DISPOSABLE CONNECTOR FOR USE WITH ENDOSCOPIC APPARATUS

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[001] This invention relates to the field of connecting fluid supply lines in a sealing-tight manner and , more particularly, to a disposable connector for the multilumen tubing employed in colonoscopy. While the following specification refers to particular endoscopic procedures, the connector may be used for other endoscopic procedures as well.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[002] There are known endoscopes in which a flexible insertion tube is provided with an internal sleeve, which is also known as a multilumen tubing, since it comprises a plurality of passages or lumens for irrigation/flushing, suction and for passing endoscopic tools therethrough. To enable functioning of the endoscope, the proximal end of the multilumen tubing is detachably connected through a dedicated connector to respective tubes or hoses, which supply water, air and vacuum from the system control unit. Furthermore, the connector also has a dedicated port for insertion and evacuation therethrough of a surgical instrument, which extends along one of the passages of the multilumen tubing.

[003] The known in the art connectors are of relatively complicated design.

They comprise several components and require a dedicated sealing means to seal pipes entering through ports of the connector for supplying liquid, air or vacuum. Furthermore, in order to connect the multilumen tubing with the respective pipes in a sealing-tight fashion, and at the same time to ensure that liquid, air or vacuum enter into respective channels of the multilumen tubing, one should position the multilumen tubing in such a manner that its passages are brought in alignment with the corresponding hoses. This renders the preparation of the endoscopic apparatus for endoscopic procedure complicated and inconvenient.

[004] Bar-Or (International Patent Publication No. WO 2005/110200) describes a connector, suitable for establishing flow communication between passages of a multilumen tubing used with an endoscopic apparatus and between tubes which supply fluid medium to the multilumen tubing. The connector also allows insertion and retraction of a surgical instrument therethrough. The connector comprises a main body portion provided with a through-going bore, which longitudinally extends along the main body portion. The main body portion further comprises a plurality of lateral ports which are in flow communication with the through going bore. The bore is adapted for insertion thereinto and removal therefrom of a proximal end of the multilumen tubing. The lateral ports are adapted for receiving thereinto the tubes for supplying the fluid medium.

[005] The connector mentioned in the above reference is designed as an integral single body providing airtight connection between the connector and the multilumen tubing. Though this connector has a relatively simple design, it nevertheless requires a rather complicated manufacturing and assembling processes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[006] The present invention is concerned with a disposable connector used for connecting fluid supply lines to a multilumen tubing in a sealing-tight manner. The term fluid as used herein in the specification and claims is used to denote any fluid medium, including liquids and gases, e.g. compressed air or other gases, vacuum, rinsing liquids, etc.

[007] According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a fluid flow connector for sealingly coupling one or more passages of a multilumen tubing and one or more tubes supplying fluid medium to the multilumen tubing. The connector comprises a housing formed with a longitudinal cavity defined by a longitudinal axis, and with a sealing member snugly receivable within said cavity. The housing and the sealing member further comprise a multilumen tubing inlet port for receiving a proximal end of the multilumen tubing, and at least one lateral port for

receiving and coupling one or more tubes; the axis of the at least one lateral port is not parallel to the longitudinal axis of the housing.

[008] Any one or more of the following features may be included in the connector according to the present invention. The list of these optional features comprises.

[009] The connector can be provided with a housing, which is detachably connectable to the operating handle of the endoscopic apparatus by a snap connection.

[0010] The distal port of the sealing member can be of a normally closed type which can be open upon insertion of the surgical instrument therethrough.

[0011] The connector may further comprise a fixation member enabling easy insertion of the multilumen tubing through the multilumen tubing inlet port while preventing retraction thereof. The fixation member may be provided with a ring fitted with a plurality of prongs radially extending towards the multilumen tubing, said prongs being deflectable only in an inward direction upon insertion of the multilumen tubing therethrough.

[0012] The fixation member may be deployable in the housing so as to retain the sealing member within the cavity of the housing. The connector may be provided with a coupler for attachment of a surgical instrument protector. The coupler can be detachably snappingly securable on a corresponding protrusion provided at the operating handle.

[0013] The coupler can be detachably connectable to the housing of the connector by a bayonet-type coupling.

[0014] The coupler can be further adapted for attaching thereto a surgical instrument protector.

[0015] The coupler can be formed with a grasping member for articulation over the operating handle.

