text:
Ambient advertisment created by DDB, Sweden for McDonald's, within the category: Food.
Try our new breakfast sandwich.
Creative Director: Andreas Dahlqvist
Art Directors: Lennart Claesson, Philip Ahlqwist
Copywriter: Martin Lundgren
Photographer: Philip Karlberg
jup, these ones only really work if the page is in exactly the right position at exactly the right time. done to death too.
peace yo
did this get produced? what respectable newspaper would give McD's the entire front page?
I know they cant....thing is i was trying to be "nice" LOL.
the chances of this really working are probably like ... one in ten thousand!! sorry but it's more than obvious that the picture above was shot with a model. You might stand a chance if you propose the newspaper in a funny spy movie (coz they're always hiding behind newspapers)... I think i'm hungry!
i usually fold newspaper when i am reading. but this looks pretty funny for me, even it won't actually works.
http://jennywhx.blogspot.com jwhx:Visionary
We get the Metro here in Toronto and they often have a covering page with an interesting use of the media type of ad.
They actually get quite creative with it, sometimes they use velum! And then sometimes it's a useless intrusion.
I wish I'd seen this one! I like the application for the media.
No Metro in USA, at least in Colroado (was supposed to be a reply above)
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text:
|Publication number
|Publication type
|Application number
|Publication date
|Aug 24, 2010
|Filing date
|May 19, 2006
|Priority date
|May 4, 2005
|Fee status
|Also published as
|Publication number
|James J. Frassica, Robert E. Ailinger
|Original Assignee
|Spirus Medical, Inc.
|Export Citation
|BiBTeX, EndNote, RefMan
|Patent Citations (65), Non-Patent Citations (4), Referenced by (24), Classifications (68), Legal Events (3)
|External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, Espacenet
This patent application:
(i) is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/189,561, filed Jul. 26, 2005 by James J. Frassica for ROTATE TO ADVANCE CATHETERIZATION SYSTEM;
(ii) is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/121,751, filed May 4, 2005 by James J. Frassica for ROTATE-TO-ADVANCE CATHETERIZATION SYSTEM;
(iii) is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/363,990, filed Feb. 28, 2006 by James J. Frassica et al. for ROTATE-TO-ADVANCE CATHETERIZATION SYSTEM; and
(iv) claims benefit of pending prior U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/682,584, filed May 19, 2005 by James J. Frassica for ROTATE-TO-ADVANCE CATHETERIZATION SYSTEM.
The four above-identified patent applications are hereby incorporated herein by reference.
This invention relates to apparatus and methods for catheterization and related treatments of the genitourinary and gastrointestinal passages of mammals. More particularly, this invention relates to catheters, dilators, occluders, stents, suprapubic catheters, camera introducers and related medical devices subject to being proximally propelled and directed for advancement and control in mammalian genitourinary and gastrointestinal passages.
In most mammals, mucous membranes line all those passages by which the internal parts communicate with the exterior, and are continuous with the skin at the various orifices of the surface of the body. The mucous membranes are soft and velvety, and very vascular, and their surface is coated over by their secretion, mucus, which is of a tenacious consistency, and serves to protect them from the foreign substances introduced into the body with which they are brought in contact.
Mucous membranes are described as lining the two primary mammalian tracts, i.e., the genitourinary and the gastrointestinal—and all, or almost all, mucous membranes may be classified as belonging to, and continuous with, the one or the other of these tracts.
Catheterization of any of these bodily passages may at times be useful or necessary.
Urinary outlet problems have presumably been around for as long as humans. History has the ancient Chinese using onion stalks to relieve people of acute urinary retention. Literature refers to such problems as far back as 206 B.C., more than 2000 years ago. The ancient Romans are known to have used catheters, which are believed to have been first invented by Erasistratus, a Greek doctor in the third century B.C. The Roman catheters were fine tubes made of bronze. The Roman gynecologist Soranus describes how catheters could be used to push stones out of the way and back into the cavity of the bladder, thus restoring urine flow. Excavations in Pompeii unearthed several bronze catheters. These instruments were well constructed but relatively simple and showed that catheter designs changed little from the period of 79 A.D. until around 1700 A.D.
However, during the 18th and 19th centuries, catheter construction became more complex, with an intensified search taking place for an appropriate substance that would be at once flexible, non-irritating and functional. England, France, and the United States all had individuals and companies deeply involved with urinary catheters during this period. Many variations were produced, but they all caused significant stress on the patient when these rigid devices were pushed into the urethra. The first practical breakthrough was made by the French using gum elastic catheters—a catheter that would bend better in the urethral channel and not scour the mucosa as much in the process.
Charles Goodyear improved upon what the French had produced when he successfully vulcanized crude rubber. The problem of manufacturing an instrument which was both sufficiently rigid to enable it to be pushed through the urethra and into the bladder, and yet flexible enough to negotiate the path, had at last reached the point of practicality, notwithstanding its shortcomings. At that time, and even to this day, a functional urethral catheter is frequently defined as being one that is flexible enough to negotiate the bends of the urethra and stable enough to be pushed through the length of the urethral passage.
The French urologist J. J. Cazenave, with the hopes that his country would regain leadership in the catheter field, dedicated 25-30 years of his life improving the flexible durable catheter. This effort was in the late 1800's and Cazenare's catheter, made of decalcified ivory, was a dated device, but it nonetheless shows the consistency of the state of the art wherein catheters are pushed into and negotiated along the urethral passage toward the bladder.
During the past 300 years or so, intensified catheter development efforts were stimulated by professional pride, national pride and financial rewards. These efforts yielded many improvements, such as changes to size, curve shape, materials of construction, smoothness, lubricants, coatings, combinations of materials, physical properties, chemical properties and more—yet all these improvements subscribed to the basic principle of external push-to-advance catheter deployment.
The catheters of the prior art are generally large and stiff, difficult and uncomfortable to administer, and uncomfortable to wear for extended periods of time. There is a degree of skill, tolerance and patience required from medical personnel installing the catheters that takes much time, training and practice to learn. The difficulty, discomfort, risk of injury and infection, inhibition and inconvenience of the methods and apparatus of the prior art results in the deprivation, for many patients, of the freedom to work, play and travel as do unaffected people.
The anatomy of the adult male urinary tract, as illustrated in
The normal process of emptying the bladder can be interrupted by two causes. One is bladder outlet obstruction, and the other is failure of the nerves linking the bladder to the brain. The most frequent cause of bladder outlet obstruction in males is enlargement of the prostate gland by hypertrophy or hyperplasia. In older males, it is not uncommon for a progressive enlargement of the prostate to constrict the prostate urethra. This condition, known as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), can cause a variety of obstructive symptoms, including urinary hesitancy, straining to void, decreased size and force of the urinary stream and, in extreme cases, complete urinary retention possibly leading to renal failure.
The most common surgical intervention for BPH, transurethral resection of the prostate, or TURP, has a lengthy recovery period of up to one year, and presents a high operative risk for complications such as sexual dysfunction. Up to 10% of those subjected to such surgery are left with mild to moderate stress incontinence. Approximately 400,000 patients in the United States, and approximately 500,000 patients internationally, were diagnosed in 1994 with BPH or cancer-induced bladder outlet obstructions that were sufficiently severe to warrant TURP or alternative surgery, according to industry sources.
Because of the high costs, medical risks and quality of life compromises associated with TURP, new technologies have begun to challenge TURP's position as the standard treatment for severe BPH. Recently, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved two drugs, tera zosin hydrochloride and rinasteride, to treat BPH. However, these drugs generally do not improve symptoms for six to nine months after treatment begins, and are not without side effects.
Urethral strictures are another cause of outlet obstruction, often due to fibrous tissue growth resulting from reaction to catheters or cystoscopes or from injury, birth defects or disease, and are commonly treated by urethral dilation, catheterization or surgery. Men with urethral strictures also experience a limited ability to urinate, which may cause extreme discomfort and, if left untreated, may cause complications that necessitate catheterization. Approximately 50,000 patients in the United States were diagnosed with recurrent urethral strictures in 1994, according to industry sources. It is estimated that approximately 75,000 additional patients were diagnosed internationally.
Women suffer from urinary incontinence far more often than men and at a younger age, primarily because of the stress associated with pregnancy and childbirth, the shorter length of the female urethra, and the absence of a prostate. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) estimates that the involuntary loss of urine affects approximately 10 million Americans, of which 8.5 million are women. Seven million of these women are non-institutionalized, or community-dwelling.
For women between the ages of 15 and 64, the prevalence of urinary incontinence is estimated to range from 10 to 25 percent of the population. For non-institutionalized persons over the age of 60, the prevalence of urinary incontinence ranges from 15 to 30 percent, with the prevalence in women twice that of men.
The involuntary loss of urine can be caused by a variety of anatomical and physiological factors. The type and cause of urinary incontinence is important to how the condition is treated and managed. The two broad categories of urinary incontinence are urge and stress incontinence. Some people suffer from what is termed mixed incontinence, or a combination of stress and urge incontinence.
