System for limiting movement of a control mechanism

Abstract

An assembly can have a shaft. Rotation of the shaft can cause deflection of a portion of a medical device. A collet can have an opening. The shaft can extend through the longitudinal opening. An actuator can be configured to interact with the collet. A first configuration of the collet can allow rotation of the shaft relative to the collet, and a second configuration of the collet can prohibit rotation of the shaft relative to the collet.

Description

[0001] Cross Reference to Related Applications

[0002] This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62 / 871,386, filed July 8, 2019, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. TECHNICAL FIELD

[0003] The present invention relates generally to systems for limiting movement of a control mechanism. In particular, the present invention relates to locking mechanisms for medical devices, such as, for example, devices for locking articulating control knobs of endoscopes. BACKGROUND

[0004] Handles of medical devices, such as endoscopes, can include control mechanisms, such as knobs. Such control mechanisms can be used, for example, to articulate a sheath of the medical device. During a procedure, an operator can desire to limit articulation of the sheath. For example, the operator can desire to limit articulation when inserting the sheath into a patient or when a procedure is being performed. Accordingly, locking mechanisms are needed. SUMMARY

[0005] An assembly can have a shaft. Rotation of the shaft can cause deflection of a portion of a medical device. A collet can have an opening. The shaft can extend through the longitudinal opening. An actuator can be configured to interact with the collet. A first configuration of the collet can allow rotation of the shaft relative to the collet, and a second configuration of the collet can prohibit rotation of the shaft relative to the collet.

[0006] Any of the assemblies described herein can have any of the following features. The actuator can include a tab. The collet can include a lobe. The tab can interact with the lobe to transition the collet from a first configuration to a second configuration. The tab can be a first tab. The actuator can further include a second tab and a third tab. The lobe can be a first lobe. The collet can further include a second lobe and a third lobe. The second and third tabs can interact with the second and third lobes, respectively, to transition the collet from the first configuration to the second configuration. The notch in the collet can define a portion of the lobe having a reduced length relative to an adjacent portion of the lobe. The lobe can have a first portion and a second portion. The first portion can be less flexible than the second portion. In the first configuration, the tab can interact with the first portion. In the second configuration, the tab can interact with the second portion. The second portion can have a greater thickness along a radial direction than the first portion. The lobe can be biased to an idle position when the collet is in the first configuration. A radially inner surface of the lobe can be radially aligned with or radially outward of an adjacent portion of the collet. The collet can be transitioned from the first configuration to the second configuration by rotation of the actuator. The actuator can include a lever. The actuator can include a washer-shaped portion. The lever can extend radially outward from the washer-shaped portion. The collet can include a sleeve and a flange extending circumferentially around at least a portion of the sleeve. The collet can include a stop configured to prevent movement of a portion of the actuator beyond the stop. The actuator can be radially outward of the collet. Rotation of the actuator can transition the collet from the first configuration to the second configuration. The flexible lobe of the collet can apply a frictional force to the shaft when the collet is in the second configuration.

[0007] In another example, an assembly can include a collet having a flexible lobe and an actuator having a tab extending radially inward from a surface of the actuator. The tab can interact with the lobe to transition the collet from a first configuration to a second configuration. In the first configuration of the collet, a shaft can be rotatable to deflect a portion of a medical device. In the second configuration of the collet, the shaft can be non-rotatable due to a frictional force applied to the shaft from the lobe.

[0008] Any of the assemblies described herein can include any of the following features. The actuator can include a washer-shaped portion. The tab can extend from an inner surface of the washer-shaped portion. The lobe can be biased to an idle position that is radially aligned with or radially outward of an adjacent portion of the collet.

[0009] In another example, an assembly can include a shaft. Rotation of the shaft can cause deflection of a sheath of a medical device. A collet can have a sleeve portion. The shaft can extend through a central opening of the sleeve portion. The sleeve portion can have a flexible tab. An actuator can have a washer-shaped portion radially outward of the sleeve portion. The actuator can include a protrusion extending radially inward from an inner surface of the washer-shaped portion. The protrusion can be adjacent to at least a portion of the tab.

