Endoscope overtube for insertion through a natural body orifice
View Patent ↗An endoscope overtube includes a flexible tubular member and a hub assembly provided at the proximal end of the tubular member. The hub assembly includes an elastic sleeve seal cuff extending about the inner surface of a body member of the hub. The ends of seal cuff are coupled to the body member. An inflation line extends into the body member in communication with the outer surface of the seal cuff. When fluid is pressurized through the inflation line, the cuff is distended inward to reduce the size of the opening through the port such that the cuff forms a seal about an endoscope received through the hub. The body member is preferably coupled to each of the flexible tubular member and to the elastic seal cuff using a snap-fit engagement of parts such that no fasteners, welds, glues, etc. are necessary for securing the hub assembly together.
1. An overtube for use with an endoscope and for insertion through a patient's natural body orifice, said overtube comprising:
a) a tubular member having a proximal portion and a distal portion, and a length therebetween sufficient to extend from a patient's mouth to a patient's stomach, said tubular member defining a central passage for receiving the endoscope therethrough; and
b) a hub assembly coupled to said proximal portion of said tubular member, said hub assembly including
a rigid body member having an inner surface defining an interior opening with a first diameter, an exterior surface, and a fluid connector,
a flexible sleeve extending within said inner surface of said body member, said sleeve having an outer surface, an inner surface, and first and second ends, said first and second ends coupled relative to said body member, with said first and second ends of said sleeve everted onto the exterior surface of said body member and fixed relative to said body member, and said outer surface of said sleeve and said inner surface of said body member are in communication with said fluid connector,
a tube collar assembly coupled at said first end of said body member, said tube collar assembly connecting said tubular member relative to said hub assembly, and including an inner collar that partly extends into said proximal portion of said tubular member, and an outer collar that extends over said proximal portion of said tubular member and said inner collar to fixedly engage said proximal portion of said tubular member between and to said inner and outer collars, said inner and outer collars directly connected together, and
wherein when a fluid is provided under pressure through said fluid connector, said sleeve distends radially inward to define a second diameter smaller than said first diameter such that when the endoscope is inserted through the hub and the sleeve distends to define the second diameter, the sleeve is provided in contact about an exterior surface of the endoscope.
2. An overtube according to claim 1 , wherein:
when there is no fluid between said outer surface of said sleeve and said inner surface of said body member, said outer surface of said sleeve is in contact with said inner surface of said body member along substantially an entirety of said central passage, and
when fluid is provided between said outer surface of said sleeve and said inner surface of said body member, said outer surface of said sleeve at least along a longitudinally central portion of said sleeve is displaced from said inner surface of said body member.
3. An overtube according to claim 1 , wherein:
said first and second ends of said sleeve are provided with respective first and second O-rings, and said body member includes first and second ends defining respective first and second circumferential grooves, and said first O-ring is received in said first circumferential groove, and said second O-ring is received in said second circumferential groove.
4. An overtube according to claim 3 , wherein:
said first and second circumferential grooves are located on an exterior surface of said body member.
5. An overtube according to claim 1 , wherein said hub assembly further a hub collar coupled at said second end of said body member.
6. An overtube according to claim 4 , wherein:
said first O-ring is secured in said first groove by said tube collar assembly, and said second O-ring is secured in said second groove by a hub collar at said second end of said body member.
7. An overtube according to claim 5 , wherein:
said hub collar is snap fit to said second end of said body member.
8. An overtube according to claim 1 , wherein:
said body member is longitudinally symmetrical.
9. An overtube according to claim 1 , wherein:
said tubular member is reinforced to remain patent and longitudinally stiff during insertion into the natural orifice, while remaining sufficiently laterally flexible for insertion through a non-straight natural orifice.
10. An overtube according to claim 1 , wherein:
said tubular member comprises a polymer reinforced with a metal coil.
11. An overtube according to claim 1 , wherein:
said sleeve is elastic.
12. An overtube according to claim 11 , wherein:
said sleeve comprises one of polyisoprene and latex.
13. An overtube according to claim 1 , in combination with said endoscope, wherein when said endoscope extends through said hub assembly and said fluid is provided under pressure through said fluid connector, said sleeve distends radially inward to form a seal about said endoscope.
14. An overtube for use with an endoscope having an exterior surface and for insertion through a patient's natural body orifice, said overtube comprising:
a) a tubular member having a proximal portion and a distal portion, and a length therebetween sufficient to extend from a patient's mouth to a patient's stomach, said tubular member defining a central passage for receiving the endoscope therethrough; and
b) a hub assembly coupled to said proximal portion, said hub assembly including
a rigid body member having a first end, a second end, an inner surface defining a smooth central passage, an exterior surface, and a fluid connector,
a flexible sleeve extending within said central passage of said body member, said sleeve having an outer surface, an inner surface, and first and second ends, said first and second ends coupled relative to said body member, with said first end of the sleeve provided everted onto the exterior surface of the body member, and said outer surface of said sleeve and said inner surface of said body member are in communication with said fluid connector,
an inner collar partly extending into said proximal portion of said tubular member,
an outer collar extending over said proximal portion of said tubular member and said inner collar to engage said proximal portion of said tubular body to dispose the proximal portion between said inner and outer collars, said outer collar further coupled to said first end of said body member,
said inner collar coupled in a snap-fit engagement to said first end of said body member to lock said first end of said flexible sleeve in place, and said inner and outer collars are coupled in a snap-fit engagement to fix said proximal portion of said tubular member therebetween, and
a proximal hub collar defining a proximal mouth through said hub, said hub collar coupled to said second end of said body member,
wherein when a fluid is provided under pressure through said fluid connector, said sleeve distends radially inward to define an opening smaller than said central passage such that when the endoscope is inserted through the hub and the sleeve distends to define the second diameter, the sleeve is provided in contact about the exterior surface of the endoscope.
15. An overtube according to claim 14 , wherein:
said outer collar is coupled in a snap-fit engagement to said inner collar, and
said hub collar is coupled in a snap-fit engagement to said second end of said body member.
16. An overtube according to claim 15 , wherein:
said inner collar includes an external barb that is inserted into said proximal end of said tubular member.
17. An overtube according to claim 14 , wherein:
said inner collar includes a circumferential retaining groove, and said outer collar includes catches that engage said retaining groove of said inner collar to couple said inner and outer collars in said snap-fit engagement.
18. An overtube according to claim 15 , wherein:
said inner collar has a proximal flange including a plurality of radially displaced engagement windows, and said first end of said body member includes a plurality of catch barbs that engage within said engagement windows to couple said inner collar and said body member in a snap-fit engagement.
19. An overtube according to claim 15 , wherein:
said hub collar includes a plurality of radially displaced engagement windows, and said second end of said body member includes a plurality of catch barbs that engage within said engagement windows of said hub collar to couple said hub collar and said body member in a snap-fit engagement.
20. An overtube according to claim 14 , wherein:
said body member is longitudinally symmetrical.
21. An overtube according to claim 14 , wherein:
said tubular member is reinforced to remain patent and longitudinally stiff during insertion into the natural orifice, while remaining sufficiently laterally flexible for insertion through a non-straight natural orifice.
22. An overtube according to claim 14 , in combination with said endoscope, wherein when said endoscope extends through said hub assembly and said fluid is provided under pressure through said fluid connector, said sleeve distends radially inward to form a seal about said endoscope.