Patent Application
20060252989
The present invention relates generally to the field of endoscopy and specifically to endoscopes used for colonoscopic procedure during which a flexible tube is inserted into the rectum and colon for examining the colon interior for abnormalities. More particularly, the present invention refers to such an endoscope, which is provided with disposable sleeve covering the tube and which, upon inflation, assists advancement of the colonoscope within the colon.
There are known endoscopes employing inflatable flexible sleeves for propulsion of an endoscope within the 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. Since the sleeve covers merely the insertion tube and neither the steering unit nor the probe, these portions of the endoscope can be contaminated during the colonoscopic procedure and therefore the entire endoscope should be disinfected before reuse. No disclosure is provided as to how the sleeve is anchored to the cap or to the insertion tube.
In PCT/IL03/00661 an endoscope is described which employs a flexible inflatable sleeve, which before inflation is retained within a dispenser. To protect the endoscope from contamination, the sleeve is put thereon in such a manner that it covers the insertion tube, bending section and the probe. Unfortunately this measure reduces maneuverability of the bending section, since upon inflation the sleeve renders some rigidity to the bending section. Accordingly, advancing the endoscope within the colon becomes more difficult and operation of the endoscope is less convenient.
The object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved endoscope employing an inflatable sleeve for its propulsion within the colon. The endoscope of the present invention is fully protected from contamination, since the inflatable, disposable sleeve covers the insertion tube, the bending section and the probe. At the same time, by virtue of locating the folded section of the sleeve behind the bending section, maneuverability of the bending section is not compromised. 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.
a and 2b are longitudinal views and show schematically how the endoscope of the present invention advances within the colon by being propelled by the inflating sleeve.
With reference to
One should bear in mind that the distal section of the endoscope is provided with a bending section for maneuvering the endoscope and with a probe, which terminates at its forwardmost end by an appropriate optical head enabling visualization of the colon's interior. It is seen also in
It should be emphasized, however, that the endoscope of the present invention is not limited merely to colonoscopy. It can be employed in any other medical procedure requiring insertion of a probe in a body passage for inspection of its interior.
It is seen also in
It is not shown in detail, but one should bear in mind that within the insertion tube are provided various devices, which are necessary for proper functioning of the endoscope. These devices are known in the art. Among such devices one can mention vertebrae and strings, which can be manipulated by the handle, and a working channel, or so-called multilumen, with passages for supplying water for irrigation or a vacuum for suction. The multilumen is provided also with a passage for introducing surgical instruments into the colon as might be required during the endoscopic procedure. The multilumen extends through the endoscope and through the handle to a connector means 26, which connects it to the control unit and to the flask.
In
Referring now to
A flexible sleeve 42 surrounds entire the length of the distal section. The sleeve is manufactured of a flexible biocompatible plastic material, such as polyamide having a thickness of preferably about 20 microns. It is seen that the frontal non-inflatable portion 17 of the sleeve covers both the bending section and the probe, while the rear folded portion 15 of the sleeve covers merely the forwardmost region of the insertion tube. The folded portion of the sleeve is arranged as a concertina and, when pressure is supplied to the sleeve, the folded portion begins to unfold and reduce its length on account of the unfolded inflated region, which is designated by reference numeral 44. In
One should bear in mind, however, that since the folded portion is located behind the bending section, the sleeve always remains deflated around the bending section and thus maneuverability of the bending section is not compromised.
Furthermore, seeing that the sleeve remains always deflated around the probe, it almost does not increase the probe's outside diameter and therefore insertion of the endoscope within the patient's body can be carried out easier and without undue discomfort for a patient.
Referring to
It is shown also that the forwardmost extremity of the sleeve terminates by a cap 62, to which the sleeve is sealingly attached for example by a spring seal 64. It is not shown specifically but should be understood that cap 62 is provided with a transparent window through which illuminating light can propagate so as the viewing optics of the camera head may observe the interior of the body passage.
