Medical Device Handles

Abstract

The medical device handle may include an actuator, a first pulley, and a second pulley. The second pulley may be movable relative to the first pulley along an axis extending between a first axle of the first pulley and a second axle of the second pulley. A tension member may be wrapped around the first and second pulleys and coupled to the actuator, and a control member may be coupled to the second pulley. Movement of the second pulley along the axis may be configured to move the control member in a direction parallel to or coaxial with the axis.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE The present disclosure relates generally to handles for medical devices. More particularly, aspects of the present disclosure relate to handles for medical devices that include a control assembly for providing mechanical advantage. [Background technology]

[0002] During a medical procedure, a surgeon may utilize a medical device that includes a handle and a shaft extending distally from the handle. For example, the medical device may be an endoscopic medical device. The shaft of the medical device may be inserted into and advanced through a working channel of an endoscope (or other scope), and may extend out a distal opening of the working channel at the distal tip of the endoscope. A surgeon may use the handle of the medical device to actuate the medical device. For example, the surgeon may actuate an actuator on the handle. In some embodiments, the actuator may include moving a finger grip.

[0003] In some instances, actuating an actuator of a medical device may require exerting a large force, and therefore a need exists for an equipped handle for use with a medical device handle that includes a control assembly to provide a mechanical advantage. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The medical device handle may include an actuator, a first pulley, and a second pulley. The second pulley may be movable relative to the first pulley along an axis extending between a first axle of the first pulley and a second axle of the second pulley. A tension member may be wrapped around the first and second pulleys and coupled to the actuator, and a control member may be coupled to the second pulley. Movement of the second pulley along the axis may be configured to move the control member in a direction parallel to or coaxial with the axis.

[0005] Any of the devices or methods disclosed herein may additionally or alternatively include any of the following features: The first pulley may be fixed relative to a body of the medical device handle. The tension member and the control member may each include at least one of a wire, a cable, or a thread. The axis extending between the first axle of the first pulley and the second axle of the second pulley may be approximately parallel to a longitudinal axis of the medical device handle. The control member may be configured to actuate an end effector at a distal end of a shaft extending from the medical device handle. The first pulley may be rotatable about the first axle and the second pulley may be rotatable about the second axle. A resilient member may extend between the first pulley and the second pulley. The resilient member may include a spring. The medical device handle may be configured to transition between a first configuration in which the first pulley and the second pulley are separated by a first distance and a second configuration in which the first pulley and the second pulley are separated by a second distance. The second distance may be less than the first distance. The resilient member may be configured to exert a restoring force on the second pulley when the medical device handle is in the second configuration. The first and second pulleys may provide a mechanical advantage such that the force exerted by the actuator on the tensioning member may be less than the force exerted by the second pulley on the control member. The actuator may include at least one finger loop. The second pulley may be coupled to the control member by a coupler. The coupler may be rigidly attached to one face of the second pulley. Movement of the second pulley along the axis by a distance may be configured to move the control member by the distance.

[0006] In another embodiment, a medical device handle may include an actuator, a first pulley, a second pulley, a tensioning member wrapped around the first pulley and the second pulley and coupled to the actuator, and a control member coupled to the second pulley. The medical device handle may be configured to transition from a first configuration in which the first pulley and the second pulley are separated by a first distance to a second configuration in which the first pulley and the second pulley are separated by a second distance. The second distance may be less than the first distance.

[0007] Any of the devices or methods disclosed herein may additionally or alternatively include any of the following features: Transitioning the medical device handle from the first configuration to the second configuration may move the control member proximally; Movement of the control member may be configured to actuate an end effector at a distal end of a shaft extending from the medical device handle; and A resilient member may extend between the first pulley and the second pulley.

[0008] In another example, a medical device handle may include an actuator, a first pulley, a second pulley, a tensioning member wrapped around the first pulley and the second pulley and coupled to the actuator, and a control member coupled to the second pulley, wherein the actuator may be configured to move the tensioning member proximally to move the second pulley proximally relative to the first pulley, thereby moving the control member proximally.

