IP Library Granted Patent US 12,635,993
Granted Patent B2
US 12,635,993 · App. 17/546,757 · Granted May 26, 2026

Real-time sampling system

Inventors: David A. Herrin (Seattle, WA); Christopher R. Ralph (Woodinville, WA)
Assignee: Olympus Medical Systems Corporation
A61B10/0233A61B10/0283A61B17/3423A61B17/3462A61B2010/0208A61B10/04A61B2017/3447A61B2017/3466A61B2017/347
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,635,993
App. No.
17/546,757
Granted
May 26, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Disclosed embodiments include apparatuses, systems, and methods for securing an elongated instrument within a control device used to extend the elongated instrument. In an illustrative embodiment, an apparatus includes a control device configured to facilitate extension of an elongated instrument to a target location. A port within an end of the control device is configured to compressably engage sides of the elongated instrument to secure the elongated instrument to move with the control device.

Claims (26)

1 . An apparatus comprising:

a radial ultrasound probe;

an actuator movably disposed over a distal end of a housing portion of a control system, the actuator movable over the housing to extend the radial ultrasound probe within an insertion device used to sample tissue at a desired location within a patient's body;

a port within an end of the actuator configured to receive the radial ultrasound probe; and

a flexible gasket including a bore aligned with the port, the flexible gasket at least partially disposed within a mounting socket in a distal end of the actuator and configured to compress against sides of the radial ultrasound probe to secure the radial ultrasound probe within the port to move with the actuator.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein sides of the flexible gasket are configured to be collapsed by compressing the flexible gasket along a length of the flexible gasket transverse to the sides of the flexible gasket.

3 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the flexible gasket is configured to be compressed along the length of the flexible gasket by threadably moving a rotatable cap into a body of the actuator to pinch opposing ends of the flexible gasket.

4 . The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the body, the flexible gasket, and the rotatable cap include a Tuohy-Borst adapter.

5 . The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the body, the flexible gasket, and the rotatable cap are configured to switch from an open position for receiving the radial ultrasound probe to a closed position for securing the radial ultrasound probe by rotating the rotatable cap in a range between one-sixteenth of a turn and one-eighth of a turn.

6 . The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the rotatable cap is configured to be receivable into a housing of the actuator only with the flexible gasket compressed to compressably secure the radial ultrasound probe.

7 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the flexible gasket is secured between a body coupled to the actuator portion and a rotatable cap threadably movable within the body, wherein the rotatable cap includes a central opening configured to receive the radial ultrasound probe into the port, and wherein the central opening in the rotatable cap aligns with the bore through the flexible gasket.

8 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the mounting socket is configured to provide visual or tactile confirmation of engagement of a cap.

9 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a rotatable cap movably disposed within the distal end of the actuator portion and configured to compress the flexible gasket upon rotation within the port, and wherein the port includes a flattened edge to align with a flattened surface on the rotatable cap to verify proper rotation of the rotatable cap to secure the radial ultrasound probe.

10 . A system comprising:

an elongated instrument sampling probe configured to convey a sampling needle and an imaging probe to a target location, wherein the imaging probe is a radial ultrasound probe;

a needle actuator movably disposed over a distal end of a guide tube coupled to a control system, the needle actuator movable over the guide tube to extend the sampling needle to the target location;

a port within an end of an actuator portion of the control system, the port configured to receive the imaging probe;

a flexible gasket including a bore aligned with the port and disposed within a mounting socket in a distal end of the actuator portion, the flexible gasket configured to compressably engage sides of the imaging probe to secure the imaging probe to move with the actuator portion; and

a rotatable cap movably disposed within the distal end of the actuator portion and configured to compress the flexible gasket upon rotation within the end of the actuator portion.

11 . The system of claim 10 , wherein sides of the flexible gasket are configured to be collapsed by compressing the flexible gasket along a length of the flexible gasket transverse to the sides of the flexible gasket.

12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the flexible gasket is secured between a body coupled to the actuator portion and the rotatable cap threadably movable within the body.

13 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the flexible gasket is configured to be compressed along the length of the flexible gasket by threadably moving the rotatable cap into the body to pinch opposing ends of the flexible gasket.

14 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the body, the flexible gasket, and the rotatable cap include a Tuohy-Borst adapter.

15 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the body, the flexible gasket, and the rotatable cap are configured to switch from an open position for receiving the imaging probe to a closed position for securing the imaging probe by rotating the rotatable cap in a range between one-sixteenth of a turn and one-eighth of a turn.

16 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the rotatable cap is configured to be receivable into a housing of the actuator portion only with the flexible gasket compressed to compressably secure the imaging probe.

17 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the distal end of the actuator portion includes a flattened edge to align with a flattened surface on the rotatable cap to verify proper rotation of the rotatable cap to secure the imaging probe.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 7, 2022
From: HERRIN, DAVID A.; RALPH, CHRISTOPHER R.
To: OLYMPUS MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 059185/0781 →
Continuity (7)
Provisional Application 63123623 · Dec 10, 2020
Provisional Application 63123601 · Dec 10, 2020
Provisional Application 63123696 · Dec 10, 2020
Provisional Application 63123731 · Dec 10, 2020
Provisional Application 63123641 · Dec 10, 2020
Provisional Application 63123571 · Dec 10, 2020
Related Publication 20220183538A1 · Jun 16, 2022
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