Methods and appartus for delivering a medical instrument over an endoscope while the endoscope is in a body lumen
AssigneeSyntheon, LLC
InventorsJuergen A. Kortenbach, Charles R. Slater, Michael Sean McBrayer
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Abstract
Methods and apparatus for delivering a medical instrument over the exterior of an endoscope while the endoscope is installed in the patient's body allow the use of instruments which are too large to fit through the lumena of an endoscope. Furthermore, the invention allows the elimination of working lumena in an endoscope thereby minimizing the likelihood of contamination.
Claims23
An apparatus for delivering a medical instrument over an endoscope to a procedural site while the endoscope is in a body lumen, said apparatus comprising:
- a) a collar dimensioned to fit over the endoscope and having a radial opening such that said collar may be fit over the endoscope radially;
- b) a medical instrument coupled to said collar;
- and
- c) actuation means coupled to said medical instrument for remotely operating said medical instrument.
An apparatus for delivering a medical instrument over an endoscope to a procedural site while the endoscope is in a body lumen, said apparatus comprising:
- a) a flexible structure having a length substantially equal to the length of the endoscope and having a radial discontinuity along substantially all of its length;
- and
- b) a tangential sheath extending along substantially the entire length of said flexible structure and defining a lumen through said tangential sheath.
An apparatus for delivering a medical instrument over an endoscope to a procedural site while the endoscope is in a body, said apparatus comprising:
- a) a surface track extending along substantially the entire length of the endoscope;
- and
- b) a medical instrument having a track engaging member which is slidable along substantially the entire length of said track.
A method for delivering a medical instrument over an endoscope to a procedural site while the endoscope is in a body lumen;
- said method comprising:
- a) attaching a medical instrument to a collar dimensioned to fit over the endoscope and having a radial opening such that said collar may be fit over the endoscope radially;
- b) attaching the collar to the endoscope by moving it radially over the endoscope;
- and
- c) advancing the collar with the medical instrument along the surface of the endoscope to the procedural site.
A method for delivering a medical instrument over an endoscope to a procedural site while the endoscope is in a body, said method comprising:
- a) attaching a flexible structure having a length substantially equal to the length of the endoscope to the endoscope via a radial discontinuity along substantially all of the length of the extrusion;
- and
- b) delivering a medical instrument to a procedural site via a tangential sheath extending along substantially the entire length of the flexible structure.
A method for delivering a medical instrument over an endoscope to a procedural site while the endoscope is in a body, said method comprising:
- a) attaching a medical instrument having a track engaging member to a surface track extending along substantially the entire length of the endoscope;
- and
- b) advancing the medical instrument along the track to the surgical site.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.