MODULAR AND COOPERATIVE MEDICAL DEVICES AND RELATED SYSTEMS AND METHODS

• US 20090048612A1
• Filed: 08/15/2008
• Published: 02/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska
• Original Assignee: Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska
• Inventors: Lehman, Amy, Rentschler, Mark, Farritor, Shane M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,974,440 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/130
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/302 specifically adapted for manipulations within body cavities, e.g. within abdominal or thoracic cavities
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/372 Details of monitor hardware
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/30 Surgical robots

Abstract

The various embodiments disclosed herein relate to modular medical devices, including various devices with detachable modular components and various devices with pivotally attached modular components. Additional embodiments relate to procedures in which various of the devices are used cooperatively. Certain embodiments of the medical devices are robotic in vivo devices.

Claims

1. A modular medical device system, the system comprising:

(a) a first modular component configured to be disposed inside a cavity of a patient, the first modular component comprising;

(i) a first body;

(ii) a first operational component associated with the first body; and

(iii) at least one first coupling component associated with the first body; and

(b) a second modular component configured to be disposed inside a cavity of a patient, the second modular component comprising;

(i) a second body;

(ii) a second operational component operably coupled to the second body; and

(iii) at least one second coupling component associated with the second body, the at least one second coupling component configured to be coupleable with the at least one first coupling component.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first operational component is chosen from a group consisting of an imaging component, an operational arm component, a sensor component, and a lighting component.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the second operational component is chosen from a group consisting of an imaging component, an operational arm component, a sensor component, and a lighting component.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a third modular component configured to be disposed inside a cavity of a patient, the third modular component comprising:

(a) a third body;

(b) a third operational component operably coupled to the third body; and

(c) at least one third coupling component associated with the third body, the at least one third coupling component configured to be coupleable with the at least one first coupling component and the at least one second coupling component.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the third operational component is chosen from a group consisting of an imaging component, an operational arm component, a sensor component, and a lighting component.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the first modular component is disposed between the second and third modular components, wherein the first operational component comprises an imaging component, wherein the second and third operational components comprise operational arm components.

7. The system of claim 4, wherein the first, second, and third modular components are coupled in a substantially triangular configuration, wherein the first operational component comprises an imaging component, wherein the second and third operational components comprise operational arm components.

8. A modular medical device system comprising:

(a) a body configured to be disposed inside a cavity of a patient;

(b) a first modular component coupleable to the body at a first location and configured to be disposed inside the cavity of the patient, the first modular component comprising a first operational component; and

(c) a second modular component coupleable to the body at a second location and configured to be disposed inside the cavity of the patient, the second modular component comprising a second operational component.

9. The device of claim 8, further comprising a third modular component coupleable to the body at a third location and configured to be disposed inside the cavity of the patient, the third modular component comprising a third operational component.

10. The device of claim 9, further comprising a fourth modular component coupleable to the body at a fourth location and configured to be disposed inside the cavity of the patient, the fourth modular component comprising a fourth operational component.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the first, second, third, and fourth operational components are all separately chosen from a group consisting of an imaging component, an operational arm component, a sensor component, and a lighting component.

12. A segmented medical device, the system comprising:

(a) a first body segment configured to be disposed inside a cavity of a patient, the segment comprising;

(i) a first outer body;

(ii) a first inner body rotatably disposed within the first outer body;

(iii) a first operational component associated with the first inner body; and

(iv) a first end of the first outer body comprising a first mating component;

(b) a second body segment configured to be disposed inside a cavity of a patient, the segment comprising;

(i) a second outer body;

(ii) a second inner body rotatably disposed within the second outer body;

(iii) a second operational component associated with the second inner body; and

(iv) a first end of the second outer body comprising a first pivotal coupling whereby the second body segment is pivotally coupled to the first body segment;

(c) a third body segment configured to be disposed inside a cavity of a patient, the segment comprising;

(i) a third outer body;

(ii) a third inner body rotatably disposed within the third outer body;

(iii) a third operational component associated with the third inner body; and

(iv) a first end of the third outer body comprising a second pivotal coupling whereby the third body segment is pivotally coupled to the second body segment; and

(v) a second end of the third outer body comprising a second mating component configured to be coupleable with the first mating component.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein:

(a) the first outer body comprises a first outer opening and the first inner body comprises a first inner opening, wherein the first inner body is rotatable to position the first outer opening and first inner opening in communication, whereby the first operational component is accessible;

(b) the second outer body comprises a second outer opening and the second inner body comprises a second inner opening, wherein the second inner body is rotatable to position the second outer opening and second inner opening in communication, whereby the second operational component is accessible; and

(c) the third outer body comprises a third outer opening and the third inner body comprises a third inner opening, wherein the third inner body is rotatable to position the third outer opening and third inner opening in communication, whereby the third operational component is accessible.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein:

(a) an interior of the first outer body is configured to be fluidically sealed when the first outer opening and the first inner opening are not in communication;

(b) an interior of the second outer body is configured to be fluidically sealed when the second outer opening and the second inner opening are not in communication; and

(c) an interior of the third outer body is configured to be fluidically sealed when the third outer opening and the third inner opening are not in communication.

15. The device of claim 12, further comprising a force mechanism associated with the first and second pivotal couplings, the force mechanism configured to urge the first and second mating components together.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the force mechanism comprises a first spring component operably coupled at the first pivotal coupling and a second spring component operably coupled at the first pivotal coupling.

17. The device of claim 12, wherein the first, second, and third operational components are all separately chosen from a group consisting of an imaging component, an operational arm component, a sensor component, and a lighting component.

18. The device of claim 12, wherein

(a) the first operational component comprises a first operational arm component;

(b) the second operational component comprises a lighting component and an imaging component; and

(c) the third operational component comprises a second operational arm component.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein the first operational arm component comprises a cautery and the second operational arm component comprises a grasper.

20. A medical system comprising:

(a) the segmented medical device of claim 12, the device comprising

(i) an imaging component;

(ii) an operational arm component; and

(iii) at least one device magnet; and

(b) an external visualization controller configured to be positioned outside the cavity of the patient, the controller comprising;

(i) an image display component in communication with the imaging component;

(ii) at least one arm controller component in communication with the operational arm component; and

(iii) at least one external magnet configured to magnetically couple with the at least one device magnet.