Guide catheter with image capture and light emission features

• US 10,687,690 B2
• Filed: 03/22/2018
• Issued: 06/23/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Acclarent Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Acclarent Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Kesten, Randy J., Muni, Ketan P., Garvey, II, James Patrick, Ha, Hung V., Nguyen, Andy
• Primary Examiner(s): Neal, Timothy J
• Application Number:
  US15/928,171
• Publication Number:
  US 20180279855A1
• Time in Patent Office: 824 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00082 Balloons
• 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 1/012 characterised by internal passages or accessories therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/018 for receiving instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/05 characterised by the image sensor, e.g. camera, being in the distal end portion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0623 for off-axis illumination
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0684 using light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/227 for ears, i.e. otoscopes
• 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 17/29 Forceps for use in minimally invasive surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3421 Cannulas
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00331 with preformed bends
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00787 Surgery of the ear
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/345 for introduction into a natural body opening
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/306 using optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/361 Image-producing devices, e.g. surgical cameras
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 11/202 Surgical middle-ear ventilation or drainage, e.g. permanent; Implants therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0046 Coatings for improving slidability
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0681 : Systems with catheter and outer tubing, e.g. sheath, sleeve or guide tube
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2029/025 : characterised by the guiding element
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/32 : with radio-opaque indicia
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/0675 : Eustachian tube
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/0681 : Sinus (maxillaris)
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0041 : pre-formed, e.g. specially adapted to fit with the anatomy of body channels urethral catheters A61F2/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0054 : with regions for increasing flexibility
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0068 : Static characteristics of the catheter tip, e.g. shape, atraumatic tip, curved tip or tip structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/01 : Introducing, guiding, advancing, emplacing or holding catheters A61M25/10 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0662 : Guide tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/10 : Balloon catheters A61M25/0125 takes precedence; embolectomy A61B17/22032; retractors A61B17/02; inflatable balloons for placing stents or stent-grafts A61F2/958 ; stomach balloons for treatment of obesity A61F5/0003; oesophagal tubes A61J15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 29/02 : Dilators made of swellable material balloon catheters for angioplasty A61M25/104

Abstract

A dilation catheter system comprises a guide member, a dilation catheter, and an image sensor. The guide member includes a shaft comprising a distal end and a proximal end. The shaft further defines a longitudinal axis. The dilation catheter is movable relative to the guide catheter member and comprises an expandable dilator. The expandable dilator is sized to fit within one or both of a Eustachian tube or a passageway associated with a paranasal sinus. The image sensor is configured to provide visualization within anatomy of a patient. The image sensor is integral with the guide member.

Claims

1. A guide assembly, comprising:

(a) an elongate shaft, the elongate shaft comprising;

(i) a proximal portion, wherein the proximal portion is rigid,

(ii) a distal portion, wherein the distal portion is curved or bendable, wherein the distal portion is configured to fit in a nasal cavity, wherein the distal portion includes a removed portion configured to provide bendability to the elongate shaft, and

(iii) a lumen extending from the proximal portion to the distal portion;

(b) a core member received within the lumen of the elongate shaft, wherein the core member defines a plurality of lumens extending longitudinally, wherein a working lumen of the plurality of the lumens is configured to slidably receive a working instrument, wherein the core member is coupled with the elongate shaft, wherein the removed portion is only through the elongate shaft such that the core member remains fully intact;

(c) a grasping feature positioned at the proximal portion of the elongate shaft; and

(d) an imaging assembly integrated with the distal portion of the elongate shaft, wherein the imaging assembly comprises;

(i) an image sensor, and

(ii) a light feature configured to provide illumination.

2. The guide assembly of claim 1, wherein the removed portion includes a spiral cut, wherein the elongate shaft comprises a hypotube, wherein the spiral cut is configured to provide bendability to the hypotube.

3. The guide assembly of claim 2, wherein the spiral cut comprises a cut formed transversely through the hypotube extending in a spiral pattern longitudinally through the length of the distal portion, wherein the core member is a polymeric inner core, and wherein the spiral cut is only through the hypotube such that the polymeric inner core remains fully intact.

4. The guide assembly of claim 1, wherein the plurality of lumens of the core member comprise the working lumen and at least two access lumens, and wherein the access lumens are configured to receive one or more wires or illumination fibers to connect to the image sensor.

