Real-time sampling system

1 . An apparatus comprising:

a coupling configured to join a control device for an elongated instrument with a port of an insertion device, the insertion device being configured to convey the elongated instrument to a target location;

a bushing including a cylindrical tube that extends from the coupling and configured to be inserted within an opening in the port of the insertion device, the elongated instrument being movably extendable through the bushing;

a first sealing member affixed circumferentially around and in fixed physical contact with an outer cylindrical surface of the cylindrical tube forming the bushing adjacent a distal end of the bushing and including an angled sealing surface forming a distal end of the first sealing member to seal the outer cylindrical surface of the bushing against an inner surface of the opening in the port; and

a second sealing member forming a proximal end surface of the bushing and configured to slidably receive an outer surface of the elongated instrument to form a movable seal between the outer surface of the elongated instrument and an inner surface of the proximal end of the bushing.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first sealing member includes a gasket disposed on the outer surface of the bushing.

3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second sealing member includes an O-ring configured to allow the elongated instrument to slidably move within an inner diameter of the O-ring.

4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the elongated instrument includes a sheath defining at least one lumen through which at least one elongated member is extendable.

5 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the coupling includes:

an outer housing configured to extend over an adapter that extends from the insertion device; and

a locking mechanism configured to secure the outer housing to the adapter, the locking mechanism being configured to prevent the coupling from being removed from the insertion device without the locking mechanism being disengaged.

6 . The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein:

the adapter includes a shaft having a first outer diameter and a distal flange having a second outer diameter that is larger than the first outer diameter; and

the locking mechanism includes a locking member configured to engage the shaft to prevent the outer housing from being moved away from the distal flange without the locking member being removed from the shaft.

7 . The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the locking member is slidably securable to the outer housing between a first position where the locking member does not engage the shaft and a second position where the locking member engages the shaft.

8 . The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the locking member includes at least one securing mechanism configured to hold the locking member in the second position until the at least one securing mechanism is released.

9 . A system comprising:

an elongated instrument;

a control device movably couplable with the elongated instrument and configured to extend and retract the elongated instrument;

a coupling configured to removably secure the control device with an insertion device, the insertion device being configured to convey the elongated instrument to a target location, the insertion device including a port to receive the elongated instrument therethrough;

a bushing including a cylindrical tube that extends from the coupling and configured to be inserted within an opening in the port of the insertion device, the elongated instrument being movably extendable through the bushing;

a first sealing member affixed circumferentially around an outer cylindrical surface of the cylindrical tube forming the bushing adjacent a distal end of the bushing and including an angled sealing surface forming a distal end of the first sealing member to seal the outer cylindrical surface of the bushing against an inner surface of the opening in the port; and

a second sealing member a portion of which forms a proximalmost end surface of the bushing and configured to slidably receive an outer surface of the elongated instrument to form a movable seal between the outer surface of the elongated instrument and an inner surface of the proximal end of the bushing.

10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the first sealing member includes a gasket disposed on the outer surface of the bushing.

11 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the second sealing member includes an O-ring configured to allow the elongated instrument to slidably move within an inner diameter of the O-ring.

12 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the elongated instrument includes a sheath defining at least one lumen through which at least one elongated member is extendable.

13 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the coupling includes:

an outer housing configured to extend over an adapter that extends from the insertion device; and

a locking mechanism configured to secure the outer housing to the adapter, the locking mechanism being configured to prevent the coupling from being removed from the insertion device without the locking mechanism being disengaged.

14 . The system of claim 13 , wherein:

the adapter includes a shaft having a first outer diameter and a distal flange having a second outer diameter that is larger than the first outer diameter; and

the locking mechanism includes a locking member configured to engage the shaft to prevent the outer housing from being moved away from the distal flange without the locking member being removed from the shaft.

15 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the locking member is slidably securable to the outer housing between a first position where the locking member does not engage the shaft and a second position where the locking member engages the shaft.

16 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the locking member includes at least one securing mechanism configured to hold the locking member in the second position until the at least one securing mechanism is released.

17 . A method comprising:

presenting a coupling adjacent to an opening in a port of an insertion device, the coupling supporting an elongated instrument to be conveyed to a target location by the insertion device;

inserting a bushing including a cylindrical tube into the opening in the insertion device through which the elongated instrument is extendable;

sealing an outer surface of the bushing against the opening to prevent fluid from passing between an inner surface of the opening and the outer surface of the bushing, wherein the sealing the outer surface includes engaging an angled sealing surface forming a distal end of a first sealing member against an inner surface of the opening in the port, wherein the first sealing member is affixed circumferentially around and in physical contact with an outer cylindrical surface of the cylindrical tube forming the bushing adjacent a distal end of the bushing; and

movably sealing using a second sealing member including a portion forming a proximalmost end surface of the bushing, the second sealing member slidably disposed on an outer surface of the elongated instrument to form a movable seal between the outer surface of the elongated instrument and an inner surface of the proximal end of the bushing to prevent the fluid from passing between the outer surface of the elongated instrument and the coupling, such that fluid is sealably prevented from passing into the coupling around the outer surface of the bushing and around the outer surface of the elongated instrument.

18 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising movably sealing the outer surface of the elongated instrument at a location along a surface of the elongated instrument before the elongated instrument enters the bushing.

19 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising:

extending an outer housing of the coupling over an adapter that extends from the insertion device coupling over the port in the insertion device; and

engaging a locking mechanism to secure the coupling to the insertion device, wherein the coupling is not removable from the insertion device without first disengaging the locking mechanism.

20 . The method of claim 19 , further comprising securing the locking mechanism in a locked position.