ENDOSCOPE HOOD

Abstract

An endoscope hood to be attached to a distal tip of an endoscope, the endoscope hood comprising: a flexible and hollow cylindrical body extending between a first end and a second end with a lumen extending therethrough for receiving the distal tip of the endoscope through an opening at the first end of the cylindrical body and allowing the distal tip to be positioned adjacent the second end; the hollow cylindrical body comprising an internal surface for receiving the tip of the endoscope; and an outer surface of the cylindrical body formed by outer portions arranged in one or more rows between the first end and the second end of the cylindrical body wherein each of the outer portions comprises contact surfaces that converge towards the second end of the cylindrical body such that the outer portions provide less resistance during forward movement through a body cavity and greater resistance during rearward movement through the body cavity.

Claims

1. An endoscope hood structured to be attached to a distal tip of an endoscope, the endoscope hood comprising: a flexible and hollow cylindrical body extending between a first end and a second end with a lumen extending therethrough for receiving the distal tip of the endoscope through an opening at the first end of the cylindrical body and allowing the distal tip to be positioned adjacent to the second end; the hollow cylindrical body comprising an internal surface for engaging and receiving said endoscope tip; and the cylindrical body being formed by profiled outer portions arranged in one or more rows between the first end and the second end of the cylindrical body wherein each of the profiled outer portions comprises respective contact surfaces that converge towards the second end of the cylindrical body such that the profiled outer portions provide low frictional resistance during forward movement of the endoscope hood covering the endoscope tip through a body cavity and a greater frictional resistance during a rearward movement of the endoscope hood covering the endoscope tip through the body cavity and wherein the cylindrical body formed by the profiled portions comprises the internal surface to receive and engage the endoscope tip during the forward and rear movement.

2. The endoscope hood of claim 1, wherein each of the profiled outer portions comprises a wedge with a contact surface converging towards the second end of the cylindrical body and whereby the thickness of the wedge shaped profiled structure decreases in a direction towards the second end of the cylindrical body.

3. The endoscope of claim 2, wherein each row of the profiled outer portions comprises a plurality of said wedges circumferentially arranged along the outer portion of the cylindrical body.

4. The endoscope hood of claim 3, wherein respective wedges for each row of said profiled outer portions are adjacently arranged to form a column comprising of two or more of said wedges arranged between the first and second ends.

5. The endoscope hood of claim 2, wherein each wedge has an edge extending transversely across the outer portion of the cylindrical body, the edge portion being transverse relative to a central longitudinal axis passing through the enclosed hollow internal space of the body.

6. The endoscope hood in accordance with claim 1, wherein the endoscope hood further comprises: a plurality of drainage apertures adjacent to the second end of the cylindrical body; and one or more drainage channels along the outer portion of the body of the endoscope hood, each drainage channel corresponding to a respective drainage aperture.

7. The endoscope hood of claim 3 wherein the wedges in each said plurality of wedges arranged circumferentially are separated from each other by a drainage channel.

8. The endoscope hood in accordance with claim 6, wherein each drainage channel extends in a longitudinal direction from the second end towards the first end of the body.

9. The endoscope hood in accordance with claim 6, further comprising a profiled stop member positioned along the internal surface adjacent to the second end of the hollow body to maintain a gap towards a forward viewing direction, the gap positioned between a lens of the endoscope, during use along the profiled stop member and an outer portion defining an opening at the second end of the hollow body wherein the profiled stop portion comprises one or more drainage apertures to allow fluid to drain from an interior portion adjacent the second end of the endoscope hood to an external outer portion of the body of the endoscope hood.

10. The endoscope hood in accordance with claim 9, wherein the profiled stop member is formed continuously with the outer portion defining the opening at the second end of the cylindrical body.

11. The endoscope hood in accordance with claim 6, wherein the plurality of drainage apertures is circumferentially disposed along the profiled stop member of the cylindrical body.

12. The endoscope hood in accordance with claim 6, wherein each of the drainage channels are circumferentially arranged along the outer portion of the body of the endoscope hood.