5. The guide assembly of claim 4, wherein the image sensor is positioned adjacent to the working lumen.

6. The guide assembly of claim 4, wherein the image sensor connects to a wire bundle that is threaded through one or more of the access lumens and out of a proximal opening of the proximal portion.

7. The guide assembly of claim 1, wherein the distal portion comprises a flexible portion and a blunt distal tip, and wherein the blunt distal tip comprises the light feature that includes a plurality of distinct light sources.

8. The guide assembly of claim 7, wherein the plurality of distinct light sources is configured to project light distally from the blunt distal tip to illuminate a visualization area that is disposed distally of the blunt distal tip, wherein the light feature includes two lenses disposed within the blunt distal tip connected to two corresponding illumination fibers.

9. The guide assembly of claim 1, wherein the imaging assembly further comprises one or more lens elements or one or more optically transmissive features that are positioned distal to the image sensor and are configured to enhance imaging through the image sensor.

10. A guide assembly, comprising:

(a) an elongate shaft configured to cooperate with a working device, the elongate shaft comprising;

(i) a proximal region, wherein the proximal region is rigid, and

(ii) a distal region, wherein the distal region includes a bent portion, wherein the bent portion includes an optically transmissive window, wherein the optically transmissive window is proximal to a distal most end of the distal region, wherein the optically transmissive window extends completely around the entire circumference of the elongate shaft;

(b) a grasping feature positioned at the proximal region of the elongate shaft; and

(c) an illuminating feature, wherein the illuminating feature is configured to provide light to the optically transmissive window of the elongate shaft.

11. The guide assembly of claim 10, wherein the illuminating feature comprises:

(i) at least one light source located in the grasping feature, and

(ii) at least one optical fiber or light pipe extending from the light source to the optically transmissive window.

12. The guide assembly of claim 10, wherein the optically transmissive window comprises a transparent light conducting polymer.

13. The guide assembly of claim 10, wherein the illuminating feature comprises an illuminating array that includes a plurality of light emitters disposed circumferentially around the illuminating array, wherein the light emitters are configured to provide the light to the optically transmissive window of the elongate shaft.

14. The guide assembly of claim 10, wherein the elongate shaft further comprises an exterior tube and an interior light communicating portion, wherein the interior light communicating portion is in communication with the illuminating feature and is configured to transfer the light from the illuminating feature through the elongate shaft to the optically transmissive window.

15. The guide assembly of claim 10, wherein the elongate shaft further comprises a plurality of optical fibers extending from the illuminating feature to the optically transmissive window, such that the optical fibers convey the light along the length of the elongate shaft instead of having an interior light communicating portion convey the light.

16. A dilation catheter system, comprising:

(a) a guide member configured to cooperate with a working device, the guide member comprising;

(i) a proximal region, wherein the proximal region is rigid, wherein the proximal region includes a grasping feature, and

(ii) a distal region, wherein the distal region includes a distal end and a rigid bend proximal to the distal end, wherein the rigid bend includes an optically transmissive window that extends along a portion of the rigid bend;

(b) a dilation catheter movable relative to the guide member, wherein the dilation catheter includes an expandable dilator sized to fit within a passageway associated with a paranasal sinus; and

(c) an illuminating feature configured to provide light to the optically transmissive window such that the light is emitted from the rigid bend proximal to the distal end of the guide member.

17. The dilation catheter system of claim 16, wherein the illuminating feature comprises:

(i) at least one light source located in the grasping feature, and

(ii) at least one optical fiber or light pipe extending from the light source to the optically transmissive window.

18. The dilation catheter system of claim 16, wherein the guide member further comprises an exterior tube and an interior light communicating portion, wherein the interior light communicating portion is in communication with the illuminating feature and is configured to transfer the light from the illuminating feature through the guide member to the optically transmissive window, wherein the interior light communicating portion and the optically transmissive window comprise a single unitary part.

19. The dilation catheter system of claim 16, wherein the dilation catheter includes depth indication marks on an exterior surface of the dilation catheter.

20. The dilation catheter system of claim 19, wherein the depth indication marks are viewable through the optically transmissive window thereby providing enhanced visual feedback indicating the depth of advancement of the dilation catheter relative to the guide member.