Endoscopic helix tissue grasping device
An endoscopic tissue grasper device includes a flexible tubular member, a flexible shaft extending through the tubular member, a proximal handle for moving the shaft and tubular member relative to each other, and a distal helical coil having a sharpened end for engaging tissue. The helical coil has a proximal close wound portion, a distal open wound portion, and an intermediate transition portion between the proximal and distal portions. The flexible shaft extends into the proximal and intermediate portions and is secured thereto, which prevents tissue engaged by the helical coil from becoming wedged in the transition portion and thereby facilitates release of the coil from engaged tissue. In addition, a bearing sheath is provided between the shaft and tubular member to prevent the shaft from binding during operation.
1. An endoscopic tissue grasper for use through the instrument channel of an endoscope, the endoscope capable of being bent from straight to curved and back again such that the instrument channel is also deformable from a straight pathway to a curved pathway, said grasper comprising:
a) a flexible tubular member having a proximal end, a distal end, an outer diameter, and a flexibility, said outer diameter sized to be receiving through the instrument channel, and said flexibility suitable for being advanced through the curved instrument channel;
b) a flexible actuation member extending through the tubular member and having a proximal end and distal end;
c) a tissue engaging helical coil member including a plurality of windings terminating in a sharpened distal tip, said helical coil member fixed at said distal end of said actuation member;
d) a bearing sleeve having a proximal end and a distal end and a length therebetween, the bearing sleeve being fixed at said proximal end of said helical coil member and provided between said actuation member and said tubular member;
e) a bearing sheath having a proximal end and a distal end and a length therebetween and being separate from said bearing sleeve and closely provided about said actuation member and retained within said tubular member;
f) a handle coupled to said proximal ends of said tubular member and said actuation member, said handle adapted to longitudinally displace said helical coil member between a shielded position proximal said distal end of said tubular member and a deployed position in which said sharpened distal end of said helical member is advanced relative to said distal end of said tubular member, and said handle also adapted to rotate said actuation member relative to said tubular member such that said helical coil member can be axially rotated in said deployed position; and
g) in both the shielded position and the deployed position the entire length of the bearing sheath is retained proximal of said bearing sleeve.
2. An endoscopic tissue grasper according to claim 1 , wherein:
said actuation member has a length extending within said flexible tubular member, and said bearing sheath extends along a portion of said length.
3. An endoscopic tissue grasper according to claim 2 , wherein:
said bearing sheath extends along at least 80 percent of said length of said actuation member.
4. An endoscopic tissue grasper according to claim 2 , wherein:
said bearing sheath extends along at least 90 percent of said length of said actuation member.
5. An endoscopic tissue grasper according to claim 1 , wherein:
said handle includes a stationary portion and a movable portion movable relative to said stationary portion,
said stationary portion including a main body with a receiving cavity defining a proximal groove and a distal groove, and
said movable portion defining a proximal manual knob, a shaft extending from said knob into said cavity, arms extending from said shaft, and tabs at respective ends of said arms for engagement with said proximal and distal grooves, said movable portion defining an axis, wherein
when said tabs are in said proximal groove said helical coil member is in said retracted position,
when said tabs are in said distal groove said helical coil member is in said deployed position, and
rotation of said knob relative to said stationary portion causes said axial rotation of said helical coil member.
6. An endoscopic tissue grasper according to claim 5 , wherein:
said arms comprise first and second opposed arms, said first arm including a first guide, and said second arm including a second guide longitudinally displaced from said first guide, wherein said first and second guides together extend 360° about said actuation member in a close fitting configuration to retain a lateral position of said actuation member relative to said movable member.
7. An endoscopic tissue grasper according to claim 6 , wherein:
said first and second guides are each one of J-shaped and L-shaped.
