CLEANING DEVICE AND METHODS

• US 20090036733A1
• Filed: 07/30/2007
• Published: 02/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: WALLACE, MICHAEL, Utley, David S., Garabedian, Robert, Gerberding, Brent
• Granted Patent: US 8,273,012 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/104
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00234 for minimally invasive surgery A61B17/0218, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/00 Surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body eye surgery A61F9/007; ear surgery A61F11/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/04 by heating by applying electromagnetic radiation A61B18/18; hyperthermia using electric or magnetic fields, radiation or ultrasound A61N
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320008 Scrapers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320012 Brushes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/32008 preventing clogging of suction channel

Abstract

An apparatus for treating tissue within a lumen may include a therapeutic or diagnostic instrument. A cleaning device may also be supported by the instrument. The cleaning device has a portion of a cleaning surface positioned proximal to the distal end of the cleaning device.

Claims

1. An apparatus for treating tissue within a lumen, comprising:

a therapeutic or diagnostic instrument; and

a cleaning device supported by the instrument having a portion of a cleaning surface positioned proximal to the distal end of the cleaning device.

2. The apparatus for treating tissue within a lumen according to claim 1 wherein the cleaning device comprises a porous material.

3. The apparatus for treating tissue within a lumen according to claim 1 wherein the cleaning device comprises a porous material having open cells.

4. The apparatus for treating tissue within a lumen according to claim 1 wherein a portion of the cleaning device comprises a blunt edge.

5. The apparatus for treating tissue within a lumen according to claim 4 wherein the blunt edge is supported by one or more of a frame, a ridge or a ring.

6. The apparatus for treating tissue within a lumen according to claim 1 wherein the cleaning device is shaped to mount onto the instrument.

7. The apparatus for treating tissue within a lumen according to claim 1 wherein the cleaning device comprises an adhesive surface used to secure the cleaning device to the instrument.

8. The apparatus for treating tissue within a lumen according to claim 1 further comprising:

a sheath around at least portion of the cleaning device.

9. The apparatus for treating tissue within a lumen according to claim 1 further comprising:

a chamber in the instrument for cleaning the cleaning device.

10. The apparatus for treating tissue within a lumen according to claim 1 wherein the therapeutic or diagnostic instrument is an endoscope.

11. An apparatus for treating tissue within a lumen according to claim 1 wherein the cleaning device remains in a stowed condition during movement to a treatment site.

12. An apparatus for treating tissue within a lumen according to claim 1 wherein the cleaning device is movable between a stowed condition adjacent the instrument and a deployed condition for engaging tissue on the lumen.

13. An apparatus for treating tissue within a lumen according to claim 11 wherein the diameter of the cleaning device in the stowed condition is less than the diameter of the cleaning device in the deployed condition.

14. An apparatus for treating tissue within a lumen according to claim 1 wherein the cleaning device is formed from a compressible material.

15. An apparatus for treating tissue within a lumen according to claim 1 wherein the cleaning device is formed from a compressible, porous material having at least one blunt edge on the exterior of the device.

16. An apparatus for treating tissue within a lumen according to claim 1 wherein the cleaning device is a brush.

17. An apparatus for treating tissue within a lumen according to claim 1 wherein the cleaning device is a balloon.

18. An apparatus for treating tissue within a lumen according to claim 17 wherein the balloon comprises a surface textured for tissue removal.

19. An apparatus for treating tissue within a lumen according to claim 1 wherein the cleaning device is releasably joined to the exterior surface of the instrument.

20. An apparatus for treating tissue within a lumen according to claim 18 wherein the cleaning device is shaped to conform to the outer surface of a portion of the instrument.

21. The apparatus for treating tissue within a lumen according to claim 1 further comprising:

a cavity in the cleaning device for storing a portion of the tissue from the lumen.

22. The apparatus for treating tissue within a lumen according to claim 21 wherein the cavity is a pore of the cleaning device.

23. An apparatus for treating tissue within a lumen according to claim 1 further comprising:

another cleaning surface on the cleaning device that is non-continuous with the cleaning surface.

24. The apparatus for treating tissue within a lumen according to claim 23 wherein the cleaning device has a proximal end and a distal end and the proximal end has a circumference that nearly matches the circumference of the instrument and the distal end that has a circumference larger than the instrument.

25. The apparatus for treating tissue within a lumen according to claim 23 wherein the cleaning surface is positioned on the distal end of the cleaning device and the another cleaning surface is on a tapered surface extending from the distal end of the cleaning device.

26. The apparatus for treating tissue within a lumen according to claim 23 further comprising:

a recess between the cleaning surface and the another cleaning surface.

27. The apparatus for treating tissue within a lumen according to claim 23 wherein the cleaning surface and the another cleaning surface are rings at least partially extending about the instrument.

28. The apparatus for treating tissue within a lumen according to claim 27 wherein at least one of the rings is helically arranged around the instrument.

29. The apparatus for treating tissue within a lumen according to claim 27 further comprising:

a compressible element between the instrument and the rings.

30. The apparatus for treating tissue within a lumen according to claim 29 wherein the compressible element comprises a porous material.

31. The apparatus for treating tissue within a lumen according to claim 23 wherein the cleaning surface or the another cleaning surface comprises an edge.

32. The apparatus for treating tissue within a lumen according to claim 31 wherein the edge is supported by one or more of a frame, a ridge or a ring.

33. The apparatus for treating tissue within a lumen according to claim 23 wherein the cleaning device is shaped to mount onto the instrument.

34. The apparatus for treating tissue within a lumen according to claim 23 further comprising:

an elastic mounting component on the cleaning device adapted and configured to secure the cleaning device to the instrument.

35. The apparatus for treating tissue within a lumen according to claim 23 further comprising:

a sheath around at least portion of the cleaning device that holds the cleaning surface or the another cleaning surface against the instrument.

36. An apparatus for treating tissue within a lumen according to claim 23 wherein the cleaning device is moveable between a stowed condition where at least one cleaning surface is against the instrument and a deployed condition where at least one cleaning surface extends from the instrument.

37. The apparatus for treating tissue within a lumen according to claim 23 wherein at least one of the cleaning surface or the another cleaning surface is on the sidewall of the instrument.

38. An apparatus for treating tissue within a lumen according to claim 1 wherein the cleaning surface positioned along the longitudinal axis of the cleaning device.

39. The apparatus for treating tissue within a lumen according to claim 38 wherein the cleaning surface is a ring at least partially extending about the instrument.

40. The apparatus for treating tissue within a lumen according to claim 38 wherein the cleaning device comprises a compressible element.

41. The apparatus for treating tissue within a lumen according to claim 40 wherein the compressible element comprises a porous material.

42. The apparatus for treating tissue within a lumen according to claim 38 wherein the cleaning surface comprises an edge.

43. The apparatus for treating tissue within a lumen according to claim 42 wherein the edge is supported by one or more of a frame, a ridge or a ring.