Guidewire retention device and method for attaching the retention device to a medical device - Patents.com

Abstract

To provide a device to help stabilize and / or maintain guidewires in a stationary position.SOLUTION: A medical apparatus is provided. A device 100 includes a body 102 including an opening 104 through which a wire 18 extends. The body 102 further includes: an edge; and a skirt having only three surfaces surrounding the opening 104 and extending downwardly further than the edge in a direction away from the opening 104.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present teachings relate to medical devices and, more particularly, to guidewire anchoring devices having one or more features for guiding and / or limiting or preventing migration of a guidewire. [Background technology]

[0002] This application claims priority to U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 161,163, filed October 16, 2018, and U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 163,828, filed October 18, 2018, the entire contents of both of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0003] In various medical procedures, endoscopes may be used to access areas of the anatomy that are difficult to visualize and / or that may require prior open surgery.

[0004] A guidewire is a long, relatively flexible wire that may be navigated through the passageways of anatomy. During a medical procedure, a guidewire may be navigated through a working channel of an endoscope to a site of interest in anatomy. Once the long, flexible guidewire reaches the site of interest, it may be cumbersome to manually hold and maintain it in a stationary position at the site of interest.

[0005] In some medical procedures, multiple guidewires and / or medical instruments may be present at a surgical site. Manipulating one or more of the guidewires and / or medical instruments while maintaining other guidewires in a stationary position may become cumbersome. Furthermore, manipulating one or more of the guidewires and / or medical instruments may result in the inadvertent displacement or dislodging of one or more other guidewires from the site of interest, resulting in patient trauma, physician frustration, and / or unnecessary prolongation of the medical procedure.

[0006] Several devices have been proposed in the past to aid in stabilizing and / or maintaining a guidewire in a stationary position, including those disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2004 / 0162465, U.S. Patent No. 7,637,863, and U.S. Patent No. 6,893,393, all of which are incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.

[0007] However, at least some of the available devices are difficult or cumbersome to operate.

[0008] Furthermore, some of the available devices do not prevent the formation of wire loops, which can form between or adjacent the endoscope and the wire fixation mechanism, particularly in areas where the guidewire bends, and can cause the distal end of the guidewire to unintentionally move, shift, or become dislodged from the anatomy site of interest, resulting in patient trauma, physician frustration, and / or prolonged medical procedures.

[0009] In light of at least the above, improvements in the art would be desirable. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0010] [Patent Document 1] US Patent Application Publication No. 2004 / 0162465 [Patent Document 2] U.S. Pat. No. 7,637,863 [Patent Document 3] U.S. Patent No. 6,893,393 Summary of the Invention [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] The present teachings provide an apparatus that addresses at least some of the above-mentioned needs.

[0012] The present teachings provide a device having a body, a channel, and a wire fixation mechanism. The body has an opening configured for a wire to extend through. The channel is defined by an upper wire guide portion and a lower wire guide portion. The wire fixation mechanism is configured to fix a section of the wire or to limit or inhibit movement of the wire. The channel is configured to guide the wire along a path between the body and the wire fixation mechanism.

[0013] The present teachings provide a device having a body. The body has an opening configured for a wire to extend through. The device has a wire guide having a channel defined by an upper wire guide portion and an opposing lower wire guide portion. A section of the wire is configured to be routed into the channel. The wire guide includes a first wire contacting mechanism configured to contact the wire at a first location. The first location is distal to the section of the wire to be routed into the channel.

[0014] The present teachings provide a device having a body, a channel, and a wire fixation mechanism. The body has an opening through which a wire is configured to extend. The channel is defined by an upper wire guide portion and a lower wire guide portion. The channel is configured to guide a wire between the opening and the wire fixation mechanism. The upper wire guide portion includes a protrusion. The wire is configured to slip through the protrusion during insertion of the wire into the channel.

