Endoscope valve assembly and method

• US 6,786,865 B2
• Filed: 10/16/2002
• Issued: 09/07/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Innon Holdings, LLC
• Original Assignee: Innon Holdings, LLC
• Inventors: Dhindsa, Avtar S.
• Primary Examiner(s): FLANAGAN, BEVERLY MEINDL
• Application Number:
  US10/271,485
• Publication Number:
  US 20040010183A1
• Time in Patent Office: 692 Days
• Field of Search: 600/105, 600/131, 600/135, 600/153, 600/156, 600/158, 600/157
• US Class Current: 600/159
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00068 Valve switch arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/12 with cooling or rinsing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/2476 Non-optical details, e.g. housings, mountings, supports

Abstract

In one embodiment, an endoscope valve assembly is releasably secured to a hand of a user of an endoscope. The endoscope valve assembly can be releasably secured to any part of the user'"'"'s hand (e.g., palm, thumb, or finger) and can be secured either to the hand that holds the endoscope or to the user'"'"'s other hand. Additionally, when the user holds an endoscope in one hand and a second medical instrument in his other hand, the valve assembly for the endoscope can be releasably secured to the second medical instrument. Other embodiments are described, and each of the embodiments can be used alone or in combination with each other.

Claims

1. A method for enhancing control efficiency of a medical endoscope, the method comprising:

(a) providing a medical endoscope comprising an irrigation port;

(b) providing an endoscope valve assembly comprising;

a housing comprising an inlet port and an outlet port;

a valve carried by the housing and coupled between the inlet port and the outlet port, the valve comprising a manually-controlled actuator movable by a user using the endoscope between a first position, in which the valve blocks flow between the inlet port and the outlet port, and a second position, in which the valve allows flow between the inlet port and the outlet port; and

a securing element;

(c) releasably connecting the outlet port of the valve assembly with the irrigation port of the endoscope; and

(d) releasably securing the securing element of the valve assembly at least partially around a hand of the user.

2. The invention of claim 1, wherein the valve assembly is releasably secured to a first digit of the user'"'"'s hand, and wherein the user moves the manually-controlled actuator with a second digit of the user'"'"'s hand.

3. The invention of claim 2, wherein the first digit comprises a finger, and wherein the second digit comprises a thumb.

4. The invention of claim 2, wherein the first digit comprises a thumb, and wherein the second digit comprises a finger.

5. The invention of claim 1, wherein the valve assembly is releasably secured to the user'"'"'s palm, and wherein the user moves the manually-controlled actuator with a digit of the user'"'"'s hand.

6. The invention of claim 1, wherein the valve assembly is releasably secured to a digit of the user'"'"'s hand, and wherein the user moves the manually-controlled actuator with the user'"'"'s palm.

7. The invention of claim 1, wherein the user holds the endoscope with the hand to which the valve assembly is releasably secured.

8. The invention of claim 1, wherein the user holds the endoscope with a hand other than the hand to which the valve assembly is releasably secured.

9. The invention of claim 1, wherein the outlet port of the valve assembly is connected with the irrigation port in (c) using coiled tubing.

15. The invention of claim 1, wherein the actuator is mounted to slide linearly between the first and second positions.

16. The invention of claim 1, wherein the actuator is mounted to rotate between the first and second positions.

17. The invention of claim 1, wherein the valve assembly further comprises a latch coupled with the valve and operative to releasably hold the valve in a selected state in response to a control input by the user.

18. The invention of claim 17, wherein the latch is coupled to the actuator and operative to hold the valve in a state that allows flow between the inlet port and the outlet port in response to user manipulation of the actuator.

19. The invention of claim 1, wherein the housing further comprises a second inlet port, wherein the valve blocks flow between the second inlet port and the outlet port in the first and second positions, and wherein the actuator is movable by the user to a third position, in which the valve allows flow between the second inlet port and the outlet port while blocking flow between the first-mentioned inlet port and the outlet port.

20. The invention of claim 19 further comprising:

connecting the first-mentioned inlet port to a liquid source; and

connecting the second inlet port to a suction source.

21. The invention of claim 1, wherein the valve assembly further comprises:

a second inlet port included in the housing; and

a second valve carried by the housing and coupled between the second inlet port and the outlet port, the second valve comprising a manually-controlled second actuator movable by the user between a third position, in which the second valve blocks flow between the second inlet port and the outlet port, and a fourth position, in which the second valve allows flow between the second inlet port and the outlet port.

22. The invention of claim 21 further comprising:

connecting the first-mentioned inlet port to a liquid source; and

connecting the second inlet port to a suction source.

