US 12,109,373 B2 · Devices and systems for an endoscopic procedure

Abstract

A navigation-assisting flexible elongate member, a navigation-assisting system, and a navigation-assisting method for use in navigating within a body to a treatment site. A navigation-assisting sensor, such as an optic fiber, an inductive sensor, a piezoelectric sensor, or a camera, is provided within the wall of the flexible elongate member, so as not to occupy space within a working channel defined by and through the flexible elongate member. When the distal end of the flexible elongate encounters an obstacle/another object (e.g., body tissue or a lumen wall), the navigation-assisting sensor generates a signal indicative of such encounter. Such signal is converted into information (such as by a control unit) usable to navigate the flexible elongate member away from the obstacle and on course to the treatment site.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A flexible elongate member defining a working channel sized and configured to allow instruments to be passed therethrough to perform a procedure with respect to a treatment site, said flexible elongate member comprising:

an exterior tubular wall;
an interior tubular wall positioned within the exterior tubular wall and defining an interior space between the exterior tubular wall and the interior tubular wall;
and
at least one sensor positioned within said interior space;
wherein:
at least one of said exterior wall and said interior wall defines a flexible and deflectable distal end of said flexible elongate member;
and
said at least one sensor is positioned in said flexible and deflectable distal end of said flexible elongate member and is configured to detect deflection of said flexible and deflectable distal end.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Devices and systems for an endoscopic procedure

Life of this patent

Devices and systems for an endoscopic procedure

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20