Urge incontinence is the involuntary loss of urine associated with an abrupt and strong desire to void. In most cases, urge incontinence is caused by involuntary detrusor (the smooth muscle in the wall of the bladder) contractions or over-activity. For many people, urge incontinence can be satisfactorily managed with pharmaceuticals.
The more frequently occurring stress incontinence is the involuntary loss of urine caused by movement or activity that increases abdominal pressure. The most common cause of stress incontinence is hypermobility or significant displacement of the urethra and bladder neck during exertion. A less frequent cause of stress incontinence is intrinsic urethral sphincter deficiency (ISD), a condition in which the sphincter is unable to generate enough resistance to retain urine in the bladder.
Females, and males with no benign prostatic hyperplasia condition, might also have the inability to empty their bladder because of the nerves linking the bladder to the brain. This condition is known as neuropathic bladder, and may occur in a wide variety of conditions which include spina bifida, multiple sclerosis, spinal injury, slipped disc and diabetes. When these and other problems prevent the bladder from effectively controlling urine, there are a number of treatment options. They are catheters, dilators, occluders, and stents.
During continuous catheterization, an indwelling catheter is retained in the bladder by a water-filled balloon. The indwelling catheter drains urine continuously from the bladder into a bag which is attached to the leg or bed. The bag has a tap so that the urine can be emptied at intervals. The catheter is usually inserted by a doctor or nurse and changed about every four to six weeks. But difficulty in placement has always been inherent in this design. This is due to the traditional "push to advance" technology which necessitates a relatively stiff, thick-walled catheter to traverse the delicate mucosal-lined urethra.
Often the French (unit of measurement) size of the catheter is dictated by the need for stiffness to insert rather than the lumen size needed to pass urine. A 14 French or smaller Foley catheter is rarely used because catheters of this size lack the column strength needed to push the catheter along the full length of the urethra into the bladder.
The larger French Foley catheters are painful to place, uncomfortable when indwelling, and require a highly-skilled care provider to insert.
During intermittent catheterization, a simple catheter made of plastic, rubber, or metal is inserted by the patient or a helper for just long enough to empty the bladder completely, which is typically about one minute. These temporary catheters are usually smaller in diameter and stiffer than an indwelling catheter of the same size. This stiffness can make catheterization difficult in men because the male urethra is long and has an acute bend within the prostate. Also, when the external sphincter is reached, the sphincter muscle will contract, making passage difficult. Most patients learn to catheterize themselves and thereby gain a large degree of independence. This process is repeated about every 3-4 hours during the day and occasionally as needed at night.
Intermittent catheterization is mainly used by people who are incontinent due to neuropathic bladder. Intermittent catheterization may also be utilized by people who cannot empty their bladder because the bladder muscle is weak and does not contract properly.
In some patients, an alternate apparatus and method used to maintain long term drainage of the bladder is the use of a suprapubic tube.
Suprapubic catheterization of the bladder is performed via transabdominal puncture which enters the body above the pubic arch and is directed into the bladder using ultrasound or fluoroscopy to guide the trocar introducer and suprapubic catheter. The trocar introducer is then removed when proper catheter placement within the bladder is confirmed, leaving the drainage catheter in place.
Long term drainage may require the fixation of the catheter at the skin using standard adhesive-based interface components to address mechanical fixation, infection control, and skin compatibility. The distal end of the catheter is commonly contained within the bladder by inflated balloon, or by winged-shaped tip configurations which expand within the bladder, or by pre-shaped curved catheter tips which curl to their original J-shape when stiffening wire is removed from the catheter lumen.
A problem with this form of distal end emplacement through the bladder wall is that it is only unidirectional; that is, it only resists the inadvertent pulling out of the tip of the catheter from the wall of the bladder, while allowing the catheter to freely pass further into the bladder, and to back out up to the point of the containment structure. This continuing catheter motion in and out of the bladder puncture site may irritate tissue and cause infection or other difficulty at the bladder-catheter interface. Urine is especially irritating to most parts of the human body that are outside of the urinary tract.
Dilation is accomplished by pushing successively larger urethral dilation tubes through the urethra so as to increase the size of the urethral lumen, a procedure which is painful and traumatic to the patient. Surgical treatment of strictures involves surgical risks as well as complications, including infection, bleeding and restenosis, which frequently requires further treatment.
With the exception of balloon catheters, the current art of dilators has also changed little over the passage of time. A shaft with an increasing taper, bulbous structure, or enlarged end is pushed from without the passage to advance the tool through the restricted passage, thus forcing, by longitudinally-applied pressure, the lateral expansion of the passage walls. This push-to-advance method necessitates a stiff shaft which has all the same limitations as traditional catheters. Catheters inherently provide a degree of this dilatorial function to the extent that the passage is opened sufficiently to accommodate the catheter.
Occluders are used in some cases to control incontinence. Occluders of the prior art are constructed and applied with the same push-to-advance concept as the catheters and dilators described above, and hence suffer from the same disadvantages. The basic occluder is a bulb or plug on a shaft which is inserted within the urethra to stop or prevent the normal flow of urine through the urethra, or driven all the way into the bladder, for example, and allowed to seat as a plug at the neck of the urethra to prevent the flow of urine from the bladder.
A stent is a tubular metallic mesh device that is implanted in to open and support a stricture so as to allow for urine flow. The stent body is between 3.5 cm and 6.5 cm in length, depending on the anatomy, and is expandable by design to anchor in place. The stent, being a mesh, has openings that allow the tissue to grow through the wall, making removal difficult and causing encrustation that reduces urine flow.
An intraurethral valved catheter is a device that is implanted to control the flow of urine by means of an integral valve that is remotely actuated. Since the entire catheter length is within the urethra, the chance for external infection is reduced. The anchoring mechanism of current designs is accomplished with balloons, or "petal-like" projections from the catheter. Both of the aforementioned designs are complicated to install and difficult to remove and, if the valve fails, leaves the patient in a painful and dangerous situation.
There has been patent activity in the prior art indicating dissatisfaction with the push-to-advance methodology. Catheters have been adorned with a wide assortment of spiral and threaded features described as intended to ease the trauma and pain of what clearly remained a push-in device. Alvord's U.S. Pat. No. 207,932, Peyret's French Pat. No. 564,832, Hayes' U.S. Pat. No. 1,644,919, and Jacoby's U.S. Pat. No. 1,888,349 are representative of these. In all cases, these disclosures fail to recognize that the basic push-to-advance technique is fundamentally flawed and should be abandoned, and fail to resolve the critical features of structure necessary for rotational advancement as a substitute for the push-to-advance method.
Other art reveals the use of spiral features for different purposes. For example, Spinosa's U.S. Pat. No. 3,815,608 discloses a catheter with a thread designed to hold the urethral wall away from the shaft so as to allow urine to flow around the outside of the catheter. Such disclosures likewise reveal a reliance on push-in methods, or an assumption that such structures can be pulled out without regard to the spiral features, again failing to recognize rotation as a viable substitute for pushing, and failing to resolve the critical features of structure necessary for effective rotational advancement.
As a further indication of the failure of the prior art to provide effective improvements to traditional push-in methods, there is no apparent indication among the products commercially available, or in the medical practices known to the applicant, that any of these spirally-ornamented devices were ever found to be clinically viable.
The current device used for inspection and treatment of the GI (gastrointestinal) tract is a flexible endoscope. This device takes a high level of skill to use, is difficult to maneuver and can be very painful for the patient, due to the basic push-to-advance design that has not changed since the device was invented in the early 1960's. The distal tip of the endoscope typically has the following parts:
The so-called "bending section" is the distal end of the tube, ranging from approximately 8-15 cm long, which can articulate so as to steer the scope as it is pushed inward and is controlled by a cable mechanism that is connected to control knobs on the proximal handle.
The so-called "insertion tube", which makes up the rest of the endoscope's 60-150 cm length, is not capable of controlled deflection. It has a tailored bending flexibility and torque transmission which is of major importance in endoscope design. Most instruments have a two-stage bending stiffness, i.e., the distal portion of the insertion tube is more flexible than the proximal portion. The flexibility of each portion of the insertion tube requires extensive clinical testing to ensure that the endoscope handles easily and produces a minimum of patient discomfort.
The colon is a tubular organ which runs from the cecum in the right lower quadrant to the rectum. It is widest in the cecum and ascending colon and gradually narrows as one approaches the rectum. The colon is divided into the following sections:
The inner layer of circular muscle is present throughout the colon. The outer longitudinal muscle in the wall of the colon is fused into three bands, the teniae coli. These bands start at the base of the appendix and run in the wall of the colon down to the rectum, where they diffuse into the muscular coat. The three teniae cause the colon to have a triangular appearance endoscopically; this is especially prominent in the ascending and transverse colon. The haustra are outpouchings of the colon, separated by folds. In the descending colon the endoscopic appearance is often tubular.