23. The invention of claim 1 wherein the endoscope comprises a ureteroscope.

10. A method for enhancing control efficiency of a medical endoscope, the method comprising:

(a) providing a medical endoscope comprising an irrigation port;

(b) providing an endoscope valve assembly comprising;

a housing comprising an inlet port and an outlet port; and

a valve carried by the housing and coupled between the inlet port and the outlet port, the valve comprising a manually-controlled actuator movable by a user using the endoscope between a first position, in which the valve blocks flow between the inlet port and the outlet port, and a second position, in which the valve allows flow between the inlet port and the outlet port;

(c) releasably connecting the outlet port of the valve assembly with the irrigation port of the endoscope; and

(d) releasably securing the valve assembly to a hand of the user;

wherein the valve assembly is releasably secured to the user'"'"'s hand in (d) with a strap comprising hook-and-loop fasteners.

11. The invention of claim 10, wherein the housing comprises a D-loop, wherein a first end of the strap is attached to the housing, and wherein the valve assembly is releasably secured to the user'"'"'s hand in (d) by wrapping a second end of the strap through the D-loop.

12. A method for enhancing control efficiency of a medical endoscope, the method comprising:

(a) providing a medical endoscope comprising an irrigation port;

(b) providing an endoscope valve assembly comprising;

a housing comprising an inlet port and an outlet port; and

a valve carried by the housing and coupled between the inlet port and the outlet port, the valve comprising a manually-controlled actuator movable by a user using the endoscope between a first position, in which the valve blocks flow between the inlet port and the outlet port, and a second position, in which the valve allows flow between the inlet port and the outlet port;

(c) releasably connecting the outlet port of the valve assembly with the irrigation port of the endoscope; and

(d) releasably securing the valve assembly to a hand of the user;

wherein the valve assembly is releasably secured to the user'"'"'s hand in (d) with a resilient element.

13. A method for enhancing control efficiency of a medical endoscope, the method comprising:

(a) providing a medical endoscope comprising an irrigation port;

(b) providing an endoscope valve assembly comprising;

a housing comprising an inlet port and an outlet port; and

a valve carried by the housing and coupled between the inlet port and the outlet port, the valve comprising a manually-controlled actuator movable by a user using the endoscope between a first position, in which the valve blocks flow between the inlet port and the outlet port, and a second position, in which the valve allows flow between the inlet port and the outlet port;

(c) releasably connecting the outlet port of the valve assembly with the irrigation port of the endoscope; and

(d) releasably securing the valve assembly to a hand of the user;

wherein the valve assembly is releasably secured to the user'"'"'s hand in (d) with a pressure-sensitive adhesive.

14. A method for enhancing control efficiency of a medical endoscope, the method comprising:

(a) providing a medical endoscope comprising an irrigation port;

(b) providing an endoscope valve assembly comprising;

a housing comprising an inlet port and an outlet port; and

a valve carried by the housing and coupled between the inlet port and the outlet port, the valve comprising a manually-controlled actuator movable by a user using the endoscope between a first position, in which the valve blocks flow between the inlet port and the outlet port, and a second position, in which the valve allows flow between the inlet port and the outlet port;

(c) releasably connecting the outlet port of the valve assembly with the irrigation port of the endoscope; and

(d) releasably securing the valve assembly to a hand of the user;

wherein the valve assembly carries at least one of the following;

a finger sheath or glove.

24. A method for enhancing control efficiency of a medical endoscope, the method comprising:

(a) providing a medical endoscope comprising an irrigation port;

(b) providing a second medical instrument, wherein the second medical instrument has a different shape than the shape of the endoscope;

(c) releasably securing an endoscope valve assembly to the second medical instrument, the valve assembly comprising;

a housing comprising an inlet port and an outlet port; and

a valve carried by the housing and coupled between the inlet port and the outlet port, the valve comprising a manually-controlled actuator movable by a user between a first position, in which the valve blocks flow between the inlet port and the outlet port, and a second position, in which the valve allows flow between the inlet port and the outlet port;

(d) releasably connecting the outlet port of the valve assembly with the irrigation port of the endoscope;

(e) holding the medical endoscope with the user'"'"'s first hand;

(f) holding the second medical instrument with the user'"'"'s second hand; and

(g) using the user'"'"'s second hand to move the manually-controlled actuator.

25. The invention of claim 24, wherein the second medical instrument comprises an endoscopic stone-extraction device.

26. The invention of claim 24, wherein the second medical instrument comprises an endoscopic stone-destruction device.

27. A modular endoscope valve assembly comprising:

a housing comprising an inlet port and an outlet port;

a securing element coupled with the housing, wherein the securing element is operative to releasably secure at least partially around a hand of a user using a medical endoscope; and

a valve carried by the housing and coupled between the inlet port and the outlet port, the valve comprising a manually-controlled actuator movable by a user between a first position, in which the valve blocks flow between the inlet port and the outlet port, and a second position, in which the valve allows flow between the inlet port and the outlet port.

