ENT instrument with deformable guide having translatable imaging feature

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12414684-B2
Application number	US-202117557256-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 21, 2021
Priority date	Aug 19, 2020
Publication date	Sep 16, 2025
Grant date	Sep 16, 2025

Abstract

An apparatus includes a body, a shaft assembly, and a visualization assembly. The body includes first and second actuators. The shaft assembly extends distally from the body and includes a rigid proximal portion and a steerable distal portion. The steerable distal portion is positioned distally relative to the rigid proximal portion. The first actuator is operable to drive the steerable distal portion to deflect laterally relative to a longitudinal axis defined by the rigid proximal portion. The steerable distal portion is configured to fit within a nasal cavity of a patient. The visualization assembly is disposed within the shaft assembly. The visualization assembly includes a camera. The second actuator is operable to drive longitudinal translation of the visualization assembly relative to the shaft assembly.

First claim

We claim:

1. An apparatus, comprising:
(a) a body, the body including:
(i) a first actuator, and
(ii) a second actuator;

(b) a shaft assembly extending distally from the body, the shaft assembly including:
(i) a rigid proximal portion defining a longitudinal axis, and
(ii) a steerable distal portion, the steerable distal portion being positioned distally relative to the rigid proximal portion, the first actuator being operable to drive the steerable distal portion to deflect laterally relative to the longitudinal axis, the steerable distal portion being configured to fit within a nasal cavity of a patient;

(c) a visualization assembly disposed within the shaft assembly, the visualization assembly including a camera, the second actuator being operable to drive longitudinal translation of the visualization assembly relative to the shaft assembly; and
(d) an electrode assembly at a distal end of the shaft assembly, the electrode assembly being operable to apply bipolar RF energy to tissue and including:
(i) a first conductive segment extending along a first angular range at the distal end of the shaft assembly, wherein the first conductive segment is operable to apply RF energy to tissue at a first polarity, and
(ii) a second conductive segment angularly spaced apart from the first conductive segment, the second conductive segment extending along a second angular range at the distal end of the shaft assembly, wherein the second conductive segment is operable to apply RF energy to tissue at a second polarity such that the first and second conductive segments are operable to apply bipolar RF energy to tissue.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , the shaft assembly and the visualization assembly together being configured to define a working channel through the shaft assembly, the working channel being adjacent to the visualization assembly, the working channel being sized and configured to enable advancement of a working element distally past a distal end of the shaft assembly.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , the visualization assembly being laterally offset from the longitudinal axis.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , the visualization assembly and the electrode assembly being configured to enable relative longitudinal translation between the visualization assembly and the electrode assembly.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a fluid conduit, the fluid conduit being positioned and configured to expel liquid to one or both of:
(i) flush debris from the camera, or
(ii) promote continuity between the first and second conductive segments and the tissue.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , the electrode assembly further comprising a distal tip member secured to the distal end of the shaft assembly, the first and second conductive segments being secured to the distal tip member.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , the distal tip member comprising an electrically non-conductive material.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , the first conductive segment having an arcuate shape, the second conductive segment having an arcuate shape.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , the electrode assembly defining a first angular gap between the first and second conductive segments.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , the visualization assembly further comprising an illuminating element configured to illuminate a field of view of the camera.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a guide rail feature, the guide rail feature being configured to provide structural support to the visualization assembly relative to the shaft assembly while further providing slidability of the visualization assembly relative to the shaft assembly.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 , the visualization assembly including a plate with at least one flange, the at least one flange forming the guide rail.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , further comprising at least one channel formed at a distal end of the steerable distal portion, the at least one flange being slidably received in the at least one channel.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 , the first actuator comprising a knob, the knob being rotatable about an axis that is transversely oriented relative to the longitudinal axis.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 , the second actuator comprising a knob, the knob being rotatable about an axis that is transversely oriented relative to the longitudinal axis.

16. An apparatus, comprising:
(a) a body, the body including:
(i) a first actuator, and
(ii) a second actuator;

(b) a shaft assembly extending distally from the body, the shaft assembly including:
(i) a rigid proximal portion defining a longitudinal axis, and
(ii) a steerable distal portion, the steerable distal portion being positioned distally relative to the rigid proximal portion, the first actuator being operable to drive the steerable distal portion to deflect laterally relative to the longitudinal axis, the steerable distal portion being configured to fit within a nasal cavity of a patient; and

(c) a visualization assembly disposed within the shaft assembly, the visualization assembly including (i) a camera, the second actuator being operable to drive longitudinal translation of the visualization assembly relative to the shaft assembly, and (ii) a flexible extruded plastic member, the camera being secured at a distal end of the flexible extruded plastic member.

17. An apparatus, comprising:
(a) a body, the body including:
(i) a first actuator, and
(ii) a second actuator;

(b) a shaft assembly extending distally from the body, the shaft assembly including:
(i) a rigid proximal portion defining a longitudinal axis, and
(ii) a steerable distal portion, the steerable distal portion being positioned distally relative to the rigid proximal portion,
the first actuator being operable to drive the steerable distal portion to deflect laterally relative to the longitudinal axis; and

(c) a visualization assembly disposed within the shaft assembly, the visualization assembly including:
(i) a flexible extruded plastic member defining a curved profile complementing an inner diameter of the shaft assembly, and
(ii) a camera secured to the flexible extruded plastic member,
the second actuator being operable to drive longitudinal translation of the visualization assembly relative to the shaft assembly.

Assignees

• Acclarent Inc
• Biosense Webster Israel Ltd

Inventors

• Palushi Jetmir
• Wangsgard Christian W
• Emparado Valerie
• Wright Alison D
• Tarke Franklin D
• Salazar Henry F
• Vanosdoll Madison K
• Basu Shubhayu
• Albayoumy Ahmed
• Ramyan Mohan Karthick
• Beeckler Christopher T
• Algawi Yehuda
• Gliner Vadim
• Govari Assaf
• Amin Benham
• Dean Marc

Classifications

• A61B2018/00077

  high, i.e. electrically conducting · CPC title

• A61B2018/1425

  Needle · CPC title

• A61B2018/00577

  Ablation · CPC title

• A61B2018/00083

  low, i.e. electrically insulating · CPC title

• A61B2018/00982

  combined with or comprising means for visual or photographic inspections inside the body, e.g. endoscopes · CPC title