Articulation mechanisms and methods of use

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11944282-B2
Application number	US-202117322435-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 17, 2021
Priority date	May 18, 2020
Publication date	Apr 2, 2024
Grant date	Apr 2, 2024

Abstract

An accessory device for use with a medical device includes a first cuff secured to a distal end of the medical device, a second cuff secured to the medical device proximal of the first cuff, an actuator, and at least one actuation wire extending from the first cuff, through the second cuff, to the actuator.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An accessory device for use with a medical device, the accessory device, comprising:
a first cuff configured to be releasably secured to a distal end of the medical device;
a second cuff configured to be releasably secured to the medical device proximal of the first cuff;
an actuator;
at least one actuation wire extending from the first cuff, through the second cuff, to the actuator; and
a membrane surrounding a portion of the medical device, wherein the membrane extends between the first cuff and the second cuff,
wherein each of the first cuff and the second cuff includes an outer member and an inner member, and wherein the outer member includes two portions connected by a hinge so that the two portions move relative to the inner member.

2. The accessory device according to claim 1 , wherein the hinge defines a pivot axis, and wherein the two portions of the outer member are configured to pivot about the pivot axis to compress the inner member against the medical device when the first cuff and the second cuff are secured to the medical device.

3. The accessory device according to claim 2 , wherein a material of the inner member is configured to increase a friction between the inner member and the medical device.

4. The accessory device according to claim 2 , wherein the inner member includes one or more of a gel, a foam, or a plastic, and the outer member includes one or more of a metal, a ceramic, or an elastic material.

5. The accessory device according to claim 1 , wherein the membrane includes a plurality of ridges separated by valleys.

6. The accessory device according to claim 5 , wherein the ridges have a first thickness and the valleys have a second thickness different than the first thickness.

7. The accessory device according to claim 1 , wherein the actuator includes a slot extending along a longitudinal axis of the actuator and an actuation mechanism configured to move within the slot, wherein movement of the actuation mechanism within the slot is configured to move the at least one actuation wire proximally and distally.

8. The accessory device according to claim 7 , wherein the actuation mechanism protrudes through the slot of the actuator.

9. The accessory device according to claim 1 , wherein the second cuff includes an actuator lumen extending from a proximal end to a distal end, wherein the actuator lumen is configured to receive the at least one actuation wire, and wherein the second cuff defines an articulation joint about which the medical device is configured to bend.

10. The accessory device according to claim 9 , wherein the at least one actuation wire is fixed to the outer member of the first cuff, and wherein the at least one actuation wire is configured to move within the actuator lumen and relative to the second cuff.

11. The accessory device according to claim 10 , wherein movement of the at least one actuation wire in a proximal direction is configured to bend a portion of the medical device from a neutral position, in which the medical device lies along a longitudinal axis of the medical device, toward an articulated position angled relative to the longitudinal axis, and wherein movement of the at least one actuation wire in a distal direction is configured to move the portion of the medical device from the articulated position toward the neutral position.

12. The accessory device according to claim 1 , wherein the two portions of the outer member are connected at adjacent first ends by the hinge.

13. An accessory device for use with a medical device, the accessory device, comprising:
a first cuff configured to be secured to a distal end of the medical device;
a second cuff configured to be secured to the medical device proximal of the first cuff;
an actuator; and
at least one actuation wire extending from the first cuff, through at least one actuation lumen of the second cuff, to the actuator,
wherein the second cuff, the first cuff, and the at least one actuation wire are unsecured to the medical device in a first configuration, and wherein the second cuff, the first cuff, and the at least one actuation wire are secured to the medical device in a second configuration,
wherein a distal end of the at least one actuation wire is fixed in a recess of the first cuff in the second configuration, and
wherein each of the first cuff and the second cuff includes an outer member and an inner member, and wherein the outer member includes two halves configured to be detached from the inner member.

14. The accessory device according to claim 13 , wherein the two halves of the outer member are connected by a hinge, and wherein the hinge defines a pivot axis.

15. The accessory device according to claim 14 , wherein the two halves of the outer member are configured to rotate about the pivot axis and relative to the inner member when transitioning from the first configuration to the second configuration.

16. The accessory device according to claim 15 , wherein the inner member is configured to be positioned on the medical device before the two halves of the outer member are joined together over the inner member.

17. The accessory device according to claim 13 , further comprising a membrane extending from the first cuff to the second cuff and surrounding a portion of the medical device, wherein the membrane includes a plurality of ridges separated by valleys, and wherein the plurality of ridges are configured to contact a wall of a body lumen.

18. An accessory device for use with a medical device, the accessory device, comprising:
a first cuff configured to be attached to a distal end of the medical device,
a second cuff configured to be attached to the medical device proximal of the first cuff;
an actuator including a channel extending along a longitudinal axis of the actuator and an actuation mechanism configured to move along the channel;
a plurality of actuation wires extending from the first cuff, through at least one lumen of the second cuff, to the actuation mechanism,
wherein the plurality of actuation wires are fixed to the first cuff and configured to move independently of one another relative to the second cuff, and wherein the second cuff defines an articulation joint about which the medical device is configured to bend, and
wherein the first cuff includes (1) a ring-shaped inner member circumscribing a lumen to receive the medical device and (2) an outer member configured to move relative to the inner member.

19. The accessory device according to claim 18 , further comprising a membrane extending from a proximal end of the first cuff to a distal end of the second cuff and surrounding a portion of the medical device, wherein the membrane includes a plurality of ridges.

20. The accessory device according to claim 19 , wherein movement of a first wire of the plurality of actuation wires in a distal direction and movement of a second wire of the plurality of actuation wires in a proximal direction are configured to bend the membrane, and wherein the plurality of actuation wires are fixed to the first cuff via an adhesive or welding.

Assignees

• Boston Scient Scimed Inc

Inventors

• Reid Conor
• Cahill Andrea
• Jarobski Tara Ann
• Smith Paul
• Cloyd Tyler
• Ibanez Nestor Allan
• Weber Jan

Classifications

• A61B17/00234 Primary

  for minimally invasive surgery (A61B17/0218, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence) · CPC title

• A61B1/00133

  Drive units for endoscopic tools inserted through or with the endoscope · CPC title

• A61B1/018

  for receiving instruments · CPC title

• A61B2017/00323

  Cables or rods · CPC title

• A61B2017/00336

  with a protective sleeve, e.g. retractable or slidable · CPC title