Patent Application
20230364382
The present disclosure relates generally to apparatus and methods for medical device. More particularly, the subject disclosure is directed to apparatus and methods for a snake catheter for use in medical applications, capable of achieving a decreased outer diameter while retaining optimal fluid flow rates.
Currently endoscopic procedures are performed with irrigation and suction applied through the endoscope's working channel. There is a camera permanently integrated into the distal tip of the endoscope, so it is external to the working channel of the endoscope, leaving the full diameter of the working channel to allow suction/irrigation.
US 2019/0105468 A1: “Medical continuum robot with multiple bending sections”. This is directed to an articulated medical device having a hollow cavity, wherein the device is capable of maneuvering within a patient, and allowing a medical tool to be guided through the hollow cavity for medical procedures, including endoscopes, cameras, and catheters.
U.S. RE46007E1: “Automated control of irrigation and aspiration in a single use endoscope”. This relates to an integrated and automated irrigation and aspiration system for use in an endoscopic imaging system.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,549,547A: Flexible tube having a tapered diameter portion for use with endoscopic irrigation instruments relates to an endoscopic irrigation instrument includes a fluid chamber, a cannula coupled to a distal end of the fluid chamber, a tapered irrigation tube which couples at its proximal end to a fluid source and which couples at its distal end to an irrigation port of the fluid chamber, and a pinch valve which controls the flow of fluid from the irrigation source to the fluid chamber and hence through the cannula to the surgical site.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,517,999B2: Irrigated catheter with improved fluid flow relates to an irrigated catheter with uniform cooling and/or uniform fluid distribution in longitudinally spaced apart elution holes by varying the diameter of a fluid delivery lumen.
During endoscopic procedures, physicians will irrigate and suction through the working channel of the endoscope. For example, As shown in
The present Snake Robotic Catheter 10, shown in
However, the camera 22 providing visualization during procedures for the Snake Robotic Catheter 10 is 1.6 mm in diameter, and occupies the center lumen 24. The gap between the OD of the camera 22 and the ID of the Catheter 10 has a smaller cross sectional area than the working channel of an endoscope; therefore, fluid flow through of the Snake Robotic Catheter 10 will be less than that through the endoscope working channel. The present disclosure provides a solution to this issue.
Thus, to address such exemplary needs in the industry, the presently disclosed device teaches a multi-section catheter comprising: a bendable section having an outer diameter; and a proximal section, having an outer diameter, attached to the bendable section, wherein a transition from the bendable section to the proximal section is tapered, such that the outer diameters from the bendable section to the proximal section increases in the taper.
In other embodiments, the outer diameter of the bendable section of the catheter is less than the outer diameter of the proximal section.
In further embodiment, the inner diameter of the proximal section is configured to accommodate at least two tools. Furthermore, the at least two tools may include a camera, needle, probe and other medical devices.
In additional embodiments, the catheter can perform endoscopic-type procedures, but will be able to navigate to more distal anatomy, and achieve a smaller bend radii due to a smaller bending section profile.
Further embodiments demonstrate that the catheter has a tapered inner diameter in the proximal section which provides an increase of fluid flow rates in the catheter.
It is further contemplated that the catheter comprises a braided tube abutting the bending section. Furthermore, the braided tube may be a progressive braid.
In additional embodiments the proximal section of the catheter is stiffer than the bending section, concentrating the bending at the bending section and providing more pushability of the catheter.
The subject innovation further teaches a method for using a multi-section catheter comprising: providing a multi-section catheter having: a bendable section; and a proximal section attached to the bendable section, wherein a transition from the bendable section to the proximal section is tapered, followed by inserting the catheter into a subject to a desired target using a camera; and flowing fluid through the catheter to the target.
It is further contemplated in additional embodiments that the transition from the bendable section to the proximal section is tapered such that the outer diameters from the bendable section to the proximal section increases in the taper.
In other embodiments, the outer diameter of the bendable section of the catheter is less than the outer diameter of the proximal section.
In further embodiment, the inner diameter of the proximal section is configured to accommodate at least two tools. Furthermore, the at least two tools may include a camera, needle, probe and other medical devices.
In additional embodiments, the catheter can perform endoscopic-type procedures, but will be able to navigate to more distal anatomy, and achieve a smaller bend radii due to a smaller bending section profile.
Further embodiments demonstrate that the catheter has a tapered inner diameter in the proximal section which provides an increase of fluid flow rates in the catheter.
It is further contemplated that the catheter comprises a braided tube abutting the bending section. Furthermore, the braided tube may be a progressive braid.
In additional embodiments the proximal section of the catheter is stiffer than the bending section, concentrating the bending at the bending section and providing more pushability of the catheter.
These and other objects, features, and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, when taken in conjunction with the appended drawing guidance device 10, and provided paragraphs.
Further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying figures showing illustrative embodiments of the present invention.
Throughout the Figures, the same reference numerals and characters, unless otherwise stated, are used to denote like features, elements, components or portions of the illustrated embodiments. In addition, reference numeral(s) including by the designation “′” (e.g. 12′ or 24′) signify secondary elements and/or references of the same nature and/or kind. Moreover, while the subject disclosure will now be described in detail with reference to the Figures, it is done so in connection with the illustrative embodiments. It is intended that changes and modifications can be made to the described embodiments without departing from the true scope and spirit of the subject disclosure as defined by the appended paragraphs.
In referring to the description, specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the examples disclosed. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, components and materials have not been described in detail as not to unnecessarily lengthen the present disclosure.
It should be understood that if an element or part is referred herein as being “on”, “against”, “connected to”, or “coupled to” another element or part, then it can be directly on, against, connected or coupled to the other element or part, or intervening elements or parts may be present. In contrast, if an element is referred to as being “directly on”, “directly connected to”, or “directly coupled to” another element or part, then there are no intervening elements or parts present. When used, term “and/or”, includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items, if so provided.
Spatially relative terms, such as “under” “beneath”, “below”, “lower”, “above”, “upper”, “proximal”, “distal”, and the like, may be used herein for ease of description and/or illustration to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the various figures. It should be understood, however, that the spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as “below” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elements or features. Thus, a relative spatial term such as “below” can encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein are to be interpreted accordingly.
The terms first, second, third, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, parts and/or sections. It should be understood that these elements, components, regions, parts and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms have been used only to distinguish one element, component, region, part, or section from another region, part, or section. Thus, a first element, component, region, part, or section discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, part, or section without departing from the teachings guidance device 10 herein.
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the”, are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It should be further understood that the terms “includes” and/or “including”, when used in the present specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof not explicitly stated. The term “position” or “positioning” should be understood as including both spatial position and angular orientation.
As detailed in
If greater flow is desired, the camera 22 can be retracted back out of the distal end 18 of bending section 26, into the portion where the ID is larger, resulting in even better flow. This retracted position may be seen in
Flow testing results are provided in
As seen in
Exemplary features therefore include: multi-section, steerable distal section, stiffer proximal section, camera in center lumen, camera positioned at distal tip and at taper, cameral selectively secured at proximal end, allows irrigation and/or suction, tapered ID, tapered OD, taper location and tapered ID accommodates multiple instruments.
While the present invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of the following claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures and functions.
This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/062,208, filed on Aug. 6, 2020, in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/US21/45052 | 8/6/2021 | WO |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63062208 | Aug 2020 | US |
