Retrieval basket with releasable tip

• US 6,673,080 B2
• Filed: 01/07/2002
• Issued: 01/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Scimed Life Systems Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Bowen, Mark, Reynolds, Robert, Richardson, M. Kevin
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Connor; Cary E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Melson; Candice C.
• Application Number:
  US10/040,720
• Publication Number:
  US 20020091394A1
• Time in Patent Office: 729 Days
• Field of Search: 606/127,110,114,128,113,159,200
• US Class Current: 606/127
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00234 for minimally invasive surgery A61B17/0218, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/221 Gripping devices in the form of loops or baskets for gripping calculi or similar types of obstructions surgical snare instruments A61B17/32056
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00287 Bags for minimally invasive surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2212 having a closed distal end, e.g. a loop
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/037 with a frangible part, e.g. by reduced diameter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/03 Automatic limiting or abutting means, e.g. for safety

Abstract

A medical retrieval device is used to retrieve and/or fragment stones (and/or other objects) from the body of a patient. The device has a retrieval basket with a releasable tip. The tip release is designed to release in a controlled pre-determined manner and under a predetermined force before any other component of the device fails due to a force exerted on the basket.

Claims

1. A medical device, comprising:

a basket comprising a plurality of wires and a tip joint disposed at the distal end of the basket, an end of each of the plurality of wires is secured at the tip joint, the end of at least one of the plurality of wires is released from the tip joint when a predetermined force is applied to the basket.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the ends of the plurality of wires are secured at the tip joint by an adhesive.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the plurality of wires comprise stainless steel.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the plurality of wires comprise a nickel titanium alloy.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the ends of the plurality of wires are secured at the tip joint by solder.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the ends of the plurality of wires are secured at the tip joint by a weld.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein the ends of the plurality of wires are secured at the tip joint by over-molding.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein the ends of the plurality of wires are secured at the tip joint by a tip member.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein the tip joint comprises a tubular tip member having a distal end, a proximal end, and a lumen extending therethrough, wherein the lumen of the tubular tip member is adapted to receive the distal end of the basket wires therein.

10. The device of claim 9 wherein the lumen of the tubular tip member is compressed around the basket wires thereby securing the basket wires therein.

11. The device of claim 9 wherein at least one wire of the plurality of wires forming the basket is capable of sliding out of the tubular tip member when the predetermined force is applied to the tip joint.

12. The device of claim 9 wherein the tubular tip member deforms at a force that is less than the force required to cause the traction member or at least one wire of the plurality of wires forming the basket to fail.

13. The device of claim 12 wherein the tubular tip member is manufactured from a material which deforms at a force that is less than the force required to cause the traction member or at least one wire of the plurality of wires forming the basket to fail.

14. The device of claim 12 wherein the tubular tip member is manufactured from a material selected from a group consisting of silver-based alloy, silver, gold, platinum, stainless steel, and nickel titanium alloy.

15. The device of claim 12 wherein the tubular tip member is manufactured from sterling silver.

16. The device of claim 12 wherein the tubular tip member is manufactured from plastics.

17. The device of claim 12 wherein the force that is less than the force required to cause the traction member or at least one wire of the plurality of wires forming the basket to fail is in the range of about 20 pounds to 50 pounds.

18. The device of claim 1 further comprising:

a handle;

a sheath extending distally from the handle, the sheath having a lumen extending therethrough from a distal end of the sheath to a proximal end of the sheath; and

,

an elongate traction member axially disposed within the lumen of the sheath, the traction member distally extending from the handle and connected to the proximal end of the basket.

19. The device of claim 18 wherein the traction member is selected from a group consisting of a cable, a coil, a shaft, a guidewire and a mandril wire.

20. The device of claim 18 wherein the traction member and the basket are formed from a single piece of material.

21. The device of claim 18 wherein the handle comprises at least one actuating mechanism therein.

22. The device of claim 18 wherein the traction member is slideably moveable relative to the sheath.

23. The device of claim 18 wherein the traction member is connected to the actuating mechanism.

24. The device of claim 18, wherein the sheath is slideably moveable relative to the traction member.

25. The device of claim 18 wherein the sheath is connected to the actuating mechanism.

26. The device of claim 18 wherein the predetermined force is less than the force required to cause the traction member or at least one wire of the basket to fail.

27. The device of claim 26 wherein the handle is detachable.

28. The device of claim 26, wherein the sheath is dimensioned to fit within a working channel of an endoscope.

29. The device of claim 18 wherein the basket is moveable between a withdrawn position in which the basket is collapsed within the lumen of the sheath, and an expanded position in which the basket extends from the distal end of the sheath and is disposed outside of the lumen for capturing the objects in the body.

30. The device of claim 29 wherein movement of the basket between the expanded position and the withdrawn position causes the objects in the body to fragment.

31. The device of claim 18 wherein the basket wires are joined to the traction member by a proximal connector.

32. The device of claim 31 wherein the proximal connector is selected from a group consisting of an adhesive joint, a solder joint, a welded joint and an over-molding joint.

33. The device of claim 31 wherein the proximal connector comprises a proximal tubular member having a distal end, a proximal end, and a lumen extending therethrough, wherein the lumen of the proximal tubular member is adapted to receive the proximal end of the basket therein.

34. The device of claim 33 wherein the lumen of the proximal tubular member is compressed around the basket wires thereby securing the proximal end of the basket therein.

