EP-4741164-A2 - ELEVATOR COMPONENTS FOR MEDICAL DEVICES

Abstract

An elevator for use with a medical device, the elevator includes an elevator body having a surface for interacting with a medical instrument inserted through a working channel of the medical device; a pivot portion proximal of the elevator body, wherein the pivot portion includes a tapered portion that tapers proximally such that a proximalmost end of the pivot portion is thinner than more distal portions of the pivot portion; and a control arm, wherein the control arm includes one or more hollow portions.

Inventors

• ENGLISH, JAMES
• RYAN, LIAM
• HANNON, ROBERT
• MIRIGIAN, MARK
• LAROUCHE, Adam
• DELFOSSE, STEVEN
• HALE, STEPHEN

Assignees

• Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.

Dates

Publication Date

20260513

Application Date

20210928

Claims (15)

1. An elevator for use with a medical device, the elevator including: an elevator body having a surface for interacting with a medical instrument inserted through a working channel of the medical device; a pivot portion proximal of the elevator body, wherein the pivot portion includes a tapered portion that tapers proximally such that a proximalmost end of the pivot portion is thinner than more distal portions of the pivot portion; and a control arm, wherein the control arm includes one or more hollow portions.
2. The elevator of claim 1, wherein the pivot portion further comprises a rounded portion distal of the tapered portion, wherein the rounded portion has a rounded surface, and wherein the pivot portion is in particular solid in all cross-sections.
3. The elevator of claim 1 or 2, wherein the pivot portion further includes a rectangular portion, wherein the rectangular portion connects the rounded portion to the tapered portion, and wherein the rectangular portion includes a pair of parallel outer surfaces that are approximately parallel to a longitudinal axis of the control arm.
4. The elevator of any one of the previous claims, wherein the tapered portion includes a first tapered surface and a second tapered surface, and wherein each of the first and the second tapered surfaces taper towards one another at a same angle.
5. The elevator of any one of the previous claims, wherein the proximalmost end of the pivot portion forms a proximal-facing face or a proximal edge of the elevator.
6. The elevator of any one of the previous claims, wherein the proximalmost end of the pivot portion extends along the elevator body and the control arm.
7. The elevator of any one of the previous claims, wherein the proximalmost end of the pivot portion extends along an entirety of a width of the elevator.
8. The elevator of any one of the previous claims, further including a junction disposed between the control arm and the elevator body, wherein a yield strength of the junction is greater than a yield strength of at least a portion of the elevator body.
9. The elevator of any one of the previous claims, wherein the control arm is configured to receive a distal end of a control element for exerting a force on the elevator.
10. The elevator of claim 9, wherein the control arm includes a receptacle defined at the distal end of the control arm, and wherein the control element is received within the receptacle.
11. The elevator of any one of the previous claims, wherein the elevator body defines a first central longitudinal axis, wherein the control arm defines a second central longitudinal axis, and wherein the first central longitudinal axis and the second central longitudinal axis are different.
12. The elevator of any one of the previous claims, wherein the proximalmost end of the pivot portion is approximately perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the control arm.
13. A method of manufacturing an elevator of a medical device, the method comprising: forming a pivot portion at a proximal end of the elevator, wherein the pivot portion tapers proximally such that a proximalmost end of the elevator is thinner than more distal portions of the pivot portion; and forming (i) a body of the elevator that is distal to the pivot portion and (ii) a control arm of the elevator, wherein the elevator body includes a surface configured to contact an instrument inserted in a working channel of the medical device, and wherein the control arm having one or more hollow portions, wherein the control arm is configured to be connected to a control element for exerting a force on the elevator.
14. The method of claim 13, further comprising: forming a junction of the control arm and the body, wherein the junction has a greater yield strength than at least a portion of the body.
15. The method of claim 13 or 14, wherein the pivot portion and the body of the elevator are formed using an additive manufacturing method.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This patent application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/084,593, filed September 29, 2020, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. TECHNICAL FIELD Various aspects of this disclosure relate generally to devices and methods for elevators of medical devices, and in particular to elevators constructed using additive manufacturing. BACKGROUND Duodenoscopes may include a distal tip portion, which may include features such as optical elements (e.g., camera, lighting), air/water outlets, and working channel openings. An elevator may be disposed at a distal tip and may be actuatable in order to change an orientation of a medical device/tool passed through the working channel. For example, the elevator may be pivotable or otherwise movable. The elevator may be controlled via a control mechanism in a handle, such as a lever, which may be attached to a control wire that attaches to the elevator. SUMMARY Each of the aspects disclosed herein may include one or more of the features described in connection with any of the other disclosed aspects. A method of manufacturing an elevator of a medical device may comprise using an additive manufacturing method, forming a pivot portion at a proximal end of the elevator. The pivot portion may taper proximally such that a proximalmost end of the elevator is thinner than more distal portions of the pivot portion. The method may further comprise using the additive manufacturing method, forming a body of the elevator that is distal to the pivot portion. The elevator body may include a surface configured to contact an instrument inserted in a working channel of the medical device. Any of the methods or devices disclosed herein may include any of the following features. The method may further comprise manually removing the elevator from a build platform. The additive manufacturing method may include powder bed fusion. The proximal end may form a proximal-facing face or a proximal edge. The method may further comprise: using the additive manufacturing method, forming a control arm of the elevator. The control arm may be configured to be connected to a control element for exerting a force on the elevator. The proximalmost end may extend along the body and the control arm. The proximalmost end may extend along an entirety of a width of the elevator. The method may further comprise: using the additive manufacturing method, forming a junction of the control arm and the body. An amount of energy applied to the junction may be greater than an amount of energy applied to at least a portion of the body. The junction may have a greater yield strength than the at least a portion of the body. Forming the control arm may include forming one or more hollow portions of the control arm. In an example, an elevator for use with a medical device may be made according to the following process. Using an additive manufacturing method, a pivot portion may be formed at a proximal end of the elevator. The pivot portion may taper proximally such that a proximalmost end of the elevator is thinner than more distal portions of the pivot portion. Using the additive manufacturing method, a body of the elevator may be formed that is distal to the pivot portion. The elevator body may include a surface configured to contact an instrument inserted in a working channel of the medical device. Any of the devices or methods disclosed herein may include any of the following features. The proximal end may form a proximal-facing face or a proximal edge. The process may further comprise: using the additive manufacturing method, forming a control arm of the elevator. The control arm may be configured to be connected to a control element for exerting a force on the elevator. The proximalmost end may extend along the body and the control arm. The proximalmost end may extend along an entirety of a width of the elevator. In another example, an elevator for use with a medical device may include: an elevator body having a surface for interacting with a medical instrument inserted through a working channel of the medical device; a control arm configured to receive a control element for applying a force to the elevator; and a pivot portion proximal of the elevator body. The pivot portion may include a tapered portion having surfaces that taper inward in a proximal direction to a proximalmost surface of the elevator. The proximalmost surface may extend along a width of the elevator from an end of the elevator body to an end of the control arm. Any of the devices or methods disclosed herein may include any of the following features. The proximalmost surface may be an edge. The pivot portion may include a portion having a rounded surface. The pivot portion may have a uniform cross section along a lateral axis of the elevator. The lateral axis may extend along the width of the elevator. The pivot portion may be solid