BALLOON ACCESS DEVICE FOR ENDOSCOPE

• US 20120259175A1
• Filed: 04/05/2012
• Published: 10/11/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Visualization Balloons, LLC
• Original Assignee: Visualization Balloons, LLC
• Inventors: REYDEL, Boris, Secrest, Dean, Wales, Kenneth S.
• Granted Patent: US 9,220,396 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/116
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00082 Balloons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00089 Hoods
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00101 the distal tip features being detachable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00137 End pieces at either end of the endoscope, e.g. caps, seals or forceps plugs
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/018 for receiving instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/31 for the rectum, e.g. proctoscopes, sigmoidoscopes , colonoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/32 Devices for opening or enlarging the visual field, e.g. of a tube of the body dilators A61M29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/1009 Balloons anchored to a disc or plate

Abstract

Provided is a balloon access device having a cap coupleable to an endoscope and a balloon for sealing with the cap when expanded. The balloon access device allows a physician to both separate collapsed tissue and visualize the path of the endoscope without administering insufflation gas to the collapsed area of a patient.

Claims

1. A balloon access device for use with an endoscope, the device including:

a balloon expandable from a deflated shape to an inflated shape, the balloon having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein a dome portion is formed on the distal end of the balloon; and

a cap having a proximal end configured to be coupled to a distal end of an endoscope and a distal end for sealing with the proximal end of the balloon when the balloon is expanded to the inflated shape.

2. The balloon access device according to claim 1, wherein the inflated shape includes a non-pressurized shape and a fully inflated shape.

3. The balloon access device according to claim 1, wherein the proximal end of the balloon includes a proximal collar configured to couple to a distal end of a catheter and a sealing surface configured to seal with the cap.

4. The balloon access device according to claim 1, wherein the cap includes an endoscope receptacle extending into the cap through the proximal end of the cap for receiving the distal end of the endoscope.

5. The balloon access device according to claim 1, wherein the cap includes a stop that engages a front face of the endoscope when the endoscope is received within the cap, and wherein an opening is provided through the stop to distally expose at least one of a light, opening, optics or operative channel on the front face of the endoscope.

6. The balloon access device according to claim 1, wherein the cap includes a balloon sealing portion proximate the distal end of the cap, the balloon sealing portion including a circular groove that retains and seals with a circular rib of the balloon.

7. The balloon access device according to claim 1, wherein the cap includes an outwardly flaring balloon sealing portion that is flexible outwardly relative to a body of the cap to create a seal with the balloon.

8. The balloon access device according to claim 7, wherein the outwardly flaring balloon sealing portion prevents the balloon from being unseated from the cap.

9. The balloon access device according to claim 1, wherein the cap includes a rib on an interior portion of the cap, and wherein the sealing surface of the balloon nests and seals with a receptacle of a balloon sealing portion and the rib.

10. The balloon access device according to claim 1, wherein the dome portion is hemispherical or ellipsoidal in shape.

11. The balloon access device according to claim 1, wherein the balloon is non-concentrically disposed in the endoscope.

12. The balloon access device according to claim 1, wherein the balloon includes a distally located guide tip on a distal portion of the dome portion for guiding an operator in parting and spreading non-insufflated gastrointestinal tissue during operation.

13. The balloon access device according to claim 1, wherein the balloon is a transparent hollow balloon.

14. The balloon access device according to claim 1, further including a lock mechanism for securing a catheter relative to the endoscope to maintain a sealing contact between the balloon and the cap.

15. The balloon access device according to claim 14, wherein the lock mechanism includes a releasably lockable clamp mechanism that contacts and grips the catheter.

16. The balloon access device according to claim 1, further including a lock mechanism, the lock mechanism including:

a balloon insertion tube for receiving the balloon when the balloon is in the deflated state, the tube having a length greater than a y-portion of an operative channel within the endoscope to guide the balloon into and beyond the y-portion; and

a clamp for securing a catheter relative to the endoscope to maintain a sealing contact between the balloon and the cap.

17. The balloon access device according to claim 1, further including a balloon insertion tube for receiving the balloon when the balloon is in the deflated state, the balloon insertion tube having a length greater than a y-portion of an operative channel within the endoscope to guide the balloon into and beyond the y-portion.

18. The balloon access device according to claim 1 in combination with a catheter, wherein the proximal end of the balloon is coupled to a distal end of the catheter.

19. The balloon access device according to claim 1 in combination with an endoscope, wherein the proximal end of the cap is coupled to the distal end of the endoscope.

20. The balloon access device according to claim 1, wherein the cap is integral with the endoscope.

21. A balloon access device for use with an endoscope, the device including:

a balloon expandable from a deflated shape to an inflated shape, the balloon having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein a dome portion is formed on the distal end of the balloon;

a cap having a proximal end configured to be coupled to a distal end of an endoscope and a distal end for sealing with the proximal end of the balloon when the balloon is passed through the cap and expanded to the inflated shape; and

a balloon insertion tube for receiving the balloon when the balloon is in the deflated state, the balloon insertion tube having a length greater than a y-portion of an operative channel within the endoscope to guide the balloon into and beyond the y-portion.

22. A method of creating a seal between a balloon and a cap, the balloon having a proximal end having a sealing surface and proximal collar coupled to a distal end of a catheter, and the cap having a proximal end coupled to a distal end of an endoscope, the method including:

advancing the catheter and balloon through an operative channel of the endoscope until the balloon is positioned distal the distal end of the cap;

expanding the balloon from a deflated shape to at least a partially inflated shape; and

moving the balloon proximally towards the cap so that the sealing surface abuts a distal end of the cap to create a seal between the cap and the balloon.

23. A method of performing a gastrointestinal procedure on a patient having gastrointestinal tissue in a non-insufflated state using an endoscope and balloon access device installed upon the endoscope, the balloon access device including a cap coupled to a distal end of the endoscope and an at least partially inflated balloon coupled to a distal end of a catheter received in an operative channel of the endoscope, the method including:

advance the endoscope through the gastrointestinal tissue;

guiding the endoscope using a camera on a distal end of the endoscope and a guide tip on a distal end of the balloon; and

spreading the tissue using a body of the balloon and the guide tip;

wherein the balloon is transparent so that an operator can view the tissue through the balloon using the camera and the operator can center the guide tip in a gastrointestinal tract.

24. The method according to claim 23, further including retracting the endoscope from the gastrointestinal tissue, wherein during the retracting a balloon sealing portion of the cap flattens a luminal fold in the tissue.