Fluid pressure-actuated medical device
AssigneeBoston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
InventorTim E. Ward
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus and method are described for actuating a minimally invasive medical device using fluid pressure. The invention involves a medical device that includes a fluid source, such as a compressible bladder that may apply positive fluid pressure into a sheath to controllably deploy an end-effector from a distal end of the sheath. In some embodiments, the fluid source may apply negative fluid pressure into the sheath to controllably retract the end-effector into the distal end of the sheath. Typical end-effectors for use with the medical device of the invention include biopsy devices and retrieval devices, including basket-type retrieval devices and grasper retrieval devices. Generally, the fluid that is used to actuate the device may be a liquid or a gas, including air.
Claims42
A medical device comprising:
- a sheath having proximal and distal ends, and an operator-controlled fluid source adapted for applying positive fluid pressure into the sheath to push an end-effector and cause at least a first portion of the end-effector to deploy axially along a longitudinal axis of the sheath in a controlled fashion from a position within the sheath to a position beyond the distal end of the sheath, and wherein the operator-controlled fluid source is further adapted for applying negative fluid pressure into the sheath to retract at least a second portion of the end-effector into the sheath axially along the longitudinal axis of the sheath,
- wherein the end-effector moves axially relative to the operator-controlled fluid source, and wherein the relative axial movement is caused solely by the application of fluid pressure into the sheath.
A medical device comprising:
- a sheath having proximal and distal ends;
- an end-effector slidably housed within the sheath;
- and
- an operator-controlled fluid source configured to apply positive fluid pressure into the sheath housing the end-effector to push the end-effector and cause at least a first portion of the end-effector to move axially along a longitudinal axis of the sheath in a controlled fashion from a position within the sheath to a position beyond the distal end of the sheath, and wherein the operator-controlled fluid source is further configured to apply negative fluid pressure into the sheath to retract at least a second portion of the end-effector into the sheath axially along the longitudinal axis of the sheath,
- wherein the end-effector moves axially relative to the operator-controlled fluid source, and wherein the relative axial movement is caused solely by the application of fluid pressure into the sheath.
A medical device comprising:
- a sheath having proximal and distal ends;
- an end-effector slidably housed within the sheath;
- an operator-controlled fluid source configured to apply positive fluid pressure into the sheath housing the end-effector to push an end-effector and cause at least a first portion of the end-effector to move axially along a longitudinal axis of the sheath in a controlled fashion from a position within the sheath to a position beyond the distal end of the sheath,
- wherein the operator-controlled fluid source is further configured to apply negative fluid pressure into the sheath to move the end-effector axially along the longitudinal axis of the sheath from a position beyond the distal end of the sheath to a position within the sheath;
- and
- wherein the end-effector comprises a hub slidably housed within the sheath, wherein the hub moves axially relative to the operator-controlled fluid source, and wherein the relative axial movement is caused solely by the application of fluid pressure into the sheath.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.