GUIDE CATHETER WITH IMAGE CAPTURE AND LIGHT EMISSION FEATURES

• US 20180279855A1
• Filed: 03/22/2018
• Published: 10/04/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Acclarent Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Acclarent Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Kesten, Randy J., Muni, Ketan P., Garvey, II, James Patrick, Ha, Hung V., Nguyen, Andy
• Granted Patent: US 10,687,690 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00082 Balloons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00087 Tools A61B17/00234 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00135 Oversleeves mounted on the endoscope prior to insertion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/012 characterised by internal passages or accessories therefor
• 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 1/0623 for off-axis illumination
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0684 using light emitting diodes [LED]
• 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 17/24 for use in the oral cavity, larynx, bronchial passages or nose for medical inspection of cavities or tubes in the body A61B1/00; Tongue scrapers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/29 Forceps for use in minimally invasive surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3421 Cannulas
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00331 with preformed bends
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00787 Surgery of the ear
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/345 for introduction into a natural body opening
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/306 using optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/361 Image-producing devices, e.g. surgical cameras
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 11/202 Surgical middle-ear ventilation or drainage, e.g. permanent; Implants therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0046 Coatings for improving slidability
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0681 : Systems with catheter and outer tubing, e.g. sheath, sleeve or guide tube
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2029/025 : characterised by the guiding element
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/32 : with radio-opaque indicia
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/0675 : Eustachian tube
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/0681 : Sinus (maxillaris)
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0041 : pre-formed, e.g. specially adapted to fit with the anatomy of body channels urethral catheters A61F2/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0054 : with regions for increasing flexibility
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0068 : Static characteristics of the catheter tip, e.g. shape, atraumatic tip, curved tip or tip structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/01 : Introducing, guiding, advancing, emplacing or holding catheters A61M25/10 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0662 : Guide tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/10 : Balloon catheters A61M25/0125 takes precedence; embolectomy A61B17/22032; retractors A61B17/02; inflatable balloons for placing stents or stent-grafts A61F2/958 ; stomach balloons for treatment of obesity A61F5/0003; oesophagal tubes A61J15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 29/02 : Dilators made of swellable material balloon catheters for angioplasty A61M25/104

Abstract

A dilation catheter system comprises a guide member, a dilation catheter, and an image sensor. The guide member includes a shaft comprising a distal end and a proximal end. The shaft further defines a longitudinal axis. The dilation catheter is movable relative to the guide catheter member and comprises an expandable dilator. The expandable dilator is sized to fit within one or both of a Eustachian tube or a passageway associated with a paranasal sinus. The image sensor is configured to provide visualization within anatomy of a patient. The image sensor is integral with the guide member.

Claims

1-15. -15. (canceled)

16. A guide assembly, comprising:

(a) an elongate shaft, the elongate shaft comprising;

(i) a proximal portion, wherein the proximal portion is rigid,

(ii) a distal portion, wherein the distal portion is curved or bendable, wherein the distal portion is configured to fit in a nasal cavity, and

(iii) a lumen extending from the proximal portion to the distal portion, wherein the lumen is configured to slidably receive a working instrument;

(b) a grasping feature positioned at the proximal portion of the elongate shaft; and

(c) an imaging assembly integrated with the distal portion of the elongate shaft, wherein the imaging assembly comprises;

(iv) an image sensor, and

(v) a light feature configured to provide illumination.

17. The guide assembly of claim 16, wherein the elongate shaft comprises a hypotube, wherein the distal portion has a spiral cut configured to provide bendability to the hypotube.

18. The guide assembly of claim 17, wherein the elongate shaft further comprises a polymeric core member positioned within the hypotube, wherein the lumen is defined in the polymeric core member.

21. The guide assembly of claim 18, wherein the spiral cut comprises a cut formed transversely through hypotube extending in a spiral pattern longitudinally through the length of the distal portion, and wherein the spiral cut is only through the outer tube such that the polymeric core member remains fully intact.

