Endoscopic accessory and containment system

• US 5,931,833 A
• Filed: 12/09/1997
• Issued: 08/03/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fred E. Silverstein
• Original Assignee: Fred E. Silverstein
• Inventors: Silverstein, Fred E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dawson, Glenn K.
• Application Number:
  US08/987,462
• Time in Patent Office: 602 Days
• Field of Search: 600/101, 600/104, 606/1, 606/108, 606/205, 604/159, 604/95
• US Class Current: 606/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00133 Drive units for endoscopic tools inserted through or with the endoscope
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/018 for receiving instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/02 Instruments for taking cell samples or for biopsy A61B10/0038 and A61B10/0045 take precedence; needle locating or guiding means A61B17/3403; samplers for enzymology or microbiology C12M1/26; sampling or preparing biological specimens G01N33/48
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/06 Biopsy forceps , e.g. with cup-shaped jaws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/29 Forceps for use in minimally invasive surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/18 by applying electromagnetic radiation, e.g. microwaves radiation therapy A61N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/003 Steerable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22072 with an instrument channel, e.g. for replacing one instrument by the other in cannulas A61B17/3417
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/40 Apparatus fixed or close to patients specially adapted for providing an aseptic surgical environment

Abstract

A therapeutic or diagnostic accessory and containment system for use with a flexible or rigid endoscope during an endoscopic procedure. The system includes an accessory and a containment enclosure, wherein the accessory has an elongated, flexible, and axially-rigid shaft shaped to fit into the endoscope'"'"'s biopsy channel and a tool connected to the shaft'"'"'s distal end. The enclosure is adapted to contain at least a major portion of the shaft is remote from the endoscope and has at least one aperture through which the distal end of the shaft extends. An instrument deploying mechanism connected to the enclosure and to the shaft has a withdrawing mechanism that withdraws the shaft into the enclosure through the aperture. A control mechanism for controlling the tool is attached to the proximal end of the shaft. The accessory can be disposable or reusable and is used in conjunction with an endoscope to perform an endoscopic procedure. The method includes inserting the shaft into a patient through the endoscope'"'"'s insertion tube, performing a predetermining procedure, withdrawing the shaft and tool from the insertion tube, and immediately containing the shaft within the disposable enclosure. Thereafter, the accessory may be disposed of or cleaned, disinfected, and/or sterilized.

Claims

1. A therapeutic or diagnostic accessory and containment system used with a medical device having an insertion tube containing a channel insertable into a patient and providing a conduit for an accessory to pass through, comprising:

an accessory having an elongated, flexible shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, said shaft being shaped to fit into the channel of the medical device;

a tool connected to said shaft at said distal end;

an enclosure adapted to contain at least a major portion of said shaft, said enclosure having at least one aperture through which the distal end of said shaft is extended and retracted for insertion into the channel and withdrawal from the channel; and

an instrument deploying mechanism coupled to said enclosure and to said shaft, said deploying mechanism comprising a withdrawing mechanism that withdraws said shaft into said enclosure through said aperture, said shaft having a control mechanism for controlling said tool, said control mechanism being attached to said deploying mechanism and operatively connected to said tool.

2. The therapeutic or diagnostic accessory and containment system of claim 1, further comprising an advancing mechanism that advances said shaft out of said enclosure through said aperture.

3. The therapeutic or diagnostic accessory and containment system of claim 1 wherein said deploying mechanism comprises a crank system connected to said shaft and rotatably coupled to said enclosure.

4. The therapeutic or diagnostic accessory and containment system of claim 1 wherein said deploying mechanism comprises a control handle, said control handle carrying said withdrawing mechanism.

5. The therapeutic or diagnostic accessory and containment system of claim 1 wherein said shaft has a control mechanism for controlling said tool, said control mechanism attached to said proximal end of said shaft and operatively connected to said tool.

6. A therapeutic and diagnostic medical system used during medical procedure, the system comprising:

a medical device having an insertion tube with a first proximal end, a first distal end, a channel extending through said insertion tube from said first proximal end to said first distal end, and a channel inlet at said first proximal end;

a therapeutic or diagnostic accessory and containment assembly used with said medical device during the medical procedure, said assembly comprising;

an accessory having an elongated flexible shaft of a predetermined length having a second proximal end, a second distal end, and a tool connected to said second distal end, said tool and said second distal end shaped to extend into said channel through said channel inlet;

an enclosure adapted to contain at least a major portion of said shaft and being sized larger than the channel inlet so that the enclosure is too large to fit into the channel, said enclosure being remote from said medical device and having at least one aperture through which said shaft can be advanced and withdrawn for insertion and removal from the channel while the enclosure remains exterior of the channel; and

an instrument deployment mechanism coupled to said enclosure and to said shaft, said instrument deployment mechanism comprising a withdrawing mechanism to withdraw said shaft from said channel directly into said enclosure through said aperture.

7. The therapeutic and diagnostic medical system of claim 6 wherein said instrument deployment mechanism further comprises an advancing mechanism to advance said shaft out of said enclosure through said aperture.

8. The therapeutic and diagnostic medical system of claim 6 wherein said shaft has a control mechanism for controlling said tool, said control mechanism attached to said deployment mechanism and operatively connected to said tool.

9. The endoscopic therapeutic and diagnostic medical system of claim 6 wherein said deployment mechanism comprises a crank system connected to said shaft and rotatably connected to said enclosure.

10. The therapeutic and diagnostic medical system of claim 6 wherein said deployment mechanism comprises a control handle, said control handle carrying said withdrawing mechanism.

11. The therapeutic and diagnostic medical system of claim 6 wherein said shaft has a control mechanism for controlling said tool, said control mechanism coupled to said proximal end of said shaft and operatively connected to said tool.

12. The therapeutic and diagnostic medical system of claim 6 wherein the insertion tube of said medical device is a flexible insertion tube.