Vision catheter having electromechanical navigation
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A vision catheter, comprising:
- a shaft having a distal end, a proximal end and a number of lumens therein including a working channel lumen and a separate imaging channel lumen, the shaft having a diameter that allows it to be inserted into an instrument channel of an endoscope;
a position sensor positioned at or adjacent the distal end of the shaft that aids in determining the position of the distal end in a patient; and
an imaging mechanism positioned in the imaging channel lumen for obtaining images of the patient,wherein the position sensor and the imaging mechanism can be simultaneously present in the shaft,wherein the imaging channel lumen comprises a C-shaped lumen open to an external environment along a longitudinal portion of the imaging channel lumen;
wherein the shaft includes an additional channel that has a tear-drop shape having a rounded portion and a tapered portion;
wherein the rounded portion of the tear-drop shaped additional channel is positioned adjacent to the C-shaped lumen, and the tapered portion of the tear-drop shaped additional channel tapers away from the C-shaped lumen to a narrowest portion of the tear-drop shaped additional channel.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Embodiments of the present invention are generally directed to a visualization system including a small gauge vision catheter that is designed to be standalone or received within an instrument channel of a larger endoscope. The vision catheter has imaging means disposable within an imaging channel, a working channel, and an electromagnetic sensor element insertable into the working channel of the catheter to provide position tracking. The working channel of the catheter also provides access for therapeutic and diagnostic tools.
-
Citations
18 Claims
-
1. A vision catheter, comprising:
-
a shaft having a distal end, a proximal end and a number of lumens therein including a working channel lumen and a separate imaging channel lumen, the shaft having a diameter that allows it to be inserted into an instrument channel of an endoscope; a position sensor positioned at or adjacent the distal end of the shaft that aids in determining the position of the distal end in a patient; and an imaging mechanism positioned in the imaging channel lumen for obtaining images of the patient, wherein the position sensor and the imaging mechanism can be simultaneously present in the shaft, wherein the imaging channel lumen comprises a C-shaped lumen open to an external environment along a longitudinal portion of the imaging channel lumen; wherein the shaft includes an additional channel that has a tear-drop shape having a rounded portion and a tapered portion; wherein the rounded portion of the tear-drop shaped additional channel is positioned adjacent to the C-shaped lumen, and the tapered portion of the tear-drop shaped additional channel tapers away from the C-shaped lumen to a narrowest portion of the tear-drop shaped additional channel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. A method for examining a patient, comprising:
-
advancing an endoscope into a passageway of the patient, the endoscope comprising an instrument channel; inserting a vision catheter into the instrument channel of the endoscope, the vision catheter comprising a shaft having a distal end, a proximal end and a number of lumens therein including a working channel lumen and a separate imaging channel lumen; inserting a position sensor into the working channel lumen of the vision catheter; inserting an imaging mechanism into the imaging channel lumen of the vision catheter; advancing the vision catheter beyond the distal end of the endoscope; and simultaneously receiving visual images and position tracking information from the distal end of the vision catheter, wherein the imaging channel lumen comprises a C-shaped lumen open to an external environment along a longitudinal portion of the imaging channel lumen; wherein the shaft includes an additional channel that has a tear-drop shape having a rounded portion and a tapered portion; wherein the rounded portion of the tear-drop shaped additional channel is positioned adjacent to the C-shaped lumen, and the tapered portion of the tear-drop shaped additional channel tapers away from the C-shaped lumen to a narrowest portion of the tear-drop shaped additional channel. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
-
Specification