Method and apparatus for conducting exploratory procedures

• US 5,251,611 A
• Filed: 05/07/1991
• Issued: 10/12/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dwight M. Baumann, Wendell E. Zehel, William B. Brenner
• Original Assignee: Dwight M. Baumann, Wendell E. Zehel, William B. Brenner
• Inventors: Brenner, William B., Baumann, Dwight M., Zehel, Wendell E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wilson, John J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHERICHETTI, CINDY
• Application Number:
  US07/696,803
• Time in Patent Office: 889 Days
• Field of Search: 128/4, 604/95, 604/282
• US Class Current: 600/141
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0055 Constructional details of insertion parts, e.g. vertebral elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0054 with regions for increasing flexibility
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0138 having flexible regions as a result of weakened outer material, e.g. slots, slits, cuts, joints or coils
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0147 with movable mechanical means, e.g. pull wires

Abstract

A method and apparatus for conducting exploratory procedures is disclosed. The apparatus includes a flexible steerable device which may alternately be stiffened along its entire length or a portion thereof and relaxed in order to effect movement of the device through a subject, such as the gut of a patient. The apparatus preferably comprises a pair of concentric conduits and is used by inserting the device into the subject, at least one of the concentric conduits being stiffenable. One of the conduits may be stiffened, acting as a guide for the other conduit. One conduit may be made flexible to be steered into the subject or follow the path prescribed by the other conduit or the path of least resistance. The device this minimizes the force exerted on the walls of the gut or other containment.

Claims

1. A flexible steerable device for use in exploratory procedures, said device comprising an inner flexible conduit and an outer flexible conduit running substantially coaxially and concentrically over said inner flexible conduit, the inner flexible conduit and the outer flexible conduit being disposed for sliding axial movement relative to each other, said inner flexible conduit and said outer flexible conduit each having a distal end and a proximal end, at least one of said inner flexible conduit and said outer flexible conduit including stiffening means in operative connection therewith and operable to render the associated one of said inner flexible conduit and outer flexible conduit rigid along its length, and slidably axially movable relative to the other conduit whereby upon relative sliding movement, the conduit which is in a flexible state is constrained to follow the shape of the conduit which is in a rigid state.

2. The flexible steerable device of claim 1, both said inner flexible conduit and outer flexible conduit having a said stiffening means.

3. The flexible steerable device of claim 2 wherein each said stiffening means for at least one of said inner flexible conduit and said outer flexible conduit comprises a series of segments aligned with one another and strung on cable means, each said segment having a male end and/or a female end, said male end of each segment adapted to pivotally engage the female end of an adjacent segment when said cable means is relaxed, said male end adapted to frictionally engage said female end when said cable means is actuated.

4. The flexible steerable device of claim 3 wherein said outer flexible conduit includes a plurality of said stiffening means equally spaced about the walls of said conduit.

5. The flexible steerable device of claim 3 wherein said stiffening means comprise substantially spherical and substantially cylindrical segments aligned in alternating sequence.

6. The flexible steerable device of claim 3 wherein all of said segments of said stiffening means are substantially spherically shaped and each said stiffening means cable means passes through a channel within each said segment.

7. The flexible steerable device of claim 3 wherein said cable means for each said stiffening means is activated by pulling said cable taut at its proximal end, said cable being attached at its distal end to the most distal segment of said stiffening means relative to the proximal end thereof.

8. The flexible steerable device of claim 7 wherein each said cable means for each said stiffening means is activated by cable tensioning means connected to the proximal end of said cable means.

9. The flexible steerable device of claim 1 wherein said flexible steerable device is adapted for use in the human body and said flexible steerable device is provided at its distal end with means for conducting visual examination within said human body.

10. The flexible steerable device of claim 9 further including at said distal end means for conducting surgical procedures within said human body.

11. The flexible steerable device of claim 1 further comprising an elastic membrane enclosing at least a portion of said outer flexible conduit and said inner flexible conduit, said membrane being fastened at one end to said distal end of said inner flexible conduit and being fastened at its other end to the outer surface of said outer flexible conduit.

12. A method of conducting exploratory procedures on a subject with a flexible steerable device having a distal end, comprising the steps of:

a. inserting the distal end of said flexible steerable device through an opening in said subject, said flexible steerable device comprising an inner flexible conduit and an outer flexible conduit, said inner flexible conduit being slidably and concentrically positioned within said outer flexible conduit, at least one of said inner flexible conduit and outer flexible conduit capable of being made rigid along its entire length by a stiffening means;

b. stiffening at least one of said inner flexible conduit and said outer flexible conduit, thereby stiffening said flexible steerable device and directing the distal end of said stiffened flexible steerable device toward a target point within said subject until appreciable resistance from said subject is encountered by said flexible device;

c. directing the distal end of said flexible steerable device to said target point, by alternately sliding said outer flexible conduit over said inner flexible conduit and sliding said inner flexible conduit through said outer flexible conduit, and by alternately stiffening and relaxing at least one of said outer flexible conduit and said inner flexible conduit;

d. repeating step (c) as required, alternately sliding, stiffening and relaxing said inner flexible conduit and/or said outer flexible conduit until said flexible steerable device distal end reaches said target point.

13. The method of claim 12 including the additional step of

e. performing a predetermined procedure on said subject with said distal end of said flexible steerable device at said target point.

14. The method of claim 13 including the additional steps of

f. removing said flexible steerable device by alternately relaxing and stiffening either said inner flexible conduit or said outer flexible conduit and slidably removing a portion of one from the other, while retaining the other substantially stationary with respect to said subject;

g. repeating step (f) as required until said flexible steerable device is removed from said subject.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein the subject is a human body.

16. The method of claim 12 wherein said flexible steerable device further comprises at the distal end thereof means for conducting visual examination of said subject.