[0010] Any of the assemblies described herein can have any of the following features. The actuator can be rotatable relative to the collet such that the protrusion exerts a radially inward force on the tab.

[0011] It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are merely exemplary and explanatory and are not restrictive of the application, as claimed. As used herein, the terms "comprises," "comprising," or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements but can include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. The term "exemplary" is used in the sense of "example," rather than "ideal." The term "about" or "substantially" can be understood to refer to a range of + / - 10%. As used herein, the term "proximal" denotes a direction closer to an operator, and the term "distal" denotes a direction further from an operator. Although endoscopes are referenced herein, references to endoscopes or endoscopy should not be interpreted as limiting the possible applications of the disclosed locking mechanisms and other aspects. For example, the disclosed aspects can be used with duodenoscopes, bronchoscopes, gastroscope, ureteroscopes, colonoscopes, catheters, diagnostic or therapeutic tools or devices, or other types of medical devices. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0012] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate examples of the application and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the application.

[0013] Figure 1 An exemplary endoscope is shown.

[0014] Figure 2 A perspective view of an exemplary locking mechanism is depicted.

[0015] Figure 3 A perspective view of an exemplary collet of an exemplary locking mechanism is depicted.

[0016] Figure 4 An exemplary locking mechanism in a first configuration is depicted.

[0017] Figure 5 An exemplary locking mechanism in a second configuration is depicted.

[0018] Figures 6A-6B Close-up views of exemplary locking mechanisms in the first and second configurations, respectively, are shown.

[0019] Figure 7 An alternative collet is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020] The handle of an endoscope or other medical device (e.g., the operating portion of an endoscope) can include components used by an operator when performing a procedure with the endoscope. As described above, during a procedure, a medical professional can desire to restrict articulation of the distal end of the endoscope via a complex locking mechanism or additional device. Known medical devices can include locking mechanisms to prevent articulation of a sheath and to maintain the position or orientation of the distal end of the medical device. Such locking mechanisms can include multiple components, which can result in high manufacturing costs for the medical device. The assembly issues of multiple component locking mechanisms can also result in disposal of improperly assembled medical devices after manufacturing and prior to distribution, resulting in waste.

[0021] Reference is now made to Figure 1 The handle 210 of the endoscope 200 can include a steering assembly or component, which can be used to deflect the distal end 222 of the sheath 220 of the endoscope 200. The steering assembly can include knobs, levers, or other mechanisms for controlling the steering assembly. For example, one or more steering knobs 230 or levers can be used to articulate the sheath 220 in up / down and / or left / right directions. The endoscope handle can also include mechanisms for preventing or limiting unwanted articulation of the sheath (e.g., during insertion or during other portions of a medical procedure). For example, the handle can include one or more brake assemblies 10 (see Figure 2 The brake assembly 10 can include an actuator, such as a lever 32. The brake assembly 10 can be coaxial with the knobs 230 on the shaft 41, for example. The lever 32 can be made of a molded plastic material or other material, such as metal or a combination of materials. The brake assembly 10 can also include a collet, which can interact with the lever. In a first configuration of the lock, the shaft of the steering assembly can freely rotate relative to the collet. In a second configuration of the lock, the collet can be tightened around the shaft, such that the shaft cannot rotate relative to the collet or requires increased force to achieve rotation, such as a force that would not be exerted by a user of the device in the normal course. Alternatively, tightening the collet around the shaft can increase the force required to rotate the shaft (increase the resistance to articulation), while still allowing rotation about the shaft.

