Pre-curved wire guided papillotome having a shape memory tip for controlled bending and orientation

• US 6,017,340 A
• Filed: 01/27/1997
• Issued: 01/25/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Avent Incorporated (Avanos Medical, Inc.), ConMed Endoscopic Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: C.R.Bard, Wiltek Medical, Inc. (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Inventors: Cassidy, Todd, Dimitriou, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Thaler, Michael H.
• Application Number:
  US08/790,255
• Time in Patent Office: 1,093 Days
• Field of Search: 606/47, 606/110, 606/113, 604/281, 206/363, 600/104, 600/105
• US Class Current: 606/47
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/14 Probes or electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00867 shape memory effect for prostheses A61F2210/0014
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22038 with a guide wire
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00553 Sphincter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1407 Loop
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 2201/12 Shape memory

Abstract

A papillotome has an elongated sheath and plural longitudinal lumens, a proximal end and a distal end wherein the sheath is sized to be received within an endoscopic lumen. The distal end has a pre-curved shape memory tip for controlling the bending and orientation of the distal end. The pre-curved shape memory tip has a set configuration wherein the tip retains the set curve configuration when the distal end is in a relaxed configuration. A cutting wire having a longitudinal cutting edge is located along the distal end of the sheath which is movable in a cutting plane. The cutting wire is connected to a conductor disposed within one lumen of the sheath. A guidewire is disposed within another lumen of the sheath for guiding the pre-curved shape memory tip within the endoscopic lumen. A third lumen may be provided for delivering or injecting a fluid such as contrast. The package for the papillotome includes curve retention device which retains the pre-curved shape memory tip in the set curve configuration during transit and storage.

Claims

1. A traction-type papillotome for use with an endoscope, comprising:

an elongated sheath having a distal tip end consisting solely of a flexible non-metallic material, a portion of said distal tip end having a first length and including a curve set in the material when said distal tip end is relaxed;

said sheath having a first lumen extending along at least a part of its length; and

a wire of electrically conductive material in said first lumen having one end to be connected to a source of current and a cutting wire section at its other end that extends outwardly of the sheath between a first point on the inner radius of the curve and a second point on the inner radius of the curve of said distal tip end, the distance between said first and second points being less than said first length such that the cutting wire is exposed along only a portion of the curved distal tip end, said curved distal tip end including a curved portion proximal to said cutting wire section, the distal tip end being curved such that the cutting wire automatically orients to the 12 o'"'"'clock position when the traction-type papillotome emerges from the endoscope.

2. A papillotome as in claim 1, wherein said cutting wire section comprises a separate piece of wire electrically connected to said wire in said sheath first lumen.

3. A papillotome as in claim 1, further comprising means for applying a force to said wire to exert force on the tip end to change the shape of the curve of said tip end.

4. A papillotome as in claim 1, wherein said sheath includes a second lumen having an exit opening at a point along the length of the sheath.

5. A papillotome as in claim 4, wherein said sheath includes a third lumen which is isolated from said first and second lumens.

6. A papillotome as in claim 5, wherein said third lumen extends substantially the entire length of the sheath.

7. A papillotome as in claim 1 in combination with an elongated endoscope having a lumen, said sheath being movable within said endoscope lumen along its length with the curve of the tip end being straightened when within the endoscope lumen and said tip end upon exiting the endoscope resuming the curve shape.

8. The papillotome as in claim 1, wherein said cutting wire section includes a portion affixed to the curved distal tip end of the sheath.

9. A traction-type papillotome kit for use with an endoscope, comprising:

an elongated sheath having a distal tip end consisting solely of a flexible non-metallic material, a portion of said distal tip end having a first length and including a curve set in the material when said distal tip end is relaxed;

said sheath having a first lumen extending along at least a part of its length;

a wire of electrically conductive material in said first lumen having one end to be connected to a source of current and a cutting wire section at its other end that extends outwardly of the sheath between a first point on the inner radius and a second point on the inner radius of the curve of said distal tip end, the distance between said first and second points being less than said first length such that the cutting wire is exposed along only a portion of the curved distal tip end, said curved distal tip end including a curved portion proximal to said cutting wire section, the distal tip end being curved such that the cutting wire automatically orients to the 12 o'"'"'clock position when the traction-type papillotome emerges from the endoscope; and

a package for said papillotome, said package including curve retention means for retaining said pre-curved shape memory tip in said set curve shape while said papillotome is in said package.

10. The papillotome kit as in claim 9, wherein said curve retention means comprises first and second trays and wherein said first tray has at least one channel formed in the configuration of the curve shape of the tip end.

11. The papillotome as in claim 9, wherein said cutting wire section includes a portion affixed to the curved distal tip end of the sheath.

12. A traction-type papillotome for use with an endoscope, comprising:

an elongated sheath having a distal tip end shaped to have a curve set in the material when said distal tip end is relaxed, a portion of said distal tip end having a first length;

said sheath having a first lumen extending along at least a part of its length;

said sheath having second and third lumens extending substantially to said distal tip end, at least one of said second and third lumens being sized to receive a guidewire; and

a wire of electrically conductive material in said first lumen having one end to be connected to a source of current and a cutting wire section at its other end that extends outwardly of the sheath between a first point on the inner radius of the curve and a second point on the inner radius of the curve of said distal tip end, the distance between said first and second points being less than said first length such that the cutting wire is exposed along only a portion of the curved distal tip end, said curved distal tip end including a curved portion proximal to said cutting wire section, the distal tip end being curved such that the cutting wire automatically orients to the 12 o'"'"'clock position when the traction-type papillotome emerges from the endoscope.

13. The papillotome as in claim 12, wherein said cutting wire section includes a portion affixed to the curved distal tip end of the sheath.

14. A traction-type papillotome, comprising:

an elongated catheter having a normally curved distal tip end when said distal tip end is relaxed;

a first lumen extending within at least a first portion of the catheter; and

a wire of electrically conductive material disposed in said first lumen and having a cutting wire segment extending exteriorly of the catheter between first and second locations on the catheter,

said curved distal tip end including a proximal curved portion and a distal curved portion, said cutting wire segment extending exteriorly of the catheter only along said distal curved portion.

15. The papillotome as in claim 14, wherein said cutting wire segment includes a portion affixed to the curved distal tip end of the catheter.

16. The papillotome as in claim 14, further comprising a package for said papillotome, said package including curve retention means for retaining said normally curved distal tip end while said papillotome is in said package.

17. The papillotome as in claim 16, wherein said cutting wire segment includes a portion affixed to the curved distal tip end of the catheter.