Rotate-to-advance catheterization system

• US 8,574,220 B2
• Filed: 05/03/2011
• Issued: 11/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2006
• 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): Bouchelle, Laura A
• Assistant Examiner(s): LANDRY II, GERALD ERNEST
• Application Number:
  US13/100,098
• Publication Number:
  US 20120004504A1
• Time in Patent Office: 917 Days
• Field of Search: 600/114, 600/115, 600/137, 600/139, 604/528
• US Class Current: 604/528
• 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 2025/0076 Unidirectional valves
• 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 comprising an endoscope comprising a rotatable drive collar configured for rotation relative to the endoscope; a disposable drive tube comprising an elongated tube having a deformable helical thread disposed on an exterior surface of the elongated tube, the elongated tube being configured for coaxial disposition about the endoscope; and a mount for releasably securing the drive tube to the drive collar; mounting the drive tube coaxially about the endoscope so that the drive tube is secured to the drive collar of the endoscope; inserting the visualization system into the passageway, with the helical thread being in a reduced profile configuration; transforming the helical thread into an expanded profile configuration; rotating the drive tube so as to bring together a site which is to be visualized and the visualization apparatus; and visualizing the 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;

an endoscope comprising a rotatable drive collar configured for rotation relative to the endoscope;

a disposable drive tube comprising an elongated tube having a deformable helical thread disposed on an exterior surface of the elongated tube, the elongated tube being configured for coaxial disposition about the endoscope; and

a mount for releasably securing the disposable drive tube to the rotatable drive collar of the endoscope;

wherein (i) the deformable helical thread is operable such that the deformable helical thread transforms between a reduced profile configuration and an expanded profile configuration, and (ii) when in its expanded profile configuration, the deformable helical thread has a sufficient structural integrity, and a sufficient surface profile, such that when the disposable drive 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 disposable drive tube will induce a relative movement between the disposable drive tube and the side wall of the bodily passageway;

mounting the disposable drive tube coaxially about the endoscope so that the disposable drive tube is secured to the rotatable drive collar of the endoscope;

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 the reduced profile configuration;

transforming the deformable helical thread into the expanded profile configuration;

rotating the disposable drive tube 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 visualization system comprises a flexible drive shaft for rotating the rotatable drive collar, wherein the flexible drive shaft extends between the proximal end of the endoscope and the rotatable drive collar.

3. A method according to claim 2 wherein the flexible drive shaft is disposed within the endoscope.

4. A method according to claim 2 wherein the visualization system comprises a motor for rotating the flexible drive shaft.

5. A method according to claim 1 wherein the distal end of the endoscope protrudes from the disposable drive tube when the disposable drive tube is mounted to the rotatable drive collar.

6. A method according to claim 1 wherein the mount comprises a bayonet mount.

7. A method according to claim 6 wherein the bayonet mount comprises a pin on one of the disposable drive tube and the rotatable drive collar, and a slot on the other of the disposable drive tube and the rotatable drive collar.

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

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

10. A method according to claim 8 wherein the bodily passageway comprises one from the group consisting of the small bowel, the colon, the genitourinary tract, and a man-made passageway.

11. A method according to claim 8 wherein the visualization system is inserted in an antegrade fashion.

12. A method according to claim 8 wherein the visualization system is inserted in a retrograde fashion.

13. A method according to claim 1 wherein rotation of the disposable drive tube causes a portion of the bodily passageway to be drawn onto the visualization system.

14. A method according to claim 1 wherein rotation of the disposable drive tube causes the visualization system to be advanced along the bodily passageway.

15. A method according to claim 1 wherein the deformable helical thread is hollow, and further wherein the deformable helical thread is transformed into the expanded profile configuration by introducing an inflating material into the interior of the helical thread.

16. A method according to claim 15 wherein the inflating material comprises a liquid.

17. A method according to claim 15 wherein the inflating material comprises a gas.

18. A method according to claim 15 wherein the inflating material comprises a solid.

19. A method according to claim 1 comprising the additional steps of:

transforming the deformable helical thread from its expanded profile configuration to its reduced profile configuration; and

withdrawing the visualization system from the bodily passageway.

20. A method according to claim 19 wherein the deformable helical thread is hollow, and the interior of the deformable helical thread comprises an inflating material when the deformable helical thread is in its expanded profile configuration.

21. A method according to claim 20 wherein the inflating material is withdrawn from the deformable helical thread when the deformable helical thread is transformed to its reduced profile configuration.

