Rotate-to-advance catheterization system

• US 8,235,942 B2
• Filed: 05/18/2009
• Issued: 08/07/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Olympus Endo Technology America Inc. (Olympus Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Olympus Endo Technology America Inc. (Olympus Corporation)
• Inventors: Frassica, James J., Ailinger, Robert E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ho, Jackie
• Assistant Examiner(s): LANDRY II, GERALD ERNEST
• Application Number:
  US12/467,907
• Publication Number:
  US 20100069718A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,177 Days
• Field of Search: 600/105, 600/112, 600/137, 600/114, 604/264, 604/500
• US Class Current: 604/114
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00148 using anchoring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12099 characterised by the location of the occluder
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12109 in a blood vessel
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12136 Balloons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12159 Solid plugs; being solid before insertion
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/006 having a special surface topography or special surface properties, e.g. roughened or knurled surface
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0191 Suprapubic catheters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/1086 having a special balloon surface topography, e.g. pores, protuberances, spikes or grooves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0017 specially adapted for long-term hygiene care, e.g. urethral or indwelling catheters to prevent infections
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0068 Static characteristics of the catheter tip, e.g. shape, atraumatic tip, curved tip or tip structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/007 Side holes, e.g. their profiles or arrangements; Provisions to keep side holes unblocked
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0075 Valve means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0105 Steering means as part of the catheter or advancing means; Markers for positioning systems for detection of markers A61B
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/10 Balloon catheters A61M25/0125 takes precedence; embolectomy A61B17/22032; retractors A61B17/02; inflatable balloons for placing stents or stent-grafts A61F2/958 ; stomach balloons for treatment of obesity A61F5/0003; oesophagal tubes A61J15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 27/008 pre-shaped, for use in the urethral or ureteral tract

Abstract

A method for visualizing the interior of a bodily passageway comprising providing a visualization system for deployment in the passageway, the visualization system comprising a tube having non-rotatable distal and proximal end portions and, a rotatable intermediate portion therebetween; visualization apparatus disposed within a lumen of the tube; and a helical thread on an exterior surface of the rotatable intermediate portion of the tube having structural integrity and a surface profile, such that when the tube is in the bodily passageway and the thread engages the interior side wall of the passageway, rotation of the rotatable portion of the tube induces a movement between the tube and the passageway; inserting the visualization system into the bodily passageway at a location remote from the site to be visualized; rotating the rotatable portion of the tube to bring together the site and the visualization apparatus; and using the visualization apparatus to visualize the interior of the bodily passageway.

Claims

1. A method for visualizing the interior of a bodily passageway at a remote location, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a visualization system for deployment in the bodily passageway, the visualization system comprising;

a tube having a non-rotating distal portion, a non-rotating proximal portion, and a rotatable intermediate portion disposed between the non-rotating distal portion and the non-rotating proximal portion, wherein the rotatable intermediate portion is rotatable relative to the non-rotating distal portion and the non-rotating proximal portion;

a drive unit disposed within the tube for rotating the rotatable intermediate portion;

visualization apparatus disposed within a lumen of the distal portion of the tube; and

a helical thread disposed on an exterior surface of the rotatable intermediate portion, the helical thread having a sufficient structural integrity, and a sufficient surface profile, such that when the tube is disposed in the bodily passageway and the helical thread engages an interior side wall of the bodily passageway, rotation of the rotatable intermediate portion induces a relative movement between the tube and the side wall of the bodily passageway;

inserting the visualization system into the bodily passageway at a location remote from the site which is to be visualized;

rotating the rotatable intermediate portion of the tube using the drive unit so as to bring together the site which is to be visualized and the visualization apparatus; and

using the visualization apparatus to visualize the interior of the bodily passageway.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the drive unit transmits power for rotating the rotatable intermediate portion from a lumen of the non-rotating proximal portion to the rotatable intermediate portion.

3. A method according to claim 2 wherein the drive unit comprises a rotatable drive shaft disposed within the lumen of the non-rotating proximal portion, delivering rotational motion as the power to a distal side of the non-rotating proximal portion, a circumferential gear secured to an inner surface of said rotatable intermediate portion, and a transmission gear unit for transferring the motion between the drive shaft and the circumferential gear so as to rotate the rotatable intermediate portion.

