Deployable bellows for delivery of a flexible, elongate device and methods of use
AssigneeIntuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
InventorsDavid W. Bailey, Jared J. Butler, Larry L. Howell, Brian D. Jensen, Spencer P. Magleby, Brandon Scott Sargent, Kendall Hal Seymour
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An origami bellows includes a plurality of layers including a support layer having a diameter that remains fixed irrespective of axial expansion or compression of the origami bellows. The origami bellows may be used as an anti-buckling device providing lateral support to a catheter or other elongated medical instrument.
Claims20
An apparatus for laterally supporting a flexible elongate device introducible using a manipulator assembly, the apparatus comprising:
- an origami bellows having a distal end, a proximal end, and a lumen extending from the distal end to the proximal end, the origami bellows having a fixed diameter portion configured to support the flexible elongate device and having a non-fixed diameter portion that changes when the origami bellows is axially compressed from an expanded condition to a compressed condition;
- a first connector disposed at and coupled to the distal end, the first connector being configured to connect the distal end to the manipulator assembly;
- and
- a second connector disposed at and coupled to the proximal end, the second connector being configured to connect the proximal end to the manipulator assembly.
A method comprising:
- introducing a flexible elongated instrument into a lumen of an origami bellows, the lumen having walls forming an inner diameter configured to support the flexible elongate device and having walls forming an inner diameter that changes when the origami bellows is axially actuated;
- and
- advancing the flexible elongated instrument while simultaneously compressing the origami bellows so that walls of the lumen laterally support the flexible elongated instrument and reduce a likelihood of buckling of the flexible elongated instrument.
A deployable origami bellows apparatus configured to laterally support a flexible elongate device for patient treatment, comprising:
- a distal end;
- a proximal end;
- a lumen extending from the distal end to the proximal end, the origami bellows being configured to axially actuate between an expanded condition to a compressed condition;
- and
- a plurality of layers including:
- at least one monostable layer, the monostable layer being stable in one of a compressed or extended condition, and
- at least one bistable layer adjacent the monostable layer, the bistable layer being stable in the compressed condition and in the expanded condition.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.