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the gastrointestinal tool comprises a magnetic device.

7. The gastrointestinal apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the guiding element has a diameter of at least 4 mm.

8. The gastrointestinal apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the gastrointestinal tool comprises an imaging device.

9. The gastrointestinal apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the imaging device comprises an imaging device selected from the group consisting of:

a CCD camera, a CMOS camera, an illumination device, a vision device, an ultrasound sensor, and an x-ray emitter.

10. The gastrointestinal apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the gastrointestinal tool comprises a catheter that slides over the guiding element.

11. The gastrointestinal apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the catheter comprises a lumen for passing therethrough an item selected from the group consisting of:

an instrument and a fluid.

13. The gastrointestinal apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the piston head is adapted to be in direct contact with the wall of the colon when the guiding element is in the colon.

14. The gastrointestinal apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the piston head is shaped to define a proximal lobe and a distal lobe, the lobes being in fluid communication with each other.

15. The gastrointestinal apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the gastrointestinal apparatus is adapted to facilitate distal advancement of the piston head by facilitating passage of fluid out of the colon from a distal site within the colon distal to the piston head.

16. The gastrointestinal apparatus according to claim 15, comprising a vent tube, wherein the gastrointestinal apparatus is adapted to facilitate the passage of the fluid out of the colon from the distal site within the colon through the vent tube.

17. The gastrointestinal apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the vent tube is adapted to passively permit the passage of the fluid out of the colon from the distal site within the colon.

18. The gastrointestinal apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the vent tube is adapted to be coupled to a suction source, whereby to actively facilitate the passage of the fluid out of the colon from the distal site within the colon.

24. The gastrointestinal apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the gastrointestinal tool comprises a coupling member shaped to define the bore, the guiding element passing through the bore.

25. The gastrointestinal apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the coupling member is positioned inwards of an outer contour of the gastrointestinal tool.

26. The gastrointestinal apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the coupling member is positioned outside an outer contour of the gastrointestinal tool.

27. The gastrointestinal apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the gastrointestinal tool comprises a radioactive device comprising an item selected from the group consisting of:

a radioactive tube, radioactive needle, radioactive seed, and a radioactive capsule.

28. The gastrointestinal apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the gastrointestinal tool comprises an iontophoresis drug delivery device.

29. The gastrointestinal apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the gastrointestinal tool comprises an injection device for injection of a substance.

30. The gastrointestinal apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the gastrointestinal tool comprises a photodynamic therapy/diagnosis device.

31. The gastrointestinal apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the gastrointestinal tool comprises a hyperthermic therapy/diagnosis device.

32. The gastrointestinal apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the gastrointestinal tool comprises an ultrasonic therapy/diagnosis device.

33. The gastrointestinal apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the gastrointestinal tool comprises an optical biopsy device.

34. The gastrointestinal apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the guiding element has a diameter of at least 4 mm.

35. The gastrointestinal apparatus according to claim 1, comprising one or more clips, adapted to be clipped to the guiding element and the gastrointestinal tool, to facilitate sliding of the tool with respect to the guiding element.

36. The gastrointestinal apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a propulsion device adapted to propel the gastrointestinal tool along the guiding element.

37. The gastrointestinal apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a pulley, coupled to the gastrointestinal tool.

39. The gastrointestinal apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the gastrointestinal tool is adapted to be actively advanced along the guiding element.

40. The gastrointestinal apparatus according to claim 39, comprising one or more wheels, adapted to create a functional engagement of the guiding element and the gastrointestinal tool, whereby to actively advance the tool along the guiding element.

41. The gastrointestinal apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an anchoring device adapted to anchor the guiding element at a position in a gastrointestinal tract.

42. The gastrointestinal apparatus according to claim 41, wherein the anchoring device comprises an inflatable balloon.

12. (canceled)

19-23. -23. (canceled)

38. (canceled)

43-49. -49. (canceled)

50. A method comprising:

inflating a mechanical device to pull a guiding element through a colon of a patient; and

advancing a gastrointestinal tool along the guiding element,

wherein the mechanical device includes a piston head, and

wherein inflating the mechanical device comprises;

inflating the piston head to form a pressure seal between the piston head and a wall of the colon; and

advancing the piston head distally through the body lumen by applying fluid pressure to an external surface of the piston head.

51. The method according to claim 50, wherein advancing the gastrointestinal tool comprises causing the guiding element to pass through a bore defined by the gastrointestinal tool.

52. The method according to claim 50, wherein the gastrointestinal tool includes a coupling element, a portion of which is positioned adjacent to the tool and defines a bore therethrough, and wherein advancing the gastrointestinal tool comprises causing the guiding element to pass through the bore.

53. The method according to claim 50, wherein pulling the guiding element comprises pulling the guiding element to a vicinity of a furthest desired location of the gastrointestinal tool in the colon, and wherein advancing the gastrointestinal tool comprises advancing the gastrointestinal tool after the guiding element has been pulled to the vicinity of the desired location.

55. The method according to claim 50, wherein advancing the piston head comprises facilitating passage of fluid out of the lumen from a site within the lumen distal to the piston head.

56. The method according to claim 50, wherein forming the pressure seal comprises placing the piston head in direct contact with the wall of the colon.

54. (canceled)

57-59. -59. (canceled)