Positioning system for manipulating a channel within a medical device

• US 7,815,564 B2
• Filed: 02/21/2006
• Issued: 10/19/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Tinkham, Brian, Geitz, Kurt
• Primary Examiner(s): Dvorak; Linda C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nia; Alireza
• Application Number:
  US11/359,897
• Publication Number:
  US 20070197871A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,701 Days
• Field of Search: 600/104, 600/106, 600/107, 600/123, 600/137, 600/139, 600/141, 600/142
• US Class Current: 600/107
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00066 Proximal part of endoscope body, e.g. handles A61B1/0052 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00098 Deflecting means for inserted tools
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00133 Drive units for endoscopic tools inserted through or with the endoscope
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0052 Constructional details of control elements, e.g. handles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0057 Constructional details of force transmission elements, e.g. control wires
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/018 for receiving instruments

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention include a medical device for accessing a patient'"'"'s body portion and used for diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions. Embodiments of the invention may include a particular endoscopic positioning mechanism for placing an endoscope and an additional treatment device within desired body portions in order to assist in diagnosis and treatment of anatomical diseases and disorders. In particular, a medical device according to an embodiment of the invention includes a positioning mechanism configured for movement through at least two degrees of freedom.

Claims

1. A medical device, wherein the medical device is an endoscope that includes visualization components, the medical device comprising:

an elongated flexible tube including a distal end and a proximal end, the tube defining a longitudinal axis and a channel extending from the proximal end to an aperture at the distal end; and

a positioning mechanism positionable at the distal end of the flexible tube proximate the aperture, the positioning mechanism configured for rotation relative to the distal end of the flexible tube and around the longitudinal axis of the flexible tube and lateral upward deflection at and relative to the distal end of the flexible tube to control a direction at which a treatment instrument extending through the tube extends from the aperture, wherein the rotation of the positioning mechanism is independent of the upward deflection of the positioning mechanism.

2. The medical device of claim 1, wherein a distal portion of the positioning mechanism is housed within a recess at the distal end of the flexible tube, wherein the upward deflection of the positioning mechanism includes rotation of the positioning mechanism about a pin within the recess.

3. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the positioning mechanism comprises a tube housed within the channel.

4. The medical device of claim 3, wherein a distal portion of the positioning mechanism is configured for upward deflection through actuation of a pull wire connected to the positioning mechanism and extending proximally within the elongated flexible tube.

5. The medical device of claim 3, wherein a living hinge connects a distal portion of the positioning mechanism to a remaining portion of the positioning mechanism.

6. The medical device of claim 4, wherein a pin extends through the distal portion of the positioning mechanism and a distal portion of the tube housed within the channel.

7. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the aperture is a side facing aperture opening laterally along the flexible tube.

8. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the positioning mechanism is configured for movement through at least two degrees of freedom.

9. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the positioning mechanism is configured for movement through at least three degrees of freedom.

10. The medical device of claim 8, wherein the positioning mechanism is rotatable about two axes.

11. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the positioning mechanism is configured for rotating a treatment instrument extended through the aperture relative to the longitudinal axis of the flexible tube.

12. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the medical device is an endoscope that includes illumination components therein.

13. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the medical device is an endoscope that includes an additional positioning mechanism for controlled deflection of the elongated flexible tube.

14. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the positioning mechanism comprises a sleeve configured to receive a treatment instrument therein, the sleeve being slidably housed and rotatable within the channel and having a distal end extendable beyond the aperture;

and

a deflection control mechanism connected to a distal end of the sleeve and moveable longitudinally and laterally within and relative to the flexible tube such that the distal end of the sleeve deflects relative to the flexible tube.

15. The medical device of claim 14, wherein the deflection control mechanism comprises a pull wire connected to a distal end of the sleeve and housed within a pull wire lumen within the flexible tube.

16. The medical device of claim 15, wherein the pull wire lumen exhibits an arc shape configured to allow the pull wire to be moved from one end of the arc-shaped lumen to another end of the arc-shaped lumen.

17. The medical device of claim 14, wherein the sleeve is configured for movement through at least two degrees of freedom.

18. The medical device of claim 17, wherein the sleeve is rotatable about two orthogonal axes.

19. The medical device of claim 14, wherein the sleeve is configured for movement through at least three degrees of freedom.

20. The medical device of claim 14, wherein the sleeve is configured for rotating a treatment instrument extended therein and beyond the aperture through an angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the flexible tube.

21. The medical device of claim 1, further comprising a handle at the proximal end of the flexible tube, the handle including a control mechanism connected to a proximal end of the positioning mechanism configured for rotating the positioning mechanism within the channel of the flexible tube.

22. The medical device of claim 21, wherein the control mechanism comprises a post extending from the handle and connected to a proximal end of the positioning mechanism.

23. The medical device of claim 21, wherein the control mechanism of the handle includes a locking mechanism for fixing the orientation of the positioning mechanism within the channel of the flexible tube.

24. The medical device of claim 3, wherein a distal portion of the positioning mechanism comprises a deflection elevator including a curved, concave surface.

25. The medical device of claim 24, wherein the curved, concave surface is configured to transfer a deflection force against a treatment instrument extending through the elongated flexible tube.

26. The medical device of claim 25, wherein the deflection elevator and the tube are integrally formed as a single component.

27. The medical device of claim 4, further comprising a slide mechanism connected to a proximal portion of the pull wire, and wherein proximal and distal movement of the slide mechanism causes the upward deflection of the positioning mechanism.

28. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the positioning mechanism is configured for rotation in a clockwise direction and a counterclockwise direction relative to the distal end of the flexible tube and around the longitudinal axis of the flexible tube.

29. The medical device of claim 3, wherein a distal portion of the positioning mechanism is connected to the tube, and wherein rotation of the tube causes the rotation of the positioning mechanism around the longitudinal axis of the flexible tube.

30. A medical device, wherein the medical device is an endoscope that includes visualization components, the medical device comprising:

an elongated flexible tube including a distal end and a proximal end, the tube defining a longitudinal axis and a channel extending from the proximal end to an aperture at the distal end; and

a positioning mechanism positionable at the distal end of the flexible tube proximate the aperture, the positioning mechanism configured for rotation relative to the distal end of the flexible tube and around the longitudinal axis of the flexible tube and upward deflection at and relative to the distal end of the flexible tube to control a direction at which a treatment instrument extending through the tube extends from the aperture, wherein, when the positioning mechanism is not deflected upwards relative to the distal end of the flexible tube, the positioning mechanism is rotatable in a clockwise direction and a counterclockwise direction relative to the distal end of the flexible tube and around the longitudinal axis of the flexible tube.

31. The medical device of claim 30, wherein a distal portion of the positioning mechanism is configured for upward deflection through actuation of a pull wire connected to the positioning mechanism and extending proximally within the elongated flexible tube.

32. The medical device of claim 30, further comprising a handle at the proximal end of the flexible tube, the handle including a control mechanism connected to a proximal end of the positioning mechanism configured for rotating the positioning mechanism within the channel of the flexible tube.

33. The medical device of claim 30, wherein the positioning mechanism comprises a tube housed within the channel.

34. The medical device of claim 33, wherein a distal portion of the positioning mechanism is connected to the tube, and wherein rotation of the tube causes the rotation of the positioning mechanism around the longitudinal axis of the flexible tube.