EP-4739187-A1 - BRAIDED SHEATHS FOR MEDICAL DEVICES

EP4739187A1EP 4739187 A1EP4739187 A1EP 4739187A1EP-4739187-A1

Abstract

A medical device includes a shaft and a braided sheath. The braided sheath is coaxial with the shaft and at least extends along the shaft between a distal end of the shaft and a proximal end of the shaft. The braided sheath includes a braiding. The braiding includes a plurality of mechanical strands and at least one conductor configured to deliver energy to or convey signals to and from an electrical device positioned at or near the distal end of the shaft.

Inventors

VIERING, Kirsten
BARBATO, LOUIS J.

Assignees

Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260513
Application Date: 20240703

Claims (1)

Attorney Docket No.: 06530-1300-00304 CLAIMS We claim: 1. A medical device comprising: a shaft; and a braided sheath coaxial with the shaft and at least extending along the shaft between a distal end of the shaft and a proximal end of the shaft; wherein the braided sheath includes a braiding, and wherein the braiding includes: a plurality of mechanical strands, and at least one conductor electrically connected and/or communicatively connected to a first electrical device positioned at or near the distal end of the shaft. 2. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the at least one conductor is a first conductor, wherein the braiding includes a second conductor electrically connected and/or communicatively connected to a second electrical device. 3. The medical device of claim 2, wherein the first conductor is braided clockwise along the braided sheath and the second conductor is braided counterclockwise along the braided sheath. 4. The medical device of claim 2, wherein the first conductor and the second conductor are both either braided clockwise or counterclockwise. 5. The medical device of claim 2, wherein the first conductor and the second conductor are electrically connected to an end cap. Attorney Docket No.: 06530-1300-00304 6. The medical device of claim 2, wherein the first conductor is connected to a medical instrument, wherein the medical instrument is at least partially received by a lumen of the shaft. 7. The medical device of any preceding claim, wherein the at least one conductor is a coated core wire. 8. The medical device of any of claims 1-6, wherein the at least one conductor is a stranded wire. 9. The medical device of any of claims 1-6, wherein the at least one conductor is a coaxial cable. 10. The medical device of any preceding claim, wherein the braided sheath includes a polyimide wrap layer that covers the braided sheath and extends coaxially with the braided sheath. 11. The medical device of claim 10, wherein the polyimide wrap layer includes a first layer and a second layer. 12. The medical device of claim 11, wherein the first layer is a continuous ground plane. 13. The medical device of claim 12, wherein the second layer includes one or more conductors. Attorney Docket No.: 06530-1300-00304 14. The medical device of claim 13, wherein the second layer includes an exterior surface and an interior surface, wherein the one or more conductors of the second layer are disposed on one of the exterior surface and the interior surface, and a ground layer of the second layer is disposed on the other of the exterior surface and the interior surface. 15. The medical device of claim 13, wherein the one or more conductors are impedance controlled conductors.

Description

Attorney Docket No.: 06530-1300-00304 BRAIDED SHEATHS FOR MEDICAL DEVICES CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Application No.63/512,113, filed on July 6, 2023, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. TECHNICAL FIELD [0002] Aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to medical devices and procedures. In particular, aspects of the present disclosure relate to braided sheaths for medical devices BACKGROUND [0003] Medical devices, such as endoscopes or other suitable insertion devices, are employed for a variety of types of diagnostic and surgical procedures, such as endoscopy, laparoscopy, arthroscopy, gynoscopy, thoracoscopy, cystoscopy, etc. Endoscopic procedures may be carried out by inserting an insertion device into a patient’s body through a surgical incision, or via a natural orifice (e.g., mouth, vagina, or rectum). [0004] The insertion device includes a shaft that includes one or more lumens or working channels therethough. A lumen (or lumens) may often receive various devices and structures such as medical instruments (e.g. irrigation tubes, aspiration tubes, forceps, electrosurgical knives, brushes, RF electrodes, and/or other tools) designed to be operated at a distal end of an insertion device. Surgical incisions and natural orifices are often narrow, and the distal end of the insertion device must be small enough to fit and operate within these spaces. Accordingly, space is limited within the shaft of the distal end, and thus space is also limited in the lumen(s). [0005] The distal end of the insertion device may also include one or more components (lights, cameras, etc.), which require electrical wires or cables in order to be actuated (e.g., Attorney Docket No.: 06530-1300-00304 powered, controlled, etc.) and/or to be in communication with one or more proximal components (e.g., power sources, controllers, displays, etc.). These electrical wires or cables are ordinarily contained within the shaft of the insertion device. These electrical wires or cables take up space within the shaft, which may limit a size of a lumen within the shaft and/or a number of lumens within the shaft. The electrical wires or cables may also increase a necessary size of the shaft. [0006] The devices and methods of the present disclosure may rectify some of the deficiencies described above or otherwise address other aspects of the art. SUMMARY [0007] Each of the aspects disclosed herein may include one or more of the features described in connection with any of the other disclosed aspects. Aspects of the disclosure may related to medical devices with braided sheaths extending along the shafts of said medical devices. [0008] Some of the exemplary devices or methods herein may include any of the following features. A medical device may include a shaft and a braided sheath. The braided sheath may be coaxial with the shaft and may extend at least along the shaft between a distal end of the shaft and a proximal end of the shaft. The braided sheath may include a braiding. The braiding may include: a plurality of mechanical strands and at least one conductor that may be electrically connected and/or communicatively connected to an electrical device positioned at or near the distal end of the shaft. [0009] The medical device may include one or more of the following aspects. The at least one conductor may be a first conductor. The braiding may include a second conductor electrically connected and/or communicatively connected to a second electrical device. The first conductor may be braided clockwise along the braided sheath, and the second conductor Attorney Docket No.: 06530-1300-00304 may be braided counterclockwise along the braided sheath. The first conductor and second conductor may be both braided clockwise or counter clockwise. The first conductor and second conductor may be electrically connected to an end cap. One of the conductors may be connected to a medical instrument. The medical instrument may be at least partially received by a lumen of the shaft. At least one of the conductors may be a coated core wire. At least one of the conductors may be a stranded wire. At least one of the conductors may be a coaxial cable. [0010] The medical device may include a polyimide wrap layer that covers the braided sheath and extends coaxially with the braided sheath. The polyimide wrap layer may include a first layer and a second layer. The first layer may be a continuous ground plane. The second layer may include one or more conductors. The second layer may include an exterior surface and an interior surface. The one or more conductors of the second layer may be disposed on one of the exterior surface and the interior surface, and a ground layer of the second layer may be disposed on the other of the exterior surface and interior surface. The one or more conductors of the second layer may be impedance controlled conductors.