Force gauge and method of use
The present disclosure relates generally to the field of medical devices and methods to assist in the introduction of an instrument into a patient, and more particularly to medical devices for measuring and/or monitoring forces applied during introduction of an access sheath through a body lumen.
1. A medical device, comprising:
an access sheath;
a dilator disposed within a lumen of the access sheath, the dilator having a tapered end to facilitate atraumatic advancement through a body passage; and
a force gauge disposed on a proximal portion of the access sheath, the force gauge comprising:
a grip slidably disposed over the access sheath;
a spring disposed within a lumen of the grip;
a cap reversibly attached to the access sheath and distal to the spring;
wherein:
at least a portion of the cap extends into the lumen of the grip for slidable movement therein as the dilator is advanced through a body passage; and
a plurality of indicators on an outer surface of the grip correlate the relative positions of the grip and the cap to a restoring force of the spring as the cap moves with respect to the grip upon the dilator contacting an obstruction.
2. The medical device of claim 1 , wherein a proximal end of the grip includes a spring abutment surface configured to contact a proximal end of the spring within the lumen of the grip, and wherein a proximal end of the cap includes a spring abutment surface configured to contact a distal end of the spring within the lumen of the grip.
3. The medical device of claim 1 , wherein the grip is configured to move relative to the cap to change a height of the spring within the lumen of the grip.
4. The medical device of claim 1 , wherein an initial height of the spring within the lumen of the grip is equal to a free length of the spring.
5. The medical device of claim 1 , wherein an initial height of the spring within the lumen of the grip is less than a free length of the spring.
6. The medical device of claim 1 , wherein the access sheath includes a surface feature configured to engage a corresponding mating feature of the cap.
7. The medical device of claim 6 , wherein the surface feature includes a protrusion and the mating feature includes a snap window.
8. A medical device, comprising:
an access sheath;
a dilator disposed within a lumen of the access sheath; and
a force gauge disposed on a proximal portion of the access sheath, the force gauge comprising:
a grip slidably disposed over the access sheath;
a spring disposed within a lumen of the grip;
a cap rotatably attached to the access sheath and distal to the spring to alter the height of the spring, wherein at least a portion of the cap extends into the lumen of the grip; and
a plurality of indicators on an outer surface of the cap correlating the relative positions of the grip and the cap to a restoring force of the spring.
9. The medical device of claim 8 , wherein a proximal end of the grip includes a spring abutment surface configured to contact a proximal end of the spring within the lumen of the grip, and a proximal end of the cap includes a spring abutment surface configured to contact a distal end of the spring within the lumen of the grip.
10. The medical device of claim 8 , wherein the grip is configured to move relative to the cap to change a height of the spring within the lumen of the grip.
11. The medical device of claim 8 , wherein an initial height of the spring within the lumen of the grip is equal to a free length of the spring.
12. The medical device of claim 8 , wherein an initial height of the spring within the lumen of the grip is less than a free length of the spring.
13. The medical device of claim 8 , wherein the access sheath includes a surface feature configured to engage a corresponding mating feature of the cap.