[0009] It will be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not limiting of the invention as claimed. As used herein, the terms "comprises," "comprising," or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion; thus, a process, method, article, or device comprising a list of elements does not include only those elements, but may also include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or device. The term "exemplary" is used to mean "example" rather than "ideal." The term "distal" refers to a direction away from the surgeon / toward the treatment site, and the term "proximal" refers to a direction toward the surgeon. Terms such as "about" (e.g., "substantially") include values ​​of + / - 10% of the stated value. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate examples of the disclosure and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the disclosure. [Figure 1] 1 illustrates an exemplary medical device. [Figure 2] 2 shows a control assembly of the medical device of FIG. 1. [Figure 3A] 3 shows the control assembly of FIG. 2 in a first configuration. [Figure 3B] 3 shows the control assembly of FIG. 2 in a second configuration. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] A medical device, such as an endoscopic medical device, may include a handle and a shaft extending distally from the handle. The shaft of the medical device may be inserted into the working channel of another medical device (e.g., an endoscope or other type of scope). The handle may be maintained outside the subject's body so that it can be manipulated by the surgeon. The handle may include an actuator, such as one or more finger loops (e.g., at least one finger loop) and / or a slider, that is slidable along the shaft of the handle. The actuator may be coupled to a control member (e.g., a control wire). Moving the actuator proximally or distally will thus actuate the medical device by moving the control member proximally or distally. For example, the actuator may be used to open or close jaws or blades, extend / retract devices such as snares, needles, baskets, etc., deploy medical devices, staple tissue, cut tissue, or perform any other related action. The shaft of the medical device, when used alone or with an endoscope or other type of scope, may pass through one or more tortuous body lumens. The tortuosity and / or length of the shaft may require a large force to be exerted by the operator on the actuator to move it and actuate the medical device.

[0012] To reduce the force required by the surgeon to actuate the medical device, the handle may include one or more pulleys. For example, the handle may include a fixed pulley and a movable pulley. The movable pulley may be coupled to the control member. The actuator may be coupled to a tension member (e.g., a wire, string, etc.) wrapped around the pulleys. When the actuator is moved proximally, the movable pulley moves proximally, thereby moving the control member proximally and actuating the medical device. A spring between the fixed and movable pulleys may restore the movable pulley to a non-actuated position (i.e., moving the movable pulley distally) when the actuator is moved distally and / or released. The pulley may reduce the force required to exert on the actuator to move the control member proximally.

[0013] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary medical device 10 that may include a handle 12 and an insertion portion / shaft 14. The handle 12 may be coupled to a shaft (not shown), which may terminate at a distal tip. The handle 12 may be used to actuate an end effector 16, as discussed below. The end effector 16 may include any type of assembly at the distal tip of a medical device, including, for example, a snare (shown in FIG. 1), a basket, a balloon, a stent delivery system, a forceps, a stapler, a needle, a cauterization device, a suturing device, a drug delivery system, a patch delivery system, or any other example. The longitudinal axis L of the handle 12 may extend along the proximal / distal direction.

[0014] The handle 12 may include an actuator 20. As shown in FIG. 1, the actuator 20 may include a slider having multiple finger loops 22. Such a configuration is merely exemplary, and other configurations of the actuator 20 (e.g., a slider without finger loops, a plunger, or a lever) may be utilized. The actuator 20 may be movable proximally and distally (in the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. 1) along a shaft 24 of the handle 12. The shaft 24 may include a thumb loop 26 at its proximal end. The actuator 20 may be movable proximally until it reaches the thumb loop 26 or an alternative stop. In some embodiments, the configuration of the actuator 20 in FIG. 1 may be a configuration in which the actuator 20 is in its most distal position possible. For example, a proximal portion of the body 28 of the handle 12 may serve as a distal stop for the actuator 20, preventing further distal movement of the actuator 20. The shapes and relative sizes of the actuator 20, shaft 24, and body 28 are merely exemplary, and other arrangements are contemplated within the scope of this disclosure. Although the actuator 20 is shown as an actuator for manual actuation by a surgeon, it will be appreciated that the actuator 20 may additionally or alternatively be configured to be actuated by a robot.

[0015] The actuator 20 may include an attachment 30 for coupling the actuator 20 to the control assembly 100 (described in more detail below with respect to FIGS. 2-3B ). For example, as described below, the attachment 30 may directly or indirectly couple the actuator 20 to a structure such as a wire, string, thread, cable, or the like. The attachment 30 may include a pin, post, rivet, crimp, clamp, adhesive, tie, snap, or other structure. As the actuator 20 moves proximally or distally, a portion of the wire, string, or other structure coupled to the actuator via the attachment 30 will also move proximally or distally, respectively. As discussed below, movement of the wire, string, or other structure will cause actuation of the end effector 16 (e.g., opening / closing the snare in the case of the snare shown) via other elements of the handle 12.

