Patent Application
20080045795
Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding structure throughout the views.
Also illustrated in
The elongated segments 104 are provided as, for example, a fibrous ionic polymeric material (or similar material), which changes in physical characteristics (such as length and rigidity) in response to a stimulus. In this case, the stimulus is an applied electrical current. In this manner, the applied electrical current may be used to achieve variable shaft rigidity, which is controllable by the operator or user. For example, as an electrical current is applied to a particular elongated segment 104, the elongated segment 104 has a tendency to contract and/or become more rigid. In this manner, the shaft 102 may be deflected toward the side on which the simulated elongated segment 104 is located. Multiple segments may further be actuated to provide for severe deflection of the shaft 102. This is highly desirable for the insertion of the endoscope into body cavities having tortuous bends or turns.
In addition to the shaft deflection by means of the of the elongated segments 104, the endoscope 100 may further be manipulated by conventional mechanical means, such as, for example, standard cables/wires extending along the length of the shaft 102, which engage with various portions of the flexible endoscope. In this manner, the endoscope 100 may be inserted into a body cavity having a severe or tortured pathway, but still allow the operator or user full control of the endoscope 100 once the location for the procedure is reached. It is contemplated that the endoscope 100 will be able to maintain the deflected shape during the procedure so as not to put pressure on the surrounding tissue or even displace or damage the tissue.
It is still further contemplated that the both the electrical and the mechanical means may be simultaneously used providing absolute control for the operator or user.
Electrical source 110 may be provided as a current source and while each electrical conductor 108 is illustrated connected to the electrical source 110, it is contemplated that controls are provided to selectively provide electrical current to each elongated segment 104. In addition, the amount of deflection and rigidity of each elongated segment 104 may be individually controlled based on the total amount of electrical current that is supplied to each elongated segment 104. For example, greater deflection of a particular elongated segment 104 may be achieved by the application of an increased current. In this manner, a relatively large amount of variable control is provided to the operator or user.
It is further contemplated that the outer layer 106 may, in one advantageous embodiment, comprise an electrically insulated water-tight material to seal the shaft 102.
The elongated segments are positioned in an end-to-end fashion and may be radially positioned about shaft 102 as illustrated in
In this configuration, the elongated segments 104 are staggered with respect to each other along the length of the shaft 102. In this manner, increased control is provided to the operator or user. Many differing configurations of the placement of the elongated segments 104 are possible, whether altering the longitudinal placement or the radial placement of the segments as desired to achieve particular control and deflection of the shaft 102.
Referring now to
It is contemplated that inner layer 112 may, in one advantageous embodiment, comprise a braided material, such as for example, a braided metal material. Alternatively, the inner layer 112 may comprise, for example, a slotted tube or other flexible material or a combination of both braided and flexible material.
In another advantageous embodiment, the elongated segment 104 is affixed at end 116 to inner layer 112. Alternatively, it is contemplated that both end 116 and end 118, may be affixed or attached to inner layer 112. Accordingly, the elongated segment 104 is compressed between the outer layer 106 and the inner layer 112.
In operation, upon the application of an electrical current to elongated segment 102 via electrical conductor 108, elongated segment 102 will contract causing the shaft to become harder and less flexible. The contraction of the elongated segment 104 causes the inner layer 112, whether comprising a braided material, a slotted tube, other flexible material, or combinations thereof, to displace with respect to the outer layer 106 providing the operator or user with increased control of the shaft 102.
It should further be noted that, while the embodiments depicted illustrated used of elongated segments 102 of ionic polymer or similar material, it is contemplated that the entire shaft 102 may comprise the ionic polymer provided as a continuous layer. The continuous layer is supplied electrical current via electrical conductor 108 as previous described herein. In addition, the continuous layer may also be provided with the inner layer 112 as discussed above.
Turning now to
When used as a video endoscope, endoscope 100 may be provided with an imager (not shown) positioned at a distal end 120 of shaft 102. The imager may be provided, for example, as a Charged Coupled Device (CCD) or a CMOS device as desired, and may be provided as a hard-wired or wireless device.
The shaft 102 is coupled at a proximal end 122 to handle 124 of endoscope 100. The handle 124 is provided having both an electrical interface 126 and a mechanical interface 128 provided for the operator or user. The electrical interface 126 may be provided as a series of buttons to actuating select elongated segments 104. The mechanical interface may comprise any standard interface for mechanically actuating the flexible shaft 102. For example, the mechanical interface may comprise a series of levers, knobs, buttons, etc., which interact with a series of wires or cables to mechanically deflect shaft 102 as desired. However, it is contemplated that the electrical interface will, in addition to the mechanical control, allow the operator or user to make portions of the shaft 102 rigid and/or deflect the shaft 102 at relatively severe angles. The combination of both electrical control of the polymeric material and mechanical control of the flexible endoscope shaft 102 provides increased control, which is highly desirable when performing a procedure in a hard-to-access body cavity.
Also illustrated in
Alternatively, a light source, such as an LED, may be positioned in the endoscope, whether in handle 124 or shaft 102, which receives power from electrical source 110 and generated illuminating light. In this embodiment, the conductor 132 need not comprise a light channel. Still further, as previously mentioned, the imager may be provided as a wireless transmitter, in which case, conductor 132 need not contain a data channel.
While electrical source 110 has been illustrated as external to handle 124, it is contemplated that in one embodiment, it may be positioned in handle 124 as desired or a portion thereof may be positioned in handle 124. For example, a power connection may be provided to handle 124, while the power conditioning may be performed in handle 124. Alternatively, conditioned power may simply be provided to handle 124.
Also illustrated in
Although the invention has been described with reference to a particular arrangement of parts, features and the like, these are not intended to exhaust all possible arrangements or features, and indeed many other modifications and variations will be ascertainable to those of skill in the art.
