The present invention relates generally to medical devices used for accessing, visualizing, and/or treating regions of tissue within a body. More particularly, the present invention relates to tissue visualization devices having an expandable multi-segmented frame for accessing and/or treating tissue within a patient.
Conventional devices for accessing and visualizing interior regions of a body lumen are known. For example, ultrasound devices have been used to produce images from within a body in vivo. Ultrasound has been used both with and without contrast agents, which typically enhance ultrasound-derived images.
Other conventional methods have utilized catheters, endoscopes, or probes having position sensors deployed within the body lumen, such as the interior of a cardiac chamber, the peritoneal or thoracic cavities, etc. Another conventional device utilizes an inflatable balloon which is typically introduced intravascularly in a deflated state and then inflated against the tissue region to be examined. Imaging is typically accomplished by an optical fiber or other apparatus such as electronic chips for viewing the tissue through the membrane(s) of the inflated balloon. Moreover, the balloon must generally be inflated for imaging. Other conventional balloons utilize a cavity or depression formed at a distal end of the inflated balloon. This cavity or depression is pressed against the tissue to be examined and is flushed with a clear fluid to provide a clear pathway through the blood.
However, such imaging balloons have many inherent disadvantages. For instance, such balloons generally require that the balloon be inflated to a relatively large size which may undesirably displace surrounding tissue and interfere with fine positioning of the imaging system against the tissue. Moreover, the working area created by such inflatable balloons are generally cramped and limited in size. Furthermore, inflated balloons may be susceptible to pressure changes in the surrounding fluid. Additionally, in other body lumens or cavities, the surrounding tissue may collapse or intrude within the environment around the working distal end of the catheter, thus requiring a separate tissue retraction instrument or insufflation of the body cavity, if suitable. However, such additional instruments and insufflation of the body introduces additional complications and time into a procedure.
Accordingly, these types of imaging modalities are generally unable to provide desirable images useful for sufficient diagnosis and therapy of the endoluminal structure. Moreover, anatomic structures within the body can occlude or obstruct the image acquisition process. Also, the presence and movement of opaque bodily fluids such as blood generally make in vivo imaging of tissue regions within the heart difficult.
Other external imaging modalities are also conventionally utilized. For example, computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are typical modalities which are widely used to obtain images of body lumens. However, such imaging modalities fail to provide real-time imaging for intra-operative therapeutic procedures. Fluoroscopic imaging, for instance, is widely used to identify anatomic landmarks within the heart and other regions of the body. However, fluoroscopy fails to provide an accurate image of the tissue quality or surface and also fails to provide for instrumentation for performing tissue manipulation or other therapeutic procedures upon the visualized tissue regions. In addition, fluoroscopy provides a shadow of the intervening tissue onto a plate or sensor when it may be desirable to view the intraluminal surface of the tissue to diagnose pathologies or to perform some form of therapy on it.
Moreover, many of the conventional imaging systems lack the capability to provide therapeutic treatments or are difficult to manipulate in providing effective therapies. Thus, a tissue imaging system which is able to provide real-time in vivo access to and images of tissue regions within body lumens and which also provide instruments for therapeutic procedures upon the visualized tissue are desirable.
An instrument having a low-profile configuration for delivery into and/or through a body and an expandable assembly may be used for retracting or moving tissue from a working distal end of the assembly by utilizing an expandable frame to create a working theater within the body without the need for additional instrumentation. Such an apparatus provides a platform for minimally invasive visualization and therapeutics treatment to be carried out for a variety of procedures in different areas including, but not limited to, e.g., trans-septal access and/or patent foramen ovale closure in cardiac surgery, cutting of the corrugator muscle and accessing the breast from the navel in cosmetic surgery, placing of neuro-stimulator lead for pain management, implanting of artificial disks and injecting of artificial nucleus to the spine, visualization and treatment of the heart/lungs with a sub-xiphoid approach in percutaneous surgery, etc.
One variation of such an instrument assembly may have several segmented frame members extending distally from a deployment catheter. These frame members may collapse into a low-profile configuration where the distal ends of each frame member may be tapered such that the frame members close tightly relative to one another to form an atraumatic or blunted end. The frame may be held in a closed configuration without the aid of a sheath although other variations may utilize a slidable outer sheath to slide over and collapse and/or expand the multi-segmented frame. Each frame member may comprise a rigid body that can be made from any number of materials, e.g., Titanium, stainless steel, or hard plastics such as thermoset plastics, polycarbonate, polyurethane, polysulfone, or other thermoset materials, etc.
One or more lumens may be defined through the catheter and the distal ends of the frame members may collectively form an opening to accommodate the passage of an instrument or guidewire therethrough to facilitate guidance and/or delivery within the patient body, particularly for intravascular advancement or introduction through an opening in tissue. The atraumatic or blunted end of the frame members may form a tapered profile such that the distal end of the collapsed frame members may be utilized optionally as a dilator for introduction into and/or through tissue openings.
