Method and system for reduction of contamination in needle guides
Inventors
Sedlacek, Betty • Pruter, Rick L.
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11660112-B2
Publication Date
2023-05-30
Expiration Date
Abstract
A system and method for reducing the risk of contamination of interior regions of a needle guide which is disposed on an endocavity transducer, which system includes an elastic membrane forming a pocket which covers a needle exit hole in the needle guide. The pocket is disposed on a sheath which is both; disposed around the endocavity transducer and between the endocavity transducer and the needle guide.
Core Innovation
The disclosed invention is a system for protecting inside surfaces of a needle guide from contamination entering through a needle exit hole of the needle guide. The system uses an endoscope imaging device having a distal endoscope end configured to be inserted inside a body cavity of a human and a proximal endoscope end configured to remain outside the body cavity. A needle guide is directly disposed on, supported by, directly coupled to, and partially enshrouds an exterior surface of the endoscope imaging device, with the needle guide having a needle exit hole and an intermediate linear channel configured to allow a needle or cannula to exit the needle guide while keeping a proximal end outside the body cavity.
A disposable piece of membrane, including an adhesive membrane portion or a disposable piece of flexible adhesive membrane, completely covers the needle exit hole. The membrane perimeter is larger than the needle exit hole perimeter and is adhesively bonded or securely attached only to an engagement zone around the periphery of the needle exit hole. The membrane is not configured to contact a portion of the endoscope imaging device.
A layered configuration is defined beginning with the exterior portion of the endoscope imaging device and then the disposable sheath, then the needle guide, and finally the membrane portion. In an emphasized embodiment, the disposable piece of membrane contacts only an insubstantial amount of the external surface area of the needle guide and covers the needle exit hole without contacting the endoscope imaging device. The disclosure further indicates that the membrane remains attached while the needle or cannula is retracted into the needle guide, clinging to the needle or cannula to reduce contaminants entering the needle guide interior.
Claims Coverage
The partial content identifies four independent claims: clm-00001, clm-00004, clm-00006, and clm-00009. Across these claims, the coverage centers on a needle guide coupled to an endoscope imaging device and a disposable membrane adhesively secured around a needle exit hole while not contacting the endoscope imaging device, with defined layered configurations including a disposable sheath.
Protective endoscope-coupled needle guide with intermediate linear channel
A system for protecting inside surfaces of a needle guide, from contamination entering through a needle exit hole of the needle guide, comprising an endoscope imaging device; and a needle guide directly disposed on, supported by and directly coupled to and partially enshrouding an exterior surface of the endoscope imaging device, the needle guide having a needle exit hole and an intermediate linear channel disposed between the needle exit hole and the proximal end, the intermediate linear channel sized and configured so the proximal end remains outside the body cavity, and the needle exit hole and the intermediate linear channel configured to allow a needle or cannula which is inserted into the proximal end of the needle guide to exit the needle guide; and a disposable piece of membrane covering the needle exit hole without contacting the endoscope imaging device.
Oversized disposable membrane adhesively bonded around needle exit hole without contacting the endoscope imaging device
A system for protecting inside surfaces of a needle guide, coupled to an endoscope imaging device, from contamination entering through a needle exit hole of the needle guide, comprising an adhesive membrane portion securely attached to an external needle guide surface of the needle guide around a periphery of the needle exit hole, the adhesive membrane portion extending completely over and completely covering the needle exit hole and not configured to contact a portion of an endoscope imaging device, where the adhesive membrane portion is securely attached to an engagement zone having an engagement zone radial dimension larger than a needle exit hole radial dimension.
Layered configuration with disposable sheath and securely attached membrane via adhesive
A method of protecting an inside of a needle guide comprising providing an endoscope imaging device; providing a disposable sheath disposed about the endoscope imaging device; providing a needle guide disposed on the disposable sheath, supported by and indirectly coupled, through the disposable sheath, to and partially enshrouding an exterior surface of an endoscope imaging device; providing a membrane securely attached to an external needle guide surface around a periphery of the needle exit hole extending radially beyond and completely covering the needle exit hole and not contacting a portion of the endoscope imaging device; securely attaching the portion of the membrane comprises providing an adhesive disposed between and coupling the needle guide and the portion of the membrane; and wherein a layered configuration exists beginning with the exterior surface of the endoscope imaging device, the disposable sheath, then the needle guide, then finally the portion of the membrane.
Disposable flexible adhesive membrane positioned in a sheath-layered stack without contacting the endoscope imaging device
A method of protecting an inside of a needle guide comprising providing an endoscope imaging device; providing a disposable sheath disposed about the endoscope imaging device; providing a needle guide directly disposed on, supported by and directly coupled to and partially enshrouding an exterior surface of an endoscope imaging device; providing a disposable piece of flexible adhesive membrane securely attached to an external needle guide surface around a periphery of the needle exit hole, the disposable piece extending radially beyond and completely covering the needle exit hole and not contacting a portion of the endoscope imaging device; securely attaching to an engagement zone having an engagement zone radial dimension larger than a needle exit hole radial dimension; and wherein the disposable piece of flexible adhesive membrane is coupled to an exterior portion of the disposable sheath and a layered configuration exists beginning with the exterior surface of the endoscope imaging device, the disposable sheath, then the needle guide, then the adhesive and finally the disposable piece of flexible adhesive membrane.
Across the independent claims, the claim coverage concentrates on protecting inside surfaces of a needle guide from contamination entering through a needle exit hole by using a disposable membrane adhesively bonded or securely attached to an engagement zone around the needle exit hole. The membrane extends completely to cover the needle exit hole, does not contact the endoscope imaging device, and is used in layered configurations including an endoscope imaging device exterior surface and a disposable sheath, with the needle guide and membrane as subsequent layers.
Stated Advantages
Contamination reduction by reducing contaminants entering the needle guide interior.
Cost and time reduction versus double-sheath procedures.
Documented Applications
Protecting inside surfaces of a needle guide from contamination entering through a needle exit hole of the needle guide in an endoscope imaging device inserted into a body cavity of a human.
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