# US 2024/0197341 A1 · Method and Device for Endoscopic Aspiration > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2024/0197341 A1 - Document ID: US20240197341A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 18/082,435 - Filed: 2022-12-15 - Published: 2024-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2022-12-15 - Applicants: EndoTheia, Inc. - Inventors: Robert James Webster, III; Joshua Ball Gafford; Scott Joseph Webster; Patrick Louis Anderson; Stanley Duke Herrell, III; Daniel Caleb Rucker - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20240197341A1 ## CPC - A61B 17/22: Implements for squeezing-off ulcers or the like on inner organs of the body; Implements for scraping-out cavities of body organs, e.g. bones; for invasive removal or destruction of calculus using mechanical vibrations; for removing obstructions in blood vessels, not otherwise provided for - A61B 1/00078: {with stiffening means} - A61B 1/00135: {Oversleeves mounted on the endoscope prior to insertion} - A61B 1/0052: {Constructional details of control elements, e.g. handles} - A61B 1/0057: {Constructional details of force transmission elements, e.g. control wires} - A61B 1/015: Control of fluid supply or evacuation - A61B 1/018: for receiving instruments - A61B 1/05: characterised by the image sensor, e.g. camera, being in the distal end portion - A61B 1/0676: {at distal tip of an endoscope} - A61B 1/307: for the urinary organs, e.g. urethroscopes or cystoscopes - A61B 18/26: for producing a shock wave, e.g. laser lithotripsy - A61B 2017/00309: {Cut-outs or slits} - A61B 2017/00314: {Separate linked members} - A61B 2017/00327: {with actuating members moving in opposite directions} - A61B 2017/00561: {creating a vacuum} - A61B 2017/22072: {with an instrument channel, e.g. for replacing one instrument by the other} - A61B 2017/22079: {with suction of debris} - A61B 2018/00166: {Multiple lumina} - A61B 2018/00511: {Kidney} - A61B 2018/00982: {combined with or comprising means for visual or photographic inspections inside the body, e.g. endoscopes} - A61B 2217/005: with suction drainage system - A61B 2217/007: with irrigation system - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract An endoscope device is provided. The device includes a handle, a steerable sheath, disposed on the handle, and a flexible tube. The device further includes a light source and an image sensor disposed on the flexible tube. The handle includes a passage. The steerable sheath includes a tip, a steerable section, and a lumen. The steerable section of the steerable sheath is actuable to form a bend, such that the tip is operable to be steered toward an anatomical region within a patient. The flexible tube is configured to be inserted within the lumen and the inner passage, such that the light source and the image source are positioned at or near the tip of the steerable sheath. The flexible tube is further configured to be removed from the lumen, such that the lumen is operable to aspirate a bodily object from the anatomical region via the tip. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A device for performing endoscopic surgery within a patient comprising: a handle including a passage; a steerable sheath disposed on the handle and including lumen, a tip, and a steerable section that is actuable to form a bend, such that the tip is operable to be steered toward an anatomical region within the patient; a flexible tube including an end; a light source disposed on the end; and an image sensor disposed on the end, wherein the flexible tube is configured to be inserted within the lumen and the passage, such that the light source and the image source are positioned at or near the tip, and wherein the flexible tube is configured to be removed from the lumen, such that the lumen is operable to aspirate a bodily object from the anatomical region via the tip. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the steerable sheath has a wall thickness of between about one twentieth millimeters and one fifth millimeters. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The device of claim 2, wherein the steerable sheath has an outer diameter of between about two and three tenths millimeters and about four millimeters. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein when the flexible tube is removed from the lumen, the lumen is further operable to deliver a first one or more tools to the anatomical region and irrigate the anatomical region. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the flexible tube includes a working channel configured to deliver a second one or more tools to the anatomical region and an irrigation channel configured to irrigate the anatomical region, and wherein a first inner diameter of the lumen is greater than each of a second inner diameter of the working channel and a third inner diameter of the irrigation channel. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the handle further includes an aspiration port in communication with the lumen and an external vacuum device, such that the lumen is operable to aspirate a bodily object from the tip to the aspiration port. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the steerable sheath includes a concentric tube structure having nested concentric tubes, and wherein actuation of the steerable section is effectuated through applying an axial push-pull force to the concentric tubes. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the steerable sheath includes a first pullwire and a second pullwire each coupled to the tip, and wherein actuation of the steerable section is effectuated through applying a pull force to the first pullwire or the second pullwire. ### Claim 9 A method for performing endoscopic surgery comprising: providing a steerable sheath including a steerable section, a lumen, and a tip; providing a flexible tube including an end; providing a light source and an image sensor each disposed on the end; advancing the flexible tube along an axis of the lumen, such that the light source and the image source are positioned at or near the tip; forming a bend in the steerable section, wherein forming the bend causes the tip to be steered toward an anatomical region within a patient; retreating the flexible tube along the axis, such that the lumen is open; and aspirating a bodily object through the lumen via the tip. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the steerable sheath has a wall thickness of between about one twentieth millimeters and one fifth millimeters, and wherein the steerable sheath has an outer diameter of between about two and three tenths millimeters and about four millimeters. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, further comprising: delivering, via the lumen when the lumen is open, a first one or more tools to the anatomical region; and irrigating, via the lumen when the lumen is open, the anatomical region. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the flexible tube includes a working channel configured to deliver a second one or more tools to the anatomical region and an irrigation channel configured to irrigate the anatomical region, and wherein a first inner diameter of the lumen is greater than each of a second inner diameter of the working channel and a third inner diameter of the irrigation channel. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the steerable sheath includes a concentric tube structure having nested concentric tubes, and wherein forming the bend in the steerable section is effectuated through applying an axial push-pull force to the concentric tubes. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the steerable sheath includes a first pullwire and a second pullwire each coupled to the tip, and wherein forming the bend in the steerable section is effectuated through applying a pull force to the first pullwire or the second pullwire. ### Claim 15 A device for performing endoscopic surgery within a patient comprising: a steerable sheath including a tip, a lumen, and a steerable section that is actuable to form a bend, such that the tip is operable to be steered toward an anatomical region within the patient; a flexible tube including an end and a working channel that defines a fourth inner diameter of at least about two millimeters and is operable to aspirate a bodily object; a light source disposed on the end; and an image sensor disposed on the end, wherein the flexible tube is disposed within the lumen such that the end is positioned at or near the tip, wherein the steerable section includes a concentric tube structure having nested concentric tubes, and wherein actuation of the steerable section is effectuated through applying an axial push-pull force to the concentric tubes. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The device of claim 15, further comprising a handle including a passage and an aspiration port in communication with the working channel, such that the working channel is operable to aspirate the bodily object from the end to the aspiration port. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The device of claim 15, wherein the steerable sheath has a wall thickness of between about one twentieth millimeters and one fifth millimeters. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The device of claim 16, wherein the steerable sheath has an outer diameter of between about two and three tenths millimeters and about four millimeters. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The device of claim 15, wherein the flexible tube further includes an irrigation channel configured to irrigate the anatomical region. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The device of claim 15, wherein the working channel is further operable to deliver a first one or more tools to the anatomical region.