Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61M—DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY; DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY; DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR
  • A61M39/00—Tubes, tube connectors, tube couplings, valves, access sites or the like, specially adapted for medical use
  • A61M39/10—Tube connectors; Tube couplings
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
  • A61B1/00—Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopes; Illuminating arrangements therefor
  • A61B1/00112—Connection or coupling means
  • A61B1/00121—Connectors, fasteners and adapters, e.g. on the endoscope handle
  • A61B1/00128—Connectors, fasteners and adapters, e.g. on the endoscope handle mechanical, e.g. for tubes or pipes
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
  • A61B1/00—Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopes; Illuminating arrangements therefor
  • A61B1/012—Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopes; Illuminating arrangements therefor characterised by internal passages or accessories therefor
  • A61B1/018—Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopes; Illuminating arrangements therefor characterised by internal passages or accessories therefor for receiving instruments
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61M—DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY; DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY; DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR
  • A61M25/00—Catheters; Hollow probes
  • A61M25/0021—Catheters; Hollow probes characterised by the form of the tubing
  • A61M25/0023—Catheters; Hollow probes characterised by the form of the tubing by the form of the lumen, e.g. cross-section, variable diameter
  • A61M25/0026—Multi-lumen catheters with stationary elements
  • A61M2025/004—Multi-lumen catheters with stationary elements characterized by lumina being arranged circumferentially

