US-12616469-B2 - Medical systems, devices, and related methods

US12616469B2US 12616469 B2US12616469 B2US 12616469B2US-12616469-B2

Abstract

A medical system includes a first medical device and a second medical device. The first medical device includes a handle and a shaft. The shaft includes a lumen. A distal portion of the shaft includes an articulation joint, and the lumen extends through at least a portion of the articulation joint. The second medical includes a control device and a rod. The rod is configured to be positioned within at least a portion of the lumen of the shaft within the articulation joint. The control device is configured to control a position of the rod within the shaft. The position of the rod within the shaft controls an articulation angle of the articulation joint.

Inventors

James Weldon
Braeden BURNS

Assignees

BOSTON SCIENTIFIC SCIMED, INC.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260505
Application Date: 20240729

Claims (13)

1 . A medical device, comprising: a handle including an actuator; a shaft, wherein the shaft includes a lumen, wherein a distal portion of the shaft includes an articulation joint, and wherein the lumen extends through at least a portion of the articulation joint, wherein the actuator is configured to articulate the articulation joint; a controller; and a member, wherein the member is selectively positionable within at least a portion of the lumen of the shaft within the articulation joint, wherein the controller is configured to control a position of the member within the shaft, wherein the controller includes a dial positioned on a distal portion of the handle, and wherein the position of the member within the shaft controls an articulation angle of the articulation joint.
2 . The medical device of claim 1 , wherein the controller is integrated in or coupled to a portion of the handle.
3 . The medical device of claim 1 , wherein the controller includes a dowel extending from the dial, and a pinion coupled to the dowel, and wherein the member is coupled to a rack.
4 . The medical device of claim 3 , wherein rotational movement of the dial actuates a linear movement of the rack to control the position of the member within the shaft.
5 . The medical device of claim 4 , wherein the rack includes a plurality of teeth, and wherein a spacing of the plurality of teeth on the rack corresponds to a length of one or more links in the articulation joint.
6 . The medical device of claim 3 , wherein a circumference of the dial is positioned entirely on an exterior of the handle.
7 . A medical device, comprising: a handle including an actuator; a shaft, wherein the shaft includes a lumen, wherein a distal portion of the shaft includes an articulation joint, and wherein the lumen extends through at least a portion of the articulation joint, wherein the actuator is configured to articulate the articulation joint; a controller including a dial, wherein a circumference of the dial is positioned entirely on an exterior of the handle; and a member coupled to the controller, wherein the member is selectively positionable within at least a portion of the lumen of the shaft within the articulation joint, wherein the controller is configured to control a position of the member within the shaft, and wherein the position of the member within the shaft controls an articulation angle of the articulation joint.
8 . The medical device of claim 7 , wherein the controller includes a rack including a plurality of teeth, a dowel extending from the dial, and a pinion coupled to the dowel, and wherein the member is coupled to the rack.
9 . The medical device of claim 8 , wherein a spacing of the plurality of teeth on the rack corresponds to a length of one or more links in the articulation joint, and wherein rotational movement of the dial actuates a linear movement of the rack to control the position of the member relative to the controller.
10 . The medical device of claim 8 , wherein the pinion engages the plurality of teeth when the dial is turned to advance or retract the rack, wherein advancement or retraction of the rack also advances or retracts the member, and wherein a spacing of the plurality of teeth on the rack corresponds to a length of one or more links in the articulation joint.
11 . The medical device of claim 9 , wherein the dial includes one or more indications indicative of the position of the member relative to the articulation joint.
12 . A medical device, comprising: a handle including an actuator; a shaft, wherein the shaft includes a lumen, wherein a distal portion of the shaft includes an articulation joint, and wherein the lumen extends through at least a portion of the articulation joint, wherein the actuator is configured to articulate the articulation joint; a member; and a controller, wherein the controller includes: a rack including a plurality of teeth and a dial, wherein the dial includes one or more indications such that a position of the dial relative to the handle indicate a position of the member relative to the articulation joint; a dowel extending from the dial; and a pinion coupled to the dowel and the rack, wherein the member is coupled to the rack, wherein a position of the member within the shaft controls an articulation angle of the articulation joint, and wherein rotational movement of the dial actuates a linear movement of the rack to control a position of the member relative to the articulation joint.