35. The device of claim 34 wherein the proximal tubular member is manufactured from stainless steel.

36. A method for removing objects from a body tract, comprising the steps of:

providing a medical device comprising;

a handle,

a sheath extending distally from the handle, the sheath having a lumen extending therethrough from a distal end of the sheath to a proximal end of the sheath, the sheath is dimensioned to fit within a working channel of an endoscope,

a basket comprising a plurality of wires and a tip joint disposed at the distal end of the basket, an end of each of the plurality of wires is secured at the tip joint, the end of at least one of the plurality of wires is released from the tip joint when a predetermined force is applied to the basket;

introducing the medical device with the basket in the withdrawn position into the body tract;

shifting the basket into the expanded position;

manipulating the basket to capture the objects therein; and

withdrawing the medical device from the body tract.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the medical device further comprises an elongate traction member axially disposed within the lumen of the sheath.

38. The method of claim 36, wherein the predetermined force is less than the force required to cause the traction member or at least one wire of the basket to fail.

39. The method of claim 36, further comprising the step of applying traction to the traction member in the proximal direction thereby generating tension within the basket and causing the captured objects to fragment.

40. The method of claim 36, further comprising the step of applying traction to the sheath in the distal direction thereby generating tension within the basket and causing the captured objects to fragment.

41. The method of claim 36, further comprising the step of injecting contrast material for fluoroscopic visualization.

42. A medical device for removing objects from a body, comprising:

a basket comprising a plurality of wires, a proximal end, and a distal end, the distal end of the basket failing when a predetermined force applied to the basket is less than a force required to cause one of the plurality of wires or the proximal end of the basket to fail.

43. The device of claim 42 wherein the basket distal end comprises a tip member.

44. The device of claim 42 wherein the predetermined force is less than the force required to cause the traction member or at least one wire of the basket to fail.

45. The device of claim 42 wherein the predetermined force is in the range of about 20 pounds to 50 pounds.

46. The device of claim 42 wherein the plurality of wires comprise stainless steel.

47. The device of claim 42 wherein the plurality of wires comprise a nickel titanium alloy.

48. The device of claim 42 wherein the basket distal end comprises a solder joint.

49. The device of claim 42 wherein the basket distal end comprises a weld joint.

50. The device of claim 42 wherein the basket distal end comprises an over-molding joint.

51. The device of claim 42 wherein the basket distal end comprises an adhesive joint.

52. The device of claim 42 further comprising:

a handle,

a sheath extending distally from the handle, the sheath having a lumen extending therethrough from a distal end of the sheath to a proximal end of the sheath, and

an elongate traction member axially disposed within the lumen of the sheath, the traction member distally extending from the handle and connected to a proximal end of the basket.

53. The device of claim 52 wherein the basket is moveable between a withdrawn position in which the basket is collapsed within the lumen of the sheath, and an expanded position in which the basket extends from the distal end of the sheath and is disposed outside of the lumen for capturing the objects in the body.

54. The device of claim 52 wherein the handle comprises at least one actuating mechanism therein.

55. The device of claim 52 wherein the traction member is slideably moveable relative to the sheath.

56. The device of claim 52 wherein the traction member is connected to the actuating mechanism.

57. The device of claim 52 wherein the sheath is slideably moveable relative to the traction member.

58. The device of claim 52 wherein the sheath is connected to the actuating mechanism.

59. The device of claim 52 wherein the predetermined force is less than the force required to cause the traction member or at least one wire of the basket to fail.

60. The device of claim 59 wherein the handle is detachable.

61. The device of claim 59 wherein the sheath is dimensioned to fit within a working channel of an endoscope.

62. The device of claim 52 wherein the basket wires are joined to the traction member by a proximal connector.

63. The device of claim 62 wherein the proximal connector comprises an adhesive joint.

64. The device of claim 62 wherein the proximal connector comprises a solder joint.

65. The device of claim 62 wherein the proximal connector comprises a welded joint.

66. The device of claim 62 wherein the proximal connector comprises an over-molding joint.

67. The device of claim 62 wherein the proximal connector comprises a proximal tubular member having a distal end, a proximal end, and a lumen extending therethrough, wherein the lumen of the proximal tubular member is adapted to receive the proximal end of the basket therein.

68. The device of claim 67 wherein the lumen of the proximal tubular member is compressed around the basket wires thereby securing the proximal end of the basket therein.

69. The device of claim 68 wherein the proximal tubular member is manufactured from stainless steel.

70. A method for removing objects from a body tract, comprising the steps of:

providing a medical device comprising;

a handle,

a sheath extending distally from the handle, the sheath having a lumen extending therethrough from a distal end of the sheath to a proximal end of the sheath, the sheath dimensioned to fit within a working channel of an endoscope,

a basket comprising a plurality of wires, a proximal end, and a distal end, the distal end of the basket failing when a predetermined force applied to the basket is less than a force required to cause one of the plurality of wires or the proximal end of the basket to fail, the basket moveable between a withdrawn position in which the basket is collapsed within the lumen of the sheath, and an expanded position in which the basket extends from the distal end of the sheath and is disposed outside of the lumen for capturing the objects in the body;

introducing the medical device with the basket in the withdrawn position into the body tract;

shifting the basket into the expanded position;

manipulating the basket to capture the objects therein; and

withdrawing the medical device from the body tract.

71. The method of claim 70, wherein the predetermined force is less than the force required to cause the traction member or at least one wire of the basket to fail.

72. The method of claim 70 further comprising the step of applying traction to the traction member in the proximal direction thereby generating tension within the basket and causing the captured objects to fragment.

73. The method of claim 70 further comprising the step of applying traction to the sheath in the distal direction thereby generating tension within the basket and causing the captured objects to fragment.

74. The method of claim 70, wherein the medical device further comprises an elongate traction member axially disposed within the lumen of the sheath.

75. The method of claim 74 further comprising the step of injecting contrast material for fluoroscopic visualization.

76. A medical device for removing objects from a body, comprising:

a basket comprising a plurality of wires and a distal end, the distal end of the basket failing when a predetermined force is applied to the basket, wherein the predetermined force is in the range of about 20 pounds to 50 pounds.