Flexible ureteropyeloscope

• US 6,780,151 B2
• Filed: 03/01/2002
• Issued: 08/24/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/1999
• Status: Expired

• Current Assignee: Gyrus ACMI, Inc. (Olympus Corporation)
• Original Assignee: ACMI Corp. (Olympus Corporation)
• Inventors: Conlin, Michael J., Bagley, Demetrius H. Jr., Schulam, Peter Gerard, Konstorum, Gregory S., Grabover, Edward A., Patel, Anup
• Primary Examiner(s): Leubecker, John P.
• Application Number:
  US10/087,622
• Publication Number:
  US 20030023142A1
• Time in Patent Office: 907 Days
• Field of Search: 600/143, 600/141, 600/146, 600/148-151, 604/95.01, 604/528, 604/530
• US Class Current: 600/146
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00071 Insertion part of the endoscope body A61B1/0055 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0051 with controlled bending of insertion part
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0055 Constructional details of insertion parts, e.g. vertebral elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/24 Instruments or systems for viewing the inside of hollow bodies, e.g. fibrescopes
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/2476 Non-optical details, e.g. housings, mountings, supports

Abstract

A flexible ureteropyeloscope having a control section and a shaft extending from the control section. The shaft has a front end with a first active deflection section connected in series with a second active deflection section. The control section is adapted to independently deflect the first and second defection sections. The first and second active deflection sections are adapted to deflect such that a distal end of the ureteropyeloscope can be placed in a calyx of a lower pole of a kidney without the need to passively deflect the front end of the shaft against kidney tissue of a patient to reach the calyx of the lower pole.

Claims

1. In a flexible ureteropyeloscope having a control section and a shaft extending from the control section, the improvement comprising:

the shaft comprising a front end with a first active deflection section connected in series with a second active deflection section, the control section being adapted to independently deflect the first and second deflection sections, wherein the first and second active deflection sections are adapted to deflect such that a distal end of the ureteropyeloscope can be placed in a calyx of a lower pole of a kidney without the need to passively deflecting the front end of the shaft against tissue of the kidney of a patient to reach the calyx of the lower pole, wherein the first frame member has a first array of slots therein and the second frame member has a second different array of slots therein.

2. A flexible ureteropyaloscope as in claim 1 wherein the slots of the first array extend into the first frame member in two opposite directions.

3. In a flexible ureteropyeloscope having a control section and a shaft extending from the control section, the improvement comprising:

the shaft comprising a front end with a first active deflection section connected in series with a second active deflection section, the control section being adapted to independently deflect the first and second deflection sections, wherein the first and second active deflection sections are adapted to deflect such that a distal end of the ureteropyeloscope can be placed in a calyx of a lower pole of a kidney without the need to passively deflecting the front end of the shaft against tissue of the kidney of a patient to reach the calyx of the lower pole, wherein the first active deflection section comprises a first shape-memory frame member having a general tubular shape comprised of superelastic material, and wherein the second active deflection section comprises a second shape-memory frame member having a general tubular shape comprised of superelastic material, and wherein the first and second frame members are connected to each other by a fitting, and an end of a control wire from the control section is fixedly connected to the fitting.

4. In a flexible ureteropyeloscope having a control section and a shaft extending from the control section, the improvement comprising:

the shaft comprising a front end with a first active deflection section connected in series with a second active deflection section, the control section being adapted to independently deflect the first and second deflection sections, wherein the first and second active deflection sections are adapted to deflect such that a distal end of the ureteropyeloscope can be placed in a calyx of a lower pole of a kidney without the need to passively deflecting the front end of the shaft against tissue of the kidney of a patient to reach the calyx of the lower pole, wherein the first active deflection section comprises a first shape-memory frame member having a general tubular shape comprised of superelastic material, and wherein the second active deflection section comprises a second shape-memory frame member having a general tubular shape comprised of superelastic material, and wherein the second frame member has a curved preshaped home position.

5. A flexible ureteropyeloscope as in claim 4 wherein the second frame member is maintained in a straight position by tension from a control wire from the control section.

6. A flexible ureteropyeloscope having a control section and a shaft extending from the control section, comprising:

the shaft comprising a front end with a first active deflection section connected in series with a second active deflection section, the control section being adapted to independently deflect the first and second deflection sections, wherein the first and second active deflection sections are adapted to deflect such that a distal end of the ureteropyeloscope is sized and shaped to be placed in a calyx of a lower pole of a kidney without passively deflecting the front end of the shaft against tissue of the kidney of a patient to reach the calyx of the lower pole,

wherein the first active deflection section is adapted to deflect in at least two opposite directions about 155°

-190°

with a radius of curvature of about 9-12 mm, and wherein a frame piece of the shaft which forms the second active deflection section is adapted to deflect in at least one direction about 125°

-165°

with a radius of curvature of about 9.5-13 mm.

7. A flexible ureteropyeloscope as in claim 6 wherein the first active deflection section is adapted to deflect in a first one of the at least two opposite directions a maximum of about 185°

with a radius of curvature of about 10.6 mm, and is adapted to deflect in a second one of the at least two opposite directions a maximum of about 175°

with a radius of curvature of about 11.3 mm.

8. A flexible ureteropyeloscope as in claim 7 wherein the second active deflection section is adapted to deflect a maximum of about 135°

with a radius of curvature of about 10.6 mm.

9. A flexible ureteropyeloscope as in claim 8 wherein the first active deflection section has a length of about 3.6 cm and the second active deflection section has a length of about 2.8 cm.