Most experienced colonoscopists use similar endoscopic techniques. Air is introduced to inflate the colon, but as little as possible to prevent overdistension. The pushing pressure on the endoscope is gentle to avoid stretching the colonic wall or mesentery (the connective tissue that holds the colon like a fan) which can cause pain, a vagal episode, or a perforation. The lumen is kept in view at all times; little or none of the examination is performed blindly, because the colonoscopist is pushing a stiff instrument through delicate tissue.
A variety of in and out maneuvers are used to "accordian" the colon on the colonoscope, keeping the colonoscope as free of loops as possible. In the difficult colon, special maneuvers such as the creating of an alpha loop in the sigmoid colon are used to pass the sharply angulated sigmoid/descending colon junction. This maneuver may require fluoroscopic guidance and training in the technique.
The colonoscope is advanced to the cecum under direct visualization. The detailed examination of the mucosa is usually performed as the colonoscope is slowly removed from the cecum.
To inspect the whole length of the large intestine requires a highly skilled practitioner, which makes the procedure costly. Even still, the procedure can be very painful for the patient, making sedation necessary. This is due to the inherent deficiencies in the "push-to-advance" design.
In summary, there are problems in making present push-in catheters, dilators, and occluders stiff enough for penetration and flexible enough to make the turns without undue risk of trauma to the wall of the passageway when being pushed in; and once installed, comfortable enough to wear for an extended period of time. The problems with stent encrustation and removal are well known. Self-administration is inhibited by all of the short-comings of the prior art. Further injury, infection and discomfort can result from unskilled or improper technique. The problems with colonoscopy have been previously described.
The long history of push-in catheters/dilators and occluders has gradually crystallized into an industry-wide, self-perpetuating, fundamental assumption that catheters are to be mainly pushed through bodily passageways, albeit with some rotational easing. This "fact" is so widely perpetuated and pervasive in the commercially-available products and medical practices as to have stifled original thinking in this art. This, in spite of the well-recorded shortcomings of pain, trauma, risk of rupture, and failed, aborted or incomplete procedures, and the need for skilled practitioners and special equipment for monitoring and safeguarding against the inherent problems.
For the purposes of this disclosure, including the appended claims, the terms "distal", "distally", and "distal end", as they relate to the devices and methods described herein, refer to the end of the device further from, or in the direction away from, a practitioner who might be applying the device or method to the subject. Stated otherwise, the aforementioned terms refer to the end of the device closer to, or in the direction towards, the subject's interior.
The terms "proximal", "proximally", and "proximal end", as they relate to the devices and methods described herein, refer to the end of the device closer to, or in the direction towards, the practitioner who might be applying the device or method, rather than to the subject.
Objects of the invention include providing and employing screw-based means for rotational advancement and anchoring of catheters, probes, occluders, stents, and dilators into genitourinary and gastrointestinal passageways such as the urethra, ureter, esophagus and fallopian tube, and for the emplacement of suprapubic catheters for draining genitourinary organs such as the bladder, whereby the subject device is applied through a natural body orifice or surgically created opening and is drawn through the passage by the longitudinal pull of a helix on the walls of the passage or organ as the device is rotated.
This technology is a radical departure from the 4000 year old traditional "push-to-advance" methodology previously discussed.
Flexible, thin-wall indwelling and intermittent catheters and related devices and delivery stylets, made possible by this rotate-to-advance form of emplacement, are less traumatic and easier for the medical practitioner or patient to use. The catheter of the invention eliminates the problems of conventional devices by using helix or rotational technology that provides controlled insertion and flexibility to negotiate the urethra. The helix design accomplishes a pre-dilatation of the passageway at a steady rate that relaxes the sphincter and lessens or prevents spasm. Once placed, the device is anchored by the radial displacement and close pitch of the helix, preventing longitudinal migration due to body movement or fluid flow.
In another embodiment, the helix is located on the shaft under a Foley-type balloon and disappears when the balloon is inflated. The flexible, reinforced shaft need be only about half the wall thickness of conventional Foley catheters, which means a smaller outer diameter (OD) catheter can be used. The helix advances the shaft and dilates the urethra as the catheter is inserted. Once the bladder is reached, the balloon is inflated with sterile water, and the helix is engulfed by the balloon. The process is then reversed to remove the catheter. This technology fosters reduced costs for patent care, improved clinical outcomes and enhanced patient quality of life.
The continence catheter of the invention, indicated for bladder outlet obstructions, is intended for BPH patients who are not able to, or choose not to, undergo TURP. This embodiment of the invention allows the urethra in the area of the prostate to remain open. At the proximal (external) end of this catheter there may be a flow valve which can be depressed or otherwise opened to empty the bladder. The catheter may be produced as a sterile, single-use, disposable item that can be used once and replaced as needed.
The same embodiment of the catheter of the invention provides a female Stress UI sufferer with lifestyle benefits that greatly outperform absorbent products intended to manage this condition.
The patient simply inserts the catheter into the urethral opening and rotates the shaft to advance the catheter into the bladder. This can be done in the morning in the convenience of home. When the user needs to urinate, the valve end of the flexible shaft may be exposed through the clothing and the valve opened to empty the bladder. Since the device is not removed and reinserted after each voiding, the risk of infection is reduced. At the end of the day, the catheter is easily removed and disposed of.
The male or female intraurethral valved catheter of the invention is indicated for bladder control. This embodiment of the invention allows the flow of urine to be controlled by a valve mechanism that is within the catheter. This valve may be actuated directly by insertion of a tool such as a stylet, or remotely by using a magnetic field device.
The intraurethral device reduces the potential for infection by eliminating the external tubing which can be an entry path for bacterial contamination. These catheters are typically 3.5 to 6.5 centimeters in length, depending on the anatomy, and have the helical element of the invention on the outer diameter of the body. The thread height of the helix may vary over its length, as an aid to the advancement and retention characteristics of the device. The sidewall of the catheter may be reinforced to resist collapsing due to contraction pressure. This catheter may be inserted in the urethra under fluoroscopy, using a detachable flexible stylet which keys into the proximal end of the catheter in a non-rotational fitment, and may be inserted in an outpatient procedure using topical anesthesia.
The stent of the invention, indicated for bladder outlet obstructions, keeps the urethra open in the area of the stricture. The stent body may be between 3.5 cm and 6.5 cm in length, depending on the anatomy, and has a helical element on the outer diameter of the body to advance and retain the stent. The sidewall of the stent may have a reinforcement means to prevent collapsing due to prostate pressure. The stent can be inserted in the urethra under fluoroscopy, using a detachable flexible stylet which keys into the proximal end of the stent body, and may be inserted in an outpatient procedure using topical anesthesia.
The stents of the invention are not susceptible to being incorporated by the urethral mucosa in a manner preventing rotation, thereby permitting a lengthy period of emplacement and subsequent removal by the same rotational technique. The stent may also have a sufficiently large internal diameter, or lumen, to permit cystoscopies, thereby allowing examination of the bladder without removing the stent.
Helically-adapted dilators and occluders of the invention are likewise rotatingly advanced and retracted; the helical element performing a dilatory function to some degree. Dilators of respectively larger diameters may be used to achieve a gradually more pronounced effect.
The rotational advancement means may be combined with the push-to-advance methodology in any of these devices. In a dilator, for example, a helically-equipped leader shaft extending distally of the bulbous portion of the device rotatingly advances the device up to the point that the helix passes out of the interior end of the passage; the remainder of the leader shaft then providing a guidewire that leads the bulb through the remainder of the passageway when the dilator is pushed from the proximal end.
The adaptation of the invention to suprapubic catheters, used in a classic transabdominal puncture for the drainage of the bladder or other genitourinary organs, permits the helix on the distal end of the catheter to be emplaced in the wall of the organ far enough so that the helical vane extends from both sides of the organ wall, so that the longitudinal sliding motion of the catheter into and out of the organ is inhibited by the helical vane. This reduces a source of irritation and associated complications at the organ wall entry point.
The helically-adapted suprapubic catheter may be placed in the organ using ultrasound or fluoroscopy to visualize placement, by rotatingly advancing the catheter over a guidewire leading to the organ; the guidewire having been installed through a tubular access created by using a cannula and trocar to reach the organ, the trocar and the cannula having been successively removed.
Any embodiment of the invention may be radiopaque, or have radiopaque features, markers or other components, permitting the use of fluoroscopy to monitor emplacement or removal of the device, or even the rotational orientation and rotational movement of the device.
The thread element may be solid, hollow, or fluid-filled. It may taper in height at various locations to optimize advancement and anchoring. Embodiments or elements of the invention may be fabricated, molded, wound, extruded or otherwise constructed of non-toxic, non-corrosive materials, or combinations of materials, e.g., a composite construction, that are otherwise tolerant of bodily fluids and/or durable when implanted in vivo. Such materials may include, but are not limited to, polyurethane, medical grade stainless steel, silicone, bicarbon, polytetrafluoroethylene, tantalum, titanium, or nickel-titanium alloy. Conversely, materials may be specifically chosen to be bioabsorable so as to obviate the need for removal.
The devices of the invention may be enhanced with one or a combination of the following coatings: a water-based hydrophilic; antibacterial coatings such as nitrofurazone; bateriostatic coatings such as silver; or other mediations to further enhance their clinical performance.
