Passage-travelling device

• US 6,709,388 B1
• Filed: 05/09/2002
• Issued: 03/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (Government of United Kingdom)
• Original Assignee: University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (Government of United Kingdom)
• Inventors: Mills, Timothy, Swain, Paul, Mosse, Charles Alexander
• Primary Examiner(s): Mulcahy, John
• Application Number:
  US10/048,560
• Time in Patent Office: 684 Days
• Field of Search: 600/114, 600/109, 600/112, 600/160, 600/302, 607/40, 607/133, 607/138, 607/36
• US Class Current: 600/114
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00156 using self propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/041 Capsule endoscopes for imaging
• 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 25/0116 self-propelled, e.g. autonomous robots A61M25/0122 takes precedence

Abstract

A self-propelling device (1) is adapted to travel through a passage (3) having walls containing contractile tissue, the device (1) comprising a body (2) and at least one contractile tissue-stimulating means for stimulating the walls to urge the device selectively in both a forward direction (7). The stimulating means may be electrodes (5,8), and the passage can be the gut of an animal or human. The device is particularly useful as an enteroscope.

Claims

1. A device adapted to travel through a passage having walls containing local contractile tissue, the device comprising a body and at least one contractile tissue-stimulating means to urge the device selectively in both a forward and backward direction;

wherein at least a rear-most portion of the body, in relation to a required direction of travel, is substantially tapered with respect to a longitudinal axis of the body, and has located thereon said at least one local contractile tissue-stimulating means.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the contractile tissue-stimulating means is adapted to stimulate either smooth or striated muscle.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the body is lozenge-shaped, or shaped substantially as a cylinder with hemispherical ends, or is an inflatable balloon capable of assuming a required shape upon inflation.

4. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tapered body has an angle of taper of between 5°

and 80°

half angle.

5. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the body has a length of between 1 and 5 cm.

6. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the width of the body is between 0.5 and 3 cm.

7. A device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an umbilicus attached to one end of the body, said umbilicus being capable of transmitting information to a remote station.

8. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the device is without attachment to any means passing out of the passage.

9. A device as claimed in claim 1, having at least means for transporting objects selected from the group consisting of:

feeding tubes, guide wires, physiological sensors and endoscopes.

10. A method of propelling a device along a passage having walls containing contractile tissue, comprising:

providing a device according to claim 1 within the passage and activating the device to stimulate local contractile tissue in the walls of the passage, so as to contract a local region of the walls in contact with one end of the device, and so urge the device selectively in both a forward and backward direction.

11. A method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the device is a discrete unit that is operated from a remote station.

12. A method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the device is an enteroscope.

13. A passage-traveling device adapted to travel through a passage having walls containing contractile tissue, the device comprising a tapered body, a plurality of electrodes disposed on the body, and means for supplying an electric current selectively to said electrodes and thereby to contractile tissue surrounding either one end of the body to urge the device selectively in both a forward and backward direction.

14. A device as claimed in claim 13, wherein said plurality of electrodes are located on either end of the body in an orientation relative to the body that is opposite to that of a required direction of travel.

15. A device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the body is associated with at least one selected from the group consisting of a camera means, a light means, means for supplying air or water to inflate the passage, means for storing energy to be supplied to the electrodes as electrical current, and means for receiving or transmitting data to a remote station.

16. A moveable, remotely-operable enteroscope comprising a discrete, tapered body;

and at least one local contractile tissue-stimulating means configured to urge the enteroscope selectively in both a forward and backward direction and located, on the body, in an orientation relative to the body being opposite to a required direction of movement of the enteroscope.