Sheath tip with angled distal face
AssigneeSpiration, Inc., d/b/a Olympus Respiratory America
InventorChristopher R. Ralph
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Disclosed embodiments include apparatuses, systems, and methods for providing a sheath tip with an angled distal face to conform the sheath to a surface of tissue toward which the sheath is being extended to potentially help reduce or avoid tissue damage upon extending a sheath to convey an elongated instrument for sampling or treatment. In an illustrative embodiment, an apparatus includes a sheath tip configured to be positioned at an end of a sheath that is extendable toward a tissue at an angle to a surface of the tissue. The sheath tip has a distal end that is angled such that a periphery of the sheath tip at the distal end is configured to generally conform to the surface of the tissue.
Claims20
An apparatus comprising:
- a sheath tip configured to be positioned at an end of a sheath that is extendable toward a tissue at an angle to a surface of the tissue, the sheath tip having a distal end that is angled such that a periphery of the sheath tip at the distal end is configured to generally conform to the surface of the tissue.
The apparatus of claim 5, wherein a distal end of the sheath insert that faces the distal end of the sheath tip is angled substantially parallel with the distal end of the sheath tip.
A system comprising:
- a sheath defining therein a lumen and configured to be extendable toward a tissue at an angle to a surface of the tissue;
- an elongated medical instrument configured to be delivered through the lumen in the sheath;
- an insertion control system configured to convey the sheath to a desired location within a body;
- an instrument control system configured to direct operation of the elongated medial instrument when the elongated medical instrument reaches a desired position;
- and
- a sheath tip configured to be positioned at an end of the sheath, the sheath tip having a distal end that is angled such that a periphery of the sheath tip at the distal end is configured to generally conform to the surface of the tissue.
The system of claim 18, wherein the sheath tip has at least one characteristic chosen from a first thickness that is less than a second thickness of the sheath and a first rigidity that is less than a second rigidity of the sheath.
A method comprising:
- preparing an elongated instrument for being conveyed into a body through a lumen in a sheath, wherein the sheath is to be extended toward a tissue at an angle to a surface of the tissue, the sheath including a sheath tip at a distal end of the sheath, a distal end of the sheath tip being angled such that a periphery of the sheath tip at the distal end is configured to generally conform to the surface of the tissue;
- and
- inserting the sheath conveying the elongated instrument into the body.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.