[0015] The present teachings provide a method that includes routing a wire through a channel between a medical device and a wire fixation mechanism, the wire being slipped through a protrusion prior to the routing step. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a medical device. [Diagram 2] 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the access port of the medical device of FIG. 1. [Diagram 3] 2 is a perspective view of a wire retaining device for use with the medical device of FIG. 1. [Figure 4] FIG. [Diagram 5] FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the bottom of the wire fixing device. [Figure 10] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a wire fixing device mounted on a medical device. [Figure 11] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a wire fixation device removed or separated from a medical device. [Figure 12] 1 is a schematic diagram of a locking mechanism or finger of a wire locking device engaged with an access port of a medical device. [Figure 13] 1 is a schematic diagram of a locking mechanism or finger of a wire locking device engaged with an access port of a medical device. [Figure 14] FIG. [Figure 15] FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0017] The present teachings provide a medical instrument. The medical instrument may be any device through which one or more wires or medical instruments may pass. The medical instrument may be an endoscope. The medical instrument may be a bronchoscope, a colonoscope, an esophagoscope, or any other type of endoscope.

[0018] The medical device may include one or more internal channels or passageways that may be configured to pass one or more wires or other medical implements through or through the medical device. Water, air, aspirant, medication, or combinations thereof may be passed through the one or more channels or passageways of the medical device.

[0019] The medical device includes one or more access ports providing access to one or more channels or passageways of the medical device. The one or more access ports have one or more openings that allow for the insertion or passage or removal of one or more wires, medical instruments, or both from the medical device. A wire securement device according to the present teachings may be configured to engage each access port of the medical device.

[0020] The present teachings provide a wire fixation device. The wire fixation device may function to maintain one or more guidewires (also referred to herein as "wires") or one or more other medical instruments in a fixed or stationary position relative to a medical instrument, an endoscope, a patient, an anatomy, a site of interest, or a combination thereof. A fixed or stationary position means that axial, lateral, rotational, or combinations of movement of the one or more wires or medical instruments is inhibited, limited, or prevented. The wire fixation device may function to fix or prevent movement of one or more wires while a physician moves or manipulates another wire or other medical instrument without risking that the one or more wires may move or slide unintentionally. The wire fixation device may function to limit or prevent the formation or inhibit or eliminate the opportunity for one or more loops or bends in the wires at a location between the medical instrument and one or more wire fixation mechanisms. The loops that are formed may function to move or reposition the distal end of the one or more wires relative to the site of interest.

[0021] The wire retainer may engage or be connected to any portion of the medical device, including the access port. The wire retainer may engage the medical device or access port by a snap fit, friction fit, adhesive, mechanical fasteners, or combinations thereof.

[0022] The wire fixation device may be a disposable device and is intended for disposal after a single use, or the wire fixation device may be adapted to be used for more than one medical procedure and thus may be autoclavable.

[0023] The wire fixation device may include one or more channels. The one or more channels may function to guide one or more wires or medical instruments from the medical device to the wire fixation mechanism. The channel may function to provide a passage, route, path, or area for one or more wires to pass between the medical device and the wire fixation mechanism. The channel may function to limit or inhibit movement (e.g., axial and / or rotational) of one or more wires within the channel by contacting one or more portions of the one or more wires and applying a frictional force. The channel may function to contact one or more wires in one or more areas of the wires that tend to form loops (e.g., areas where the wires bend or turn) thereby inhibiting or eliminating the opportunity for loops to form in the area.

[0024] A channel may be defined by one or more portions or surfaces. For example, a channel may be generally rectangular or oval in cross-section. For example, a channel may be defined by one or more portions or surfaces, including an upper wire guide portion or surface, an opposing lower wire guide portion or surface, one or more side walls or protrusions, or a combination thereof.

[0025] The channel, or one or more portions or surfaces thereof, may be substantially smooth and / or have a low coefficient of friction such that one or more wires can slide easily thereover as they are routed through the channel to one or more wire fixation mechanisms.

[0026] The channel, or one or more portions or surfaces thereof, may include one or more ridges, protrusions, or high coefficient of friction areas that may act to add or apply friction or resistance to one or more wires to slow, inhibit, or limit movement of the one or more wires within the channel, which may act to slow movement of the wire if it becomes detached or dislodged from the wire securing mechanism.

[0027] When a device includes more than one channel, these channels may overlap one another.

[0028] The wire guide device may include one or more wire contacting mechanisms that may function to contact, move, bias, apply pressure, force, or friction, change direction, reroute, or combinations thereof, to one or more segments or portions of one or more wires.