13. The endoscope hood in accordance with claim 1, wherein the first end of the cylindrical body comprises flexible elements, each flexible element comprising a body portion which is substantially parallel to the cylindrical body in at least one operable configuration and a flared tip extending away from the first end and radially diverge away from the outer portion of the cylindrical body of the endoscope hood.

14. The endoscope hood in accordance with claim 13, wherein the flexible elements are adapted to flex between: a neutral position whereby at least some of the flexible elements are aligned along a longitudinal central axis of the body with the flared ends being divergent during a forward movement of the endoscope hood covering the endoscope tip through the body cavity; and a divergent flared position for increased engagement with walls of a body cavity wherein during a rearward movement of the endoscope hood covering the endoscope tip through the body cavity the body portion of the flexible elements spread in a radially outwardly direction relative to the cylindrical body of the endoscope hood to engage with the walls of the body cavity.

15. The endoscope hood in accordance with claim 13, wherein length of each of said flexible elements is less than or equal to height of the cylindrical body of the endoscope hood for preventing respective tip portions of the flexible elements from extending forwardly relative to the second end of the cylindrical body.

16. The endoscope hood in accordance with claim 13, comprising at least a first plurality of said flexible elements and a second plurality of flexible elements wherein the length of each of the flexible elements in the first plurality is greater than length of the flexible elements in the second plurality.

17. The endoscope hood in accordance with claim 13, wherein each of said flexible elements is integrally formed with the internal surface of the cylindrical body to allow the flexible elements to extend from the first end of the cylindrical body.

18. The endoscope hood in accordance with claim 13, wherein each of said flexible elements is integrally formed with the first end portion defining the opening at the first end of the hollow cylindrical body of the endoscope hood.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0037] Preferred features, embodiments and variations of the invention may be discerned from the following Detailed Description which provides sufficient information for those skilled in the art to perform the invention. The Detailed Description is not to be regarded as limiting the scope of the preceding Summary of the Invention in any way. The Detailed Description will make reference to a number of drawings as follows:

[0038] FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a “chip-on-tip” type of endoscope tip (prior art).

[0039] FIG. 2 is a side view of the chip-on-tip type endoscope tip with an endoscope cap H (prior art).

[0040] FIG. 3 is a first side view of an endoscope hood 100 in accordance with a first embodiment.

[0041] FIG. 4 is a second side view of an endoscope hood 100.

[0042] FIG. 5 is a third side view of an endoscope hood 100.

[0043] FIG. 6 is a first frontal side perspective view of the endoscope hood 100.

[0044] FIG. 7 is a second frontal side perspective view of the endoscope hood 100.

[0045] FIG. 8 is a rear perspective view of the endoscope hood 100.

[0046] FIG. 9 is a top perspective view of the endoscope hood 100.

[0047] FIG. 10 is a first side view of an endoscope hood 200 in accordance with a second embodiment.

[0048] FIG. 11 is a rear perspective view of the endoscope hood 200.

[0049] FIG. 12 is a frontal perspective view of the endoscope hood 200.

[0050] FIG. 13 is a side perspective view of an endoscope hood 300 in accordance with another embodiment.

[0051] FIG. 14 is a rear perspective view of the endoscope hood 300.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0052] FIGS. 3 to 9 illustrate an endoscope hood 100 in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. As will be evident from the foregoing discussions, the endoscope hood 100 is suitable to be mounted onto a distal tip of an endoscope (shown in FIG. 1) and inserted into a body cavity such as but not limited to the colon or other parts of the Gl tract or other body lumens. The endoscope tip typically comprises one or more image capturing devices for viewing the body cavity and working lumens (such as for introducing tools to collect tissue samples, or for irrigation or suction, etc.), as is well known in the art. It is important to appreciate that the endoscope hood 100 is no way limited for use with any specific type of endoscope tip such as the tip shown in FIG. 1.

