Insertion Tube with Deflectable Tip

Abstract

Apparatus described herein includes a tube, shaped to define a tube lumen and including a distal portion that has a plurality of articulated sections. The apparatus further includes a ribbon that passes longitudinally through the tube lumen and is connected to a distalmost one of the articulated sections, and a control handle disposed at a proximal end of the tube, the control handle being configured to flex the distal portion of the tube by pulling the ribbon. Other embodiments are also described.

Claims

1. Apparatus, comprising: a tube, shaped to define a tube lumen and comprising a distal portion that comprises a plurality of articulated sections; a ribbon that passes longitudinally through the tube lumen and is connected to a distalmost one of the articulated sections; and a control handle disposed at a proximal end of the tube, the control handle being configured to flex the distal portion of the tube by pulling the ribbon.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ribbon comprises nitinol.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control handle comprises a turnable dial configured to (i) by turning in a first direction, pull the ribbon, and (ii) by turning in a second direction that is opposite the first direction, push the ribbon.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the turnable dial is further configured to, subsequently to turning, hold the ribbon in place.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one pair of the articulated sections comprises: a first articulated section, shaped to define two grooves; and a second articulated section, comprising two protrusions configured to swivelingly fit within the grooves such that one of the first articulated section and the second articulated section swivels with respect to the other one of the first articulated section and the second articulated section, as the ribbon is pulled.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ribbon has a curved cross-section.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein an angle between two hypothetical lines that are tangent to respective ends of the cross-section of the ribbon is between 50 and 70 degrees.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the articulated sections consist of between 3 and 10 articulated sections.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ribbon is at a distal end of a control tube that runs longitudinally within the tube lumen proximally to the distal portion of the tube, the control handle being configured to pull the ribbon by pulling the control tube.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising casing elements that cover the articulated sections.

11. A method, comprising: by pulling a ribbon, flexing a distal portion of a tube; and subsequently, while the distal portion of the tube is flexed, passing a tool longitudinally through a lumen of the tube and into an interior portion of a body of a subject.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the interior portion of the body of the subject includes a sinus of the subject.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein pulling the ribbon comprises pulling the ribbon by turning a dial.

14. The method according to claim 11, wherein the distal portion of the tube includes a plurality of articulated sections, the ribbon being coupled to a distalmost one of the articulated sections.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the articulated sections consist of between 3 and 10 articulated sections.

16. The method according to claim 14, wherein flexing the distal portion of the tube comprises flexing the distal portion of the tube by causing at least one of the articulated sections to swivel with respect to another one of the articulated sections.

17. The method according to claim 14, wherein at least one pair of the articulated sections includes: a first articulated section, shaped to define two grooves; and a second articulated section, comprising two protrusions configured to swivelingly fit within the grooves such that one of the first articulated section and the second articulated section swivels with respect to the other one of the first articulated section and the second articulated section, as the ribbon is pulled.

18. The method according to claim 11, wherein the ribbon has a curved cross-section.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein an angle between two hypothetical lines that are tangent to respective ends of the cross-section of the ribbon is between 50 and 70 degrees.

20. The method according to claim 11, wherein the ribbon is at a distal end of a control tube that runs longitudinally within the tube lumen proximally to the distal portion of the tube, and wherein pulling the ribbon comprises pulling the ribbon by pulling the control tube.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] FIGS. 1 and 2A-B are schematic illustrations of apparatus for facilitating insertion of a tool into a sinus of a subject, in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Overview

[0024] Due to the anatomy of the sinus, it is often challenging to insert a tool into the sinus at the proper location, and with the correct orientation. Moreover, external forces, such as those applied by the internal surface of the subject's nostril, may complicate the insertion.

[0025] Embodiments of the present invention address these challenges, by providing an insertion tube having a flexible distal portion that comprises a plurality of articulated sections. A ribbon, having a curved cross-section, runs through the lumen of the tube, and is connected to the distal portion at least at the distalmost one of the articulated sections. Prior to inserting the tube through the subject's nostril, and/or while the tube is inside the subject, the physician flexes the distal portion of the tube into the desired configuration, by pulling the ribbon. Subsequently, the tool may be passed through the tube.

[0026] Although the present description relates mainly to sinus procedures, it is noted that apparatus and methods described herein may be used to facilitate the insertion of any suitable type of tool into any suitable interior portion of a body of a subject, such as a stomach or a joint.

Apparatus Description

[0027] Reference is initially made to FIG. 1, which is a schematic illustration of apparatus 20 for facilitating insertion of a tool into a sinus of a subject 24, in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention.

[0028] Apparatus 20 comprises a tube 26, which typically has a cylindrical shape. A physician 22 inserts tube 26 into the sinus of subject 24 through a nostril of the subject. As further described below, using a control handle, comprising, for example, an adjustment dial 28, at the proximal end of the tube, physician 22 may flex and/or otherwise adjust the configuration of the distal portion of the tube, prior to inserting the tube, and/or while the tube is inside the subject. A medical instrument, such as a catheter that carries a balloon or camera, may then be inserted into the sinus through tube 26.

[0029] In some embodiments, the tube is equipped with sensors (not shown), such as electromagnetic sensors, which are used to track the position of the tube during the procedure.

[0030] Reference is now made to FIGS. 2A-B, which are schematic illustrations of apparatus 20, in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 2A, the distal portion of tube 26 is not contiguous, but rather, comprises a plurality of articulated sections 34. By moving with respect to each other, articulated sections 34 facilitate adjusting the configuration of the distal portion of the tube. For example, as shown in the figure, each of the articulated sections, with the exception of the distalmost section 38, may comprise protrusions 36, which swivelingly fit within complementary grooves formed in an adjacent section, such that the articulated sections may swivel with respect to each another. Thus, for example, in FIG. 2A, articulated section 34a comprises two protrusions 36 that swivelingly fit within two complementary grooves in the adjacent articulated section 34b , one such protrusion being shown in the figure, and the other protrusion being opposite the shown protrusion, on the far side of articulated section 34a.

