Modular body cavity access system

Inventors

Bendory, Ehud • Bendory, Eran • Hefer, Gil

Assignees

3NT Medical Ltd

Abstract

A system for accessing a body cavity, such as a paranasal sinus, may include a sinus access member and a handle. The sinus access member may include a rigid support tube, a curved shape memory member slidably disposed at least partially within the rigid support tube, a flexible tube slidably disposed over at least part of the curved shape memory member, and proximal coupling end. The handle may include an engagement mechanism at a distal end for releasably attaching to the proximal coupling end of the sinus access member, a housing for gripping with a hand, a curving slider for extending and retracting the curved shape memory member, and an extension slider for extending and retracting the flexible tube relative to the curved shape memory member and the rigid support tube. The handle may be reusable, and the sinus access member may be disposable.

Core Innovation

The invention relates to an endoscope device for accessing and visualizing a paranasal sinus cavity of a patient. The device includes a shaft with a middle rigid support tube, an inner curved shape memory member slidably disposed at least partially within the rigid support tube, and an outer flexible tube slidably disposed over the rigid support tube and the inner curved shape memory member. When the inner curved shape memory member is advanced out of the middle rigid support tube, a distal portion assumes a default curved shape including a proximal inward curve facing in a first direction and a distal outward curve facing in a second direction opposite the first direction, with a bead at a distal end of the distal portion.

The outer flexible tube is configured to assume the default curved shape of the distal portion of the inner curved shape memory member when the outer flexible tube resides over the distal portion of the inner curved shape memory member, and to assume a default straight shape when advanced beyond the distal portion of the inner curved shape memory member. A handle coupled with a proximal end of the shaft includes a housing and at least one slider movably coupled with the housing for advancing and retracting the inner curved shape memory member and the outer flexible tube relative to the middle rigid support tube. The handle further includes a camera attached to the distal portion of the outer flexible tube.

The disclosed configuration is further characterized by constrained distal curvature geometry and feature details intended to reduce snagging or puncture, including a bead at a distal end of the distal portion and additional options for geometry and distal functional heads. The disclosure describes configurable geometry for tight curvature and placement, and includes various distal working tools and functional heads such as camera, illumination, optical fibers, swab, and balloon dilation catheter.

Claims Coverage

The document provides one independent claim. That independent claim covers an endoscope device for accessing and visualizing a paranasal sinus cavity, including a shaft with an inner curved shape memory member and an outer flexible tube controlled by a handle with at least one slider, and a camera attached to the distal portion of the outer flexible tube.

Across the independent claim, the inventive coverage centers on the shape change mechanism defined by an inner curved shape memory member and an outer flexible tube that transitions between a default curved shape and a default straight shape depending on their relative advancement, and handle-based slider actuation that advances and retracts the inner and outer members while providing a distal camera for visualization.

Stated Advantages

Documented Applications