Once the assembly has been introduced into the body cavity or advanced through the patient vasculature and is desirably positioned for visualization and/or treatment upon an underlying tissue region, the individual frame members may be opened radially relative to the catheter to form a conically-shaped hood. Each of the segments may be articulated to radially reconfigure at an angle relative to a longitudinal axis defined by the elongated catheter. The gaps in-between the deployed frame members may have a distensible or reconfigurable flexible membrane, such as a foldable plastic or latex flaps, extending beneath and/or between the frame members. These flaps may be folded, collapsed, or otherwise hidden within the frame when the device is in the closed position. Upon expansion or opening of the frame members, the membrane may distend or unfold between each adjacent frame member to form an open area defined within the frame members and flaps which is open distally to the environment. As frame members radially extend, one or more openings within the distal end of catheter may be exposed.
The deployment or retraction of the frame members relative to the catheter can be controlled by any number of mechanisms such as pullwires, hydraulics, electric motor-driven gears, cams, or linkages, etc. These mechanisms may be embedded within the elongated catheter and coupled to one or more frame members to control the opening and/or closing.
The catheter shaft may be configured to be flexible; however, other variations may include a rigid shaft such that the assembly may be utilized much like a laparoscopic instrument. Additionally, imaging elements such as optical fiberscopes, CMOS or CCD cameras, etc. may be positioned within the open area or off-axis relative to a longitudinal axis of the catheter and/or frame members.
In performing any number of procedures within a body lumen or body cavity, such as within a heart chamber, peritoneal or thoracic cavity, etc. of a patient, an instrument having a low-profile configuration for delivery into and/or through a body and an expandable assembly for retracting or moving tissue from a working distal end of the assembly may utilize an expandable frame to create a working theater within the body without the need for additional instrumentation. Such an apparatus provides a platform for minimally invasive visualization and therapeutics treatment to be carried out for a variety of procedures in different areas including, but not limited to, e.g., trans-septal access and/or patent foramen ovale closure in cardiac surgery, cutting of the corrugator muscle and accessing the breast from the navel in cosmetic surgery, placing of neuro-stimulator lead for pain management, implanting of artificial disks and injecting of artificial nucleus to the spine, visualization and treatment of the heart/lungs with a sub-xiphoid approach in percutaneous surgery, etc.
Turning now to
One or more lumens may be defined through the catheter 10 and the distal ends of the frame members 12 may collectively form an opening 16 to accommodate the passage of an instrument or guidewire 18 therethrough to facilitate guidance and/or delivery within the patient body, particularly for intravascular advancement or introduction through an opening in tissue. Alternatively, in the absence of a guidewire 18, the distal tips of each frame member 12 may be configured to fit tightly against one another without defining such an opening. A hydrophilic coating may be optionally applied on the frame members 12 and the guidewire 18 to create a low friction interface between the frame members and the guidewire 18. The frame members 12 may be appropriately sized such that when the hood is in the closed configuration, adequate clearance is provided to allow the guidewire 18 to slide freely between the frame members 12. The atraumatic or blunted end 14 of the frame members 12 may form a tapered profile such that the distal end of the collapsed frame members 12 may be utilized optionally as a dilator for introduction into and/or through tissue openings.
Once assembly 2 has been introduced into the body cavity or advanced through the patient vasculature and is desirably positioned for visualization and/or treatment upon an underlying tissue region, the individual frame members 12 may be opened radially relative to catheter 10 to form a conically-shaped hood, as shown in the partially-opened configuration of
Each of the segments 12 may be articulated to radially reconfigure at an angle relative to a longitudinal axis defined by the elongated catheter 10. The gaps in-between the deployed frame members 12 may have a distensible or reconfigurable flexible membrane 22, such as a foldable plastic or latex flaps, extending beneath and/or between the frame members 12. These flaps 22 may be: folded, collapsed, or otherwise hidden within the frame 12 when the device is in the closed position. Upon expansion or opening of the frame members 12, the membrane 22 may distend or unfold between each adjacent frame member 12 to form an open area 24 defined within the frame members 12 and flaps 22 which is open distally to the environment. As frame members 12 radially extend, one or more openings 20 within the distal end of catheter 10 may be exposed.
As previously mentioned, the device may define multiple lumens or channels therethrough which may be utilized for any number of instruments, such as an optical channel where optical fibers are positionable for providing direct visualization, an irrigation channel for fluid injection (e.g., saline can be injected to flush away opaque fluids or any obstructing debris within the space 24 created by the frame), etc. The multi-lumen channel may also include working channels in which tools or instruments such as guidewires, needles, biopsy forceps, scissors, helical tissue engagers, electrode sensors or ablation probes, etc. can be inserted. Details of utilizing the expanded frame as a hood for displacing blood therewithin with a transparent fluid for visualization through the fluid of the underlying tissue surrounded by the frame are shown and described in further detail in U.S. Pat. Pub. 2006/0184048A1 and 2007/0167828A1, which are each incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
As previously mentioned, the multi-segment frame 12 in its closed configuration may form a blunt and/or rounded atraumatic distal end 14. This configuration may be used for navigation and/or burrowing through tissue lumens such as arteries, blood vessels, chambers of the heart, subcutaneously within areas underneath the skin, gastrointestinal tract or the respiratory tract, etc. In the closed configuration, the blunt and smooth distal end 14 may enable the assembly to burrow along body lumens smoothly. Torquing action about the longitudinal axis may also be utilized to further facilitate such threading and navigating motions. The frame members 12, when constructed by transparent materials such as fiberglass, may enable an imaging element positioned within the frame members 12 to visualize the surrounding tissue directly through the frame members 12 during navigation and/or burrowing through tissue.
