Rotate-to-advance catheterization system

1. A method for visualizing the interior of a bodily passageway at a remote location, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a visualization system for deployment in the bodily passageway, the visualization system comprising:

a tube;

visualization apparatus disposed within the lumen of the tube; and

a deformable helical thread disposed on the exterior surface of the tube, the deformable helical thread having a sufficient structural integrity, and a sufficient surface profile, such that when the tube is disposed in the bodily passageway so that the deformable helical thread engages the interior side wall of the bodily passageway, rotation of the tube will induce a relative movement between the tube and the side wall of the bodily passageway;

inserting the visualization system into the bodily passageway at a location remote from the site which is to be visualized, with the deformable helical thread being in a reduced profile configuration;

transforming the deformable helical thread into an expanded profile configuration;

wherein the deformable helical thread is transformed from its reduced profile configuration to its expanded profile configuration by delivery of a fluid to the interior of the deformable helical thread;

rotating the tube so as to induce relative movement between the bodily passageway and the tube, whereby to move the visualization apparatus and the site which is to be visualized closer together; and

using the visualization apparatus to visualize the interior of the bodily passageway.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the walls of the bodily passageway are pleated on to the tube during rotation of the tube.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein the method comprises the subsequent steps of:

transforming the deformable helical thread into a reduced profile configuration; and

withdrawing the visualization system from the bodily passageway.

4. A method according to claim 1 wherein the deformable helical thread is transformed from a reduced profile configuration to an expanded profile configuration by at least one form of energy.

5. A method according to claim 4 wherein the at least one form of energy comprises one from the group consisting of hydraulic pressure, pneumatic pressure, body heat and electricity.

6. A method according to claim 1 wherein the tube comprises a convoluted tube.

7. A method according to claim 6 wherein an outer jacket is disposed on at least a portion of the exterior of the convoluted tube, wherein the deformable helical thread is disposed on at least a portion of the outer jacket, such that a helical tunnel is formed between the exterior of the convoluted tube and the outer jacket.

8. A method according to claim 7 wherein a fluid is delivered through the helical tunnel so as to transform the deformable helical thread from its reduced profile configuration to its expanded profile configuration.

9. A method according to claim 1 wherein the tube comprises a corrugated tube with at least one channel formed therein.

10. A method according to claim 9 wherein an outer jacket is disposed on at least a portion of the exterior of the corrugated tube, wherein the deformable helical thread is disposed on at least a portion of the outer jacket, such that a tunnel is formed between the exterior of the corrugated tube and the outer jacket.

11. A method according to claim 1 wherein the bodily passageway comprises the gastrointestinal tract.

12. A method according to claim 11 wherein the bodily passageway comprises the small bowel.

13. A method according to claim 11 wherein the visualization system is inserted into the gastrointestinal tract in an antegrade fashion.

14. A method according to claim 11 wherein the visualization system is inserted into the gastrointestinal tract in a retrograde fashion.

15. A method according to claim 1 wherein the bodily passageway comprises the genitourinary tract.

16. A method according to claim 1 wherein the bodily passageway comprises a man-made opening.

17. A method according to claim 1 wherein the tube comprises a flexible tube.

18. A method according to claim 1 wherein the tube is rotated by a powered driver.

19. A method according to claim 1 wherein the visualization apparatus comprises an endoscope.

20. A method according to claim 1 wherein the visualization apparatus is positioned in the tube before the tube is placed in the passageway.

21. A method according to claim 1 wherein the visualization apparatus is positioned in the tube after the tube is placed in the passageway.

22. A method according to claim 1 wherein the tube rotates independently of the visualization apparatus.

23. A method according to claim 1 wherein the visualization apparatus may be releasably locked to the tube so that longitudinal motion of the tube results in longitudinal motion of the visualization apparatus.

24. A method according to claim 1 wherein the visualization apparatus terminates substantially flush with the tube.

25. A method according to claim 1 wherein the visualization apparatus extends beyond the tube.

26. A method according to claim 1 wherein, after a portion of the bodily passageway has been drawn onto the tube, the visualization apparatus is advanced further into the bodily passageway relative to the tube.

27. A method according to claim 1 wherein, after a portion of the bodily passageway has been drawn onto the tube, the tube is rotated in an opposite direction so as to displace the bodily passageway off the tube.

28. Apparatus for visualizing tissue, the apparatus comprising:

a tube sized to receive visualization apparatus disposed within the lumen of the tube; and

a deformable helical thread disposed on the exterior surface of the tube, the deformable helical thread (i) being transformable between a reduced profile configuration and an expanded profile configuration, and (ii) when in its expanded profile configuration, having a sufficient structural integrity, and a sufficient surface profile, such that when the tube is disposed in a bodily passageway so that the deformable helical thread engages the interior side wall of the bodily passageway, rotation of the tube will induce a relative movement between the tube and the side wall of the bodily passageway;

wherein the deformable helical thread is transformed from its reduced profile configuration to its expanded profile configuration by delivery of a fluid to the interior of the deformable helical thread.