8. An endoscopic tissue grasper for use through the instrument channel of an endoscope, the endoscope capable of being bent from straight to curved and back again such that the instrument channel is also deformable from a straight pathway to a curved pathway, said grasper comprising:
a) a flexible tubular member having a proximal end, a distal end, an outer diameter, and a flexibility, said outer diameter sized to be receiving through the instrument channel, and said flexibility suitable for being advanced through the curved instrument channel;
b) a flexible actuation member extending through the tubular member and having a proximal end and distal end, and a length defined along a portion of said actuation member extending within said flexible tubular member;
c) a tissue engaging helical coil member terminating in a sharpened distal tip, said helical coil member attached to said distal end of said actuation member;
d) a bearing sleeve having a proximal end, a distal end and a length therebetween, said bearing sleeve being fixed at said proximal end of said helical coil member and provided radially between said actuation member and said tubular member;
e) a bearing sheath having a proximal end, a distal end, and a length therebetween, said bearing sheath being provided radially between said actuation member and said tubular member and extending longitudinally along a majority of said length of said actuation member; and
f) a handle coupled to said proximal ends of said tubular member and said actuation member, said handle adapted to longitudinally displace said helical coil member between a shielded position proximal said distal end of said tubular member and a deployed position in which said sharpened distal end of said helical coil member is advanced relative to said distal end of said tubular member, and said handle also adapted to rotate said actuation member relative to said tubular member such that said helical coil member is axially rotated in said deployed position, said handle including, a stationary portion and a movable portion movable relative to said stationary portion, said stationary portion including a main body with a receiving cavity defining a proximal groove and a distal groove, and said movable portion defining a proximal manual knob, a shaft extending from said knob into said cavity, first and second opposed arms extending from said shaft, said first arm including a first guide, and said second arm including a second guide longitudinally displaced from said first guide, wherein said first and second guides together extend 360° about said actuation member in a close fitting configuration to retain a lateral position of said actuation member relative to said movable member, said first and second arms further including tabs for engagement with said proximal and distal grooves, wherein when said tabs are in said proximal groove said helical member is in said retracted position, when said tabs are in said distal groove said helical member is in said deployed position, and rotation of said knob relative to said stationary portion causes said axial rotation of said helical member; and
g) in both the shielded position and the deployed position the entire length of the bearing sheath is retained proximal of said bearing sleeve.
9. An endoscopic tissue grasper for use through the instrument channel of an endoscope, the endoscope capable of being bent from straight to curved and back again such that the instrument channel is also deformable from a straight pathway to a curved pathway, said grasper comprising:
a) a flexible tubular member having a proximal end, a distal end, an outer diameter, and a flexibility, said outer diameter sized to be receiving through the instrument channel, and said flexibility suitable for being advanced through the curved instrument channel;
b) a flexible actuation member extending through the tubular member and having a proximal end and distal end;
c) a tissue engaging helical coil member including a plurality of windings terminating in a sharpened distal tip, said helical coil member attached to said distal end of said actuation member;
d) a bearing sleeve having a proximal end, a distal end, and a length therebetween, said bearing sleeve being fixed at said proximal end of said helical coil member and provided between said actuation member and said tubular member;
e) a bearing sheath having a proximal end, a distal end, and a length therebetween, said bearing sheath free floating between said actuation member and said tubular member; and
f) a handle coupled to said proximal ends of said tubular member and said actuation member, said handle adapted to longitudinally displace said helical coil member between a shielded position proximal said distal end of said tubular member and a deployed position in which said sharpened distal end of said helical member is advanced relative to said distal end of said tubular member, and said handle also adapted to rotate said actuation member relative to said tubular member such that said helical coil member can be axially rotated in said deployed position,
wherein in both the shielded proximal position and the deployed position the entire length of the bearing sheath is longitudinally retained between the handle and the bearing sleeve, and wherein the tubular member is closely fit about both the bearing sleeve and the bearing sheath.
10. An endoscopic tissue grasper according to claim 9 , wherein:
said actuation member has a length extending within said flexible tubular member, and said bearing sheath extends along a portion of said length.
11. An endoscopic tissue grasper according to claim 10 , wherein:
said bearing sheath extends along a majority of said length of said actuation member.
12. An endoscopic tissue grasper according to claim 11 , wherein:
said bearing sheath extends along at least 80 percent of said length of said actuation member.
13. An endoscopic tissue grasper according to claim 11 , wherein:
said bearing sheath extends along at least 90 percent of said length of said actuation member.
14. An endoscopic tissue grasper according to claim 9 , wherein:
said handle includes a stationary portion and a movable portion movable relative to said stationary portion,
said stationary portion including a main body with a receiving cavity defining a proximal groove and a distal groove, and
said movable portion defining a proximal manual knob, a shaft extending from said knob into said cavity, arms extending from said shaft, and tabs at respective ends of said arms for engagement with said proximal and distal grooves, said movable portion defining an axis, wherein
when said tabs are in said proximal groove said helical coil member is in said retracted position,
when said tabs are in said distal groove said helical coil member is in said deployed position, and
rotation of said knob relative to said stationary portion causes said axial rotation of said helical coil member.
15. An endoscopic tissue grasper according to claim 14 , wherein:
said arms comprise first and second opposed arms, said first arm including a first guide, and said second arm including a second guide longitudinally displaced from said first guide, wherein said first and second guides together extend 360° about said actuation member in a close fitting configuration to retain a lateral position of said actuation member relative to said movable member.
16. An endoscopic tissue grasper according to claim 15 , wherein:
said first and second guides are each one of J-shaped and L-shaped.