Article for Retaining Components of an Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangio-Pancreatography Delivery System
An article is provided for retaining components of an endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography delivery system. The article includes a body-encircling belt and an ERCP component retainer. The ERCP component retainer is affixed to the belt. The retainer has a pair of material strips connected together at one end with opposed inner surfaces. An inner surface on one strip is covered with hook fasteners and an inner surface on another strip is covered with loop fasteners that releasably attach to the hook fasteners to retain a coiled ERCP component.
This invention pertains to apparatus for supporting in-use components of an Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangio-Pancreatography (ERCP) system. More particularly, the present invention relates to a belt having retainers for releasably attaching instrument components of an ERCP system, such as guide wires, tubes and catheters.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONEndoscopic Retrograde Cholangio-Pancreatography (ERCP) utilizes an endoscope with a catheter and a guide wire. A guide wire is place into position through a catheter that has been delivered via an open channel of the endoscope to a desired location within a patient. Afterwards, the guide wire can be used to further deliver instruments that are delivered about the guide wire to the desired location within the patient.
During surgical procedures to place and remove a guide wire, an endoscopic assistant is required to stow and retrieve the guide wire in a manner that is not going to contaminate the guide wire as it will later be inserted into the patient. In some cases, technicians attempt to coil the guide wires during removal and storage. However, the guide wires are made from a springy material that tends to straighten out into a linear configuration, thereby tending to uncoil if they are not held in a coil configuration. Furthermore, during a typical surgical procedure, the endoscopic assistant has their hands full which further complicates any attempt to coil and stow the guide wire as it is partially or completely removed from the endoscope and patient.
Accordingly, improvements are needed to help endoscopic assistants deliver, retrieve and stow guide wires for Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangio-Pancreatography (ERCP) systems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAn ERCP component support belt is provided for use by an endoscopic assistant to facilitate improved handling and storage of components that are coiled, uncoiled, stowed and retrieved during an ERCP procedure, usually as different components, or instruments, are used in alternating modes.
According to one aspect, an article is provided for retaining components of an endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography delivery system. The article includes a body-encircling belt and an ERCP component retainer. The ERCP component retainer is affixed to the belt. The retainer has a pair of material strips connected together at one end with opposed inner surfaces. An inner surface on one strip is covered with hook fasteners and an inner surface on another strip is covered with loop fasteners that releasably attach to the hook fasteners to retain a coiled ERCP component.
According to another aspect, a guide wire storage device is provided for an Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangio-Pancreatography (ERCP) system. The device includes a belt and a fastener. The belt has a pair of opposed distal ends and is sized to encircle a wearer. The fastener is affixed to the belt having a pair of material strips connected together at one end with opposed inner surfaces, an inner surface on one strip covered with hook fasteners and an inner surface on another strip covered with loop fasteners that releasably attach to the hook fasteners to retain a coiled ERCP component.
According to yet another aspect, a component storage device is provided for an Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangio-Pancreatography (ERCP) system. The component storage device includes a belt, a first ERCP component retainer, and a second ERCP component retainer. The belt is configured to encircle a wearer. The first ERCP component retainer is affixed to a right lateral anterior portion of the belt. The retainer has a pair of material strips connected together at one end with opposed inner surfaces. An inner surface on one strip is covered with hook fasteners and an inner surface on another strip is covered with loop fasteners that releasably attach to the hook fasteners to retain a coiled ERCP component. The second ERCP component retainer is affixed to a left lateral anterior portion of the belt. The retainer has a pair of material strips connected together at one end with opposed inner surfaces. An inner surface on one strip is covered with hook fasteners and an inner surface on another strip is covered with loop fasteners that releasably attach to the hook fasteners to retain a coiled ERCP component.
Preferred embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to the following accompanying drawings.
This disclosure of the invention is submitted in furtherance of the constitutional purposes of the U.S. Patent Laws “to promote the progress of science and useful arts” (Article 1, Section 8).
Reference will now be made to a preferred embodiment of Applicant's invention comprising an article, or belt, for retaining ERCP components during an ERCP procedure. While the invention is described by way of a preferred embodiment, it is understood that the description is not intended to limit the invention to such embodiment, but is intended to cover alternatives, equivalents, and modifications which may be broader than the embodiment, but which are included within the scope of the appended claims.
In an effort to prevent obscuring the invention at hand, only details germane to implementing the invention will be described in great detail, with presently understood peripheral details being incorporated by reference, as needed, as being presently understood in the art.
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Accordingly, ERCP component retainers 60, 62 and 64 are each affixed to belt 52 at distinct locations. Each retainer 60, 62 and 64 includes a pair of material strips 70 and 72 connected together at one end with opposed inner surfaces.
According to one construction, material strips 70 and 72 are elongate with a large dimension extending transverse to a large dimension of belt 52. Also according to the one construction, a top end of strips 70 and 72 are connected together via stitches which are further connected to belt 52. Furthermore, strip 72 is connected to belt 52 from a top end to a bottom end with stitches. Alternatively, strip 72 can be affixed to belt 52 with adhesive, rivets, or any other form of suitable fasteners. A free end of strip 70 is releasably attached to belt 52 via coaction of hook fasteners 74 with loop fasteners 76. According to one construction, hook fasteners 74 and loop fasteners 76 are formed from Velcro® fastener strips, available from Velcro USA Inc., 406 Brown Ave Manchester, N.H. 03103.
