Locatable expandable working channel and method

• US 10,582,834 B2
• Filed: 06/15/2011
• Issued: 03/10/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Hastings, Paige B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Henderson, Ryan N
• Application Number:
  US13/161,410
• Publication Number:
  US 20120022325A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,191 Days
• Field of Search: 600103-107, 600109-110, 600114-116, 600139, 604 57, 606106
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00087 Tools A61B17/00234 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00135 Oversleeves mounted on the endoscope prior to insertion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0051 with controlled bending of insertion part
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0057 Constructional details of force transmission elements, e.g. control wires
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/018 for receiving instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/2676 Bronchoscopes
• 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 2017/00292 mounted on or guided by flexible, e.g. catheter-like, means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00296 mounted on an endoscope
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/003 Steerable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00318 Steering mechanisms
• 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 5/065 Determining position of the probe employing exclusively positioning means located on or in the probe, e.g. using position sensors arranged on the probe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6852 Catheters
• 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 25/0105 Steering means as part of the catheter or advancing means; Markers for positioning systems for detection of markers A61B

Abstract

A method and device is provided for accessing a target location within a branched network. The device may be passed through the working channel of a standard endoscope and includes a three-dimensional location sensor at its distal tip and an expandable extended working channel. The device has a very thin body proximal of the distal sensor such that, once the sensor is extended outside of the working channel of the endoscope, nearly all of the working channel may be used to pass tools through the extended working channel of the device.

Claims

1. A radially expandable device configured for insertion through a working channel of an endoscope, the radially expandable device comprising:

a location mechanism generating location information pertaining to a location of the radially expandable device, the location mechanism including a three dimensional (3D) tracking sensor that provides tracking data in six degrees of freedom disposed at a distal portion of the radially expandable device, the 3D tracking sensor connected to wires leading from the 3D tracking sensor to a proximal end of the radially expandable device, the wires utilized to carry a signal from the 3D tracking sensor and to deflect a distal end of the radially expandable device when at least one of the wires is actuated; and

a flexible sheath defining a channel therein,

wherein the channel is deformable along its entire length, from an unexpanded configuration to a radially expanded configuration, such that when a tool is inserted through the channel, the channel transitions from the unexpanded configuration to the radially expanded configuration along its entire length as the tool traverses the channel, and wherein the sensor and the wires are within a wall of the flexible sheath.

2. The radially expandable device of claim 1, wherein the flexible sheath comprises a material selected from the group consisting of:

polyamide, polyethylene, polyurethane, polyester, pylon and silicone.

3. The radially expandable device of claim 1, wherein the wires have a curved configuration.

4. The radially expandable device of claim 1, wherein the flexible sheath has a curved configuration.

5. The radially expandable device of claim 1, wherein the radially expandable device has a curved configuration.

6. The radially expandable device of claim 1, wherein the wires are configured to move relative to each other to deflect the distal portion of the radially expandable device.

7. The radially expandable device of claim 1, wherein the flexible sheath encases the sensor and the wires within a wall of the flexible sheath.

8. The radially expandable device of claim 1, wherein the channel is configured to receive a biopsy tool therethrough.

9. The radially expandable device of claim 1, wherein the 3D tracking sensor is disposed at a distal tip of the radially expandable device.

10. The radially expandable device of claim 1, wherein the 3D tracking sensor provides tracking data pertaining to a location of the distal portion of the radially expandable device within an airway of a patient.

11. The radially expandable device of claim 1, wherein the endoscope is a bronchoscope.

12. The radially expandable device of claim 1, wherein the channel transitions from the radially expanded configuration to the unexpanded configuration along its entire length as the tool traverses the channel during removal of the tool from the channel.

13. The radially expandable device of claim 1, wherein the 3D tracking sensor is configured to assist in navigation of the distal portion of the radially expandable device to a target location within an airway of a patient.

14. The radially expandable device of claim 1, wherein the radially expandable device is configured to remain within an airway of a patient when an endoscope, through which the radially expandable device is inserted, is removed from the airway of the patient.

15. A method of accessing a target location within a patient comprising:

navigating an endoscope toward the target location;

advancing a radially expandable device through a working channel of the endoscope, the radially expandable device including a location mechanism and a flexible sheath defining a channel therein, wherein the channel is deformable along its entire length, from an unexpanded configuration to a radially expanded configuration, such that when a tool is inserted through the channel, the channel transitions from the unexpanded configuration to the radially expanded configuration along its entire length as the tool traverses the channel, the location mechanism including a three dimensional (3D) tracking sensor that provides tracking data in six degrees of freedom disposed at a distal portion of the radially expandable device, the 3D tracking sensor connected to wires leading from the 3D tracking sensor to a proximal end of the radially expandable device, the wires utilized to carry a signal from the 3D tracking sensor, and to deflect a distal end of the radially expandable device when at least one of the wires is actuated;

withdrawing the endoscope from the patient over the radially expandable device; and

passing the tool through the channel to the target location.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the endoscope is a bronchoscope.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein advancing the radially expandable device through the working channel of the endoscope includes using the location mechanism to assist in navigating the radially expandable device to the target location.

18. The method of claim 15, including further comprising:

actuating the wires to position the distal portion of the radially expandable device adjacent the target location.

19. A method of accessing a target location within a patient comprising:

introducing a radially expandable device into a patient through a working channel of an endoscope, the radially expandable device including a location mechanism and a flexible sheath defining a channel therein, wherein the channel is deformable along its entire length, from an unexpanded configuration to a radially expanded configuration, such that when a tool is inserted through the channel, the channel transitions from the unexpanded configuration to the radially expanded configuration along its entire length as the tool traverses the channel, the location mechanism including a three dimensional (3D) tracking sensor that provides tracking data in six degrees of freedom disposed at a distal portion of the radially expandable device, the 3D tracking sensor connected to wires leading from the 3D tracking sensor to a proximal end of the radially expandable device, the wires utilized to carry a signal from the 3D tracking sensor, and to deflect a distal end of the radially expandable device when at least one of the wires is actuated;

using the location mechanism to navigate the radially expandable device to the target location; and

passing the tool through the channel to the target location,

wherein the sensor and the wires are within a wall of the flexible sheath.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

actuating the wires to position the distal portion of the radially expandable device adjacent the target location.