[0016] According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided an endoscopic apparatus comprising an endoscope provided with an insertion tube. A multilumen tubing is insertable into said insertion tube, said multilumen! tubing being provided with passages for supplying fluid medium to the insertion tube and with a passage for insertion and retraction of a surgical instrument. There are tubes for supplying fluid medium to the passages of the multilumen tubing. A fluid flow connector sealingly couples one or more passages of the multilumen tubing and one or more tubes supplying fluid medium to the multilumen tubing. This connector comprises a housing formed with a longitudinal cavity defined by a longitudinal axis, and a sealing member snugly received within said cavity. The housing and the sealing member further comprise a multilumen tubing inlet port for receiving a proximal end of the multilumen tubing, and at least one lateral port for sealingly receiving and coupling said one or more tubes. The axis of the at least one lateral port is substantially not parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cavity.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] In order to understand the invention and to see how it may be carried out in practice, embodiments will now be described, by way of non-limiting examples only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: [0018] Fig. 1 is an isometric view of a connector according to a present invention, used in conjunction with an endoscopic apparatus; [0019] Fig. 2A is a front isometric view of a portion of a multilumen tubing employed with the connector of the present invention; [0020] Fig. 2B is a rear isometric view of the portion of the multilumen tubing seen in Fig. 2A;

[0021] Fig. 3 is an exploded isometric view of the connector;

[0022] Fig. 4 is an isometric view of a housing of the connector;

[0023] Fig. S is an isometric view of a sealing member of the connector;

[0024] Figs. 6A and 6B illustrate an isometric view of a fixation member and a ring thereof;

[0025] Fig. 7 is an isometric view of a coupler;

[0026] Fig. 8 A is an isometric view of an assembled connector without a coupler.

[0027] Fig. 8B is an isometric view of the assembled connector, seen in Fig. 8A, with a coupler, secured at an operating handle of the endoscopic apparatus; [0028] Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the connector with the multilumen tubing extending therealong; [0029] Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional isometric view of the connector with the multilumen tubing and tubes supplying water, air and vacuum coupled thereto; and [0030] Fig. 11 illustrates the connector, with a surgical instrument protector attached to the coupler.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0031] Fig. 1 illustrates a connector generally designated 10 for use with a multilumen tubing 11. The multilumen tubing 11 extends from an insertion tube of an endoscope (not shown) through an operating handle 15 to the connector 10. The connector 10 is detachably connectable to the operating handle 15 as will be further described.

[0032] Figs. 2A and 2B show the multilumen tubing 11 employed with the connector 10. The multilumen tubing 11 constitutes an elongate, flexible tubular member having a proximal end 21, a distal end 23 and lumens or passages 22, 24 and 26 extending longitudinally therethrough. The passages 22 and 24 can be of a similar shape and size and may have an elliptical cross-section. The passages 22 and 24 extend almost along the entire length of the multilumen tubing 11 and are closed at its proximal end 21. One of these passages is intended for supplying air and the other one for supplying of water. The third passage 26 is of a larger cross-section and has a circular cross-sectional configuration. This passage is intended for supplying vacuum or for insertion of a surgical tool therethrough. This passage extends along the entire length of the multilumen tubing 11 and its open end is seen in Fig.2B. The location of

the passages within the multilumen tubing 11, as well as their cross-sectional configuration, is selected in such a manner that the outside diameter d of the multilumen tubing is kept at a minimum, while ensuring that the wall thickness would be still sufficient to resist collapsing due to the vacuum supplied through the passage 26.

[0033] On the outside periphery of the multilumen tubing and in the vicinity to the proximal end 21, two tangentially directed cuts 25 and 27 are made, which are defined by a width dimension w and by a length dimension L In practice these dimensions and the depth of the cuts are selected to allow communication with the respective passages 22 and 24. The tangentially directed cuts 25 and 27 define radial ports, through which a fluid medium can enter into the respective passages 22 and 24 of the multilumen tubing 11.

[0034] The multilumen tubing 11 is manufactured from a polymeric material, e.g.

PVC of medical grade. For an endoscopic apparatus used for a colonoscopic procedure the outside diameter d of the multilumen tubing is about 5.7 mm, the minimal wall thickness between the outside periphery and the passage is about 0.2- 0.3 mm, the width dimension w is about 1.5-1.6 mm and the length dimension 1 is about 3 mm.