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It is understood that fasteners 60, 62 and 64 can be constructed with alternative configurations. For example, each material strip can be provided by flexible magnetic strips that can be releasably mated and demated via magnetic attraction to stow and release a coiled ERCP component during a surgical operation. Optionally, any form of strips that can be mechanically, magnetically or electrically mated and demated along their respective surface lengths would provide a suitable fastener construction for releasably retaining coiled ERCP components.
In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific as to structural and methodical features. It is to be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the specific features shown and described, since the means herein disclosed comprise preferred forms of putting the invention into effect. The invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the proper scope of the appended claims appropriately interpreted in accordance with the doctrine of equivalents.
Claims
1. An article for retaining components of an Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangio-Pancreatography (ERCP) delivery system, comprising:
- a body-encircling belt of flexible material; and
- an ERCP component retainer affixed to the belt having a pair of material strips connected together at one end with opposed inner surfaces, an inner surface on one strip covered with hook fasteners and an inner surface on another strip covered with loop fasteners that releasably attach to the hook fasteners to retain a coiled ERCP component.
2. The article of claim 1, wherein the pair of material strips are elongate with a large dimension transverse to a large dimension of the belt.
3. The article of claim 2, wherein the connected together one end of the strips is a top end, and one of the one strip and the another strip is affixed to the belt, and a bottom end of another of the one strip and the another strip is a free end that is releasably attached to the belt via coaction of the hook fasteners and the loop fasteners.
4. The article of claim 1, wherein the hook fasteners and the loop fasteners are made from Velcro fastening material.
5. The article of claim 1, further comprising at least two ERCP component retainers affixed to the belt each having a pair of material strips connected together at one end with opposed inner faces, an inner surface on one strip covered with hook fasteners and an inner surface on another strip covered with loop fasteners that releasably attach to the hook fasteners to retain a coiled ERCP component.
6. The article of claim 5, wherein one ERCP component retainer is provided for retaining an ERCP guide wire.
7. The article of claim 6, wherein another ERCP component retainer is provided for retaining an ERCP instrument having a guide tube.
8. The article of claim 7, further comprising a syringe holster having a plurality of vertically-oriented elastic channels each configured to snuggly receive a tubular barrel of a respective syringe for storage and retrieval therefrom.
9. The article of claim 1, wherein the belt is a formed from a web of synthetic woven material terminating in a pair of free distal ends, and further comprising mating/demating buckle connectors provided respectively at the distal ends.
10. A guide wire storage device for an Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangio-Pancreatography (ERCP) system, comprising:
- a belt having a pair of opposed distal ends and sized to encircle a wearer; and
- a fastener affixed to the belt having a pair of material strips connected together at one end with opposed inner surfaces, an inner surface on one strip covered with hook fasteners and an inner surface on another strip covered with loop fasteners that releasably attach to the hook fasteners to retain a coiled ERCP component.
11. The guide wire storage device of claim 10, wherein the faster comprises a pair of elongated material strips having a major axis perpendicular to a major axis of the belt.
12. The guide wire storage device of claim 11, wherein the pair of material strips are connected together along a top end and one of the strips is secured to the belt while another of the strips has a bottom end that is free to be separated and secured with the one strip on the belt.
13. The guide wire storage device of claim 10, wherein the belt comprises a web of woven material terminating at opposed distal ends.
14. The guide wire storage device of claim 13, wherein one distal end receives a first buckle connector and another distal end receives a second buckle connector configured to mate and demate with the first buckle connector.
15. The guide wire storage device of claim 14, wherein one of the first buckle connector and the second buckle connector is supported by the respective distal end at desired selected locations along the belt to adjust length of the belt between the first buckle connector and the second buckle connector.
16. The guide wire storage device of claim 10, wherein a plurality of retainers are provided on the belt.
17. The guide wire storage device of claim 10, wherein the retainer is provided on a lateral portion of the belt when the belt is secured about a user.
18. The guide wire storage device of claim 17, further comprising an elastic holster provided on an anterior portion of the belt configured to removably receive at least one syringe.
19. A component storage device for an Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangio-Pancreatography (ERCP) system, comprising:
- a belt having configured to encircle a wearer;
- a first ERCP component retainer affixed to a right lateral anterior portion of the belt having a pair of material strips connected together at one end with opposed inner surfaces, an inner surface on one strip covered with hook fasteners and an inner surface on another strip covered with loop fasteners that releasably attach to the hook fasteners to retain a coiled ERCP component; and
- a second ERCP component retainer affixed to a left lateral anterior portion of the belt having a pair of material strips connected together at one end with opposed inner surfaces, an inner surface on one strip covered with hook fasteners and an inner surface on another strip covered with loop fasteners that releasably attach to the hook fasteners to retain a coiled ERCP component.
20. The guide wire storage device of claim 19, further comprising a third retainer including a holster for retaining syringes affixed to a central anterior portion of the belt.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 24, 2007
Publication Date: Oct 30, 2008
Inventors: Khrys Schulte (Post Falls, ID), Jennifer Butts-Pluid (Rathdrum, ID)
Application Number: 11/739,541
International Classification: A41F 9/00 (20060101);