22. The guide assembly of claim 18, wherein the polymeric core member defines a plurality of lumens extending longitudinally through the elongate shaft from the proximal portion to the distal portion.

23. The guide assembly of claim 18, wherein the polymeric core member comprises a working lumen and at least two access lumens, wherein the working lumen is configured to receive the working instrument, and wherein the access lumens are configured to receive one or more wires or illumination fibers to connect to the image sensor.

24. The guide assembly of claim 23, wherein the image sensor is positioned adjacent to the working lumen.

25. The guide assembly of claim 23, wherein the image sensor connects to a wire bundle that is threaded through one or more of the access lumens and out of a proximal opening of the proximal portion.

26. The guide assembly of claim 16, wherein the distal portion comprises a flexible portion and a blunt distal tip, and wherein the blunt distal tip comprises the light feature that includes a plurality of distinct light sources.

27. The guide assembly of claim 26, wherein the plurality of distinct light sources is configured to project light distally from the blunt distal tip to illuminate a visualization area that is disposed distally of the blunt distal tip, wherein the light feature includes two lenses disposed within the blunt distal tip connected to two corresponding illumination fibers.

28. The guide assembly of claim 16, wherein the grasping feature comprises a rounded cross-section that increases the diameter of the elongate shaft and is configured to improve an operator'"'"'s grip of the guide assembly.

29. The guide assembly of claim 16, wherein the imaging assembly further comprises one or more lens elements or one or more optically transmissive features that are positioned distal to the image sensor and are configured to enhance imaging through the image sensor.

19-20. -20. (canceled)

30. A guide assembly, comprising:

(a) an elongate shaft configured to cooperate with a working device, the elongate shaft comprising;

(i) a proximal region, wherein the proximal region is rigid, and

(ii) a distal region, wherein the distal region includes a bent portion, wherein the bent portion includes an optically transmissive window;

(b) a grasping feature positioned at the proximal region of the elongate shaft; and

(c) an illuminating feature, wherein the illuminating feature is configured to provide light to the optically transmissive window of the shaft.

31. The guide assembly of claim 30, wherein the illuminating feature comprises:

at least one light source located in the grasping feature, and at least one optical fiber or light pipe extending from the light source to the optically transmissive window.

32. The guide assembly of claim 30, wherein the optically transmissive window comprises a high clarity transparent light conducting polymer.

33. The guide assembly of claim 30, wherein the illuminating feature comprises an illuminating array that includes a plurality of light emitters disposed circumferentially around the illuminating array, wherein the light emitters are configured to provide light to the optically transmissive window of the elongate shaft.

34. The guide assembly of claim 30, wherein the elongate shaft further comprises an exterior tube and an interior light communicating portion, wherein the interior light communicating portion is in communication with the illuminating feature and is configured to transfer light from the illuminating feature through the elongate shaft to the optically transmissive window.

35. The guide assembly of claim 30, wherein the elongate shaft further comprises a plurality of optical fibers extending from the illuminating feature to the optically transmissive window, such that the optical fibers convey the light along the length of elongate shaft instead of having an interior light communicating portion convey the light.

36. A dilation catheter system, comprising:

(a) a guide member configured to cooperate with a working device, the guide member comprising;

(i) a proximal region, wherein the proximal region is rigid, wherein the proximal portion includes a grasping feature, and

(ii) a distal region, wherein the distal region includes a distal end and a bent portion proximal to the distal end, wherein the bent portion includes an optically transmissive window;

(b) a dilation catheter movable relative to the guide member, wherein the dilation catheter includes an expandable dilator sized to fit within a passageway associated with a paranasal sinus; and

(c) an illuminating feature configured to provide light to the optically transmissive window such that light is emitted from the bent portion proximal to the distal end of the guide member.

37. The dilation catheter system of claim 36, wherein the illuminating feature comprises:

(i) at least one light source located in the grasping feature, and

(ii) at least one optical fiber or light pipe extending from the light source to the optically transmissive window.