Methods and devices for facilitating visualization in a surgical environment

• US 9,572,480 B2
• Filed: 06/19/2014
• Issued: 02/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Acclarent Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Acclarent Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Goldfarb, Eric, Morriss, John H., Chang, John Y., Facteau, William M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ullah, Akm Enayet
• Assistant Examiner(s): MOONEY, MICHAEL P
• Application Number:
  US14/308,897
• Publication Number:
  US 20140301699A1
• Time in Patent Office: 978 Days
• Field of Search: 385/43, 385/88, 385/50, 385 52- 55, 385/58, 385/62, 385/66, 385/76, 385/77, 385/84, 385/125, 385136-139, 600/2, 600/407, 600/473, 600/476, 600/478, 600/585, 605/510, 607/92, 604/533
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00126 optical, e.g. for light supply cables
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/063 for monochromatic or narrow-band illumination
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0684 using light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/07 using light-conductive means, e.g. optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/233 for the nose, i.e. nasoscopes , e.g. testing of patency of Eustachian tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/24 for use in the oral cavity, larynx, bronchial passages or nose for medical inspection of cavities or tubes in the body A61B1/00; Tongue scrapers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/246 for cleaning of the nose
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/2222 Fibre material or composition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/2244 Features of optical fibre cables, e.g. claddings
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/2055 Optical tracking systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/306 using optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2217/005 with suction drainage system
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/228 Sensors with optical connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/20 Surgical navigation systems; Devices for tracking or guiding surgical instruments, e.g. for frameless stereotaxis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0084 for introduction into the body, e.g. by catheters A61B5/1459 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/061 Determining position of a probe within the body employing means separate from the probe, e.g. sensing internal probe position employing impedance electrodes on the surface of the body A61B1/00158 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/062 using magnetic field
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/064 using markers A61B5/062 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6851 Guide wires
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0166 Sensors, electrodes or the like for guiding the catheter to a target zone, e.g. image guided or magnetically guided
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/09008 : having a balloon
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/09083 : having a coil around a core
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/09125 : Device for locking a guide wire in a fixed position with respect to the catheter or the human body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/09166 : having radio-opaque features
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/09175 : having specific characteristics at the distal tip
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2029/025 : characterised by the guiding element
• 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 25/09 : Guide wires
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 29/02 : Dilators made of swellable material balloon catheters for angioplasty A61M25/104
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/2469 : using optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0006 : Coupling light into the fibre in general G02B6/4298
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0008 : the light being emitted at the end of the fibre
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/04 : formed by bundles of fibres G02B6/24 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/1228 : Tapered waveguides, e.g. integrated spot-size transformers for coupling with fibres G02B6/305
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/125 : Bends, branchings or intersections
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/241 : Light guide terminations
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/262 : Optical details of coupling light into, or out of, or between fibre ends, e.g. special fibre end shapes or associated optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4292 : the light guide being disconnectable from the opto-electronic element, e.g. mutually self aligning arrangements

Abstract

Devices and methods for visually confirming the positioning of a distal end portion of an illuminating device placed within a patient include inserting a distal end portion of an illuminating device internally into a patient, emitting light from the distal end portion of the illuminating device, observing transillumination resulting from the light emitted from the distal end portion of the illuminating device that occurs on an external surface of the patient, and correlating the location of the observed transillumination on the external surface of the patient with an internal location of the patient that underlies the location of observed transillumination, to confirm positioning of the distal end portion of the illuminating device.

Claims

1. A quick release connector for use with an illuminating guidewire, said quick release connector comprising:

(a) a main body having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion;

(b) a channel in said distal end portion and opening to a distal end of said main body, said channel configured and dimensioned to slidably receive a proximal end portion of the illuminating guidewire; and

(c) a quick release locking mechanism comprising a locking arm, wherein said locking arm extends through said main body into said channel and is movable relative to said channel, wherein said locking arm is configured to assume a locked position and an unlocked position, wherein when said locking arm is in said unlocked position, said locking arm is at least partially retracted from said channel for receiving the proximal end portion of the illuminating guidewire in said channel, and wherein when said locking arm is in said locked position, said locking arm extends into said channel and is configured to engage the proximal end portion of the illuminating guidewire in said channel for releasable connecting the illuminating guidewire in said channel.

2. The quick release connector of claim 1, wherein said locking arm is biased to said locked position.

3. The quick release connector of claim 1, wherein said proximal end portion of said main body is adapted to be connected to a light cable extending from a light source.

4. The quick release connector of claim 1, wherein said channel in said distal end portion of said main body is a first portion of said channel, wherein said channel includes a second portion in said proximal end portion of said main body, and wherein said proximal end portion of said main body is optically coupled with a light source via said second portion of said channel.

5. The quick release connector of claim 1, wherein said locking arm comprises a detent mechanism.

6. A system, comprising

(a) said quick release connector of claim 1;

(b) an illuminating guidewire comprising a proximal end portion and a distal end portion; and

(c) a light source in communication with a light cable.

7. The system of claim 6, further comprising a light post configured to be coupled to said proximal end portion of said main body, wherein said light post is configured to connect with said light source, wherein said light post is in communication with said channel.

8. A connector for communicating light between a light source and an illuminating guidewire, said connector comprising:

(a) a main body having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion;

(b) a channel extending through at least part of said main body from a first end to a second end, wherein said first end of said channel is configured to receive the illuminating guidewire, wherein said second end of said channel is configured to communicate the light source with the illuminating guidewire; and

(c) a locking arm extending through said main body into said channel and movable relative to said channel, wherein said locking arm is movable between a first position and a second position, wherein said locking arm in said first position is at least partially retracted from said channel for receiving the illuminating guidewire, wherein said locking arm in said second position extends into said channel and is configured to engage and lock the illuminating guidewire relative to said channel.

9. The connector of claim 8, wherein said locking arm comprises a detent mechanism.

10. The connector of claim 8, wherein said locking arm is biased towards said second position.

11. The connector of claim 8, further comprising a light post extending from said proximal end portion of said main body, wherein said light post is in communication with said channel.

12. A system, comprising:

(a) an illuminating guidewire;

(b) a light source; and

(c) a connector, comprising;

(i) a main body having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion,

(ii) a channel extending through at least part of said main body from a first end to a second end, wherein said first end of said channel is configured to receive said illuminating guidewire, wherein said second end of said channel is configured to provide a path for communication from said light source to said illuminating guidewire, and

(iii) a quick release locking mechanism extending through said main body into said channel and movable relative to said channel between a first position and a second position, wherein said quick release mechanism in said first position is configured to release and unlock said illuminating guidewire relative to said channel, wherein said locking mechanism in said second position is configured to engage and lock said illuminating guidewire relative to said channel.