Universal holder for an insertable medical tool

Abstract

A holder apparatus for enabling secure coupling of a variety of medical tool types, having different head member configurations, to a medical device. The apparatus has at least two housing portions that open and close to receive the head member, and an adjustment mechanism that adjusts to the height and/or shape of the head member, such that there is no relative movement between the housing portions and the head member. The adjustment mechanism may be a ratchet mechanism, a semi-flexible fastener, or a moldable material disposed on one or more of the housing portions. There may be a locking mechanism to lock together the housing portions, and a tightening mechanism to secure the grip of the housing portions on the head member. The housing portions may be configured to allow removal of at least a portion of the medical tool from the device.

1 . A device for securing an ablation tool having a head member at a proximal end thereof, to an automated medical insertion device, at least a portion of said ablation tool is configured for insertion into a tissue of a subject, the securing device comprising:
 two or more housing portions configured to receive the head member of said ablation tool; and   an adjustment mechanism configured to adjust the height and/or shape of at least a portion of the device according to at least one of the height and shape of said head member;   wherein at least one of said two or more housing portions is configured for movement relative to at least another of said two or more housing portions, to transition the device at least one of from an open state to a closed state and from a closed state to an open state, and   wherein, when said two or more housing portions have received said head member and are in a closed state, and the adjustment mechanism has been activated, there is essentially no relative movement between said two or more housing portions and said head member.   
     
     
         2 . The device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a locking mechanism configured to lock together at least two of said two or more housing portions when the device is in its closed state. 
     
     
         3 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said adjustment mechanism comprises a ratchet mechanism. 
     
     
         4 . The device according to  claim 3 , wherein said ratchet mechanism comprises ratchet teeth disposed on at least one of said two or more housing portions and a locking pawl of at least another of said two or more housing portions, said locking pawl being configured to engage with said ratchet teeth. 
     
     
         5 . The device according to  claim 4 , further comprising a release member configured to disengage said locking pawl from said ratchet teeth. 
     
     
         6 . The device according to  claim 3 , wherein said ratchet mechanism comprises an elongated element having ratchet teeth along at least a portion of its length and a receiving member having an opening for inserting a first end of said elongated element therethrough, and wherein said opening includes therein a pawl adapted to engage with the ratchet teeth of said elongated element upon insertion of said first end of said elongated element through said opening. 
     
     
         7 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein at least two of said two or more housing portions are coupled together via a hinge. 
     
     
         8 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said two or more housing portions comprises a cover element comprising a slit, configured to establish contact with the proximal end of said head member upon activation of said adjustment mechanism. 
     
     
         9 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said movement of at least one of said two or more housing portions comprises at least one of linear movement and rotational movement. 
     
     
         10 . The device according to  claim 1 , further comprising one or more anchoring elements configured to attach a collapsible support guide of said ablation tool to at least one of said two or more housing portions. 
     
     
         11 . The device according to  claim 10 , wherein said collapsible support guide comprises a pair of flexible strips connected along at least a portion of their length and having a central channel therebetween adapted to receive and support said ablation tool. 
     
     
         12 . The device according to  claim 2 , wherein said locking mechanism comprises at least one of: a latch, a locking pin, a ratchet and a snap-fit mechanism. 
     
     
         13 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said adjustment mechanism comprises moldable material disposed on at least one of said two or more housing portions and configured to conform to the shape of at least a portion of said head member of said ablation tool upon pressing of said head member against said moldable material and/or wherein said adjustment mechanism comprises a semi-flexible fastener coupled to an inner wall of at least one of said two or more housing portions. 
     
     
         14 . A device for securing an ablation tool having a head member at proximal end thereof to an insertion device wherein at least a portion of said ablation tool is configured to insertion into a tissue of a subject, the device comprising:
 a first housing portion configured to receive the head member of said ablation tool, said first housing portion including ratchet teeth disposed along at least a portion of the length of a wall of said first housing portion;   a second housing portion coupled to said first housing portion and including:
 a pawl configured to engage with said ratchet teeth; 
 a release member configured to disengage said pawl from said ratchet teeth; and 
 a cover element comprising a slit and configured to contact the proximal end of said head member; 
   wherein said second housing portion is adapted to be moved relative to said first housing portion from an open state of the device to a closed state of the device and, upon activation of the release member, from a closed state of the device to an open state of the device.   
     
     
         15 . The device according to  claim 14 , wherein said movement of said second housing portion relative to said first housing portion comprises at least one of linear movement and rotational movement. 
     
     
         16 . The device according to  claim 15 , further comprising one or more anchoring elements configured to attach a collapsible support guide of said ablation tool to at least one of said first and second housing portions. 
     
     
         17 . The device according to  claim 16 , wherein said collapsible support guide comprises a pair of flexible strips connected along at least a portion of their length and having a central channel therebetween adapted to receive and support said ablation tool; and wherein said cover element is configured to maintain said head member concentric with said central channel. 
     
     
         18 . A method for securing an ablation tool, having a head member at a proximal end thereof, the method comprising:
 inserting said ablation tool, into an opening in at least one of one or more housing portions of a holder device, until the distal end of said head member is supported by said at least one of said one or more housing portions;   displacing at least one of said one or more housing portions to transition said holder device from an open state to a closed state; and   adjusting at least one of the height and shape of at least a portion of said holder device according to at least one of the height and shape of said head member, such that there is essentially no relative movement between said one or more housing portions and said first head member, wherein at least one of said at least one or more housing portions comprises a cover element having a slit and configured to establish contact with the proximal end of said head member upon activation of said adjustment.   
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein said adjusting is executed using a ratchet mechanism. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 18 , further comprising the step of securing the grip of said one or more housing portions on said head member of said ablation tool, using a tightening mechanism and/or locking said holder device upon transitioning said holder device from said open state to said closed state.