Tubular torque transmitting system for medical device

• US 7,485,127 B2
• Filed: 03/10/2004
• Issued: 02/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Limited (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Pathway Medical Technologies, Inc. (Bayer AG)
• Inventors: Nistal, Brent
• Primary Examiner(s): TRUONG, KEVIN THAO
• Application Number:
  US10/798,622
• Publication Number:
  US 20040235611A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,791 Days
• Field of Search: 606/159, 606/167, 606/168, 606/170, 606/174, 606/180, 606/1, 604/164.01, 604/264, 604/523, 279/61, 279/62, 279/140
• US Class Current: 606/180
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/32002 with continuously rotating, oscillating or reciprocating cutting instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/320725 with radially expandable cutting or abrading elements A61B17/32075 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/320758 with a rotating cutting instrument, e.g. motor driven A61B17/320725, A61B17/32075 and A61B17/320783 take precedence; for removing intra-ocular material A61F9/00763; endoscopic rotatable cutting instruments A61B17/32002
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3462 with means for changing the diameter or the orientation of the entrance port of the cannula, e.g. for use with different-sized instruments, reduction ports, adapter seals expandable cannulas A61B17/3417
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00017 Electrical control of surgical instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00199 with a console, e.g. a control panel with a display
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00973 pedal-operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22049 Means for locking the guide wire in the catheter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2927 the angular position of the head being adjustable with respect to the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320032 Details of the rotating or oscillating shaft, e.g. using a flexible shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2217/005 with suction drainage system
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/061 Determining position of a probe within the body employing means separate from the probe, e.g. sensing internal probe position employing impedance electrodes on the surface of the body A61B1/00158 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/415 the glands, e.g. tonsils, adenoids or thymus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/418 lymph vessels, ducts or nodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/12 in body cavities or body tracts, e.g. by using catheters catheters per se A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4209 by using holders, e.g. positioning frames
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/062 used with a catheter
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0147 with movable mechanical means, e.g. pull wires
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/06 Haemostasis valves, i.e. gaskets sealing around a needle, catheter or the like, closing on removal thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/0606 without means for adjusting the seal opening or pressure A61M39/0693 takes precedence

Abstract

A torque transmitting system supports rotational and lateral movement of a drive shaft. The system includes translating inner and outer tubes which have aligned canals for placement of a ball bearing and a pinion shaft to couple the tubes to a drive system. Rotational torque is transferred from the pinion shaft, to the outer tube and, through the ball positioned in the aligned canals, to the inner tube and then to the drive shaft. Furthermore, the ball engaged in the canals defines a range of motion in which the inner tube is slidable with respect to the outer tube, along the tubes'"'"' longitudinal axis, to permit advancement of an attached drive shaft.

Claims

1. A torque transmission system comprising:

an outer tube having at least one longitudinal extending slot;

an inner tube having at least one longitudinal extending groove aligned with the slot of the outer tube, the inner tube slidably engaged within the outer tube;

a pinion shaft operatively coupled to a drive system and coupled to the outer tube to transfer rotational torque to the outer tube; and

one or more ball bearing, each ball bearing rollably positioned within the slot and groove,

wherein the ball bearing urges the inner tube to rotate as the outer tube rotates.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the groove of the inner tube and the slot of the outer tube each include aligned side walls and the ball bearing biases against the aligned side walls to urge the inner tube to rotate.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the groove of the inner tube includes a proximal end and the slot includes a distal end, and wherein the system is capable of extending by the inner tube sliding distally from the inner tube until the ball bearing catches the distal end of the slot and the proximal end of the groove.

4. The system of claim 1, further including a main shaft coupled to the inner tube and to a drive shaft.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the width of the slot is slightly larger than the diameter of the ball bearing.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the pinion shaft includes at least one gear operatively couple to the drive system gear.

7. An intracorporeal device comprising:

a drive shaft;

a drive system; and

a torque transmission system comprising;

an outer tube having at least one longitudinal extending slot;

an inner tube with at least one longitudinal extending groove aligned with the slot of the outer tube, the inner tube slidably engaged within the outer tube;

a pinion shaft operatively coupled to the drive system and coupled to the outer tube to transfer rotational torque to the outer tube; and

one or more ball bearing, each ball bearing rollably positioned within the slot and groove,

wherein the ball bearing urges the inner tube to rotate as the outer tube rotates and inner tube conveys the rotational torque to the drive shaft.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the groove of the inner tube and the slot of the outer tube each include aligned side walls and the ball bearing biases against the aligned side walls to urge the inner tube to rotate.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the groove of the inner tube includes a proximal end and the slot includes a distal end, and wherein the system is capable of extending by the inner tube sliding distally from the inner tube until the ball bearing catches the distal end of the slot and the proximal end of the groove.

10. The device of claim 7, further including a sealing member to slide in a movement that coincides with the sliding of the inner tube.

11. The device of claim 10, further including a hand held device to house the sealing member, drive system and transmission system.

12. The device of claim 8, further including a console unit to control the drive system.