The threaded camera introducer system, briefly stated, presents a novel means for the introduction of visualization sensors and other implements into and through the full length of the colon. The fundamental structure of the introducer, consistent with the rotate-to-advance structure and methodology of the invention, is a large, soft, flexible worm-like tubular device with a helix of soft, pliant threads which translate rotational force at the proximal end to a pulling action on the colon wall.
The hollow core or central lumen connects the distal and proximal ends of the tube. A camera head or other visual sensor can be introduced into the device and arranged to "see" forward from the center of the bulbous tip on the distal end. Light bundles or wires connected to the camera pass through the central lumen and out the proximal end of the device to an appropriate control and viewing apparatus.
The distal end of the device is gently urged into the rectum sufficiently far to engage the helix. The device is rotated from just outside the point of entry, to slowly advance into and through the entire length of the colon to the cecum. The helical threads pull the device gently along the interior colon wall; the flexibility of the device allows it to easily negotiate the major turns of the colon. The larger threads at the distal end provide the greatest grip or pull, the smaller threads closer to the proximal end contributing a lesser degree of grip or pull. The device is removed using the same method in reverse.
As illustrated in the figures, the light bundles or cables may be encased in a flexible torque tube or assembly which provides or contributes to the torsional strength necessary to rotatingly advance and withdraw the device.
The interior wall of the main tubular device or introducer may be configured to contain the torque tube or vertebra in a non-rotational manner, such that torque applied at any place on the exterior wall of the introducer is transmitted to the torque tube and hence over the full length of the device.
Various embodiments and enhancements are possible, all within the scope of the invention:
By means of the invention, the entire colon can be examined without the need for a conventional colonoscope or endoscope, and without the attendant expertise, pain, medication, post-procedure recovery time, and cost. The means and method of the invention require less training and have far greater likelihood of reaching the cecum (far end of the colon) than conventional tools and procedures. Other body cavities and passageways may be similarly examined.
The camera introducer catheter can be used in four different modes:
Thus, in one form of the invention, a conventional endoscope may be positioned within an introducer having a generally tubular construction with a helical thread on the exterior, whereby rotation of the introducer will cause the introducer, and hence the endoscope, to be moved longitudinally within a bodily passageway. And in one preferred form of the invention, the endoscope may be coupled to the introducer with a rotary coupling, such that the endoscope may remain free from rotation while the introducer is rotated, whereby to stabilize the endoscope image while the introducer is rotated.
And in another form of the invention, a conventional endoscope may be modified so as to provide helical threads along some or all of the exterior sidewall of the endoscope, such that upon rotation of the endoscope, the helical threads will move the endoscope longitudinally within a passageway.
It should be appreciated that the system of the present invention can be rotated either manually (e.g., by the surgeon rotating the catheter by hand) or, alternatively, the system can be power driven. In a preferred form of the present invention, a powered drive may be used to rotate the catheter so as to allow an easier and more precise advancement of the catheter into the bodily passageway or retraction of the catheter from the bodily passageway.
In one preferred form of the present invention, a lavage system may be provided for clearing away debris from the front of the catheter. In many situations, the bodily passageway receiving the catheter may be obscured with debris, and it may be helpful to have a clear view of the anatomy when advancing an endoscope through the bodily passageway. A lavage system may be provided to flush debris from the cavity passageway with fluid during the insertion of the endoscope. By way of example, the lavage system may be used to break up and remove fecal matter from the colon, thereby enabling a clearer view of the anatomy when the catheter is being advanced through the colon.
Still other objects and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in this art from the following detailed description, wherein there are shown and described preferred and other embodiments of the invention by way of illustration of the best mode contemplated for carrying out the invention. As will be realized, the invention is capable of other and different embodiments, and its several details are capable of modifications in various obvious respects, all without departing from the invention.
To those skilled in the art, the invention admits of many variations and appellations in apparatus and methodology. By way of example, there is provided, in accordance with the present invention, a rotate-to-advance structure and methodology applicable to a range of medical devices that have heretofore relied entirely or substantially on a push-to-advance technique for penetration of bodily passages. Such devices include catheters, dilators, and occluders for mammalian genitourinary or gastrointestinal passages such as the urethra or ureter for the usual purposes associated with such devices where no incising or rupture of passage walls or membranes is intended.
Referring now to
Referring to
It is readily apparent from the dimensions of
The diameter of the helix formed by thread 103 of catheter 101 is referred to as thread diameter 103 d, and is equal to two thread heights 103 b plus the outside diameter 102 d of catheter tube 102 or, in this case, 2 times 0.032 inches plus 0.125 inches, or approximately 0.19 inches. The circumference C of the helix formed by thread 30 is calculated as Π (pi) times thread diameter 103 d or, in this case, 3.14 times 0.19, or approximately 0.6 inches.
C=π�thread diameter 103 d
The ratio R of thread pitch 103 c, 0.25 inches, to the circumference of thread diameter 103 d, at 0.6 inches, is much less than 1 to 1, thereby improving the leverage of the screw thread for converting rotation into longitudinal pulling power, as compared to ratios larger than 1/1.
R=thread pitch 103 c/C
The shoulders of thread 103 have a radius of 0.015 inches. In small quantities, thread 103 may be attached to tube 102 by wicking tetrahydrofuran (THF) solvent under the thread using a fine hollow tube. Catheter 101 may be molded in large quantities with thread 103 being an integral part of the molded structure.
Referring to
Both ends of thread 103 are tapered from zero to full height in one-half turn of the helix, to facilitate gentle, gradual displacement of urethra wall 2 by thread 103 when catheter 101 is rotated clockwise for advancement into the urethra and counterclockwise for retraction. The difference between thread height 103 b and pitch 103 c shown in
Referring to
It is apparent from the anatomy shown in
A useful alternative embodiment of catheter 101 incorporates the recited external thread 103 for rotational advancement, but provides for the central lumen to connect to or terminate in a straight-through or axially-aligned drainage port at the distal tip of the catheter, similar to the most basic conventional catheters. This is likewise useful for drainage and also enables the insertion or passage of guidewires or other devices where specific procedures require it.
Referring next to
Referring to
It is readily apparent from
Similar to the description of threaded catheter 101, the diameter 113 d of the helix formed by thread 113 is equal to two thread heights 113 b plus the diameter 112 d or, in this case, 2 times 0.10 plus 0.125, or approximately 0.33 inches. The circumference C of the helix formed by thread 113 is calculated as Π (pi) times the thread diameter 113 d or, in this case, 3.14 times 0.33, or approximately 1.0 inches. The ratio R of thread pitch 113 c, at 0.25 inches, to the circumference C, at 1.0 inches, is again much less than 1 to 1, thereby improving the leverage of the thread for converting rotation into longitudinal pulling power as compared to larger ratios.
The shoulders of thread 113 have a radius of 0.015 inches. Catheter 111 may be constructed or fabricated by the same means as catheter 101.
Referring to
Referring to
The optimal position for threaded catheter 111 for draining the bladder of a female subject is where it is advanced through the urethra until the thread passes out of the urethra into the bladder, similar to how catheter 101 is illustrated in
A detailed method for the self-administration of the appropriate respective threaded catheter 101 or 111, or other similar threaded devices, will now be explained.
First, the user assembles materials including a sterile threaded catheter 101 or 111, a container for urine, soap and water, a water soluble lubricant (if the catheter is not pre-lubricated), a mirror (for females), and tissues. The user will then wash the hands and urethral opening with soap and water, squeeze out a small amount of lubricant into clean tissue, dip the distal end tip of the catheter into the lubricant, and manually engage the tip of the catheter into the urethral opening (the mirror may be helpful for females to assist in locating the opening).
The user will then gently push and turn the catheter in, far enough to engage the thread about one full turn with the urethra, and then gently rotate the tube of the catheter in the direction of the thread, preferably clockwise, to advance the catheter into the urethra until urine appears in the tube. The user then pauses to drain the bladder, directing the urine into the container, then resumes rotation of the catheter until it is no longer advanced by the rotation, indicating that the thread of the catheter has passed into the bladder and the catheter is in proper position.
The user then places a flow control device on the proximal end of the catheter and empties the bladder periodically as required. The catheter is removed when appropriate using similar precautions for cleanliness and containment, by rotating the catheter in a direction opposite the direction of insertion, presumably counterclockwise.
Referring next to
The flexible shaft 132 of stylet 131 is sufficiently strong such that when it is fully inserted into catheter 121, shaft 132 will withstand and transmit torque, as applied by finger force to knurled knob grip 133 external of the urethra, to the thread 123. Stylet 131 is removed after catheter 121 is installed, and reinserted for retracting the catheter when required.
Fitment 124 is an elongated collar with a multi-faceted interior wall, securely anchored within tube 122, and configured to receive, in a non-rotational relationship, tip 134. Tip 134 is configured with a corresponding elongated, multi-faceted exterior shape and rounded end, to readily enter fitment 124. Stylet tip 134 and fitment 124 can be alternatively configured and connected by various means to provide a non-sliding, as well as non-rotational, connection.