[0053] The endoscope hood 100 comprises a flexible and hollow cylindrical body 110 that extends between an insertion end 101 (also referred to as the “first end” throughout the specification) and a distal end 102 (also referred to as the “second end” throughout the specification). The hollow cylindrical body 110 comprises an internal surface 105 (See FIG. 6) that defines an internal volume for receiving the distal tip of the endoscope. During use, the distal tip of the endoscope is press fitted into the insertion end 101 and passed through the lumen to position the distal tip adjacent the distal end 102 of the endoscope hood 100. The flexible material forming the cylindrical body 110 allows the internal surface 105 (See FIG. 6) of the lumen to engage with the distal tip body of the endoscope and allow the cylindrical body 110 to be tightly fitted over the endoscope tip.

[0054] A profiled stop member 140 is positioned along the internal surface 105 of the cylindrical body. As shown clearly in FIGS. 6 and 7, the profiled stop member 140 is located adjacent the distal end 102 of the cylindrical body 110 to maintain a predetermined gap in a forward viewing direction when the endoscope tip is positioned along the profiled stop member 140. The profiled stop member 140 comprises a thickness that is sufficiently high to prevent the endoscope tip from being inadvertently pushed beyond the recommended focal distance. During use, the outer rim defining the distal end 102 of the cylindrical body 110 contacts walls of the body cavity (within which the endoscope hood 100 mounted on the endoscope tip is inserted). Positioning the endoscope tip against the profiled stop member 140 ensures that endoscope tip remains in focus during times of operating the endoscope.

[0055] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, it is evident that endoscope tips that incorporate the “chip-on-tip” technology require the camera chip (also known as a sensor chip) to be located at an off-centre location on the tip. Typically, this results in the camera chip protruding outwardly at the off-centre location on the endoscope tip. This is a practical consideration because a working lumen and light sources also need to be provided on the tip. As a result, using a prior art endoscope cover or sleeve H (shown in FIG. 2) can result in the camera chip being positioned too close to the walls of the body cavity. This issue is particularly prevalent during colonoscopy and endoscopy of any part of the GI tract in general and this has a negative influence on the examination including but not limited to slower endoscope insertion and other major disadvantages in the very precise inspection of mucosal lesions (polyps, malignancies and precursors of malignancies).

[0056] Most of the prior art endoscope caps or hoods that extend beyond the distal endoscope end are cut straight at the distal end. When such prior art caps are mounted on the chip-on-tip type of endoscope tips, the distal rim of the prior art endoscope caps is oriented at a slight angle relative to the plane of the camera in the endoscope tip (see FIG. 2). As a result, any inspection of mucosal lesions using the prior art endoscope caps results in portions of the image being out of focus. The endoscope hood 100 addresses this issue by structuring the profiled stop member 140 and the outer portion or outer rim defining the second end 102 such that the outer rim at the second end 102 lies in an imaginary plane P2 (See FIG. 3) that is slightly angled relative to an imaginary plane P1 (See FIG. 3) of the outer rim defining the insertion opening at the insertion end 101 of the cylindrical body 110. The tip receiving edge of the profiled stop member 140 lies in a plane that is parallel to the imaginary plane P1. During use, the endoscope tip is positioned in abutment with the tip receiving edge of the stop member 140. Preferably, the plane of the outer rim P2 defining the second end 102 is angled at less than 10 degrees relative to the plane of the outer rim defining the first end 101. In the preferred embodiment, the profiled stop member 140 is formed continuously with the outer rim forming the second end 102 of the cylindrical body 110. As a result, the distance between the overall thickness of the profiled stop member 140 varies along the circumference of the cylindrical body. By way of example, minimum thickness of the profiled stop member 140 in at a first location may be 2 mm and this thickness may vary along the circumference to result in a maximum thickness of say 3 mm or even 4 mm. As a result, outer wall height of the cylindrical body 110 also varies along the circumference. The variation in the wall height of the cylindrical body 110 is shown most clearly in FIGS. 4 and 5.

