A DEVICE FOR SUPPORTING PROBE AND/OR ENDOSCOPE PARTS OF MEDICAL DEVICES INTRODUCED THROUGH THE MOUTH OF A PATIENT

Abstract

A device for supporting probe and/or endoscope parts of medical devices introduced through the mouth of a patient is shown. The device includes a) a first channel part adapted for fitting into the lumen of a bite block for probe and endoscope equipment or configured as a bite block for probe and endoscope equipment, b) a second channel part with a wall section adapted for moving between a first retracted position to a second extended position; and c) a mechanism adapted for displacing the wall section between the first retracted position and the second extended position.

Claims

1.-14. (canceled)

15. A device (100) for supporting probe and/or endoscope parts (10) of medical devices introduced through the mouth of a patient, said device (100) comprising: a first channel part (110) adapted for fitting into the lumen of a bite block for probe and endoscope equipment or configured as a bite block for probe and endoscope equipment; a second channel part (120) with a displaceable wall section (122) and a fixed wall section (124), the displaceable wall section (122) adapted for moving between a first retracted position to a second extended position, relative to said fixed wall section (124); and a mechanism adapted for displacing said displaceable wall section (122) between its first retracted position and second extended position; wherein said second channel part (120), when said displaceable wall section (122) is in its second extended position, is adapted to prevent a probe and/or endoscope part from being moved through said second channel part (120) while still allowing for rotational motion of said probe and/or endoscope part about a longitudinal axis of said probe and/or endoscope part; wherein said mechanism comprises a motor unit (130) operably connected to said displaceable wall section (122).

16. The device according to claim 15, further comprising a roller (140) or ball bearing at least partly positioned within said second channel part (120) and adapted for rollably supporting probe and/or endoscope parts of medical devices positioned within said second channel part (120).

17. The device according to claim 15, further comprising a roller or ball bearing at least partly positioned within said first channel part (110) and adapted for rollably supporting probe and/or endoscope parts of medical devices positioned within said first channel part (110).

18. The device according to claim 15, wherein said motor unit (130) is configured for wireless operation.

19. The device according to claim 15, wherein said motor unit (130) is operably connected to said displaceable wall section (122) via a rack (132) and pinion (134) mechanism.

20. The device according to claim 15, further comprising a roller (140) or ball bearing at least partly positioned within said second channel part (120) and adapted for rollably supporting probe and/or endoscope parts of medical devices positioned within said second channel part (120); wherein said roller (140) or ball bearing at least partly positioned within said second channel part (120) comprises a pair of cylindrical tubes or rods (142A, 142B) extending along the length of said second (120) channel part.

21. The device according to claim 15, further comprising a roller or ball bearing at least partly positioned within said first channel part (110) and adapted for rollably supporting probe and/or endoscope parts of medical devices positioned within said first channel part (110); wherein said roller or ball bearing at least partly positioned within said first channel part (110) comprises a pair of cylindrical tubes or rods extending along the length of said first (110) channel part.

22. The device according to claim 15, wherein said first channel part (110) is configured for fitting into the lumen (22) of a bite block (20) for probe and endoscope equipment.

23. The device according to claim 15, wherein said first channel part (110) is configured for fitting into the lumen (22) of a bite block (20) for probe and endoscope equipment, and wherein said first channel part (110) comprises two separate insert parts (112, 114) configured for fitting into the lumen of a bite block for probe and endoscope equipment.

24. The device according to claim 15, wherein the motor unit is configured for being wirelessly controlled by a device for operating the probe or endoscope.

25. The device according to claim 15, wherein the first channel part (110) is configured as a bite block for probe and endoscope equipment.

26. A medical device comprising: a bite block (20) adapted for receiving probe and endoscope equipment, said bite block (20) comprising a lumen (22); and a device (100) for supporting probe and/or endoscope parts (10) of medical devices introduced through the mouth of a patient, said device (100) comprising: a) a first channel part (110) adapted for fitting into the lumen of a bite block for probe and endoscope equipment or configured as a bite block for probe and endoscope equipment; b) a second channel part (120) with a displaceable wall section (122) and a fixed wall section (124), the displaceable wall section (122) adapted for moving between a first retracted position to a second extended position, relative to said fixed wall section (124); and c) a mechanism adapted for displacing said displaceable wall section (122) between its first retracted position and second extended position; wherein said second channel part (120), when said displaceable wall section (122) is in its second extended position, is adapted to prevent a probe and/or endoscope part from being moved through said second channel part (120) while still allowing for rotational motion of said probe and/or endoscope part about a longitudinal axis of said probe and/or endoscope part; wherein said mechanism comprises a motor unit (130) operably connected to said displaceable wall section (122); wherein said first channel part (110) is configured for fitting into the lumen (22) of a bite block (20) for probe and endoscope equipment.