10. A flexible ureteropyeloscope comprising:

a control section; and

a shaft extending from the control section, the shaft comprising a front end with two superelastic tube frame pieces connected in series, wherein a first one of the frame pieces forms a first active deflection section adapted to deflect in a first direction about 155°

-190°

with a radius of curvature of about 9-12 mm, and wherein a second one of the frame pieces forms a second active deflection section adapted to deflect in a direction substantially the same as the first direction about 125°

-165°

with a radius of curvature of about 9.5-13 mm.

11. A flexible ureteropyeloscope as in claim 10 wherein the first active deflection section is adapted to deflect in an opposite second direction about 90°

-190°

.

12. A flexible ureteropyeloscope as in claim 10 wherein the first active deflection section is adapted to deflect in a first one of the at least two opposite directions about 185°

with a radius of curvature of about 10.6 mm, and is adapted to deflect in a second one of the at least two opposite directions about 175°

with a radius of curvature of about 11.3 mm.

13. A flexible ureteropyeloscope as in claim 12 wherein the second active deflection section is adapted to deflect about 135°

with a radius of curvature of about 10.6 mm.

14. A flexible ureteropyeloscope as in claim 13 wherein the first active deflection section has a length of about 3.6 cm and the second active deflection section has a length of about 2.8 cm.

15. A flexible ureteropyeloscope as in claim 10 wherein the first frame member has a first array of slots therein and the second frame member has a second different array of slots therein.

16. A flexible ureteropyeloscope as in claim 15 wherein the slots of the first array of slots extend into the first frame member in two opposite directions.

17. A flexible ureteropyeloscope comprising:

a control section; and

a shaft extending from the control section, the shaft comprising a front end with two superelastic tube frame pieces connected in series, wherein a first one of the frame pieces forms a first active deflection section adapted to deflect in a first direction about 155°

-190°

with a radius of curvature of about 9-12 mm, and wherein a second one of the frame pieces forms a second active deflection section adapted to deflect in a direction substantially the same as the first direction about 125°

-165°

with a radius of curvature of about 9.5-13 mm, wherein the first and second frame members are connected to each other by a fitting, an end of a control wire from the control section being fixedly connected to the fitting.

18. A flexible ureteropyeloscope comprising:

a control section; and

a shaft extending from the control section, the shaft comprising a front end with two superelastic tube frame pieces connected in series, wherein a first one of the frame pieces forms a first active deflection section adapted to deflect in a first direction about 155°

-190°

with a radius of curvature of about 9-12 mm, and wherein a second one of the frame pieces forms a second active deflection section adapted to deflect in a direction substantially the same as the first direction about 125°

-165°

with a radius of curvature of about 9.5-13 mm,

wherein the second frame member has a curved pre-shaped home position.

19. A flexible ureteropyeloscope as in claim 18 wherein the second frame member is maintained in a straight position by tension from a control wire from the control section.

20. A method of positioning a distal tip of a flexible ureteropyeloscope in a calyx of a lower pole of a kidney comprising steps of:

bending a first active deflection section of a front end of a shaft of the flexible ureteropyeloscope; and

bending a second active deflection section of the front end of the shaft, the second active deflection section being located behind the first active deflection section,

wherein the first and second active deflection sections are independently, controllably deflectable to locate the distal tip in the calyx of the lower pole without the need to passively deflect the front end against kidney tissue of the patient.

21. A method as in claim 20 wherein the first active deflection section comprises a first frame member having a general tube shape comprised of superelastic material, the second active deflection section comprises a second frame member having a general tube shape comprised of superelastic material, wherein the steps of bending the first and second active deflection sections comprise moving different control wires of a control section of the flexible ureteropyeloscope.

22. A method as in claim 20 wherein the step of bending the first active deflection section comprises bending the first active deflection section about 155°

-190°

with a radius of curvature of about 9-12 mm, and wherein the step of bending the second active deflection section comprises bending the second active deflection section about 125°

-155°

with a radius of curvature of about 9.5-13 mm.

23. In a flexible ureteropyaloscope having a control section and a shaft extending from the control section, the improvement comprising:

the shaft comprising a front end with a first active deflection section connected in series with a second active deflection section, the control section being adapted to independently deflect the if first and second deflection sections, wherein the first and second active deflection sections are adapted to deflect such that a distal end of the ureteropyaloscope is adapted to be placed in a calyx of a lower pole of a kidney without passively deflecting the front end of the shaft against tissue of the kidney of a patient to reach the calyx of the lower pole, wherein the first active deflection section comprises a shape-memory frame member having a general tubular shape comprised of superelastic material, and wherein the shape-memory frame member is connected to another frame member in the second active deflection section by a fatting, and an end of a control wire from the control section is fixedly connected to the fitting.

24. A flexible ureteropyeloscope comprising:

a control section; and

a shaft extending from the control section, the shaft comprising a front end with at least one deflectable superelastic tube frame piece forming a first active deflection section connected in aeries to a second active deflectable section, wherein the frame piece forms the first active deflection section adapted to deflect in a first direction about 155°

-190°

with a radius of curvature of about 9-12 mm, and wherein the second active deflection section is adapted to deflect in a direction substantially the same as the first direction about 125°

-165°

with a radius of curvature of about 13 mm or less, wherein the first and second active deflection sections are connected to each other by a fitting, an end of a control wire from the control section being fixedly connected to the fitting for controlling deflection of the second active deflection section.