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Steerable extendable devices

a technology of extendable devices and steering devices, which is applied in the field of medical devices, robotics, oil and gas, civil engineering, disaster robotics, etc., can solve the problems of multiple punctures or incisions, time-consuming, and inability to access the target region of current devices, so as to avoid iterative, time-consuming, and potentially traumatic manipulation

Inactive Publication Date: 2021-09-23
SOUTHERN METHODIST UNIVERSITY
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The invention is a stable, controllable cannula that can be easily shaped in a patient's body to reach any target without needing to be manipulated by a clinician. It can be assembled from multiple segments, allowing for unprecedented flexibility and a variety of shapes. The cannula can be used in endoscopic surgery and other procedures where access and support are needed. It can also be easily re-shaped without having to be withdrawn and re-inserted during a procedure. This makes it a stable platform for procedures that cover multiple sites or wide areas. The method of making the cannula involves inserting a flexible shaft into the body and compressing and decompressing segments to create the desired shape. This process allows for the growth of the cannula in a controlled and efficient manner.

Problems solved by technology

Yet due to obstructions such as bone or sensitive organs, current devices may be unable to access a target region, or only do so sub-optimally.
A more invasive method, a riskier approach, or a worse outcome is thus sometimes unavoidable.
Moreover, in a number of procedures for which multiple targeted regions within the body need to be accessed, it can be time-consuming and involve multiple punctures or incisions, even if access to a single region would be straightforward.
These issues arise from the fact that many instruments are substantially rigid and straight and follow substantially straight paths within the body, whether within a hollow (i.e., gas- or liquid-filled) organ or lumen, or in solid tissue.
Moreover, even instruments known to the art that are not rigid and / or not straight can also have difficulty in accessing certain regions of the body, as the following examples will illustrate.
To date such devices have been problematic and many remain experimental.
Spinning steerable needles with asymmetric tips [1,2,3,4] offer small gauge sizes but have very large curvature / outer diameter (O.D.) ratios (e.g., 70:1 [5]), can only be deployed within solid tissue, and are difficult to control accurately due to varying tissue properties [6], etc.

Method used

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Examples

Experimental program
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Effect test

1st embodiment

[0120]In a 1st embodiment of the invention, an instrument enters the body and is delivered along a desired path such as path 16 of FIG. 2(a) as illustrated in FIGS. 4(a-c) to reach region 2. The path may be determined, for example, using imaging such as CT or MM. In FIG. 4(a), instrument 30 enters the skin 4 through puncture site 12 and begins to follow path 16, curving as it grows or elongates with its distal end 32 in the lead. In FIG. 4(b), the instrument has lengthened further and in FIG. 4(c) distal end 32 has reached region 2 as desired. Such a “distal growth” behavior allows distal end 32 and the instrument to precisely and quickly follow the path without trial-and-error and with minimal difficulty, force, or potential tissue damage. Moreover, the instrument may be shortened or retracted once used along the same path.

[0121]FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating how the instrument of the 1st embodiment extends from its distal end, rather than being pushed from its proxi...

2nd embodiment

[0133]FIG. 8 depicts a cross-sectional view of a 2nd embodiment of the invention similar in some aspects to the 1st embodiment. The geometry shown is rotationally symmetric around axis 71. In this 2nd embodiment, in lieu of tubular sections as in the 1st embodiment, rings 72 are provided as shown in FIG. 8(a) which can fit into one another due to their shape, and which are capable of stretching to a larger diameter and everting. The ability to stretch, in some embodiment variations, may be provided by segmenting the ring in the plane of the ring (e.g., into pie-like slices) and joining these together with compliant elements such as flexures, which may be integral to the ring. As a whole, the rings stack and nest to form tube 74. Initially the proximal end of tube 74 is aligned to reference plane 76. In FIG. 8(b), tube 74 has moved distally and distal ring 78 has begun to evert and stretch. In FIG. 8(c) and all remaining sub-figures within FIG. 8, tube 74 has moved further distally. ...

3rd embodiment

[0135]FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a 3rd embodiment of the invention similar in some aspects to the 1st embodiment. In this 3rd embodiment, the sections that are assembled at the distal end include surfaces which are sections of a sphere, to facilitate sections interlocking with one another at multiple angles through ball joint-like structures. FIG. 9(a) shows an instrument comprising four sections interlocked at various angles, the most distal of which is section 94. The geometry shown of section 94 and other sections is rotationally symmetric around axis 95. Sections such as section 94 may have a spherical interior surface 96 and a spherical exterior surface 97. The particular shape of the overall instrument is provided as an example only. In FIG. 9(b), section 96, initially collapsed to a relatively small OD (outside diameter) 98 is supported by balloon 100 attached to base 102 and flexible hollow shaft 104. Wires 106 are attached to base 102 (or balloon 100) to control th...

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Abstract

The present invention is a Distally Assembled Steerable Cannula (DASC), a robotically-manipulated device that can be deployed and extended within a patient's body by growing from its distal end, or can be used in non-medical applications. In some embodiments, growth occurs by sequentially assembling segments that interlock to form a rigid tube with a complex 3-D shape. The segments are individually transported through the growing cannula, and then assembled at the distal end. A segment can be wedge-shaped in profile, allowing adjustment of the local radius and plane of curvature of the cannula to be controlled by relative segment orientation.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15 / 066,982 filed Mar. 10, 2016, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14 / 213,193, filed Mar. 14, 2104, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,282,993, issued Mar. 15, 2016, and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61 / 791,692, filed Mar. 15, 2013 and Ser. No. 61 / 884,123, filed Sep. 29, 2013, the entire contents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference.TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates generally to the fields of medical devices, robotics, oil and gas, civil engineering, disaster robotics, as well as other fields.STATEMENT OF FEDERALLY FUNDED RESEARCH[0003]None.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0004]This application relates in part to medical procedures, which comprise entering the patient's body with an instrument to remove, ablate, extract, aspirate, modify, or repair tissue and fluids; ...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & Authority Applications(United States)
IPC IPC(8): A61B17/34A61B17/00A61B34/30
CPCA61B17/3421A61B17/00234A61B34/30A61B2017/00526A61B2017/3443A61B2034/301A61B2017/00477A61B2017/00314A61B18/1492A61B2017/3435A61B2018/0212A61B2034/306
Inventor COHEN, ADAMRICHER, EDMOND
Owner SOUTHERN METHODIST UNIVERSITY
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