The assembly may also be utilized to penetrate and/or navigate directly through tissue. This can be achieved by penetrating a needle through a target tissue from the working channel of the device. Guidewire 18 may be disposed at the penetration spot within the tissue while the needle is removed. The multi-segment frame 12 can then be closed, as shown in
The frame members 12 may be opened whenever visualization through the open area is desired. The frame members 12 can also be opened when a tissue lumen is to be enlarged or tissue bodies require retraction or repositioning. The frame members 12 can also be opened when one or more tools are to be deployed to treat a target tissue area. The open area 24 formed by opened frame members 12 provides a therapeutic theater or area for the user to conduct therapeutic treatments under direct visualization.
In certain procedures such as for cardiac surgery, the assembly 2 may be utilized for catheter-based treatments of indications such as structural heart diseases or chronic total occlusion applications, amongst others. The multi-segment frame 12 can be advanced intravascularly into the chambers of the heart, for instance, via the inferior or superior vena cava and into the right atrium. The assembly may also be utilized to obtain trans-septal access to the left atrium to perform treatments such as atrial fibrillation ablation, mitral valvuloplasty, left atrial appendage closure or patent foramen ovale closure, among other procedures. Additionally, the device may also be utilized to advance through vessels such as arteries to clear plaques that may be obstructing blood flow while under direct visualization.
The device is also applicable in cosmetics surgeries for procedures such as cutting of the corrugator muscle in the forehead by navigating subcutaneously under the skin to access to the forehead of the patient minimizing damage to the surrounding tissues, unlike conventional procedures or tools. Similarly, the assembly 2 can be advanced percutaneously through the navel of the patient such that the assembly 2 can access the breast of the patient to perform diagnostics or cosmetic treatment to this area. The assembly 2 may also be able to be advanced subcutaneously under the skin or through narrow lumens of the body for applications in pain management therapies, for instance, by navigating and placing one or more neuro-stimulator leads at the target nerve site for pain management control.
Another alternative balloon architecture may include an inflatable balloon attached to the distal end of the elongated shaft and having a working channel defined through the balloon member. The assembly can be housed within the balloon working channel with transparent multi-segmented frames 12 in the closed configuration. Hence, when the balloon is inflated, the device is able to visualize an area much further than the distal end of the frames 12. Another balloon architecture includes having a tubing protruding from the closed frame and a balloon inflated from this tubing. Optical fiberscopes can also be protruded from the closed frame to enable unobstructed visualization through the inflated balloon.
In yet another variation,
In addition to utilizing an imaging element, such as an optical fiberscope through a working lumen of the catheter 10, other variations of the assembly may utilize imaging elements positioned off-axis relative to a longitudinal axis of catheter 10. With the imaging element positioned off-axis with respect to the catheter 10, the user may gain a relatively larger field of visualization during therapeutic or diagnostic procedures. Imaging element 90, as described above, may comprise an optical fiberscope or a CMOS or CCD imaging camera.
With frame members 12 expanded, as shown in the side and perspective views of
The imaging element 90 may be positioned distally of the collapsed hood by extending the support member 94 distally to facilitate reduction of the catheter profile while maximizing an outer diameter of the catheter 10 to allow relatively larger and/or more economical and/or more powerful imaging elements 90, such as CMOS or CCD cameras, to be utilized.
With imaging element 90 positioned off-axis, various instruments 100 such as RF ablation probes, graspers, needles, etc., can be deployed forward into the open area after imaging element 90 is moved with respect to the frame members 12. Upon further urging of the support member 94, the channel or pocket 92 may also be articulated as the pocket, which may be fabricated from a soft compliable material similar to or the same as membrane 22, may be able to stretch or deform laterally to enable additional movement of imaging element 90 therewithin.
Further examples and details of off-axis configurations for utilizing imaging elements and methods of deploying and/or using such imaging elements are shown and described in further detail in U.S. Prov. Pat. App. 60/871,424 filed Dec. 21, 2006, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
The applications of the disclosed invention discussed above are not limited to certain treatments or regions of the body, but may include any number of other treatments and areas of the body. Modification of the above-described methods and devices for carrying out the invention, and variations of aspects of the invention that are obvious to those of skill in the arts are intended to be within the scope of this disclosure. Moreover, various combinations of aspects between examples are also contemplated and are considered to be within the scope of this disclosure as well.
This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Prov. Pat. App. 60/824,417 filed Sep. 1, 2006, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Number | Date | Country | |
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60824417 | Sep 2006 | US |