Definitions

• the present invention relates generally to the field of endoscopy and specifically to endoscopic apparatus used for endoscopic procedures during which a flexible tube is inserted into a body passage for examination of its interior for abnormalities. More particularly, the present invention refers to a connector for disposable multilumen tubing, which is used specifically, but not exclusively, with an endoscope, having a disposable sleeve covering the tube and upon inflation enabling advancement of the colonoscope within the colon.
• Voloshin discloses an endoscope, which comprises an endoscopic probe, a bending section for directing the probe within the colon (steering unit), an insertion tube and a flexible covering sleeve or a sheath, which is coupled proximally to the probe.
• the bending section of the endoscope is located behind the probe.
• the sleeve is attached to the endoscope in such a manner that its folded section is retained between a cap and an internal spindle, which are located between the insertion tube and the probe head. When inflated, the folded section unfolds over a flange of the internal spindle and an inner portion of the sleeve is pulled in a distal direction.
• an endoscope which employs a flexible inflatable sleeve, which before inflation is retained within a dispenser.
• the dispenser employed in this endoscope has entry and exit ports defining a transit passage through which the endoscope may pass.
• the dispenser is adapted to capture the sleeve as the endoscope is retracted through the transit passage in a proximal direction.
• the dispenser includes an external sleeve fixed to the dispenser and this external sleeve is adapted to be extended from the dispenser when the endoscope is retracted so that the external sleeve covers the flexible sleeve.
• any contamination on the flexible sleeve remains within the external sleeve and does not contact the endoscope or any other objects or areas outside the patient's body.
• the endoscope is provided with an internal sleeve, which is also known as a multilumen tubing, since it is usually fitted with appropriate passages or lumens as required for irrigation, suction and for passing endoscopic tools therethrough.
• the proximal end of the multilumen tubing is detachably connected through a dedicated connector to respective tubes or hoses, which supply water, air and vacuum from the control unit.
• the connection has also a dedicated port for insertion and evacuation therethrough of a surgical instrument, which extends along one of the passages of the multilumen tubing.
• the object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved disposable connector for use with the multilumen tubing of an endoscopic apparatus.
• the further object of the invention is to provide a new, disposable connector, which has very simple construction, which is convenient in use and which does not require bringing the tubes originating from the control unit in alignment with the passages of the multilumen tubing.
• Fig.l depicts a general view of endoscopic apparatus of the invention, preferably a colonoscopic apparatus and its main components
• Fig.2 is an enlarged perspective view of the proximal end of the multilumen tubing used with the connector of the present invention
• Figs.3 is an enlarged perspective view of the connector of the present invention
• Fig.4 is a cross-sectional view of the connector according the present invention with connection tubes for supply water, air and vacuum.
• Fig.5 is a cross-sectional view of the connector depicted in Fig.4 with surgical tool inserted thereinto.
• the endoscopic apparatus of the present invention is shown preferably as a colonoscopic apparatus 10 with its following main components.
• the apparatus comprises an endoscope having insertion tube 12 with its proximal section connected to an operation handle 14 and with its distal section 16 inserted in and protruding from a disposable dispenser 18.
• a sleeve covers distal section 16 of the endoscope. That part of the sleeve, which is seen in Fig.l, comprises a frontal non-inflatable portion 20 and a rear, folded portion 22.
• the frontal portion of the sleeve covers the distal section of the endoscope and its head. The frontal portion does not inflate when the endoscope advances within the colon.
• the rear portion covers the insertion tube and unfolds when air or another fluid medium is supplied to the sleeve. By virtue of this provision the feeding out sleeve propels the endoscope within the body passage. Explanation of this phenomenon can be found in the above referred-to references.
• the endoscope of the present invention is of similar type in the sense that it employs the same propelling mechanism, which is based on inflation of the flexible disposable sleeve coupled to the endoscope. It should be appreciated, however, that the endoscope of the present invention is not limited merely to colonoscopy. It can be employed in any other medical procedure requiring insertion of a probe in a body passage for inspection of its interior.
• the handle is connected by appropriate umbilical duct 24 to a control unit 26 provided with a source of compressed air for inflating and venting the sleeve.
• a flask 28 is provided, which is filled with water, to be supplied under pressure into the colon for irrigation. Water and air are supplied to the handle through dedicated tubes attachable to the umbilical duct.
• insertion tube various devices, which are necessary for proper functioning of the endoscope. These devices are known per se. Among such devices one can mention vertebrae and strings, which can be manipulated by the handle, and a multilumen tubing with appropriate passages for supplying water, as required for irrigation, or vacuum, as required for suction.
• the multilumen tubing also is provided with a dedicated passage for introducing surgical instruments into the colon as might be required during the endoscopic procedure.
• a dedicated tube through which air is supplied as required for inflating the sleeve.
• the multilumen tubing extends through the endoscope and through the handle to a connector 30, which provides flow communication between lumens of the multilumen tubing and tubes passing through the umbilical duct tubes and supplying air and vacuum from the control unit and water from the flask.
• the multilumen tubing and connector are manufactured from plastic material. It would be advantageous if they are cheap, disposable items, which are discarded at the end of the endoscopic procedure after the endoscope has been evacuated form the body passage. By virtue of this provision preparation for the new endoscopic procedure is simple, convenient and fast and it is not associated with spreading of any contamination picked up from the body passage during the endoscopic procedure.
• Fig. 2 it is shown a proximal portion 32 of the multilumen tubing employed with the connector of the invention.
• the proximal portion terminates by a proximal end 34.
• the multilumen tubing constitutes an elongated tubular member, having single integral body through which extend longitudinally axial working passages 36, 38 and 40.
• the working passages 36 and 38 are of a similar shape and size and have preferably an elliptical cross-section.
• the passages 36,38 extend almost along the entire length of the multilumen tubing and are sealed at the most proximal end 34.
• One of these passages is intended for supplying air and the other one for supplying of water.
• the third axial passage 40 is of a larger cross-section and has a circular cross-sectional configuration. This passage is intended for supplying vacuum or for insertion of a surgical tool therethrough.
• the third passage extends along the entire length of the multilumen tubing and its open end is seen in Fig.2.
• Location of the passages within the multilumen tubing as well as their cross-sectional configuration is selected in such a manner that an outside diameter d of the multilumen tubing is kept at a minimum, which ensures that the wall thickness would be still sufficient to resist collapsing due to the vacuum supplied through the passage 40.
• two tangentially directed cuts 42,44 are made, which are defined by a width dimension w and by a length dimension 1. In practice these dimensions are selected to allow communication with respective axial passages 36 and 38.
• the tangentially directed cuts provide, in fact, radial ports, through which a fluid medium can enter in the respective axial passages of the multilumen tubing.
• the multilumen tubing is manufactured from an elastomeric material, e.g. PVC of medical grade.
• the outside diameter d of the multilumen tubing is about 6.2 mm, the minimal wall thickness between the outside periphery and the passage is about 0.2-0.3 mm, the width dimension w is about 1.5-1.6 mm and the length dimension 1 is about 3 mm.
• Connector 30 of the invention is made of an elastometic material, which should have resiliency of about 60 Shor. In practice this material can be silicon rubber or any other elastomeric plastic material.
• the connector comprises a main body portion 46 and attached thereto a proximal port 48.
• the main body portion comprises a lower portion 50, which is integral with an upper portion 52.
• the lower portion has an U-shaped configuration defining a longitudinal groove 54 adapted for sliding along an appropriate protrusion provided on a lateral port of the handle 14.
• the connector can be detachably connected to the handle as seen in Fig.l.
• Within the upper portion of the housing a longitudinally extending through-going bore is provided. It is seen in Fig.4, that the bore has an inside diameter D and it extends between an exit opening 56 and an entry opening 58. This bore is intended for insertion and removal of the proximal end of the multilumen tubing 32 and for insertion and removal of a surgical instrument.
• three lateral ports 60,62,64 are provided, which respective openings 66,68,70 are seen in Figs.3,4. Two of these ports (60 and 62) are intended for insertion thereinto of tubes
• the third port 64 is intended for insertion thereinto of a tube 76 through which vacuum is supplied to passage 40 of the multilumen tubing.
• the ports 60,62 are of similar diameter, which is less than the diameter of the port 64.
• the inside diameter D of the through going bore is selected in such a manner, that it is more than the outside diameter d of the multilumen tubing bore so as to allow insertion of the proximal end 34 of the multilumen tubing into the connector.
• the inside diameter D is 6.2-6.3 mm.
• Formed on the circumference of the through going bore a plurality of discrete annular protrusions 78,80,82,84 are provided. All those protrusions reduce the inside diameter D from 6.2-6.3 mm to about 5.5.mm, which is less than the outside diameter d of the multilumen tubing.
• the annular protrusions resiliently deform and reliably seal the multilumen tubing when it is being inserted in the connector.
• airtight connection between the multilumen tubing and the connector is provided without necessity to use separate sealing rings or any other dedicated sealing components. This renders construction of the connector very simple.
• the protrusions are intended also to provide two annular pockets, communicating with lateral ports for supply water and air. It is seen in Fig.4, that an annular pocket 86 is formed between the annular protrusions 80,82 and an annular pocket 88 is formed between annular protrusions 82,84.
• lateral port 60 is in flow communication with the pocket 86 and lateral port 62 is in flow communication with the pocket 88.
• the distance between the adjacent protrusions is selected in such a manner that the lateral ports open immediately in the pockets and supply fluid medium in thereinto.
• Vacuum is supplied to the open end of the passage 40 of the multilumen tubing through entry opening 58.
• the rear part of the connector i.e. its proximal port 48
• the proximal port is connected to the main body portion by any suitable means, e.g. gluing.
• suitable means e.g. gluing.
• the situation, when the proximal port is a separate item connectable to the main body portion is only an illustrative example.
• the proximal port is provided with an entrance opening 90 for insertion therethrough and for evacuation therefrom of a surgical instrument as will be explained further with reference to Fig.5.
• the entrance terminates by a narrowing section 92.
• a thin, flexible partition 94 is provided, which is resiliently collapsible so as to open or close the narrowing passage and thus to prevent or permit flow communication between the entry opening of the bore and the entrance opening of the proximal port.
• the multilumen tubing is inserted within the connector, however the surgical instrument is not inserted within the connector.
• Resilient partition 94 is configured and dimensioned so as to reliably close the entrance port and to prevent flow communication with the through-going bore, while supply of a fluid medium or vacuum to respective passages of the multilumen tubing is possible.
• a surgical instrument e.g. biopsy forceps 96
• the instrument is to be advanced further through the passage 40 in order to take a tissue example within the patient's body during the endoscopic procedure. It can be appreciated that in this situation no vacuum is supplied to the passage 40.
• the forward end of the instrument reaches resilient partition 94, pushes it forward and urges it to collapse as seen in Fig.5. Now the instrument can be advanced further along the passage 40 of the multilumen tubing.
• the partition returns to its closed position due to the resiliency of the elastomeric material and the proximal port is closed again.

