SPACE-OPTIMIZED VISUALIZATION CATHETER WITH OBLONG SHAPE

• US 20130172678A1
• Filed: 12/27/2012
• Published: 07/04/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cook Medical Incorporated (Cook Group Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Cook Medical Incorporated (Cook Group Incorporated)
• Inventors: Kennedy, Kenneth C. II, Dillon, Travis E., Mitra, Abhishek
• Granted Patent: US 9,668,643 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/112
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00066 Proximal part of endoscope body, e.g. handles A61B1/0052 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00096 Optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00098 Deflecting means for inserted tools
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0011 Manufacturing of endoscope parts
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/005 Flexible endoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0125 Endoscope within endoscope
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/018 for receiving instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/05 characterised by the image sensor, e.g. camera, being in the distal end portion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/051 Details of CCD assembly
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0676 at distal tip of an endoscope
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/07 using light-conductive means, e.g. optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/128 provided with means for regulating temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/227 for ears, i.e. otoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/233 for the nose, i.e. nasoscopes , e.g. testing of patency of Eustachian tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/2676 Bronchoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/2733 Oesophagoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/2736 Gastroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/307 for the urinary organs, e.g. urethroscopes, cystoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/31 for the rectum, e.g. proctoscopes, sigmoidoscopes , colonoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 Electrical device making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 : Assembling or joining

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses for space-optimized visualization catheters are provided. Some embodiments utilize complimentary metal-oxide-semi-conductor (“CMOS”) technology integrated into a CMOS camera train holder system that may be a stand-alone component for use with a visualization catheter, such as a baby endoscope, or may be fabricated/extruded as a part of the catheter itself. Some embodiments of apparatuses, methods, and equivalents thereto provide better direct visual feedback to the medical personnel performing the procedure while providing a similarly-sized outer diameter visualization catheter device having an increased space therein for additional lumens and equipment or by reducing the overall outer diameter of the visualization catheter.

Claims

1. A visualization catheter comprising:

a catheter comprising;

a body comprising a proximal body portion and a distal body portion, wherein an outer surface of the body comprises an oblong cross-sectional profile;

a working channel extending through the proximal body portion and the distal body portion; and

means for accepting a camera train holder.

2. The visualization catheter of claim 1, further comprising the camera train holder disposed within the distal body portion of the catheter, the camera train holder portion comprising:

a proximal camera train holder portion configured to receive a visualization sensor; and

a distal camera train holder portion configured to receive a lens stack.

3. The visualization catheter of claim 2, further comprising the visualization sensor configured in the proximal camera train holder portion.

4. The visualization catheter of claim 3, wherein the visualization sensor comprises a CMOS sensor.

5. The visualization catheter of claim 2, further comprising the lens stack configured in the distal camera train holder portion.

6. The visualization catheter of claim 1, wherein the catheter further comprises a light lumen extending through the proximal body portion and the distal body portion.

7. The visualization catheter of claim 1, wherein the catheter further comprises a fluid lumen extending through the proximal body portion and the distal body portion.

8. The visualization catheter of claim 1, wherein the outer surface of the body comprising the oblong cross-sectional profile comprises a first diameter of 4.2 millimeters and a second diameter of 3.5 millimeters, the second diameter being orthogonal to the first diameter, and wherein the working channel has a diameter of 1.75 millimeters.

9. A visualization catheter comprising:

a catheter comprising;

a body comprising a proximal body portion and a distal body portion, wherein an outer surface of the body comprises an oblong cross-sectional profile;

a working channel extending through the proximal body portion and the distal body portion; and

a camera train holder comprising;

a proximal camera train holder portion configured to receive a visualization sensor; and

a distal camera train holder portion configured to receive a lens stack;

wherein the camera train holder is coupled to an interior of the distal body portion of the catheter.

10. The visualization catheter of claim 9, further comprising the visualization sensor coupled to the camera train holder.

11. The visualization catheter of claim 10, wherein the visualization sensor comprises a CMOS sensor.

12. The visualization catheter of claim 9, further comprising the lens stack coupled to the camera train holder.

13. The visualization catheter of claim 9, wherein the catheter further comprises a light lumen extending through the proximal body portion and the distal body portion.

14. The visualization catheter of claim 9, wherein the catheter further comprises a fluid lumen extending through the proximal body portion and the distal body portion.

15. A method of manufacturing a visualization catheter comprising:

extruding a catheter comprising;

a body comprising a proximal body portion and a distal body portion, wherein an outer surface of the body comprises an oblong cross-sectional profile;

a working channel extending through the proximal body portion and the distal body portion;

providing a camera train holder comprising;

a proximal camera train holder portion configured to receive a visualization sensor; and

a distal camera train holder portion configured to receive a lens stack;

coupling the camera train holder to within the distal body portion of the catheter.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising coupling a visualization sensor to the camera train holder.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising coupling a lens stack to the camera train holder.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the extruding the catheter further comprises a light lumen extending through the proximal body portion and the distal body portion.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the extruding the catheter further comprises a cabling lumen extending through the proximal body portion and the distal body portion.

20. The visualization catheter of claim 15, wherein the extruding the catheter further comprises a fluid lumen extending through the proximal body portion and the distal body portion.