Rotate-to-advance catheterization system
First Claim
Patent Images
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;
visualization apparatus disposed within the lumen of the tube; and
a deformable helical thread disposed on the exterior surface of the tube, the deformable helical thread having a sufficient structural integrity, and a sufficient surface profile, such that when the tube is disposed in the bodily passageway so that the deformable helical thread engages the interior side wall of the bodily passageway, rotation of the tube will induce 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, with the deformable helical thread being in a reduced profile configuration;
transforming the deformable helical thread into an expanded profile configuration;
wherein the deformable helical thread is transformed from its reduced profile configuration to its expanded profile configuration by delivery of a fluid to the interior of the deformable helical thread;
rotating the tube so as to induce relative movement between the bodily passageway and the tube, whereby to move the visualization apparatus and the site which is to be visualized closer together; and
using the visualization apparatus to visualize the interior of the bodily passageway.
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Abstract
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;
- visualization apparatus disposed within the lumen of the tube; and
- a deformable helical thread disposed on the exterior surface of the tube, the deformable helical thread having a sufficient structural integrity, and a sufficient surface profile, such that when the tube is disposed in the bodily passageway so that the deformable helical thread engages the interior side wall of the bodily passageway, rotation of the tube will induce 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, with the deformable helical thread being in a reduced profile configuration;
- transforming the deformable helical thread into an expanded profile configuration;
- rotating the tube so as to induce relative movement between the bodily passageway and the tube, whereby to move the visualization apparatus and the site which is to be visualized closer together; and
- using the visualization apparatus to visualize the interior of the bodily passageway.
- providing a visualization system for deployment in the bodily passageway, the visualization system comprising:
293 Citations
42 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; visualization apparatus disposed within the lumen of the tube; and a deformable helical thread disposed on the exterior surface of the tube, the deformable helical thread having a sufficient structural integrity, and a sufficient surface profile, such that when the tube is disposed in the bodily passageway so that the deformable helical thread engages the interior side wall of the bodily passageway, rotation of the tube will induce 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, with the deformable helical thread being in a reduced profile configuration; transforming the deformable helical thread into an expanded profile configuration; wherein the deformable helical thread is transformed from its reduced profile configuration to its expanded profile configuration by delivery of a fluid to the interior of the deformable helical thread; rotating the tube so as to induce relative movement between the bodily passageway and the tube, whereby to move the visualization apparatus and the site which is to be visualized closer together; 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, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. Apparatus for visualizing tissue, the apparatus comprising:
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a tube sized to receive visualization apparatus disposed within the lumen of the tube; and a deformable helical thread disposed on the exterior surface of the tube, the deformable helical thread (i) being transformable between a reduced profile configuration and an expanded profile configuration, and (ii) when in its expanded profile configuration, having a sufficient structural integrity, and a sufficient surface profile, such that when the tube is disposed in a bodily passageway so that the deformable helical thread engages the interior side wall of the bodily passageway, rotation of the tube will induce a relative movement between the tube and the side wall of the bodily passageway; wherein the deformable helical thread is transformed from its reduced profile configuration to its expanded profile configuration by delivery of a fluid to the interior of the deformable helical thread. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. A method for accessing the interior of a bodily passageway at a remote location, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a system for deployment in the bodily passageway, the system comprising; a tube; and a deformable helical thread disposed on the exterior surface of the tube, the deformable helical thread having a sufficient structural integrity, and a sufficient surface profile, such that when the tube is disposed in the bodily passageway so that the deformable helical thread engages the interior side wall of the bodily passageway, rotation of the tube will induce a relative movement between the tube and the side wall of the bodily passageway; inserting the system into the bodily passageway at a location remote from the site which is to be accessed, with the deformable helical thread being in a reduced profile configuration; transforming the deformable helical thread into an expanded profile configuration; wherein the deformable helical thread is transformed from its reduced profile configuration to its expanded profile configuration by delivery of a fluid to the interior of the deformable helical thread; and rotating the tube so as to induce relative movement between the bodily passageway and the tube, whereby to move the apparatus and the site which is to be accessed closer together.
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41. Apparatus for accessing tissue, the apparatus comprising:
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a flexible tube; and a deformable helical thread disposed on the exterior surface of the tube, the deformable helical thread (i) being transformable between a reduced profile configuration and an expanded profile configuration, and (ii) when in its expanded profile configuration, having a sufficient structural integrity, and a sufficient surface profile, such that when the tube is disposed in a bodily passageway so that the deformable helical thread engages the interior side wall of the bodily passageway, rotation of the tube will induce a relative movement between the tube and the side wall of the bodily passageway; wherein the deformable helical thread is transformed from its reduced profile configuration to its expanded profile configuration by delivery of a fluid to the interior of the deformable helical thread.
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42. 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 convoluted tube; visualization apparatus disposed within the lumen of the tube; and a deformable helical thread disposed on the exterior surface of the tube, the deformable helical thread having a sufficient structural integrity, and a sufficient surface profile, such that when the tube is disposed in the bodily passageway so that the deformable helical thread engages the interior side wall of the bodily passageway, rotation of the tube will induce a relative movement between the tube and the side wall of the bodily passageway; wherein an outer jacket is disposed on at least a portion of the exterior of the convoluted tube, wherein the deformable helical thread is disposed on at least a portion of the outer jacket, such that a helical tunnel is formed between the exterior of the convoluted tube and the outer jacket; inserting the visualization system into the bodily passageway at a location remote from the site which is to be visualized, with the deformable helical thread being in a reduced profile configuration; transforming the deformable helical thread into an expanded profile configuration; wherein a fluid is delivered through the helical tunnel so as to transform the deformable helical thread from its reduced profile configuration to its expanded profile configuration; rotating the tube so as to induce relative movement between the bodily passageway and the tube, whereby to move the visualization apparatus and the site which is to be visualized closer together; and using the visualization apparatus to visualize the interior of the bodily passageway.
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Specification