Lubricated medical instrument guide
A medical device includes a medical instrument guide. The medical instrument guide includes a guide body. The guide body includes a foam and a bore through the foam. The foam includes a plurality of open cells that hold a biocompatible lubricant. And, the bore is sized to receive a medical instrument shaft and is defined at least in part by a surface exposing the plurality of open cells holding the biocompatible lubricant to the medical instrument shaft.
1 . A medical device comprising:
a medical instrument guide;
wherein the medical instrument guide includes a guide body;
wherein the guide body includes a foam and a bore through the foam;
wherein the foam includes a plurality of open cells;
wherein the plurality of open cells holds a biocompatible lubricant; and
wherein the bore is sized to receive a medical instrument shaft and is defined at least in part by a surface exposing the plurality of open cells holding the biocompatible lubricant to the medical instrument shaft; wherein: the foam includes a second plurality of open cells: the second plurality of open cells holds a disinfectant, and the bore is defined at least in part by a second surface exposing the second plurality of open cells holding the disinfectant to the medical instrument shaft.
2 . The medical device of claim 1 , wherein:
the bore is non-cylindrical.
3 . The medical device of claim 1 , wherein:
the guide body includes a non-porous skin enclosing at least a portion of the plurality of open cells holding the biocompatible lubricant.
4 . The medical device of claim 1 , wherein:
the guide body includes an outer proximal surface, an outer distal surface, and an outer side surface extending between the proximal and distal surfaces; and
the outer proximal surface, the outer distal surface, and the outer side surface of the guide body together are a non-porous skin enclosing the open cells holding the biocompatible lubricant.
5 . The medical device of claim 4 , wherein:
the guide body includes an outer surface; and
the outer surface of the guide body includes a non-porous skin that encloses the open cells holding the biocompatible lubricant.
6 . The medical device of claim 1 , wherein:
the guide body includes an outer surface; and
the open cells holding the biocompatible lubricant are exposed at the outer surface of the guide body.
7 . The medical device of claim 1 , wherein:
the guide body includes an end surface;
the bore includes a lead-in surface between the end surface and the surface defining the bore; and
at least a portion of the plurality open cells holding the biocompatible lubricant are exposed at the lead-in surface.
8 . The medical device of claim 7 , wherein:
the end surface of the guide body includes a non-porous skin enclosing the open cells holding the biocompatible lubricant.
9 . The medical device of claim 7 , wherein:
the lead-in surface is oriented to receive the medical instrument shaft as the medical instrument shaft is inserted into a patient.
10 . The medical device of claim 7 , wherein:
the lead-in surface includes a developable surface.
11 . The medical device of claim 7 , wherein:
the lead-in surface includes a non-developable surface.
12 . The medical device of claim 7 , wherein:
the lead-in surface includes two smooth surfaces joined at a discontinuity.
13 . The medical device of claim 7 , wherein:
the end surface is an first end surface;
the guide body includes a second end surface positioned reverse of the first end surface end;
the bore includes a second lead-in surface between the second surface and the surface defining the bore; and
at least a second portion of the plurality open cells holding the biocompatible lubricant are exposed at the second lead-in surface.
14 . The medical device of claim 1 , wherein:
the bore is dimensioned to include a diameter less than an outer diameter of the instrument shaft.
15 . The medical device of claim 1 , wherein:
the plurality of open cells holds a disinfectant.
16 . The medical device of claim 1 , wherein:
the lubricant includes at least one of a grease, oil, or water-based lubricant.
17 . The medical device of claim 1 , wherein:
the lubricant includes a water-soluble lubricating jelly.
18 . A medical system comprising:
a teleoperated medical instrument including a shaft; and
means for guiding the shaft of the medical instrument as the medical instrument is inserted into and retracted from a body cavity of a patient;
wherein the means for guiding includes means for lubricating the shaft of the medical instrument as the shaft moves through the means for guiding, and
wherein the means for lubricating includes a foam with a plurality of open cells that holds a biocompatible lubricant and a bore through the foam that is sized to receive the shaft of the medical instrument and is defined at least in part by a surface exposing the plurality of open cells holding the biocompatible lubricant to the shaft of the medical instrument, and
wherein the foam includes a second plurality of open cells, the second plurality of open cells holding a disinfectant, and the bore being defined at least in part by a second surface exposing the second plurality of open cells holding the disinfectant to the medical instrument shaft.