Referring next to
Balloon 150, when uninflated, is normally contracted tightly about helical thread 143 as illustrated in
Referring now to
Dilator 201, of
Occluder 211, of
Occluder 221, of
Referring now to
Referring now to
Referring now to
Referring to
Referring now to
Alternative embodiments may have a section of the thread being tapered to a lesser height or no height, to provide a "waist" for gripping by a muscular zone such as the prostate or sphincter. Also, a portion of a reinforcement member 370 could be configured or molded into the side wall of tube 362.
There is an interior shoulder 364 at the distal end 365 of catheter 361, and a bushing 367 of relatively harder material disposed proximal to interior shoulder 304. Bushing 367 has a tapered interior wall 368 extending from the bushing's full diameter at one end to a uniform hexagonal aperture 369.
The coiled sidewall reinforcement member 370 and a check ball 371 are secured between interior shoulder 364 and bushing 367 so that coiled member 370 holds ball 371 in compression against the upper (proximal) end of bushing 367 in the manner of a check valve, whereby to prevent outward (proximal) flow through the lumen 372 of the stent. Coiled member 370 may be compressed by upward movement of ball 371, thereby opening the check valve to flow.
Referring next to
Referring now to Figs. and 25-29, the threaded suprapubic catheter 401 of
Referring to
Referring to
Suprapubic catheter 401 is then threaded over the proximal end of guidewire 423, and gently started into the abdomen wall 21 with a rotating motion of about one turn until thread 403 is firmly engaged. The catheter is then rotatingly advanced along the guidewire through the unlined pathway in the same manner as other threaded devices of the invention, until thread 403 penetrates the wall of organ 31 about one full turn, as determined by ultrasound, fluoroscopy or equivalent means. The distal end of catheter 401 is then secured in a non-rotatable fashion to abdomen wall 21 using conventional adhesive means or equivalent means, thereby locking thread 403 at the distal end of the catheter in position in the wall of organ 31. Guidewire 423 is then withdrawn. Threaded suprapubic catheter 401 is then available for use.
Referring to
Referring next to
Still referring to
An alternative embodiment of the introducer 500 may have a relatively diminutive tip, but maintain an external thread of equal or greater height and total circumference. Another variation of introducer 500 may have thread 503 applied only to the introducer's distal end, the thread terminating after a few turns, e.g., approximately 8 inches or less, analogous to catheter 101 of
A thread major diameter in the range of 0.5 inches to 2.5 inches, and more preferably 1 inch to 2 inches, is desirable to expand and engage the walls of the adult intestinal tract to a sufficient depth to achieve a useful grip by the thread in accordance with the rotate-to-advance technology of the invention. If desired, a trailing portion of the helical thread may have a lower thread height. The relatively lower thread height of the continuing thread may be employed to assist in the rotational advancement of the trailing length of the device without exerting undue forward pressure on the distal end.
It will be further apparent, consistent with the techniques, structure and methodology of the invention, that the thread pitch 503 c, is designed to produce the necessary leverage to translate rotational effort at the proximal end to a forward force greater than the friction against the wall of the colon. Simple vector analysis confirms this result.
Referring to
Referring to
Referring next to
As will be realized, the invention is capable of other and different embodiments, and its several details are capable of modifications in various obvious respects, all without departing from the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be further realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. Accordingly, the drawings and description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive.
However, with the aforementioned assembly of (i) threaded camera introducer catheter 500 and (ii) camera assembly 520, camera assembly 520 is secured, both longitudinally and rotationally, to threaded camera introducer catheter 500, e.g., by means of set screw 512 (
First, if camera assembly 520 is rotated during passage through the colon, the image observed by the medical practitioner (on either a video monitor or through an eyepiece) will also be rotating. This rotation can make it difficult for the medical practitioner to effectively use the visualization provided by the camera assembly during passage through the colon. At the very least, this rotation makes it difficult for the medical practitioner to maintain a sense of direction (i.e., up/down/left/right) during deployment. This latter point is significant, since the medical practitioner frequently relies on a sense of spatial orientation in order to navigate a tortuous passageway such as the lower GI tract. Stabilizing this image electronically requires complex additional circuitry and/or computer software in an already-costly scope and image processor system.
Second, if camera assembly 520 is rotated during passage through the colon, the camera assembly's umbilage connections (e.g., light, electrical, fluid, etc.) become complex. By way of example but not limitation, in such a situation, water connections to the distal end of the endoscope must be designed to rotate freely about the axis of the endoscope, with a leak-proof seal, etc. Again, this can add significant cost and complexity to an already costly and complex endoscope system.
The aforementioned issues are addressed by a new threaded camera introducer catheter which has a rotary coupling at its distal and/or proximal ends (and, if desired, at one or more intermediate locations) which is free to rotate relative to the body of the introducer. This new camera introducer catheter is installed over the distal end the endoscope, with the distal and/or proximal ends (and, if desired, one or more intermediate portions) of the endoscope being secured to the rotary coupling. Due to the fact that the endoscope is attached to the camera introducer catheter by means of the rotary coupling, the camera introducer catheter is free to rotate about its axis while the endoscope remains rotationally stationary.
This new arrangement allows the camera introducer catheter to rotate about its longitudinal axis, whereby to advance or retract the introducer (and hence the endoscope) within the colon; at the same time, however, inasmuch as rotation of the camera introducer catheter is not transferred to the endoscope, the endoscope (and hence all of its associated input and output connections) remains rotationally stationary. As a result, the new camera introducer catheter allows the medical practitioner to hold the proximal end of the endoscope in the customary manner, i.e., rotationally fixed, while deploying the endoscope using the rotate-to-advance methodology of the present invention. This is a significant advance in the art.
Looking at next at
In one form of the invention, camera introducer catheter 600 is preferably substantially the same as the camera introducer catheter 500 described-above, except for the provision and use of one or more rotary couplings 605 which will hereinafter be discussed in further detail. More particularly, camera introducer catheter 600 generally comprises a tube 610 upon which is formed a helical thread 615. Tube 610 has sufficient rigidity that rotation applied to the proximal end of the tube will be transmitted to the distal end of the tube; at the same time, tube 610 also has sufficient flexibility that the tube may bend around curves in the colon. Furthermore, helical thread 615 has a geometry such that when the camera introducer catheter 600 is positioned within the colon, rotation of the proximal end of the catheter will cause helical thread 615 to pull the camera introducer catheter 600 along the colon, in the rotate-to-advance fashion of the present invention.
As referred to above, camera introducer catheter 600 includes one or more rotary couplings 605. In one preferred form of the invention, a rotary coupling 605 is rotatably attached to the distal end of tube 610, such that the rotary coupling may rotate freely about the axis of the tube while being fixed, longitudinally, to the tube. Additional rotary couplings 605 may be disposed along the length of tube 610 and endoscope 700.
Preferably camera introducer catheter 600 is constructed so as to minimize friction between rotary coupling 605 and tube 610 when tube 610 is rotated. For example, low friction bushings or bearings may be used, and/or appropriate lubricants and/or coatings may be applied to contacting surfaces.
The joinder between tube 610 and/or endoscope 700 and/or rotary coupling 605 may be sealed to prevent fluid infiltration. This is particularly important at a distal end of the construction which is the portion most exposed to fluid ingress. A design addressing this feature may include labyrinth, point-contact and wiper configurations. See, for example,
The camera assembly or endoscope 700 is intended to be secured to rotary coupling 605 so that the endoscope will be longitudinally fixed to camera introducer catheter 600 but free to rotate relative to the camera introducer catheter. By way of example but not limitation, camera assembly or endoscope 700 may be mounted to rotary coupling 605, by means of a set screw 630 which causes a protective ring liner 635 into binding engagement with endoscope 700. Access to set screw 630 may be through an opening 640 in tube 610.
As a result of the foregoing construction, camera assembly or endoscope 700 may be secured to one or more rotary couplings 605 of camera introducer catheter 600 whereby, when the camera introducer catheter 600 is thereafter placed within the colon and the proximal end of the catheter's tube 610 is rotated, the distal end of tube 610 will turn, whereby helical thread 615 will pull the catheter (and hence endoscope 700) distally along the colon. At the same time, however, inasmuch as rotary coupling 605 is free to rotate with respect to tube 610, endoscope 700 will remain rotationally stationary with respect to the rotating catheter. In this way, endoscope 700 may be advanced within the colon using the rotate-to-advance technique of the present invention, without requiring any corresponding rotation of the endoscope itself. As a result, the medical practitioner will be able to maintain effective visualization of the colon as the endoscope is advanced (or retracted, with reverse rotation) within the colon. Furthermore, inasmuch as the endoscope per se does not to rotate, the endoscope's umbilage connection (e.g., light, electrical, fluid, etc.) are significantly simplified.
