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US 6,517,477 B1Granted
Catheter introducer system for exploration of body cavities
AssigneeSciMed Life Systems, Inc.
InventorJeffrey Michael Wendlandt
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A catheter introducer system for endoscopy includes a steering section and a propulsion section located near the end of the flexible, tubular catheter that is introduced in a body cavity. The propulsion section is designed to pull the rest of the catheter inside the body cavity, so there is no need to push the catheter along from outside the body. Propulsion may be accomplished by relatively movable gripping pads that selectively apply suction to the tissue. The steering section is designed to point the end of the catheter that is introduced into the body cavity in the desired direction. The catheter can thus be made very flexible in bending, and a larger diameter catheter can be used without discomfort to the patient.
Claims54
A self propelling catheter introducer system for exploring a body cavity, comprising:
- a flexible tubular catheter having a length extending from a distal end for introduction in the cavity to a proximal end opposite the distal end;
- a tubular working channel formed within the catheter, adapted for guiding medical tools along the length of the catheter;
- a propulsion section of the catheter disposed adjacent the distal end, adapted for pulling the catheter through the cavity comprising a plurality of gripping pads disposed on an outer surface of the catheter, said gripping pads being movable relative to the catheter between a first position and a second position, adapted for selectively gripping tissue of an inner portion of the cavity by applying suction to the tissue;
- a steering section of the catheter disposed adjacent the distal end, adapted for pointing the distal end in a desired direction;
- and
- control means for controlling operation of the propulsion section and the steering section.
3 more elements
A self propelling catheter introducer system for exploring a body cavity, comprising:
- a flexible tubular catheter having a length extending from a distal end for introduction in the cavity to a proximal end opposite the distal end;
- a rigid sheath disposed around the tubular catheter at a point of entry of the body cavity, having means to move the tubular catheter axially and rotationally;
- a tubular working channel formed within the catheter, adapted for guiding medical tools along the length of the catheter;
- a propulsion section of the catheter disposed adjacent the distal end, adapted for pulling the catheter through the cavity;
- a steering section of the catheter disposed adjacent the distal end, adapted for pointing the distal end in a desired direction;
- and
- control means for controlling operation of the propulsion section and the steering section.
4 more elements
A self propelling catheter introducer system for exploring a body cavity, comprising:
- a flexible tubular catheter having a length extending from a distal end for introduction in the cavity to a proximal end opposite the distal end;
- a tubular working channel formed within the catheter, adapted for guiding medical tools along the length of the catheter;
- a propulsion section of the catheter disposed adjacent the distal end, adapted for pulling the catheter through the cavity;
- wherein the propulsion section comprises a first gripping pad disposed on an outer surface of the catheter, said first gripping pad being movable relative to the catheter in a first track between a first position towards the distal end, and a second position towards the proximal end, adapted for selectively gripping tissue of an inner portion of the cavity by applying suction to the tissue;
- and
- a second gripping pad, adapted to selectively grip the inner portion of the cavity by applying suction to the tissue, and movable relative to the catheter in a second track between the first and second positions, independently from the first gripping pad, wherein the second track is substantially parallel to the first track;
- a steering section of the catheter disposed adjacent the distal end, adapted for pointing the distal end in a desired direction;
- and
- control means for controlling operation of the propulsion section and the steering section.
6 more elements
A self propelling catheter introducer system for exploring a body cavity, comprising:
- a flexible tubular catheter having a length extending from a distal end for introduction in the cavity to a proximal end opposite the distal end;
- a tubular working channel formed within the catheter, adapted for guiding medical tools along the length of the catheter;
- a combined steering/propulsion section of the catheter disposed adjacent the distal end, adapted for pulling the catheter through the cavity;
- wherein the steering/propulsion section comprises a distal gripper portion attached to the catheter adjacent the distal end, adapted for selectively gripping by suction and releasing tissue of an inner portion of the cavity;
- a proximal gripper portion attached to the catheter, disposed further from the distal end than the distal gripper portion, and adapted for selectively gripping by suction and releasing the tissue of the cavity;
- and a
- steering/elongation portion disposed between the distal and proximal gripper portions, adapted for changing a relative position of the distal and proximal gripper portions to extend and turn the distal end to the desired direction;
- and
- control means for controlling operation of the steering/propulsion section.
6 more elements
A method for navigating a catheter introducer for exploring a body cavity, comprising:
- introducing a distal end of the catheter containing a propulsion section into the body cavity;
- attaching by suction a first gripper portion of the propulsion section to tissue of an inner surface of the body cavity, the first gripper portion being secured to the catheter;
- changing a length of the catheter between the first gripper portion and a second gripper portion of the propulsion section;
- the second gripper portion being disposed a variable distance from the first gripper portion and being secured to the catheter;
- attaching by suction the second gripper portion to the tissue of the inner surface of the body cavity and releasing the first gripper portion from the tissue;
- substantially reversing the change in length of the catheter between the first and the second gripper portions to move the catheter along the body cavity;
- repeating the attaching through substantially reversing steps until the distal end reaches a desired location in the body cavity;
- and
- inserting medical tools in a working channel extending lengthwise through the catheter.
6 more elements
A method for navigating a catheter introducer for exploring in a body cavity, comprising:
- introducing a distal end of the catheter containing a propulsion section into the body cavity;
- disposing a first set of gripping pads of the propulsion section circumferentially around the catheter at a first axial position;
- attaching the first set of gripping pads to tissue of an inner surface of the body cavity;
- disposing a second set of gripping pads of the propulsion section circumferentially around the catheter at a second axial position, remote from the first axial position;
- attaching the second set of gripping pads to the tissue;
- releasing the first set of gripping pads from the tissue;
- moving the second set of gripping pads substantially to the first axial position while attached to the tissue of the body cavity;
- and
- inserting medical tools in a working channel extending lengthwise through the catheter.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.