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US 10,292,575 B2Granted
Endoscope stabilization system
AssigneeCook Medical Technologies LLC
InventorsVihar C. Surti, John Crowder Sigmon, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The exemplary embodiments illustrated provide the discovery of systems, methods, and apparatuses of endoscope stabilization devices for use with, for example, slim scopes, so as to provide, for example, a flexible outer structure capable of bending and holding a fixed position so as to provide, for example, support to make cannulation with a slim scope and target anatomy easier and more efficient.
Claims18
An overtube for use with an endoscope, the overtube comprising:
- a substantially tubular body comprising a proximal portion, a distal portion, and a lumen extending through the proximal portion and the distal portion, the lumen being configured for the passage of an endoscope there through;
- a first plurality of notches disposed within a surface of the substantially tubular body, the first plurality of notches being disposed along a first side of the substantially tubular body and configured to bend the substantially tubular body along a first curvilinear pathway;
- a second plurality of notches disposed within the surface of the substantially tubular body and spaced longitudinally apart from the first plurality of notches, the second plurality of notches being disposed along a second side of the substantially tubular body, the second plurality of notches being configured to bend the substantially tubular body along a second curvilinear pathway that is different from the first curvilinear pathway, and
- a steering wire comprising a proximal steering wire portion and a distal steering wire portion, the distal steering wire portion being coupled to the substantially tubular body along both the first plurality of notches and the second plurality of notches,
- wherein the steering wire is configured to simultaneously deflect the substantially tubular body along both the first curvilinear pathway and the second curvilinear pathway when the proximal steering wire portion is pulled in a proximal direction, and
- wherein the distal steering wire portion comprises a first distal wire portion disposed along the first side of the substantially tubular body, and a second distal wire portion disposed along the second side of the substantially tubular body, wherein the first and second distal wire portions are configured to simultaneously deflect the substantially tubular body along both the first and second curvilinear pathways when the proximal steering wire portion is pulled in the proximal direction.
3 more elements
An endoscope stabilization system comprising:
- an endoscope comprising a viewing end;
- and
- an overtube comprising:
- a substantially tubular body comprising a proximal portion, a distal portion, and a lumen extending through the proximal portion and the distal portion, wherein the endoscope is movably disposed through the lumen of the overtube;
- a first plurality of notches disposed within a surface of the substantially tubular body, the first plurality of notches being disposed along a first side of the substantially tubular body and configured to bend the substantially tubular body along a first curvilinear pathway;
- and
- a second plurality of notches disposed within the surface of the substantially tubular body and spaced longitudinally apart from the first plurality of notches, the second plurality of notches being disposed along a second side of the substantially tubular body, the second plurality of notches being configured to bend the substantially tubular body along a second curvilinear pathway that is different from the first curvilinear pathway,
- wherein the overtube further comprises steering means coupled to the substantially tubular body and configured to simultaneously deflect a portion of the substantially tubular body along both the first curvilinear pathway and the second curvilinear pathway, and
- wherein the steering means comprises a steering wire having a proximal steering wire portion and a distal steering wire portion, the distal steering wire portion comprising a first distal wire portion that is coupled to and disposed along the first side of the substantially tubular body, and a second distal wire portion that is coupled to and disposed along the second side of the substantially tubular body, the first distal wire portion being disposed within a first luminal wall of the substantially tubular body and the second distal wire portion being disposed within a second luminal wall of the substantially tubular body that is opposite the first luminal wall, wherein the first and second distal wire portions are configured to simultaneously deflect the substantially tubular body along both the first and second curvilinear pathways when the proximal steering wire portion is pulled in the proximal direction.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.