[0016] FIG. 2 illustrates the control assembly 100. FIG. 3A illustrates the control assembly 100 in a first configuration, and FIG. 3B illustrates the control assembly 100 in a second configuration. Elements of the control assembly 100 may be disposed within the body 28 of the handle 12 or within other portions of the handle 12 and / or shaft 14. The control assembly 100 may include a pull wire 102 or other type of tensioning member. While the term “pull wire” is used herein, it will be understood that the pull wire 102 may include a thread, string, cable, and / or other structure (e.g., at least one of a wire, thread, cable, or string). As discussed above and in more detail below, the pull wire 102 may be coupled to the actuator 20 (e.g., via an attachment 30, as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B). In FIGS. 3A and 3B, the actuator 20 is shown in cross section taken along the longitudinal axis L of the handle 12 (along the proximal / distal direction).

[0017] The control assembly 100 may also include a first pulley 104 and a second pulley 106. In some embodiments, the first pulley 104 may be proximal to the second pulley 106 (i.e., the second pulley 106 may be distal to the first pulley 104). The first pulley 104 may be fixed axially (i.e., along the longitudinal axis L of the device 10 / handle 12) and laterally (i.e., transverse to the longitudinal axis L of the device 10 / handle 12) relative to the body 28 of the handle 12 (and / or, for example, the housing of the handle 12). The first pulley 104 may be rotatable about a first axle 114, which may extend substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L. Alternatively, the first pulley 104 may not be rotatable about the first axle 114. In some embodiments, the first axle 114 or another element of the first pulley 104 may be fixedly coupled to the base 140 to allow rotation of the first pulley 104 about the first axle 114. The base 140 may include a portion of the housing of the handle 12 (e.g., the housing of the body 28) or may be a separate element within the housing of the handle 12. Fixing the first axle 114 or another element of the first pulley 104 to the base 140 will prevent / prevent the first pulley 104 from moving axially and laterally, as discussed above.

[0018] The second pulley 106 may be rotatable about a second axle 116, which may extend generally parallel to the first axle 114 and generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L. Alternatively, the second pulley 106 may not be rotatable about the second axle 116. The second pulley 106 may be movable along an axis A extending between the first axle 114 and the second axle 116 (while the first pulley 104 may be fixed relative to another portion of the body 28 or handle 12 along an axis A extending between the first axle 114 and the second axle 116, as discussed above). For example, the axis A may be coaxial with or parallel to the longitudinal axis L, and the second pulley 106 may be axially movable relative to the first pulley 104 along or parallel to the longitudinal axis L. Alternatively, the axis A may transverse the longitudinal axis L.

[0019] The second pulley 106 may be constrained from moving laterally, in a direction transverse to (a) axis A and / or (b) longitudinal axis L. For example, as shown in FIG. 2 , the base 140 may include a slot 150. The slot 150 may extend generally parallel to or coaxial with the longitudinal axis L and / or generally parallel to or coaxial with the axis A. The second axle 116 or another element of the second pulley 106 may be movable within the slot 150. The slot 150 may restrain the second pulley 106 from moving laterally. The slot 150 is merely exemplary, and additional or alternative structures (e.g., side walls, guide rails, etc.) may be utilized to constrain the second pulley 106 to move only in a desired direction (e.g., axially, not laterally).

[0020] One or more control wires 120 or other types of control members may be coupled to the second pulley 106 via a coupler 122. While the term "control wire" is used herein, it will be understood that the control wire 120 may additionally or alternatively include a cable, thread, string, or other structure along all or a portion thereof. FIGS. 2-3B show two control wires 120. Each of the multiple control wires 120 may be coupled to a leg of a snare forming the end effector 16, for example. Proximal movement of the multiple control wires 120 will cause the multiple legs of the snare to collapse and retract into the sheath of the shaft 14. Distal movement of the multiple control wires 120 will cause the multiple legs of the snare to expand and extend distally of the shaft 14. Alternatively, a single control wire 120 may be used to actuate the end effector 16, or more than two control wires 120 may be used to actuate the end effector 16. The number and placement of control wires 120 will depend on the type of end effector 16. The control wires 120 may be separate elements from the pull wires 102 (i.e., the control wires 120 may not be integrally formed with the pull wires 102).

