Medical instrument with a deflectable distal portion

• US 8,845,522 B2
• Filed: 08/14/2008
• Issued: 09/30/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: McIntyre, Jon T., Hixon, Jessica, Ostrovsky, Isaac, Slanda, Jozef
• Primary Examiner(s): Nia, Alireza
• Application Number:
  US12/191,485
• Publication Number:
  US 20090069632A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,238 Days
• Field of Search: 600/114, 600139-142, 600/146, 600148-150, 600/182, 600/151
• US Class Current: 600/146
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00098 Deflecting means for inserted tools
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0052 Constructional details of control elements, e.g. handles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0055 Constructional details of insertion parts, e.g. vertebral elements

Abstract

A deflection assembly of a medical instrument (such as an endoscope or a flexible ureteroscope) allows an operator to deflect a distal portion of the instrument using one or more controls located at a proximal portion of the instrument. The instrument allows the operator to achieve multi-directional deflection of the distal portion.

Claims

1. A medical instrument, comprising:

a handle;

a flexible shaft extending distally from the handle, the shaft comprising an outer elongated member and an inner elongated member disposed within at least a portion of the outer elongated member, the arrangement of the outer and inner members defining a space therebetween; and

a deflection assembly disposed within the space and being manipulatable by a user of the instrument to deflect a distal portion of the shaft in at least one of two possible directions off a longitudinal axis running the length of the shaft,

wherein the deflection assembly comprises;

(i) a proximal portion having a curved profile concentric with one of the inner and outer members, (ii) a distal portion having a substantially flat profile, and (iii) a tapering portion between the proximal portion and the distal portion, the tapering portion comprising a curved profile tapering in a distal direction proximate to a distal end of the shaft.

2. The medical instrument of claim 1, wherein the deflection assembly comprises at least two elements, each of the at least two elements having (i) a proximal portion having a curved profile concentric with one of the inner and outer members, (ii) a distal portion having a substantially flat profile, and (iii) a tapering portion between the proximal portion and the distal portion, the tapering portion comprising a curved profile tapering in a distal direction proximate to a distal end of the shaft.

3. The medical instrument of claim 2, wherein a proximal end of each of the at least two elements comprises a grip manipulatable by a user of the instrument to deflect a distal portion of the shaft.

4. The medical instrument of claim 3, wherein each grip is integrally formed with each of the at least two elements.

5. The medical instrument of claim 3, wherein each grip is connected to each of the at least two elements.

6. The medical instrument of claim 1, wherein the deflection assembly comprises at least two half-tubes, each of the at least two half tubes including a transition structure.

7. The medical instrument of claim 6, wherein the deflection assembly comprises a deflection member extending distally from each of the transition structures.

8. The medical instrument of claim 7, wherein the deflection members are connected to an attachment ring at a distal end of the shaft.

9. The medical instrument of claim 1, wherein the outer elongated member comprises at least one rib to prevent the deflection assembly from rotating independently of the outer elongated member.

10. The medical instrument of claim 1, wherein inner elongated member comprises at least one lumen extending from a proximal end disposed in the handle to a distal end of the shaft.

11. The medical instrument of claim 1, wherein the deflection assembly can be manipulated independent of the shaft.

12. The medical instrument of claim 1, wherein the outer elongated member comprises a lubricated coating.

13. The medical instrument of claim 1, wherein the outer elongated member comprises a drug coating.

14. A medical instrument, comprising:

a handle;

a flexible shaft extending distally from the handle, the shaft comprising an outer elongated member and an inner elongated member disposed within at least a portion of the outer elongated member, the arrangement of the outer and inner members defining a space therebetween; and

a deflection assembly disposed within the space and being manipulatable by a user of the instrument to deflect a distal portion of the shaft, the deflection assembly comprising at least two half-tubes, each of the at least two half tubes including a deflection member connected to an attachment ring at a distal end of the shaft;

wherein each of the at least two half-tubes comprises;

(i) a proximal portion having a curved profile concentric with one of the inner and outer members, (ii) a distal portion having a substantially flat profile, and (iii) a tapering portion between the proximal portion and the distal portion, the tapering portion comprising a curved profile tapering in a distal direction proximate to a distal end of the shaft.

15. The medical instrument of claim 14, wherein the deflection assembly can be manipulated independent of the shaft.

16. The medical instrument of claim 14, wherein a proximal end of each of the at least two half-tubes comprises a grip manipulatable by a user of the instrument to deflect and/or rotate the distal portion of the shaft.

17. The medical instrument of claim 14, wherein inner elongated member comprises at least one lumen extending from a proximal end disposed in the handle to a distal end of the shaft.

18. The medical instrument of claim 14, wherein the outer elongated member comprises at least one rib to prevent the deflection assembly from rotating independently of the outer elongated member.

19. The medical instrument of claim 14, wherein the deflection member includes two deflection members, each deflection member corresponding to and fixedly connected directly to one of the at least two half-tubes.

20. The medical instrument of claim 14, wherein the two half-tubes define a pair of gaps extending longitudinally.