Endoscope Anchoring Device

Abstract

A device for accessing tissue within a body lumen comprises an elongated body portion defining a lumen and an anchoring mechanism including an expanding structure on a distal portion of the elongated body portion. The anchoring mechanism moves the expanding structure from an insertion configuration in which the expanding structure is constricted against the device to an operative configuration in a body in which the expanding structure expands away from the device without altering a length of the anchoring mechanism in combination with a control mechanism for selectively engaging the anchoring mechanism.

1 . A device for accessing tissue within a body lumen, comprising:
 an elongated body portion defining a lumen;   an anchoring mechanism including an expanding structure on a distal portion of the elongated body portion, the anchoring mechanism moving the expanding structure from an insertion configuration in which the expanding structure is constricted against the device to an operative configuration in a body in which the expanding structure expands away from the device without altering a length of the anchoring mechanism; and   a control mechanism selectively engaging the anchoring mechanism.   
     
     
         2 . The device according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a control wire or filament connected to the anchoring mechanism at a distal end and the control mechanism at a proximal end.   
     
     
         3 . The device according to  claim 2 , wherein the anchoring mechanism comprises a retractable rib mechanism comprising at least two longitudinally spanning ribs. 
     
     
         4 . The device according to  claim 3 , wherein a plurality of slits are located along two radial circumferences of a longitudinal length of the elongated body portion and each of the ribs extends out of the device through a first slit and extends back into the device through a second slit, and wherein the second slit is longitudinally aligned with the first slit. 
     
     
         5 . The device according to  claim 3 , wherein a material of the ribs is one of a flexible plastic and a flexible metal. 
     
     
         6 . The device according to  claim 3 , wherein a contacting surface of each rib is comprises one or both of a high friction material coating and a ribbed surface with at least one protrusion extending outward to aid in gripping an inner wall of a lumen. 
     
     
         7 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the control mechanism is an actuator handle which moves in a proximal direction to align the ribs with respect to the elongated body portion. 
     
     
         8 . The device according to  claim 7 , wherein the elongated body portion comprises a plurality of slits on a distal portion and wherein moving the actuator in a distal direction pushes the ribs distally and causes the ribs to protrude through the slits in a bowed shape. 
     
     
         9 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the anchoring mechanism comprises a plurality of flexible wires extending radially around a plurality of sections located at a distal end of the elongated body portion. 
     
     
         10 . The device according to  claim 9  wherein each flexible wire extends from a proximal connection to a control wire connected to the control mechanism to a distal end extending out of a pair of holes placed on a longitudinal length of the elongated body portion. 
     
     
         11 . The device according to  claim 10 , wherein, when in the operative position, the plurality of flexible wires expands radially outward and conforms to a shape of one of a body lumen and cavity and wherein, when in a non-operative position, the plurality of flexible wires constrict radially inward and align to an outer wall of the device. 
     
     
         12 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the anchoring mechanism comprises one of a flexible wire and a ribbon coiled around a distal length of the elongated body portion. 
     
     
         13 . The device according to  claim 12 , wherein one of the flexible wire and the ribbon extends from a proximal connection to the control mechanism and out of a proximal opening in the elongated body portion and terminates in a distal opening in the elongated body portion, assuming a coiled shape between the two openings. 
     
     
         14 . The device according to  claim 12 , wherein, when in the operative position, a diameter of each coil of the coiled one of the flexible wire and the ribbon expands to conform to one of a body lumen and a body cavity and, wherein, when in a non-operative position, a diameter of each coil constricts radially inward and aligns to an outer wall of the elongated body portion. 
     
     
         15 . A device for accessing tissue within a body lumen, comprising:
 an elongated body portion defining a lumen; and   an anchoring mechanism including a wire extending through the device, exiting the device at a distal opening and extending proximally along an outer surface of the elongated body portion to attach to a joint portion of the elongated body portion, the anchoring mechanism moving the wire between an insertion configuration in which the wire is seated flush against the outer surface of the elongated body portion and an operative configuration in which the wire extends away from the device to engage lumenal tissue.   
     
     
         16 . The device according to  claim 15 , wherein the anchoring mechanism further comprises an actuator coupled to a proximal portion of the wire so that movement of the actuator in a proximal direction, draws the wire into the insertion configuration. 
     
     
         17 . The device according to  claim 15 , wherein the wire is formed of a shape-memory material, a memorized shape of a portion of the wire extending from the distal opening along the outer surface of the elongated body portion is one of substantially circular, elliptical, petal-shaped, triangular and rectangular. 
     
     
         18 . A device for accessing tissue within a body lumen, comprising:
 an elongated body portion defining a lumen; and   an anchoring mechanism including an opening formed on a distal portion of the elongated body portion, the opening permitting an application of a suction force applied at a proximal end of the device to a target portion of the body lumen to engage lumenal tissue.   
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 18 , further comprising a conical abutment attached to the opening, the conical abutment extending radially distally out of the elongated body portion to apply the suction force to the lumenal tissue. 
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 18 , further comprising a visualization window formed on a portion of the endoscope radially opposite a location of the anchoring mechanism.