The present invention relates generally to the field of endoscopy and specifically to endoscopic apparatus used for endoscopic procedures during which a flexible tube is inserted into a body passage for examination of its interior for abnormalities. More particularly, the present invention refers to a connector for disposable multilumen tubing, which is used specifically, but not exclusively, with an endoscope, having a disposable sleeve covering the tube and upon inflation enabling advancement of the colonoscope within the colon.
There are known endoscopes employing inflatable flexible sleeves for propulsion endoscope within colon.
Voloshin (U.S. Pat. No. 6,485,409) discloses an endoscope, which comprises an endoscopic probe, a bending section for directing the probe within the colon (steering unit), an insertion tube and a flexible covering sleeve or a sheath, which is coupled proximally to the probe. The bending section of the endoscope is located behind the probe. The sleeve is attached to the endoscope in such a manner that its folded section is retained between a cap and an internal spindle, which are located between the insertion tube and the probe head. When inflated, the folded section unfolds over a flange of the internal spindle and an inner portion of the sleeve is pulled in a distal direction.
In PCT/IL03/00661 an endoscope is described which employs a flexible inflatable sleeve, which before inflation is retained within a dispenser. The dispenser employed in this endoscope has entry and exit ports defining a transit passage through which the endoscope may pass. The dispenser is adapted to capture the sleeve as the endoscope is retracted through the transit passage in a proximal direction. In another embodiment, the dispenser includes an external sleeve fixed to the dispenser and this external sleeve is adapted to be extended from the dispenser when the endoscope is retracted so that the external sleeve covers the flexible sleeve. By virtue of this provision any contamination on the flexible sleeve remains within the external sleeve and does not contact the endoscope or any other objects or areas outside the patient's body. After the endoscope has been removed entirely from the flexible sleeve, the dispenser together with the external sleeve is discarded.
It is mentioned in the above reference that the endoscope is provided with an internal sleeve, which is also known as a multilumen tubing, since it is usually fitted with appropriate passages or lumens as required for irrigation, suction and for passing endoscopic tools therethrough. For functioning the endoscope, the proximal end of the multilumen tubing is detachably connected through a dedicated connector to respective tubes or hoses, which supply water, air and vacuum from the control unit. Furthermore, the connection has also a dedicated port for insertion and evacuation therethrough of a surgical instrument, which extends along one of the passages of the multilumen tubing.
Unfortunately the known in the art connectors are of relatively complicated design, they comprise several components and require dedicated sealing means to seal hoses entering through ports of the fitting for supplying water, air or vacuum. Furthermore, in order to connect in an air-tight fashion the multilumen tubing with the fitting and at the same time to ensure that water, air or vacuum enters into respective channels of the multilumen tubing, one should locate the multilumen tubing in such a manner that its passages are brought in alignment with the corresponding hoses. This renders preparation of the endoscopic apparatus for endoscopic procedure complicated and inconvenient.
The object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved disposable connector for use with the multilumen tubing of an endoscopic apparatus.
The further object of the invention is to provide a new, disposable connector, which has very simple construction, which is convenient in use and which does not require bringing the tubes originating from the control unit in alignment with the passages of the multilumen tubing.
For a better understanding of the present invention as well of its benefits and advantages, reference will now be made to the following description of its embodiments taken in combination with the accompanying drawings.
With reference to
It is seen also in
It is seen also in
One should bear also in mind that within the insertion tube are provided various devices, which are necessary for proper functioning of the endoscope. These devices are known per se. Among such devices one can mention vertebrae and strings, which can be manipulated by the handle, and a multilumen tubing with appropriate passages for supplying water, as required for irrigation, or vacuum, as required for suction. The multilumen tubing also is provided with a dedicated passage for introducing surgical instruments into the colon as might be required during the endoscopic procedure. Along the insertion tube might extend also a dedicated tube through which air is supplied as required for inflating the sleeve.
The multilumen tubing extends through the endoscope and through the handle to a connector 30, which provides flow communication between lumens of the multilumen tubing and tubes passing through the umbilical duct tubes and supplying air and vacuum from the control unit and water from the flask.
The multilumen tubing and connector are manufactured from plastic material. It would be advantageous if they are cheap, disposable items, which are discarded at the end of the endoscopic procedure after the endoscope has been evacuated form the body passage. By virtue of this provision preparation for the new endoscopic procedure is simple, convenient and fast and it is not associated with spreading of any contamination picked up from the body passage during the endoscopic procedure.
