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Publication Number
US-7833176-B2
Publication Date
2010-11-16
Expiration Date
Abstract
A system including a guide member at least partially insertable into a proximal opening of a body lumen, the guide member including a first passageway connectable to a source of fluid pressure, an elongate carrier arranged for sliding movement through the guide member, and a piston head mounted on the carrier, wherein a greater fluid pressure acting on a proximal side of the piston head than on a distal side of the piston head propels the piston head and the carrier in a distal direction in the body lumen.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a pressure-propelled imaging system for use with a source of fluid pressure. A guide member is at least partially insertable into a proximal opening of a body lumen, such as the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, to convey fluid pressure into the lumen and allow application of the fluid pressure upon the inner walls of the body lumen. The guide member is formed with a passageway connectable to the source of fluid pressure and operable to convey the fluid pressure into the lumen when the guide member is inserted into the body lumen.
An elongate carrier is arranged for sliding movement through the guide member, and an inflatable piston head is mounted on the carrier. A fluid lumen is provided within the elongate carrier and is connected between the piston head and the source of fluid pressure for inflating the piston head. Once the piston head is inflated, it is configured to be advanced distally in the body lumen due to a fluid pressure difference between the fluid pressure acting on a proximal side of the piston head and a fluid pressure acting on a distal side of the piston head, thereby propelling the piston head together with the carrier distally into the lumen.
The system further includes an image-capturing device mounted distal to the piston head on the carrier. In one described arrangement, a vent tube passes through the piston head to assist pressure differential by venting fluid to outside the body lumen. An auxiliary proximal piston head may also be mounted on the carrier with its own inflation passageway to enable alternating inflation/deflation for negotiating obstacles or tight turns while capturing images.
Claims Coverage
The independent claim covers a pressure-propelled intraluminal system using a guide member, an elongate carrier that slides through the guide member, and an inflatable piston head advanced distally by a fluid pressure difference between a proximal side and a distal side of the piston head. The disclosed inventive features include pressure-difference creation by fluid pressure greater on the proximal side, piston expansion into contact with the lumen inner wall, venting via a vent tube through the piston, mounting an image-capturing device on the carrier, and an auxiliary piston head proximal to the main piston head.
Pressure-propelled distal advancement in a body lumen
A system using a guide member insertable into a proximal opening of a body lumen, an elongate carrier sliding through the guide member, and an inflatable piston head mounted on the carrier; a fluid lumen within the elongate carrier connected between the piston head and the source of fluid pressure inflates the piston head, and once inflated the piston head is advanced distally due to a fluid pressure difference between fluid pressure acting on a proximal side and a fluid pressure acting on a distal side, thereby propelling the piston head together with the carrier distally into the lumen.
Greater proximal-side pressure drives the piston
The fluid pressure difference is configured such that fluid pressure acting on the proximal end of the piston head is greater than fluid pressure acting on the distal side thereof, where the fluid pressure difference is created using the passageway and fluid pressure conveyed into the lumen to impinge on the proximal side.
Piston expansion into contact with the lumen inner wall
The piston head, once inflated, expands and is configured to contact the inner wall of the body lumen.
Vent tube through the piston to vent fluid outside the lumen
A vent tube passes through the piston head and has a distal opening configured to vent fluid to outside the body lumen.
Image-capturing device mounted on the carrier
An image-capturing device is mounted on the carrier.
Auxiliary piston head proximal to the main piston
An auxiliary piston head is mounted on the carrier proximal to the main piston head, and the auxiliary piston head has an inflation passageway for inflating the auxiliary piston head.
Across the independent and dependent claims, the inventive concept is a sliding elongate carrier with an inflatable piston head whose distal propulsion in a body lumen is driven by a fluid pressure difference between proximal and distal sides. Additional disclosed features include lumen-wall contact by expansion, venting via a vent tube through the piston, mounting an image-capturing device on the carrier, and an auxiliary proximal piston head.
Stated Advantages
Documented Applications
Pressure-propelled imaging within a body lumen, including use in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract such as the colon and rectum, capturing images during distal propulsion.
Negotiating obstacles or tight turns within the body lumen using alternating inflation/deflation of piston heads while capturing images.
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