Medical device with deflecting shaft and related methods of manufacture and use

Abstract

Various embodiments of a medical device having a deflecting shaft and related methods of manufacture and use are disclosed. For example, the device may include a proximal handle, a distal assembly for performing a medical procedure and a wire-coil connecting the proximal handle to the distal assembly, wherein actuation of the proximal handle may cause the distal assembly to perform the medical procedure. The wire coil may have a proximal portion comprised of a first wire and a distal portion comprised of a second wire. The second wire may have a diameter less than a diameter of the first wire so that the distal portion of the wire coil may have a flexibility greater than a flexibility of the proximal portion.

1 - 110 . (canceled)  
     
     
         111 . A medical device for use with an endoscope, comprising: 
 a proximal handle;    a distal assembly for performing a medical procedure; and    a wire coil connecting the proximal handle to the distal assembly and having a proximal portion and a distal portion,    wherein the distal portion has a wire diameter less than a wire diameter of the proximal portion, such that the distal portion has a flexibility greater than a flexibility of the proximal portion, and    wherein actuation of the proximal handle causes actuation of the distal assembly to perform the medical procedure and deflection of the distal portion.    
     
     
         112 . The device of  claim 111 , wherein the proximal portion comprises a first wire and the distal portion comprises a second wire different from the first wire.  
     
     
         113 . The device of  claim 111 , wherein the proximal portion comprises a first wire and the distal portion comprises a second wire fixedly attached to the first wire.  
     
     
         114 . The device of  claim 111 , wherein an outer diameter of the wire coil at the proximal portion and an outer diameter of the wire coil at the distal portion are substantially the same.  
     
     
         115 . The device of  claim 111 , wherein an outer diameter of the wire coil at the proximal portion is greater than an outer diameter of the wire coil at the distal portion.  
     
     
         116 . The device of  claim 111 , wherein the device is configured to selectively deflect the distal portion relative to the proximal portion.  
     
     
         117 . The device of  claim 111 , further comprising a jacket covering an outer surface of the proximal portion.  
     
     
         118 . The device of  claim 111 , wherein the proximal portion includes a first outer jacket and the distal portion includes a second outer jacket, wherein the second outer jacket is made of a material different than a material of the first outer jacket.  
     
     
         119 . The device of  claim 118 , wherein the second outer jacket material is softer than the first outer jacket material.  
     
     
         120 . The device of  claim 111 , wherein actuation of the handle from a first position to a second position actuates the distal assembly, and actuation of the handle from the second position to a third position deflects the distal portion relative to the proximal portion.  
     
     
         121 . The device of  claim 120 , wherein the handle includes a stationary part and a movable part movable relative to the stationary part between the first, second, and third positions.  
     
     
         122 . The device of  claim 121 , wherein the movable part is axially reciprocally movable relative to the stationary part.  
     
     
         123 . The device of  claim 111 , further comprising a deflection control member, wherein the deflection control member is configured to hold the distal portion in a deflected position.  
     
     
         124 . The device of  claim 111 , wherein the handle includes a first actuation member for actuating the distal assembly and a second actuation member for deflecting the distal portion.  
     
     
         125 . The device of  claim 111 , further comprising a deflection control member for controlling the deflection of the distal portion relative to the proximal portion.  
     
     
         126 . The device of  claim 111 , wherein the distal assembly includes a biopsy forceps assembly.  
     
     
         127 . A method of making a medical device, comprising: 
 forming an elongated wire coil having a distal portion and a proximal portion, the distal portion having a wire diameter less than a wire diameter of the proximal portion;    providing a deflection controller for controlling deflection of the distal portion relative to the proximal portion;    attaching a proximal handle to the proximal portion; and    attaching a distal assembly for performing a medical procedure to the distal portion.    
     
     
         128 . The method of  claim 127 , wherein an outer diameter of the wire coil at the proximal portion and an outer diameter of the wire coil at the distal portion are substantially the same.  
     
     
         129 . The method of  claim 127 , wherein an outer diameter of the wire coil at the proximal portion is greater than an outer diameter of the wire coil at the distal portion.  
     
     
         130 . The method of  claim 127 , further comprising jacketing at least a portion of the elongated member.  
     
     
         131 . The method of  claim 130 , wherein jacketing includes jacketing the proximal portion of the elongated member and not jacketing the distal portion of the elongated member.  
     
