Coaxial micro-endoscope

Abstract

A deflectable endoscope including an imaging structure, an outer member having a proximal portion and a distal portion, an elongated column member extending distally from the outer member and an inner member positioned coaxial with the outer member and attached to the column member. The inner member extends distally of the outer member and has a distal tip portion. A reinforcement member is positioned over the column member to restrict axial movement of the column member such that when one of the inner member or outer member is moved with respect to the other, axial compression of the column member is restricted by the reinforcement member causing the distal tip portion of the inner member to deflect laterally.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A micro-endoscope comprising an outer member having a proximal portion, a distal portion, a lumen, an outer surface and an inner surface, and an imaging device positioned on an outer surface of the outer member and including transmission members extending proximally to the proximal portion of the outer member. 
     
     
         22 . The micro-endoscope of  claim 21 , wherein the transmission members extend through the lumen in the outer member. 
     
     
         23 . The micro-endoscope of  claim 21 , wherein the transmission members extend along the outer surface of the outer member. 
     
     
         24 . The micro-endoscope of  claim 21 , wherein the imaging device is mounted at a distal tip of the outer member. 
     
     
         25 . The micro-endoscope of  claim 21 , wherein the imaging device includes a complementary metal oxide semiconductor module. 
     
     
         26 . The micro-endoscope of  claim 21 , further comprising a tubing over the imaging device and at least a portion of the outer surface of the outer member to secure the imaging device to the outer surface. 
     
     
         27 . The micro-endoscope of  claim 21 , wherein the imaging device extends distal of a distalmost end of the outer member. 
     
     
         28 . The micro-endoscope of  claim 21 , further comprising an inner member positioned within the outer member, and a gap is formed between the inner member and outer member for one or both of irrigation or aspiration. 
     
     
         29 . The micro-endoscope of  claim 21 , further comprising an inner member positioned within the outer member, the inner member having a lumen for passage of a guidewire. 
     
     
         30 . The micro-endoscope of  claim 23 , further comprising a tubing over the transmission members to hold the transmission members to the outer surface of the outer member. 
     
     
         31 . The micro-endoscope of  claim 21 , wherein the micro-endoscope has a varying stiffness for tracking over a guidewire. 
     
     
         32 . The micro-endoscope of  claim 21 , further comprising an inner member positioned within the outer member, the inner member removable from the outer member to increase the internal diameter of the outer member for introduction of devices therethrough. 
     
     
         33 . The micro-endoscope of  claim 21 , wherein a distal end of the imaging device is flush with a distal end of the outer member. 
     
     
         34 . The micro-endoscope of  claim 21 , further comprising a marker band at a distal end of the micro endoscope. 
     
     
         35 . The micro-endoscope of  claim 21 , further comprising a lubricious inner liner to facilitate guidewire movement within the micro-endoscope. 
     
     
         36 . The micro-endoscope of  claim 21 , further comprising a balloon positioned distal of the imaging device. 
     
     
         37 . The micro-endoscope of  claim 21 , wherein the imaging device includes a camera and lighting includes an optical fiber. 
     
     
         38 . The micro-endoscope of  claim 35 , further comprising a coil positioned over the liner, wherein the coil is topped with polymers of varying stiffnesses to provide three sections of varying stiffness, the stiffness decreasing from a proximal section to a distal section. 
     
     
         39 . The micro-endoscope of  claim 38 , wherein the stiffness is decreased by using materials of decreasing durometers.