[0035] Figs. 3-7 illustrate the components of the connector 10, namely a housing

31, a sealing member 33, a coupler 35, and a fixation member 38 comprised of a locking member 37 and a ring 39. As shown in Fig. 4, the housing 31 comprises a housing first axial port 41, a housing second axial port 43 having two port protrusions 43a (only one of which is seen in Fig 3), three housing lateral ports 40, 42 and 44, a slot 45, and a snap fastener 47 having a cut-out 49. The housing first axial port will be referred to also as a distal port and the housing second axial port will be referred to as a proximal port. The housing is made with a cavity 46 extending from the housing first port 41 to the housing second port 43, and being in communication with ports 40, 42 and 44. This cavity is configured and dimensioned to accommodate the sealing member thereinto.

[0036] The housing is made of a rigid, strong and durable plastic material, for example Derlin™.

[0037] As shown in Fig. 5, the sealing member comprises a sealing member first axial port 51, an oppositely situated sealing member second axial port 53, and three sealing member lateral ports 50, 52 and 54. The sealing member 33 is made of an elastomeric material allowing resiliency thereof, for example such as Santoprene™. As will be explained further with reference to Fig. 9, between the axial first and second ports of the sealing member extends a longitudinal bore, which has a longitudinal axis.

[0038] Figs. 6A and 6B respectively show the fixation member 38 comprising a locking member 37 and a ring 39. The locking member has flat shape and is provided with an annular depression 60 and with supporting protrusions 61 radially extending above the depression. Furthermore, the fixation member is provided with two snapping tongues 63. The ring 39 is configured with a plurality of elastically deformable retaining prongs 65, which are situated circumferentially around the ring opening. The purpose of these prongs will be described later on. When the connector is assembled and the fixation member is slidingly inserted within slot 45 of the housing 31, the ring 39 is situated on the depression 60 of the locking member being retained in place by supporting protrusions 61. The snaps are intended for securing the fixation member within the housing after it has been inserted within the slot.

[0039] The coupler 35, shown in Fig. 7, comprises two L-shape slots 71 (the second slot is not shown) constituting a part of the bayonet coupling arrangement. The coupler also comprises a gripping portion 73, a semi-annular grasping portion 75 and a coupler port 77, through which a surgical instrument can be protracted into or retracted from the connector.

[0040] Fig. 8 A illustrates the assembled connector 10. The sealing member 33 is snugly received within the cavity 46 formed between the housing first and second axial ports 41, 43 such that sealing member lateral ports 50, 52, 54 are aligned with the corresponding housing lateral ports 40, 42, 44, and the axis of each of these ports substantially transverses a longitudinal axis of the cavity extending along the housing 31. The locking member 37, together with the ring 39 located thereon and retained by the supporting protrusions 55 (not shown), is snappingly secured within the slot 45 by the snaps 63. The prongs 65 of the ring extend radially and are deflectable only inwardly upon the insertion of the multilumen tubing 11 through the ring 39 and thus they allow insertion and protracting of the multilumen tubing via the distal port of the connector housing, while preventing the retraction thereof. Furthermore, seeing that the fixation member is secured in place within the slot 46 of the housing by virtue of snapping tongues 63, it prevents retraction of the sealing member 33 out of the cavity 46 after the multilumen tubing has been inserted.

[0041] Fig. 8B illustrates the connector 10 as used with an endoscopic apparatus, e.g. a colonoscopic apparatus. The proximal end of the mulilumen tubing 11 is inserted through the fixation member 37 to the sealing member first axial port 51. The fastener 47 is snappingly connected to a protrusion 81 provided at the operating handle 15 and thus the housing of the connector is secured on the operating handle. The fastener is provided with some degree of sliding with respect to the protrusion 81 due to the cut-out 49, which is longer than the protrusion. By virtue of this provision, the multilument tubing does not detach from the sealing member during the setting up procedure associated with displacement along the insertion tube. The coupler 35 is fitted on to encompass the housing second axial port 43 when the protrusions 43a are within the L-shape slots 71 of the bayonet arrangement. The coupler is securely attached to the operating handle by holding a gripping portion 73 (shown in Fig. 7) and swiveling the coupler in a clockwise direction such that the protrusions are relatively displaced along the slots 71 until they reach their ends. The coupler 35 is then fixed to the operating handle 15 by snapping the semi-annular grasping portion

75 on a dedicated cylindrical protrusion 750 provided at the operating handle (as shown in Fig.1).