[0022] Figure 2An exemplary braking assembly 10 is depicted. The braking assembly 10 may include an actuator 12 and a clamp 14. This two-element assembly simplifies the locking mechanism for endoscopes, reducing manufacturing and / or assembly costs and complexity. The actuator 12 may include a washer-shaped portion or washer 20, which may have an inner surface 22 and an outer surface 24. The outer surface 24 may be a smooth annular shape or may have any other suitable shape. The inner surface 22 may have one or more protrusions 30 that are radially inward from adjacent portions of the inner surface 22. Figures 2-5 As shown, the inner surface 22 may have three protrusions 30. Alternatively, the inner surface 22 may have any suitable number of protrusions 30. Using more protrusions 30 allows for more braking surfaces. Multiple protrusions may match corresponding features of the collet 14, as described below. The protrusion 30 may have a radially innermost surface with a curved concave shape. Alternatively, the protrusion 30 may be flat, pointed, convexly curved, or have any other shape, and may be keyed to the collet 14, as discussed below.

[0023] Lever 32 extends radially outward from the outer surface 24 of washer 20. Lever 32 can be configured to be contacted by the endoscope user to rotate actuator 12. Figure 2 As shown, lever 32 can be cantilevered, allowing the outermost radial portion 34 of lever 32 to be axially displaced from the plane defined by washer 20. The cantilever shape of lever 32 can facilitate rotation of actuator 12 by a force applied to lever 32 by a user. Lever 32 can alternatively be another type of actuation mechanism, such as a knob, rotary mechanism, slider, screw, or other mechanism.

[0024] The collet 14 may have a sleeve 40 and a flange 42. The sleeve 40 may have a circular cross-section or a cross-section with a different shape, such as an elliptical cross-section. The shape of the sleeve 40 may be complementary to the shape of the shaft 41 of the steering assembly, around which the sleeve 40 extends. The collet 14 may be made of a compressible material such as plastic. The use of a compressible material may be useful in situations where tolerances are low or friction is limited. Alternatively or additionally, the collet 14 may be made of a flexible material, such that the lug 50, discussed in further detail below, can elastically deform and may have shape memory characteristics.

[0025] The flange 42 may extend only partially around the outer circumferential surface of the sleeve 40, such as Figures 2-3As shown. For example, flange 42 may extend partially or approximately partially around the outer circumferential surface of sleeve 40. Flange 42 may include ridges 44 at the radially outer circumferential edge of flange 42. Ribs 44 may be used to constrain one or more components of the steering assembly (not shown). Ribs 44 may include one or more holes 46 that may be used to secure chuck 14 to the handle or a portion of the steering assembly of the endoscope such that chuck 14 does not rotate relative to the handle portion of the endoscope. Chuck 14 may be secured directly or indirectly to the handle.

[0026] The sleeve 40 may include a longitudinal opening 48 extending from the axially inner surface of the collet 14 to the axially outer surface of the collet 14. As used herein, the axially inward direction of the collet 14 may be toward the flange 42. The axially outward direction of the collet 14 may be away from the flange 42. (See also: Special Reference) Figure 3 The sleeve 40 may include one or more lugs 50.

[0027] The lugs 50 can be radially engaged relative to the outer surface 52 of the collet 14. For example, the collet 14 can have three lugs 50, such as... Figures 1-4 As shown. The lug 50 can be formed by a notch 54 or a cut on the chuck 14, such as... Figures 3-5 As specifically shown in the diagram. For example, the notch 54 may be L-shaped, having axial and circumferential elements. The number of lugs 50 may be equal to the number of protrusions 30 of the actuator 12. Portions of lugs 50 (such as the sides of lugs 50 defined by the notch 54 and the outermost axially portion) may not be directly connected to the remainder of the collet 14 and may define free edges. Alternatively, lugs 50 may be formed without the notch 54, but may be defined by those portions of the collet having relatively thin walls and relatively thick walls. Other portions of lugs 50 (such as the other sides of lugs 50) may be directly secured to the remainder of the collet 14 and may define fixed edges. As specifically regarding Figure 3 As shown, the lug 50 may have at least two free edges, including an axially outward free edge 60 and a radially free edge 62. The axially outward free edge 60 may be the outermost axially oriented portion of the collet 14. The radially free edge 62 may be parallel to the longitudinal axis of the sleeve 40. The lug 50 may have a radially fixed edge 64. The fourth axially inward edge 66 of the lug 50 may have a fixed portion 68 and a free portion 66. The lug 50 may have a notch 72. The notch 72 may be a groove or notch on the outermost axially oriented surface of the lug 50 / collet 14. The notch 72 may be located approximately midway between the radially free edge 62 and the radially fixed edge 64. A portion of the notch 72 closest to the fixed portion 64 may be circumferentially aligned with the meeting point of the fixed portion 68 and the free portion 66.