Referring now to
On the outside periphery of the multilumen tubing and in vicinity to the proximal end 34 two tangentially directed cuts 42,44 are made, which are defined by a width dimension w and by a length dimension 1. In practice these dimensions are selected to allow communication with respective axial passages 36 and 38. The tangentially directed cuts provide, in fact, radial ports, through which a fluid medium can enter in the respective axial passages of the multilumen tubing. In practice the multilumen tubing is manufactured from an elastomeric material, e.g. PVC of medical grade. The outside diameter d of the multilumen tubing is about 6.2 mm, the minimal wall thickness between the outside periphery and the passage is about 0.2-0.3 mm, the width dimension w is about 1.5-1.6 mm and the length dimension l is about 3 mm.
Referring now to
The connector comprises a main body portion 46 and attached thereto a proximal port 48. The main body portion comprises a lower portion 50, which is integral with an upper portion 52. The lower portion has an U-shaped configuration defining a longitudinal groove 54 adapted for sliding along an appropriate protrusion provided on a lateral port of the handle 14. By virtue of this provision the connector can be detachably connected to the handle as seen in
Two of these ports (60 and 62) are intended for insertion thereinto of tubes 72,74, which respectively supply water and air to passages 36,38 of the multilumen tubing. The third port 64 is intended for insertion thereinto of a tube 76 through which vacuum is supplied to passage 40 of the multilumen tubing. In practice the ports 60,62 are of similar diameter, which is less than the diameter of the port 64.
The inside diameter D of the through going bore is selected in such a manner, that it is more than the outside diameter d of the multilumen tubing bore so as to allow insertion of the proximal end 34 of the multilumen tubing into the connector. In practice the inside diameter D is 6.2-6.3 mm.
Formed on the circumference of the through going bore a plurality of discrete annular protrusions 78,80,82,84 are provided. All those protrusions reduce the inside diameter D from 6.2-6.3 mm to about 5.5 mm, which is less than the outside diameter d of the multilumen tubing. By virtue of this provision and due to resiliency of the elastomeric material, the annular protrusions resiliently deform and reliably seal the multilumen tubing when it is being inserted in the connector. By virtue of this provision airtight connection between the multilumen tubing and the connector is provided without necessity to use separate sealing rings or any other dedicated sealing components. This renders construction of the connector very simple. The protrusions are intended also to provide two annular pockets, communicating with lateral ports for supply water and air. It is seen in
It can be readily appreciated that when the proximal end of the multilumen tubing is inserted in the connector as seen in
Vacuum is supplied to the open end of the passage 40 of the multilumen tubing through entry opening 58.
By virtue of the connector of the present invention supply of all necessary fluid media to the multilumen tubing is provided, while preparation of the multilumen tubing to the endoscopic procedure becomes very simple and convenient since it requires now merely the insertion of the proximal end of the multilumen tubing in the exit opening of the connector.
In practice the rear part of the connector, i.e. its proximal port 48, is manufactured from the same elastomeric material as the main body portion. The proximal port is connected to the main body portion by any suitable means, e.g. gluing. The situation, when the proximal port is a separate item connectable to the main body portion is only an illustrative example. One can contemplate a situation when the proximal port and the main body portion constitute an integral item.
The proximal port is provided with an entrance opening 90 for insertion therethrough and for evacuation therefrom of a surgical instrument as will be explained further with reference to
In
It should be appreciated that the above-disclosed connector can be employed not only in connection with an endoscope, which is propelled by an inflatable sleeve. It can be used with any other endoscopes, in which it is required to supply fluid medium to passages of multilumen tubing or to advance surgical instrument therethrough.
It should be also appreciated that the invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and that changes and one ordinarily skilled in the art can make modifications without deviation from the scope of the invention, as will be defined in the appended claims.
For example instead of a resilient partition, which is bendable as shown in
When used in the following claims, the meaning of terms “comprise”, “include”, “have” and their conjugates is “including but not limited to”.
It should also be appreciated that the features disclosed in the foregoing description, and/or in the following claims, and/or in the accompanying drawings may, both separately and in any combination thereof, be material for realizing the present invention in diverse forms thereof.
Number | Date | Country | |
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60570609 | May 2004 | US |