MAGNETIC SCOPE MANIPULATOR

• US 20100081876A1
• Filed: 09/26/2008
• Published: 04/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Linenkugel, Duane, Trusty, Robert M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,529,435 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/118
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00071 Insertion part of the endoscope body A61B1/0055 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0008 characterised by distal tip features
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00158 using magnetic field
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/005 Flexible endoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/01 Guiding arrangements therefore
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/018 for receiving instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/3132 for laparoscopy

Abstract

Devices and methods are provided for manipulating scoping devices, surgical tools, and/or tissue. An exemplary system for manipulating a scoping device can include a scoping device having a working channel, a tether extending through the working channel, and an internal coupling member attached to the tether and positioned adjacent to a distal end of the scoping device. The internal coupling member can be magnetically coupled to an external coupling member. An exemplary method for manipulating a scoping device can include inserting at least a portion of a scoping device into a body cavity and positioning an external coupling member proximate to an external surface of tissue such that the external coupling member magnetically couples through the tissue to an internal coupling member disposed within the body cavity and attached to a tether passed through at least one working channel of the scoping device.

Claims

1. A system for manipulating a scoping device, comprising:

a scoping device having at least one working channel;

a tether extending through the at least one working channel; and

an internal coupling member attached to a distal end of the tether and positioned adjacent to a distal end of the scoping device, the internal coupling member configured to be magnetically coupled to an external coupling member.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the internal coupling member comprises a magnet.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the scoping device is an endoscope.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the internal coupling member has at least one working channel that is coaxial with the at least one working channel of the scoping device.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the internal coupling member has a generally tubular shape.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the internal coupling member includes a feature formed thereon configured to be grasped by a surgical tool.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the internal coupling member is removably attached to the distal end of the scoping device.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the internal coupling member includes at least one magnet selected from the group consisting of an electromagnet, a permanent magnet, and a non-permanent magnet.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising an external coupling member.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the external coupling member includes at least one magnet selected from the group consisting of an electromagnet, a permanent magnet, and a non-permanent magnet.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the scoping device includes at least one magnetically-attracted collar disposed therearound.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the at least one collar is slidably disposed around the scoping device.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the at least one collar is formed of a flexible mesh.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the collar includes at least one magnet selected from the group consisting of an electromagnet, a permanent magnet, and a non-permanent magnet.

15. A method for positioning a scoping device at a desired location within a body cavity, comprising:

inserting at least a portion of a scoping device into a body cavity; and

positioning an external coupling member proximate to an external surface of tissue such that the external coupling member magnetically couples through the tissue to an internal coupling member disposed within the body cavity and attached to a tether passed through at least one working channel of the scoping device.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the external coupling member magnetically holds the internal coupling member against an interior surface of the tissue.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising manipulating the external coupling member and the scoping device to position the scoping device at a desired viewing angle with respect to at least one anatomical structure within the body cavity.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising manipulating the external coupling member to position the internal coupling member at a desired location.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising advancing the scoping device along the tether.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising magnetically coupling at least one collar disposed around the scoping device at a location proximal to a distal end to the internal coupling member.

21. The method of claim 19, further comprising magnetically coupling at least one collar disposed around the scoping device through the tissue to the external coupling member.

22. A method for altering the position of an anatomical structure, comprising:

attaching a suture anchor to an anatomical structure;

attaching a tether extending from an internal coupling member to the suture anchor; and

positioning an external coupling member on an external tissue surface to magnetically engage the internal coupling member through tissue and thereby alter a position of the anatomical structure.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising, prior to attaching the tether to the suture anchor, delivering the internal coupling member and the tether into a body cavity using a scoping device.