US 7,041,052 B2Granted

Shape lockable apparatus and method for advancing an instrument through unsupported anatomy

AssigneeUSGI Medical, Inc.

InventorsVahid Saadat, Richard C. Ewers, Eugene G. Chen

Life of this patent

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Abstract

Apparatus and methods are provided for placing and advancing a diagnostic or therapeutic instrument in a hollow body organ of a tortuous or unsupported anatomy, comprising a handle, an overtube, a distal region having an atraumatic tip. The overtube may be removable from the handle, and have a longitudinal axis disposed at an angle relative to the handle. The overtube may be selectively stiffened to reduce distension of the organ caused by advancement of the diagnostic or therapeutic instrument. The distal region permits passive steering of the overtube caused by deflection of the diagnostic or therapeutic instrument while the atraumatic tip prevents the wall of the organ from becoming caught or pinched during manipulation of the diagnostic or therapeutic instrument.

Claims7

Dependent claims

Apparatus for advancing a first diagnostic or therapeutic instrument into a hollow body organ of unsupported anatomy, the apparatus comprising:

a reusable handle;
an overtube removably coupled to the handle, the overtube comprising a plurality of spool links and a plurality of clamp links having an elongated portion, a distal region, a distal opening and a lumen extending therethrough to permit passage of a first diagnostic or therapeutic instrument, wherein the spool links have rounded distal ends and proximal ends and the clamp links are interposed between adjacent ones of the spool links, and wherein each clamp link has an interior surface with grooves adapted to engage a distal end of a first adjacent spool link and a second adjacent spool link;
means for applying a clamping load to the plurality of links;
and
an atraumatic tip disposed on the distal region adjacent to the distal opening.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 10/888,531Filed 8 Jul 2004 · continuation
Priority: 13 Jun 2002
Published: US 2005/0137456 A123 Jun 2005
Granted: 9 May 2006
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification13 codes

A61B 1/0052
With controlled bending of insertion part: constructional details of control elements, e.g. handles
A61B 1/00078
Insertion part of the endoscope body: with stiffening means
A61B 1/0008
Insertion part of the endoscope body: characterised by distal tip features
A61B 1/00082
Characterised by distal tip features: balloons

Family

Application10/173,220Parent of this continuation · filed 13 Jun 2002
US 2005/0137456 A1Pre-grant publication · published 23 Jun 2005
US 6,783,491 B2Parent of this continuation
US 2003/0233025 A1Published application
US 7,041,052 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.