[0029] The one or more wire contacting features may function to inhibit or prevent the formation of a loop in one or more areas where the one or more wires bend or change direction by contacting and / or supporting the one or more wires. For example, if a wire is secured at its proximal end via one or more wire securing features and bends or turns and does not include a wire contacting feature at the location of the bend or turn, the wire may shift or snap to form a loop at the location of the bend or turn, which may function to unintentionally move the position of the distal end of the wire relative to the site of interest.

[0030] The wire contact feature may be substantially smooth, allowing one or more wires to move or slide along the feature, or the wire contact surface may include one or more ridges, protrusions, or frictional areas that may function to add or apply friction to one or more wires to limit or inhibit movement of the one or more wires along the surface.

[0031] The wire contact feature may be any portion, section, or area of ​​a channel. The wire contact feature may be any interior surface of a wall or feature that defines the channel. For example, the wire contact feature may be the interior surface or ceiling of an upper wire guide section, the interior surface or floor of a lower wire guide section, one or more walls or protrusions, or a combination thereof.

[0032] One end of the wire guide device may include a beveled surface or finger that is beveled toward the body or the opening in the body. The beveled surface or finger may be a wire contacting surface. The angle of inclination of the finger may be sufficient to apply a force to one or more wires to distort or bend the wire into the channel and limit or prevent the formation of a loop at the bend location. The finger or beveled surface may contact and bend or support the bent wire prior to entering the channel.

[0033] The wire guide device may include one or more wire fixation mechanisms. A wire fixation mechanism may be any mechanism on the wire fixation device that functions to limit or prevent movement of one or more of the wires. That is, when one or more wires engage one of the wire fixation mechanisms, they are fixed and substantially prevented from moving axially, rotationally, or both. In other words, the wire fixation mechanism functions to fix the wires in a desired, predetermined position such that the distal ends of the wires do not move relative to the site of interest.

[0034] The wire guide device may include any number of wire fixing mechanisms. For example, the upper wire guide portion may include zero, one or more, two or more, or three or more wire fixing mechanisms. For example, the lower wire guide portion may include zero, one or more, two or more, or three or more wire fixing mechanisms.

[0035] Each of the wire fixation features may include a slot or channel, a well, and an undercut or tapered portion. Each feature cooperates to hold the wire in place. The wire can be inserted into the slot, which may have a lead-in or a wide opening to facilitate routing of the wire. The channel may narrow or taper inward from the opening to the undercut or tapered portion. The wire may need to be forced through the undercut or tapered portion to enter the well. After being forced through the undercut or tapered portion, the wire may snap into the well, which may generate an audible click or vibration to notify the practitioner that the wire has engaged the well. The undercut or tapered portion may function to hold the wire in the well and prevent it from exiting the well. Removing the wire from within the well may require forcing the wire through the undercut or tapered portion to exit the well. This may function to reduce or prevent the opportunity for the wire to exit the well prematurely or unintentionally.

[0036] The slots of the wire fixation feature on the upper wire guide portion may be substantially aligned axially with the slots of the wire fixation feature on the lower wire guide portion, or the slots on the opposing guide features may be offset from one another without needing to be aligned.

[0037] The wire guide device may include one or more caps. The cap may be a biopsy cap. The cap may be a cover, seal, or lid that functions to close an access port or opening to the medical device. The cap may function to limit or prevent the ingress of foreign or extraneous material into the access port or inside of the medical device. The cap may function to limit or prevent overflow of bodily fluids from the access port. The cap may function to form a fluid and / or air barrier to the working channel of the medical device.

[0038] The cap may be integrally formed with or on the body, or may be removably attached to the body. The cap may include an opening substantially aligned with an opening defined in the body and / or an opening of the access port of the medical device. The opening of the cap may be adapted to accommodate one or more wires extending through the cap to limit or prevent the ingress of foreign or extraneous material into the access port or inside the medical device. That is, the opening of the cap may be widened when two or more wires are passed through and narrowed when only one wire is passed through.

[0039] The cap may be constructed of a rubber or polymeric material. The cap may be constructed of a flexible, pliable material. The cap may be constructed of a rigid, plastic material. The cap may be constructed of the same material as the body. The cap may be constructed of a different material than the body.

