Delivery device

• US 8,834,355 B2
• Filed: 05/25/2005
• Issued: 09/16/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: US Endoscopy Group Inc. (Steris Corporation)
• Original Assignee: US Endoscopy Group Inc. (Steris Corporation)
• Inventors: Younker, Marlin E., Secrest, Dean J., Stuba, Robert M., Kaye, Christopher J., John, K. Randall, Mancini, William Ross
• Primary Examiner(s): Nia, Alireza
• Application Number:
  US11/137,525
• Publication Number:
  US 20050267361A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,401 Days
• Field of Search: 600/104, 600/114, 600/127, 600/129, 600/175, 600/106, 600/113, 606/1, 604/891.1
• US Class Current: 600/114
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00147 Holding or positioning arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/041 Capsule endoscopes for imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/273 for the upper alimentary canal, e.g. oesophagoscopes, gastroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3468 for implanting or removing devices, e.g. prostheses, implants, seeds, wires devices for implanting seeds A61M37/0069
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22035 for retrieving or repositioning foreign objects
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/073 Intestinal transmitters
• 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

Abstract

A device for delivering an apparatus or object to a targeted location within a human subject is disclosed. The device includes a body, a handle mounted to and movable relative to the body, a tube, a cable, and retention unit. The tube has a first end fixed to the body and a second end fixed to the retention unit. The cable has a first end fixed to the handle and a second end remote from the body. The cable extends substantially through the tube. The retention unit applies a retention force sufficient to retain the capsule during endoscopic delivery to the targeted release location. Manipulation of the handle in a direction relative to the retention unit generates a force on the apparatus greater than the retention force. A method of use is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A device having a portion insertable into an instrument channel of an endoscopy for delivering an object to a targeted release location within a human subject, the object enveloped by a smooth rounded exterior surface, the device comprising:

a. a body having a first passage therethrough;

b. a flexible elongated tube having a first end proximal with and fixed to said body and a second end distal from said body, said tube configured for insertion into the instrument channel of the endoscope and defining a second passage aligned with said first passage;

c. a solid cable having a first end and a second end and slidably engaged within said first passage and said second passage concurrently;

d. a handle fixed to said cable first end and movable relative to said body; and

e. a cylindrical-shaped retention unit having a dome-shaped proximal end removably connected to said tube second end and a distal end defining an opening smaller than a diameter of the object, wherein said unit applies a mechanical retention force to at least a portion of a distal end of the smooth rounded exterior surface of the object sufficient to retain the object during delivery to said targeted release location when said flexible elongated tube and said retention unit extends distally from the instrument channel of the endoscope;

f. wherein manipulation of said handle in a direction relative to said retention unit creates distal movement of said cable, whereby said cable second end is extendable beyond said tube second end to generate sufficient force against at least a portion of the smooth rounded exterior surface of the object to expel the object from said retention unit, and to the targeted release location when said flexible elongated tube and said retention unit extends distally from the instrument channel of the endoscope.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said retention unit comprises a shell sized to hold said object therein.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein said retention unit comprises a shell having an outer surface defining an opening sized to allow a manual press fit of said object therethrough.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein said retention unit comprises a cup having a suction port in communication with a suction source.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein said object is an image capturing capsule.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein said body comprising a handle stop, wherein said handle stop limits axial travel of said cable in a distal direction.

7. A device having a portion insertable into an instrument channel of an endoscopy for delivering an image capturing capsule to a targeted release location within a human subject, the image capturing capsule having a uniform smooth exterior surface, and the device comprising:

a. a body;

b. a handle mounted to and movable relative to said body;

c. a flexible tube having a first end fixed to said body and a second end, said tube defining a passage and opening at said second end with said tube sized for insertion into the instrument channel of the endoscope;

d. a solid cable having a first end fixed to said handle and a second end flexibly remote from said body, said cable extending substantially through said tube passage; and

e. a cylindrical-shaped retention unit having a dome-shaped proximal end removably connected to said tube second end and a distal end defining an expandable opening smaller than a widthwise diameter of the capsule, wherein said unit is sized to contact and surround at least a portion of a distal end of the capsule and applies a retention force on the uniform smooth exterior surface of the distal end of the capsule sufficient to retain the capsule during endoscopic delivery to said targeted release location;

f. wherein manipulation of said handle in a direction relative to said retention unit generates a force on the uniform smooth exterior surface of the capsule greater than said retention force to project the capsule from the retention unit.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein said retention unit comprises a clear base and a cylindrical shaped shell having an open distal end.

9. The device of claim 7 wherein said retention unit comprises a shell having a distal end opening of sufficient size to allow a manual press fit of said capsule therethrough.

10. The device of claim 7 wherein said retention unit comprises a shell having a plurality of longitudinal slots.

11. The device of claim 7 wherein said cable comprises a stop member to limit movement of the cable second end in a direction toward said retention unit.

12. The device of claim 7 wherein said cable second end comprises a ball-shaped tip.

13. The device of claim 7 wherein said retention unit comprises a shell having an exterior surface channel through which a guide wire may be threaded.

14. The device of claim 7 wherein said body comprising a handle stop, wherein said handle stop limits axial travel of said cable in a distal direction.

15. The device of claim 7 wherein said retention unit comprises a cup having a suction port in communication with a suction source.

16. A device for delivery of an object to within a subject, the device comprising:

a body;

a handle slidable relative to the body;

a tube having a proximal end fixed to the body and a distal end;

a barb connected to the distal end of the tube;

a retention unit having a proximal end connected to the barb and a distal end defining an opening, the retention unit defining an expandable chamber, the expandable chamber moveable between a closed position and an expanded position for allowing a manual press fit of the object therethrough the distal end opening, wherein a diameter of the distal end opening in the closed position is less than a maximum outer diameter of the object and a length of the expendable chamber is longer than a length of a constant diameter portion of the object; and

a cable having a proximal end fixed to the handle and a distal end, the cable extending inside the retention unit.

17. The device of claim 16 wherein the distal end of the cable is a ball tip, wherein the ball tip prohibits the retention unit from disconnecting from the cable if the barb disconnects from the tube.

18. The device of claim 16 wherein the distal end of the barb forms a threaded connection to the retention unit and the distal end of the tube is heat shrunk to the proximal end of the barb.

19. The device of claim 16 wherein manipulation of the handle in a direction relative to the retention unit creates distal movement of the cable, whereby the cable distal end generates sufficient force against the object to expel the object from the retention unit in the distal direction and out the distal end opening.