⁷ ig. 9 shows the inside construction of the connector 10. The connector 10 is shown together with the multilumen tubing 11 inserted thereinto. Within the sealing member 33 a longitudinally extending through-going bore is provided, having an inside diameter D. The bore extends between the sealing member first axial port 51 (distal port) and a first narrowing section 91, the diameter of which is smaller than the diameter D. Directed transversally with respect to the bore and communicating therewith, three sealing member lateral ports 50, 52, 54 are seen. These ports are aligned with the housing lateral ports 40, 42, 44, respectively. The ports 40, 50 and 42, 52 are intended for insertion thereinto of tubes supplying water and air (shown in Fig. 10) to passages 22 and 24 (not shown) of the multilumen tubing 11. The ports 44, 54 are intended for insertion thereinto of a tube through which vacuum is supplied to passage 26 of the multilumen tubing 11. The inside diameter D of the through going bore is selected in such a manner that it is more than the outside diameter d of the multilumen tubing 11 so as to allow insertion of the proximal end 21 thereof into the connector 10. In practice the inside diameter D is 6.2-6.3 mm. Formed on the circumference of the through going bore of the sealing member 33, a plurality of discrete annular protrusions 93, 95 and 97 are provided. These protrusions reduce the inside diameter D from 6.2-6.3 mm to about 5.5.mm, which is less than the outside diameter d of the multilumen tubing 11. Due to resiliency of the material of the sealing member 33, the annular protrusions 93, 95 and 97 seal the multilumen tubing 11 when it is being inserted in the connector 10. The protrusions 93, 95 and 97 form two annular pockets 96 and 98, communicating with the sealing member lateral ports 50 and 52. The annular pocket 96 is formed between the annular protrusions 93 and 95 and the annular pocket 98 is formed between annular protrusions 95 and 97. It is also seen that the sealing member lateral port 50 is in flow communication with the pocket 96 and the sealing member lateral port 52 is in flow communication with the pocket 98. The distance between the adjacent protrusions is selected in such a manner that the lateral ports open immediately in the pockets.

[0043] When the proximal end 21 of the multilumen tubing 11 is inserted in the connector 10 as seen in Fig. 9, the tangentially directed cuts 25 and 27 are exposed to the fluid medium located in the annular pockets 96 and 98 and this fluid medium can enter through the cuts in the respective axial passages 22 and 24. The fluid medium fills the entire annular space of the corresponding pocket and thus entrance of the fluid medium in the axial passage would be always ensured irrespective of the angular orientation of the multilumen tubing with respect to the bore's circumference.

[0044] Vacuum is supplied to the open end of the passage 26 of the multilumen tubing 11 through the port 54 and first narrowing section 91.

[0045] The proximal port 99 of the connector 10 is aligned with second axial port

53 of the sealing member. This port is intended for insertion therethrough and for evacuation therefrom of a surgical instrument. The proximal port 99 terminates by a second narrowing section 99a separated from the section 91 by a partition 99b, adapted to open or close the second narrowing section 99a and thus to prevent or permit flow communication between the first narrowing section 91 of the bore and the proximal port 99. When the surgical instrument (not shown) is inserted through the proximal port 99, the forward end of the instrument reaches the partition 99b, purges through a narrow cut made in it and thus urges it to open. However, when a fluid medium or vacuum are supplied to respective passages of the multilumen tubing 11, the cut in the partition 99b is closed due to resiliency of the partition. By virtue of this provision, the flow of the fluids towards the proximal port 99 is prevented.

[0046] Fig. 10 shows tubes 101, 103 and 105 supplying water, air and vacuum, respectively, through the ports 40, 42 and 44 of the housing 31 to the ports 50, 52 and

54 of the sealing member 33 and to respective channels of the multilumen tubing [0047] Fig. 11 shows another use of the coupler 35 according to the present invention, wherein a surgical instrument protector 110 is attached to the coupler 35. Protraction and retraction of the surgical instrument is allowed through port 77 of the coupler, while the shaft of the instrument remains always closed by the sleeve of the protector. This arrangement is disclosed in Salman (International Patent Publication WO 2007/057880 - International patent application PCT/IL2006/001219).

[0048] All above-described components of the connector can be easily manufactured from suitable plastic material, e.g. by injection molding. The components are inexpensive and they can be simply and conveniently assembled while the whole connector constitutes a disposable item.

[0049] It should be appreciated that the invention is not limited to the above- described embodiments and that one ordinarily skilled in the art can make modifications or changes without deviating from the scope of the invention, as will be defined in the appended claims. For example, the present invention can be employed not only in the colonoscopic apparatus. It can be used in gastroscopic apparatus or in any other endoscopic apparatus, in which there is a need to supply fluid medium to the body channel during the endoscopic procedure.

[0050] It should also be appreciated that the features disclosed in the foregoing description, and/or in the following claims, and/or in the accompanying drawings may, both separately and in any combination thereof, be material for realizing the present invention in diverse forms thereof.