Method and apparatus for stabilizing, straightening, expanding and/or flattening the side wall of a body lumen and/or body cavity so as to provide increased visualization of the same and/or increased access to the same, and/or for stabilizing instruments relative to the same
First Claim
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1. Apparatus comprising:
- an endoscope comprising a shaft having a distal end and a proximal end, and a handle attached to the proximal end of the shaft of the endoscope, wherein the longitudinal axis of the shaft of the endoscope defines a shaft axis of the endoscope;
a sleeve disposed over the exterior of the shaft of the endoscope, wherein the sleeve comprises a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the sleeve extends over the exterior of the shaft of the endoscope from the distal end of the shaft of the endoscope to the proximal end of the shaft of the endoscope, and wherein the longitudinal axis of the sleeve defines a sleeve axis, the sleeve axis being in fixed disposition relative to the shaft axis of the endoscope, and further wherein the sleeve comprises at least one lumen extending through the sleeve, the lumen having a longitudinal axis which defines a lumen axis, the lumen axis being in fixed disposition relative to the sleeve axis and the shaft axis of the endoscope;
a proximal balloon secured to the sleeve near the distal end of the sleeve;
a pusher element having a distal end and a proximal end, the longitudinal axis of the pusher element defining a pusher element axis, the pusher element axis being in fixed disposition relative to the lumen axis, the sleeve axis and the shaft axis of the endoscope, wherein the pusher element is longitudinally slidably mounted in the at least one lumen of the sleeve such that the distal end of the pusher element can be advanced distally beyond the distal end of the sleeve, the pusher element being substantially flexible and having substantial column strength; and
a distal balloon secured to the distal end of the pusher element.
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Abstract
The present invention comprises the provision and use of a novel endoscopic device which is capable of stabilizing, straightening, expanding and/or flattening the side wall of a body lumen and/or body cavity so as to better present the side wall tissue for examination and/or treatment during an endoscopic procedure. The present invention also comprises the provision and use of a novel endoscopic device capable of steadying and/or stabilizing the distal tips and/or working ends of instruments inserted into a body lumen and/or body cavity, whereby to facilitate the use of those instruments.
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Citations
37 Claims
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1. Apparatus comprising:
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an endoscope comprising a shaft having a distal end and a proximal end, and a handle attached to the proximal end of the shaft of the endoscope, wherein the longitudinal axis of the shaft of the endoscope defines a shaft axis of the endoscope; a sleeve disposed over the exterior of the shaft of the endoscope, wherein the sleeve comprises a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the sleeve extends over the exterior of the shaft of the endoscope from the distal end of the shaft of the endoscope to the proximal end of the shaft of the endoscope, and wherein the longitudinal axis of the sleeve defines a sleeve axis, the sleeve axis being in fixed disposition relative to the shaft axis of the endoscope, and further wherein the sleeve comprises at least one lumen extending through the sleeve, the lumen having a longitudinal axis which defines a lumen axis, the lumen axis being in fixed disposition relative to the sleeve axis and the shaft axis of the endoscope; a proximal balloon secured to the sleeve near the distal end of the sleeve; a pusher element having a distal end and a proximal end, the longitudinal axis of the pusher element defining a pusher element axis, the pusher element axis being in fixed disposition relative to the lumen axis, the sleeve axis and the shaft axis of the endoscope, wherein the pusher element is longitudinally slidably mounted in the at least one lumen of the sleeve such that the distal end of the pusher element can be advanced distally beyond the distal end of the sleeve, the pusher element being substantially flexible and having substantial column strength; and a distal balloon secured to the distal end of the pusher element. - 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. A method for performing a procedure in a body lumen and/or body cavity, the method comprising:
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providing an apparatus comprising; an endoscope comprising a shaft having a distal end and a proximal end, and a handle attached to the proximal end of the shaft of the endoscope, wherein the longitudinal axis of the shaft of the endoscope defines a shaft axis of the endoscope; a sleeve disposed over the exterior of the shaft of the endoscope, wherein the sleeve comprises a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the sleeve extends over the exterior of the shaft of the endoscope from the distal end of the shaft of the endoscope to the proximal end of the shaft of the endoscope, and wherein the longitudinal axis of the sleeve defines a sleeve axis, the sleeve axis being in fixed disposition relative to the shaft axis of the endoscope, and further wherein the sleeve comprises at least one lumen extending through the sleeve, the lumen having a longitudinal axis which defines a lumen axis, the lumen axis being in fixed disposition relative to the sleeve axis and the shaft axis of the endoscope; a proximal balloon secured to the sleeve near the distal end of the sleeve; a pusher tube having a distal end and a proximal end, the longitudinal axis of the pusher element defining a pusher element axis, the pusher element axis being in fixed disposition relative to the lumen axis, the sleeve axis and the shaft axis of the endoscope, wherein the pusher tube is longitudinally slidably mounted in the at least one lumen of the sleeve, such that the distal end of the pusher tube can be advanced distally beyond the distal end of the sleeve, the pusher tube being substantially flexible and having substantial column strength and the pusher tube being configured to slidably receive a guidewire therein; and a distal balloon secured to the distal end of the pusher tube; positioning the apparatus in the body lumen and/or body cavity; inflating the proximal balloon; advancing a guidewire through the pusher tube; advancing the pusher tube along the guidewire; inflating the distal balloon; and performing the procedure.
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20. A method for performing a procedure in a body lumen and/or body cavity, the method comprising:
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providing an apparatus comprising; an endoscope comprising a shaft having a distal end and a proximal end, and a handle attached to the proximal end of the shaft of the endoscope, wherein the longitudinal axis of the shaft of the endoscope defines a shaft axis of the endoscope; a sleeve disposed over the exterior of the shaft of the endoscope, wherein the sleeve comprises a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the sleeve extends over the exterior of the shaft of the endoscope from the distal end of the shaft of the endoscope to the proximal end of the shaft of the endoscope, and wherein the longitudinal axis of the sleeve defines a sleeve axis, the sleeve axis being in fixed disposition relative to the shaft axis of the endoscope, and further wherein the sleeve comprises at least one lumen extending through the sleeve, the lumen having a longitudinal axis which defines a lumen axis, the lumen axis being in fixed disposition relative to the sleeve axis and the shaft axis of the endoscope; a proximal balloon secured to the sleeve near the distal end of the sleeve; a pusher element having a distal end and a proximal end, the longitudinal axis of the pusher element defining a pusher element axis, the pusher element axis being in fixed disposition relative to the lumen axis, the sleeve axis and the shaft axis of the endoscope, wherein the pusher element is longitudinally slidably mounted in the at least one lumen of the sleeve such that the distal end of the pusher element can be advanced distally beyond the distal end of the sleeve, the pusher element being substantially flexible and having substantial column strength; and a distal balloon secured to the distal end of the pusher element; positioning the apparatus in the body lumen and/or body cavity; inflating the proximal balloon; advancing the pusher element distally relative to the sleeve; inflating the distal balloon; and performing the procedure. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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Specification