WO2005032354A1

WO2005032354A1 - An additional conductor for a bronchofibroscope and a conductor-bronchofibroscope assembly

Info

Publication number: WO2005032354A1
Application number: PCT/BR2004/000192
Authority: WO
Inventors: José Carlos ROMEIRO SAPIENZA
Original assignee: Romeiro Sapienza Jose Carlos
Priority date: 2003-10-06
Filing date: 2004-10-06
Publication date: 2005-04-14
Also published as: BR0304723A

Abstract

One describes an additional conductor that may be fastened to a bronchofibroscope, serving as a catheter for the introduction of instruments into the patient during the use of the bronchofibroscope. This is carried out in an extremely simple way, by attaching a latex loop to a catheter (1) around approximately 50% of the circumference of the distal end (3) of the catheter. The remaining part of the loop (4) serves to receive the distal end (5) of a bronchofibroscope (6), securing the latter tightly against the catheter (1), so that the assembly can be inserted into the patient at the time of the surgery.

Description

"AN ADDITIONAL CONDUCTOR FOR A BRONCHOFIBROSCOPE AND A CONDUCTOR-BRONCHOFIBROSCOPE ASSEMBLY" The present invention relates to an additional conductor to be used in conjunction with a bronchofibroscope. Prior Art During the use of a bronchofibroscope, the surgeon often needs a channel or a supplementary route of access for lung aspiration, insufflation or for the introduction of instruments, such as needles, brushes, dilators and the like. The introduction of an additional catheter to the bronchofibroscope is always troublesome due to the reduced dimensions of the trachea, through which the bronchofibroscope passes. Objective of the Present Invention The objective of the present invention is to enable one to introduce an additional channel or route of access during the use of a bronchofibroscope. The Invention According to the present invention, the above objective is achieved by means of an additional conductor for a bronchofibroscope, which comprises a catheter having a proximal end and a distal end, provided, adja- cent the distal end, with means that enable it to be fixed to a bronchofibroscope. Preferably, these means comprise an elastic loop secured to the conductor at a place adjacent its distal end, intended to receive and secure elastically the distal end of a bronchofibroscope. In the preferred embodiment, the loop is permanently adhered to the conductor, in the form of a catheter, around about 50% of its circumference, at its distal end. The remaining part of the loop serves for receiving the distal end of the bronchofibroscope, fastening it elastically with force sufficient to prevent displacement of the catheter with respect to the bronchofi- broscope during handling and use. Thus, before the surgeon introduces the bronchofibroscope into the patient, he can attach the additional conductor by merely inserting the distal end of the bronchofibroscope through the free loop of the conductor. The assembly can then be introduced into the patient. The loop may be made from any suitable material, but preferably it comprises elastic latex. Brief Description of the Drawing The invention, which also relates to a conductor- bronchofibroscope assembly, will be better understood from the following description, made by way of example, of its preferred embodiment, with reference to the attached drawing, in which: - Figure 1 is a perspective view of an additional conductor for bronchofibroscope according to the invention; and - Figure 1 is a perspective view of the same additional conductor already conjugated with the bronchofibroscope. Detailed Description of the Drawing With reference to Figure 1 of the drawing, an additional tube for bronchofibroscope comprises a siliconized plastic catheter 1 having a proximal end 2 and a distal end 3. The proximal end 2 may be of the universal type, for receiving a syringe or a serum equipment or, as illustrated, it may be funnel-shaped or cone-shaped to facilitate the introduction of needles, brushes or the like, as usual. According to the present invention, a simple loop 4 made of elastic latex receives the distal end 3 of the catheter 1. The loop 4 is adhered by vulcanization or otherwise fastened to the catheter around approximately 50% of the circumference of the latter, the remaining part of the loop serving to receive the distal end 5 of a bronchofibroscope 6 (se Figure 2). The size of the with respect to the diameter of the bronchofibroscope 6 is such that the latter will remain steady and elastically secured to the catheter 1. This enables the surgeon to introduce the bronchofibroscope-catheter combination into the patient as if it were a single piece, thus facilitating the procedures to be performed. Although a loop 4 for keeping together the two elements bronchofibroscope 6 and catheter 1 has been described and illustrated, it should be understood that any other fastening means may be used for joining these elements, as long as the need for keeping them closely together is respected, in order to enable the introduction of the assembly into the narrow route of the patient's trachea, without longitudinal displacement of one with respect to the other.

Claims

1. An additional conductor for a bronchofibroscope, characterized by comprising a catheter (1) having a proximal end (2) and a distal end (3), provided, adjacent the distal end (3), with means (4) for fixing it to a bron- chofibroscope (6).

2. An additional conductor for a bronchofibroscope according to claim 1 , characterized in that said means comprise an elastic loop (40) secured to the catheter (1) at a place adjacent the distal end (3) thereof, intended for receiving and fastening elastically the distal end (5) of a bron- chofibroscope (6).

3. An additional conductor for a bronchofibroscope according to claim 2, characterized in that the loop (4) comprises a simple loop adhered to the catheter (1 ) around approximately 50% of the circumference of the catheter at the place adjacent the distal end (3) of the catheter, the remaining part of the loop (4) being suitable for receiving and fastening elastically the distal end (5) of a bronchofibroscope (6).

4. An additional conductor for a bronchfibroscope according to claim 1 , 2 or 3, characterized in that the said means (4) are made from elastic latex.

5. A conductor-bronchfibroscope assembly, characterized by comprising a bronchofibroscope (6) having a proximal end and a distal end (5), a catheter-shaped additional conductor having a proximal end (2) and a distal end (3) and elastic means (4) joining the bronchofibroscope (6) and the catheter (1) in the region of the distal ends (5, 3) thereof.

6. A conductor-bronchofibroscope assembly according to claim

5, characterized in that said means comprise an elastic loop (4) fastened to the catheter (1) around approximately 50% of the circumference of the latter at a place adjacent the distal end (3) of the latter, and receiving and elastically securing the distal end (5) of the bronchorfibroscope (6).

7. A conductor-bronchofibroscope assembly according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that said means (4) are made from elastic latex.