EXCHANGEABLE WORKING CHANNEL

• US 20180333044A1
• Filed: 05/09/2018
• Published: 11/22/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Auris Health, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Auris Health, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Jenkins, Thomas R.
• Granted Patent: US 10,716,461 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00059 provided with identification means for the endoscope
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00105 characterised by modular construction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00128 mechanical, e.g. for tubes or pipes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/018 for receiving instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/121 provided with means for cleaning post-use
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/2476 Non-optical details, e.g. housings, mountings, supports

Abstract

The systems, methods, and apparatus disclosed herein are directed to an exchangeable working channel for a surgical instrument comprising a proximal portion, a distal portion, and an instrument channel configured to receive the exchangeable working channel. The exchangeable working channel may comprise a shaft comprising a proximal region and a distal region; an inner surface defining a lumen extending through the shaft; and an outer surface configured to interface with the instrument channel of the surgical instrument. The exchangeable working channel may further comprise one or more locking members configured to releasably couple to the proximal portion or the distal portion of the surgical instrument. The exchangeable working channel may increase a service life of the surgical instrument as a worn working channel can be exchanged with a new one.

Claims

1. A removable working channel of a surgical instrument, the surgical instrument having a proximal portion, a distal portion, and a working channel sheath configured to receive the removable working channel, the removable working channel comprising:

a shaft, comprising;

a proximal region and a distal region;

an inner surface defining a lumen extending through the shaft; and

an outer surface configured to interface with the working channel sheath of the surgical instrument; and

a first locking member at the proximal region of the shaft, the first locking member configured to releasably couple to the proximal portion of the surgical instrument.

2. The removable working channel of claim 1, wherein the surgical instrument comprises an endoscope.

3. The removable working channel of claim 1, wherein the first locking member comprises at least one of a clamp, a friction fit component, a latch, a snap fit component, a screw lock, a luer fit, a threaded fit component, a slip fit component, a bayonet, a ball spring or pogo latch, a detent, a magnet, and an O-ring component.

4. The removable working channel of claim 1, further comprising a second locking member at the distal region of the shaft, the second locking member configured to releasably couple to the distal portion of the surgical instrument.

5. The removable working channel of claim 4, wherein the second locking member comprises an annular ring or a spring clamp at the distal region of the shaft.

6. The removable working channel of claim 4, wherein the second locking member comprises at least one of a clamp, a friction fit component, a latch, a snap fit component, a screw lock, a luer fit, a threaded fit component, a slip fit component, a bayonet, a ball spring or pogo latch, a detent, a magnet, and an O-ring component.

7. The removable working channel of claim 1, wherein the removable working channel does not comprise a locking member at the distal region of the shaft.

8. The removable working channel of claim 1, wherein:

the first locking member comprises a locking component configured to engage with a tool; and

the first locking member is configured to be releasable from the proximal portion of the surgical instrument when, in use, the tool engages and actuates the locking component of the first locking member.

9. The removable working channel of claim 1, further comprising at least one identification member configured to store data comprising information regarding a source of the removable working channel.

10. The removable working channel of claim 9, wherein the at least one identification member comprises a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag.

11. The removable working channel of claim 1, wherein the shaft is made of extruded plastic.

12. The removable working channel of claim 1, wherein the shaft further comprises an inner liner attached to the inner surface.

13. The removable working channel of claim 12, wherein the inner liner is made of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), linear low density poly ethylene (LLDPE), or hydrophilic materials.

14. The removable working channel of claim 1, wherein the shaft comprises a reinforcement member disposed at least partially between the inner surface and the outer surface.

15. The removable working channel of claim 14, wherein the reinforcement member comprises at least one of (i) one or more coils, (ii) one or more braids, and (iii) one cable tube.

16. A surgical instrument configured to receive a removable working channel, the surgical instrument comprising:

a proximal portion and a distal portion;

an instrument channel extending through the proximal and distal portions, the instrument channel comprising;

a proximal region and a distal region; and

an inner surface defining a lumen extending through the instrument channel;

a working channel sheath attached to the inner surface of the instrument channel and configured to interface with the removable working channel; and

a first coupling member at the proximal portion of the surgical instrument, the first coupling member configured to releasably couple to a proximal region of the removable working channel.

17. The surgical instrument of claim 16, further comprising a second coupling member at the distal portion of the surgical instrument, the second coupling member configured to releasably couple to a distal region of the removable working channel.

18. The removable working channel of claim 16, wherein the working channel sheath is made of extruded plastic.

19. The surgical instrument of claim 16, wherein the working channel sheath comprises an inner liner made of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), or linear low density poly ethylene (LLDPE).

20. The surgical instrument of claim 16, wherein the working channel sheath comprises at least one of (i) one or more coils, (ii) one or more braids, and (iii) one cable tube.

21. The surgical instrument of claim 16, wherein the coils, the braids, or the cable tubes are at least partially made of stainless steel, copper, other metals, Nitinol alloy, graphite, polyparaphenylene terephthalamide, Ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE), PEEK, or nylon.

22. The surgical instrument of claim 16, further comprising at least one detector configured to read data from at least one identification member of the removable working channel, the data comprising information regarding a source of the removable working channel.

23. A tool configured to adjust an attachment between a removable working channel and a surgical instrument, the removable working channel having proximal and distal regions, the surgical instrument having proximal and distal portions, the tool comprising:

an actuator configured to engage and actuate at least one of (i) one or more locking members at the proximal region of the removable working channel and (ii) one or more coupling members at the proximal portion of the surgical instrument,

wherein, in use, the engagement and actuation of the at least one of (i) one or more locking members and (ii) one or more coupling members by the actuator facilitates at least one of locking and unlocking the attachment between the removable working channel and the surgical instrument.

24. A method for sanitizing one or more removable working channels of a surgical instrument, the method comprising:

removing a first removable working channel from the surgical instrument;

analyzing an integrity of the first removable working channel;

cleaning and reinstalling the first removable working channel in an instrument channel of the surgical instrument in response to the integrity of the first removable working channel being uncompromised; and

replacing the first removable working channel with a second removable working channel in the instrument channel in response to the integrity of the first removable working channel being compromised.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the one or more removable working channels further comprise at least one identification member configured to store data comprising information regarding a source of the one or more removable working channels.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising updating the identification member with data regarding whether the first removable working channel or the second removable working channel is installed in the instrument channel of the surgical instrument.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein removing the first removable working channel from the surgical instrument comprises removing the first removable working channel through a proximal end of the instrument.

28. The method of claim 24, wherein replacing the first removable working channel with the second removable working channel comprises inserting a distal end of the second removable working channel through a proximal end of the instrument channel until the distal end of the second removable working channel reaches near a distal end of the instrument channel.

29. The method of claim 24, wherein the surgical instrument comprises:

a proximal portion and a distal portion;

an instrument channel extending through the proximal and distal portions;

a working channel sheath attached to an inner surface of the instrument channel; and

one or more coupling members at the proximal portion or the distal portion of the surgical instrument.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the one or more coupling members comprise at least one of a clamp, a friction fit component, a latch, a snap fit component, a screw lock, a luer fit, a threaded fit component, a slip fit component, a bayonet, a ball spring or pogo latch, a detent, a magnet, and an O-ring component.