Pressure-propelled system for body lumen

Inventors

Cabiri, Oz • Gross, Yossi • Degtiar, Boris • Shor, Eran

Assignees

GI View Ltd

Abstract

Apparatus (10) is provided for use with a biologically-compatible-fluid pressure source (16), the apparatus (10) including an elongate carrier (26), adapted to be inserted through a proximal opening (18) of a body lumen (20), and a piston head (30) coupled to a distal portion of the carrier (26). The piston head (30) is adapted to form a pressure seal with a wall of the lumen (20) after the carrier (26) has been inserted into the lumen (20), and to be advanced distally through the body lumen (20) in response to pressure from the fluid pressure source (16). The apparatus (10) is configured to facilitate distal advancement of the piston head (30) by facilitating passage of fluid out of the lumen (20) from a site within the lumen (20) distal to the piston head (30). The apparatus (10) additionally includes an optical system (32), coupled to the carrier (26) in a vicinity of the distal portion, the optical system (32) having distal and proximal ends. The optical system (32) includes an image sensor (232), positioned at the proximal end of the optical system (32); an optical member (234) having distal and proximal ends, and shaped so as to define a lateral surface, at least a distal portion of which is curved, configured to provide omnidirectional lateral viewing; and a convex mirror (240), coupled to the distal end of the optical member (234), wherein the optical member (234) and the mirror (240) have respective rotational shapes about a common rotation axis.

Core Innovation

The invention relates to an apparatus for use in a body lumen having a proximal opening. The apparatus includes an elongate carrier adapted to be inserted through the proximal opening, and an image-capturing device fixed in a first vicinity of a distal end of the carrier. The image-capturing device is configured to provide omnidirectional lateral viewing.

The apparatus further includes an inflation element fixed in a second vicinity of the distal end. The inflation element is adapted to increase a diameter of the carrier in the second vicinity to an extent sufficient to position the image-capturing device a distance from a wall sufficient to enable omnidirectional focusing of the image-capturing device. In described embodiments, the distance from the wall and the expanded carrier diameter are defined to support imaging positioning.

The disclosure also describes a pressure-propelled advancement concept in the lumen using biologically compatible fluid pressure. Distal advancement is facilitated by venting fluid from a distal site and, in some embodiments, using a suction source connected via a vent tube.

The disclosed system further includes an optical system enabling omnidirectional lateral viewing using an optical member with a curved lateral surface and a convex mirror with a common rotation axis. The document also describes cleaning using fluid-spray openings and pressure sensing and control, including reversing pressure application for withdrawal and lumen-diameter adjustments.

Claims Coverage

The independent claim coverage is anchored by one independent apparatus claim. It specifies an inventive combination of an image-capturing device providing omnidirectional lateral viewing and an inflation element that increases carrier diameter near the distal end to enable omnidirectional focusing by positioning the image-capturing device a sufficient distance from the wall.

Across the provided independent-claim basis, the coverage centers on positioning an omnidirectionally laterally viewing image-capturing device relative to the lumen wall by using an inflation element that increases the carrier diameter near the distal end to enable omnidirectional focusing.

Stated Advantages

Documented Applications

No documented applications found