[0057] The profiled stop member 140 is also provided with a plurality of drainage apertures 130 that are circumferentially arranged along the profiled stop member 140. During use, mucosal fluid or other fluids can often accumulate within an interior hollow volume in the forward viewing direction (adjacent the second end 102) once the endoscope tip has been positioned in abutment with the profiled stop member 140. The drainage apertures 130 allow such accumulated fluids to drain out of the hollow volume. Each of the circumferentially arranged drainage aperture drains the fluid into a corresponding drainage channel 135 which is recessed into the outer wall of the cylindrical body 110 of the endoscope hood 100. Each channel 135 extends along the length of the outer wall 105 towards the insertion end 101 of the cylindrical body 110 thereby directing the fluid away from the endoscope tip during use.

[0058] Each of the circumferential drainage channels 135 is separated by a column 120 of profiled wedge portions 122. The wedge portions 122 are shaped to provide low frictional resistance during forward movement of the endoscope hood 100 covering the endoscope tip through the body cavity and a greater frictional resistance during a rearward movement of the endoscope hood 100 covering the endoscope tip through the body cavity. Each wedge portion 122 includes a sloping contact surface that slopes from an edge portion (that extends transversely across the outer surface of the cylindrical body 110) of the wedge 122 towards the second end 102 in a radially inwardly direction. The orientation of the adjacently arranged wedge portions 122 in each column 120 lowers the frictional resistance between the wedge portions 122 and any walls of the body cavity (within which the endoscope hood 100 is being used). On the other hand, during rearward movement (typically extubation) the protruding edge portion of each wedge 122 assists with increasing frictional resistance with the walls of the body cavity which assists with flattening of the folds of body cavity.

[0059] Another important consideration relates to the combined effect of the drainage channels 135 with the transverse flow paths provided by the sloping surfaces of each wedge 122 which intersect with the drainage channels 135 and provide improved lateral drainage. This mechanism is therefore helpful in providing an overflow pathway that allows fluid to flow through lateral channels provided by the columns 120 of profiled wedges 122 provided along the outer body of the endoscope hood 100.

[0060] Referring to FIGS. 10 to 12, a second embodiment of the endoscope hood 200 has been shown. Like reference numerals represent like features that have been previously described. The endoscope hood 200 includes flexible elements 270 having a flared configuration that extend away from the insertion end 101 and radially diverge away from the outer portion of the cylindrical body 110 of the endoscope hood 200. Each of the elements 270 comprises a substantially elongate and flattened profile with flared tip portions 274 that are curved in a radially outwardly and divergent direction. Each of the elements 270 is integrally formed with the end portion of the cylindrical body 110 defining the insertion opening 101.

[0061] Each of the flexible elements 270 is adapted to flex between: a neutral position and a divergent flared position. In the neutral position, at least some of the flexible elements 270 are aligned along a longitudinal central axis of the body 110 during a forward movement of the endoscope hood 200 covering the endoscope tip through the body cavity. In the divergent flared position, for increased engagement with walls of a body cavity, rearward movement of the endoscope hood 200 covering the endoscope tip through the body cavity results in at least some of the flexible elements 270 to spread in a radially outwardly direction relative to the cylindrical body 110 of the endoscope hood 200 to engage with the walls of the body cavity. The filaments 270 are formed integrally with an outer surface 205 of the cylindrical body 110 It is important to note that each flexible element 270 comprises a straight body 272 with a permanently flared tip 274. Such a structure allows the tip 274 to remain divergent and engage walls of the body cavity (tom a limited extent) even during the forward movement of the endoscope tip whilst the body portion of the flexible element 270 remains substantially parallel to the cylindrical body 110.

[0062] The provision of the elements 270 assists the clinician in straightening the colon during insertion of the endoscope tip (with the mounted endoscope hood 200). During intubation of the gastrointestinal tract (colon, small bowel etc.) there are numerous bends in the colon and pushing forward through such bends usually stretches the bowel and therefore the endoscopes which use known endoscope hoods have to be pulled backwards. The provision of the flexible elements 270 alone and/or in combination with the profiled portions 122 prevents slipping of the endoscope hood and thereby allows the bowel length to be shortened behind the tip 274 of the flexible elements 270. The shape of the wedge shaped profile portions 122 continues to make intubation easier as discussed in the previous sections. Another advantage with the flexible elements 270 having naturally turned tips 274 is that during extubation, the flexible elements 270 diverge and fold smoothly along the turned portion of the tip 274 thereby making the movement of the endoscope hood 200 with the mounted endoscope smoother.

