Some of the current methods used for controlling needle/device advancement include using an O-ring mechanism that catches in grooves in the handle for slowing progress of the sliding component. This also provides tactile feedback to the user. Another mechanism uses a collar that can lock and unlock at desired locations along the handle shaft so that the sliding component cannot move past that lock.
The present invention includes an apparatus for controlling advancement of a needle or other medical device relative to a sheath or a catheter.
In one aspect of the invention, an exemplary apparatus includes a needle having a distal end and a proximal end, a sheath having a distal end and a proximal end and a handle. The handle includes an actuator component that is in mechanical communication with the needle and a guide component that is coupled to the proximal end of the sheath. The guide component slidably receives at least a portion of the actuator. Also, the guide component allows the actuator to move distally via a plurality of groups of different positions, wherein each of the groups has a different radial value relative to the guide component.
In another aspect of the invention, the actuator includes a handle portion and a shaft portion coupled to a distal end of the handle portion. The guide component slidably receives the shaft portion. A radial protrusion of the shaft portion extends beyond an outer diameter of the shaft portion. The guide component includes a first guide that allows motion of the radial protrusion between a first longitudinal position to a second longitudinal position, a second guide that allows motion of the radial protrusion between a third longitudinal position to a fourth longitudinal position, and a third guide that allows motion of the radial protrusion between a fifth longitudinal position to a sixth longitudinal position. Also, the guide component includes a seventh longitudinal position that is adjacent to the sixth longitudinal position, which restricts longitudinal motion of the actuator.
In still another aspect of the invention, the second longitudinal position and the third longitudinal position are equivalent in the longitudinal direction, the fourth longitudinal position and the fifth longitudinal position are equivalent in the longitudinal direction, and the sixth and seventh longitudinal positions are equivalent in the longitudinal direction.
In yet another aspect of the invention, the guide component includes a housing having a track formed in the housing. The track includes the first, second, and third guides. The first, second and third guides of the track are located at different radial positions on the housing. The track further includes a first cross-guide section that connects the first guide to the second guide, a second cross-guide section that connects the second guide to the third guide, and a third cross-guide section that connects the sixth longitudinal position to the seventh longitudinal position. The track may have a zig-zag pattern or curved or slanted paths.
In a further aspect of the invention, the longitudinal distance between the first longitudinal position and the second longitudinal position is equivalent to the longitudinal distance between the third longitudinal position and the fourth longitudinal position and the longitudinal distance between the fifth longitudinal position and the sixth longitudinal position.
In yet further aspects of the invention, the apparatus further includes a coupling device that couples the actuator to the needle. The coupling device decouples a rotational force applied to the actuator from translating to the needle.
Further features, advantages, and areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. It should be understood that the description and specific examples are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way. The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. In the drawings:
The following description is merely illustrative in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, application, or uses. The following description explains, by way of illustration only and not of limitation, various embodiments of devices for controlling advancement of a needle or medical device into tissue relative to a sheath or a catheter, as well as systems including such devices and methods of using the same. It will be appreciated that various embodiments described herein may help to simplify the process of tissue aspiration.
Referring to
As shown in
In one embodiment, each of the distances of the positions shown in
In one embodiment, detents or protrusions (not shown) are located at various points along the edge of the track 40. The detents or protrusions are sized and positioned to keep the protrusion device 42 in its current location within the track 40, unless the user applies a force greater than a predefined threshold in order to move the actuator section 26 relative to the track 40 and the base section 24.
In one embodiment, the annular groove 68 only extends around the needle 30-1 far enough to enable the set pin/screw 42 to move within the track 40 without causing rotational motion of the needle 30-1. In this embodiment, the O-ring 64 would be replaced by some other device (e.g., one or more ball bearing) that would allow for rotation of the shaft portion 50-1 relative to the needle 30-1.
In one embodiment, an annular slot is formed at least partially around the shaft portion. The annular slot receives a protrusion from the needle. The needle protrusion may be similar to the protrusion device 42 of the actuator section 26.
