Endoscope having a guide tube

Abstract

An endoscope having a guide tube is described herein. The assembly has an endoscope which is slidably insertable within the lumen of a guide tube. The guide tube is configured to be rigidizable along its entire length from a relaxed configuration. The endoscope has a steerable distal portion to facilitate the steering of the device through tortuous paths. In the relaxed configuration, a portion of the guide tube is able to assume the shape or curve defined by the controllable distal portion of the endoscope. Having assumed the shape or curve of the endoscope, the guide tube may be rigidized by the physician or surgeon to maintain that shape or curve while the endoscope is advanced distally through the tortuous path without having to place any undue pressure against the tissue walls.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An apparatus for advancing a diagnostic or therapeutic instrument into a hollow body organ, comprising: 
 a guide tube having an elongated portion, a distal opening and a lumen extending therethrough to permit passage of a diagnostic or therapeutic instrument;    a flexible covering encapsulating at least a portion of the guide tube; and    an atraumatic distal region adjacent to the distal opening adapted to be atraumatic in the vicinity of the distal opening such that tissue is prevented from pinching or tearing when the diagnostic or therapeutic instrument is translated through the distal opening.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the guide tube includes a mechanism for locking the guide tube in a bent configuration.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the mechanism for locking the guide tube in a bent configuration comprises: 
 a plurality of nestable elements;  
 a plurality of tension wires that thread the nested elements together; and  
 a tensioning mechanism that may be releasably coupled to the plurality of tension wires and to selectively apply a clamping load to the plurality of nestable elements.  
 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the mechanism for locking the guide tube in a bent configuration comprises: 
 a plurality of links, each link having a bore that defines the lumen of the guide tube; and  
 a device for applying a clamping load to the plurality of links.  
 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the flexible covering is integrated with the guide tube.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the flexible covering is integral with the atraumatic distal region.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the atraumatic distal region comprises an elastic tubular member.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the atraumatic distal region comprises an elastic diaphragm.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the first diagnostic or therapeutic instrument has a steerable distal tip, and the distal region of the guide tube comprises a flexible material deflectable by the steerable distal tip of the first diagnostic or therapeutic instrument.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the lumen is dimensioned to permit passage of a second diagnostic or therapeutic instrument alongside the diagnostic or therapeutic instrument.  
     
     
         11 . A method for advancing a diagnostic or therapeutic instrument having a steerable distal end into a hollow body organ, comprising: 
 providing a guide tube having an elongated portion with a distal opening and a lumen extending therethrough to permit passage of the diagnostic or therapeutic instrument, and an atraumatic distal end disposed adjacent the distal opening;    inserting the guide with the diagnostic or therapeutic instrument into the hollow body organ; and    preventing tissue of the hollow body organ from pinching or tearing via a flexible covering encapsulating at least a portion of the guide tube when the diagnostic or therapeutic instrument is translated through the distal opening.    
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein providing the guide tube comprises providing the guide tube having a plurality of nestable elements, and a tensioning mechanism that selectively applies a clamping load to the plurality of nestable elements.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising locking the guide tube in a bent configuration by actuating the tensioning mechanism.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11  wherein providing the guide tube comprises providing the guide tube having a plurality of links, each link having a bore that defines the lumen of the guide tube.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising locking the guide tube in a bent configuration by applying a clamping load to the plurality of links.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11  wherein providing the guide tube further comprises inserting the diagnostic or therapeutic instrument through the lumen such that the steerable distal tip is aligned with the distal opening.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising navigating the diagnostic or therapeutic instrument with the guide tube through the hollow body organ by steering the steerable distal end of the diagnostic or therapeutic instrument.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising locking the guide tube in a bent configuration.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising advancing the diagnostic or therapeutic instrument through the lumen of the guide tube in the bent configuration.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11  wherein providing the guide tube comprises advancing a second diagnostic or therapeutic instrument within the guide tube alongside the diagnostic or therapeutic instrument.