Landscapes

• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Surgery (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Heart & Thoracic Surgery (AREA)
• Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
• Biomedical Technology (AREA)
• Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
• Public Health (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Biophysics (AREA)
• Nuclear Medicine, Radiotherapy & Molecular Imaging (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Medical Informatics (AREA)
• Molecular Biology (AREA)
• Radiology & Medical Imaging (AREA)
• Pathology (AREA)
• Optics & Photonics (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Pulmonology (AREA)
• Anesthesiology (AREA)
• Hematology (AREA)
• Endoscopes (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=34970311

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (8)

Families Citing this family (19)

Family Cites Families (8)

• 2005
  • 2005-04-21 RU RU2006137466/14A patent/RU2006137466A/ru not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2005-04-21 EP EP05734776A patent/EP1755438A1/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 2005-04-21 WO PCT/IL2005/000428 patent/WO2005110200A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 2005-04-21 BR BRPI0511076-9A patent/BRPI0511076A/pt not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2005-04-21 CA CA002566402A patent/CA2566402A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2005-04-21 AU AU2005244326A patent/AU2005244326A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2005-04-21 JP JP2007512715A patent/JP2007536980A/ja active Pending
  • 2005-04-21 CN CN 200580015203 patent/CN1988844A/zh active Pending

Non-Patent Citations (1)

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events