ENDOSCOPE WITH SHARED WORKING CHANNEL

• US 20150080933A1
• Filed: 09/22/2014
• Published: 03/19/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Morena Medical Applications Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Morena Medical Applications Ltd.
• Inventors: IGOV, Igor
• Application Number:
  US14/492,297
• Publication Number:
  US 20150080933A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/190
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00082 Balloons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00135 Oversleeves mounted on the endoscope prior to insertion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0014 Fastening element for attaching accessories to the outside of an endoscope, e.g. clips, clamps or bands
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00181 for multiple fixed viewing angles A61B1/00193 takes precedence
• 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 1/053 being detachable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/06 with illuminating arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/128 provided with means for regulating temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0218 for minimally invasive surgery A61B17/0281, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/295 combined with cutting implements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/320016 Endoscopic cutting instruments, e.g. arthroscopes, resectoscopes A61B10/0233, A61B17/29, A61B17/3207 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/320758 with a rotating cutting instrument, e.g. motor driven A61B17/320725, A61B17/32075 and A61B17/320783 take precedence; for removing intra-ocular material A61F9/00763; endoscopic rotatable cutting instruments A61B17/32002
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3423 Access ports, e.g. toroid shape introducers for instruments or hands access sites for liquids A61M39/0247
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3478 Endoscopic needles, e.g. for infusion biopsy needles A61B10/0233; catheters with injection needles A61M25/0067
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1492 having a flexible, catheter-like structure, e.g. for heart ablation A61B18/1477 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00269 endoscopic mucosal resection EMR
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00287 Bags for minimally invasive surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00296 mounted on an endoscope
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0034 : adapted to be inserted through a working channel of an endoscope
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00566 : fixation of form upon application of vacuum
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22051 : with an inflatable part, e.g. balloon, for positioning, blocking, or immobilisation A61B2017/22048, A61B2017/3486 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22065 : Functions of balloons dilating A61M29/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22069 : Immobilising; Stabilising
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/306 : holding by means of suction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320048 : Balloon dissectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320775 : Morcellators, impeller or propeller like means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00029 : open
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00047 : using Peltier effect
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/08021 : of the patient or his organs
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/371 : with simultaneous use of two cameras
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2217/005 : with suction drainage system
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2217/007 : with irrigation system
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/30 : Devices for illuminating a surgical field, the devices having an interrelation with other surgical devices or with a surgical procedure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/361 : Image-producing devices, e.g. surgical cameras
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/1015 : having two or more independently movable balloons where the distance between the balloons can be adjusted, e.g. two balloon catheters concentric to each other forming an adjustable multiple balloon catheter system
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/1011 : Multiple balloon catheters

Abstract

A method and system are disclosed for opening a workspace inside a lumen of a living creature are disclosed. Anchors may be affixed to opposite ends of the workspace. An extender may be distance anchors apart while they are affixed to the walls of the workspace. Distancing the anchors may unfold and/or stretch the lumen in the region of the workspace.

Claims

1. A system for opening a workspace inside a lumen of a living creature comprising:

an extender fitting through a channel of a catheter;

a tool for performing a function in the lumen;

a first anchor mounted proximal to said tool configured for attachment to a wall of said lumen;

a second anchor mounted to said extender distal to said tool configured for attachment to a wall of said lumen; and

wherein said extender is configured for expanding a distance between said first anchor and said second anchor.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said tool is mounted to said extender.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said first anchor is mounted to said extender.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a shaft extending through a channel of said a catheter and where the system is mounted on a distal portion of said shaft.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said first anchor includes a balloon.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said first anchor is mounted on said catheter proximal to a distal opening thereof.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein said extender includes a stiff shaft extending a distally from said distal opening.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein said catheter includes a guide and said stiff shaft is conveyed along said guide.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein said stiff extender extends from a distal end of said catheter.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein said stiff shaft extends from a fixed point in a cross section of the distal end of said catheter.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein a distal portion of said stiff shaft is extensible.

12. The system of claim 7, wherein said stiff shaft has two states:

a flexible state and

a stiff state, wherein the stiff shaft resists buckling along the longitudinal axis of the catheter.

13. The system of claim 7, further including:

a stiffness controller for adjusting a stiffness of a distal portion of said extender from a proximal end of said catheter.

14. The system of claim 1, further comprising a sensor for sensing an opening of a fold resulting from said expanding and stopping said expanding in response to said expanding.

15. A method of opening a workspace in a lumen of a living creature comprising:

securing a first anchor reversibly to a wall of the lumen at a first location;

securing a second anchor reversibly to a wall of the lumen at a second location; and

expanding a distance between said first anchor and said second anchor while said first anchor and said second anchor are secured to said first location and said second location thereby stretching said lumen between said first location and said second location.

16. The method of claim 15, further including:

inserting a distal end of a catheter into the lumen and wherein said securing of said first anchor is to said first location distal to a distal opening of said catheter and said securing of said second anchor is to said second location proximal to said distal opening of said catheter.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein said first location is on a first side of a fold of the lumen and said second location is on a second side of the fold and further comprising:

opening said fold by said expanding.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

detecting said unfolding; and

stopping said expanding is response to said detecting.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein a line joining from said first location to said second location is substantially perpendicular to said fold.

20. A frame for a catheter comprising:

a series of frame elements arranged along the length of a distal portion of the catheter, said frame elements defining at least one channel passing longitudinally along the catheter;

an articulated spine located entirely in a continuous region of less than one eighth a cross section of said catheter, said spine including a series of spacers defining a distance between said frame elements in said continuous region; and

a steering element controlled from a proximal end of the catheter for adjusting a longitudinal spacing between said frame elements in the cross section of the catheter outside said continuous region of said spine.

21. The frame of claim 20, wherein a bending axis of said catheter in said distal portion passes through said spine.

22. The frame of claim 20, wherein said frame elements further define at least one more channel passing longitudinally along said catheter from said proximal end to said distal end.

23. The frame of claim 22, wherein said channel and said at least one more channel communicate through a longitudinal slit between the channel and the at least one more channel.

24. The frame of claim 20, wherein said channel has a longitudinal split communicating with an outside of the catheter.

25. The frame of claim 20, wherein a width of said channel is at least one half the width if the catheter.