Endoscopic system with torque transmitting sheath
Inventors
LE, Tung Thanh • ELMER, Marvin C. • Maahs, Tracy D.
Assignees
Interested in licensing this patent?
MTEC can help explore whether this patent might be available for licensing for your application.
Publication Number
US-9055864-B2
Publication Date
2015-06-16
Expiration Date
Abstract
An endoscopic system includes a sheath having a flexible sheath body. A tip is attached to a distal end of the sheath body. A handle is attached to the proximal end of the sheath body. A steerable section may be provided in the sheath adjacent to the tip. Steering controls may then be provided on the handle for steering the steerable section. Lumens extend from the tip to the handle. The distal end of each lumen is sealed to the tip. Bodily fluids can only enter into the lumens and not other areas within the sheath. In some embodiments, a shapelock assembly has an elongated hollow body positionable within the sheath body. The shapelock body may be switched between generally rigid and flexible conditions. The sheath provides a sterile barrier around the shapelock body. The shapelock assembly can be readily reused and the sheath may be disposable. In other embodiments, the flexible sheath has a composite construction that provides improved torque transmission capabilities.
Core Innovation
The endoscopic system combines a handle having a tool manifold including multiple lumen entry guides, each lumen entry guide having a seal. The system further includes a sheath having a flexible sheath body with a tip at a first end of the body and a steerable section adjacent to the tip, with the second end of the body attached to the handle and two or more lumens extending from the tip to the handle.
Steering is implemented with a main pulley shaft rigidly attached to the handle, and a first pulley rotatably supported on the main pulley shaft. A plurality of first pulley lock projections are adapted to rigidly engage into and withdraw from corresponding first recesses in the first pulley, so that the first pulley is rotatable on the handle when disengaged and rigidly locked against rotation when engaged. A first steering wire is wrapped around the first pulley and extends into the steerable section.
A second pulley is rotatably supported around the main pulley shaft, with the main pulley shaft extending into a second shaft of the second pulley. A plurality of second pulley lock projections on the main pulley shaft are adapted to rigidly engage into and withdraw from corresponding second recesses in the second pulley, so that the second pulley is rotatable on the handle when disengaged and rigidly locked against rotation when engaged. A second steering wire is wrapped around the second pulley and extends into the steerable section, providing selectable steering control for tools through the lumens.
Claims Coverage
The independent claim defines an endoscopic system with a handle-mounted tool manifold and a flexible steerable sheath having two or more lumens, where pulley-based steering is provided by two pulleys that are alternately rotatable or rigidly locked by lock projections engaging recesses; the claim includes multiple lumen entry guides with seals.
Handle-mounted tool manifold with sealed lumen entry guides
A handle having a tool manifold including multiple lumen entry guides, with each lumen entry guide having a seal.
Flexible steerable sheath with tip-to-handle lumens
A sheath having a flexible sheath body, a tip at a first end of the body, a steerable section adjacent to the tip, and with a second end of the body attached to the handle; and two or more lumens extending from the tip to the handle.
Main pulley shaft rigidly attached to the handle
A main pulley shaft rigidly attached to the handle.
First pulley with selectable rotation via lock projections and recesses
A first pulley having a first shaft extending through a center bore of the main pulley shaft, with the first pulley rotatably supported on the main pulley shaft; a plurality of first pulley lock projections on the handle adapted to rigidly engage into and withdraw from a corresponding plurality of first recesses in the first pulley, wherein the first pulley is rotatable on the handle when the plurality of first pulley lock projections are disengaged from the plurality of first recesses and with the first pulley rigidly locked against rotation on the handle when the plurality of first pulley lock projections are engaged into the plurality of first recesses.
First steering wire wrapped around the first pulley into the steerable section
A first steering wire wrapped around the first pulley and extending into the steerable section.
Second pulley with selectable rotation via lock projections and recesses
A second pulley having a second shaft, with the main pulley shaft extending into the second shaft, and with the second pulley rotatably supported around the main pulley shaft; a plurality of second pulley lock projections on the main pulley shaft adapted to rigidly engage into and withdraw from a corresponding plurality of second recesses in the second pulley, wherein the second pulley is rotatable on the handle when the plurality of second pulley lock projections are disengaged from the plurality of second recesses, and with the second pulley rigidly locked against rotation on the handle when the plurality of second pulley lock projections are engaged with the second plurality of recesses.
Second steering wire wrapped around the second pulley into the steerable section
A second steering wire wrapped around the second pulley and extending into the steerable section.
Overall, the claim coverage centers on an endoscopic system where tool access is provided through multiple sealed lumen entry guides and two or more tip-to-handle lumens, while steering through a steerable sheath section is achieved using two pulleys driven by respective steering wires, each pulley being selectively rotatable or rigidly locked using lock projections engaging recesses.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
Interested in licensing this patent?