Multiple lumen assembly for use in endoscopes or other medical devices

Abstract

An endoscope or other medical device includes a number of lumens positioned in an outer shaft. The lumens are formed as a multiple lumen assembly. In one embodiment, individual lumens are connected to each other with a sheet or webbing material. The lumen assembly is rolled or folded along its length for incorporation into the outer shaft of the medical device. The sheet or webbing material may be notched or perforated to facilitate folding the lumen assembly and/or separating individual lumens from the lumen assembly.

1 - 21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a flexible sheet including a plurality of lumens and a webbing material connecting each opposing pair of the plurality of lumens,   wherein the webbing material has a flexibility enhancing mechanism that allows the flexible sheet to transition from a planar configuration defining a sheet width to a circular configuration defining a central lumen with a central lumen diameter, and each of the plurality of lumens includes a lumen diameter smaller than the central lumen diameter.   
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the flexibility enhancing mechanism includes at least one notch. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein the at least one notch penetrates less than an entire thickness of the webbing material. 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein the at least one notch includes a pair of opposing notches. 
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein the pair of opposing notches allows at least one lumen of the plurality of lumens to be separated from the remainder of the plurality of lumens. 
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the lumen diameter of each lumen of the plurality of lumens remains constant when the flexible sheet is transitioned into the circular configuration. 
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the plurality of lumens and the webbing material are formed of a one-piece construction. 
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein at least one lumen of the plurality of lumens is configured to deliver a fluid therethrough. 
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein at least two lumens of the plurality of lumens are configured to receive a wire, and the at least two lumens are spaced oppositely of one another when the flexible sheet is transitioned into the circular configuration. 
     
     
         31 . An apparatus having a central longitudinal axis, the apparatus comprising:
 a plurality of lumens extending in a direction parallel to the central longitudinal axis, each lumen of the plurality of lumens having a lumen diameter; and   a webbing material extending between each opposing pair of the plurality of lumens,   wherein the plurality of lumens are spaced apart in a direction transverse to the central longitudinal axis and the webbing material has a flexibility enhancing mechanism to allow formation a central lumen having a central lumen diameter greater than the lumen diameter of each of the plurality of lumens.   
     
     
         32 . The apparatus of  claim 31 , wherein the flexibility enhancing mechanism includes a plurality of elongated slots extending in a direction parallel to the central longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         33 . The apparatus of  claim 31 , wherein the flexibility enhancing mechanism is perforated. 
     
     
         34 . The apparatus of  claim 31 , wherein the flexibility enhancing mechanism includes an elongated cut extending in a direction parallel to the central longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         35 . The apparatus of  claim 34 , wherein the webbing material has a durometer value that is different from a durometer value of a material that forms the plurality of lumens. 
     
     
         36 . The apparatus of  claim 31 , wherein at least one lumen of the plurality of lumens is formed by a material that has a durometer value that is different from a durometer value of the webbing material and a durometer value of a material that forms at least one other lumen of the plurality of lumens. 
     
     
         37 . An apparatus comprising:
 a plurality of lumens; and   a webbing material extending between each opposing pair of the plurality of lumens,   wherein the webbing material has a flexibility enhancing mechanism configured to form a radial array with the plurality of lumens, the radial array defines a central lumen having a central lumen diameter, and each lumen of the plurality of lumens includes a lumen diameter smaller than the central lumen diameter.   
     
     
         38 . The apparatus of  claim 37 , wherein the flexibility enhancing mechanism allows at least one lumen of the plurality of lumens to be separated from the remainder of the plurality of lumens. 
     
     
         39 . The apparatus of  claim 37 , wherein the plurality of lumens include four first lumens that are configured to receive a wire. 
     
     
         40 . The apparatus of  claim 39 , wherein the four first lumens are arranged orthogonally in the radial array. 
     
     
         41 . The apparatus of  claim 40 , wherein the plurality of lumens includes at least one second lumen located between each of the four first lumens in the radial array.