Device for translational movement through vessels
AssigneeCook Medical Technologies LLC
InventorsJames C. Merk, Brent A. Mayle, Gary Neff, Ralf Spindler
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A device for insertion into a vessel and suitable for implementing translational movement through the vessel includes a flexible tube containing a translational actuator. Anchoring actuators are positioned along the length of the flexible tube and are configured to controllably expand against the inner wall of the vessel in coordination with extension and contraction of the translational actuator to effect translational movement.
Claims20
An apparatus suitable for translational movement through an interior of a vessel, the apparatus comprising:
- a flexible tube having a first end and a second end;
- a first vessel wall grappling member positioned on an exterior of the flexible tube adjacent the first end;
- a second vessel wall grappling member positioned on the exterior of the flexible tube adjacent the second end;
- wherein the first and second wall grappling members are adapted to selectively expand to contact a vessel wall surrounding the flexible tube;
- and
- an actuation mechanism positioned along at least a portion of a length of the flexible tube, the actuation mechanism being configured to cooperate with the first and second vessel wall grappling members to effect movement of the flexible tube in at least one direction relative to the vessel wall.
A method for moving a device through a passageway comprising:
- inserting the device into the passageway, the device having a hollow flexible tube with a first wall gripping member and a second wall gripping member, each of the first and second wall gripping members positioned at opposite ends of an outside portion of the hollow flexible tube;
- expanding the first wall gripping member to an expanded state on a first end of the hollow flexible tube;
- extending the hollow flexible tube to an extended position while maintaining the first wall gripping member in the expanded state;
- after extending the hollow flexible tube, expanding a second wall gripping member to the expanded state on a second end of the hollow flexible tube and contracting the first wall gripping member to a contracted state;
- and
- retracting the hollow flexible tube to a retracted position while the second wall gripping device is in the expanded state and while the first wall gripping device is in the contracted state.
An apparatus suitable for translational movement through an interior of a vessel, the apparatus comprising:
- a flexible body having a first end and a second end opposite the first end;
- a first wall contact actuator positioned on an exterior of the flexible body at the first end and configured to selectively contact the interior of the vessel;
- a second wall contact actuator positioned on the exterior of the flexible body at the second end, the second wall contact actuator configured to selectively contact the interior of the vessel;
- a body actuator mounted to the flexible body between the first and second wall contact actuators, the body actuator configured to extend and contract a length of the flexible body;
- and
- wherein the first and second wall contact actuators and the body actuator are adapted for independent actuation to selectively move the flexible body along a longitudinal axis of the vessel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.