Method for controlling position of medical instruments
First Claim
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1. A method of treating tissue within a patient, said method comprising the steps of:
- providing at least one flexible instrument having a distal end;
the instrumentadapted to grasp or cut tissue;
providing at least one channel for accessing a treatment site;
providing a pivotably supported instrument guide;
extending at least a portion of the instrument from a distal end of the channel to access the treatment site, such that the distal end of the flexible instrument extends distally beyond the distal end of the channel;
constraining motion of the distal end of the instrument along a predetermined path at the treatment site with the pivotably supported instrument guide while simultaneously restricting twisting of the flexible instrument about its longitudinal axis with the pivotably supported instrument guide and permitting bending of the flexible instrument about an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis; and
grasping or cutting tissue with the instrument.
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Abstract
A method for guiding an instrument associated with a medical device, such as an endoscope, is provided. The method is useful for positioning a flexible medical instrument extending from an instrument channel of an endoscope, such as for the treatment of tissue. The method is also useful for providing cooperative motion between first and second instruments extending from instrument channels within a patient'"'"'s body lumen. In one embodiment, the step of guiding the instrument comprises bending the instrument as the instrument extends from the instrument channel.
164 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method of treating tissue within a patient, said method comprising the steps of:
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providing at least one flexible instrument having a distal end;
the instrumentadapted to grasp or cut tissue; providing at least one channel for accessing a treatment site; providing a pivotably supported instrument guide; extending at least a portion of the instrument from a distal end of the channel to access the treatment site, such that the distal end of the flexible instrument extends distally beyond the distal end of the channel; constraining motion of the distal end of the instrument along a predetermined path at the treatment site with the pivotably supported instrument guide while simultaneously restricting twisting of the flexible instrument about its longitudinal axis with the pivotably supported instrument guide and permitting bending of the flexible instrument about an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis; and grasping or cutting tissue with the instrument. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of treating tissue within a patient, said method comprising the steps of:
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providing a first flexible instrument having a distal end, wherein the first instrument is adapted to cut or grasp tissue; providing a second flexible instrument having a distal end; providing a first channel for accessing a treatment site; providing a second channel for accessing a treatment site; providing a pivotably supported instrument guide; advancing the first instrument from a distal end of the first channel to a treatment site within the patient while simultaneously restricting twisting of the flexible instrument about its longitudinal axis with the pivotably supported instrument guide and permitting bending of the flexible instrument about an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis; advancing the second instrument from a distal end of the second channel to the treatment site; and cooperating motion of the distal ends of the first and second instruments such that the distal ends follow a predetermined path. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of treating tissue within a patient, said method comprising the steps of:
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providing an endoscope having at least one instrument channel; providing a pivotably supported instrument guide; disposing the endoscope in a body lumen; advancing a flexible instrument adapted for grasping or cutting tissue from the distal end of the instrument channel to access a treatment site in the body lumen; constraining motion of the distal end of the flexible instrument along a desired path distally of the distal end of the instrument channel with the pivotably supported instrument guide as the instrument is advanced from the distal end of the instrument channel while simultaneously restricting twisting of the flexible instrument about its longitudinal axis with the pivotably supported instrument guide and permitting bending of the flexible instrument about an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis; and cutting or grasping tissue with the flexible instrument. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method of treating tissue within a patient, said method comprising:
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disposing a relatively rigid pivotably supported member for guiding motion of a medical instrument at the distal end of an endoscope; inserting a relatively flexible instrument having a distal end through an instrument channel of said endoscope. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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Specification