[0032] In some embodiments, the protrusions protrude proximally, rather than distally. Thus, for example, distalmost section 38 may comprise protrusions that swivelingly fit within complementary grooves in articulated section 34b, rather than the reverse configuration that is shown in the figure.

[0033] In general, apparatus 20 may comprise any suitable number of articulated sections 34, e.g., between 3 and 10 articulated sections.

[0034] As shown in the inset transverse cross-section of tube 26, the tube is shaped to define a tube lumen 40. A ribbon 30, typically comprising nitinol, passes proximally-distally through tube lumen 40, and is connected to distalmost articulated section 38 (but not to the other articulated sections). As described immediately hereinbelow, ribbon 30 facilitates adjusting the configuration of the distal portion of the tube.

[0035] As shown in FIG. 2A, in the unflexed state of the tube, each of the articulated sections is generally flush with its neighbors along the portion of the circumference of the tube that is between the protrusions and opposite the ribbon, but is spaced apart from its neighbors along the portion of the circumference that is between the protrusions and occupied by the ribbon. Thus, as the ribbon is proximally pulled, each articulated section swivels toward its proximal neighbor, such that the open space that separates the articulated section from its proximal neighbor is closed. The distal portion of the tube is thus flexed (or “curved”), as shown in FIG. 2B. Conversely, by pushing the ribbon, the distal portion of the tube may be released into the unflexed state shown in FIG. 2A.

[0036] Typically, articulated sections 34 are covered by casing elements 32, which hold the articulated sections together, and prevent lateral flexing of the distal end of the tube. (For clarity, FIG. 2A shows only the proximalmost casing element 32, with the remainder of the casing elements being stripped from the articulated sections. Similarly, for clarity, FIG. 2B does not show any casing elements.)

[0037] The tube is sized and shaped for being comfortably inserted into the subject, and for allowing a medical instrument to be subsequently inserted through the tube lumen.

[0038] A control handle at the proximal end of the tube controls the ribbon. In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 2A, the control handle comprises a turnable dial 28. By turning dial 28 in one direction, the ribbon is pulled, thus causing flexion of the distal portion of the tube. Conversely, by turning dial 28 in the opposite direction, the ribbon is pushed, thus causing the distal portion of the tube to be unflexed. For example, the proximal end of the ribbon may be coupled to a sliding element 42, which is configured to slide between an extreme proximal position and an extreme distal position. By turning the dial, sliding element 42 is slid proximally or distally, thus causing the distal end of the tube to be flexed or unflexed. For example, as shown in the inset longitudinal cross-section of the dial in FIG. 2A, the inner surface of the dial may be shaped to define (female) threading 44, which, by threadedly engaging complementary (male) threading 46 on sliding element 42, controls the position of the sliding element.

[0039] Typically, ribbon 30 has a curved cross-section. For example, the angle theta (θ) between two hypothetical lines that are tangent to respective ends of the cross-section of the ribbon may be between 50 and 70 degrees. The curved cross-section helps the ribbon resist buckling, when the ribbon is pushed. In some embodiments, ribbon 30 is at the distal end of a control tube, which runs, longitudinally, within tube lumen 40 from the control handle to the proximalmost articulated section. (Ribbon 30 thus runs within tube lumen 40 only at the flexible, distal portion of tube 26.) For example, ribbon 30 and the control tube may be formed together, as an integrated whole, by cutting away the majority of the circumference of a tube at the distal end of the tube. The ribbon is then pulled by pulling the tube, and pushed by pushing the tube. Since a tube is generally more resistant to buckling than a ribbon, such embodiments provide further resistance to buckling.

[0040] Alternatively or additionally, to help prevent buckling of the ribbon, the inside wall of the tube may be shaped to define protrusions that hold the ribbon against the inside wall of the tube, thus defining a “track” along which the ribbon slides.

[0041] FIG. 2B illustrates the tube in a flexed position. (The inset longitudinal cross-section of the dial in FIG. 2B shows sliding element 42—and hence, the proximal end of ribbon 30—at a more proximal position, relative to FIG. 2A, due to the dial having been turned.)

[0042] Typically, the turnable dial is further configured to, subsequently to turning, hold the ribbon in place, thus maintaining the configuration of the tube. For example, the engagement of threading 44 with threading 46, as shown in FIG. 2B, may prevent the sliding element from sliding unless the dial is once again turned.

[0043] Notwithstanding the particular embodiment illustrated in the figures, it is noted that any other suitable type of control handle—whether including a turnable dial, or not including a turnable dial—is incorporated within the scope of the present invention.

[0044] Subsequently to changing the configuration of the distal portion of the tube to the desired configuration, while the tube is inside the subject, a tool is passed longitudinally (distally) through lumen 40 and into the subject.

[0045] It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to what has been particularly shown and described hereinabove. Rather, the scope of embodiments of the present invention includes both combinations and subcombinations of the various features described hereinabove, as well as variations and modifications thereof that are not in the prior art, which would occur to persons skilled in the art upon reading the foregoing description. Documents incorporated by reference in the present patent application are to be considered an integral part of the application except that to the extent any terms are defined in these incorporated documents in a manner that conflicts with the definitions made explicitly or implicitly in the present specification, only the definitions in the present specification should be considered.