33. The invention of claim 27, wherein the actuator is mounted to slide linearly between the first and second positions.

34. The invention of claim 27, wherein the actuator is mounted to rotate between the first and second positions.

35. The invention of claim 27, wherein the valve assembly further comprising a latch coupled with the valve and operative to releasably hold the valve in a selected state in response to a control input by the user.

36. The invention of claim 35, wherein the latch is coupled to the actuator and operative to hold the valve in a state that allows flow between the inlet port and the outlet port in response to user manipulation of the actuator.

37. The invention of claim 27, wherein the housing further comprises a second inlet port, wherein the valve blocks flow between the second inlet port and the outlet port in the first and second positions, and wherein the actuator is movable by the user to a third position, in which the valve allows flow between the second inlet port and the outlet port while blocking flow between the first-mentioned inlet port and the outlet port.

38. The invention of claim 37, wherein the first-mentioned inlet port is connected to a liquid source, and wherein the second inlet port is connected to a suction source.

39. The invention of claim 27, wherein the valve assembly further comprises:

a second inlet port included in the housing;

a second valve carried by the housing and coupled between the second inlet port and the outlet port, the second valve comprising a manually controlled second actuator movable by the user between a third position, in which the second valve blocks flow between the second inlet port and the outlet port, and a fourth position, in which the second valve allows flow between the second inlet port and the outlet port.

40. The invention of claim 39, wherein the first-mentioned inlet port is connected to a liquid source, and wherein the second inlet port is connected to a suction source.

41. The invention of claim 27, wherein the outlet port of the valve assembly is connected with the irrigation port of the endoscope with coiled tubing.

42. The invention of claim 27 wherein the endoscope comprises a ureteroscope.

43. The invention of claim 27, wherein the securing element is further operative to releasably secure the valve assembly to the endoscope.

44. The invention of claim 27, wherein the securing element is further operative to releasably secure the valve assembly to a second medical instrument held in the user'"'"'s second hand.

45. The invention of claim 44, wherein the second medical instrument comprises an endoscopic stone-extraction device.

46. The invention of claim 44, wherein the second medical instrument comprises an endoscopic stone-destruction device.

28. A modular endoscope valve assembly comprising:

a housing comprising an inlet port and an outlet port;

a securing element coupled with the housing, wherein the securing element is operative to releasably secure the housing to a hand of a user using a medical endoscope; and

a valve carried by the housing and coupled between the inlet port and the outlet port, the valve comprising a manually-controlled actuator movable by a user between a first position, in which the valve blocks flow between the inlet port and the outlet port, and a second position, in which the valve allows flow between the inlet port and the outlet port;

wherein the securing element comprises a strap comprising hook-and-loop fasteners.

29. The invention of claim 28, wherein the housing comprises a D-loop, wherein a first end of the strap is attached to the housing, and wherein a second end of the strap wraps through the D-loop to secure the valve assembly to the user'"'"'s hand.

30. A modular endoscope valve assembly comprising:

a housing comprising an inlet port and an outlet port;

a securing element coupled with the housing, wherein the securing element is operative to releasably secure the housing to a hand of a user using a medical endoscope; and

a valve carried by the housing and coupled between the inlet port and the outlet port, the valve comprising a manually-controlled actuator movable by a user between a first position, in which the valve blocks flow between the inlet port and the outlet port, and a second position, in which the valve allows flow between the inlet port and the outlet port;

wherein the securing element comprises a resilient element.

31. A modular endoscope valve assembly comprising:

a housing comprising an inlet port and an outlet port;

a securing element coupled with the housing, wherein the securing element is operative to releasably secure the housing to a hand of a user using a medical endoscope; and

a valve carried by the housing and coupled between the inlet port and the outlet port, the valve comprising a manually-controlled actuator movable by a user between a first position, in which the valve blocks flow between the inlet port and the outlet port, and a second position, in which the valve allows flow between the inlet port and the outlet port;

wherein the securing element comprises a pressure-sensitive adhesive.

32. A modular endoscope valve assembly comprising:

a housing comprising an inlet port and an outlet port;

a securing element coupled with the housing, wherein the securing element is operative to releasably secure the housing to a hand of a user using a medical endoscope; and

a valve carried by the housing and coupled between the inlet port and the outlet port, the valve comprising a manually-controlled actuator movable by a user between a first position, in which the valve blocks flow between the inlet port and the outlet port, and a second position, in which the valve allows flow between the inlet port and the outlet port;

wherein the securing element comprises a mechanical fastener.