[0040] One or more wires or other medical devices or instruments may be passed through the medical device, the wire fixation device, or both. The one or more wires may be elongated, relatively flexible members that can be used to gain and maintain access to narrow passageways in the body during minimally invasive or non-invasive medical procedures.

[0041] 1 shows a medical device 10. The medical device 10 may be any device through which one or more wires, guidewires, and / or medical instruments may be passed. The medical device 10 may be an endoscope.

[0042] The medical device 10 has a proximal end 12 and an opposing distal end 14. The medical device 10 includes an opening, port, or access port 16 through which a guidewire 18 (or simply wire), two or more wires, and / or other medical instruments can be provided to a channel or passage defined therein. The wire 18 may be guided or navigated distally through a channel or passage in the medical device 10 and then extend out of the medical device 10 through an opening defined in the distal end 14. The one or more wires 18 or instruments may be guided or navigated from the medical device 10 to a site of interest in the anatomy.

[0043] FIG. 2 illustrates the access port 16 of the medical device 10 of FIG. 1. The access port 16 provides access to a passageway defined inside the medical device 10. The access port 16 includes a flare 20. The flare has a base 22 connected to the medical device 10 and a ring 24 attached to the top of the base 22. The ring 24 has a size or diameter larger than the base 22 or flares outward from the base 22. As discussed in more detail below, a wire fixation device 100 (FIG. 3 et seq.) is configured to contact, engage, and / or connect to the access port 16 of the medical device 10. One or more guidewires 18, wires, or other medical instruments are configured to pass through the opening of the access port 16, enter one or more channels or passageways defined within the medical device 10, and then exit the distal end 14 of the medical device 10 (FIG. 1).

[0044] FIG. 3 illustrates a wire fixation device 100. The device 100 includes a body 102 having an opening 104 configured to extend one or more wires 18. A cap or cover 105 is attached to the body 102 and has an opening configured to extend one or more wires 18. By having the cap 105 be part of, connected to, or integral with the device 100 or body 102, the shape of the wire 18 can be controlled and reliably routed between the medical device 10 and the wire fixation device 100. That is, by having the wire 18 extend between the opening 104 and a wire guide 106, which will be discussed in more detail below, the bending or bending of the wire can be better controlled and the formation of wire loops can be reduced.

[0045] The wire fixation device 100 includes a wire guide 106 (which may also be referred to as an arm) positioned adjacent to a body 102. The wire guide 106 or arm includes a channel 108 defined by an upper wire guide portion 110 and an opposing lower wire guide portion 112. The channel 108 is configured to guide one or more wires 18 along a path between the body 102 and one or more wire fixation features that are configured to engage and secure a section of the wire 10 when the wire 18 is routed through a corresponding wire fixation feature, as discussed in more detail below.

[0046] The wire fixing mechanisms include a first wire fixing mechanism 114 and a second wire fixing mechanism 116, both positioned on the upper wire guide part 110, and a wire fixing mechanism 120 positioned on the lower wire guide part 112. These mechanisms 116, 118, 120 are shown in more detail in Figures 6-9, 14 and 15.

[0047] The upper wire guide portion 110 includes a first wire contacting feature 122 configured to contact the wire 18 at a first location 124. The first wire contacting feature 122 is configured to extend beyond the leading edge 111 of the lower wire guide portion 112 and the channel 108 to contact a portion of the wire 18 positioned distal to a section of the wire 18 positioned inside the channel 108.

[0048] The first wire contact feature 122 is a finger that includes a sloping surface that is inclined or angled downwardly in the direction of the opening 104. The first wire contact feature 122 or finger is positioned laterally above the opening 104. The first wire contact feature 122 is also seen in Figures 4-6 and 8.

[0049] The upper wire guide portion 110 includes a second wire contact mechanism 126 configured to contact the wire 18 at a second location 128. The second wire contact mechanism 126 may be a ceiling 136 of the upper wire guide portion 110 (FIGS. 4 and 5). The second wire contact mechanism 126 may be an inner surface of one or both of the side walls 130, 132 that define the channel 108 (FIGS. 4 and 5). The second wire contact mechanism 126 is configured to contact the wire 18 at a location proximal to the location of the wire 18 at which the first wire contact mechanism 122 is configured to contact the wire 18.

[0050] The first and second wire contact features 122, 126 may act as supports, stops, restraints, or boundaries that limit vertical, horizontal, and / or lateral movement of the wire 18 as it extends from the opening 104 to one or more of the wire fixation features 116, 118, 120. In other words, one or more of the wires 18 may form one or more loops at locations where the wire 18 bends, turns, or changes direction. Having the wire contact features 122, 126 support or contact the wire 18 in these areas where the wire 18 may bend, turn, or change direction limits or prevents the formation of loops. The formation of wire loops is undesirable because it may cause the wire 18 to be unintentionally pulled from inside the patient or anatomy of interest, thereby compromising the position of the wire 18 inside the anatomy. It is therefore desirable to prevent the formation of such wire loops. Additionally, the wire contact mechanisms 122, 126 are configured to apply a frictional force to the wire 18, which acts to inhibit or prevent axial, lateral, or rotational movement of the wire 18 by adding resistance to the wire 18.

[0051] 4 shows the wire fixation device 100 without the wire 18 for clarity. The channel 108 extends along a longitudinal axis A1 that is generally and / or substantially perpendicular to an axis A2 along which the opening 104 extends.

[0052] In addition to the upper wire guide portion 110 and the opposing lower wire guide portion 112 defining the channel 108, the channel 108 also includes opposing side walls 130, 132. The walls 130, 132 are configured to laterally maintain one or more wires 18 within the channel 108 after they have been routed therein. The walls 130, 132 may be generally perpendicular to the upper and lower wire guide portions 110, 112. The walls 130, 132 may be angled relative to the upper and lower wire guide portions 110, 112.

[0053] A side wall 130 (which may also be referred to as a protrusion) extends downwardly from the upper wire guide portion 110 toward, but does not contact, the lower wire guide portion 112. A gap 134 is defined between the lower end of the side wall or protrusion 130 and the lower wire guide portion 112.

[0054] In some configurations, a projection or sidewall 130 may alternatively extend upwardly from the lower wire guide portion 112 towards the upper wire guide portion 110. In such a configuration, a gap 134 will be defined between the end of the sidewall or projection 130 and the upper wire guide portion 110.

[0055] Although a gap or notch is shown between the two sections or portions defining side wall 132, this gap or notch may be eliminated such that there is a single, integral, continuous wall 132.

[0056] 4 also shows the second wire contact feature 126, which may be any part of the ceiling 136 of the upper wire guide portion 110. Additionally or alternatively, the second wire contact feature 126 may be one or both of the inner surfaces 137, 139 of the inwardly facing side walls 130, 132 of the channel 108. The inner surface 137 of the projection 130 is a generally flat, planar surface (see also FIG. 5).

[0057] FIG. 5 shows the device 100 with the cap 105 separated from the body 102. The projection 130 has a curved outer surface 137 facing away from the inside of the channel 108. The wire 18 can be inserted into the channel 108 by pressing against the curved surface 137 and then applying a slight downward force so that the wire 18 slides downward along the curved surface 137 and then enters the channel 108 along the path 135. Once the wire 18 slides into the channel 108, it may snap upward to contact the ceiling 136 of the upper wire guide portion 110. The snap may occur because the wire 18 stores potential energy, similar to a spring, as it bends downward around the projection 130 and then straightens out after being included in the channel 108, and then the potential energy suddenly converts to kinetic energy. Contact of the wire 18 against the ceiling 136 (and / or the bottom surface of the side walls 130, 132 and / or lower wire guide portion 112) may generate or produce an audible click and / or vibration, providing tactile feedback that the wire 18 is positioned in the channel 108.

[0058] Additionally or alternatively, the wire 18 can be inserted into the channel 108 by pressing or pushing it into the channel 108 after aligning it with the gap 134 defined between the upper wire guide portion 110 and the opposing lower wire guide portion 112.

