US 8,012,106 B2Granted

Lumen measuring devices and methods

AssigneeMerit Medical Systems, Inc.

InventorsEric K. Mangiardi, Jason M. Reynolds, Ulf R. Borg, Tony D. Alexander

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Abstract

A lumen measuring device generally includes a central member dimensioned to extend into a lumen and an elongate outer member having a flexible region configured to flex outward from the central member in response to retraction of the central member. In measuring a lumen, the flexible region is caused to contact the lumen. The lumen may be contacted by linear segments that hinge or by members that bow arcuately. A polygon, such as a triangle, may be defined by portions of the outer member and the central member. A handle assembly may be provided by which the disposition of the central member relative to the outer member may be adjusted. Indicators may be defined by the central member and outer member by which the disposition of the central member and by which the diameter of a lumen may be determined.

Claims37

Dependent claims

A lumen measuring device for measuring at least an inside diameter of a lumen by extending the device into the lumen, said lumen measuring device comprising:

a) an elongate central member having a proximal end and a distal end;
and
b) an elongate outer member having a proximal end and a distal end and being integrally formed from a single piece of tubular material, the outer member including,
(i) a fixed portion at the distal end fixed to the distal end of the central member,
(ii) a movable portion movably extending around the central member, and
(iii) a flexible region disposed between and connecting said fixed portion and said movable portion, the flexible region configured to flex outward from the central member in response to retraction of the central member relative to the movable portion of the elongate outer member,
(iv) wherein the elongate outer member comprises an outer diameter, and wherein the outer diameter of the outer member is the same between its proximal and distal ends before the flexible region is flexed;
c) wherein flexing of said flexible region causes it to contact the lumen and indicate the inside diameter of the lumen, and
d) a first handle portion coupled to the central member and a second handle portion coupled to the outer member, wherein the first and second handle portions are displaceable with respect to one another, and
e) a first part of the first handle portion being disposed within the second handle portion, the first part of the first handle portion having proximal and distal ends,
f) wherein displacement of the first handle portion in the proximal direction relative to the second handle portion is limited by contacting the proximal end of the first part of the first handle portion with a first part of the second handle portion disposed proximal to the first part of the first handle portion, and
g) wherein displacement of the first handle portion in the distal direction relative to the second handle portion is limited by contacting the distal end of the first part of the first handle portion with a second part of the second handle portion disposed distal to the first part of the first handle portion, and
h) a second part of the first handle portion extending out of the second handle portion and comprising a first loop configured to receive a first user's finger, and
i) a third part of the first handle portion extending out of the second handle portion opposite the second part of the first handle portion, the third part of the first handle portion comprising a second loop configured to receive a second user's finger,
j) wherein the second handle portion comprises a third loop configured to receive a user's thumb, the third loop being disposed proximal to the first part of the second handle portion.

12 more elements

A method of measuring an interior dimension of a lumen, the method comprising:

a) providing a device comprising an elongate assembly and a handle, the elongate assembly comprising an elongate central member having a proximal and a distal end and an elongate outer member having a proximal and a distal end, the elongate outer member integrally formed from a single piece of tubular material, the outer member including,
(i) a fixed portion at the distal end fixed to the distal end of the central member,
(ii) a movable portion movably extending around the central member, and
(iii) a flexible region disposed between and connecting said fixed portion and said movable portion, the flexible region configured to flex outward from the central member in response to retraction of the central member relative to the movable portion of the elongate outer member;
wherein the elongate outer member comprises an outer diameter, and wherein the outer diameter of the outer member is the same between its proximal and distal ends before the flexible region is flexed, the handle comprising a first handle portion coupled to the proximal end of the central member and a second handle portion coupled to the proximal end of the outer member wherein the first and second handle portions are displaceable with respect to one another, and wherein:
i) a first part of the first handle portion is disposed within the second handle portion, the first part of the first handle portion having proximal and distal ends, wherein displacement of the first handle portion in the proximal direction relative to the second handle portion is limited by contacting the proximal end of the first part of the first handle portion with a first part of the second handle portion disposed proximal to the first part of the first handle portion, and wherein displacement of the first handle portion in the distal direction relative to the second handle portion is limited by contacting the distal end of the first part of the first handle portion with a second part of the second handle portion disposed distal to the first part of the first handle portion, and
ii) a second part of the first handle portion extends out of the second handle portion, the second part of the first handle portion comprising a first loop configured to receive a first user's finger, and
iii) a third part of the first handle portion extends out of the second handle portion opposite the second part of the first handle portion, the third part of the first handle portion comprising a second loop configured to receive a second user's finger, wherein the second handle portion comprises a third loop configured to receive a user's thumb, the third loop being disposed proximal to the first part of the second handle portion;
b) disposing a distal portion of the elongate assembly into a lumen;
c) retracting a portion of the elongate central member of the assembly within a portion of the elongate outer member of the assembly causing the flexible region of the outer member to flex outwardly from the central member such that portions of the flexible region contact the lumen;
d) measuring an interior dimension of the lumen by determining the disposition of the central member relative to the outer member, wherein said step of retracting a portion of the central member comprises retracting the first handle portion relative to the second handle portion.