13 . The medical device of claim 12 , wherein the pinion engages the plurality of teeth when the dial is turned to advance or retract the rack, wherein advancement or retraction of the rack also advances or retracts the member, and wherein a spacing of the plurality of teeth on the rack corresponds to a length of one or more links in the articulation joint.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a continuation of U.S. Nonprovisional application Ser. No. 18/162,119, filed Jan. 31, 2023, which claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 from U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/307,235, filed Feb. 7, 2022, each of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure relates generally to medical systems, devices, and methods. In particular, this disclosure is directed to systems, devices, and methods for adjusting an articulation radius of an articulable or deflectable medical device. BACKGROUND Medical devices may include a handle and a shaft or insertion portion. The handle enables steering and physical manipulation of the shaft portion and may include controls for other operations of the device. A distal assembly may comprise part of the shaft portion and may have a plurality of channels or lumens for endoscopic operation. Often, instruments or tools may be inserted in a working channel in the shaft portion for performing a therapeutic or diagnostic procedure. The shaft or insertion portion may be articulated or deflected, for example, via one or more actuators on the handle. The articulation or deflection may include a predetermined angle of articulation or deflection and/or a predetermined responsiveness to movement of the one or more actuators. However, different procedures and/or different cavities within a patient may require different maneuvers, different responsiveness to movement of the one or more actuators, and/or different articulation or deflection radii. Therefore, a need exists for shafts or insertion portions of endoscopic devices to have variable articulation or deflection radii and/or other controls. SUMMARY According to an example, a medical system may include a first medical device and a second medical device. The first medical device may include a handle and a shaft. The shaft may include a lumen. A distal portion of the shaft may include an articulation joint, and the lumen may extend through at least a portion of the articulation joint. The second medical device may include a control device and a rod. The rod may be selectively positionable within at least a portion of the lumen of the shaft within the articulation joint. The control device may be configured to control a position of the rod within the shaft. The position of the rod within the shaft may control an articulation angle of the articulation joint. The medical system may include one or more of the following aspects. The control device may be integrated in or coupled to a portion of the handle. The control device may include a slider, a pin coupled to the slider, and a track positioned within a distal portion of the handle. Movement of the pin within the track may control the position of the rod within the lumen of the shaft. The track may include a central channel, a plurality of slots extending from the central channel, and a plurality of grooves extending from the slots. A spacing of the slots along the central channel may correspond to a length of one or more links in the articulation joint. The control device may include a dial, a dowel extending from the dial, and a pinion coupled to the dowel. The rod may be coupled to a rack. Rotational movement of the dial may actuate a linear movement of the rack to control the position of the rod within the shaft. The rack may include a plurality of teeth. A spacing of the teeth on the rack may correspond to a length of one or more links in the articulation joint. The control device may include a screw coupled to the rod and a coupler. The screw may include a threading. The coupler may include an internal threading. The rod may be coupled to a distal end of the screw. Rotational movement of the screw may control the position of the rod within the shaft. The control device may include a primary wheel, one or more secondary wheels, and a mounting element. The mounting element may be coupled to a distal portion of the handle. Rotational movement of the primary wheel or the one or more secondary wheels may control the position of the rod within the shaft. The articulation joint may include nine articulation links. Each articulation link may provide for 25 degrees of articulation. The rod may be less flexible than the articulation joint. The articulation joint may include a plurality of articulation links. More distal articulation links may provide for greater articulation than more proximal articulation links. The handle may include an instrument port on a distal portion of the handle configured to receive the rod and to guide the rod into the lumen of the shaft. The first medical device may include an articulation lever positioned on a portion of the handle. The articulation lever may be connected to the articulation joint via one or more articulation wires. In another example, a medical device may include a rod and a control device coupled to a proximal portion of