[0021] The coupler 122 may be coupled to the second pulley 106 (e.g., fixedly coupled to the second pulley 106). The control wire 120 may also be coupled to the coupler 122 (e.g., via crimping, adhesive, screws, rivets, clamps, interference fits, ties such as knots, or any other suitable mechanism). As shown, the coupler 122 may include an arm 124 and a body 126. The arm 124 may be coupled to / affixed to one face / side of the second pulley 106 (a portion of the second pulley 106 around which the pull wire 102 does not wrap). The body 126 may be distal to the arm 124 and distal to the second pulley 106. The arm 124 may be thinner than the body 126, as a thinner profile of the coupler 122 along the portion of the coupler 122 that extends along the second pulley 106 (i.e., the arm 124) may be desired. A portion of base 140 may include a recess 142 for receiving arm 124 as it moves proximally along base 140 (see FIG. 3A ). Proximal edge 144 of recess 142 may act as a stop for arm 124 such that arm 124 and second pulley 106 can be prevented from moving further proximally when the proximal end of arm 124 contacts proximal edge 144. The configuration of coupler 122 is merely exemplary, and control wire 120 may be coupled to second pulley 106 in any desired manner. For example, one or more arms may extend from second axle 116 and be coupled to control wire 120.

[0022] The pull wire 102 may be wrapped around the first pulley 104 and the second pulley 106 in any suitable manner. The first pulley 104 and the second pulley 106 may form a compound pulley system. The pull wire 102, the first pulley 104, and the second pulley 106 may be arranged in any compound pulley arrangement that is known or will become known. Although the drawings show the first pulley 104 and the second pulley 106 as being linearly arranged (with the longitudinal axis L extending through or generally parallel to the first mandrel 114 and the second mandrel 116), such an arrangement is merely exemplary. The first pulley 104 and the second pulley 106 may also be offset from one another laterally (or in other directions). Furthermore, although two pulleys 104, 106 are shown, other numbers of pulleys (e.g., three, four, or five pulleys) may be utilized.

[0023] The puller wire 102 may be wrapped around the plurality of pulleys 104, 106 in any suitable manner, as described below. When the puller wire 102 is moved proximally (e.g., via the actuator 20 being moved proximally by the operator) to move the control assembly 100 to the second configuration of FIG. 3B , the puller wire 102 may interact with the first pulley 104 and the second pulley 106 to move the second pulley 106 proximally (e.g., by rotating the first pulley 104 and / or the second pulley 106 about the axles 114, 116, respectively, or by moving relative to the first pulley 104 and / or the second pulley 106). The proximal movement of the second pulley 106 may in turn exert a force on the control wire 120 (e.g., via the coupler 122), moving the control wire 120 proximally. Such proximal movement of control wire 120 will actuate end effector 16 (eg, close the snare shown in FIG. 1, or perform any other desired function).

[0024] The control assembly 100 may be configured such that moving the second pulley 106 by a certain amount moves the control wire 120 (e.g., the proximal end of the control wire 120) by an equal amount. In other words, a change in the distance between the first pulley 104 and the second pulley 106 corresponds to moving the control wire 120 by the same amount (equal to the change in distance). For example, in the first configuration of FIG. 3A , the first pulley 104 and the second pulley 106 may be separated by a first distance. As shown by the arrow in FIG. 3B , the actuator 20 may be moved proximally, which will in turn move the proximal end of the pull wire 102 proximally. This will move the second pulley 106 along axis A (e.g., proximally) such that the first pulley 104 and the second pulley 106 are separated by a second distance that is less than the first distance in the first configuration. The difference between the first distance and the second distance may correspond to the amount that control wire 120 is moved proximally (eg, the proximal end of control wire 120 is moved proximally).

[0025] The pulleys 104, 106 may provide a mechanical advantage. In other words, the force applied to the actuator 20 may be less than the force transmitted to the control wire 120. The pulleys 104, 106 may amplify the force applied to the actuator 20. In other words, for a given force required to move the control wire 120, less force will be required from the actuator 20. During a medical procedure, the shaft 14 of the device 10 may be inserted into a tortuous body lumen or may otherwise be subjected to forces that require a greater force to be exerted on the control wire 120 than if the shaft 14 were straight. Without the pulleys 104, 106, the greater force that would be required to be applied to the actuator 20 in such a configuration would present difficulties for the surgeon. The mechanical advantage provided by the pulleys 104, 106 may reduce the amount of force required to be applied to the actuator 20. This mechanical advantage is present when the shaft 14 is in both a straight and a curved configuration. This mechanical advantage may be particularly advantageous when shaft 14 is curved (e.g., within a tortuous body lumen) or otherwise increases the force required to move control wire 120.

