Rotate advance catheterization system

• US 6,379,334 B1
• Filed: 11/23/1999
• Issued: 04/30/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Olympus Endo Technology America Inc. (Olympus Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Essex Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: Frassica, James J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Seidel, Richard K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Thanh, LoAn H.
• Application Number:
  US09/448,054
• Time in Patent Office: 889 Days
• Field of Search: 604/264, 604/523-524, 604/528, 604/915-916, 604/96.01, 604/103.06, 604/103.08, 604/103.09, 604/540, 604/541, 604/543, 604/544, 604/164.01, 604/164.07, 604/165.01, 604/165.04, 600/101, 600/109, 600/160, 600/129, 600/130, 600/114, 606/192-194, 606/1, 606/108, 606/198, 606/72-73
• US Class Current: 604/165.04
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0008 characterised by distal tip features
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00154 using guiding arrangements for insertion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0016 using motor drive units
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/015 Control of fluid supply or evacuation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/042 characterised by a proximal camera, e.g. a CCD camera
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/273 for the upper alimentary canal, e.g. oesophagoscopes, gastroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/307 for the urinary organs, e.g. urethroscopes, cystoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00685 Archimedes screw
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/349 Trocar with thread on outside
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/361 Image-producing devices, e.g. surgical cameras
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0009 placed in or outside the body opening close to the surface of the body plugging an opening in the wall of a hollow or tubular organ A61B17/0057
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/88 the wire-like elements formed as helical or spiral coils forming a net-like or mesh-like structure A61F2/90
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/94 Stents retaining their form, i.e. not being deformable, after placement in the predetermined place
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/006 having a special surface topography or special surface properties, e.g. roughened or knurled surface
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0191 Suprapubic catheters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/1086 having a special balloon surface topography, e.g. pores, protuberances, spikes or grooves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/1078 Urinary tract
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0017 specially adapted for long-term hygiene care, e.g. urethral or indwelling catheters to prevent infections
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0021 characterised by the form of the tubing A61M25/0054 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0043 characterised by structural features
• 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 25/007 : Side holes, e.g. their profiles or arrangements; Provisions to keep side holes unblocked
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0075 : Valve means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/01 : Introducing, guiding, advancing, emplacing or holding catheters A61M25/10 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0102 : Insertion or introduction using an inner stiffening member, e.g. stylet or push-rod
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0105 : Steering means as part of the catheter or advancing means; Markers for positioning systems for detection of markers A61B
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0111 : Aseptic insertion devices
• 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 27/008 : pre-shaped, for use in the urethral or ureteral tract

Abstract

A system of rotate-to-advance medical devices including catheters, dilators, occluders, stents, suprapubic catheters and camera introducers configured with external screw threads and depending substantially on rotation for means of advancement and emplacement in mammalian genitouinary and gastrointestinal passages and organs.

Claims

1. A threaded stent for supporting mammalian genitourinary and gastrointestinal passages, said stent comprising a flexible tube with an external helical thread disposed thereon for causing a gentle, gradual displacement of the mammalian genitourinary and gastrointestinal passages without incising or rupturing the same, said tube further comprising means for axial engagement in a non-rotational relationship with the distal end of a stylet, said thread having a thread height of at least one fifth (⅕

) of the outside diameter of said tube and a thread pitch not greater than the circumference of an imaginary circle enscribing the outer boundary of said thread.

2. The threaded stent of claim 1, said thread being of uniform pitch.

3. The threaded stent of claim 1, said flexible tube having a distal end and a proximal end, and said flexible tube having a constant diameter from said distal end to said proximal end, wherein said distal end forms a blunt leading end to avoid false passageways.

4. The threaded stent of claim 1, said flexible tube having a distal end and a proximal end, and said thread height being varied along a portion between said distal end to said proximal end so as to form a waist for gripping by a muscular zone including the prostate and the sphincter.

5. The threaded stent of claim 1, said flexible tube further comprising a valve for flow control.

6. A method for supporting mammalian genitourinary and gastrointestinal passages, said method comprising:

providing a threaded stent for supporting mammalian genitourinary and gastrointestinal passages, said stent comprising a flexible tube with an external helical thread disposed thereon for causing a gentle, gradual displacement of the mammalian genitourinary and gastrointestinal passages without incising or rupturing the same, said tube further comprising means for axial engagement in a non-rotational relationship with the distal end of a stylet, said thread having a thread height of at least one fifth (⅕

) of the outside diameter of said tube and a thread pitch not greater than the the circumference of an imaginary circle enscribing the outer boundary of said thread; and

advancing said threaded stent to a desired portion of one of said mammalian genitourinary and gastrointestinal passages, said advancing being conducted by turning said stent.