The claimed technology relates generally to medical instruments and more particularly towards medical instruments for use in endoscopic procedures.
An endoscope is an instrument that can be inserted into a body cavity to provide a visual account of the cavity proximate the instrument's distal or remote end. The instrument can also be equipped to carry out certain surgical procedures and the like at its distal end utilizing tools inserted through the instrument's tubular channel. The typical tubular instrument is relatively flexible to allow its tip to be maneuvered to a site of interest. The tip of the instrument is equipped with both a light source and optics in communication with the instrument's proximal end. The visual information obtained at the distal end or tip of the instrument is carried to the other end of the instrument where it can be viewed through a computer screen. Other controls at the proximal end of the instrument control the instrument's tip through cables or filaments running through the endoscope's tubular structure.
Endoscopes currently available can be equipped to provide a visual inspection of bodily cavities, and to carry out certain surgical operations and other minor medical procedures. The distal or remote and flexible end of the instrument can be moved to a limited extent by turning knobs or pulling cables which bend the tube in a desired direction.
Food impaction in the esophagus is a common gastrointestinal emergency. There are several tools for removal of impacted food. The procedure for food removal can be tedious and several tools are utilized mainly due to the size of the food bolus impacted in the esophagus. Cutting the food bolus into smaller pieces has proven to be a generally safe method to relief the impaction. With current tools, this process frequently laborious and regular snare is not generally successful in achieving this goal.
Foreign body in the gastrointestinal tract is a common gastrointestinal emergency. There are several tools for removal. Elongated foreign body such as a pencil or toothbrush in a body cavity can be difficult to remove and may lead to complications if both ends were not controlled well during removal. The current disclosure addresses the shortcomings of current endoscopic instruments.
In one aspect an endoscopic tool for use with an endoscope device positioned within the body cavity of a patient. The endoscopic tool having a proximal portion and a distal portion connected by a middle portion and covered in a flexible sheath with a longitudinal axis running therethrough. The proximal end has a control member operationally connected thereto. The middle portion having a generally tubular channel running therethrough. The distal portion having a blunt tip and an opening transverse to the longitudinal axis and operationally connected to the channel of the middle portion. Further included is a wire loop tool disposed in the channel and having a proximal end, a control cable, and a loop end. The proximal end of the wire loop tool being operationally connected to the control member of the proximal end such that extending the wire loop tool extends the loop end through the distal portion opening transverse to the longitudinal axis.
In another aspect the endoscopic tool further includes a second control member disposed on the proximal end, a second channel disposed in the middle portion, and a second opening in the distal portion transverse to the longitudinal axis and operationally connected to the second channel. Further, a second wire loop tool is disposed in the second channel and has a proximal end, a control cable, and a loop end. The proximal end of the second wire loop tool being operationally connected to the second control member such that extending the second loop wire tool extends the second loop end through the distal portion second opening transverse to the longitudinal axis.
In still a further aspect an endoscopic tool for use with an endoscope device positioned within a body cavity of a patient is provided. The endoscopic tool having an elongated generally tubular tool body with a proximal and distal end and a longitudinal axis running therethrough. A control member is disposed at a proximal end of the tool for controlling the tool. A wire loop tool having a proximal end, a control cable portion, and a wire loop end is also provide where the proximal end is operationally connected to the control member. A tubular channel is disposed along the longitudinal axis of the tool where the wire loop tool is disposed within the channel such that the wire loop end is within the channel when in a fully retracted position and extends from the channel when in an extended position. The endoscopic tool further includes a blunt tip portion coupled to the distal end of the tool body. An opening is disposed in the side of the tubular channel and arranged such that the wire loop extends from the opening transverse to the longitudinal axis of the tool when in the extended position.
In yet another aspect a second control member is disposed on the proximal end and a second wire loop tool having a proximal end, a control cable portion, and a wire loop end, the proximal end is operationally connected to the second control member. A second tubular channel is disposed along the longitudinal axis of the tool, the second wire loop tool being disposed within the second channel such that the second wire loop end is within the second channel when in a fully retracted position and extends from the second channel when in an extended position. A second opening being disposed in the side of the second tubular channel and arranged such that the second wire loop extends from the second opening transverse to the longitudinal axis of the tool when in the extended position.
For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the claimed technology and presenting its currently understood best mode of operation, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the claimed technology is thereby intended, with such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated device and such further applications of the principles of the claimed technology as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the claimed technology relates.
An example of an endoscopic instrument 20 according to the prior art is shown in
This current disclosure describes a new design of endoscopic tools. In this new design, the functional mobile components of the tool are positioned on the side of the tip, thus altering the axis of projection of the tool's components. Embodiments of this endoscopic tool substantially facilitates interventions inside the gastrointestinal tract. This current disclosure provides a unique design of an endoscopic tool having a single (
Disposed within each of the first and second channels 78, 80 are wire loop tools 86, 88. Each of the wire loop tools 86, 88 includes a proximal end 90, 92 which are operationally connected to a control member cable 96, 94, a control member cable 96, 94 which are operationally connected to a distal wire loop portion 100, 98 by a flexible joint 102, 104. The proximal end 90 of the first wire loop tool 88 is operationally connected to the first control member 74. The proximal end 92 of the second wire loop tool 86 is operationally connected to the second control member 76. Operation of a control member allows a user to open, close, and otherwise manipulate the associated distal wire loop through the distal channel openings transverse to the central axis of the tool. Such manipulations may include extending the wire loop from a channel through the channel opening and into a body cavity, opening/closing the wire loop, twisting or otherwise providing angulation of the wire loop relative to the longitudinal axis of the tool, collapsing the loop and withdrawing it into a channel of the tool, and the like.
Operation of tools according to the present disclosure such as those shown in
Disposed within tool channel 378 is wire loop tools 386, 388. Each of the wire loop tools 386, 388 includes a proximal end 390, 392 which are operationally connected to a control member cable 396, 394, a control member cable 396, 394 which are operationally connected to a distal wire loop portion 400, 398 by a flexible joint 402, 404. The proximal end 390 of the first wire loop tool 388 is operationally connected to the first control member 374. The proximal end 392 of the second wire loop tool 386 is operationally connected to the second control member 376. A tool wire guide 420 is disposed within the tool channel 378 to direct the wire loop tool 388 through the first distal opening 380 and to prevent one wire from interfering in the other wire's operation and manipulation. The exact size and configuration of the tool wire guide 420 may vary. Optionally, the tool channel 378 may include further supports or dividers to keep the wire tools separated. Operation of a control member allows a user to open, close, and otherwise manipulate the associated distal wire loop through the distal channel openings transverse to the central axis of the tool. Such manipulations may include extending the wire loop from the tool channel through the channel opening and into a body cavity, opening/closing the wire loop, twisting or otherwise providing angulation of the wire loop relative to the longitudinal axis of the tool, collapsing the loop and withdrawing it into a channel of the tool, and the like.
In one example, an endoscopic tool such as those disclosed herein is inserted into a tool channel of an endoscope such as that shown in
While the claimed technology has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character. It is understood that the embodiments have been shown and described in the foregoing specification in satisfaction of the best mode and enablement requirements. It is understood that one of ordinary skill in the art could readily make a nigh-infinite number of insubstantial changes and modifications to the above-described embodiments and that it would be impractical to attempt to describe all such embodiment variations in the present specification. Accordingly, it is understood that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the claimed technology are desired to be protected.
This application is related to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/186,049 filed on May 7, 2021, titled “Endoscopic Side Snare Tools and Methods for Use” which is incorporated herein by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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63186049 | May 2021 | US |