ENDOSCOPE INCLUDING A MULTIFUNCTION CONDUCTOR

• US 20090163769A1
• Filed: 12/17/2008
• Published: 06/25/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Robertson, David W., Shukhat, Victor
• Granted Patent: US 8,366,603 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/109
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00009 of image signals during a use of endoscope
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00045 Display arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00114 Electrical cables in or with an endoscope
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0052 Constructional details of control elements, e.g. handles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0055 Constructional details of insertion parts, e.g. vertebral elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0125 Endoscope within endoscope
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/018 for receiving instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/04 combined with photographic or television appliances
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/05 characterised by the image sensor, e.g. camera, being in the distal end portion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1482 having a long rigid shaft for accessing the inner body transcutaneously in minimal invasive surgery, e.g. laparoscopy
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0158 with magnetic or electrical means, e.g. by using piezo materials, electroactive polymers, magnetic materials or by heating of shape memory materials

Abstract

In one embodiment, an endoscope includes an elongate member having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion. The distal end portion is configured to be inserted into a body lumen. An electrical component is disposed within the distal end portion of the elongate member and configured to produce a signal. An elongate conductive mechanical component has a proximal end portion and a distal and portion. The distal end portion of the elongate conductive mechanical component is electrically coupled to the electrical component and configured to conduct the signal or electrical power from/to the electrical component to/from the proximal end portion of the elongate conductive mechanical component.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

an elongate member having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, the distal end portion configured to be inserted into a body lumen;

an electrical component disposed within the distal end portion of the elongate member and configured to produce a signal; and

an elongate conductive mechanical component having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, the distal end portion of the elongate conductive mechanical component electrically coupled to the electrical component and configured to transmit the signal from the electrical component to the proximal end portion of the elongate conductive mechanical component.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the elongate conductive mechanical component is a first elongate conductive mechanical component, the apparatus further comprising:

a second elongate conductive mechanical component having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, the distal end portion of the second elongate conductive mechanical component being electrically coupled to the electrical component, the second elongate conductive mechanical component being configured to transmit electrical power from the proximal end portion of the second elongate conductive mechanical component to the electrical component.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the signal is a first signal, the elongate conductive mechanical component is a first elongate conductive mechanical component, the apparatus further comprising:

a second elongate conductive mechanical component having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, the distal end portion of the second elongate conductive mechanical component being electrically coupled to the electrical component, the second elongate conductive mechanical component being configured to transmit a second signal from the electrical component to the proximal end portion of the second elongate conductive mechanical component.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the elongate conductive mechanical component is configured to move the elongate member from a first configuration to a second configuration.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the elongate conductive mechanical component is a braided wire having a cylindrical configuration and disposed about at least a portion of an outer surface of the elongate member, the elongate conductive mechanical component being configured to structurally support the elongate member.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electrical component is a first electrical component, the apparatus further comprising a second electrical component coupled to the distal end portion of the elongate member.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electrical component is an endoscopic imager.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the proximal end portion of the elongate conductive mechanical component is coupled to a visual display.

9. An apparatus, comprising:

an elongate member having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, the distal end portion being associated with a diameter of a body lumen, the elongate member having a first configuration and a second configuration different than the first configuration;

an electrical component electrically coupled to a distal end portion of the elongate member; and

a steering component coupled to the electrical component and coupled to the distal end portion of the elongate member, the steering component configured to transmit a signal from the electrical component to the proximal end portion of the elongate member, the steering component being configured to move the elongate member from the first configuration to the second configuration.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the elongate member has a third configuration different from the first configuration and the second configuration, the steering component is a first steering component, the apparatus further comprising:

a second steering component coupled to the electrical component and configured to transmit electrical power from the proximal end portion of the elongate member to the electrical component, the second steering component configured to move the elongate member from the first configuration to the third configuration.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising:

a braided wire disposed about at least a portion of the elongate member and coupled to the electrical component, the braided wire configured to transmit electrical power from the proximal end portion of the elongate member to the electrical component, the braided wire configured to structurally support the elongate member.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising:

an actuator coupled to the steering component,

the steering component having a first position and a second position different than the first position, the first position being associated with the first configuration of the elongate member, the second position being associated with the second configuration of the elongate member,

the actuator configured to move the steering component between the first position and the second position.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the signal includes data associated with an endoscopic image.

14. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the steering component includes an insulation layer.

15. A method, comprising:

inserting a distal end portion of an elongate medical device into a body lumen, the elongate medical device including an electrical component disposed within the distal end portion of the elongate medical device and an elongate conductive mechanical component having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, the distal end portion of the elongate conductive mechanical device being conductively coupled to the electrical component;

producing a signal at the electrical component; and

transmitting the signal from the electrical component to the proximal end portion of the elongate conductive mechanical component.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the elongate conductive mechanical component is a first elongate conductive mechanical component, the medical device includes a second elongate conductive mechanical component having a distal end portion conductively coupled to the electrical component, the method further comprising:

transmitting electrical power from a proximal end portion of the second elongate conductive mechanical component to the electrical component.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

moving the distal end portion of the medical device using the elongate conductive mechanical component.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the elongate conductive mechanical component is a first elongate conductive mechanical component, the medical device includes a second elongate conductive mechanical component having a distal end portion coupled to the electrical component, the method further comprising:

moving the distal end portion of the medical device by at least one of the first elongate conductive mechanical component or the second elongate conductive mechanical component.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the producing includes producing an imaging signal.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the producing includes producing an imaging signal, the method further comprising:

displaying an image associated with the imaging signal on a display monitor coupled to the medical device based on the imaging signal.