8 more elements

A lumen measuring device for measuring at least an inside diameter of a lumen by extending the device into the lumen, said lumen measuring device comprising:

a) an elongate central member having a proximal end and a distal end;
and
b) an elongate outer member having a proximal end and a distal end and being integrally formed from a single piece of tubular material, the outer member including,
(i) a fixed portion at the distal end fixed to the distal end of the central member,
(ii) a movable portion movably extending around the central member, and
(iii) a flexible region disposed between and connecting said fixed portion and said movable portion, the flexible region consisting of a pair of diametrically opposed hinging members defined by a pair of parallel slots extending between the fixed portion and the movable portion, the pair of hinging members configured to flex outward from the central member in response to retraction of the central member relative to the movable portion of the elongate outer member
(iv) wherein the elongate outer member comprises an outer diameter, and wherein the outer diameter of the outer member is the same between its proximal and distal ends before the flexible region is flexed;
c) wherein flexing of said flexible region causes the pair of hinging members to contact the lumen and indicate the inside diameter of the lumen, and
d) a first handle portion coupled to the central member and a second handle portion coupled to the outer member, wherein the first and second handle portions are displaceable with respect to one another, and
e) a first part of the first handle portion being disposed within the second handle portion, the first part of the first handle portion having proximal and distal ends,
f) wherein displacement of the first handle portion in the proximal direction relative to the second handle portion is limited by contacting the proximal end of the first part of the first handle portion with a first part of the second handle portion disposed proximal to the first part of the first handle portion, and
g) wherein displacement of the first handle portion in the distal direction relative to the second handle portion is limited by contacting the distal end of the first part of the first handle portion with a second part of the second handle portion disposed distal to the first part of the first handle portion, and
h) a second part of the first handle portion extending out of the second handle portion and comprising a first loop configured to receive a first user's finger, and
i) a third part of the first handle portion extending out of the second handle portion opposite the second part of the first handle portion, the third part of the first handle portion comprising a second loop configured to receive a second user's finger,
j) wherein the second handle portion comprises a third loop configured to receive a user's thumb, the third loop being disposed proximal to the first part of the second handle portion.

12 more elements

A lumen measuring device for measuring at least an inside diameter of a lumen by extending the device into the lumen, said lumen measuring device comprising:

a) an elongate central member having a proximal end and a distal end, the central member comprising a plurality of viewable indicators;
and
b) an elongate outer member having a proximal end and a distal end and being integrally formed from a single piece of tubular material, the outer member including,
(i) an aperture formed such that a viewable indicator can be disposed for viewing through the aperture,
(ii) a fixed portion at the distal end fixed to the distal end of the central member,
(iii) a movable portion movably extending around the central member, and
(iv) a flexible region disposed between and connecting said fixed portion and said movable portion, the flexible region configured to flex outward from the central member in response to retraction of the central member relative to the movable portion of the elongate outer member,
c) wherein flexing of said flexible region causes it to contact the lumen and indicate the inside diameter of the lumen, and
d) a first handle portion coupled to the central member and a second handle portion coupled to the outer member, wherein the first and second handle portions are displaceable with respect to one another, wherein the first handle portion is constructed to receive a first digit of a user's hand and the second handle portion is constructed to receive a second digit of the hand, and wherein said first handle portion and said second handle portion are configured to be displaced with one hand,
wherein a first part of the first handle portion is disposed within the second handle portion, the first part of the first handle portion having proximal and distal ends, wherein displacement of the first handle portion in the proximal direction relative to the second handle portion is limited by contacting the proximal end of the first part of the first handle portion with a first part of the second handle portion disposed proximal to the first part of the first handle portion, and wherein displacement of the first handle portion in the distal direction relative to the second handle portion is limited by contacting the distal end of the first part of the first handle portion with a second part of the second handle portion disposed distal to the first part of the first handle portion.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 11/252,363Filed 17 Oct 2005
Published: US 2007/0106181 A110 May 2007
Granted: 6 Sep 2011
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification4 codes

A61B 5/1076
Measuring physical dimensions, e.g. size of the entire body or parts thereof: for measuring dimensions inside body cavities, e.g. using catheters
A61M 25/0133
Steering means as part of the catheter or advancing means; Markers for positioning: tip steering devices
A61B
Medical diagnosis and surgery
A61M
Devices for delivering substances into the body