4. A method according to claim 3 wherein the transmission gear unit comprises a pair of transmission gears.

5. A method according to claim 1 wherein the visualization apparatus comprises an endoscope, and further wherein the tube receives the endoscope.

6. A method according to claim 1 wherein the visualization apparatus and the tube comprise components of an endoscope.

7. A method according to claim 1 wherein the bodily passageway comprises a gastrointestinal tract.

8. A method according to claim 7 wherein the visualization system is inserted into a small bowel.

9. A method according to claim 7 wherein the bodily passageway comprises one from a group consisting of the small bowel, the colon, the genitourinary tract, and a man-made passageway.

10. A method according to claim 7 wherein the visualization system is inserted in an antegrade fashion.

11. A method according to claim 7 wherein the visualization system is inserted in a retrograde fashion.

12. A method according to claim 1 wherein the tube comprises a flexible tube.

13. A method according to claim 1 wherein the rotatable intermediate portion is rotated by a powered driver.

14. A method according to claim 1 wherein the rotatable intermediate portion rotates independently of the visualization apparatus.

15. A method according to claim 1 wherein the visualization apparatus may be releasably locked to the rotatable intermediate portion so that longitudinal motion of the rotatable intermediate portion results in longitudinal motion of the visualization apparatus.

16. A method according to claim 1 wherein the visualization apparatus terminates substantially flush with the non-rotating distal portion.

17. A method according to claim 1 wherein the visualization apparatus extends beyond the rotatable intermediate portion.

18. A method according to claim 1 wherein, after a portion of the bodily passageway has been drawn onto the tube, the visualization apparatus is advanced further into the bodily passageway.

19. A method according to claim 1 wherein, after a portion of the bodily passageway has been drawn onto the tube, the rotatable intermediate portion is rotated in an opposite direction so as to displace the bodily passageway off the tube.

20. Apparatus for visualizing tissue, the apparatus comprising:

a tube having a non-rotating distal portion, a non-rotating proximal portion, and a rotatable intermediate portion disposed between said non-rotating distal portion and said non-rotating proximal portion and rotatable relative to the non-rotating distal portion and the non-rotating proximal portion, said tube being sized to receive visualization apparatus disposed within a lumen of said tube;

a drive unit disposed within said tube, rotating the rotatable intermediate portion; and

a helical thread disposed on an exterior surface of said rotatable intermediate portion, the helical thread having a sufficient structural integrity, and a sufficient surface profile, such that when said tube is disposed in a bodily passageway so that said helical thread engages an interior side wall of the bodily passageway, rotation of the rotatable intermediate portion will induce a relative movement between the rotatable intermediate portion of the tube and the side wall of the bodily passageway.

21. Apparatus according to claim 20 wherein the apparatus comprises visualization apparatus disposed within the lumen of said tube.

22. Apparatus according to claim 21 wherein said drive unit transmits power for rotating said rotatable intermediate portion from a lumen of said non-rotating proximal portion to said rotatable intermediate portion.

23. Apparatus according to claim 22 wherein said drive unit comprises a rotatable drive shaft disposed within said lumen of the non-rotating proximal portion, delivering rotational motion as said power to a distal side of said non-rotating proximal portion, a circumferential gear secured to an inner surface of said rotatable intermediate portion, and a transmission gear unit for transferring said motion between said drive shaft and said circumferential gear so as to rotate said rotatable intermediate portion.

24. Apparatus according to claim 23 wherein said transmission gear unit comprises a pair of transmission gears.

25. Apparatus according to claim 21 wherein said non-rotating distal portion is formed short relative to said non-rotating proximal portion.

26. Apparatus according to claim 20 wherein said visualization apparatus comprises an endoscope, and further wherein said tube receives the endoscope.

27. Apparatus according to claim 21 wherein said visualization apparatus and said tube comprise components of an endoscope.

28. Apparatus according to claim 20 wherein said helical thread comprises a hollow construction.

29. Apparatus according to claim 20 wherein said helical thread has a semi-ovoid cross-sectional thread profile.

30. Apparatus according to claim 20 wherein said helical thread has a non-symmetrical cross-section.

31. Apparatus according to claim 20 wherein said helical thread has a profile which varies along the length of the helix.

32. Apparatus according to claim 20 wherein said apparatus comprises a torque limiter.

33. Apparatus according to claim 23 wherein a spline connection is provided along said drive shaft so as to accommodate changes of shaft length due to bending of the tube.