ENDOSCOPE WITH SHARED WORKING CHANNEL

• US 20160174814A1
• Filed: 02/29/2016
• Published: 06/23/2016
• 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:
  US15/055,971
• Publication Number:
  US 20160174814A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0005 combining images e.g. side-by-side, superimposed or tiled
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00078 with stiffening means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00087 Tools A61B17/00234 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00097 Sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00101 the distal tip features being detachable
• 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 1/0051 with controlled bending of insertion part
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/015 Control of fluid supply or evacuation
• 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 1/053 being detachable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0676 at distal tip of an endoscope
• 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 17/3478 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 2017/00566 : fixation of form upon application of vacuum
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22065 : Functions of balloons
• 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 2017/3445 : used as instrument channel for multiple instruments
• 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 5/01 : Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20
• 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

Abstract

Multiple tasks may be performed in a lumen of a living creature accessible via a path. One or more guides are optionally supplied. Optionally the guides communicate with a working channel of an endoscope. A tool may be conveyed along a guide through the working channel of the endoscope. For example a first tool may be conveyed to the lumen unblocking the working channel for a second tool. Optionally the second tool may subsequently be conveyed along a second guide. In some embodiments the guides may include thin channels in communication with the working channel via a longitudinal slit. Optionally the working channel may include a slit. For example large objects may be conveyed along the working channel partially protruding from the longitudinal slit.

Claims

1. A catheter for transporting material between outside a living creature and a region inside the living creature comprising:

a sleeve including;

a working channel including a proximal opening for access from outside of the living creature and a distal opening for positioning inside the region of the living creature;

a plurality of elongated guides extending along at least a portion of a length of said working channel, each of said guides in communication with said working channel along at least 5 cm of a length thereof;

a tool transportable between a first location outside said proximal opening, a second location inside said working channel and a third location outside said distal opening; and

a carriage mating to at least one guide of said plurality of elongated guides;

said carriage

connected to said tool off center of a cross section of said tool,

traveling along said at least one guide from a proximal position to a distal position thereby conveying said tool from said second location to said third location, and

rotating around an axis of said at least one guide in said distal position thereby moving said tool to a fourth location away from an axis of said working channel.

2. The catheter of claim 1, wherein said tool includes a camera and in said fourth location a lens of said camera clears an outer cross section of the catheter.

3. The catheter of claim 1, further including a mount external to said working channel, said mount supporting said tool outside said working channel.

4. The catheter of claim 1, further including a longitudinal opening having a length of at least half a length of said working channel, said opening communicating between said working channel and the region.

5. The catheter of claim 4, further including a stiffener holding said longitudinal opening open.

20. The catheter of claim 1, further comprising:

a closed channel having a proximal opening for access from outside of the living creature and closed from said region;

a steering mechanism said steering mechanism reversibly inserted into said closed channel for steering said catheter.

6. A catheter for transporting material between outside a living creature and a region inside the living creature comprising:

a sleeve including a working channel including a proximal opening for access from outside of the living creature and a distal opening for positioning inside a region of the living creature said working channel configured for transporting a tool between a first location outside said proximal opening, a second location inside said working channel and a third location outside said distal opening; and

a mount external to said working channel, said mount supporting said tool on a portion of said sleeve outside said working channel in said third location.

7. The catheter of claim 6, wherein said mount supports said tool substantially out of a contour of a cross section of said working channel.

12. The catheter of claim 6, wherein in said tool includes a lens and at said third location said lens clears an outer cross section of the catheter.

13. The catheter of claim 6, further comprising:

a closed channel of length at least 50% of the sleeve, said closed channel having a proximal opening for access from outside of the living creature and said closed channel closed from said region;

a steering mechanism said steering mechanism reversibly inserted into said closed channel for steering said catheter.

14. The catheter of claim 13, further comprising:

an engagable fitting for inhibiting rotation of said steering mechanism with respect to said closed channel.

15. The catheter of claim 13, wherein said channel and said steering mechanism have matching non-rotationally symmetric cross sections such that the steering mechanism is inhibited from rotating in said channel.

16. The catheter of claim 15, wherein said steering mechanism fits into said channel in a single orientation.

17. The catheter of claim 16, wherein said closed channel is sealed off from said region.

18. The catheter of claim 13, further comprising:

a working channel including a proximal opening for access from outside of the living creature and a distal opening for positioning inside a region of the living creature said working channel for transporting a tool between a first location outside said proximal opening, a second location inside said working channel and a third location outside said distal opening.

19. The catheter of claim 18, wherein said closed channel is sealed off from said working channel.

8. A method for performing one or more tasks inside a region of a living creature, said region accessible by a path comprising:

providing one or more elongated guides located along at least a portion of a length of the path, each of said one or more guides in communication with said path along said at least a portion of said length a sleeve including a channel having a proximal opening and closed on a distal end thereof;

inserting a first tool to a location on said path;

inserting a steering mechanism into said proximal opening;

introducing a distal portion of said sleeve into said region while steering said distal portion with said steering mechanism;

blocking at least 50% of a cross section of said path at said location with said first tool; and

unblocking said path by conveying said first tool along a first guide of said one or more guides to a site in said region retrieving said steering mechanism through said proximal opening.

9. A method for performing one or more tasks inside a region of a living creature, said region accessible through a working channel of a catheter said working channel including a distal opening inside said region and proximal opening outside said region comprising:

providing one or more elongated guides located along a length of the working channel, each of said one or more guides in communication with the working channel along said length each of said one or more guides having a proximal opening and a distal opening and providing first carriage connected to said tool off center of a cross section of said tool, said carriage mating to a first guide of said elongated guides said first carriage having a length greater than said working channel;

blocking at least 50% of a cross section of said working channel at a location with said first tool;

conveying said first tool along said working channel and out said distal opening of said working channel by means of said guide; and

unblocking said working channel by twisting a proximal end of said guide to move said tool away from an axis of said working channel.

10. The method of claim 9, further including:

supporting said tool inside said region on an outer surface of said catheter away from said working channel.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein said working channel and a closed channel with a proximal opening are included in a sleeve, the and the method further comprising:

inserting a steering mechanism into said proximal opening;

introducing a distal portion of said sleeve into said region while steering said distal portion with said steering mechanism; and

retrieving said steering mechanism through said proximal opening.