# US 12,213,650 B2 · In-vivo visualization system

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- Number: US 12,213,650 B2
- Document ID: US12213650B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/486,577
- Filed: 2023-10-13
- Published: 2024-02-08
- Granted: 2025-02-04
- Earliest claimed: 2004-03-23
- Assignees: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
- Applicants: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
- Inventors: John O. McWeeney; Michael S. H. Chu; Jozef Slanda; Benjamin E. Morris; David W. Robertson; David I. Freed; James F. Schuermann; John B. Golden; Brian Keith Wells; Jesse Leonard Farris, III; Oscar R. Carrillo, Jr.; Todd A. Hall; Yem Chin; Mark L. Adams
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12213650B2

## CPC

- A61B 1/00042: {for mechanical operation}
- A61B 1/0057: {Constructional details of force transmission elements, e.g. control wires}
- A61B 1/00066: {Proximal part of endoscope body, e.g. handles (A61B1/0052 takes precedence)}
- A61B 1/00071: {Insertion part of the endoscope body (A61B1/0055 takes precedence)}
- A61B 1/00103: {designed for single use}
- A61B 1/00117: {Optical cables in or with an endoscope}
- A61B 1/00135: {Oversleeves mounted on the endoscope prior to insertion}
- A61B 1/00154: {using guiding arrangements for insertion}
- A61B 1/00165: {with light-conductive means, e.g. fibre optics (A61B1/07 takes precedence)}
- A61B 1/0052: {Constructional details of control elements, e.g. handles}
- A61B 1/008: Articulations
- A61B 1/0125: {Endoscope within endoscope}
- A61B 1/015: Control of fluid supply or evacuation
- A61B 1/018: for receiving instruments
- A61B 1/04: combined with photographic or television appliances
- A61B 1/0607: {for annular illumination}
- A61B 1/07: using light-conductive means, e.g. optical fibres
- A61B 1/273: for the upper alimentary canal, e.g. oesophagoscopes or gastroscopes
- A61B 1/307: for the urinary organs, e.g. urethroscopes or cystoscopes
- A61B 6/06: Diaphragms
- A61M 25/0026: {Multi-lumen catheters with stationary elements (catheter assemblies comprising a catheter in combination with a guide tube, sheath or sleeve A61M2025/0681; catheters comprising telescoping coaxial elements A61M2025/0175)}
- A61M 25/0068: {Static characteristics of the catheter tip, e.g. shape, atraumatic tip, curved tip or tip structure}
- A61M 25/0136: {Handles therefor}
- A61M 25/0138: {having flexible regions as a result of weakened outer material, e.g. slots, slits, cuts, joints or coils}
- A61M 25/0141: {having flexible regions as a result of using materials with different mechanical properties}
- A61M 25/0144: {having flexible regions as a result of inner reinforcement means, e.g. struts or rods}
- A61M 25/0147: {with movable mechanical means, e.g. pull wires}
- A61M 25/0662: {Guide tubes}
- A61M 25/005: {with embedded materials for reinforcement, e.g. wires, coils, braids}
- A61M 25/0054: {with regions for increasing flexibility}
- A61M 2025/015: {Details of the distal fixation of the movable mechanical means}
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)}