[0028] The material of the free edge / side, as well as the notch 72 and lug 50, can provide flexibility to the lug 50 for radially inward and outward movement toward and away from the opening 48. The portion of the lug 50 adjacent to the notch 72 can have increased flexibility compared to other portions of the lug 50. For example, the radially inward force applied to the portion of the lug 50 immediately adjacent to the radial free edge 62 has a greater effect on the lug 50 due to the notch 72 than the force would be present without it. The lug 50 can move more easily closer to the radial free edge 62 and has less flexibility closer to the radial fixed edge 64. In particular, the lug 50 has less flexibility in the region of the lug 50 near the fixed portion 68.

[0029] Lug 50 can be configured such that it is biased into a shape in which the radially free edge 62 of lug 50 protrudes radially outward from the inner surface 80 of sleeve 40. Lug 50 is radially biased outward to... Figure 4 In the idle position shown, but compressible in the radially inward direction. For example, the inner surface of lug 50 may project radially outward relative to an adjacent portion of the inner surface 80 of sleeve 40. Alternatively, lug 50 may be biased such that, in the idle position, the inner surface of lug 50 is aligned or substantially aligned with the inner surface 80, and lug 50 may be compressible in the radially inward direction.

[0030] like Figure 2 , Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown, the inner circumferential surface of the washer 20 may have a shape complementary to the outer surface 52 of the sleeve 40. As discussed below, the protrusion 30 of the actuator 12 may interact with the lug 50 of the chuck 14.

[0031] Figure 4 The braking assembly 10 in a first unlocking configuration is shown. In the first configuration, the protrusion 30 may be adjacent to and radially outward of the first portion 90 of the lug 50 near the radially fixed edge 64. Figure 6A A detailed enlarged perspective view of a portion of the braking assembly 10 in the first unlocking configuration is shown. Therefore, the protrusion 30 may not interact with the second portion 92 of the lug 50 near the radial free edge 62, thus allowing the second portion 92 to project radially outward to the idle position due to, for example, buckling or inherent bias of the lug 50. Alternatively, in the first configuration, the second portion 92 may be aligned with the inner surface 80 of the sleeve 40. Because the first portion 90 is adjacent to the radial fixed edge 64, the protrusion 30 may not apply sufficient force to the first portion 90 to push it to the point of frictional interference with the shaft 41. For example, Figure 6AThe gap between the second part 92 and the shaft 41 is shown. Due to the protrusion 30 in the first configuration, the fixed portion 68 of the axially inward edge 66 can suppress the radially inward displacement of the first part 90. In the first configuration, the shaft 41 can rotate freely relative to the chuck 14 because the protrusion 30 is not subjected to a radially inward force on the shaft 41 by the lug 50.

[0032] Figure 5 and Figure 6B The brake assembly 10 in a second locking configuration is shown. In this configuration, the protrusion 30 can interact with the second portion 92. The second portion 92 may be thicker radially along the collet 14 than other portions of the lug 50 to facilitate interaction with the protrusion 30 in the second configuration. Because the second portion 92 has three free sides—a free portion 66 of the axially outward free edge 60, a radially free edge 62, and an axially inward free edge 66 of the lug 50—and due to the material of the collet 14, the protrusion 30 can apply force to displace the second portion 92 radially inward. For example, the protrusion 30 may have an interference fit of 0.0001 to 0.015 inches with the lug 50, including an interference fit of 0.001 to 0.007 inches (e.g., when the components of the brake assembly 10 are formed of polycarbonate). In the idle position, the radially free edge 62 may extend radially outward beyond the radially inward edge of the protrusion 30. For example, the radial free edge may protrude from 0.001 inches to 0.050 inches, including 0.002 inches to 0.020 inches. When the brake assembly 10 is in the first configuration, the protrusion of the radial free edge 62 can be used to hold the protrusion 30 (and / or the entire actuator 12) in a desired position, so that the protrusion 30 (and / or the entire actuator 12) does not move or swing. The above values ​​are merely exemplary and can vary depending on the material used to form the components of the brake assembly 10.