22. 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;

an endoscope comprising a rotatable drive collar configured for rotation relative to the endoscope;

a disposable drive tube comprising an elongated tube having a deformable helical thread disposed on an exterior surface of the elongated tube, the elongated tube being configured for coaxial disposition about the endoscope; and

a mount for releasably securing the disposable drive tube to the rotatable drive collar of the endoscope;

wherein (i) the deformable helical thread is operable such that the deformable helical thread transforms between a reduced profile configuration and an expanded profile configuration, and (ii) when in its expanded profile configuration, the deformable helical thread has a sufficient structural integrity, and a sufficient surface profile, such that when the disposable drive 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 disposable drive tube will induce a relative movement between the disposable drive tube and the side wall of the bodily passageway;

mounting the disposable drive tube coaxially about the endoscope so that the disposable drive tube is secured to the rotatable drive collar of the endoscope;

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

rotating the disposable drive tube so as to bring together the site which is to be visualized and the visualization apparatus;

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

transforming the deformable helical thread to the reduced profile configuration; and

withdrawing the visualization system from the bodily passageway.

23. Apparatus for visualizing tissue, the apparatus comprising:

an endoscope comprising a rotatable drive collar configured for rotation relative to the endoscope;

a disposable drive tube comprising an elongated tube having a deformable helical thread disposed on an exterior surface of the elongated tube, the elongated tube being configured for coaxial disposition about the endoscope; and

a mount for releasably securing the disposable drive tube to the rotatable drive collar of the endoscope;

wherein (i) the deformable helical thread is operable such that the deformable helical thread transforms between a reduced profile configuration and an expanded profile configuration, and (ii) when in its expanded profile configuration, the deformable helical thread has a sufficient structural integrity, and a sufficient surface profile, such that when the disposable drive 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 disposable drive tube will induce a relative movement between the disposable drive tube and the side wall of the bodily passageway; and

wherein the disposable drive tube is mounted coaxially about the endoscope so that the disposable drive tube is secured to the rotatable drive collar of the endoscope.

24. Apparatus according to claim 23 wherein the apparatus comprises a flexible drive shaft for rotating the rotatable drive collar, wherein the flexible drive shaft extends between the proximal end of the endoscope and the rotatable drive collar.

25. Apparatus according to claim 24 wherein the flexible drive shaft is disposed within the endoscope.

26. Apparatus according to claim 24 wherein the visualization system comprises a motor for rotating the flexible drive shaft.

27. Apparatus according to claim 23 wherein the distal end of the endoscope protrudes from the disposable drive tube when the disposable drive tube is mounted to the rotatable drive collar.

28. Apparatus according to claim 23 wherein the mount comprises a bayonet mount.

29. Apparatus according to claim 28 wherein the bayonet mount comprises a pin on one of the disposable drive tube and the rotatable drive collar, and a slot on the other of the disposable drive tube and the rotatable drive collar.

30. Apparatus according to claim 23 wherein the deformable helical thread comprises a hollow construction.

31. Apparatus according to claim 23 wherein the deformable helical thread has a semi-ovoid cross-sectional thread profile.

32. Apparatus according to claim 23 wherein the deformable helical thread has a non-symmetrical cross-section.

33. Apparatus according to claim 23 wherein the deformable helical thread has a profile which varies along the length of the helix.

34. Apparatus according to claim 30 wherein the deformable helical thread is transformed into the expanded profile configuration by introducing an inflating material into the interior of the helical thread.

35. Apparatus according to claim 34 wherein the inflating material comprises a liquid.

36. Apparatus according to claim 34 wherein the inflating material comprises a gas.

37. Apparatus according to claim 34 wherein the inflating material comprises a solid.

38. Apparatus according to claim 34 wherein the deformable helical thread is transformed into its reduced profile configuration by withdrawing the inflating material from the interior of the helical thread.

42. Apparatus according to claim 23 wherein the deformable helical thread is externally-operable such that the deformable helical thread transforms between the reduced profile configuration and the expanded profile configuration.

43. Apparatus according to claim 42 wherein the deformable helical thread is configured to communicate with longitudinally-extending conduit.

44. Apparatus according to claim 43 wherein the longitudinally-extending conduit extends through the endoscope.

39. Apparatus for inducing relative movement between an endoscope and the side wall of a bodily passageway within which the endoscope is disposed, wherein the endoscope comprises a rotatable drive collar configured for rotation relative to the endoscope, the apparatus comprising:

a disposable drive tube comprising an elongated tube having a deformable helical thread disposed on an exterior surface of the elongated tube, the elongated tube being configured for coaxial disposition about the endoscope; and

means for releasably securing the disposable drive tube to the rotatable drive collar of the endoscope;

wherein (i) the deformable helical thread is operable such that the deformable helical thread transforms between a reduced profile configuration and an expanded profile configuration, and (ii) when in its expanded profile configuration, the deformable helical thread has a sufficient structural integrity, and a sufficient surface profile, such that when the disposable drive 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 disposable drive tube will induce a relative movement between the disposable drive tube and the side wall of the bodily passageway; and

wherein the disposable drive tube is mounted coaxially about the endoscope so that the disposable drive tube is secured to the rotatable drive collar of the endoscope.

40. Apparatus according to claim 39 wherein the deformable helical thread is externally-operable such that the deformable helical thread transforms between the reduced profile configuration and the expanded profile configuration.

41. Apparatus according to claim 40 wherein the deformable helical thread is configured to communicate with a longitudinally-extending conduit.