Multiple lumen assembly for use in endoscopes or other medical devices
First Claim
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1. A medical device, comprising:
- an outer shaft extending from a proximal end of an insertable portion of the medical device to a distal end of the insertable portion of the medical device, wherein the insertable portion of the medical device is configured for insertion into a natural body lumen of a patient; and
a number of lumens inserted within the interior of the outer shaft,wherein each lumen of the number of lumens has an outer surface flexibly joined at one or more points along a length of the lumen to a flexible material so that each lumen is flexibly connected to at least one other lumen and longitudinally fixed with respect to an adjacent lumen of the number of lumens;
wherein the number of lumens are connected to form a flexible ribbon that is folded before insertion into the interior of the outer shaft; and
wherein an innermost surface of the outer shaft is entirely separated from an outermost surface of the flexible material between adjacent lumens of the number of lumens.
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Abstract
An endoscope or other medical device includes a number of lumens positioned in an outer shaft. The lumens are formed as a multiple lumen assembly. In one embodiment, individual lumens are connected to each other with a sheet or webbing material. The lumen assembly is rolled or folded along its length for incorporation into the outer shaft of the medical device. The sheet or webbing material may be notched or perforated to facilitate folding the lumen assembly and/or separating individual lumens from the lumen assembly.
671 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A medical device, comprising:
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an outer shaft extending from a proximal end of an insertable portion of the medical device to a distal end of the insertable portion of the medical device, wherein the insertable portion of the medical device is configured for insertion into a natural body lumen of a patient; and a number of lumens inserted within the interior of the outer shaft, wherein each lumen of the number of lumens has an outer surface flexibly joined at one or more points along a length of the lumen to a flexible material so that each lumen is flexibly connected to at least one other lumen and longitudinally fixed with respect to an adjacent lumen of the number of lumens; wherein the number of lumens are connected to form a flexible ribbon that is folded before insertion into the interior of the outer shaft; and wherein an innermost surface of the outer shaft is entirely separated from an outermost surface of the flexible material between adjacent lumens of the number of lumens. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An endoscope with an insertable portion having a proximal end and a distal end, comprising:
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a substantially cylindrical shaft extending from the proximal end of the insertable portion to the distal end of the insertable portion, wherein the insertable portion of the endoscope is configured for insertion into a natural body lumen of a patient; a working channel lumen positioned within the shaft; and a lumen assembly including a number of lumens inserted within the shaft, each lumen of the number of lumens having an outer surface flexibly joined at one or more points along a length of the lumen to a flexible material such that each lumen is flexibly connected to at least one other lumen along at least a portion of a length of the lumens and longitudinally fixed with respect to an adjacent lumen of the number of lumens; wherein the lumen assembly forms a flexible ribbon of lumens that is wrapped around the working channel lumen within the shaft. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A medical device, comprising:
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a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the shaft of the medical device is configured for insertion into a natural body lumen of a patient; and a flexible ribbon of lumens inserted within the shaft, wherein the ribbon includes a number of parallel spaced lumens positioned across a width of the ribbon that are joined along their length by a flexible material that forms a webbing that extends between adjacent lumens of the ribbon, wherein each lumen of the number of parallel spaced lumens is longitudinally fixed with respect to an adjacent lumen of the number of lumens; and wherein an innermost surface of the shaft is entirely separated from an outermost surface of the flexible material between adjacent lumens of the flexible ribbon of lumens. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification