Medical retrieval device

#Generally, a medical device is taught. More particularly, a catheter type medical retrieval device for removing an object is taught.

#It is often necessary to remove a foreign body or undesirable growth from a human patient. For example, a foreign body may become lodged in a patient's esophagus resulting in choking or asphyxiation. In another example, a polyp may grow in the patient's colon and need to be removed or resected. It is often desirable to access such foreign bodies, polyps, etc. through the body's natural passageways without the need for externally incising the patient. Thus, in order to access such objects, catheters have been used, which may enter, for example, the esophagus via the mouth without the need to incise the patient. Such catheters may also be used in the gastrointestinal tract, biliary tree, urinary tract, or abdominal cavity, etc.

#Such catheters may include a retrieval device disposed at an end for use in removing or extracting a target object. However, such retrieval devices are typically oriented in line with the longitudinal axis of the catheter, which may be quite long, and thus are often oriented in line with the object that is to be removed. This can make it quite difficult to retrieve or extract the object with current devices such as nets and graspers, as much precision and skill may be required to engage the retrieval end of the device with the object. Such difficulty is often compounded by the length and flexibility of a retrieval catheter.

#In the drawings, like reference characters generally refer to the same parts throughout the different views. Also, the drawings are not necessarily to scale, and emphasis instead is generally placed upon illustrating the principles of the embodiments depicted.

#FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a medical retrieval device with a catheter of indeterminate length;

#FIG. 2 is another perspective view of the medical retrieval device of FIG. 1 illustrated in an extended and expanded position;

#It is to be understood that the embodiments are not limited in their application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. Other embodiments are possible and may be practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including,” “comprising,” or “having” and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. Unless limited otherwise, the terms “connected” and “coupled” and variations thereof herein are used broadly and encompass direct and indirect connections and couplings. In addition, the terms “connected” and “coupled” and variations thereof are not restricted to physical or mechanical connections or couplings.

#Referring initially to FIGS. 1-3, a medical retrieval device 100 is illustrated having a control mechanism or handle 200 connected to a catheter 150 (of indeterminate length), and a retrieval basket 300 also connected to catheter 150. Medical retrieval device 100, in the embodiment depicted, may be used with a catheter-based design suitable for endoscopic use, for example, by being insertable or suitable for placement through the working channel(s) of an endoscope. Retrieval basket 300 may be inserted into a body passageway, such as a throat or esophagus (and/or virtually anywhere in a patient's gastrointestinal (GI) tract, biliary tree, urinary tract, abdominal cavity, kidney, bile duct, urethra, etc.), facilitated by a relatively lengthy and/or flexible catheter 150. Handle 200 may remain outside of the body passageway of the patient so that it may be manipulated by, for example, an operating doctor or medical professional. Handle 200 may be in communication with retrieval basket 300 to cause extension, retraction, constriction, rotation and/or loosening of basket 300. Retrieval basket 300 may be inserted into the patient's body passageway, may follow the twists, turns, bends, angles, and/or contours of the passageway into which it is entered and remain in communication with handle 200, for example via catheter 150, and handle 200 may be used to cause extension, retraction, constriction, and/or loosening of retrieval basket 300. Medical retrieval device 100 may be used to access, approach, and/or engage an object or projection within a patient. For example, medical retrieval device 100 may be used to access, approach, engage, ensnare, and/or remove a foreign body 500 (e.g., a food morsel or a small item swallowed by a child) from a patient's esophagus. For another example, medical retrieval device 100 may be used to access, approach, engage, ensnare, and/or remove a stone or crystal from a bladder or gall bladder. For yet another example, medical retrieval device 100 may be used to access, approach, engage, ensnare, cut and/or shear, and/or remove a polyp (pedunculated, sessile, or otherwise) from a patient's colon. It is understood that these are merely examples and that medical retrieval device 100 may be used for any of a variety of purposes (or combination of purposes) and is not limited in use by these examples.

#Retrieval basket 300 may be used to ensnare or grab such a foreign body 500, may be constricted around foreign body 500, and/or may be retracted into a sheath 400. If included, sheath 400 may be used to, for example, envelope foreign body 500 in retrieval basket 300 and/or to facilitate pulling foreign body and/or retrieval basket 300 through the patient and/or passageway. Sheath 400 may be attached to either or both of catheter 150 and retrieval basket 300 so that, for example, sheath 400 may be either static or dynamic relative to basket 300. In some embodiments, legs 310 may be connected with a mesh, netting, and/or solid covering, instead of or in addition to sheath 400, may be included to, for example, help prevent foreign body 500 from escaping between legs 310 and/or to reduce or eliminate trauma to the passageway during extraction.