Instrument advancement device having an anti-buckling feature

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12434041-B2
Application number	US-202217709980-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 31, 2022
Priority date	Apr 2, 2021
Publication date	Oct 7, 2025
Grant date	Oct 7, 2025

Abstract

An instrument advancement device may include a housing and an extension tube extending through the housing. A wedge may be disposed within the housing. The wedge may include an arc-shaped channel. A pair of opposing pinch members configured to pinch the extension tube may be disposed within the housing and configured to move along the extension tube. An instrument may extend through the arc-shaped channel. A first end of the instrument may be fixed. In response to moving the housing distally along the extension tube, the pair of opposing pinch members may push the wedge distally. In response to movement of the wedge distally a first distance, a second end of the instrument may be configured to advance distally a second distance. A support element or compressible element may be disposed within a lumen of the extension tube to support the instrument.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An instrument advancement device, comprising:
a housing;
an extension tube extending through the housing;
a wedge disposed within the housing, wherein the wedge comprises an arc-shaped channel;
a pair of opposing pinch members configured to pinch the extension tube, wherein the pair of opposing pinch members are disposed within the housing and configured to move along the extension tube with the housing;
an instrument extending through the arc-shaped channel, wherein a first end of the instrument is fixed, wherein in response to moving the housing distally along the extension tube, the pair of opposing pinch members push the wedge distally, wherein in response to movement of the wedge distally a first distance, a second end of the instrument is configured to advance distally a second distance, wherein the second distance is at least twice the first distance; and
a support element disposed within a lumen of the extension tube and configured to reduce buckling of the instrument, wherein the instrument extends through the support element.

2. The instrument advancement device of claim 1 , wherein the support element comprises a first hole or groove and a second hole or groove, wherein the first end of the instrument extends through the first hole or groove, wherein the second end of the instrument extends through the second hole or groove.

3. The instrument advancement device of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of other support elements disposed within the lumen of the extension tube.

4. The instrument advancement device of claim 1 , wherein the wedge or the extension tube is configured to contact the support element and move the support element distally in response to movement of the wedge distally.

5. The instrument advancement device of claim 4 , further comprising a tether extending between the wedge and the support element.

6. The instrument advancement device of claim 5 , wherein the tether is fixed to the wedge and the support element.

7. The instrument advancement device of claim 5 , wherein the support element comprises an aperture extending therethrough, wherein the tether extends through the aperture and the wedge is configured to move without moving the support element.

8. The instrument advancement device of claim 7 , wherein the wedge comprises another aperture extending therethrough, wherein the tether extends through the other aperture.

9. The instrument advancement device of claim 8 , wherein a distal end of the tether is distal to the support element and comprises a catch, wherein a proximal end of the tether is proximal to the wedge and comprises another catch, wherein in response to retraction of the housing in a proximal direction, the catch is configured to pull the support element proximally.

10. The instrument advancement device of claim 1 , wherein the pair of opposing pinch members are disposed within the housing proximal to the wedge, further comprising another pair of opposing pinch members configured to pinch the extension tube, wherein the other pair of opposing pinch members are disposed within the housing distal to the wedge and configured to move along the extension tube with the housing, wherein in response to moving the housing proximally along the extension tube, the pair of opposing pinch members push the wedge proximally and the instrument is retracted proximally.

11. The instrument advancement device of claim 1 , wherein the extension tube comprises a first lumen and a second lumen, wherein a blood collection pathway extends through the first lumen, wherein the wedge and the instrument are disposed within the second lumen.

12. An instrument advancement device, comprising:
a housing;
an extension tube extending through the housing;
a wedge disposed within the housing, wherein the wedge comprises an arc-shaped channel;
a pair of opposing pinch members configured to pinch the extension tube, wherein the pair of opposing pinch members are disposed within the housing and configured to move along the extension tube with the housing;
an instrument extending through the arc-shaped channel, wherein a first end of the instrument is fixed, wherein in response to moving the housing distally along the extension tube, the pair of opposing pinch members push the wedge distally, wherein in response to movement of the wedge distally a first distance, a second end of the instrument is configured to advance distally a second distance, wherein the second distance is at least twice the first distance; and
a compressible element disposed within a lumen of the extension tube distal to the wedge, wherein in response to distal movement the wedge, the wedge is configured to contact the compressible element to compress the compressible element.

13. The instrument advancement device of claim 12 , wherein the compressible element comprises a spring.

14. The instrument advancement device of claim 12 , wherein the compressible element is disposed between the first end of the instrument and the second end of the instrument.

15. The instrument advancement device of claim 12 , wherein the first end extends through the compressible element.

16. The instrument advancement device of claim 12 , wherein the second end extends through the compressible element.

17. The instrument advancement device of claim 12 , further comprising another compressible element disposed within a lumen of the extension tube distal to the wedge, wherein the first end extends through the compressible element, wherein the second end extends through the other compressible element.

18. The instrument advancement device of claim 12 , wherein in response to movement of the housing along the extension tube, the opposing pinch members rotate with respect to the housing and the extension tube.

19. The instrument advancement device of claim 12 , wherein the housing comprises a first push tab and a second push tab.

20. The instrument advancement device of claim 12 , further comprising a distal connector, wherein a distal end of the extension tube is coupled to the distal connector, wherein the distal end comprises a distal connector, wherein the distal connector comprises a central insertion feature and two lever arms disposed on opposite sides of the central insertion feature, wherein the central insertion feature comprises a luer shape, wherein a proximal end of each of the two lever arms comprises a stop protrusion.

Assignees

• Becton Dickinson Co

Inventors

• Scherich Megan
• Harding Weston F
• Hortin Justin G
• Burkholz Jonathan Karl
• Peterson Bart D

Classifications

• A61M2039/0294

  having a specific shape matching the shape of a tool to be inserted therein, e.g. for easy introduction, for sealing purposes, guide · CPC title

• A61M25/0097

  characterised by the hub (connectors A61M39/10) · CPC title

• A61M2039/0258

  for vascular access, e.g. blood stream access · CPC title

• A61M2039/1077

  Adapters, e.g. couplings adapting a connector to one or several other connectors · CPC title

• A61M2039/0279

  for introducing medical instruments into the body, e.g. endoscope, surgical tools · CPC title