27. The medical device according to claim 26, wherein said first channel part (110) comprises two separate insert parts (112, 114) configured for fitting into the lumen of a bite block for probe and endoscope equipment.

28. The medical device according to claim 26, wherein the motor unit is configured for being wirelessly controlled by the device for operating the probe or endoscope.

29. The medical device according to claim 26, further comprising the probe and endoscope equipment.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0035] FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 show perspective views of a device according to the present invention.

[0036] FIG. 3 shows a top view of a device according to the present invention.

[0037] FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of a device according to the present invention.

[0038] FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a part of a device according to the present invention.

[0039] FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of a bite block.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0040] The following examples are not meant to be limiting for the scope of the invention but are merely present to show possible and preferred embodiments of the present invention.

[0041] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a device 100 in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention. The device 100 comprises a first channel part 110, and a second channel part 120.

[0042] The first channel part 110 is adapted for fitting into the lumen 22 of a bite block 20 (see FIG. 6) for probe and endoscope equipment. The first channel part 110 is shown comprising two separate insert parts 112, 114 configured for fitting into the lumen 22 of a bite block 20 for probe and endoscope equipment. This embodiment ensures a great fit against the lumen 22 wall of a bite block 20 without taking too much space such that the probe or endoscope equipment can move unhindered therethrough.

[0043] The second channel part 120 with a wall section 122 is adapted for moving between a first retracted position to a second extended position. This movement makes it possible to adjust the width of the second channel part's lumen, thereby fixing the probe or endoscope equipment 10 therein, preferably only in the longitudinal direction, while rotation is still possible. Here, the displaceable wall section 122 is moved back and forth relative to a fixed wall section 124. FIG. 3 shows the wall section 122 in its first retracted position, thereby allowing the probe or endoscope equipment 10 to move freely, e.g., during insertion of the probe or endoscope equipment 10 into the user's trachea or pharynx. The first channel part 110 is shown comprising a support plate 116, adapted for supporting the second channel part's displaceable wall section 122 during its back-and-forth movement. The second channel part's fixed wall section 124 is also mounted thereon.

[0044] The mechanism adapted for displacing the second channel part's displaceable wall section 122 between its first retracted position and second extended position is here shown comprising a motor unit 130 operably connected to said wall section 122 via a rack 132 and pinion 134 mechanism (see FIG. 4).

[0045] To allow the probe or endoscope equipment 10 to rotate freely while being fixed in its longitudinal movement (movement up and down within the subject), the device 100 is shown further comprising a roller bearing 140 adapted for rollably supporting probe or endoscope parts of medical devices positioned within the second channel part 120. The roller bearing 140 may generally be mounted to either one of the second channel part's displaceable 122 or fixed 124 wall section and may comprise two or more cylindrical tubes or rods extending along the length of the second channel part 120, e.g., one or more of the cylindrical tubes or rods mounted on the second channel part's displaceable wall section 122, one or more of the cylindrical tubes or rods mounted on the second channel part's fixed wall section 124, or both. In the shown embodiment, the roller bearing 140 in the form of a pair of cylindrical tubes 142A, 142B (see FIGS. 3-5) are mounted on the second channel part's displaceable wall section 122, thereby making the roller bearing 140 adapted to move between a first retracted position to a second extended position together with said wall section 122.

[0046] The pair of cylindrical tubes 142A, 142B are mounted to the second channel part's displaceable wall section 122 via a respective pin 144A, 144B (see FIG. 5) fixed with each end in a respective pin mounting recess 123. The pins 144A, 144B allow the cylindrical tubes 142A, 142B to rotate freely relative to the second channel part's displaceable wall section 122.

REFERENCES

[0047] 10 Probe and/or endoscope part [0048] 20 Bite block [0049] 22 Lumen [0050] 100 Device [0051] 110 First channel part [0052] 112 Insert part [0053] 114 Insert part [0054] 116 Support plate [0055] 120 Second channel part [0056] 122 Wall section [0057] 123 Pin mounting recess [0058] 124 Fixed wall section [0059] 130 Motor unit [0060] 132 Rack [0061] 134 Pinion [0062] 140 Roller bearing [0063] 142 Cylindrical tube [0064] 144 Pin