[0059] The body 102 includes an attachment mechanism 138 configured to cooperate with an aperture 140 defined in a tether or strap 142 of the cap 105. This advantageously allows the cap 105 to be removed from the body 102 for cleaning and / or replacement if the cap 105 becomes contaminated, damaged, or worn. In some configurations, the body 102 and the cap 105 may be permanently attached such that the cap 105 cannot be separated from the body 102 without damaging one or both of the cap 105 and the body 102.

[0060] The body 102 includes a flare 144 defined about the opening 104. The flare 144 is configured to cooperate with a corresponding flare engagement feature 146 defined on an underside of the cap 105 to connect the cap 105 to the body 102. The cooperation of the features 144, 146 forms an interference fit that maintains the cap 105 attached to the body 102 during handling of the medical device 10. The cap 105 includes a pull tab 148 that is liftable by a user to aid in removing the cap 105 from the body 102. The cap 105 includes an opening 150 generally aligned with the opening 104 in the body 102 to allow the wire 18 to pass through the cap 105.

[0061] 6 shows a portion of the upper wire guide part 110, illustrating the first and second wire fixing mechanisms 114, 116. The wire fixing mechanism 120 on the lower wire guide part 112 is not shown in this figure, but its structure and function are substantially similar to the first and second wire fixing mechanisms 114, 116. Therefore, any discussion of the structure and function of the first and second wire fixing mechanisms 114, 116 is believed to be applicable to the structure and function of the wire fixing mechanism 120 as well.

[0062] Each of the first and second wire fixation mechanisms 114, 116 includes a slot 152 and a well 154. Each slot 152 extends along a corresponding axis A3 that is substantially perpendicular to axis A1 along which the channel 108 extends. Each slot 152 tapers inwardly from its open end to a corresponding well 154.

[0063] 7, each slot 152 is positioned adjacent a well 154 and includes a tapered wall 156 or undercut that tapers inwardly toward a central axis A3 of the slot 152. The well 154 is larger in size or diameter than the tapered portion 156. The wire 18 can be inserted into the corresponding channel 152 in a direction 157 (FIG. 6), bent around the corresponding tapered wall 156 or undercut in a direction 158 (FIG. 7) and then snap-inserted into the corresponding well 154 to engage the inside of the wire fixation mechanism 114, 116, 120 to limit, prevent or inhibit movement. As the wire 18 bends around the tapered portion 156 and snaps into the well 154, the potential energy stored in the wire 18 may be released, causing or generating an audible click and / or vibration to provide tactile feedback that the wire 18 has engaged with the wire fixing mechanisms 114, 116, 120.

[0064] 8, the channel 152 of the wire fixation feature 114 on the upper wire guide part 110 and the channel 152 of the wire fixation feature 120 on the lower wire guide part 112 are substantially and / or generally aligned on a common axis A4 that is substantially and / or generally perpendicular to the axis A1 of the channel 108. The channel 152 of the wire fixation feature 116 extends along an axis A5 that is substantially and / or generally parallel to the axis A4 and generally and / or substantially perpendicular to the axis A1.

[0065] 9, the body 102 includes one or more snap-fit ​​features or fingers 160. The body 102 includes an edge 162 and a skirt including three walls or surfaces 164a, 164b, 164c that surround the opening 104. In the device 100, there is no skirt surface at the edge 162. The skirt surfaces 164a, 164b, 164c extend downwardly from the opening 104 and are longer than the edge 162.

[0066] Preferably, the body 102 includes three snap-fit ​​features or fingers 160 evenly spaced around the opening 104. However, in some configurations, the body 102 may have fewer than two snap-fit ​​features or fingers 160, or may have more than three snap-fit ​​features or fingers 160. In some configurations, the snap-fit ​​features or fingers 160 may not be evenly spaced around the opening 104.

[0067] The snap-fit ​​mechanism or fingers 160 are configured to be at least partially biasable, flexible, and / or resilient, and are configured to at least partially deflect outwardly away from the center of the opening 104 when the wire fixation device 100 initially contacts or engages the access port 16 of the medical device 10 (FIGS. 1, 2, 10) upon installation of the wire fixation device 100 onto the medical device 10.

[0068] Additionally, the snap-fit ​​mechanism or fingers 160 are configured to deflect outwardly away from the center of the opening 104 upon initiation of removal or detachment of the wire fixation device 100 from the access port 16 of the medical device 10 (FIGS. 1, 2, 11) so that the wire fixation device 100 can be separated from the medical device 10.

