Methods and Devices for Facilitating Visualization In a Surgical Environment

• US 20090240237A1
• Filed: 06/05/2009
• Published: 09/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Acclarent Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Acclarent Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Facteau, William M., Goldfarb, Eric, Chang, John Y., Morriss, John
• Granted Patent: US 9,179,823 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/533
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00126 optical, e.g. for light supply cables
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/063 for monochromatic or narrow-band illumination
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0684 using light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/07 using light-conductive means, e.g. optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/233 for the nose, i.e. nasoscopes , e.g. testing of patency of Eustachian tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/24 for use in the oral cavity, larynx, bronchial passages or nose for medical inspection of cavities or tubes in the body A61B1/00; Tongue scrapers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/246 for cleaning of the nose
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/2222 Fibre material or composition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/2244 Features of optical fibre cables, e.g. claddings
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/2055 Optical tracking systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/306 using optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2217/005 with suction drainage system
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/228 Sensors with optical connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/20 Surgical navigation systems; Devices for tracking or guiding surgical instruments, e.g. for frameless stereotaxis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0084 for introduction into the body, e.g. by catheters A61B5/1459 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/061 Determining position of a probe within the body employing means separate from the probe, e.g. sensing internal probe position employing impedance electrodes on the surface of the body A61B1/00158 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/062 using magnetic field
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/064 using markers A61B5/062 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6851 Guide wires
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0166 Sensors, electrodes or the like for guiding the catheter to a target zone, e.g. image guided or magnetically guided
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/09008 : having a balloon
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/09083 : having a coil around a core
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/09125 : Device for locking a guide wire in a fixed position with respect to the catheter or the human body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/09166 : having radio-opaque features
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/09175 : having specific characteristics at the distal tip
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2029/025 : characterised by the guiding element
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0105 : Steering means as part of the catheter or advancing means; Markers for positioning systems for detection of markers A61B
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/09 : Guide wires
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 29/02 : Dilators made of swellable material balloon catheters for angioplasty A61M25/104
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/2469 : using optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0006 : Coupling light into the fibre in general G02B6/4298
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0008 : the light being emitted at the end of the fibre
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/04 : formed by bundles of fibres G02B6/24 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/1228 : Tapered waveguides, e.g. integrated spot-size transformers for coupling with fibres G02B6/305
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/125 : Bends, branchings or intersections
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/241 : Light guide terminations
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/262 : Optical details of coupling light into, or out of, or between fibre ends, e.g. special fibre end shapes or associated optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4292 : the light guide being disconnectable from the opto-electronic element, e.g. mutually self aligning arrangements

Abstract

Devices and methods for visually confirming the positioning of a distal end portion of an illuminating device placed within a patient include inserting a distal end portion of an illuminating device internally into a patient, emitting light from the distal end portion of the illuminating device, observing transillumination resulting from the light emitted from the distal end portion of the illuminating device that occurs on an external surface of the patient, and correlating the location of the observed transillumination on the external surface of the patient with an internal location of the patient that underlies the location of observed transillumination, to confirm positioning of the distal end portion of the illuminating device.

Claims

1. A quick release connector for use with an illuminating guidewire, said quick release connector comprising:

a main body having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion;

a channel in said distal end portion and opening to a distal end of said main body, said channel configured and dimensioned to slidably receive a proximal end portion of the illuminating guidewire; and

a quick release locking mechanism configured to assume a locked position and an unlocked position, wherein when in said locked position, said quick release locking mechanism fixes the proximal end portion of the illuminating guidewire in said channel.

2. The quick release connector of claim 1, wherein said quick release locking mechanism is biased to the locked position.

3. The quick release connector of claim 2, wherein, upon inserting the proximal end portion of the illuminating guidewire into the channel, the proximal end portion contacts portions of said quick release locking mechanism, driving the portions apart to allow the proximal end portion to be slid into the channel.

4. The quick release connector of claim 2, wherein said quick release locking mechanism comprises a locking arm that extends into said channel and a portion that extends out of said housing, wherein said portion extending out of said housing is manually retractable to move said locking arm from said locked position to said unlocked position.

5. The quick release connector of claim 2, wherein said quick release locking mechanism comprises at least two locking arms provided circumferentially about said distal end portion of said main body.

6. The quick release connector of claim 5, wherein said quick release locking mechanism comprises a pin vise.

7. The quick release connector of claim 1, wherein said proximal end portion is adapted to be connected to a light channel extending from a light source.

8. The quick release connector of claim 1, wherein said proximal end portion of said main body is optically coupled with a light source.

9. The quick release connector of claim 1, wherein said proximal end portion of said main body comprises a tapering light channel configured to adapt a relatively larger inside diameter of a light channel to a relatively smaller diameter of the proximal end of the illuminating guidewire.

10. The quick release connector of claim 1, wherein said proximal end portion of said main body is configured to connect with a light source.

11. The quick release connector of claim 10, wherein said proximal end portion of said main body comprises an ACMI light post.

12. The quick release connector of claim 10, wherein said connector is rotatable with respect to a light channel extending from the light source, when said connector is connected to the light channel.