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Publication Number
US-11083488-B2
Publication Date
2021-08-10
Expiration Date
Abstract
A device for insertion of a flexible needle or other such instrument into a tissue, incorporating a collapsible support guide which supports that part of the needle which has not yet penetrated the tissue, preventing it from buckling, and an arrangement which pulls the needle from its proximal end to provide sufficient force for the penetration process. The collapsible support guide can be a pair of flexible strips connected along their length and enclosing the needle along its uninserted length in order to support it, with a mechanism at the distal end of the device to peel the strips from the needle as it is inserted. Insertion can be achieved by a pair of rollers engaging and advancing the strips distally. Alternatively, a telescopic support tube can be used to support the needle, the tube collapsing telescopically as the needle is inserted, to maintain clearance above the needle.
Core Innovation
An insertion device is configured for insertion of a medical tool towards a target in a body of a subject. The device comprises two flexible strips connected to each other along at least a portion of their lengths, with a central channel therebetween configured to receive the medical tool, and two rollers disposed on opposite sides of the connected two flexible strips.
The connected two flexible strips and the medical tool are configured to be secured together at an end remote from the two rollers. With the medical tool received within the central channel, counter-rotation of the two rollers moves the connected two flexible strips towards the two rollers and advances the medical tool towards the target.
The device further comprises two separate units configured to be connected to and disconnected from each other, where each unit comprises one flexible strip and one roller. In an insertion device implementation, a guide member includes one or more cavities configured to accommodate the two rollers, and includes an opening configured to allow passage of the medical tool therethrough.
The guide member also includes a constraining mechanism configured to be adjusted according to the dimensions of the medical tool, with the constraining mechanism at least partially disposed within the opening. The system advances the medical tool toward the target by counter-rotating the two rollers to move the connected flexible strips while guiding the tool through the opening and constraining the tool according to its dimensions.
Claims Coverage
The document includes three independent claims, covering a medical tool insertion device, an insertion system, and an insertion device with a guide member. Across the independent claims, the inventive features center on securing the medical tool to connected flexible strips at an end remote from the rollers and using counter-rotation of opposite rollers to advance the tool via strip movement toward the rollers.
Counter-rotating rollers feeding two connected flexible strips to advance a secured medical tool
Two flexible strips connected along at least a portion of their lengths with a central channel therebetween to receive the medical tool, and two rollers disposed on opposite sides of the connected flexible strips, where the flexible strips and the medical tool are secured together at an end remote from the two rollers and counter-rotation of the two rollers moves the connected flexible strips towards the two rollers to advance the medical tool toward the target.
Insertion system with housing, locking mechanism, and motor/gear actuation for roller counter-rotation
An insertion system including an insertion device with two flexible strips and two rollers as configured for counter-rotation that moves the flexible strips towards the rollers to advance the medical tool towards an insertion target; a housing configured to receive the insertion device; a locking mechanism configured to lock the insertion device within the housing; and an actuation mechanism configured to counter-rotate the two rollers, comprising at least one motor and at least one gear.
Guide member with roller cavities, tool passage opening, and dimension-adjustable constraining mechanism
An insertion device comprising two connected flexible strips with a central channel configured to receive the medical tool; two rollers disposed on opposite sides of the flexible strips; and a guide member including one or more cavities for accommodating the two rollers, an opening configured to allow passage of the medical tool therethrough, and a constraining mechanism adjusted according to the dimensions of the medical tool and disposed at least partially within the opening, where the flexible strips and the medical tool are secured together at an end remote from the two rollers so that counter-rotation moves the strips toward the rollers and advances the medical tool toward the target.
All independent claims share the core mechanism of advancing a medical tool by securing the medical tool to two connected flexible strips at an end remote from two opposite rollers and using counter-rotation to move the strips toward the rollers. The second independent claim adds a housing, locking mechanism, and actuation mechanism with motor and gear, while the third independent claim adds a guide member with roller cavities, a tool passage opening, and a constraining mechanism adjustable according to the dimensions of the medical tool.
Stated Advantages
Documented Applications
No documented applications found
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