Tissue visualization device and method variations

• US 9,192,287 B2
• Filed: 06/18/2012
• Issued: 11/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc. (Intuitive Surgical Holdings, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc. (Intuitive Surgical Holdings, LLC)
• Inventors: Saadat, Vahid, Rothe, Chris A., Tam, Edmund, Peh, Ruey-Feng
• Primary Examiner(s): KASZTEJNA, MATTHEW JOHN
• Application Number:
  US13/526,254
• Publication Number:
  US 20130023731A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,254 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0008 characterised by distal tip features
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00082 Balloons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00085 Baskets
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00089 Hoods
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00091 Nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00177 for 90 degrees side-viewing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/005 Flexible endoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/012 characterised by internal passages or accessories therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/015 Control of fluid supply or evacuation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/018 for receiving instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/04 combined with photographic or television appliances
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00234 for minimally invasive surgery A61B17/0218, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0057 Implements for plugging an opening in the wall of a hollow or tubular organ, e.g. for sealing a vessel puncture or closing a cardiac septal defect sutures A61B17/04; closing rectum or urethra near body surface A61F2/0009
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0401 Suture anchors, buttons or pledgets, i.e. means for attaching sutures to bone, cartilage or soft tissue; Instruments for applying or removing suture anchors A61B17/0642 takes precedence; fixation devices for tendons or ligaments A61F2/0811
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0469 Suturing instruments for use in minimally invasive surgery, e.g. endoscopic surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0487 Suture clamps, clips or locks, e.g. for replacing suture knots; Instruments for applying or removing suture clamps, clips or locks suture anchors A61B17/0401; wound clamps or clips A61B17/08; ligaturing clamps or clips A61B17/122
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/22012 in direct contact with, or very close to, the obstruction or concrement for removing obstructions in blood vessels by laser A61B18/245
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/24 with a catheter A61B18/26, A61B18/28 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/048 for reducing heart wall tension, e.g. sutures with a pad on each extremity
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0496 for tensioning sutures
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02007 : Evaluating blood vessel condition, e.g. elasticity, compliance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6882 : Anchoring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/12 : in body cavities or body tracts, e.g. by using catheters catheters per se A61M25/00

Abstract

Tissue visualization devices and variations thereof are described herein where such devices may utilize a variety of methods for facilitating clearing of the device of opaque bodily fluids and sealing between the device and the underlying tissue surface. Additionally, methods and devices for enhancing navigation of the device through a patient body are also described.

Claims

1. A tissue treatment system, comprising:

a catheter having a flexible length and at least one lumen therethrough;

a hood projecting distally from the catheter and having a first low-profile configuration and a second expanded configuration defining an open area therein, the hood including a contact portion extending circumferentially about a distal end of the hood, wherein the contact portion is configured to contact a tissue region to be visualized and fluidly isolate the open area; and

a plurality of biasing suspension elements placed circumferentially around an external side of the contact portion, the plurality of biasing suspension elements each including a first portion attached to the contact portion and a second portion proximal of the first portion separated and curved away from the contact portion and a third portion proximal of the second portion attached to the contact portion such that the biasing suspension elements are configured to compress tissue between the first portion and the third portion.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of biasing suspension elements comprise a shape memory material.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of biasing suspension elements are distally aligned relative to the hood.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the contact portion comprises a plurality of projections on an internal side of the contact portion, the projections configured to contact the tissue region.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the projections comprise barbs.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the barbs are angled inwardly towards a longitudinal axis of the hood.

7. The system of claim 4, wherein the projections comprise flaps.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the deployment catheter is steered via at least one push-pull wire.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the hood is comprised of a compliant material.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the biasing suspension elements are configured to compress tissue between the first portion and the third portion upon axial loading on the catheter.

11. A catheter comprising:

at least one lumen therethrough;

a hood projecting distally from the catheter and having a first low-profile configuration and a second expanded configuration defining an open area therein;

a pliable contact portion extending circumferentially about a distal end of the hood to fluidly isolate the open area against a tissue region; and

a plurality of projections positioned circumferentially around and extending from an internal side of the pliable contact portion;

a plurality of biasing suspension elements placed circumferentially around an external side of the contact portion, each biasing suspension element including a first portion attached to the contact portion and a second portion proximal of the first portion separated and curved away from the contact portion and a third portion proximal of the second portion attached to the contact portion such that the biasing suspension elements are configured to compress tissue between the first portion and the third portion.

12. The catheter of claim 11, wherein the plurality of biasing suspension elements comprise a shape memory material.

13. The catheter of claim 11, wherein the plurality of biasing suspension elements are distally angled relative to the hood.

14. The catheter of claim 11, wherein the projections comprise barbs.

15. The catheter of claim 14, wherein the barbs are angled inwardly towards a longitudinal axis of the hood.

16. The catheter of claim 11, wherein the projections comprise flaps.

17. The catheter of claim 11, wherein the hood is comprised of a compliant material.

18. A catheter comprising:

at least one lumen therethrough;

a hood projecting distally from the catheter and having a first low-profile configuration and a second expanded configuration defining an open area therein;

a pliable contact portion extending circumferentially about a distal end of the hood, the contact portion configured to fluidly isolate the open area against a tisane region; and

a plurality of biasing suspension elements placed circumferentially around an external side of the contact portion, the plurality of biasing suspension elements each including a first portion attached to the contact portion and a second portion proximal of the first portion separated and curved away from the contact portion and a third portion proximal of the second portion attached to the contact portion such that the biasing suspension elements are configured to compress tissue between the first portion and the third portion; and

a plurality of projections positioned circumferentially around and extending from an internal side of the pliable contact portion.

19. The catheter of claim 18, wherein the plurality of biasing suspension elements are distally angled relative to the hood.

20. The catheter of claim 18, wherein the plurality of projections comprise barbs that are angled inwardly towards a longitudinal axis of the hood.