If desired, threaded camera introducer catheter 600 may be provided with multiple rotary couplings, with the additional rotary couplings being positioned anywhere along the length of catheter 600. By way of example but not limitation, and looking now at
Furthermore, if desired, threaded introducer catheter 600 may include design features designed to maximize the tortional stiffness of its tube 610 while minimizing bending stiffness of the tube. By way of example but not limitation, and looking now at
The threaded camera introducer catheter 600 may also include a feature to disconnect the rotary coupling 605 from the endoscope while the catheter 600 is deployed within the body. This disconnect may be effected via fluid, mechanical, electrical or other means. See, for example,
It should also be appreciated that threaded introducer catheter 600 may be used to deploy objects other than an endoscope 700. For example, introducer catheter 600 may be used to deploy other visualization apparatus (e.g., ultrasound devices) and other objects which have umbilage associated therewith, e.g., a fluid dispenser apparatus, a vacuum snare, surgical instruments, etc.
Looking next at
In another form of the invention, and looking now at
The treatment of cancerous growths with Brachytherapy is well documented. One approach is to surgically implant radioactive material into the cancerous growth in order to position the radiation source as close as possible to the target tissue. Such implantation can be difficult and time-consuming to effect. Furthermore, if the need subsequently arises to modify the radiation dosage or to limit the exposure to only a short time period, the implantation process can be difficult to reverse.
Thus, in accordance with the present invention, there is provided novel apparatus for effecting Brachytherapy, that is, for directing radioactive material to a target site within the body, while allowing for easy implantation and removal.
Such novel Brachytherapy apparatus may be cannulated or non-cannulated, depending on the anatomy which is to be targeted.
By way of example but not limitation, in one preferred application of the novel Brachytherapy apparatus, the device may be used for the treatment of prostate cancer where the radioactive material must be delivered to the region of the affected prostate gland. In this case, it will generally be desirable to use a cannulated form of the invention.
More particularly, in this case, the novel Brachytherapy apparatus may comprise a stent such as the stent 301 shown in
By way of further example but not limitation, in another preferred application of the novel Brachytherapy apparatus, the device may be used for the treatment of breast cancer, where the therapeutic radiation must be delivered to the breast. In this case, it may be desirable to use a non-cannulated form of the invention.
More particularly, in this case, the novel Brachytherapy apparatus may comprise a threaded solid element such as the dilator 201 shown in
It is also anticipated that the radioactive materials RM of the aforementioned Brachytherapy stent 301 and/or the aforementioned Brachytherapy dilator 201 may be replaced by a therapeutic agent capable of leaching out of the wall of the delivery device and thereby be delivered to the target tumor. Additionally, the therapeutic agent may be coated onto a wall of the delivery device for delivery to the target region.
Looking next at
Conduit fitting 800 generally comprises a body 805 and an obturator 810. Body 805 has a helical thread 815 formed on its distal end, and an enlarged flange 820 formed on body 805 proximal to helical thread 815. A central lumen 825 extends the length of body 805. A fluid valve 830, preferably in the form of one or more deformable seals, is disposed at the distal end of the device so as to selectively close off lumen 825.
Obturator 810 is sized to fit within, and close off, lumen 825 of body 805. In addition, obturator 810 is adapted to drivingly engage body 805, whereby rotation of obturator 810 may be converted into corresponding rotation of body 805. By way of example but not limitation, obturator 810 may be drivingly connected to body 805 by an obturator pin 835 which engages a pair of body ears 840.
In one contemplated manner of use, a small hole is first made into a corporeal conduit, e.g., a blood vessel. The distal end of body 805, with obturator 810 in place, is then inserted into the hole. Next, obturator 810 is turned so as to cause body 805 to turn, whereupon thread 815 will pull the distal end of body 805 into the interior of the blood vessel. Engagement of flange 820 with the outer surface of the blood vessel will prevent further movement of body 805 into the blood vessel. Engagement of flange 820 can also assist in sealing the blood vessel against leakage. To this end, flange 820 may comprise a compliant seal and/or may comprise a thrombogenic agent. Obturator 810 may then be removed; however, blood will not pass out of the proximal end of body 805 due to the presence of fluid valve 830. Thereafter, when instruments or the like are to be introduced into the blood vessel by means of body 805, they may be pushed through the fluid valve 830 and lumen 825.
When access to the blood vessel is no longer required, body 805 may be backed out of the blood vessel, e.g., by reinserting obturator 810 into body 805 so that obturator pin 835 engages body ears 840, and then appropriately turning the distal end of the obturator so as to unscrew body 805 from the wall of the blood vessel.
Body 805 is preferable absent of perforations so as to minimize any ingrowth of tissue into the body, which may render subsequent removal more difficult. Additionally, various materials and/or coatings may be used to minimize tissue ingrowth to body 805.
Visual examination of the large intestine (colonoscopy) is performed by passing a colonoscope, retrograge, the entire length of the intestine, starting at the rectum and advancing to the cecum.
Standard practice is to lubricate the colonoscope and the entry site (i.e., the anal sphincter) prior to inserting the colonoscope with a combination of push-and-quarter turn twisting motion.
This insertion can be especially challenging where the patient is not relaxed and the sphincter muscle is held tightly closed. Hemorrhoids can also cause discomfort when the instrument is advanced into the anal sphincter. Also, to the extent that a helically-threaded introducer (such as the threaded introducer catheter 500 described above) is used to deploy the endoscope, the presence of the introducer's helical threads can add to the challenge of inserting the colonoscope into the rectum.
To this end, and looking now at
In use, obturator 910 is first positioned in lumen 907 of liner 905, and then the assembly is inserted into the rectum. Once access device 900 is inserted in the rectum, obturator 910 is removed, thereby providing a tubular access into the rectum. Then the colonoscope (with associated threaded introducer catheter 500 if desired) can be passed freely into the rectum.
Liner 905 may or may not have a helical thread or other surface geometry on the exterior of the tube to help advance the liner into the rectum or to help keep it in place. Additionally, liner 905 may be designed with a feature to cause it to split so it can be easily removed from the procedure site once the colonoscope has entered the rectum.
In one preferred form of the present invention, and looking now at
The powered drive 1010 can be detachably attached to the threaded catheter 1005 either before or after the initial insertion of the threaded catheter 1005 into a bodily passageway. Furthermore, the powered drive 1010 may be placed anywhere along the length of the threaded catheter 1005. In one preferred form of the invention, the power drive is placed at the proximal end of the threaded catheter.
The energy input to the powered drive 1010 may be one source or a combination of sources. By way of example but not limitation, the energy source may comprise electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic, ultrasonic, magnetic and/or other energy sources. It should be appreciated that these energy sources may be disposed anywhere along the length of catherization system 1000, or they may be remotely located. The energy from the energy source(s) may be transmitted to the rotating helix via a permanent or detachable coupling mechanism. This coupling mechanism is preferably used in conjunction with the rotary bearing mechanism disclosed above.
The powered drive 1010 may be constructed in a configuration which minimizes its external size so as to accommodate the body orifice that the device is traversing. Additionally, the powered drive 1010 may include "coreless motors" or "coreless drive mechanisms" which may provide a lumen for passing tools, fluids, optical devices, etc. through the threaded catheter to the surgical site.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the powered drive 1010 may be controlled directly by the physician using user controls 1015 (see
Significantly, the aforementioned switching device may also be designed to reverse the direction of catheter rotation (i.e., clockwise vs. counterclockwise) so as to control advancement and retraction of the rotary introducer within the bodily passageway.
In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the aforementioned switching device may also incorporate a "throttle" feature so as to allow the user to vary the speed of catheter rotation, as well as a force feedback output so as to give the physician an indication of the amount of resistance the device is encountering as it advances into the bodily passageway. Such a feature may constitute a safety measure that may prevent high rotational forces from being inadvertently applied to the threaded catheter, thereby minimizing risk of injury to the patient.
It will be appreciated that if it is necessary to advance a portion of the powered drive 1010 (or even the entirety of the powered drive 1010) into a bodily passageway during use of the present invention, a small diameter powered drive 1010 should be used.
The powered drive 1010 may be designed so as to be cleanable and reuseable, or powered drive 1010 can be disposable.
It should be appreciated that the powered drive 1010 may be used in a system additionally comprising conduits extending through the threaded catheter for air/water/suction and tool passage (as described hereinabove and/or hereinbelow).
It should also be appreciated that the powered drive 1010 may be used with imaging devices which deliver data through the catheter shaft via fiberoptic cables or electrical signals. Alternatively, the image signals could be transmitted from the distal end of the catheter to a remote receiver so as to eliminate the need for an electrical connection. Similarly, the powered drive 1010 may also be remotely controlled via a wireless connection.
In another embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to utilize two counterwound helical sections that rotate in opposite directions so as to eliminate the need for the torsionally rigid spline. This embodiment may be constructed with an integral power supply and drive mechanism, and a mechanized surgical tool which is remotely controlled (i.e., wireless), and a wireless image transmitter so as to enable an untethered instrument. This instrument could be driven into a bodily lumen and perform a diagnostic or therapeutic procedure, all via wireless (e.g., remote) control.
