Medical device with improved wall construction

• US 7,097,644 B2
• Filed: 03/21/2003
• Issued: 08/29/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Long, Gary L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gibson, Roy D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ROANE, AARON F
• Application Number:
  US10/394,285
• Publication Number:
  US 20030216727A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,257 Days
• Field of Search: 60 41- 49, 601/29, 601/76, 601/83
• US Class Current: 606/41
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1492 having a flexible, catheter-like structure, e.g. for heart ablation A61B18/1477 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00269 endoscopic mucosal resection EMR
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00296 mounted on an endoscope
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00291 using suction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00482 Digestive system
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00488 Esophagus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00494 Stomach, intestines or bowel
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00982 combined with or comprising means for visual or photographic inspections inside the body, e.g. endoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1467 using more than two electrodes on a single probe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1475 Electrodes retractable in or deployable from a housing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1495 Electrodes being detachable from a support structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3614 using optical fibre

Abstract

A medical device having a laminate elongate hollow member is disclosed. The laminate member provides torsional stiffness for controlling positioning of the distal end of the device, and provides bending flexibility for assisting in insertion of the device in the patient'"'"'s esophagus or other body lumen.

Claims

1. A medical device adapted for insertion into a body lumen, the medical device comprising;

a relatively flexible corrugated tube;

a relatively rigid support member disposed distally of the corrugated tube, wherein the support member comprises a side opening for providing access to tissue, and wherein the side opening is spaced proximally from a distal end of the support member and wherein the side opening extends through an outer surface of the support member;

a flexible coupling disposed intermediate the relatively rigid support member and the relatively flexible corrugated tube; and

at least two electrodes supported on the outside surface of the relatively rigid support member, and wherein a portion of the rigid support member disposed between the two electrodes is generally transparent.

2. The medical device of claim 1 wherein each of the corrugated tube, die flexible coupling, and the support member include an internal passageway sized to receive an endoscope.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the corrugated tube has an internal passageway sized to receive an endoscope.

4. The device of claim 1 further comprising a layer disposed radially outwardly of the corrugated tube.

5. The device of claim 4 comprising at least one electrical conductor disposed intermediate the corrugated tube and the layer disposed radially outwardly of the corrugated tube.