An external skirt member 66 is provided, which surrounds an internal bushing member 68, put on the insertion tube. The folded portion of the sleeve is retained within an annular space provided between the external skirt member and the internal bushing member. The rear portion of the skirt member terminates by an annular shoulder 70, which causes the folded portion of the sleeve to unfold over the shoulder as soon as pressure is supplied to the sleeve through the air supply tube. By virtue of this provision, unfolding of the sleeve takes place in an organized fashion, i.e. evenly and without entanglement. The internal bushing and the skirt are configured as thin walled cylindrical bodies manufactured from plastic material, so as to impart flexibility to their walls and at the same time to retain their thickness at a minimum, which is required for retaining the sleeve and preventing its entanglement during unfolding. In practice the wall thickness of the skirt member and the bushing member is of about several tenths of a micron.
An O-ring 72, or any other connection means suitable for functioning as a seal spring, sealingly secures the frontal portion of the skirt member on a retaining ring 74. The retaining ring tightly seats on an intermediate ring 76. The retaining ring is coupled with possibility for detachment by a snap connection to the intermediate ring 76 put on the insertion tube behind the bending section. On the outward periphery of the intermediate ring are made at least two elongated grooves 78, extending transversally. The grooves are intended for snapping engagement with corresponding tongues 80 protruding from the inwardly facing periphery of the retaining ring and protruding towards the grooves.
At the end of the endoscopic procedure, the endoscope is evacuated from the body passage and is disconnected from the sleeve. This can be easily done if an operator manually twists the insertion tube together with the intermediate ring. By virtue of the transversal elongated grooves 78, relative rotational motion is allowed between the tongues and the grooves until the tongues escape from the grooves and are not any more in the snapping engagement and the insertion tube can be detached from the sleeve.
The intermediate ring is fitted with an inlet 82, which is deployed between the elongated grooves so as to be in flow communication with the air-supply tube 60.
The outwardly facing surface of retaining ring 74 is provided with an annular depression adapted for deployment of the O-ring 72. By virtue of this provision the skirt member is in sealing engagement with the retaining ring. Since the O-ring presses flexible sleeve 42 to the annular depression of the retaining ring, the space between the skirt member and the bushing member is sealed and therefore there is no propagation of air towards the forward portion 17 of the sleeve and it cannot inflate. Retaining ring 74 is fitted also with an annular groove 84, which accommodates therein a sealing ring 86, put over the intermediate ring 76. By virtue of this provision sealing arrangement is provided, which prevents propagating of air between retaining ring and the intermediate ring towards the forward portion 17, thus again preventing inflation of the forward portion of the sleeve.
It can be readily appreciated that the above described anchoring and sealing mechanism is very simple. This mechanism enables coupling the sleeve to the insertion tube with possibility for detachment and prevents the forward portion of the sleeve from inflation.
Now with reference to
The bushing member is provided with a forward annular shoulder 92, which is fitted with small protrusions 94 for engagement with a tail portion 96 of a retaining ring 98. This retaining ring similarly to the retaining ring of the previous embodiment is in sealing arrangement with the outside periphery of the intermediate ring. However in contrast with the previous embodiment the retaining ring is not provided with tongues for engagement with the intermediate ring. The outwardly facing periphery of the retaining ring is configured with a sloping section 100 and with a cylindrical section 102. By virtue of this, provision folded portion 15 of the sleeve smoothly converges with the non-inflatable portion 17.
The tail portion and the annular shoulder are configured and dimensioned in such a manner that an annular space 104 is provided therebetween. A sealing ring 106 is provided, which accommodates within this annular space and seals the unfolded portion of the sleeve from air, which could enter between the bushing member and the retaining ring.
A holding ring 108 is provided, which tightly fits the outside periphery of the shoulder 92 and presses it to the tail portion 98, thus securing the whole assembly together. The sleeve passes from the folded portion 15 to the non-inflatable portion 17 between the outwardly facing periphery of the shoulder 92 and the inwardly facing periphery of the holding ring 108.
The most forward extremity of the shoulder is fitted with an annular undercut 110 for accommodating thereinto a sealing ring (not shown) to seal the non-inflatable portion of the sleeve from air, which could enter between the shoulder and the holding ring.
Thus the anchoring and sealing arrangement of the embodiment shown in
Similarly to the previous embodiment it is advantageous if the air inlet 82 is located between the grooves of the intermediate ring. It should be appreciated, however, that the inlet could be located in any other place, provided that its location prevents the air from approaching the forward portion of the sleeve.
It should be appreciated that the present 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.
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, are material for realizing the present invention in diverse forms thereof.