A small diameter helical catheter 1005 may be utilized to access other bodily passages such as the mammalian ducts, bile ducts, or other areas of the body where a flexible shaft approach is advantageous.
To properly examine and treat conditions of the lower gastrointestinal tract, the patient typically undergoes a purging to remove fecal matter. If this procedure is not conducted successfully, it is generally very difficult to visualize the bodily passageway clearly. This is highly undesirable, since anatomical abnormalities may be hidden from the endoscope.
In current procedures, the preparation of the patient involves consuming a large volume of liquid and a purging agent such as magnesium citrate. This causes the desired flushing of the intestines, but it is also accompanied by unpleasant cramping for hours after consumption. Patients have complained that this is one of the worst parts of undergoing flexible endoscopy. In fact, this unpleasant procedure deters some patients from undergoing colon endoscopy. It should also be noted that the alternative, i.e., a colonic enema, is generally not adequate to clear the lumen prior to endoscopy.
To overcome the foregoing deficiencies, a rotate-to-advance catheter system 1100 (
In one embodiment of the invention, to aid the colon cleaning process, jets may be disposed at the indwelling tip of the threaded catheter so as to produce an increased velocity of fluid entering the bodily passageway. Additionally, these jets may be aimed back into the suction lumen to create an increased suction to remove fecal matter.
It should be appreciated that the lavage system described hereinabove may be used in connection with the camera introducer described hereinabove, and/or it may be used in any procedure requiring the insertion of a surgical apparatus into a bodily cavity in which cleaning of the cavity is advantageous.
Looking next at
In one preferred form of the present invention, the urological stent 1200 comprises (i) an implant component 1205 (i.e., the stent), (ii) a delivery element 1210 (i.e., the element which delivers the implant component into position), (iii) a connect/disconnect element 1215 (i.e., the element which allows the delivery and/or retrieval elements to interface with the stent), and (iv) a retrieval element 1220 (i.e., the element which enables removal of the stent from the body).
The stent implant of the present invention may comprise a preformed "J" shape, a balloon and/or protrusions 1225 (a balloon 1225 is shown in
The delivery is facilitated by providing a helix 1235 on the stent to advance the stent and the trailing delivery system to the proper location. The proper location can be confirmed by urine flow, i.e., urine will flow once the stent extends to the bladder. Alternatively, traditional imaging methods can be used to confirm location (e.g., x-ray, ultrasound, etc.). When the stent is properly located within the urethra, adjacent to the prostate and on the bladder side of the external sphincter, the stent is disconnected from the delivery element 1210.
Connecting and disconnecting of the stent 1200 from the delivery 1210 and/or retrieval elements 1220 may be conducted via wireless signal, push/pull of a wire or cable, inflation/deflation of a balloon or bladder, screwing/unscrewing of threaded elements, thermal expansion/contraction, swelling/shrinking, on/off tapered elements, magnetizing/demagnetizing, wrapping/unwrapping elements, sticking/unsticking, grabbing/releasing and/or other methods which will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the present disclosure. In this respect it should be noted that the shape of the connect/disconnect elements 1215 are generally non-circular, and may be hexagonal, square, triangular, slotted, star-shaped, hole-with-detent, etc.
It should be noted that during use, metal or non-metal tethers 1240 may be kept in place at the time of delivery so as to thereafter function, if necessary, as a guide for connecting the retrieval element 1220 to the stent for removal of the stent 1200. The retrieval element 1220 is guided to the stent by a guide wire which is advanced to the stent 1200 in advance of the retrieval element 1220.
In one preferred form of the present invention, the stent may be disassembled or separated into two or more pieces before removal.
Looking next at
In one preferred form of the present invention, the fallopian catheter 1300 comprises a body 1305 having helical threads 1310 formed thereon. Body 1305 and helical threads 1310 are sized for disposition in a fallopian tube.
The foregoing preferred embodiments of the present invention may include a number of additional designs which can improve the effectiveness of the rotate-to-advance catherization system. These additional designs may relate to the helical thread construction.
As noted above, the thread height of the helix may vary over its length as an aid to the advancement and retention characteristics of the device (see, for example helix 1400 disposed on shaft 1405 in
In accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention, the helix may be constructed with at least two different thread pitches along the length of a device so as to produce different tissue (or material) movement relative to the device (see, for example helix 1400 disposed on shaft 1405,
In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the thread surface of the helix may be constructed with protrusions and/or recesses on the surface so as to improve advancement or anchoring of a device (see, for example,
If desired, this geometry may be encapsulated within bioabsorbable or temporary material to change the surface geometry after insertion within the body. See, for example,
The thread cross-section may also be non-symmetrical with respect to the vertical centerline to enhance the advancement or anchoring within a bodily lumen. The shape may be designed to allow the thread to deflect in a beneficial manner so as to improve performance.
As noted above, the thread element may be solid, hollow and/or fluid-filled. It may be constructed with rigid, elastomeric, or a combination of materials. By way of example, the thread elements may be formed out of PVC, polyurethane, TPE, silicone, TFEs, medical grade stainless steel, tantalum, titanium, nickel-titanium alloy, etc. Conversely, materials may be specifically chosen to be bioabsorable so as to obviate the need for removal of the thread element of the helix. Alternatively, the thread element may be constructed out of at least two materials having different properties so as to obtain desired composite properties, such as, for example, hardness, friction, compliance, and/or radiopacity.
In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the helix device may comprise one or more sensors so as to indicate conditions such as temperature, pressure, radiation, position and/or any other status for diagnostic or therapeutic treatment during the procedure.
In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, a coupling may be fixed to the endoscope or device with a variety of methods. The attachment force may be, for example, mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, magnetic, and/or adhesive. Or a radial force design may be used, utilizing a deformable element to create a frictional clamping, which can be reversed to unlock the coupling. A coupling may be provided which incorporates a unidirectional clutch to permit rotation in a single direction (i.e., clockwise only or counterclockwise only). In one embodiment, the clutch direction may be changed by the operator to facilitate advancement in one direction and withdrawal by rotating in the opposite direction. In another embodiment, a one-way override clutch may utilize a wrapped left-handed spring. This will allow the device to be advanced and the clutch disengaged for withdrawal by unwinding the spring a fraction of a turn to increase the ID and prevent gripping. Other commonly known clutch designs could also be integrated within the coupling.
An ergonomic grip or grips may be incorporated into the length of the catheter system to facilitate rotation of the helical device. These grips may be permanent or temporary, such as peel-away, so they can be removed or relocated during the procedure. The grips may be elastomeric or rigid and sized to fit comfortably in the hand. They may also be integrated with a powered drive within the grip.
It will be appreciated that still further embodiments of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the present disclosure. It is to be understood that the present invention is by no means limited to the particular constructions herein disclosed and/or shown in the drawings, but also comprises any modifications or equivalents within the scope of the invention.
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|U.S. Classification
|604/544, 604/43, 600/114, 604/349, 600/139, 604/200, 604/103.01, 600/106, 604/103.09, 600/105, 604/264, 604/346, 604/103.08, 600/109, 600/112, 606/159, 600/101, 600/129, 604/508, 604/22, 604/510, 604/45
|International Classification
|Cooperative Classification
|European Classification
|Aug 11, 2006
Owner name: SPIRUS MEDICAL, INC., MASSACHUSETTS
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:FRASSICA, JAMES J.;AILINGER, ROBERT E.;REEL/FRAME:018155/0129
Effective date: 20060710
|Feb 24, 2014
|Fee payment
Year of fee payment: 4
|Aug 11, 2015
Owner name: OLYMPUS ENDO TECHNOLOGY AMERICA INC., MASSACHUSETT
Free format text: CHANGE OF NAME;ASSIGNOR:SPIRUS MEDICAL, INC.;REEL/FRAME:036325/0737
Effective date: 20110804

subset: commoncrawl


text:
|Half Baths
|1,000 sq. ft.
|Property type
|Minimum Stay
|3 - 4 nights
Family-oriented, 2nd floor duplex, clean and cozy 2 bedroom/1.5 bath beach condo in a quiet residential neighborhood, east of Route 1 at the border of South Rehoboth & Dewey Beach. We will only rent to responsible adults and families. We are in residence here most weekends and enjoy sharing our beach house with friends and family. This year we are offering some mid-week stays for people looking for a short beach getaway.
Walk or bike to the beach/boardwalk along the flat, mostly shaded route around Silver Lake (about 5 - 6 blocks, just over 1/2 mile). Take the Jolly Trolley or walk/bike to Rehoboth Avenue shops and restaurants or Dewey Beach nightclubs.
Fully equipped, well stocked, eat-in kitchen, new washer/dryer, comfortable furnishings including outdoor furniture with a dining set and gas grill on the deck. Delightful, secluded, nicely-shaded, screened-in back porch for coffee and morning contemplation, reading, playing games, or afternoon cocktails. Sleeps 4, sleeping arrangements can be configured as a king or two twin beds in each bedroom. Just let us know how you would like the beds made up; we provide all linens and towels!
