Flexible and/or pushable tubular device

Abstract

The teachings herein relate to devices for insertion into a cavity, opening or other passageway that requires the bending of the device to conform to a curved or even tortuous shape of the path. The devices include axial support components for translating forces for moving the device forward in the path. The axial support components preferably include adjacent components capable of rocking for tilting the device in one or more directions. The device preferably includes one or more lateral support components for limiting any lateral motion of an axial support component relative to an adjacent axial support component.

1 . A medical device comprising:
 a tubular member having a proximal end, a distal end, an outer surface, an inner surface, a longitudinal axis along a length of the tubular member, a passage extending from the proximal end to the distal end extending along the longitudinal axis, and a cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis;   wherein the tubular member includes:
 i) a plurality of axial support components in a stacked arrangement including at least a first axial support component and a second adjacent axial support component located above the first axial support component in the distal direction, 
 wherein each axial support component has a top edge surface facing the proximal end and a bottom edge surface facing the distal end, wherein a first portion of the top edge surface of the first axial support component contacts a first portion of the bottom edge surface of the second axial support component, and a second portion of the top edge surface of the first axial support component is spaced apart from the bottom edge surface of the second axial support component, wherein the first and second portions of the top edge surface are at different locations along the circumference of the first axial support component; and 
 ii) one or more lateral support components in contact with the axial support components for reducing lateral movement of adjacent axial support components relative to each other. 
   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first axial support component and the second axial support component have the same shape. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first axial support component rocks back and forth relative to the second axial support component. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first axial support component bends relative to the second axial support component in a first direction away from the longitudinal axis and in an opposing second direction away from the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein the first axial support component is connected to the second axial support component at a connection region that comprises alternating ridges and valleys. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein the first axial support component and the second axial support component are formed of the same material. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein the connection region is formed of the same material as the first axial support component and the second axial support component. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the first axial support component, the second axial support component, and the connection region are integrally formed. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more lateral support components includes a bellows structure. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the bellows structure includes one or more ridges and one or more valleys. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the bellows structure extends between the first axial support component and the second adjacent axial support component. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more lateral support components have a wall thickness that is less than a wall thickness of the axial support components. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the device includes about 10 or more stacked axial support components. 
     
     
         14 . The device  claim 1 , wherein the device includes one or more control components extending the length of the tubular member for controlling a direction of bend of the proximal end of the tubular member. 
     
     
         15 . A medical device comprising:
 a tubular member having a proximal end, a distal end, an outer surface, an inner surface, a longitudinal axis along a length of the tubular member, a passage extending from the proximal end to the distal end extending along the longitudinal axis, and a cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis;   wherein the tubular member includes:
 i) a plurality of axial support components in a stacked arrangement including at least a first axial support component and a second adjacent axial support component located above the first axial support component in the distal direction, 
 wherein each axial support component has a top edge surface facing the proximal end and a bottom edge surface facing the distal end, wherein a first portion of the top edge surface of the first axial support component contacts a first portion of the bottom edge surface of the second axial support component, and a second portion of the top edge surface of the first axial support component is spaced apart from the bottom edge surface of the second axial support component, wherein the first and second portions of the top edge surface are at different locations along the circumference of the first axial support component; and 
 ii) a lateral support component connected to the first axial support component and the second axial support component, the lateral support component including one or more hinges that allow for rocking motion between the first and second axial support components. 
   
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the lateral support component comprises a bellows structure including alternating ridges and valleys. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the first axial support component and the second axial support component have the same shape. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the device includes one or more control components extending the length of the tubular member for controlling a direction of bend of the proximal end of the tubular member. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein the control components include a first cable and a second cable and the axial support components include eyelet openings in the passageway of the tubular member for threading the cables, wherein the first and second cables bend the tubular member in opposing directions. 
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the first axial support component bends relative to the second axial support component in a first direction away from the longitudinal axis and in an opposing second direction away from the longitudinal axis.