[0069] 1, 2, and 10, the wire fixation device 100 can be mounted to the medical device 10 according to a method. The method may include one or more of the steps disclosed herein. The wire fixation device 100 can be attached or mounted to the medical device 10 by alignment with the access port 16 of the medical device 10. The wire fixation device 100 can be aligned with the medical device 10 such that the skirt surfaces 164a, 164b, 164c and the edge 162 surround the access port 16. The wire fixation device 100 can then be moved downwardly in the direction 155 into the access port 16 until the snap-fit ​​feature or fingers 160 contact the ring 24. Continued downward movement of the device 100 in the direction 155 into the access port 16 moves or forces the fingers 160 to expand outwardly away from the opening 104, allowing room for the access port 16 to fit between the fingers 160.

[0070] Further downward movement of the wire fixation device 100 into the access port 16 causes the fingers 160 to eventually resiliently deflect or snap back inward toward the opening 104 into their steady state positions. The fingers 160 may be adapted to click or snap back against the underside of the base 22 and / or ring 24, which may result in an audible click, tactile sound, or vibration so that the user knows the device 100 is installed and properly positioned on the medical instrument 10.

[0071] The snap-fit ​​feature or fingers 160 may have undercuts or tabs 166 configured to engage a bottom surface of the ring 24 to secure and maintain the connection of the wire securement device 100 on the access port 16 and the medical device 10 (see FIGS. 12 and 13). Additionally, the skirt surfaces 164a, 164b, 164c surrounding the access port 16 may function as an anti-rotation feature configured to limit or prevent rotation of the wire securement device 100 relative to or about the access port 16.

[0072] 11, to remove or separate the wire fixation device 100 from the medical device 10, a user may grasp the wire fixation device 100 and push or apply a rocking or pivoting force to the body 102, arm, or wire guide 106 in direction 157, causing the wire fixation device 100 to tilt, rock, or pivot on or around edge 162 (see also FIG. 9) and then be separated from the medical device 10.

[0073] 12, a force F applied to the device 100 and / or fingers 160 in the direction 157 during this tilting, pushing, pivoting, and / or rocking motion will cause the fingers 160, along with the undercut features 166, to deflect and expand outwardly away from the opening 104 and away from each other, thereby moving away from the base 22 and providing sufficient space to allow the wire fixation device 100 to disengage from the ring 24 and be separated from the medical device 10.

[0074] 13, if a force F' is applied to the device 100 or fingers 160 that is not directed toward the edge 162 (i.e., if force F' is in direction 159 or perpendicular and is not a pushing force toward the edge 162 as in FIG. 12, nor is it an oblique or rocking force), the corresponding snap-fit ​​feature, finger 160, or undercut 166 will prevent force F' from being transmitted upwardly, limiting or preventing removal or separation of the wire fixation device 100 from the medical device 10. Instead, the ring 24 of the access port 16 will press against one or more of the snap-fit ​​features or fingers 160, thereby increasing the grip of the wire fixation device 100 on the medical device 10.

[0075] 14 and 15 each show the wire fixation device 100 with the three wires 18, 18', 18'' engaged with a corresponding one of the wire fixation mechanisms 114, 116, 120, respectively.

[0076] In one embodiment, the device 100 is designed to remain secured in place at the access port 16 of the medical device 10 under the conditions and forces expected during use, while requiring relatively little force to remove the device 100 when necessary. As mentioned above, the device 100 can also act as a seal that can secure and attach a guidewire in place. To effectively secure the guidewire in place during use, it is important that the securing component is very precisely positioned relative to the port. This can be achieved by combining two components together. However, the combination means that the seal must be able to withstand the forces required to secure the wire without falling out of range, while still being easily removable if the user wishes to remove it.

