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;
visualization apparatus;
a tube having a non-rotating proximal portion and a rotatable portion disposed at a distal end of the non-rotating proximal portion and rotatable relative to the non-rotating proximal portion, the tube being sized to receive visualization apparatus, wherein the rotatable portion is disposed between a non-rotating distal portion of the visualization apparatus and the non-rotating proximal portion;
a drive unit disposed within the tube, rotating the rotatable portion; and
a helical thread disposed on the exterior surface of said rotatable portion, wherein rotation of the rotatable 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 a site which is to be visualized;
rotating the rotatable 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.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for visualizing the interior of a bodily passageway, comprising providing a visualization system comprising a tube having a distal and a proximal end, at least a portion of the distal end being rotatable; visualization apparatus disposed within the system; and a helical thread disposed on the exterior surface of the rotatable portion of the tube, the helical thread having a sufficient structural integrity and surface profile, such that when the tube is disposed in the passageway and the helical thread engages the wall of the passageway, rotation of the rotatable portion of the tube induces a relative movement between the tube and the wall of the passageway; inserting the system into the passageway; rotating the rotatable portion of the tube so as to bring together a site which is to be visualized and the visualization apparatus; and using the visualization apparatus to visualize the interior of the passageway.
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Citations
35 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; visualization apparatus; a tube having a non-rotating proximal portion and a rotatable portion disposed at a distal end of the non-rotating proximal portion and rotatable relative to the non-rotating proximal portion, the tube being sized to receive visualization apparatus, wherein the rotatable portion is disposed between a non-rotating distal portion of the visualization apparatus and the non-rotating proximal portion; a drive unit disposed within the tube, rotating the rotatable portion; and a helical thread disposed on the exterior surface of said rotatable portion, wherein rotation of the rotatable 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 a site which is to be visualized; rotating the rotatable 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)
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19. Apparatus for visualizing the interior of a bodily passage way, the apparatus comprising:
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a tube having a non-rotating proximal portion and a rotatable portion disposed at a distal end of the non-rotating proximal portion and rotatable relative to the non-rotating proximal portion, said tube being sized to receive visualization apparatus, wherein the rotatable portion is disposed between a non-rotating distal portion of the visualization apparatus and the non-rotating proximal portion; a drive unit disposed within said tube, rotating the rotatable portion; and a helical thread disposed on the exterior surface of said rotatable portion. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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Specification