     
         132 . The method of  claim 130 , wherein jacketing includes jacketing the distal portion with a first jacket and the proximal portion with a second jacket, wherein the first jacket is made of a material softer than a material for the second jacket.  
     
     
         133 . The method of  claim 127 , wherein the proximal portion comprises a first wire and the distal portion comprises a second wire different from the first wire.  
     
     
         134 . The method of  claim 133 , wherein the second wire is attached to the first wire.  
     
     
         135 . The method of  claim 134 , wherein the second wire is attached to the first wire via a laser welding.  
     
     
         136 . The method of  claim 127 , further comprising attaching a control member extending from the proximal handle to the distal assembly, wherein the control member is configured to control at least one of actuation of the distal assembly and deflection of the distal portion of the elongated member.  
     
     
         137 . A method of performing a medical procedure, the method comprising: 
 providing a medical device adjacent to a tissue site, the medical device including: 
 a proximal handle;  
 a distal assembly; and  
 an elongated wire coil connecting the distal assembly to the proximal handle, the wire coil including a proximal portion and a distal portion, the distal portion having a wire diameter less than a wire diameter of the proximal portion, such that the distal portion of the wire coil has a flexibility greater than a flexibility of the proximal portion;  
   deflecting a distal portion of the wire coil by actuating the proximal handle to access tissue at the tissue site; and    performing the medical procedure on the tissue with the distal assembly.    
     
     
         138 . The method of  claim 137 , wherein the wire coil is configured to selectively deflect the distal portion relative to the proximal portion.  
     
     
         139 . The method of  claim 137 , wherein the wire coil at the distal portion has an outer diameter that is less than an outer diameter of the wire coil at the proximal portion.  
     
     
         140 . The method of  claim 137 , wherein an outer diameter of the wire coil at the proximal portion and an outer diameter of the wire coil at the distal portion are substantially the same.  
     
     
         141 . The method of  claim 137 , wherein the handle includes a first actuation member for actuating the distal assembly and a second actuation member for deflecting the distal portion.  
     
     
         142 . The method of  claim 137 , wherein the wire coil includes a first outer jacket covering an outer surface of the proximal portion of the wire coil.  
     
     
         143 . The method of  claim 142 , wherein the wire coil further includes a second outer jacket covering an outer surface of the distal portion, the second outer jacket being made of a material different than a material of the first outer jacket, so that the distal portion is more flexible than the proximal portion.  
     
     
         144 . The method of  claim 143 , wherein the second outer jacket material is softer than the first outer jacket material.  
     
     
         145 . The method of  claim 137 , further comprising actuating the proximal handle to perform the medical procedure.  
     
     
         146 . The method of  claim 145 , wherein actuating the proximal handle includes actuating a movable part of the handle from a first position to a second position to actuate the distal assembly, and actuating the movable part of the handle from the second position to a third position to deflect the distal portion relative to the proximal portion.  
     
     
         147 . The method of  claim 146 , wherein the movable part of the handle moves relative to a stationary part of the handle between the first, second, and third positions.  
     
     
         148 . The method of  claim 147 , wherein the movable part is axially reciprocally movable relative to the stationary part.  
     
     
         149 . The method of  claim 137 , further comprising holding the distal portion in a deflected position.  
     
     
         150 . The method of  claim 149 , wherein holding the distal portion in the deflected position is performed after deflecting the distal portion and while performing the medical procedure on the tissue.  
     
     
         151 . The method of  claim 149 , wherein holding the distal portion in the deflected position is performed by a deflection control member.  
     
     
         152 . The method of  claim 137 , wherein the distal assembly includes a biopsy forceps assembly.  
     
     
         153 . The method of  claim 152 , further comprising: 
 opening the biopsy forceps assembly;    receiving the tissue in the biopsy forceps assembly by deflecting the distal portion of the wire coil; and    severing the tissue by closing the biopsy forceps assembly.    
     
     
         154 . The method of  claim 153 , wherein actuating the proximal handle includes actuating the biopsy forceps assembly to open and close.  
     
     
         155 . The method of  claim 154 , wherein actuating the proximal handle further includes deflecting the distal portion relative to the proximal portion.  
     
     
         156 . The method of  claim 137 , wherein providing a medical device adjacent to a tissue site comprises inserting the medical device into an endoscope.