Modular medical device system

Abstract

An adapter for a medical device catheter comprises a proximal portion and a distal portion, and an elongated element extending therebetween. An attachment mechanism is positioned at a proximal portion of the elongated element and comprises an interfacing element configured to be completely received inside a lumen at the distal end of a medical device catheter to attach the proximal portion of the adapter to the medical device catheter.

1 . An adapter for a medical device catheter, said adapter comprises:
 a proximal portion and a distal portion, and an elongated element extending therebetween; and   an attachment mechanism positioned at a proximal portion of the elongated element and comprising an interfacing element configured to be completely received inside a lumen at the distal end of a medical device catheter to attach the proximal portion of the adapter to the medical device catheter.   
     
     
         2 . The adapter of  claim 1 , wherein the interfacing element comprises a first portion attached to an outer surface of the elongated element and a second portion free from the outer surface of the elongated element. 
     
     
         3 . The adapter of  claim 2 , wherein the second portion of the interfacing element is distal to the first portion of the interfacing element. 
     
     
         4 . The adapter of  claim 3 , wherein the second portion of the interfacing element is configured to engage an inner surface of the lumen at the distal end of the medical device catheter. 
     
     
         5 . The adapter of  claim 1 , wherein the interfacing element is configured to compress within the lumen at the distal end of the medical device catheter when the adapter is attached to the medical device catheter. 
     
     
         6 . The adapter of  claim 1 , wherein the interfacing element is configured to form an interference fit within the lumen at the distal end of the medical device catheter when the adapter is attached to the medical device catheter. 
     
     
         7 . The adapter of  claim 1 , wherein the interfacing element is configured to longitudinally expand within the lumen at the distal end of the medical device catheter when the adapter is attached to the medical device catheter. 
     
     
         8 . The adapter of  claim 1 , wherein the interfacing element comprises a coil, and the elongated element is attached to and extends through the coil. 
     
     
         9 . The adapter of  claim 8 , wherein a first diameter of the coil is larger than a diameter of the lumen at the distal end of the medical device catheter prior to attachment of the adapter to the medical device catheter. 
     
     
         10 . The adapter of  claim 9 , wherein a second diameter of the coil is smaller than the diameter of the lumen at the distal end of the medical device catheter prior to attachment of the adapter to the medical device catheter. 
     
     
         11 . The adapter of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more slender elements extending proximally from a distal portion of the elongated element. 
     
     
         12 . The adapter of  claim 11 , wherein the one or more slender elements extend along an outer surface of the medical device catheter when the adapter is attached to the medical device catheter. 
     
     
         13 . The adapter of  claim 12 , wherein the one or more slender elements comprise a wire or fiber. 
     
     
         14 . The adapter of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated element further comprises a conductor configured to electrically connect the distal portion of the adapter to the outside of a patient. 
     
     
         15 . The adapter of  claim 14 , wherein the elongated element further comprises an electrical connector electrically coupled to the conductor. 
     
     
         16 . The adapter of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated element further comprises optical fibers configured to optically connect the distal portion of the adapter to the outside of a patient. 
     
     
         17 . The adapter of  claim 16 , wherein the distal portion of the adapter comprises a camera connected to the optical fibers. 
     
     
         18 . The adapter of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated element further comprises a steering wire configured to mechanically connect the distal portion of the adapter to the outside of a patient. 
     
     
         19 . The adapter of  claim 18 , wherein the distal portion of the adapter comprises an articulating element connected to the steering wire. 
     
     
         20 . The adapter of  claim 1 , further comprising a balloon assembly at the distal portion of the adapter. 
     
     
         21 . A modular medical device catheter system, comprising:
 a parent module comprising a proximal end for extending outside the body of a patient and a distal end for being inside the body of the patient, and a lumen at the distal end; and an adapter module comprising a proximal portion and a distal portion with an elongated element extending therebetween, and an attachment mechanism positioned at a proximal portion of the elongated element and comprising an interfacing element configured to be completely received inside the lumen at the distal end of the parent module to attach the proximal portion of the adapter to the parent module.