[0077] In one embodiment, the device 100 is a profile-matching skirt that extends downward and around the access port 16 of the medical device 10 when secured to the medical device 10. As shown in FIGS. 9-11, the profile extends downward on three sides but not on the fourth, allowing for easy removal of the device 100. If the skirt extended in a different configuration, the fixation would be unstable or difficult to remove from the medical device 10. The inner surface of the skirt presses against the access port 16 of the medical device 10 to prevent the fixation from rotating axially around the access port 16 when the user engages the wires in the fixation mechanism. Torque is generated about the central axis of the biopsy channel port to engage or remove the wires, and the skirt distributes the force evenly around the medical device 10 (e.g., the handle of the endoscope), minimizing damage to the endoscope and device 100.

[0078] The skirt can also limit the possible orientations when connecting the device 100. Both rotational and lateral control ensures that the connection mechanism is properly aligned and that the device 100 is oriented with the wires pointing forward and to the right of the user, which is the most common location where an assistant will be during a medical procedure.

[0079] It is understood that the steps of the methods disclosed herein may be performed in virtually any order. Furthermore, one or more of the following method steps may be combined with other steps, omitted or eliminated, repeated, and / or separated into individual or additional steps.

[0080] The descriptions and illustrations provided herein are intended to enable others skilled in the art to understand the invention, its principles, and its application. The above description is intended to be illustrative and not limiting. Those skilled in the art may adapt and apply the invention in its various forms, as may be best suited to the requirements of a particular use.

[0081] Thus, the specific embodiments of the present invention described above are in no way exhaustive or limiting of the present teachings. As such, the scope of the present teachings should be determined not with reference to the above description, but instead with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. The omission in the following claims of any aspect of the subject matter disclosed herein should not be construed as a disclaimer of such subject matter or as not being considered by the inventors as part of the subject matter disclosed in the present invention.

[0082] Multiple elements or steps may be provided by a single integrated element or step, or a single element or step may be divided into multiple separate elements or steps.

[0083] The disclosure of "a" or "one" when describing an element or step is not intended to exclude additional elements or steps.

[0084] In this specification, terms such as "first", "second", "third" and the like may be used to describe various elements, components, regions, layers, and / or sections, but these elements, components, regions, layers, and / or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms may be used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer, or section from another region, layer, or section. When used in this specification, the numerals "first", "second", and the like do not imply any sequence or order unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer, or section described below may be referred to as a second element, component, region, layer, or section without departing from the present teachings.

[0085] Spatially relative terms such as "inner," "outer," "beneath," "below," "lower," "above," and "upper" may be used herein to facilitate the description of the relationship of one element or feature to another element or feature as shown in the drawings. Spatially relative terms may be intended to include different orientations of the device during use or operation in addition to the orientation shown in the drawings. For example, if the device in the drawings is turned over, an element described as "below" or "beneath" another element or feature would be oriented "above" the other element or feature. Thus, the exemplary term "below" may include both an upper and lower orientation. As used herein, the device may be in a different orientation (such as rotated 90 degrees or other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptions interpreted accordingly.

[0086] Virtually all literature and references, including patent applications and publications, are incorporated herein by reference, and other combinations are possible, as can be seen from the following claims, which are incorporated herein by reference.

Claims

1. an opening configured to allow the wire to extend therethrough; an edge extending downwardly a first distance; a plurality of downwardly extending fingers; a skirt having three surfaces surrounding the opening and extending downwardly a third distance away from the opening that is greater than the first distance, the skirt being connected to the edge and in combination with the edge surrounding the opening and at least a portion of the plurality of fingers, the edge being spaced from the opening; An apparatus comprising a body including:

2. 10. The device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of fingers are configured to engage an access port of a medical device.

3. 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said fingers are equally spaced around said opening.

4. 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the fingers are configured to be partially biasable, flexible, or resilient.

5. 3. The device of claim 2, wherein the fingers are configured to deflect outwardly away from a center of the opening when the device contacts the access port of the medical device during attachment or detachment from the medical device.

6. 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the plurality of fingers comprises three fingers.

7. 13. A method comprising attaching the device of claim 1 to the medical device by aligning the device with an access port of the medical device such that a skirt surface and edge surround the access port of the medical device.

8. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said skirt combines with said edge to encircle said plurality of fingers.

9. 10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of fingers have a downwardly extending, curvilinear configuration.

10. 10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein a portion of one of the plurality of fingers is disposed between the edge and the opening.

11. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein one of said surfaces of said skirt has a curved configuration that curves around said opening.

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