[0026] The resilient member 130 may extend between the first pulley 104 and the second pulley 106. For example, the resilient member 130 may be secured at a first end to the first axle 114 of the first pulley 104 and at a second end to the second axle 116 of the second pulley 106. The resilient member 130 may be biased toward a configuration corresponding to an unactuated configuration of the end effector 16 (e.g., an extended, retracted, open, closed, or non-delivery configuration, etc.). Thus, when the actuator 20 is released, the resilient member 130 may exert a restoring force to return the second pulley 106 (and control wire 120) to their biased configuration (e.g., the first configuration of FIG. 3A ). For example, as shown in FIG. 3B , when the actuator 20 is moved proximally to actuate the device 10, thereby moving the second pulley 106 proximally, and then the actuator 20 is released or moved distally, the resilient member 130 will exert a distal force on the second pulley 106 and move it distally. While the resilient member 130 is shown as a coil spring, it will be understood that alternative structures (e.g., a leaf spring, an air-compressed piston, or a structure having shape memory) may be used. Alternatively, the resilient member 130 may be omitted or positioned between alternative structures (e.g., between the second pulley 106 and the housing of the handle 12). Alternatives to the resilient member 130 may include an additional actuator (e.g., an actuator attached to the second axle 116 and extending through the housing of the handle 12) or other structure for moving the second pulley 106. Additionally or alternatively, the actuator 20 may include a lock to hold the second pulley 106 / control wire 120 / end effector 16 in a desired configuration (e.g., a configuration in which the second pulley 106 / control wire 120 has been moved proximally).

[0027] While the principles of the present disclosure are described herein with reference to illustrative embodiments for particular applications, it should be understood that the present disclosure is not limited thereto. Those skilled in the art and with access to the disclosure provided herein will recognize that additional modifications, adaptations, and equivalent substitutions are all within the scope of the embodiments described herein. Accordingly, the present invention should not be deemed limited by the foregoing description.

Claims

1. An actuator; A first pulley; a second pulley movable relative to the first pulley along an axis extending between a first axle of the first pulley and a second axle of the second pulley; a tension member wrapped around the first pulley and the second pulley and connected to the actuator; a control member coupled to the second pulley, wherein movement of the second pulley along the axis is configured to move the control member in a direction parallel to or coaxial with the axis.

2. The medical device handle of claim 1 , wherein the first pulley is fixed relative to a body of the medical device handle.

3. The medical device handle of claim 1 or 2, wherein the tension member and the control member each comprise at least one of a wire, a cable, or a thread.

4. The medical device handle of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the axis extending between the first axle of the first pulley and the second axle of the second pulley is approximately parallel to the longitudinal axis of the medical device handle.

5. The medical device handle of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the control member is configured to actuate an end effector at a distal end of a shaft extending from the medical device handle.

6. The medical device handle of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the first pulley is rotatable about the first axle and the second pulley is rotatable about the second axle.

7. The medical device handle of any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising a resilient member extending between the first pulley and the second pulley.

8. The medical device handle of claim 7 , wherein the resilient member comprises a spring.

9. 9. The medical device handle of claim 7 or 8, wherein the medical device handle is configured to transition between a first configuration in which the first pulley and the second pulley are separated by a first distance and a second configuration in which the first pulley and the second pulley are separated by a second distance, the second distance being smaller than the first distance.

10. The medical device handle of claim 9 , wherein the resilient member is configured to exert a restoring force on the second pulley when the medical device handle is in the second configuration.

11. 11. A medical device handle according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the first and second pulleys provide a mechanical advantage such that the force exerted by the actuator on the tension member is less than the force exerted by the second pulley on the control member.

12. The medical device handle of any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the actuator comprises at least one finger loop.

13. The medical device handle of any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the second pulley is coupled to the control member by a coupler.

14. The medical device handle of claim 13 , wherein the coupler is fixedly attached to one face of the second pulley.

15. The medical device handle of any preceding claim, wherein movement of the second pulley along the axis by a distance is configured to move the control member by the distance.

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