Catheter with imaging assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9538908-B2
Application number	US-201113228075-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 8, 2011
Priority date	Sep 8, 2010
Publication date	Jan 10, 2017
Grant date	Jan 10, 2017

Abstract

A catheter with an imaging assembly is disclosed. The catheter is used with a console for viewing and/or storing images obtained from the catheter. The catheter may be a feeding tube assembly. The imaging assembly on the feeding tube assembly allows a user to confirm placement of the feeding tube assembly in the patient's alimentary canal.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An imaging catheter system comprising:
an imaging catheter including
an elongate body having opposite first and second ends,
an imaging assembly at the first end of the elongate body, the imaging assembly including an imaging device for generating imaging signals indicative of images of anatomy of a subject, wherein the imaging assembly is adapted to transmit the imaging signals generated by the imaging device, and
an electronic memory component; and

a console including a display, the console configured for receiving the imaging signals from the imaging assembly and displaying images generated from the imaging signals on the display, the console configured to write a computer-generated time stamp to the electronic memory component after a user indicates to the console that the imaging catheter is properly positioned in the subject;
a button located apart from the console disposed to be pressed by the user to cause the console to write the computer-generated time stamp to the electronic memory component confirming that the imaging catheter is properly positioned; and
an interface cable including an interface connector for connecting the interface cable to the imaging catheter, the interface cable being configured to connect the imaging catheter to the console, the button being disposed on the interface cable spaced away from the interface connector.

2. The imaging catheter system of claim 1 , wherein the console is further configured to create a directory specific to the predefined identifier and to store the imaging signals associated with the predefined identifier in the directory that is specific to the predefined identifier.

3. The imaging catheter system of claim 1 , wherein the console is configured to provide a graphical user interface on the display that simultaneously presents an image previously received by the console from the imaging assembly and a current image from imaging data currently being received by the console from the imaging assembly.

4. The imaging catheter system of claim 1 , wherein the console is configured to provide a graphical user interface on the display that provides a user with an option to make annotations on one or more images displayed on the console.

5. The imaging catheter system of claim 1 , wherein the console is configured to store user data for each user of the console, the user data including a username, a user password, and at least one user class, said at least one user class defining authorization information including operations that are authorized to be performed by said user via the console.

6. The imaging catheter system of claim 1 , further comprising a console connector for use in communicatively connecting the imaging assembly to the console to allow transmission of the imaging signals to the console, wherein the console connector includes the electronic memory component.

7. The imaging catheter system of claim 6 , wherein the console connector includes a printed circuit board, wherein the electronic memory component is mounted on the printed circuit board.

8. The imaging catheter system of claim 1 , wherein the elongate body comprises a nasogastric feeding tube configured for insertion into an alimentary canal of a subject.

9. The imaging catheter system of claim 8 , wherein the console is configured to write feeding tube use data to the electronic memory component.

10. The imaging catheter system of claim 1 , wherein the console is configured to read patient identifier data and write the patient identifier data to the electronic memory component, the console comprising a bar code scanner for scanning a patient's bar code wrist band to obtain the patient identifier data.

11. The imaging catheter system of claim 1 , wherein the console is configured to write console identifier data to the electronic memory component.

12. The imaging catheter system of claim 1 , wherein the electronic memory component includes verification data indicating that the imaging catheter is compatible with the console, wherein the console is configured to read the verification data to determine if the imaging catheter is compatible with the console.

13. The imaging catheter system of claim 1 , wherein the electronic memory component includes manufacture data representing a date of manufacture of the imaging catheter, the console configured to read the manufacture data and to at least one of provide notification and disable operation of the imaging catheter if the imaging catheter has exceeded a predetermined storage life from the date of manufacture.

14. The imaging catheter system of claim 1 , wherein the electronic memory component includes sterilization data indicating whether the imaging catheter has been sterilized.

15. The imaging catheter system of claim 1 , wherein the imaging catheter comprises a feeding tube assembly, wherein the elongate body is a feeding tube that is sized and shaped for nasogastric intubation and defines a feeding passage, the feeding tube assembly further including:
an inlet adaptor adjacent the second end of the feeding tube in fluid communication with the feeding passage, the inlet adaptor configured for fluid connection to a source of enteral feeding liquid to fluidly connect the source of enteral feeding liquid to the feeding passage; and
a feeding outlet intermediate the inlet adaptor and the imaging assembly and in fluid communication with the feeding passage for delivering the enteral feeding liquid to the subject when the elongate body is inserted in the subject.

16. The imaging catheter system of claim 15 , wherein the imaging catheter further includes a console connector having a printed circuit board and an edge connector adapted to connect to an interface cable for connection to the console, wherein the electronic memory component is mounted on the printed circuit board and electrically connected to the edge connector.

17. The imaging catheter system of claim 16 , wherein the console connector is intermediate the inlet adaptor and the imaging assembly.

18. The imaging catheter system of claim 17 , wherein the console connector extends laterally outward from the feeding tube.

19. The imaging catheter system of claim 1 , wherein the console is configured to present a graphical user interface on the display, wherein the display is a touchscreen display and the console is adapted to present icons for control of the system by touch on the display.

Assignees

• Allyn Robert
• Gaines Robert B
• Lewis Thomas G
• Dorsey Michael C
• Byrd William J
• Hudspeth Michael D
• Branconier Glen
• Covidien Lp

Inventors

• Allyn Robert
• Gaines Robert B
• Lewis Thomas G
• Dorsey Michael C
• Byrd William J
• Hudspeth Michael D
• Branconier Glen

Classifications

• A61J15/0069

  Tubes feeding directly to the intestines, e.g. to the jejunum · CPC title

• A61B1/2676

  Bronchoscopes · CPC title

• A61B1/0002 Primary

  provided with data storages · CPC title

• A61B1/00137

  End pieces at either end of the endoscope, e.g. caps, seals or forceps plugs · CPC title

• A61B1/0676

  at distal tip of an endoscope · CPC title