Apparatus to provide an adjustable mechanism for radial ultrasound port and flush port

Abstract

The present disclosure relates generally to the field of medical devices. In particular, the present disclosure relates to an assembly with an adjustable ultrasound port and flush port for lateral and axial positioning of a radial ultrasound probe within a patient.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A system for viewing a pulmonary nodule, the system comprising:
 a handle comprising a first and a second feature extending from an inner wall of the handle;   a housing coupled to the handle, the housing defining an internal chamber, the housing comprising:
 an internal chamber extending from a proximal portion of the housing to a distal portion of the housing and configured to receive a radial ultrasound probe therethrough, 
 a fluid channel in fluid communication with the internal chamber, 
 a radial ultrasound port disposed on a proximal portion of the housing and in fluid communication with a proximal end of the internal chamber, 
 a fluid port disposed on a portion of the housing distal from the radial ultrasound port and in fluid communication with the fluid channel, and 
 a surface feature disposed on a distal end of the housing; and 
   a fitting disposed around the distal end of the housing, the fitting comprising a projection,   wherein the fitting is configured to frictionally engage with the surface feature of the housing and wherein the housing is configured to rotate axially with respect to the handle, and   wherein the projection is configured to engage with the first and the second surface features of the handle and wherein the projection is configured to allow the housing to move laterally with respect to the handle over a longitudinal distance defined by the first surface feature and the second surface feature.   
     
     
         22 . The system of claim  1 , wherein the surface feature of the housing and the fitting are configured to retain an axial orientation between the housing and the handle until a threshold level of axial force is exerted on the handle. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the surface feature of the housing is a rubber seal or an O-ring. 
     
     
         24 . The system of claim  1 , wherein the handle is configured to axially rotate within the fitting 360 degrees. 
     
     
         25 . The system of claim  1 , wherein the projection comprises an oval cutout. 
     
     
         26 . The system of claim  1 , wherein the radial ultrasound probe includes a drive cable rotatably disposed within a sheath. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 26 , the housing further comprising a first seal disposed within a distal portion of the internal chamber and a second seal disposed within a proximal portion of the internal chamber. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein the sheath comprises an open proximal end disposed between the first seal and the second seal. 
     
     
         29 . A system for viewing a pulmonary nodule, the system comprising:
 a handle comprising a first and a second feature extending from an inner wall of the handle;   a housing coupled to the handle, the housing defining an internal chamber, the housing comprising:
 an internal chamber extending from a proximal portion of the housing to a distal portion of the housing and configured to receive a radial ultrasound probe therethrough, 
 a fluid channel in fluid communication with the internal chamber, 
 a radial ultrasound port disposed on a proximal portion of the housing and in fluid communication with a proximal end of the internal chamber, 
 a fluid port disposed on a portion of the housing distal from the radial ultrasound port and in fluid communication with the fluid channel, and 
 a surface feature disposed on a distal end of the housing; 
   a fitting disposed around the distal end of the housing, the fitting comprising a projection; and   the radial ultrasound probe,   wherein the fitting is configured to frictionally engage with the surface feature of the housing and wherein the housing is configured to rotate axially with respect to the handle, and wherein the projection is configured to engage with the first and the second surface features of the handle and wherein the projection is configured to allow the housing to move laterally with respect to the handle over a longitudinal distance defined by the first surface feature and the second surface feature.   
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the surface feature of the housing and the fitting are configured to retain an axial orientation between the housing and the handle until a threshold level of axial force is exerted on the handle. 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein the surface feature of the housing is a rubber seal or an O-ring. 
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the handle is configured to axially rotate within the fitting 360 degrees. 
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the radial ultrasound probe includes a drive cable rotatably disposed within a sheath. 
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 33 , the housing further comprising a first seal disposed within a distal portion of the internal chamber and a second seal disposed within a proximal portion of the internal chamber. 
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 34 , wherein the sheath comprises an open proximal end disposed between the first seal and the second seal, wherein the first and second seals prevent fluid introduced through the flush port from exiting the internal chamber. 
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the projection comprises an oval cutout. 
     
     
         37 . A method of viewing a pulmonary nodule, comprising:
 inserting a radial ultrasound probe through an internal chamber extending from a proximal portion of a housing to a distal portion of a housing, wherein:
 the housing is coupled to a handle comprising a first and a second feature extending from an inner wall of the handle, 
 the housing comprising: the internal chamber, a fluid channel in fluid communication with the internal chamber, a radial ultrasound port disposed on a proximal portion of the housing and in fluid communication with a proximal end of the internal chamber, a fluid port disposed on a portion of the housing distal from the radial ultrasound port and in fluid communication with the fluid channel, and a surface feature disposed on a distal end of the housing; 
 wherein a fitting is disposed around the distal end of the housing, the fitting comprising a projection configured to frictionally engage with the surface feature of the housing and wherein the housing is configured to rotate axially with respect to the handle, and 
 wherein the projection is configured to engage with the first and the second surface features of the handle and wherein the projection is configured to allow the housing to move laterally with respect to the handle over a longitudinal distance defined by the first surface feature and the second surface feature. 
   
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , comprising connecting a fluid source to the fluid port and injecting fluid into the internal chamber. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38 , comprising axially rotating the housing with respect to the handle. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 38 , comprising moving the housing longitudinally with respect to the handle.