A. A medical device comprising: a needle comprising a distal end and a proximal end; a sheath comprising a distal end and a proximal end; and a handle comprising: an actuator component being in mechanical communication with the needle; and a guide component being coupled to the proximal end of the sheath, wherein the guide component is configured to slidably receive at least a portion of the actuator, wherein the guide component is configured to allow the actuator to move distally via a plurality of groups of different positions, wherein each of the groups has a different radial value relative to the guide component.
B. The medical device of A, wherein the actuator comprises: a handle portion; a shaft portion coupled to a distal end of the handle portion, the shaft portion being slidably received within the guide component; and a radial protrusion that extends beyond an outer diameter of the shaft portion.
C. The medical device of B, wherein the guide component comprises: a first longitudinal guide configured to allow motion of the radial protrusion between a first longitudinal position to a second longitudinal position; a second longitudinal guide configured to allow motion of the radial protrusion between a third longitudinal position to a fourth longitudinal position; and a third longitudinal guide configured to allow motion of the radial protrusion between a fifth longitudinal position to a sixth longitudinal position.
D. The medical device of C, wherein the second longitudinal position and the third longitudinal position are equivalent in the longitudinal direction, wherein the fourth longitudinal position and the fifth longitudinal position are equivalent in the longitudinal direction.
E. The medical device of any of C or D, wherein the guide component comprises a housing having a track formed in the housing, wherein the track includes the first, second, and third guides.
F. The medical device of E, wherein the first, second, and third guides of the track are located at different radial positions on the housing.
G. The medical device of any of E or F, wherein the track further comprises: a first cross-guide section that connects the first guide to the second guide; a second cross-guide section that connects the second guide to the third guide; and a third cross-guide section that connects the sixth longitudinal position and a seventh longitudinal position.
H. The medical device of any of E-G, wherein the track has a zig-zag pattern.
I. The medical device of any of C-H, wherein the longitudinal distance between the first longitudinal position and the second longitudinal position is equivalent to the longitudinal distance between the third longitudinal position and the fourth longitudinal position.
J. The medical device of any of C-I, wherein the longitudinal distance between the first longitudinal position and the second longitudinal position is equivalent to the longitudinal distance between the fifth longitudinal position and the sixth longitudinal position.
K. The medical device of any of A-J, further comprising a coupling device configured to couple the actuator to the needle.
L. The medical device of K, wherein the coupling device decouples a rotational force applied to the actuator from translating to the needle.
M. The medical device of any of B-L, wherein the actuator further comprises a stop located between the handle portion and the shaft portion.
N. The medical device of any of A-M, wherein the sheath is configured to slidably receive the needle.
O. A medical device comprising: a needle comprising a distal end and a proximal end; a sheath comprising a distal end and a proximal end; and a handle comprising: an actuator component being in mechanical communication with the needle, the actuator comprising: a handle portion; a stop attached to the handle portion; a shaft attached to the stop and the proximal end of the needle; and a protrusion device removably attached to the shaft; and a housing comprising a zig-zag pattern slot exposing an inner lumen to an exterior environment, the zig-zag pattern slot comprises a plurality of longitudinal slots and a plurality of circumferential slots connected between longitudinal slots, wherein the zig-zag pattern slot is configured to guide motion of the protrusion device and thus the actuator.
P. The medical device of 0, further comprising a coupling device configured to couple the actuator to the needle.
Q. The medical device of P, wherein the coupling device decouples a rotational force applied to the actuator from translating to the needle.
R. The medical device of any of O-Q, wherein the sheath is configured to slidably receive the needle.
The description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and variations that do not depart from the gist of the invention are intended to be within the scope of the invention. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.
Although the preferable embodiments of the present invention have been described hitherto, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. Additions, omissions, substitutions, and other modifications can be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention.
In addition, the invention is not limited by the above description and is limited by only the scope of appended claims.