## Abstract

Several embodiments of the present invention are generally directed to medical visualization systems that comprise combinations of disposable and reusable components, such as catheters, functional handles, hubs, optical devices, etc. Other embodiments of the present invention are generally directed to features and aspects of an in-vivo visualization system that comprises an endoscope having a working channel through which a catheter having viewing capabilities is routed. the catheter may obtain viewing capabilities by being constructed as a vision catheter or by having a fiberscope or other viewing device selectively routed through one of its channels. The catheter is preferably of the steerable type so that the distal end of the catheter may be steered from its proximal end as it is advanced with the body. A suitable use for the in-vivo visualization system includes but is not limited to diagnosis and/or treatment of the duodenum, and particularly the biliary tree.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A medical device handle comprising:
a handle housing;
a steering mechanism, including:
a pulley disposed in the handle housing; and
a steering knob coupled to the pulley; and
a lock mechanism, comprising:
a lock lever;
a first member coupled to the lock lever and having a first cam profile; and
a second member positioned adjacent to the pulley and having a second cam profile;
wherein rotation of the lock lever from an unlocked position to a locked position causes rotation of the first member, wherein the rotation of the first member causes the first cam profile to interact with the second cam profile to translate the second member relative to the handle housing, and wherein the translation of the second member relative to the handle housing causes a translation of the pulley relative to the handle housing, thereby restricting rotation of the pulley.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The medical device handle of claim 1, wherein the second member is restricted from rotating relative to the handle housing.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The medical device handle of claim 1, wherein the pulley is a first pulley, and the steering knob is a first steering knob, the steering mechanism further comprising:
a second pulley disposed in the handle housing; and
a second steering knob coupled to the second pulley, wherein rotation of the second steering knob causes rotation of the second pulley.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The medical device handle of claim 3, further comprising a thrust plate disposed between the first pulley and the second pulley, wherein the thrust plate isolates rotation of the first pulley from the second pulley.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The medical device handle of claim 4, wherein the thrust plate is restricted from rotating relative to the handle housing.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The medical device handle of claim 4, wherein, in the locked position of the lock lever, (a) a side of the first pulley frictionally engages a first side of the thrust plate, and (b) a side of the second pulley frictionally engages a second side of the thrust plate.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The medical device handle of claim 6, wherein, in the locked position of the lock lever, the steering mechanism engages the second member and a surface of the handle housing.

### Claim 8 (depends on 4)

The medical device handle of claim 4, wherein the first steering knob is connected to the first pulley by a first shaft, wherein the second steering knob is connected to the second pulley by a second shaft, and wherein the first shaft is positioned inside of the second shaft.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The medical device handle of claim 8, wherein the second shaft is received within a throughbore of the first member and within a throughbore of the second member.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The medical device handle of claim 1, wherein first member includes a first flange, and wherein the first cam profile extends annularly around a perimeter of the first flange.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The medical device handle of claim 1, wherein the second member includes a second flange, and wherein the second cam profile extends annularly around a perimeter of the second flange.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The medical device handle of claim 1, wherein the second member includes a boss section that is configured for receiving at least a portion of the first member therein.

### Claim 13

A medical device handle comprising:
a handle housing;
a steering mechanism, comprising:
a pulley disposed in the handle housing;
a steering knob coupled to the pulley; and
a lock mechanism, comprising:
a lock lever;
a first member coupled to the lock lever; and
a second member positioned adjacent to the pulley, wherein the second member is restricted from rotating relative to the handle housing;
wherein rotating the lock lever from an unlocked position to a locked position causes the first member to rotate relative to the handle housing, wherein the rotation of the first member causes the second member to translate due to an interaction between the first member and the second member, and wherein the translation of the second member causes the steering mechanism to engage the second member and a surface of the handle housing, thereby restricting rotation of the pulley.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The medical device handle of claim 13, wherein the first member includes a first cam profile.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The medical device handle of claim 14, wherein the second member incudes a second cam profile, and wherein an interaction between the first cam profile and the second cam profile causes the second member to translate.

### Claim 16 (depends on 13)

The medical device handle of claim 13, wherein the pulley is a first pulley, and the steering knob is a first steering knob, the steering mechanism further comprising:
a second pulley disposed in the handle housing; and
a second steering knob coupled to the second pulley.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The medical device handle of claim 16, wherein the first steering knob is connected to the first pulley by a first shaft, wherein the second steering knob is connected to the second pulley by a second shaft, and wherein the first shaft is positioned inside of the second shaft.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The medical device handle of claim 17, wherein the second shaft is received within a throughbore of the first member and within a throughbore of the second member.

### Claim 19

A medical device handle comprising:
a handle housing;
a steering mechanism comprising:
a first pulley disposed in the handle housing;
a first steering knob coupled to the first pulley;
a second pulley disposed in the handle housing;
a second steering knob coupled to the second pulley; and
a lock mechanism, comprising:
a lock lever;
a lever member including a boss portion that is keyed for rotation with a portion of the lock lever; and
a pulley member including a boss section that is configured for receiving at least a portion of the lever member therein;
wherein rotation of the lock lever from an unlocked position to a locked position causes the lever member to rotate such that the lever member interacts with the pulley member to cause a translation of the first pulley and of the second pulley relative to the handle housing, thereby restricting rotation of the first pulley and the second pulley.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The medical device handle of claim 19, wherein the lever member includes a first cam profile extending annularly around a circumference of a first flange of the lever member, and wherein the pulley member includes a second cam profile extending annularly around a circumference of a second flange of the pulley member.