Flexible and/or pushable tubular device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2019388651-A1
Application number	US-201916564892-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 9, 2019
Priority date	May 16, 2016
Publication date	Dec 26, 2019
Grant date	—

Abstract

The teachings herein relate to devices for insertion into a cavity, opening or other passageway that requires the bending of the device to conform to a curved or even tortuous shape of the path. The devices include axial support components for translating forces for moving the device forward in the path. The axial support components preferably include adjacent components capable of rocking for tilting the device in one or more directions. The device preferably includes one or more lateral support components for limiting any lateral motion of an axial support component relative to an adjacent axial support component.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A medical device comprising:
a tubular member having a proximal end, a distal end, an outer surface, an inner surface, a longitudinal direction along a length of the tubular member, a passage extending from the proximal end to the distal end extending along the longitudinal direction, and a cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction; wherein the tubular member includes
i) a plurality of discrete axial support components in a stacked arrangement including at least a first axial support component and a second adjacent axial support component located above the first axial support component in the distal direction,
wherein each axial support component has a top edge surface facing the proximal end and a bottom edge surface facing the distal end, wherein a first portion of the top edge surface of the first axial support component contacts a first portion of the bottom edge surface of the second axial support component (e.g., so that an axial force is translated between the adjacent axial support components), and a second portion of the top edge surface of the first axial support component is spaced apart from the bottom edge surface of the second axial support component (e.g., so that the axial direction can bend between adjacent axial support components), wherein the first and second portions of the top edge surface are at different locations along the circumference of the first axial component; and

ii) one or more lateral support components in contact with the axial support components for reducing lateral movement of adjacent axial support components relative to each other.

2 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the first axial support component and the second axial support component have the same shape.

3 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the one or more lateral support components includes a central lumen having a passage therethrough for defining at least a portion of the inner surface of the tubular member.

4 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the device includes about 10 or more stacked axial support components.

5 . The device of claim 4 , wherein the axial support components and the lateral support components are connected.

6 . The device of claim 5 , wherein the axial support components and the lateral support components are formed of the same material.

7 . The device of claim 4 , wherein the axial support components and the lateral support components are formed of different materials.

8 . The device of claim 7 , wherein the axial support component is formed from a first material and the lateral support components is formed from a second material having a Shore A durometer less than a Shore A durometer of the first material.

9 . The device of claim 7 , wherein the lateral support components are formed of a stretchable fabric.

10 . The device of claim 4 , wherein the lateral support components have a wall thickness that is less than a wall thickness of the axial support components.

11 . The device of claim 4 , wherein the adjacent axial support components are not directly attached at a point of contact between the opposing edge surfaces.

12 . The device of claim 11 , wherein the first axial support component rocks back and forth in a first direction relative to the second axial support component.

13 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the first axial support component bends only in a first direction relative to the second axial support component.

14 . The device of claim 4 , wherein the axial support component includes structural features for stiffening the components.

15 . The device of claim 4 , wherein the lateral support components include a bellows structure.

16 . The device of claim 4 , wherein the tubular member has a porous wall.

17 . The device of claim 4 , wherein the outer surface of the tubular member is coated with a hydrophilic coating.

18 . The device claim 1 , wherein the device includes one or more control components extending the length of the tubular member for controlling a direction of bend of the proximal end of the tubular member.

19 . The device of claim 18 , wherein the control components includes a first cable and a second cable and the axial support components includes eyelet openings in the passageway of the tubular member for threading the cables, wherein the first and second cables bend the tubular member in opposing directions.

20 . The device of claim 19 , wherein the device includes a water impermeable cover over a length of the tubular member.

Assignees

• Gyrus Acmi Inc Dba Olympus Surgical Technologies America

Inventors

• Fan Tailin
• Bareau Jane

Classifications

• A61M25/0147

  with movable mechanical means, e.g. pull wires · CPC title

• A61M25/0054

  with regions for increasing flexibility · CPC title

• A61M25/0138 Primary

  having flexible regions as a result of weakened outer material, e.g. slots, slits, cuts, joints or coils · CPC title

• B33Y80/00

  Products made by additive manufacturing · CPC title

• B29D23/00

  Producing tubular articles (B29D24/00 takes precedence) · CPC title