The flat, mostly shaded terrain is perfect for walking and biking. We will provide a beach caddy with 4 beach chairs, cooler, and beach towels. Parking is available near the beach and we will provide a city parking permit if you prefer driving. Ask us about the adult bikes and burley bee bike trailer that we have available to borrow; you just need to bring your own helmets!
Other amenities include: central air-conditioning, wifi-access, cable TV in the living room and bedrooms, a fenced-in backyard with outdoor shower, and off street parking for 2 cars with additional ample free street parking.
No pets permitted. Allergen alert: owners have a golden retriever.
We are empty nesters with grandchildren. Kathy is a school nurse in the Philadelphia suburbs and is fortunate to work at a job where she has her summers free. Peter is a transportation planner, currently working and living in Northern Virginia during the work week. We meet half way most weekends in Rehoboth Beach because it is such a vibrant community year round and we enjoy the off season almost as much as the summer!
Kathy & Peter purchased this condo in 2013
We grew up vacationing at the Jersey shore, not realizing what a gem nearby Rehoboth Beach was. It was love at first sight on our first visit in April, 2013. By July, we were homeowners! We have since bought a 2nd unit just blocks away which we are in the process of renovating and hope to have posted on Homeaway.com by April. We love both units and will plan to stay in whichever one isn't rented on any given week. We use Homeaway every time we travel and have always had a good experience. It is our goal to make sure that you do too!
We looked at several condos in Rehoboth Beach and Lewes. What sold us on this house was the screened porch. Nestled under a large shade tree, it feels as if you are sitting in a tree house. It's the perfect place to have morning coffee while the kids are still asleep, or a cocktail after coming home from the beach. We also love the proximity to Silver Lake. It's a beautiful, mostly shaded, walk to the beach that takes you around the lake. It's also so flat that even I, an overweight, middle-aged woman, can bike for miles! My favorite morning bike ride is around the lake, down the mile-long boardwalk, and onward along the coastal road to Cape Henlopen State Park.
My family and I had a great time. The house was more than we expected. Kathy was so responsive, helpful, and nice. When it's time to book our next trip to Rehoboth, we hope this place is available. Can't say enough nice things about the home and our host.
This home is in a quiet, well kept neighborhood and everyone was friendly. The condo was immaculate and we didn't want for anything. I loved the fact that the linens were supplied, I didn't even have to make my bed !!
Every morning, I had coffee on the screened porch, listening to the birds chirp & watching the squirrels scatter about in the trees. It felt like I was actually in a tree house !!
It rained a few days, but the home is so comfortable & cozy and we didn't mind laying around just chilling, appreciating Mother Nature !! It was like being on retreat, getting away from all of the hustle & bustle of everyday life.
Good restaurants and music venues were in close proximity I'm a shopper so being right down the road from the Tanger Outlets was a big plus for me.
Being on a fixed income, the rates fell within our budget and it was like staying at a five star hotel !! We will definitely return
Kathy and Peter were the perfect hosts. We booked a last minute rental and they could not have been more accommodating. Their unit is on the second floor of a duplex and is comfy,clean and well- equipped. It is very welcoming but no clutter or trinkets. Kathy even left us a bottle of red wine to start our stay! It is so nice to stay with an owner operator who really understands what it means to manage, clean and rent out their home. Definitely reccomend this well- maintained , convenient, comfortable home.
My husband and I rented Cathy and Peter's home for one week, and had two friends join us for a few days as well. We loved their home! We were a little concerned about the location, not being exactly sure how far it was from the beach/boardwalk, etc. But it was in a perfect location! We were about a ten minute walk from the beach, boardwalk, and bars in Dewey beach! Don't feel like walking? No problem! They have parking pass for all the non-metered spots! This was particularly helpful for going to beach since we didn't want to drag our chairs and cooler. Also they truly treat you as guests in a hotel, meaning we didn't have to bring paper towels, toilet paper, laundry soap, linens, towels, etc.! How perfect! We weren't required to clean the unit either after we left, however after finding out they drive down every weekend to get the unit ready for the next tenants, we did straighten up a bit and made sure we at least had the linens in the wash. Also the beds were so comfortable!!! The unit also had what looked to be a new washer/dryer, and large tub (bonus for me since I enjoy taking hot baths before bed). Cathy and Peter were also kind enough to leave us a binder with menus from downtown Rehoboth, user guides for all the appliances, and a bottle of wine! The only small catch with the unit is that it was once a single family home that has been converted into a duplex, Cathy warned us about how easily sound traveled between the two units, and she wasn't exaggerating. However the family who lived below didn't arrive till our last night, so it didn't affect us at all. If you are a light sleeper, it may be helpful to bring a fan or something else for white noise to mask some of the downstairs noise. Even with some extra noise at the end of the week, we had a perfect week!
This is a great house! I stayed at Rehobeth Beach many times and this house is perfectly located on a quiet street close to the beach. The furnishings are very cozy and make it a very comfortable experience. The kitchen is fully stocked with all the utensils needed to make a great meal. The enclosed porch is great place to relax after a fun day at the beach. The outside deck and grll made it very convenient to make lunch or dinner. Thanks Kathy and Peter! Would definitely stay here again.
We had a great time at this rental! Very Hospitable! The description on line is very accurate- we will definitely go back!! Close to Rehoboth and Dewey. Great location. We drove to town but you could walk/bike too. They supplied a parking pass so you can park at the beach for free - so thoughtful. Thanks!
Our property is located in the South Rehoboth/Dewey Beach area. Walk, bike, or take the Jolly Trolley to the shops and restaurants on Rehoboth Avenue, the mile long Rehoboth boardwalk, or the clubs in Dewey Beach with live music nightly. Bike the Junction and Breakwater Trail to Cape Henlopen State Park and the Cape May-Lewis Ferry. Rainy day? No problem! Shop until you drop in tax-free Delaware at the Tanger Outlets or at one of the many antique or thrift shop stores in the area.
|Rate Period
|Weekend Night
|Monthly *
Jul 1 2017 - Oct 1 2017
3 night minimum stay
My Standard Rate
4 night minimum stay
|Refundable damage deposit
Available from 12noon Monday - 12noon Friday July, August, & September
No smoking in house, screened porch, or deck areas.
No Pets (allergy disclosure - owners have a Golden Retriever).
Quiet, mature adults over the age of 25 and families only.
Rates are as quoted, no additional taxes or fees. Security deposit refunded promptly at the end of your stay.
* Approximate monthly rate. Actual rate will depend on the days of the month you stay.


text: LAHORE - Formula racing members of National University of Science & Technology (NUST) Karachi met Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Thursday and informed him about their participation in world competition held in Britain.The CM said that Pakistani youth were talented and had proved their talent at international level in all sectors of life. He said that the participation of NUST students in an international competition was an honour for the country.Commending the spirit and determination, the chief minister said that the production of a formula car by the students was a big achievement. Sharif expressed good wishes for the students and hoped that they would win laurels for the country in future as well. He said that the participation of students in such an international competition was essential to promote a soft image of Pakistan. He said that his government was also taking measures for the promotion of motorcar sports and a site had also been selected near Kallar Kahar for a motorcar track. He said that there was also a need to motivate students of other universities as well to participate in such activities.Those who met the Chief Minister included Nadeem Safdar, Talha Adnan, Shah Talha Sohail, Ahmad Waqas, Raheel Mustafa, Bilal Gohar, Shahyan Ahmad, Shahzad Bashir and Hassan Iftikhar.This news was published in The Nation newspaper. Read complete newspaper of 27-Jun-2014 here.


text: Meta Battle Subway PokeBase - Pokemon Q&A Login Register All Activity Questions Unanswered Tags Users Ask a Question Rules Chat Which Pokemon will come out of the egg from a Venusaur and a Sceptile? 0 votes 1,375 views ok I breed a venusaur and a sceptile what Pokemon will hatch from the egg or what percente will each trecko and baulbasaur will come out? breeding asked Mar 2, 2013 by megaswifter21 edited Mar 3, 2013 by Pokemaster Please log in or register to add a comment. Please log in or register to answer this question. 1 Answer 1 vote Best answer A Treeko will be the baby Pokemon if Sceptile was a female, and if Venusaur was a female, Bulbasaur will hatch from the Egg. If the Pokemon have the same Gender, you won't get an Egg at all. The female Pokemon always determines what Pokemon will hatch from the Egg. answered Mar 2, 2013 by ƒιzz Please log in or register to add a comment. Related questions What will come from this egg? If you breed a shiny Ditto with something, will the Pokemon that comes out of the egg be shiny? Sceptile egg move??? Can Sceptile learn these moves as egg moves? Can someone explain to me how to figure out which Pokemon to breed for a Pokemon to know an egg move? Does breeding Pokemon with ditto give the Pokemon from the egg any dissadvantages and will it keep a HA? Venusaur or Sceptile? If both Male and the Female Parents have Egg Moves, which will get passed down? Useful Meta Posts Vote for Sun/Moon moveset questions How to change your username How to add a user avatar Why was my post hidden? The points system Question etiquette Flags vs Downvotes Anime FAQ