29. Apparatus according to claim 28 wherein the deformable helical thread is transformed from its reduced profile configuration to its expanded profile configuration by at least one form of energy.

30. Apparatus according to claim 29 wherein the at least one form of energy comprises one from the group consisting of hydraulic pressure, pneumatic pressure, body heat and electricity.

31. Apparatus according to claim 28 wherein the tube comprises a convoluted tube.

32. Apparatus according to claim 31 wherein an outer jacket is disposed on at least a portion of the exterior of the convoluted tube, wherein the deformable helical thread is disposed on at least a portion of the outer jacket, such that a helical tunnel is formed between the exterior of the convoluted tube and the outer jacket.

33. Apparatus according to claim 28 wherein the tube comprises a corrugated tube.

34. Apparatus according to claim 33 wherein an outer jacket is disposed on at least a portion of the exterior of the corrugated tube, wherein the deformable helical thread is disposed on at least a portion of the outer jacket, such that a tunnel is formed between the exterior of the corrugated tube and the outer jacket.

35. Apparatus according to claim 28 wherein the apparatus comprises visualization apparatus disposed within the lumen of the tube.

36. Apparatus according to claim 28 wherein the helical thread comprises a hollow construction.

37. Apparatus according to claim 28 wherein the helical thread has a semi-ovoid cross-sectional thread profile.

38. Apparatus according to claim 28 wherein the helical thread has a non-symmetrical cross-section.

39. Apparatus according to claim 28 wherein the helical thread has a profile which varies along the length of the helix.

40. A method for accessing the interior of a bodily passageway at a remote location, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a system for deployment in the bodily passageway, the system comprising:

a tube; and

a deformable helical thread disposed on the exterior surface of the tube, the deformable helical thread having a sufficient structural integrity, and a sufficient surface profile, such that when the tube is disposed in the bodily passageway so that the deformable helical thread engages the interior side wall of the bodily passageway, rotation of the tube will induce a relative movement between the tube and the side wall of the bodily passageway;

inserting the system into the bodily passageway at a location remote from the site which is to be accessed, with the deformable helical thread being in a reduced profile configuration;

transforming the deformable helical thread into an expanded profile configuration;

wherein the deformable helical thread is transformed from its reduced profile configuration to its expanded profile configuration by delivery of a fluid to the interior of the deformable helical thread; and

rotating the tube so as to induce relative movement between the bodily passageway and the tube, whereby to move the apparatus and the site which is to be accessed closer together.

41. Apparatus for accessing tissue, the apparatus comprising:

a flexible tube; and

a deformable helical thread disposed on the exterior surface of the tube, the deformable helical thread (i) being transformable between a reduced profile configuration and an expanded profile configuration, and (ii) when in its expanded profile configuration, having a sufficient structural integrity, and a sufficient surface profile, such that when the tube is disposed in a bodily passageway so that the deformable helical thread engages the interior side wall of the bodily passageway, rotation of the tube will induce a relative movement between the tube and the side wall of the bodily passageway;

wherein the deformable helical thread is transformed from its reduced profile configuration to its expanded profile configuration by delivery of a fluid to the interior of the deformable helical thread.

42. A method for visualizing the interior of a bodily passageway at a remote location, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a visualization system for deployment in the bodily passageway, the visualization system comprising:

a convoluted tube;

visualization apparatus disposed within the lumen of the tube; and

a deformable helical thread disposed on the exterior surface of the tube, the deformable helical thread having a sufficient structural integrity, and a sufficient surface profile, such that when the tube is disposed in the bodily passageway so that the deformable helical thread engages the interior side wall of the bodily passageway, rotation of the tube will induce a relative movement between the tube and the side wall of the bodily passageway;

wherein an outer jacket is disposed on at least a portion of the exterior of the convoluted tube, wherein the deformable helical thread is disposed on at least a portion of the outer jacket, such that a helical tunnel is formed between the exterior of the convoluted tube and the outer jacket;

inserting the visualization system into the bodily passageway at a location remote from the site which is to be visualized, with the deformable helical thread being in a reduced profile configuration;

transforming the deformable helical thread into an expanded profile configuration;

wherein a fluid is delivered through the helical tunnel so as to transform the deformable helical thread from its reduced profile configuration to its expanded profile configuration;

rotating the tube so as to induce relative movement between the bodily passageway and the tube, whereby to move the visualization apparatus and the site which is to be visualized closer together; and

using the visualization apparatus to visualize the interior of the bodily passageway.