Balloon access device for endoscope
AssigneeVisualization Balloons, LLC
InventorsBoris REYDEL, Dean Secrest, Kenneth S. Wales
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Provided is a balloon access device having a cap coupleable to an endoscope and a balloon for sealing with the cap when expanded. The balloon access device allows a physician to both separate collapsed tissue and visualize the path of the endoscope without administering insufflation gas to the collapsed area of a patient.
Claims24
A balloon access device for use with an endoscope, the device including:
- a balloon expandable from a deflated shape to an inflated shape, the balloon having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein a dome portion is formed on the distal end of the balloon;
- and
- a cap having a proximal end configured to be coupled to a distal end of an endoscope and a distal end for sealing with the proximal end of the balloon when the balloon is expanded to the inflated shape.
A balloon access device for use with an endoscope, the device including:
- a balloon expandable from a deflated shape to an inflated shape, the balloon having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein a dome portion is formed on the distal end of the balloon;
- a cap having a proximal end configured to be coupled to a distal end of an endoscope and a distal end for sealing with the proximal end of the balloon when the balloon is passed through the cap and expanded to the inflated shape;
- and
- a balloon insertion tube for receiving the balloon when the balloon is in the deflated state, the balloon insertion tube having a length greater than a y-portion of an operative channel within the endoscope to guide the balloon into and beyond the y-portion.
A method of creating a seal between a balloon and a cap, the balloon having a proximal end having a sealing surface and proximal collar coupled to a distal end of a catheter, and the cap having a proximal end coupled to a distal end of an endoscope, the method including:
- advancing the catheter and balloon through an operative channel of the endoscope until the balloon is positioned distal the distal end of the cap;
- expanding the balloon from a deflated shape to at least a partially inflated shape;
- and
- moving the balloon proximally towards the cap so that the sealing surface abuts a distal end of the cap to create a seal between the cap and the balloon.
A method of performing a gastrointestinal procedure on a patient having gastrointestinal tissue in a non-insufflated state using an endoscope and balloon access device installed upon the endoscope, the balloon access device including a cap coupled to a distal end of the endoscope and an at least partially inflated balloon coupled to a distal end of a catheter received in an operative channel of the endoscope, the method including:
- advance the endoscope through the gastrointestinal tissue;
- guiding the endoscope using a camera on a distal end of the endoscope and a guide tip on a distal end of the balloon;
- and
- spreading the tissue using a body of the balloon and the guide tip;
- wherein the balloon is transparent so that an operator can view the tissue through the balloon using the camera and the operator can center the guide tip in a gastrointestinal tract.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.