System and method for rapid shuttling of tools through endoscopes

1. A method of performing an endoscopic procedure, comprising:

a) manually advancing a flexible tube of an endoscope through a patient's natural orifice until a distal end reaches a diagnostic target area;

b) observing an area of the diagnostic target area using a scope having a lens on the distal end of the flexible tube;

c) manually inserting an elongated flexible tool into a port of a proximal handle of the endoscope connected to the flexible tube;

d) activating a prime mover in a tool displacement mechanism attached to the proximal handle of the endoscope to advance the tool through a working channel lumen in the flexible tube;

e) halting advancement of the tool when a distal end effector reaches the distal end of the flexible tube;

f) manually manipulating the end effector to perform a surgical procedure within the diagnostic target area;

g) activating the prime mover to retract the tool through the working channel lumen in the flexible tube;

h) halting retraction of the tool when the distal end effector reaches the proximal handle;

i) detaching the tool displacement mechanism from the proximal handle; and

j) separating a reusable part of the tool displacement mechanism including a prime mover from a disposable part of the tool displacement mechanism, wherein the reusable part includes an enclosed housing within which is housed the prime mover and drive components, and wherein the disposable part includes a housing that is detachably coupled to the enclosed housing and which includes driven components to advance the tool that are driven by the drive components.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the surgical procedure is a biopsy removal wherein the end effector grabs a biopsy sample from within the diagnostic target area, and further including:

k) performing steps d)-h) at least twice, and, after each step h) removing the biopsy sample from the end effector.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the surgical procedure is a colonoscopy, the endoscope is a colonoscope, the natural orifice is the rectum, the diagnostic target area is the patient's colon, the tool is a biopsy forceps, and the surgical procedure is taking a biopsy sample from within the colon.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the disposable part includes aligned ports through which the tool passes and wiper seals positioned in the aligned ports for sealing around the tool as it passes therethrough.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the prime mover is a motor.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the driven components include at least one frictional drive wheel in direct contact with the tool.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the drive components include at least one shaft stub that projects from the enclosed housing, and wherein the driven components include a shaft driven by the at least one shaft stub.

8. The method of claim 1 , further including

k) connecting the reusable part of the tool displacement mechanism to a second, unused disposable part of the tool displacement mechanism for subsequent use in another surgical procedure.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the disposable part defines the pathway through which the tool passes, and wherein the reusable part may easily be detached from the disposable part.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the prime mover is a motor and the tool displacement mechanism comprises a transmission with meshing gears and shaft stubs in each of the reusable and disposable parts that are coupled to rotate together but are easily separated.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the transmission includes a pair of frictional drive wheels in direct contact with the tool that are housed within the disposable part of the tool displacement mechanism.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the tool displacement mechanism attaches to the port in the proximal handle with a strap around the proximal handle.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the tool displacement mechanism includes a transmission that converts motion generated by the prime mover to a displacement force in direct contact with the tool that drives the tool distally and proximally through the port and working channel lumen.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the prime mover is a motor and the transmission includes meshing gears.

15. A method of performing an endoscopic procedure, comprising:

a) attaching a tool displacement mechanism having a prime mover to a port in a proximal handle of an endoscope, the port leading to a lumen through a flexible tube of the endoscope;

b) manually advancing the flexible tube through a patient's natural orifice until a distal end reaches a diagnostic target area;

c) observing an area of the diagnostic target area using a scope having a lens on a distal end of the flexible tube;

d) mechanically advancing a flexible tool through a working channel lumen in the flexible tube using the prime mover of the tool displacement mechanism;

e) manually performing a surgical procedure with the end effector within the diagnostic target area;

f) mechanically retracting the tool through the working channel lumen in the flexible tube using the prime mover of the tool displacement mechanism;

g) detaching the tool displacement mechanism from the proximal handle;

h) separating a reusable part of the tool displacement mechanism including a prime mover from a disposable part of the tool displacement mechanism, wherein the reusable part includes an enclosed housing within which is housed the prime mover, and wherein the disposable part includes a housing that is detachably coupled to the enclosed housing and which includes aligned ports through which the tool passes and driven components that contact the tool; and

i) connecting the reusable part of the tool displacement mechanism to a second, unused disposable part for subsequent use in another surgical procedure.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the surgical procedure is a biopsy removal wherein the end effector grabs a biopsy sample from within the diagnostic target area, and further including:

j) performing steps b)-f) at least twice, and after each step f), removing the biopsy sample from the end effector.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the surgical procedure is a colonoscopy, the endoscope is a colonoscope, the natural orifice is the rectum, the diagnostic target area is the patient's colon, the tool is a biopsy forceps, and the surgical procedure is taking a biopsy sample from within the colon.

18. The method of claim 15 , wherein the reusable part includes at least one shaft stub that projects from the enclosed housing, and wherein the driven components include a shaft driven by the at least one shaft stub.

19. The method of claim 15 , wherein the prime mover is a motor.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the driven components include at least one frictional drive wheel in direct contact with the tool.

21. The method of claim 15 , wherein the tool displacement mechanism includes a transmission that converts motion generated by the prime mover to a displacement force in direct contact with the tool that drives the tool distally and proximally through the port and working channel lumen.

22. The method of claim 21 , wherein the prime mover is a motor and the transmission includes meshing gears.

23. The method of claim 15 , wherein the tool displacement mechanism attaches to the port in the proximal handle with a strap around the proximal handle.

24. The method of claim 15 , further including wiper seals positioned in the aligned ports of the disposable part for sealing around the tool as it passes therethrough.

25. The method of claim 24 , wherein the reusable part may easily be detached from the disposable part.

26. The method of claim 25 , wherein the prime mover is a motor and the tool displacement mechanism comprises a transmission with meshing gears and shaft stubs in each of the reusable and disposable parts that are coupled to rotate together but are easily separated.

27. The method of claim 25 , wherein the transmission includes a pair of frictional drive wheels in direct contact with the tool that are housed within the disposable part of the tool displacement mechanism.

28. The method of claim 15 , further including

j) connecting the reusable part of the tool displacement mechanism to a second, unused disposable part of the tool displacement mechanism for subsequent use in another surgical procedure.