[0033] Therefore, in the second configuration, the protrusion 30 results in a radially inward force on the lug 50. Due to the flexibility of the lug 50, the second portion 92 can buckle or displace such that the second portion 92 is radially inward of the inner surface 80 of the sleeve 40. The position of the first portion 90 can be the same or substantially the same in both the first and second configurations. Alternatively, in the second configuration, the first portion 90 can also be displaced relative to the first configuration, for example, radially inward. In the second configuration, the second portion 92 of each lug 50 can be compressed against the shaft 41. The interference fit between the actuator 12 (e.g., the protrusion 30 of the actuator 12), the lug 50, and the shaft 41 generates friction. The frictional force between the lug 50 and the shaft 41 can prevent the shaft 41 from rotating relative to the collet 14. The resulting friction can also hold the actuator 12 in the second configuration of the braking assembly 10. The lug 50 can be formed of a material used to increase friction. For example, the lug 50 can have a textured surface to increase surface area and / or may include a coating to increase friction. Alternatively, the surface of shaft 41 may be textured or include a coating to increase friction.

[0034] Actuator 12 can be rotatably moved between a first and a second configuration via lever 32. For example, when brake assembly 10 is in the first configuration, actuator 12 can move counterclockwise to change brake assembly 10 to the second configuration. When brake assembly 10 is in the second configuration, actuator 12 can move clockwise to change brake assembly 10 back to the first configuration. Lug 50 can be elastic and flexible. When brake assembly 10 changes from the second configuration to the first configuration, lug 50 can be switched to an idle configuration (protruding radially outward from the inner surface 80 or aligned with the inner surface 80) so that chuck 14 does not inhibit the rotation of shaft 41.

[0035] The materials for the collet 14 and actuator 12 can be selected to minimize the force required by the operator to apply to the lever 32 when changing the collet 14 from the first configuration to the second configuration. The flexibility of the lug 50, the compressibility of the collet 14 material, the elasticity of the actuator 12 / lever 32, the interference fit between the collet 14 and actuator 12, and / or the distance between the radial protrusions of the lug 50 can all affect the force required to actuate the lever 32. For example, both the collet 14 and actuator 12 can be made of high-strength plastic and / or polycarbonate materials. The collet 14 and / or actuator 12 can be formed by molding, additive manufacturing, or other manufacturing processes.

[0036] The sleeve 40 may include a first step 100 on one radial side of the lug 50 and a second step 102 on the other radial side of the lug 50. For example, the first step 100 may be adjacent to the radially fixed edge 64, and the second step 102 may be adjacent to the radially free edge 62 and / or the notch 54. The second step 102 may be adjacent to the notch 54 and located on the side of the notch 54 opposite to the radially free edge 62. The first step 100 and the second step 102 may be used to limit the movement of the actuator 12 to prevent it from exceeding the desired range of movement. When the braking assembly 10 changes from the first configuration to the second configuration, the second step 102 may act as a stop to prevent the protrusion 30 from moving beyond the second step 102, such that the protrusion 30 engages with the second portion 92. When the braking assembly changes from the second configuration to the first configuration, the first step 100 may act as a stop to prevent the protrusion 30 from moving beyond the first step 100, such that the protrusion 30 is adjacent to the first portion 90.

[0037] The chuck 14 may have interference features, such as surface features, that provide resistance to the user's rotation of the knob 230 when the brake assembly 10 is in the first configuration. When the brake assembly 10 is in the second configuration, the interference features may provide increased interference. The interference features may affect how quickly the knob 230 can be rotated and thus how quickly the distal end 222 can return to a straight configuration. The interference features may include ridges, protrusions, raised portions, or any other suitable features on the chuck 14. Alternatively, such interference features may be provided on a portion of the actuator 12.