[0063] During withdrawal of the endoscope hood 200, for the flexible elements 270 to engage the colon walls during extubation, flexible elements 270 must be much longer. Therefore, provision of flexible elements with flared tip portion having varying lengths (specifically a first plurality of elements with a relatively longer length such as 271 and a second plurality of flexible elements 273) allows the endoscope hood 200 to extend the folds of the colon walls during intubation and extubation. It is also believed that providing flexible elements 270 with multiple lengths increases the overall resistance over a longer withdrawal distance. This is because, once a flexible element (say of a first length 271) has engaged the mucosal layer, it is likely to flex and fold towards the second end of the cylindrical body 110 thereby reducing the resistance offered. Having flexible elements 270 with varying lengths ensures that all the flexible elements 270 do not fold back at the same time thereby increasing the overall resistance offered to the withdrawal movement of the endoscope hood 200.

[0064] Another important consideration relates the length of the flexible elements 270. The maximum length of the flexible elements 270 is chosen to ensure that during rearward movement, the flexible elements do not extend in a forwardly direction beyond the second end 102 of the cylindrical body. Such a feature avoids situations where the flexible elements 270 may obstruct or interfere with the endoscope tip camera’s view in the forwardly direction.

[0065] Referring to FIGS. 13 and 14, another embodiment of an endoscope hood 300 is illustrated. Once again, like reference numerals denote like features that have been previously illustrated. The endoscope hood 300 includes flexible elements 370 having a flared configuration that extend away from the insertion end 101 and radially diverge away from the outer portion of the cylindrical body 110 of the endoscope hood 300. Importantly, unlike the previously described endoscope hood 200, the flexible elements 370 are attached to and extend from an internal surface of the cylindrical body 110 of the endoscope hood 300 and do not extend from the outer surface 305 of the cylindrical body 110. Each of the elements 370 also comprises a substantially elongate and flattened profile with flared tip portions 374 that are curved in a radially outwardly and divergent direction. Each of the elements 370 is integrally formed with the inner surface of the cylindrical body 110 and is not directly attached with the outer surface 305 of the cylindrical body 110 of the endoscope hood 300.

[0066] The flexible elements 370 are also adapted to flex between: a neutral position and a divergent flared position. In the neutral position, at least some of the flexible elements 370 are aligned along a longitudinal central axis of the body 110 during a forward movement of the endoscope hood 300 covering the endoscope tip through the body cavity. In the divergent flared position, for increased engagement with walls of a body cavity, rearward movement of the endoscope hood 300 covering the endoscope tip through the body cavity results in at least some of the flexible elements 370 to spread in a radially outwardly direction relative to the cylindrical body 110 of the endoscope hood 300 to engage with the walls of the body cavity. It is important to note that each flexible element 370 comprises a straight body 372 with a permanently flared tip 374. Such a structure allows the tip 374 to remain divergent and engage walls of the body cavity (tom a limited extent) even during the forward movement of the endoscope tip whilst the body portion of the flexible element 370 remains substantially parallel to the cylindrical body 110.

[0067] The applicants hypothesize that in at least applications particularly in the divergent configuration, the flexible elements 370 are less likely to break away from the cylindrical body 110 of the endoscope hood 300 because the flexible elements 370 are attached to the inner surface of the cylindrical body 110.

[0068] The provision of the elements 370 assists the clinician in straightening the colon during insertion of the endoscope tip (with the mounted endoscope hood 300) in the same manner as described for the flexible elements 270 in the previous sections.

[0069] In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific to structural or methodical features. The term “comprises” and its variations, such as “comprising” and “comprised of” is used throughout in an inclusive sense and not to the exclusion of any additional features.

[0070] It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to specific features shown or described since the means herein described comprises preferred forms of putting the invention into effect.

[0071] The invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the proper scope of the appended claims appropriately interpreted by those skilled in the art.