Rotate-to-advance catheterization system
First Claim
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 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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.
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Citations
33 Claims
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1. A method for visualizing the interior of a bodily passageway at a remote location, the method comprising the steps of:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. Apparatus for visualizing tissue, the apparatus comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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Specification