[0038] It should be understood that the above-described components are merely exemplary. For example, as discussed above, different numbers of protrusions 30 may be used. Alternatively or additionally, one or more mechanical features may be employed to utilize frictional relationships to suppress movement between the chuck 14 and the actuator 12. For example, the chuck 14 and the actuator 12 may have mating features that align the chuck 14 and the actuator 12 in selected positions. Such features allow the user to engage the braking assembly 10 in selected positions or in selected increments.

[0039] Figure 7An alternative chuck 100 that can be used with actuator 12 is shown. Chuck 100 may have any of the features of chuck 14 described above. Chuck 100 may have one or more lugs 150 extending axially. Notch 172 may define the edge of lug 150. Notch 172 may have any of the features of notch 72. Although notch 72 may only extend axially partially through lug 50, notch 172 may also extend along the entire lug 150, from the axially proximal portion to the axially distal portion of lug 150. Chuck 100 and / or chuck 14 may use a combination of lug 50 and / or lug 150. Lug 150 may have three free edges and one fixed edge. For example, lug 150 may have a first free radial fixed edge 152, a second free radial edge 154, and a free axial edge 156. Free axial edge 156 may be the axially distal edge of chuck 100. Lug 150 may have an axially fixed edge 160. Apart from the orientation of lug 150, the function of chuck 100 may be similar to that described above. Figure 1 To the chuck 14 shown in Figure 6.

[0040] Although the principles of the invention have been described herein with reference to illustrative examples for specific applications, it should be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. Those skilled in the art and who access the teachings provided herein will recognize that additional modifications, applications, and substitutions of equivalents fall within the scope of the examples described herein. Therefore, the invention should not be considered limited to the foregoing description.

Claims

1. A component comprising: A shaft, wherein rotation of the shaft causes a portion of the medical device to deflect; A collet having an opening, wherein the shaft extends through the opening, the collet including a lug; and An actuator configured to interact with the chuck, wherein the actuator includes a protrusion; The first configuration of the chuck allows rotation of the shaft relative to the chuck, and the second configuration of the chuck prevents rotation of the shaft relative to the chuck. The actuator is located radially outside the chuck, and rotation of the actuator causes the chuck to change from the first configuration to the second configuration. When the chuck is in the second configuration, the protrusion applies a radially inward force to the lug, thereby generating a frictional force between the lug and the shaft to prevent the shaft from rotating relative to the chuck.

2. The component of claim 1, wherein the protrusion is a first protrusion, the actuator further includes a second protrusion and a third protrusion, the lug is a first lug, the chuck further includes a second lug and a third lug, and the second protrusion and the third protrusion interact with the second and third lugs respectively to change the chuck from the first configuration to the second configuration.

3. The component according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the notch in the clamp defines a portion of the lug with a reduced length relative to an adjacent portion of the lug.

4. The component according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the lug has a first portion and a second portion, wherein the flexibility of the first portion is less than that of the second portion.

5. The component of claim 4, wherein in the first configuration, the protrusion interacts with the first portion, and in the second configuration, the protrusion interacts with the second portion.

6. The component of claim 4, wherein the second portion has a greater thickness along the radial direction than the first portion.

7. The component according to claim 1 or 2, wherein when the chuck is in the first configuration, the lug is biased to an idle position such that the radially inner surface of the lug is radially aligned with or radially outward from the adjacent portion of the chuck.

8. The component according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the actuator comprises a lever.

9. The component of claim 8, wherein the actuator includes a washer-shaped portion, and wherein the lever extends radially outward from the washer-shaped portion.

10. The component of claim 1 or 2, wherein the chuck comprises a sleeve and a flange extending circumferentially around at least a portion of the sleeve.

11. The component of claim 1 or 2, wherein the chuck includes a stop configured to prevent a portion of the actuator from moving beyond the stop.

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