Articulation joint

• US 8,608,648 B2
• Filed: 11/22/2011
• Issued: 12/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Banik, Michael S., Couvillon, Lucien Alfred Jr., Boulais, Dennis R., Wiesman, Richard M., Mason, Timothy J., Mehta, Neil Rasik
• Primary Examiner(s): KASZTEJNA, MATTHEW JOHN
• Application Number:
  US13/302,555
• Publication Number:
  US 20120071720A1
• Time in Patent Office: 756 Days
• Field of Search: 600/139, 600141-142
• US Class Current: 600/142
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00018 using electrical cables
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00045 Display arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00059 provided with identification means for the endoscope
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00066 Proximal part of endoscope body, e.g. handles A61B1/0052 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00071 Insertion part of the endoscope body A61B1/0055 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00137 End pieces at either end of the endoscope, e.g. caps, seals or forceps plugs
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00147 Holding or positioning arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0016 using motor drive units
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0051 with controlled bending of insertion part
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0052 Constructional details of control elements, e.g. handles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0055 Constructional details of insertion parts, e.g. vertebral elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0057 Constructional details of force transmission elements, e.g. control wires
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/008 Articulations
• 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 1/045 Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/05 characterised by the image sensor, e.g. camera, being in the distal end portion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0638 providing two or more wavelengths
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0676 at distal tip of an endoscope
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0684 using light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/31 : for the rectum, e.g. proctoscopes, sigmoidoscopes , colonoscopes

Abstract

A video endoscope system includes a reusable control cabinet and an endoscope that is connectable thereto. The endoscope may be used with a single patient and then disposed. The endoscope includes an illumination mechanism, an image sensor, and an elongate shaft having one or more lumens located therein. An articulation joint at the distal end of the endoscope allows the distal end to be oriented by the actuators in the control cabinet or actuators in a control handle of the endoscope. Fluidics, electrical, navigation, image, display and data entry controls are integrated into the system along with other accessories.

Claims

1. An articulation joint for a medical device, comprising:

a plurality of links, each link including;

a radially inner surface defining a central lumen,

a first end section, and

a second end section opposite the first end section, wherein the second end section includes a substantially convex surface; and

a plurality of springs coupling a link to an adjacent link, wherein the plurality of springs are positioned within at least one of the central lumen of the link and the central lumen of the adjacent link, and each spring includes a first terminal end and a second terminal end, wherein the first terminal end of the spring is positioned on the link and the second terminal end of the spring is positioned on the adjacent link, and each spring is fixedly secured to the radially inner surface of the link and the radially inner surface of the adjacent link.

2. The articulation joint of claim 1, wherein the plurality of springs are positioned within the central lumen of the link and the central lumen of the adjacent link.

3. The articulation joint of claim 1, wherein the second end section of the link faces the second end section of the adjacent link, and a gap exists between the second end section of the link and the second end section of the adjacent link.

4. The articulation joint of claim 3, wherein at least one of the plurality of springs extends from the convex surface of the link to the convex surface of the adjacent link.

5. The articulation joint of claim 1, wherein the first end section of the link faces the first end section of the adjacent link, and at least one of the plurality of springs extends from the first end section of the link to the first end section of the adjacent link.

6. The articulation joint of claim 1, wherein the plurality of springs are arranged on opposite sides of the link.

7. The articulation joint of claim 1, wherein the first end section includes a substantially concave surface.

8. The articulation joint of claim 1, wherein the first terminal end of the spring is positioned within the central lumen of the link, and the second terminal end of the spring is positioned within the central lumen of the adjacent link.

9. An articulation joint for a medical device, comprising:

a plurality of links, each link including;

a radially inner surface defining a central lumen,

a first end section, and

a second end section opposite the first end section, wherein the second end section includes a substantially convex surface; and

a first plurality of springs coupling a link to a first adjacent link, wherein each of the first plurality of springs extends partially through the central lumen of the link and the central lumen of the first adjacent link, and is fixedly secured to the radially inner surface of the link and the radially inner surface of the first adjacent link.

10. The articulation joint of claim 9, further comprising a second plurality of springs coupling the link to a second adjacent link, wherein each of the second plurality of springs extends partially through the central lumen of the link and the central lumen of the second adjacent link.

11. The articulation joint of claim 10, wherein the first end section of the link faces the first end section of the first adjacent link, and the second end section of the link faces the second end section of the second adjacent link.

12. The articulation joint of claim 11, wherein the second plurality of springs extend from the substantially convex surface of the link to the substantially convex surface of the second adjacent link, and the second plurality of springs spaces the substantially convex surface of the link from the substantially convex surface of the second adjacent link.

13. The articulation joint of claim 10, wherein the first plurality of springs are positioned 90°

about a longitudinal axis of the link relative to the second plurality of springs.

14. The articulation joint of claim 9, wherein the first end section includes a substantially concave surface.

15. An articulation joint for a medical device, comprising:

a plurality of links, each link including;

a radially inner surface defining a central lumen,

a first end section, and

a second end section opposite the first end section, wherein the second end section includes a substantially convex surface;

a first plurality of springs coupling a link to a first adjacent link; and

a second plurality of springs coupling the link to a second adjacent link;

wherein the second end section of the link faces the second end section of the first adjacent link, and the first end section of the link faces the first end section of the second adjacent link;

wherein each of the first plurality of springs includes a first terminal end positioned within the central lumen of the link and fixedly secured on the radially inner surface of the link, and a second terminal end positioned within the central lumen of the first adjacent link and fixedly secured on the radially inner surface of the first adjacent link, and each of the second plurality of springs includes a first terminal end position within the central lumen of the link and fixedly secured on the radially inner surface of the link, and a second terminal end positioned within the central lumen of the second adjacent link and fixedly secured on the radially inner surface of the second adjacent link.

16. The articulation joint of claim 15, wherein the first plurality of springs are positioned 90°

about a longitudinal axis of the link relative to the second plurality of springs.

17. The articulation joint of claim 15, wherein the first plurality of springs do not extend out of the central lumen of the first adjacent link through the first end section of the first adjacent link, and the second plurality of springs do not extend out of the central lumen of the second adjacent link through the second end section of the second adjacent link.